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Background and Objective: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the second most common in women. The use of parasites or parasite antigens is one of the newest therapeutic approaches for cancer, although it has not yet been used or approved in human trials. This study aimed to determine the cytotoxic effects of purified carbohydrates from the hyaline layer, fluid, and protoscolices of hydatid cysts on the human colorectal cancer cell line (LS174T). Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on two sheep and two cow livers infected with hydatid cysts, and the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (LS174T) purchased from the Pasteur Institute of Iran at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran during 2022. Cyst fluid, protoscolices, and the hyaline layer were isolated from the hydatid cyst-infected livers, and glycoproteins and glycolipids from different parts of the cyst were extracted using the chloroform-methanol method. Carbohydrates were purified using the beta-elimination method and their presence was confirmed using the phenol-sulfuric acid method. The cytotoxicity of purified carbohydrates on the LS174T cell line was evaluated using the methyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay for 24 hours. Results: Concentrations of 0.5 and 0.25 of purified carbohydrates from glycoproteins and glycolipids of hydatid cysts significantly inhibited the growth of LS174T cells (P

Abstract Gene manipulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) using the CRISPR/Cas system as a potent genome editing tool holds immense promise for addressing hematologic disorders. An essential hurdle in advancing this treatment lies in effectively delivering CRISPR/Cas to HSCs. While various delivery formats exist, Ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP) emerges as a particularly efficient option. RNP complexes offer enhanced gene editing capabilities, devoid of viral vectors, with rapid activity and minimized off-target effects. Nevertheless, novel delivery methods such as microfluidic-based techniques, filtroporation, nanoparticles, and cell-penetrating peptides are continually evolving. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of these methods and the recent research on delivery approaches of RNP complexes to HSCs.

Background: A healthy organization is a place which is productive, capable, and efficient enough to deal with the competitive world. The quality of work life is important, not only to improve life at working environment but also the life outside work place; there the present study examines the relationship between organizational happiness and work life in teaching hospitals in Yazd city in 2023. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the form of a multi-stage random sampling on 215 people and among the personnel of teaching hospitals in Yazd city. Data collection tool included two standard questionnaires regarding an organizational happiness and the quality of work life. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-student test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient test with SPSS 26 software. Results: The findings indicated that there was no significant relationship between organizational happiness and any of the demographic variables. In addition, only the education variable (p = 0.011) had a significant relationship with the quality of life variable. Pearson's correlation test also showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between all the components of organizational happiness and the quality of work life. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it is necessary for managers and officials to consider organizational happiness and its important components in organizations by adopting appropriate strategies and providing necessary conditions for its promotion.

Background: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) are frequently used in dental and maxillofacial problems. This study aimed to assess the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity effects of CBCT and MDCT radiographies on exfoliated buccal epithelial cells during dental examinations. Methods: This prospective experimental study was conducted at Babol University of Medical Sciences (Babol, Iran) from March 2021 to April 2021. Buccal mucosa smears were collected bilaterally pre-exposure and 12 days after CBCT or MDCT examinations. To compare the frequency of micronuclei and other cytotoxic cellular changes such as pyknosis, karyolysis, and karyorrhexis, the paired sample t test and Wilcoxon test were used. In addition, independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney, and Chi square tests were used to investigate the differences between the imaging methods and between men and women. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software, and P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The current study included 60 adult patients (30 patients in each group), ranging in age from 21 to 50 years. The micronuclei and the other cytotoxic cellular changes increased significantly after CBCT and MDCT radiographic examinations on the 12th day compared to the pre-exposure results (P

Objectiv(s): This study aimed to explore the experiences of health care providers working in health centers during the Covid-19 disease using a phenomenological method. Methods: A qualitative study using phenomenological method was conducted on a sample of health care staff in Hamedan, Iran. Inclusion criteria were physicians and health care providers involved with individuals with or suspected of having corona virus disease. Exclusion criteria were concealment of information in the interviewee or his / her unwillingness to participate in the research. The sampling method was purpose full and continued until data saturation (30 people). In-depth and semi-structured interviews were used to collect information. The average interview time was 40-60 minutes. Data were analyzed using the Colaizzi method. Results: The findings indicated 4 main themes, 9 categories and 59 sub-categories. The main themes included negative emotions, positive emotions, self-efficacy, and health system problems. Sub-themes included psychological responses, lack of good outlook, unappreciative system, altruism, voluntary work, social self-efficacy, individual self-efficacy, violations of instructions, and equipment supply problems. Conclusion: The present study showed that health service providers experienced inappropriate mental, emotional and occupational conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The results obtained from this study can be used to formulate support and strategies for emerging epidemics.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused viral pneumonia in Wuhan City in China in December of 2019. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily targets the lungs with severe hypoxia, which usually results in death. COVID-19 is highly heterogeneous regarding severity, clinical phenotype, and more importantly, global dispersal. The respiratory system in all aspects such as respiratory airways, endothelium of pulmonary vessels, conducting airways, the alveoli, neuromuscular breathing structure, and pulmonary circulation are affected by this virus. A comprehensive concept of the source and dynamic action of the SARS-CoV-2 and the possible causes of heterogeneity in COVID-19 is required for predicting and managing the illness in acute and chronic stages of the pulmonary sign.

Abstract Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been suggested as an appropriate source for diabetes cell-based therapies. The high proliferation and differentiation capacity of fetal MSCs and the role of fetal pancreatic-derived MSCs (FPMSCs) in islet generation make them good candidates for diabetes treatment. To manufacture clinical-grade MSCs, animal-free culture protocols are preferred. The current study aimed to establish a xeno-free/GMP-compliant protocol for FPMSCs manufacturing. The focus was on the effects of fetal bovine serum (FBS) replacement with pooled human serum (HS). Material and methods FPMSCs were isolated and expanded from the pancreas of legally aborted fetuses with few modifications in our previously established protocol. The cells were expanded in two different culture media, including DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS or 10% pooled HS. A side-by-side comparison was made to evaluate the effect of each serum on proliferation rate, cell cycle, senescence, multi-lineage differentiation capacity, immunophenotype, and tumorigenesis of FPMSCs. Results Flow cytometry analysis and three-lineage differentiation ability demonstrated that fibroblast-like cells obtained from primary culture had MSCs’ characteristics. The FPMSCs displayed similar morphology and CD markers expression in both sera. HS had a higher proliferative effect on FPMSCs than FBS. In FBS, the cells reached senescence earlier. In addition to normal karyotypes and anchorage-dependent growth, in vivo tumor formation was not seen. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that HS was a better serum alternative than FBS for in vitro expansion of FPMSCs. Compared with FBS, HS increased FPMSCs’ proliferation rate and decreased their senescence. In conclusion, HS can effectively replace FBS for clinical-grade FPMSCs manufacturing. Graphical abstract

Introduction: Fabricating composite scaffolds with improved physicochemical properties as artificial microenvironments are of great interest in bone tissue engineering. Given advantageous properties of nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan/gelatin (nHA/Cs/Gel) scaffolds, the present study aimed to synthesize a modified nHA/Cs/Gel biomimetic scaffold with improved features. Methods: Pure and copper (Cu)-substituted nHA was synthesized using the chemical precipitation method under controlled pH and temperature. Pure and Cu-substituted nHA/Cs/Gel scaffolds were fabricated by salt-leaching/freeze-drying method. Physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles and scaffolds were explored using XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM/EDX, and ICP. Besides, scaffold mechanical strength, degradation, porosity, swelling, biomineralization, and cytocompatibility were assessed. Results: Pure and Cu-substituted nHA were synthesized and characterized with appropriate Cu substitution and improved physical properties. All scaffolds were highly porous (porosity >98%) and Cu incorporation reduced porosity from 99.555 ± 0.394% to 98.69 ± 0.80% while enlarged the pore size to more than100 µm. Cu-substitution improved the scaffold mechanical strength and the best result was observed in nHA.Cu5%/Cs/Gel scaffolds by the compressive strength 88.869 ± 19.574 MPa. Furthermore, 3% and 5% Cu-substituted nHA enhanced the scaffold structural stability and supported osteoblast spread, adhesion, survival, mineralization, and proliferation. Moreover, long-term and sustainable Cu release from scaffolds was observed within 28 days. Conclusion: Cu-substituted nHA/Cs/Gel scaffolds mimic the porous structure and mechanical strength of cancellous bone, along with prolonged degradation and Cu release, osteoblast attachment, viability, calcium deposition, and proliferation. Taken together, our results indicate the upgraded properties of nHA.Cu5%/Cs/Gel scaffolds for future applications in bone tissue engineering.

Introduction: Odontomas are the most common odontogenic tumors. These lesions are usually considered a hamartoma than a neoplasm. Unlike normal tooth morphology, tissue arrangement is irregular in these lesions. Odontoma has self-limiting and slow growth, and if left untreated, its size will not increase over time. Most of these lesions are clinically asymptomatic and are detected on routine radiographs prepared for other purposes. Odontomas usually are located pericoronally and cause tooth eruption disorders such as the lack of permanent teeth or retention of deciduous teeth. In some cases, an odontoma can cause swelling and expansion of the jaw. The purpose of the current report is presenting an unusual complex odontoma in a 10-year-old boy, which was closely related to the roots of tooth #30. Odontomas are usually located pericoronally and near the roots of adjacent teeth, separated by a septum of bone. There are a few reported cases such as the current case, with fusion to the tooth structure. There was slight intraoral swelling and tenderness in the affected region. Unlike most reported cases, tooth eruption disturbance was not observed. Extreme proximity of odontoma and the roots of tooth were detected in Cone-beam Computed Tomography examination. Separative bone septum and the sharp outline of the tooth roots did not detected. The lesion and the related tooth were removed by surgical treatment, and the patient was followed for 2 years.

Background: Patients with beta-thalassemia (BT) are susceptible to psychological disorders such as depression. The present study was conducted to estimate the pooled prevalence of depression among patients with BT in Iran. Methods: Domestic and international databases were searched for relevant articles published from 1991 until June 2019. We searched international databases such as Scopus, ISI, and Embase; Iranian databases such as SID, Magiran, and IranDoc; and Google Scholar and PubMed search engines. The MeSH keywords used were “depression”, “mental health”, “depressive disorder”, “thalassemia”, “beta-thalassemia major”, “prevalence”, “epidemiology”, and “Iran”. Relevant cross-sectional or cohort studies were included in the analysis. Cochran’s Q test and the I2 index were used to assess heterogeneity. The pooled prevalence and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using “metaprop” commands in Stata 14. In cases, where the I2 statistic was greater than 50%, the random-effects model was used. Results: Eighteen eligible studies were included. The pooled prevalence of depression was 42% (95% CI: 33% to 52%), whereas the pooled prevalence of mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe depression was 16% (95% CI: 11% to 22%), 13% (95% CI: 9% to 18%), 13% (95% CI: 9% to 17%), and 3% (95% CI: 0% to 8%), respectively. The pooled prevalence of depression in moderate- and high-quality studies was 45% (95% CI: 29% to 61%), and 39% (95% CI: 27% to 51%), respectively. Conclusion: The high prevalence of depression highlights the urgent need for the establishment of interventions for the prevention, early detection, and treatment of depression among Iranian patients with BT.

Adherence to capecitabine, an effective oral chemotherapy agent, is essential in achieving treatment response in cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate factors associated with non-adherence to capecitabine in a sample of patients with gastrointestinal cancer. We enrolled 98 patients with colon, rectal or gastric cancers who were undergoing treatment with capecitabine as part of their single or multi-agent chemotherapy regimen. The patients were followed during cohort time up to four consecutive cycles of their chemotherapy. For adherence measurement, the participants were asked to bring back the leftover medicines at the time of follow-up visits and were considered adherent if they had taken ≥95% of their prescribed dose. The mean adherence rate was 97.7%, and the patients were adherent to capecitabine in 93.1% of their cycles. The patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy were significantly less adherent to capecitabine (60%) as compared with adjuvant (95.2%) and palliative chemotherapy (94.6%) [P=0.004]. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the presence of nausea and mucositis were inversely associated with adherence rate. We did not find any association between adherence and any of our laboratory findings. Our findings suggest a high adherence rate to capecitabine among patients with gastrointestinal cancers. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the presence of nausea and mucositis may play a significant role in non-adherence to capecitabine.

We aimed to investigate the role of [18F]FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the early detection of arterial wall inflammation (AWI) in melanoma patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Our retrospective study enrolled 95 melanoma patients who had received ICIs. Inclusion criteria were ICI therapy for at least six months and at least three [18F]FDG PET/CTs, including one pretreatment session plus two scans three and six months after treatment initiation. AWI was assessed using quantitative and qualitative methods in the subclavian artery, thoracic aorta, and abdominal aorta. We found three patients with AWI visual suspicion in the baseline scan, which increased to five in the second and twelve in the third session. Most of these patients’ treatments were terminated due to either immune-related adverse events (irAEs) or disease progression. In the overall population, the ratio of arterial-wall maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax)/liver-SUVmax was significantly higher three months after treatment than the pretreatment scan in the thoracic aorta (0.83 ± 0.12 vs. 0.79 ± 0.10; p-value = 0.01) and subclavian artery (0.67 ± 0.13 vs. 0.63 ± 0.12; p-value = 0.01), and it remained steady in the six-month follow-up. None of our patients were diagnosed with definite clinical vasculitis on the dermatology follow-up reports. To conclude, our study showed [18F]FDG PET/CT’s potential to visualise immunotherapy-induced subclinical inflammation in large vessels. This may lead to more accurate prediction of irAEs and better patient management.

Immuno-positron emission tomography (immunoPET) is a molecular imaging modality combining the high sensitivity of PET with the specific targeting ability of monoclonal antibodies. Various radioimmunotracers have been successfully developed to target a broad spectrum of molecules expressed by malignant cells or tumor microenvironments. Only a few are translated into clinical studies and barely into clinical practices. Some drawbacks include slow radioimmunotracer kinetics, high physiologic uptake in lymphoid organs, and heterogeneous activity in tumoral lesions. Measures are taken to overcome the disadvantages, and new tracers are being developed. In this review, we aim to mention the fundamental components of immunoPET imaging, explore the groundbreaking success achieved using this new technique, and review different radioimmunotracers employed in various solid tumors to elaborate on this relatively new imaging modality.

Plain English summary Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) describes the active involvement of patients and the public in the research process. Through PPI, patients and members of the public are increasingly involved in the design and conduct of clinical trials. PPI has been shown to improve the quality and relevance of research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical trials have been playing a vital role in helping us find ways to prevent and treat the infection and improve our understanding of the virus. It is important that patients and the public are actively involved in deciding how COVID-19 research is carried out. Unfortunately, Research Ethics Committees in the UK have seen far less PPI for COVID-19 research studies compared with research before the pandemic. A key reason for this is that research is being designed much faster than normal and researchers may feel they do not have time to properly involve patients and the public. In this paper, we share our experiences of PPI for a COVID-19 clinical trial. We show that it is possible to rapidly involve patients and the public in COVID-19 clinical trials. We also explain how the design of the clinical trial was changed in response to feedback from public contributors. Lastly, we discuss the wider learning from this process which might be useful for researchers planning PPI activities for COVID-19 clinical trials in the future. Abstract Background: Clinical trials are playing a critical role in the global public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the increasing recognition of the value of PPI in clinical trials, just 22% of the COVID-19 research proposals reviewed by Research Ethics Committees in the UK at the start of the pandemic reported PPI. There is a perception that PPI might result in delays in delivering research and therefore delays in obtaining important results. In this paper, we report our experience of rapid PPI for a COVID-19 clinical trial. Methods: RAPID-19 is a COVID-19 clinical trial which was planned to be submitted for fast-track ethics review in the United Kingdom. During the development of the trial protocol, the PPI Panel at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Clinical Trials Unit was involved in the design of the study. The meeting with the PPI Panel lasted just over 1 h and was conducted by teleconference. Results: Although we only had a short period of time to explore the study with the PPI Panel, we were able to gain valuable insight into how the trial would be perceived by potential trial participants. Substantive changes were made to the trial to improve the acceptability of the research without compromising the study timelines. Having access to public contributors with relevant lived experience is an important resource for a Clinical Trials Unit and is critical for rapid PPI. The move to remote working due to lockdown required virtual discussions which helped to overcome some of the barriers to organising face-to-face meetings at short notice. Conclusions: PPI for clinical trials can be conducted in a time-efficient manner within the pressured environment of a pandemic. Involving PPI contributors at an early stage in protocol development maximised the opportunity to shape and influence the trial as well as limited potential delays which could occur if changes to the protocol had to be made at a later stage.

Introduction: Drug and psychotropic use have undesirable and devastating effects on the human body and soul that lead to an increase in family and social insecurity. Due to the difficulty of treatment, addiction prevention is always emphasized in the studies. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on the theory of planning behavior on the prevention of psychotropic abuse among female high school students in Ilam, Iran, during 2018. Materials & Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 120 students who were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups in the academic year of 2018-19. The data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior, which was used after the confirmation of validity and reliability at pretest and posttest. The educational content was designed based on the theory of planned behavior, and the outcome of the preliminary data was analyzed and administered in five sessions of intervention. The posttest was performed one month after the training, and the data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 22) through the Shapiro-Wilk test, independent t-test, and paired t-test. Ethics code: IR.IAU.SRB.REC.1397.022 Findings: The results of covariance analysis and paired t-test showed the significance of the educational intervention in raising the awareness about the behavior of students in Ilam regarding the prevention of psychotropic abuse at an error level of less than 1%. Moreover, the educational intervention was effective in promoting abstract norms and the behavioral intention of students in Ilam, Iran, regarding the prevention of psychotropic abuse at an error level of less than 1%. Discussions & Conclusions: Educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior has effects on the prevention of psychoactive substance abuse in the intervention group. Therefore, it is recommended that education officials and other relevant institutions make use of educational techniques based on the behavior change patterns, life skills training, and student empowerment in order to prevent addiction.

Fahr’s disease is a rare condition characterized by the symmetrical calcification of basal ganglia and dentate nuclei of the cerebellum calcification. It is usually manifested by involuntary movements and psychiatric symptoms. Ataxia has been reported as an uncommon manifestation of Fahr’s disease. Herein we introduce a 41-year-old man presenting with progressive gait disturbance who was finally diagnosed with Fahr’s disease.

Background and Aim: Iron deficiency is among the most prevalent nutritional problems during pregnancy. Besides, it can significantly affect pregnant women’s health. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of education based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) on promoting anesthetic prevention nutritional behaviors in the pregnant woman. Methods & Materials: This was an educational randomized controlled trial study. In total, 80 pregnant women were randomly divided into two groups of test and control (n=40/group). Data collection with reliable and validity questionnaire consist of demographic factors, knowledge, the construct of TPB (attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, intention), and performance. Before performing the intervention, pre-test data were collected from the study groups. Then, the educational intervention was performed based on the results of the needs assessment for the test group, within a month and in the form of four 60-minute training sessions based on the TPB. The results were collected 3 months after the intervention and analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-squared test, and correlation coefficient. Ethical Considerations: The present study was registered with the code IRCT2017052334106N1 in the Clinical Trial Registration Center of Iran and was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.ARAKMU.REC.1395.445). Results: The present research results indicated that before the intervention, all variables were the same in the study groups. However, after the intervention, the research groups significantly differed concerning all the studied structures (P

Coronavirus Disease 2019 was initially identified as an infection of the lower respiratory tract but has so far manifested itself with very different symptoms. One of these symptoms is skin lesions associated with an active viral infection that can occur from the onset of infection until treatment. Therefore, observing these skin manifestations can be helpful in diagnosing and managing the disease. Our case is a 56-year-old man who came to the infectious clinic with a chief complaint of skin rashes. The patient was in good general condition on arrival and had no evidence of systemic symptoms of infection, such as fever, body aches, and cough. However, the PCR test for COVID-19 was positive. Although many dermatological findings have been reported with Coronavirus Disease, this case has reported with no symptoms other than skin manifestations that describe a viral infection. It seems that this disease can cause unexpected symptoms, even in mild cases. Therefore, it is better to have the COVID-19 in the corner of your mind when examining people with these symptoms.

Background and purpose: Patients with hardiness personality could better control the psychological distress induced by multiple diseases. The present study aimed to clarify the concept of health related hardiness in older individuals with multiple diseases. Materials and methods: A hybrid method was used to analyze the concept of health related hardiness. This model consists of theoretical review, field work, and final analysis. After first phase, nine older people with multiple diseases were selected via purposive sampling from Ramsar Imam Sajjad Hospital and Tonekabon Shahid Rajaee Hospital and interviewed in autumn-winter 2019-2020. In third phase, information from the theoretical phase was combined with the fieldwork phase, and the concept of health related hardiness was clarified. Results: Health-related hardiness in older individuals with multiple diseases means that they could achieve the expected health-related outcomes (successful control of the disease, reduced disease burden, and adaptation to disease) by purposeful management of health-related stressors, simultaneous management of several diseases, and personality traits such as stubbornness, patience, tolerance, and having cognitive abilities. Meanwhile, family and social supports, as facilitators, are of great benefit in reducing physical and psychological pressures induced by diseases burden. Conclusion: The health-related hardiness model could be applied in further studies and used to implement promotion protocols in older people with multiple diseases and development of health-related hardiness scales.

Introduction: Along with the comprehensive developments in the field of information and communication technology, educational systems have also faced new demands, one of these demands is to pay attention to virtual education. In so doing, this study endeavored to develop a virtual classroom model for higher education by using the theory of connectivism. Methods: This qualitative was descriptive-analytical in terms of deductive categorization method. The collection includes 120 articles related to the theory of connectivism and virtual classroom from the academic years 2005 to 2017. Fourteen articles were purposefully selected as the sample and code extraction was started. 22 sub-categories were identified. After reviewing the relationship between them, five general categories were obtained in accordance with sub-categories that are included were nominated. Results: The results led to the identification of virtual class components (classroom activities, learning tools, teacher role, educational resources, learning evaluation) as a model based on the theory of connectivism. Conclusion: In the proposed model, while using the previous models of the classroom, new features are included in accordance with the 21st century and in the form of connectivism theory, which in turn can enhance the classroom of higher education.

Background: Determining and evaluating risk factors for cancers is very important for controlling and preventing these diseases. It is known that the factors associated with human nutrition can play a major role in the risk of cancer. Methods: In this hospital-based case-control study, 80 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) were compared with 160 controls in terms of risk factors. To assess food intake and food insecurity, the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and Radimer/Cornell questionnaire were used respectively, in addition, the anthropometric indicators including height and weight were measured. Findings: The patients in the CRC group had a lower food safety compared to the control group, which had a significant difference. In addition, in the study of anthropometric indicators and body composition, the body fat percentage was higher in the CRC patients compared to the control group. After adjustment with other possible confounding variables, only calorie intake, cholesterol, and fat were associated with CRC. After adjusting for other confounding factors, individual insecurity remained significant in the regression model, and the odds ratio showed that individuals with a food insecurity had a greater chance to join the cancer group. Conclusion: Food insecurity, as well as high fat and calorie intake, were associated with an increased chance of joining the cancer group. In the case of food insecurity, more studies are needed. People with CRC have higher levels of fat and energy.

Background: The organ transplantation has been developed due to recent advances in transplantation surgery. The method of preservation and the type of preserving solution are determining factors in the outcome of the transplantations. In this review article, we evaluated the process of organ preservation, and compared the employed storage solutions. Methods: The relevant articles published up to the end of 2019 were collected by searching in PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases using terms “Preservation Solutions”, “Organ Transplantation”, “Kidney”, “Pancreas”, and “Liver”. Findings: The aim of developing preservation solutions is to minimize the damage through minimizing the cellular edema; decreasing the function of the membrane pumps, and supplying enough energy for viable cells. Additionally, the two problems of organ shortage for transplantation and time period from taking the organ in the procurement organization to delivering it to the transplant center are enough to encourage scientists to improve preservation methods and solutions for prolonging organ preservation time. The main building blocks of preservation solutions are electrolytes, antioxidants, and saccharides. Currently, there are many efforts to optimize solutions by employing cell death inhibitors such as specific siRNA for caspase 3 and caspase 8. Conclusion: In spite of all the efforts, these solutions do not have enough efficiency in preserving the organs for long periods. Hence, it is necessary to optimize preservation methods and solutions’ features to improve their functions.

Aims: Psychological stress at workplace plays an important role in employees' well-being and performance. The prevalence of suspected employees suffering from psychological stress and factors influencing it was studied at a major regional manufacturer of tiles in Kashan, Central Iran, where employees often struggled with the harsh working conditions. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all 263 male employees of a major regional manufacturer of tiles in Kashan using both General Health Questionnaire-28 and demographic questionnaires. SPSS software (version 16) was used to analyze the data corresponding to descriptive and analytical statistic tests. Results: The frequencies of mental disorder, sleep disorder and anxiety, social function disorder, as well as depression and physical symptoms were found to be 52.3%, 52.8%, 75.7%, 12.8%, and 48.3%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between anxiety with work tenure and work shift, depression with income level, and general mental health with work shift and income. Conclusion: The results show that psychiatric disorders in this industry are significant, so implementation of prevention and treatment programs is of great importance for improving production and performance of workers, especially in high-risk groups.

Rubella infection within the first trimester of pregnancy may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The present study was conducted to evaluate the immunity against rubella among the pregnant Iranian women. The steps of meta-analyses were conducted based on the MOOSE protocol and results were reported according to the PRISMA guideline. To review the associated English and Persian literature, a comprehensive search was conducted among the international databases such as Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science and Google Scholar search engine as well as Iranian databases, until April 1, 2018 using the following medical subject headings (MeSH) keywords: ‘Pregnant’, ‘Gestational’, ‘Prenatal care’, ‘Complications of pregnancy’, ‘Pregnancy’, ‘Rubella infection’, ‘Prevalence, ‘Epidemiology’, ‘Immunity’, ‘Immunization’, ‘Antibody’, ‘Immunogenicity’ and ‘Iran’. Cochran’s Q test and I2 index were used to investigate heterogeneity in the studies. Random effects model was used to estimate the rate of rubella immunity. The obtained data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Ver.2. Fifteen studies constituting 7,601 pregnant Iranian women met the inclusion criteria. The overall pooled rubella immunity rate was 90.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 86.1-93.1]. Rubella immunity rates were respectively 88.6% (95% CI: 80.6-93.6) and 91.5% (95% CI: 88.1-93.9) before and after national vaccine program. Rubella immunity rates were 91.4% (95% CI: 87.8-94.0) and 87.2% (95% CI: 74.3-94.1) based on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and haemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) methods, respectively. There was no significant association between rubella immunity and vaccination program (P=0.398), diagnostic methods (P=0.355), geographic regions (P=0.286), quality of the studies (P=0.751), occupation (P=0.639), residence (P=0.801), and year of the studies (P=0.164), but it was significantly associated with age (P < 0.001). Despite high rubella immunity among the pregnant Iranian women, anti-rubella antibody screening is recommended for all women of childbearing age.

Background and Objectives: One of the most commonly used restorations for teeth with severe crown destruction is restoration with fixed prosthesis. The present research was conducted to evaluate dental crowns made in the School of Dentistry of Qom University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective descriptive study was performed on 62 patients who received crowns. Patients' information was collected by referring to their records in the department and they were invited for clinical examinations. After the clinical examination, their information was recorded in the relevant checklists. Results: In this study, 62 patients (26 males, 36 females) receiving fixed prosthesis, were evaluated in the department of prosthetic dentistry of Qom University of Medical Sciences. Most of the patients (98%), were satisfied with their treatment with fixed prosthesis, and in 100% of the cases, appropriate occlusion, had been provided for patients. Also, fracture was not observed in any of the ceramic component of the studied crowns and in one case, movement and veneer lining (2%), was covered due to the presence of temporary cement and absence of permanent cement. Conclusion: The results of the present research showed that use of crowns made at the School of dentistry of the Qom University of Medical Sciences, have been clinically successful and have been able to satisfy the patients.

Background and Aim Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) with hyperactivity is one of the behavioral disorders in childhood and adolescence. The mobile health is an economical, available, and useful tool for training the mothers with ODD and hyperactive child. The research aimed to examine the effectiveness of parent training behavioral management program by mobile health to mothers to reduce oppositional and aggression symptoms in children with ODD and hyperactivity. Methods and Materials The method of this research was a single case experiment by the A-B model. The participants of this study ranged from 7 to 12 years old children and their mothers in Tehran who referred to Rooyesh-e-Talaee Institute and diagnosed with ODD and hyperactivity in 2018. Four children and their mothers were selected with simple random sampling. The intervention implemented in ten 60- 90-minute sessions. For data analysis using the charts, improve percent, and RCI. Ethical Considerations The Research Ethics Committee of Khatam University, Iran approved this study (Code: Kh.96.S.100.3123). Results Children with ODD and hyperactivity showed improvement in comparison with baseline measures. The overall improvement in their defiant was 61.43% and in aggression was 55.33%, and the RCI was higher than 1.96 for all three children. The results showed that the two hypotheses were clinically significant. Conclusion The mobile health training with its related apps was a useful, low cost, available, and suitable method for mothers with ODD and hyperactive children. It can also be complementary to counseling services for mothers with the ODD and hyperactive children. Besides, this technology can be helpful for the country's health system and sustainable health development.

Background and Objectives: Oral and dental diseases are one of the most important problems of today’s society. To reduce the cost and outcomes of these diseases, prevention and control of plaque is of high importance. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of conventional and video education methods on children’s dental health. Methods: This interventional study was performed on 66 male elementary school students in Qomrood village in 2018. The students were randomly assigned to one of the two groups of conventional and video education methods. The amount of plaque index and bleeding on probing (BOP), were recorded in checklist before and after 2 weeks of education. The data were analyzed by independent and paired t-tests. Results: In the conventional group, the mean plaque index before the intervention was reported to be 58.66±16.95 and after intervention 18.60±10.76; also, the mean BOP was 1.28±1.97 before intervention and 0.16±0.46 after intervention. In video education group, the mean plaque index before the intervention was 53.84±14.08 and after intervention 19.29±10.91, and the mean BOP was obtained 1.68±3.71 before intervention and 0.31±0.76 after intervention. The result of paired samples t-test showed the changes of both group were significant, but the result of independent samples t-test, there was no significant difference between the changes of the two groups. Conclusion: According to the results of this research, both methods of conventional education and video education have significant effect on reduction of plaque index and BOP, but, there is no significant difference between the effectiveness of these methods.

Background and purpose: Pesticides cause general concern due to their possible adverse results on human health. The aim of this study was to investigate different pesticides and also estimating daily intake of their residues in melon and watermelon samples in Kashan, Iran. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 62 melon and watermelon samples were collected from different fruit distribution centers in Kashan, 2016-2017. After preparation, the samples were analyzed for 118 various pesticides using Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Also, chronic daily intake (CDI) of pesticides was calculated. Results: In this study, 7 (11.29 %) melon and watermelon samples were contaminated with pesticides. Only fludioxonil residue was detected in 1 (2.3 %) watermelon sample which was higher than standard range. The CDI of fludioxonil was less than standard of codex Alimentarius. In melon samples, diazinon in 3 (15.79%) and tridemorph in 2 (10.52%) samples were the most common residues detected. Also, CDI of diazinon and tridemorph in melon samples were more than the standard of codex Alimentarius. Conclusion: Current findings showed the presence of agricultural pesticides in melon and watermelon samples. Therefore, regular monitoring of the pesticide residues is necessary.

Abstract Background and Objectives: Considering the increasing use of implant, many dentists are willing to use implants with the highest quality and ease of work. Therefore, the present study was performed to investigate the frequency of use and satisfaction of the dentists from different dental implant systems in Qom city. Methods: In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was prepared and distributed among the dentists who was performing dental implant treatment in order to assess the components of frequency of use of implant systems and dentists’ satisfaction. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results: This study was carried out on 80 dentists, and 92.6% of the dentists considered better services and 85% of whom considered ease of implant placement as an important priority for choosing an optimal implant system. Three most satisfying systems included Implantium system (40%), SIC system (38.8%), and Dio system (33.8%), and in terms of the frequency of use of the implant systems, 45.1% of the dentists were highly using Implantium, 38.8% SIC system, and 33.8% Dio system. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, better services and convenience of work stages are the most important priority for dentists in choosing an optimal implant system, and the most used implant systems are Implantium systems, SIC, and Dio. Moreover, the dentists’ highest level of satisfaction in Qom city was from Implantium, SIC, and Dio systems.

Background: Congenital anomalies are one of the major causes of neonatal mortality and causes of childhood and puberty complications. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of congenital anomalies in Isfahan Province, Iran, and to identify associated risk factors. Methods: The data of 156620 births registered in Isfahan Province hospitals during the years 2014 and 2015 were extracted from national datacenter of maternal and neonatal health. 1174 newborns were reported as congenital anomalies. Their medical records were readout, and required information were completed via interviewing the mother or physician, and reviewing the maternity health charts. Results were presented using descriptive statistics. Findings: The biennial prevalence of congenital malformations was estimated to be 7.5 per 1000 births. Undefined anomalies (24.4%) and limb anomalies (18.0%) were the most common ones. In newborns with congenital anomalies, higher rate of consanguineous marriage [26.2% versus 19.0%, odds ratio (OR) = 1.5, confidence interval (CI): 1.10-3.75], and high risk pregnancies (16.2% versus 12.1%, OR = 1.1, CI: 1.17-1.68) were observed. Conclusion: Considering the low prevalence of congenital anomalies in this study, it seems that there is a need for population-based supplementary studies, and establishment of a quality registration system in the province. Preventive interventions to reduce consanguineous marriages and control of risk factors for pregnancy are recommended.

Objective: Point Prevalence Surveys (PPSs) provide useful data on the patterns of in-hospital antimicrobial prescription. Aiming to identify targets for quality improvement, we evaluated prescribing patterns of antimicrobials in the pediatric and neonatal wards of two tertiary referral centers in Iran. Materials and Methods: Two PPSs on antimicrobial use in children and neonates hospitalized in the Nemazee teaching hospital in Shiraz (south of Iran) and Besat teaching hospital in Sanandaj (west of Iran) were performed for two consecutive years. We used a validated and standardized method based on the Antibiotic Resistance and Prescribing in European Children project. Results: Out of a total of 266 and 129 admissions in pediatric and neonatal wards, respectively, 61% of pediatric inpatients and 71% of neonates received at least one antimicrobial. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics in pediatric wards were ceftriaxone (29.2%) and vancomycin (15%), and in neonatal wards, ampicillin (34.7%) and cefotaxime (14.7%). Antimicrobial combination therapies and the parenteral route of administration in pediatric wards were 40% and 91.3%, and in neonatal wards, 63% and 100%, respectively. Empirical antibiotic therapies in pediatric and neonatal wards were 93.6% and 96%, respectively. Conclusion: The high percentage of antimicrobial use, combination therapies, and empirical therapies could be the targets for quality improvement in our hospitals.

Introduction Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). However, there is a lack of data available about SSI in children worldwide, especially from low-income and middle-income countries. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of SSI in children and associations between SSI and morbidity across human development settings.Methods A multicentre, international, prospective, validated cohort study of children aged under 16 years undergoing clean-contaminated, contaminated or dirty gastrointestinal surgery. Any hospital in the world providing paediatric surgery was eligible to contribute data between January and July 2016. The primary outcome was the incidence of SSI by 30 days. Relationships between explanatory variables and SSI were examined using multilevel logistic regression. Countries were stratified into high development, middle development and low development groups using the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI).Results Of 1159 children across 181 hospitals in 51 countries, 523 (45·1%) children were from high HDI, 397 (34·2%) from middle HDI and 239 (20·6%) from low HDI countries. The 30-day SSI rate was 6.3% (33/523) in high HDI, 12·8% (51/397) in middle HDI and 24·7% (59/239) in low HDI countries. SSI was associated with higher incidence of 30-day mortality, intervention, organ-space infection and other HAIs, with the highest rates seen in low HDI countries. Median length of stay in patients who had an SSI was longer (7.0 days), compared with 3.0 days in patients who did not have an SSI. Use of laparoscopy was associated with significantly lower SSI rates, even after accounting for HDI.Conclusion The odds of SSI in children is nearly four times greater in low HDI compared with high HDI countries. Policies to reduce SSI should be prioritised as part of the wider global agenda.

Background: The current status of medical malpractice in Tehran medical centers is unclear, while understanding the situation may help the authorities carefully plan, continuously monitor and, consequently, be sensitive to eliminate the weaknesses. Hence, the present study aimed at investigating the existing problems. Methods: In the present Descriptive and cross-sectional study, all patients complaining of the medical staff of public hospitals affiliated to three medical sciences universities (i e, Tehran, Iran, Shahid Beheshti, and Baqiyatallah) were evaluated in terms of demographic characteristics, physicians gender, the type of hospital, the type of specialty, the type of staff, and reason for complaint (disability, death) using a data collection form, and the results were analyzed in SPSS version 18 using the Chi-square and Fisher tests. P-value

Accurate diagnosis and timely treatment of pneumonia, as one of the most common infectious diseases in elderly patients, require careful attention to the clinical and paraclinical findings, which may be different between the elderly and non-elderly patients. The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings of elderly and non-elderly patients with pneumonia and pneumosepsis. This cross-sectional study was performed on 97 elderly and 93 non-elderly patients with pneumonia, admitted to Sina hospital in Hamadan, west of Iran, in 2017. Patients in both groups were also compared in terms of the underlying diseases, sepsis rate, electrolyte disturbances and CURB-65 criteria. All underlying diseases, except for HIV infection, in addition to clinical findings such as tachypnea, lethargy, decreased consciousness, hypotension, and respiratory alkalosis were significantly more common in the elderly, compared to the non-elderly group. In the elderly group, the average length of hospital stay, sepsis rate, and mortality rate were 9.4 days, 74.2%, and 21.7%, respectively versus 6.2 days, 46.3%, and 3.2%, respectively in the non-elderly group. Patients in the two groups were significantly different in terms of CkkURB-65 criteria and radiological findings. For the timely diagnosis of pneumonia and pneumosepsis in the elderly, it is necessary to consider any alteration in respiratory rate and consciousness status. Also, for proper treatment, the clinicians should pay attention to the existence of any comorbidities and electrolyte disturbances.

Background and Aim: Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional problems during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to assess the theory of planned behavior structures on nutritional prophylactic treatment of anemia in pregnant women of Arak city in 2018. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was carried out on 199 pregnant women in Arak city using simple random sampling in 2018. The data were gathered with valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire including demographic information and the theory of planned behavior structures. The study was conducted to determine the most important predictive constructs of pregnant womens’ behavior using a multivariate linear regression model. Findings: The finding showed that mean age of mothers was 28.81 ± 5.1 years and the mean weekly gestation was 28.04 ± 8.9 weeks and the gestational interval with previous pregnancy was 5.18 ± 3.9 years. Mean±standard deviation of attitude score (3.61 ± 0.62), subjective norm (3.60 ± 0.74), perceived behavior control (3.50 ± 0.58), behavioral intention (3.49 ± 0.61), performance (3.55 ± 0.76) and awareness (0.57±0.2) were observed. Linear regression model showed that the performance score of pregnant women improved for each unit of attitude and subjective norms and perceived behavioral control, respectively, by 0.463, 0.343 and 0.347, respectively. Conclusion: The results emphasize the provision of educational programs on the prevention of anemia in pregnant women with an emphasis on attitudinal structures, mental norm, and perceived behavioral control. It is suggested that at the time of designing interventions to improve the prevention of anemia in pregnancy, the structures of the theory of planned behavior should be considered.

Background: Menopause is a critical and sensitive period and has a common symptom of vasomotor signs, psychologic changes and sleep disorders. With regarding the citalopram complications and effects of Iranian herbs, the aim of this study was to compared the therapeutic effect of the combination of area part of Melissa officinalis and fennel fruits extract with Nigella sativa powder with citalopram on menopausal symptoms of post-menopausal women. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in Islamic Azad University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, from April 2015 to October 2017. 56 postmenopausal women referred to the clinics of Gorgan health centers with the age between 45 and 65 years, natural menopause confirmed by amenorrhea for at least 12 months, discomfort a hot flash were randomized to two treatment groups. Group 1 (28 patients) received 1000 mg (Melissa officinalis extract, Nigella saliva powder, and fennel fruits) and Group 2 (19 subjects) received 20 mg citalopram in an eight-week course of treatment (1 per day for each group). The frequency of the variables in the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) was compared in the two groups before and post intervention. The questionnaire included of twenty-nine questions in four domains of vasomotor, psycho-social, physical and sexual symptoms. Results: The mean age in the herbal treatment group was 47.78±5.5 years and in the citalopram group was 46.4±4.9 years, and t-test did not show this difference in two groups (P=0.362). There was no significant difference in the improvement of menopausal symptoms compared to the citalopram group in the combined product group, but the feeling of anger and fatigue in the citalopram group was greater after treatment (P=0.03). Conclusion: The present study showed that the combination of Nigella Sativa, Melissa officinalis extract, and fennel fruits generally do not reduce menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women, and it's just the feeling of anger and fatigue has been better than the citalopram group.

Introduction: Oral health status is one of the health-related priorities in Iran. The present study was conducted with the aim to systematically review the status of oral health in Iran using the decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index. Methods: In this meta-analysis, all data available on DMFT were reviewed and 35 published studies were included in the study based on search strategy. To estimate overall DMFT and perform the meta-analyses, Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software was used. Results: Of all 876 articles, 35 were included in the study. A total of 21849 individuals were included in the meta-analysis. The overall DMFT index was 3.65 [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.01-4.34]. In addition, this rate was 2.30, 8.60, and 3.85 among children, adults, and children with mental/physical disabilities with (CI 95%, 1.76-2.95), (CI 95%, 6.10-9.60), and (CI 95, 2.98-4.80), respectively. Conclusion: Mean DMFT in the assessed published data was higher than that set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO). Further planning and taking effective preventive measures to improve the oral health status seems necessary.

Background and Objectives: Oral health is a key component of general health and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to determine knowledge, attitude, and performance of medical and dentistry students of Qom University of Medical Sciences in the field of oral and dental health. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was completed by 152 dentistry and medical students of Qom University of Medical Sciences. Using the questionnaire, information on age, gender, knowledge, attitude, and performance of medical and dentistry students of Qom University of Medical Sciences in oral and dental health, were collected. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and logistic regression. The significance level was considered to be less than 0.05. Results: In this study, the mean age of the students was 20.98±2.03, and 50% of them were male. Overall, 45.4% of the students, had high knowledge and 51.3% had positive attitude towards preventive oral and dental care. In multivariate logistic regression model, there was a significant relationship between being male and lower level of knowledge, and there was a significant relationship between being female and studying Dentistry with positive attitude. The Possibility of regular use of dental floss was more reported among female students and students with high knowledge. Also, high knowledge had significant association with dental check-up in recent past year. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the status of knowledge, attitudes, and self-care performance of students about preventive oral and dental care, is at average level, and therefore, designing coherent programs for improving these variables, is necessary to promote personal and professional performance in preventive oral and dental care.

مقدمه: یکی از اقدامات پایشی جهت پیش‌گیری از آسیب‌های پایدار در جراحی‌های ترمیمی ستون فقرات انجام آزمون Wake-up می‌باشد. این مطالعه، با هدف مقایسه‌ی هالوپریدول و پروپوفول جهت نگهداری بیهوشی از نظر بهبود کیفیت و سرعت انجام این آزمون، انجام شد. روش‌ها: در یک کارآزمایی بالینی، 42 بیمار کاندیدای اسکلیوز به طور تصادفی در دو گروه قرار گرفتند. در گروه مورد، جهت نگهداری بیهوشی از هالوپریدول وریدی به میزان 1/0 میلی‌گرم/کیلوگرم در یک دز و نیروس‌اکساید 50 درصد و تجویز هر 30 دقیقه 15/0 میلی‌گرم/کیلوگرم آتراکوریوم و 1 میکروگرم/کیلوگرم فنتانیل استفاده شد. در گروه شاهد، پروپوفول 6/0 میلی‌گرم/کیلوگرم در ساعت و رمی‌فنتانیل 15/0 میکروگرم/کیلوگرم/ساعت تزریق شد و آتراکوریوم مشابه گروه مورد استفاده گردید. دو گروه، از نظر سرعت و کفایت انجام آزمون Wake-up و بعضی شاخص‌های همودینامیک و تنفسی مقایسه شدند. یافته‌ها: فشار متوسط شریانی در گروه مورد (80/2 ± 73/79 میلی‌متر جیوه) با گروه شاهد (60/2 ± 36/ 81 میلی‌متر جیوه) تفاوت معنی‌داری داشت (029/0 = P). تعداد ضربان قلب نیز در گروه مورد (90/3 ± 26/88) با گروه شاهد (20/5 ± 78/92) تفاوت معنی‌داری داشت (040/0 = P). همچنین، درصد اشباع اکسیژن در دو از نظر آماری اختلاف معنی‌داری داشت (001/0 > P). از طرفی، میانگین زمان بیدار شدن در زمان انجام آزمون Wake-up در گروه هالوپریدول 66/0 ± 38/2 و در گروه پروپوفول 44/2 ± 52/11 دقیقه (001/0 > P) و میانگین زمان خارج‌سازی لوله‌ی تراشه در دو گروه پیش‌گفته، به ترتیب 71/153 ± 40/296 و 18/319 ± 33/393 ثانیه بود (001/0 > P). نتیجه‌گیری: استفاده از هالوپریدول در مقایسه با پروپوفول جهت نگهداری بیهوشی در جراحی اسکلیوز ضمن حفظ شرایط همودینامیک و تنفسی مناسب از نظر زمان بیدار شدن و کفایت انجام و موارد موفقیت انجام آزمون Wake-up مناسب‌تر می‌باشد.

Background and purpose: Maximum Oxygen Consumption (Vo2max) is a measurement for assessing cardiorespiratory fitness. Its direct measurement is an aggressive method that is technically and operationally difficult. This study investigated the correlation between this variable and the variables obtained from non-invasive methods of evaluation of body composition indices, step count, and physical activity. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 250 individuals randomly selected from the staff in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Direct measurement of Vo2max was performed using the shuttle standard protocol. Physical composition indices were measured and computed using physical examination. Physical activity was measured using a short form of the International Physical Activity (IPAQ-S) and step count using step by step method. Results: Among body mass indices, only the values for neck circumference (r= 0.241) and body fat (r= 0.522) were correlated with the values of Vo2max (P= 0.000). The correlation between the values of Vo2max and the number of steps was also significant (r= 0.248, P=0.002). There was no significant correlation between IPAQ-S score and Vo2max values. Conclusion: To provide an indirect estimation model of Vo2max based on the values of body composition indices, IPAQ-S score, and step counts, it is necessary to implement similar correlational studies with high sample rates.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a theory-based educational intervention on womenchr('39')s breast self-examination behavior. Methods: This was a semi-experimental study on sample of women referring to health care centers in southern Tehran in 2017. Simple random sampling was applied and 47 women assigned to intervention group and 47 women assigned to control group. The intervention group received 4 educational sessions each lasting for 45 minutes. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected by a self-designed questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model constructs. For statistical analysis, chi-square, paired t-test, independent t-test, McNemar and Wilcoxon tests were used. Data was analyzed using SPSS ver. 23. Results: The mean scores of all constructs of health belief model, with the exception of the perceived benefits in the experimental group, were significantly better than the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the educational intervention based on health belief model has could influence breast self-examination behavior in women.

Objective (s): One of the cancers that endanger womenchr('39')s health is cervical cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an educational intervention based on the BASNEF model on promoting cervical cancer preventive behavior in women. Methods: This was a semi-experimental study among women referring to health centers in Damavand, Iran, in year 2016. Women were randomly assigned either to intervention (n = 60) or control (n = 60) groups. Data were collected by a self-designed questionnaire based on the BASNEF model constructs. After the pre-test, the intervention group received an educational program in 2 sessions each lasting for 60 minutes while the control group received nothing. The analysis was performed using t-test, paired t-test, and McNemar test. In order to analyze data, SPSS version 23 was used. Results: The mean age of women was (31.25 ± 3.38) years. The findings indicated that compared to the control group the intervention group showed significant improvements on knowledge, and behavioral variables (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that educational intervention based on the BASNEF model was effective in promoting cervical cancer prevention behavior in women.

Background: Putting infants in a posture that reduces oxygen requirement and the complications of the continuous positive airway pressure method is very important. This study aimed at examining the effect of the posture on the arterial oxygen saturation, fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) and abdominal distension in premature infants with the respiratory distress syndrome under nasal continuous positive airway pressure. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, 41 premature infants were selected by the simple random sampling and one-group before-after design. The amounts of arterial oxygen saturation, FIO2 and abdominal distension in supine and prone positions were recorded in a data-collection form. Results: There was a significant difference between the mean FIO2 and between the mean abdominal circumference in the prone and supine positions (P=0.022, P

Introduction: Academic achievement is one of the indicators to which the capability of students to complete their program can be judged. To anticipate students’ academic achievement, one can use their attitude toward e-learning and self-regulation. This study aims to investigate the effect of e-learning related attitude as well as self-regulation on academic achievement of students enrolled at Babel University of Medical Sciences. studying at. Method: This cross sectional study investigated 321 out of 3,400 students enrolled at Babol University of Medical Sciences using random stratified sampling method in year 2016-2017 ASK AUTHORS. To collect data, Valtonen E-learning questionnaires and Barnard self-regulation questionnaire were used. To analyze data, Smart-PLS and SPSS were employed. Results: E-learning related attitude had a significant impact on self-regulation and academic achievements. Result also indicated that self-regulation had a significant impact on academic achievement. Concerning study variables according to the year of entry, there was a significant difference between students in attitudes and self-regulation. Students in year four and higher received higher scores than other students. There was a significant difference between students’ attitude and self-regulation in terms of admission year, that is, the scores of senior students were higher than those of other students. Conclusion: Attitude to e-learning and self-regulation had a significant impact on the academic achievement. Students' positive attitudes to e-learning will help them to apply more self-regulation techniques during learning.

Background and Objectives: Health information include a wide spectrum of information, including information about diseases and how to prevent and treat them early, which is one of the main concerns for most people. In this study, the internet search for health information was investigated in referrers to clinics of educational-treatment centers in Qom city. The present research was conducted as a descriptive cross-sectional study on 457 referrers (patients or relatives) to clinics of educational-treatment centers of Qom University of Medical Sciences using quota sampling and a questionnaire adopted from AlGhamdi’s study, 2015. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression at the significance level of p

Introduction: Matching dental discrepancy (DD) with skeletal discrepancy (SD) in pre-surgical orthodontic preparation is crucial for obtaining a desirable surgical outcomes. The aim of the present study was to compare DD to SD in class III patients with and without extraction of the maxillary second premolars. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed subjects in two groups: the 1st group included individuals who were afflicted by class III skeletal and underwent non-extraction orthodontic treatment prior to the surgery; the 2nd group, included: patients who suffered from class III skeletal malocclusion and underwent tooth-extraction orthodontic treatment prior to the surgery. The Wits analysis was applied to establish the apical base relationship between the maxillary and the mandibular arches as measured along the Jacobson occlusal plane. Two angles were applied to determine the upper and lower incisors position to the skeletal base: IMPA (the lower incisor teeth to the mandibular plane) and the upper 1 to SN. The horizontal distance between the upper and lower incisors+2 mm was considered as the dental discrepancy. Results: Forty-six individuals were studied in the 1st group and 31 patients included in the 2nd group. The mean for DD was 7.39±3.40 mm in the 1st group and 9.65±2.57 mm in the 2nd group. The mean was 11.59±4.9 mm in group 1 and 8.48±2.35 mm in group 2. Pearson’s correlation did not show any significant correlation between dental discrepancy and the skeletal discrepancy in the 1st group (P˃0.05). A positive correlation was obtained between dental discrepancy and the skeletal discrepancy in the 2nd group (P˂0.001). Conclusion: It was magnificently attained that extraction of the second premolars of the maxilla could be a better match for DD and SD in the pre-surgical preparation in class III patients with an excessive SD.

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major cause of death in women and men worldwide, while these disease are largely preventable if necessary measures are taken. The present study aimed to determine the predictors of preventive behaviors of cardiovascular disease, based on Health Belief Model in women referred to health treatment centers in Qom city. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 204 women referred to health treatment centers of Qom city in 2014. Sampling was done by cluster sampling method, and data were collected using Health Belief Model-based questionnaire. Data analysis was crried out using statistical tests, including Pearson’s correlation, one-way ANOVA, independent T, and linear regression. The significance level was considered as p

Introduction: The studies have been equivocal about the association of Helicobacter pylori infection with chronic urticaria (CU) given some controversial evidence in recovery of urticaria following H. pylori eradication. Methods: In this clinical trial, 120 patients between the ages of 4 and 20 with intractable CU were recruited. They were grouped into two categories based on urea breath test (UBT) result. UBT positive group received treatment and UBT was repeated after two months while being evaluated for clinical course over a six-month period. On the other hand, UBT negative group received standard treatment for urticaria. Results: All participants with CU have been studied as 40 cases of UBT positive and 80 cases of control group with negative UBT, consisted of 42 (35%) male and 78 (65%) female. Patients had suffered from urticaria on average 29.9 (±26.6) months prior to diagnosis. Statistically significant difference was noted between two groups, in terms of severity of urticaria, frequency of episodes, abdominal pain and duration of being symptomatic prior to diagnosis. After receiving treatment for H. pylori infection, among case group, 27(67.5%) of individuals achieved complete recovery of urticaria and 13 (32.5%) cases demonstrated partial resolution of urticaria, meanwhile 59 cases (73.8%) of control group became completely symptom-free, while 21 (26.3%) of the remaining individuals were in incomplete recovery. In comparison of response to treatment between the above-mentioned groups, there was not any statistically significant difference (P=0.47) Conclusion: Our findings reveal that H. pylori infection might contribute to developing CU which highlights the significance of H. pylori eradication as an approach for CU.