Search

Background and Objective: One of the most daunting challenges presented to patients undergoing hemodialysis is the limitation of function and a marked decrease in daily living activities. Orem's self-care theory in nursing improves the quality of life in patients with chronic disease. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effect of using the Orem self-care model on the daily activities of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 34 hemodialysis patients in the dialysis ward of Ostad Mottahari Hospital of Jahrom in 2022. Data collection tools included Nottingham's daily living activity questionnaire. The training was provided individually during six half-hour sessions in six weeks. Thereafter, immediately and two months after the intervention, the daily living activities of the patients were evaluated. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21) using descriptive statistics and the Frietest, Mann-Whitney, t-test, and Chi-square test. Results: Immediately after the intervention, the mean score in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group (P=0.009). Two months after the intervention, the mean score in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group (P=0.001). In general, the mean scores of daily living activities in the intervention group did not change significantly during the study (P>0.05). In the control group, a significant decrease was observed in the scores of daily living activities (P

Abstract Background Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS), a rare autosomal recessive disorder, is characterized by oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding diathesis, and sometimes severe lung problems and inflammatory bowel disease. Symptoms include skin and hair pigmentation variations, along with visual impairments. Variants in eleven genes encoding protein complexes essential for membrane trafficking and intracellular endosomal transport pathways underlie various recognized HPS subtypes. This study focuses on HPS-9, a subtype of Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome caused by a variant in the BLOC1S6 gene, which is a subunit of the BLOC1 complex. In this study, a novel Copy Number Variation (CNV) in the aforementioned gene in an Iranian family is reported. The study aims to better understand the etiology of HPS-9 symptoms by identifying and confirming the variant and determining whether the gene is expressed despite the deletion. There have only been five reports of this syndrome in the literature thus far. Our novel CNV represents a significant contribution to understanding the genetic basis of HPS-9. Results This study investigates a male patient presenting with albinism. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) identified a homozygous deletion of approximately 350 bp using CNV analysis. The deletion affects the intronic region of the BLOC1S6 gene, causing uncertainties in defining the exact boundaries due to WES limitations. Primer walking and GAP-PCR techniques were used to define the deletion boundaries. Subsequent assessments of this variant across other family members helped identify homozygous affected members and heterozygous carriers. The absence of BLOC1S6 expression in the affected individual was confirmed through Real-time PCR experiments. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the implications for the patient’s healthcare and potential therapeutic approaches. Conclusion This study introduces a case of Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Type 9 (HPS-9) caused by a homozygous deletion in the BLOC1S6 gene. We identified an approximately 7-kb deletion encompassing exon 1 and the intronic region of the gene. The absence of BLOC1S6 expression, confirmed via Real-time PCR, highlights the importance of studying the pathogenicity of the deletion and its impact on the patient’s health. Our findings contribute to the sparse knowledge on HPS-9 and underscore the need for further exploration into the genetic causes of this rare disorder.

Abstract Background The association between Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been established by many studies, but there have been conflicting results from the literature. We performed a meta-analysis of observational studies to evaluate the association between APOA5 gene polymorphisms and the prevalence of MetS. Methods PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus were searched up to April 2024. The random effects model was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the association between APOA5 gene polymorphisms and the prevalence of MetS development. The potential sources of heterogeneity were evaluated by subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses. Results A total of 30 studies with 54,986 subjects (25,341 MetS cases and 29,645 healthy controls) were included. The presence of rs662799 and rs651821 polymorphisms is associated with an approximately 1.5-fold higher likelihood of MetS prevalence (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.32, 1.53, p

Abstract Canavan disease is a leukodystrophy caused by ASPA mutations that diminish oligodendroglial aspartoacylase activity, and is characterized by markedly elevated brain concentrations of the aspartoacylase substrate N‐acetyl‐l‐aspartate (NAA) and by astroglial and intramyelinic vacuolation. Astroglia express NaDC3 (encoded by SLC13A3), a sodium‐coupled transporter for NAA and other dicarboxylates. Astroglial conditional Slc13a3 deletion in aspartoacylase‐deficient Canavan disease model mice (“CD mice”) reversed brain NAA elevation and improved motor function. These results demonstrate that astroglial NaDC3 contributes to brain NAA elevation in CD mice, and suggest that suppressing astroglial NaDC3 activity would ameliorate human Canavan disease.

Background: Clinical judgment is one of the most important competencies required for safe care, decision-making, and diagnosis in nursing profession. Therefore, it is necessary to examine clinical judgment in nursing care. Existing a standard questionnaire based on cultural and social conditions can accurately evaluate clinical judgment in nurses. Objective: The present study aimed to develop and validate clinical judgment capability questionnaire in nurses. Design: The current research was a sequential exploratory mixed method study. Setting: The teaching hospitals affiliated to Jahrom University of Medical Sciences in the South of Iran in 2023. Participants: Twelve clinical nurses were included in the qualitative part and 181 nurses in the quantitative part. Methods: The study was conducted in two parts: one qualitative and one quantitative. In the qualitative part, the concept of clinical judgment was explored using qualitative content analysis. Then, the initial pool of items was generated to develop a questionnaire. In the quantitative part, psychometric properties of the questionnaire were evaluated including face, content, and structure validity and reliability (internal consistency and stability). Results: After examining the psychometric properties, 22 items were developed for the final questionnaire. The results of factor analysis led to the extraction of four factors, including noticing, interpreting, responding, and reflecting. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.95 and its stability with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.84. Conclusion: The developed 22-item questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for assessment of clinical judgment capability in nurses.

Abstract Background: An increase in the temperature of the testis is associated with damage to the epithelium of seminiferous tubules and disruption of sperm production. Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the effect of the Sertoli cell-conditioned medium (SCCM) on the blood-testis-barrier associated genes and spermatogenesis process following scrotal hyperthermia. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 adult NMRI mice (8 wk, 25–30 gr) were allocated into 4 groups: I) control, II) DMEM (10 μl Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium), III) scrotal hyperthermia, and IV) scrotal hyperthermia+SCCM (10 μl SCCM). Hyperthermia was induced by placing the mice scrotum in water at 43 C for 20 min every other day for 10 days. Mice were treated every other day for 5 wk. Then the animals were euthanized, and the tails of epididymis were removed to analyze sperm parameters, testis were taken for stereological assessment, reactive oxygen spices and glutathione levels, and the expression of Ocln, Gja1, Cdh2, and Itgb1. Results: The results of sperm analysis indicated that SCCM-treated mice significantly increased sperm count and motility and reduced DNA fragmentation. In addition, histological and molecular findings showed that the volume of testicular tissue, the number of germ cells, the glutathione level, and the expression of Ocln, Gja1, Cdh2, and Itgb1 genes were significantly increased in the SCCM-treated mice. Conclusion: Findings suggest that growth factors of SCCM stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of germ cells through paracrine effects and upregulate the blood-testis-barrier-associated genes in mice subjected to scrotal hyperthermia.

Abstract Background The human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may affect the miRNA expression pattern during cervical cancer (CC) development. To demonstrate the association between high-risk HPVs and the development of cervix dysplasia, we examined the expression patterns of hsa-miR-194-5p and hsa-miR-195-5p in Pap smear samples from southeast Iranian women. We compared samples that were HPV-positive but showed no abnormality in the cytological examination to samples that were HPV-positive and had severe dysplasia. Methods Pap smear samples were obtained from 60 HPV-positive (HPV-16/18) patients with histologically confirmed severe dysplasia (cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN 3) or carcinoma in situ) and the normal cytology group. The expression of hsa-miR-194-5p and hsa-miR-195-5p was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR, using specific stem-loop primers and U6 snRNA as the internal reference gene. Clinicopathological features were associated with miRNA expression levels. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis was conducted using in silico tools. The Kaplan–Meier survival method was also obtained to discriminate survival-significant candidate miRNAs in CC, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the diagnostic value. Results Compared to HPV-positive cytologically normal Pap smear samples, hsa-miR-194-5p and hsa-miR-195-5p relative expression decreased significantly in HPV-positive patients with a severe dysplasia Pap smear. Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated a significant association between the miR-194 decrease and poor CC survival. In essence, ROC curve analysis showed that miR-194-5p and miR-195-5p could serve as valuable markers for the development of cervix dysplasia in individuals who are positive for high-risk HPVs. Conclusions This study revealed that hsa-miR-194-5p and hsa-miR-195-5p may possess tumor suppressor capabilities in the context of cervical dysplasia progression. However, it remains uncertain whether these microRNAs are implicated in the transition of patients with high dysplasia to cervical cancer. We also showed the potential capability of candidate miRNAs as novel diagnostic biomarkers related to cervical dysplasia progression.

Abstract Background Chronic diseases and metabolic disorders are prevalent health concerns that often escalate with increasing age and thus affect older individuals. The proportion of the elderly population in Iran increased from 7.22% in 2006 to 12.0% in 2023. The current study aimed to evaluate lifestyle patterns and lifestyle risk factors among patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) based on dietary, physical activity, and smoking, as well as MetS components. Methods This cross-sectional study included 582 older people with MetS living in Yazd, Iran. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to determine the lifestyle behaviors of diet patterns, smoking, and physical activity. Dietary intake was measured using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis (PCA). Clinical measurements of MetS components were examined using relevant guidelines. Results The mean age of the participants was 72.71 years (SD = 5.57). Using PCA, two dietary patterns were identified: traditional patterns (e.g., fruits, fish, poultry, vegetables, meats, salt, and sugar sweetened beverages) and high-fat patterns (e.g., high-fat dairy). Applying LCA identified two classes of lifestyle patterns. About 35% (n = 204) of the participants were categorized in a low-risk class (I) and characterized by physical activity (0.93%, n = 190), a traditional pattern for diet (61%, n = 122), and zero probability of smoking. About 65% (n = 378) of the patients were categorized in high-risk class (II) and characterized by low physical activity levels (69%, n = 261), cigarette smoking (71.6%, n = 271), and a high-fat dietary pattern (56.9%, n = 215). Conclusion The results of our study indicated two distinct classes within the patients. In class I, aging patients with MetS exhibited characteristics such as engagement in physical activity and having a traditional pattern for diet. Class II, with a higher prevalence of lifestyle risk factors, included individuals who engaged in cigarette smoking, displayed low physical activity (69%), and having a high-fat diet. The combination of these lifestyle factors exposed them to a heightened risk of developing MetS. The findings could guide healthcare professionals to be aware of the associations between different lifestyle risk factors and to focus on multiple behaviors at the same time.

Introduction: COVID-19 is a new disease infecting a large number of people, and undoubtedly have psychological impacts on healthcare workers. Among healthcare staff, nurses are the most involved ones in fighting against COVID-19. Therefore, this study aimed to explore nurses’ experiences of psychological consequences during caring patients with COVID-19. Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted using the conventional content analysis approach (Graneheim and Lundman) Iran. Participants in this study included 15 nurses working with patients with COVID-19, selected by purposive sampling. Data were collected using in-depth interviews. The rigor of data was assessed using the criteria proposed by Guba and Lincoln. Results: Nurses reported the four following psychological consequences of COVID-19 pandemic on caring patients with COVID-19: post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, physical exhaustion, and aggressive behaviors. Conclusion: The data showed that nurses experienced a variety of psychological consequences during caring patients with COVID-19. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor nurses’ psychological problems and implement interventions to improve their mental health.

Background and aims: Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary brain cancer with no promising curative therapies. It has been indicated that MSCs can interact with the tumour microenvironment (TME) through the secretion of soluble mediators regulating intercellular signalling within the TME. TLRs are a multigene family of pattern recognition receptors with evolutionarily conserved regions and are widely expressed in immune and other body cells. MSCs by TLRs can recognize conserved molecular components (DAPMPs and PAPMPs) and activate signalling pathways, which regulate immune and inflammatory responses. MSCs may exert immunomodulatory functions through interaction with their expressed toll-like receptors (TLRs) and exert a protective effect against tumour antigens. As an emerging approach, we aimed to monitor the U87 cell line growth, migration and death markers following specific TLR3/4-primed-MSCs-CMs treatment. Methods and results: We investigated the phenotypic and functional outcomes of primed-CMs and glioma cell line co-culture following short-term, low-dose TLR3/4 priming. The gene expression profile of target genes, including apoptotic markers and related genes, was analyzed by qRT-PCR. MicroRNA-Seq examined the miRNA expression patterns, and flow cytometry evaluated the cell viability and cycle stages. The results showed significant changes in apoptosis and likely necroptosis-related markers following TLR3/4-primed-MSCs-CMs exposure in the glioma cell line. Notably, we observed a considerable induction of selective pro-apoptotic markers and both the early and late stages of apoptosis in treated U87 cell lines. Additionally, the migration rate of glioma cells significantly decreased following MSCs-CM treatment. Conclusion: Our findings confirmed that the exposure of TLR3/4-activated-MSCs-CMs with glioma tumour cells possibly changes the immunogenicity of the tumour microenvironment and induces immunogenic programmed cell death. Our results can support the idea that TLR3/4-primed-MSCs can lead to innate immune-mediated cell death and modify tumour cell biology in invasive and metastatic cancers.

This study investigates the influence of the morphology of concentrate on the oxidation and sintering rates of magnetite pellets during induration and its impact on the indurated pellets' quality. Various morphologies of concentrates were obtained by ball milling (BM) and high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR). Pelletizing and induration processes were carried out at different temperatures and times. After a comparative study of the physical characteristics of concentrate powders, the effect of morphology was evaluated through thermal behavior during induration. The physical, microstructural, and strength properties of pellets were also investigated. The HPGR concentrate had angular and elongated-shaped particles with a broad particle size distribution, while the BM particles had a more rounded morphology, and their size distribution was narrower. Results showed that BM and HPGR magnetite pellets are oxidized between 270 and 950 °C. HPGR pellets oxidize slower than BM pellets. Cold compressive strength (CCS) was increased by induration time, although porosity was reduced. HPGR pellets had less porosity than BM pellets; however, their CCS was significantly higher. For pellets indurated at 1200 °C, the difference in CCS between HPGR and BM pellets increased with an increment in the induration time and reached 80 kg/pellet in 20 min. The microstructural analysis took place on the concentrate powder and pellets fracture surface. It was found that HPGR powder sinters faster than BM powder due to its angular shape and broad particle size distribution.

Background: Considering the high prevalence of COVID-19 in Iran, it is necessary to allocate health resources in response to this pandemic. Due to limitations in the number of hospital beds, analysis of the length of hospital stay in COVID-19 patients may be helpful for decision-making.Methods: This retrospective cohort study (survival study) was conducted through a follow-up of 1465 COVID-19 patients in Yazd Province, Iran. Demographic, diagnostic, and clinical data were collected using the COVID-19 data dashboard of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used to calculate the survival probability and hazard ratio; the log-rank test was applied to compare survival function according to qualitative variables.Results: The median and mean survival time was 25 days (95% CI: 19.10-30.89 days) and 28.38 days (95% CI: 25.6-31.16 days), respectively. The Survival probability for one week, two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, five weeks, six weeks, and seven weeks and more was 92%, 76%, 57%, 48%, 45%, 33%, and 20%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between survival time and age categories, CT scan results, history of chronic pulmonary disease, history of diabetes, history of cardiovascular disease, and disease severity (P

Abstract Corrosion has caused significant annual costs for building construction and civil architectural designs. In this study, Monosodium glutamate (GLU) was proposed as a potential candidate for long-lasting corrosion inhibition to slow down the rate of corrosion in the concrete pore environment. In this regard, the electrochemical and morphological properties of the various GLU concentrated systems between 1 to 5 wt% in the simulated concrete pore solution media were investigated. According to the EIS results, adding 4 wt% of GLU could reduce the mild steel corrosion process by 86% through a mixed inhibition mechanism. Also, the polarization records represented that the samples’ corrosion current density was diminished to 0.169 µA cm−2 after the addition of 4 wt% GLU into the harsh environment. Using the FE-SEM method, the growth of the GLU layer over the metal substrate was demonstrated. The results of spectroscopic methods, i.e., Raman and GIXRD, demonstrated that GLU molecules were successfully adsorbed over the surface of the metal. Contact angle test outcomes showed that by increasing the GLU concentration to its optimum level (4 wt%), the surface hydrophobicity was dramatically raised to 62°.

Statement of the Problem: Determining the prevalence of respiratory viruses' coinfection with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is essential to defining its true clinical influence.Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate co-infection rates between severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infected patients in Shiraz, south of Iran.Materials and Method: In a cross-sectional descriptive study, oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA), and saliva samples of 50 COVID-19 patients who were referred to Ali-Asghar hospital (Shiraz, Iran) from March to August 2020, were collected. A control group consisted of age and sex-matched healthy participants. The nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal aspirates were collected by sterile swabs. All cases were hospitalized, and all SARS-CoV-2 patients had a fever and respiratory symptoms. The samples were packed in a vial with 1 mL of transport medium and transported to the Valfagre specialty laboratory, where they were tested for RSV using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results: 100 nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal aspirates and saliva samples including 50 healthy controls (24 females, 26 males) and 50 COVID-19 patients' samples (27 males and 23 females) were studied. There was no significant difference regarding age as well as gender between both groups (P>0.05). None of the healthy subjects was infected with RSV; however, 5(10%) patients from COVID-19 group were infected with the RSV virus. Chi-square test did not show a significant difference between RSV infection in COVID-19 patients and healthy subjects.Conclusion: The outcome of present research showed that concurrent RSV with COVID 19 infection might be seen in hospitalized patients in Shiraz Southwest of Iran. For more reliable findings, further research on bigger populations, including more pathogens in several places around the country, and considering the severity of symptoms is required.

Background: The present study was conducted to develop and validate the Persian version of the Volition in Exercise Questionnaire (VEQ). Methods: The statistical population of the analytical cross-sectional research was the students of Kashan University of Medical Sciences in 2022, selected using two-stage cluster random sampling. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to fit the measurement model and factors obtained from exploratory factor analysis.The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and its validity was evaluated using face validity, content validity, and construct validity.The SPSS software version 24 and AMOS software version 24 were used for data analysis. Results: Descriptive findings showed that 310 questionnaires were completed (mean age: 21.94 ± 3.03 years).CVR, CVI, and impact score were calculated for each question. After calculating the CVR coefficients, all questions had a CVR above 0.99. All questions had a CVI above 0.79. In quantitative face validity, all questions had an impact score of ≥ 1.5 and therefore remained in the questionnaire. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis led to the extraction of five factors and the model had a good fit and the values and parameters of the model were statistically significant (χ2/df: 2.15, CFI: 0.915, TLI: 0.884 RMSEA: 0.07). The results showed that the overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient calculated for the tool and its factors were acceptable (0.894). Also, the stability of the questionnaire with a 2-week interval showed satisfactory results (overall ICC: 0.576 Conclusion: The results confirmed the measurement model and showed that the obtained factors had a favorable fit as the original version.

Background: Internet addiction can affect students' general health. Regarding to the importance of healthy eating and the impact on health and academic achievement of students. This research was conducted to aim the assessment of relationship between internet addiction and dietary behavior among students. Methods: In this an analytical cross-sectional study, 373 nursing and midwifery students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences participated in 2020. Data were collected by Young's Internet Addiction Scale, demographic data and Dietary Behavior questionnaire. Data analyzed by SPSS V.21 and descriptive indicators including frequency, percentage, and inferential tests including chi-square test. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered. Results: The majority of the student population had no internet addiction by 91.4%. Also, 8.3% and 0.3% from student population were potential risk and high risk respectively. There was a statistical significant correlation between levels of internet addiction and dietary behavior in high-fat diets (r = 0.483, P = 0.004), snacking (r = 0.455, P > 0.001), emotional eating behavior (r = 0.543, P > 0.001) and poor dietary pattern (r = 0.632; P < 0.001). Conclusions: It is suggested to improve students' beneficial use of the internet with training and improve their dietary behavior.

Abstract Background Selection is one of the essential skills whereby breeders reduce the population size and increase the chance of success. Various selection methods with special applications have been developed. Superior genotypes are assessed according to interesting traits, including univariate, multivariate, phenotypic, genotypic, etc. Methods Mathematical calculation of the traits' importance based on the genetic makeup of investigated population (average degree of dominance/additive involved in the action of genes) and arbitrary genetic parameters is functional. In this paper, a general model for multivariate selection has been presented whereby the selection can be made for (a) more than one interesting trait, (b) the trait(s) with complex inheritance, (c) finding superior genotypes from among a large-scale population, (d) finding superior genotypes in segregating generations and (f) finding tolerant genotypes to stresses. This model is developed based on biometric concepts in four steps. MATLAB script is provided for the model, and users can easily apply that to identify the most suitable genotypes after data collection according to the breeding purposes. Results The main features of this model are simplicity, precision, repeatability, and speed (improving several traits simultaneously). All the steps and the analysis of the results are explained step by step in a case study.

Abstract Background Nursing students face mental and emotional issues due to the nature of their profession. The role of protective factors such as psychological capital and spiritual well-being is vital in improving mental health. This study investigated the mediating role of psychological capital as a mediator in the relationships between spiritual well-being and mental health in Iran. Methods The present study was descriptive, cross-sectional research conducted on 426 undergraduate nursing students within a four-year educational program in Iran from July to December 2021. The participants were selected via convenience sampling. This research used psychological capital scale, spiritual well-being, and general health questionnaire. The collected data were then analyzed using descriptive tests, Pearson correlation, and a structural equation model. Results Spiritual well-being positively affects mental health and psychological capital. Psychological capital also is positively related to mental health. Psychological capital partially mediated the effect of spiritual well-being on mental health. Conclusion According to the results, High level of spiritual well-being can improve nursing students' mental health and the relationship is partially mediated Psychological capital. Therefore, psychological capital is an important factor in improving nursing students’ mental health.

PurposeA semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was developed for use in the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN Cohort), investigating non-communicable disease risk factors. This study aimed to assess the validity and reproducibility of this FFQ, through food group intake.MethodsParticipants, recruited from seven PERSIAN cohort centers, completed the FFQ at the beginning of the study (FFQ1) and at the end (FFQ2), with a 12-month interval in between, during which two 24-h dietary recalls (24 h) were completed each month. Correlation coefficients of the median intake of food groups recorded by the FFQs were compared to those of the 24 h to assess validity, and the two FFQs were compared to assess reproducibility of findings.ResultsOverall, data from 978 participants were included in this validation analysis. Of the 26 food groups assessed, Tea, Sugars, Whole/Refined Grains, and Solid Fats/Oils, had the strongest correlations (0.6–0.79), while Red Meat, Chicken and Eggs showed moderate correlations (0.42–0.59). The weakest correlations observed belonged to Fresh fruit Juice and Other Meats (0.23–0.32). Reproducibility was assessed among those who completed both FFQ1 and FFQ2 (n = 848), revealing moderate to strong correlations in all food groups, ranging from 0.42 in Legumes to 0.72 in both Sugar and Sweetened Drinks.ConclusionThe PERSIAN Cohort FFQ is appropriate to rank individuals based on food group intake.

Abstract Background Elevated blood pressure is associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke and chronic kidney disease. In this study, we examined the socioeconomic inequality and its related factors in prevalence, Awareness, Treatment and Control (ATC) of hypertension (HTN) in Iran. Method The study used data from the recruitment phase of The Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN). A sample of 162,842 adults aged > = 35 years was analyzed. HTN was defined according to the Joint National Committee)JNC-7(. socioeconomic inequality was measured using concentration index (Cn) and curve. Results The mean age of participants was 49.38(SD = ± 9.14) years and 44.74% of the them were men. The prevalence of HTN in the total population was 22.3%(95% CI: 20.6%; 24.1%), and 18.8%(95% CI: 16.8%; 20.9%) and 25.2%(95% CI: 24.2%; 27.7%) in men and women, respectively. The percentage of awareness treatment and control among individuals with HTN were 77.5%(95% CI: 73.3%; 81.8%), 82.2%(95% CI: 70.2%; 81.6%) and 75.9%(95% CI: 70.2%; 81.6%), respectively. The Cn for prevalence of HTN was -0.084. Two factors, age (58.46%) and wealth (32.40%), contributed most to the socioeconomic inequality in the prevalence of HTN. Conclusion The prevalence of HTN was higher among low-SES individuals, who also showed higher levels of awareness. However, treatment and control of HTN were more concentrated among those who had higher levels of SES, indicating that people at a higher risk of adverse event related to HTN (the low SES individuals) are not benefiting from the advantage of treatment and control of HTN. Such a gap between diagnosis (prevalence) and control (treatment and control) of HTN needs to be addressed by public health policymakers.

One of the requirements and guarantees of the principle of neutrality is to conduct preliminary investigations by an independent judge and to distinguish the prosecutor from the investigating authority.In this regard,the investigator entered the structure of the department of justice and the prosecutor's powers were prosecuted as a party to the limited criminal proceedings.Although the principle of impartiality and the necessity of observance of it in Article 3 of the Criminal Procedure Code of our country have been emphasized,but its requirements and aspects Particularly in the preliminary stage of the preliminary investigation, officials have been neglected.In the same way, prosecutors still have the power to investigate and arrest the defendants in a large number of crimes and the investigator does not have complete independence in conducting investigations.Moreover,despite the adoption of the judiciary system,in some crimes and in the courts of the section,the system of public courts (all stages of proceedings by the judge of the unit( are applied,which is contrary to the principle of neutrality.In this article, the principle of neutrality and its components in the preliminary investigation and the degree of adherence of the legislator of our country to the requirements of this principle have been analyzed.

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the major global causes of mortality, described as the most neglected chronic disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of CKD in the setting of the Shahedieh cohort study in Yazd, Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on adults in the baseline phase of the Shahedieh cohort study in Yazd, Iran. In this study, 9781 participants aged 30–73-year-old were investigated. The data used in this study included demographic and clinical variables and blood samples. Adjusted odds ratios were employed using multivariate logistic regression; meanwhile, population attributable risks for CKD were calculated and reported. Results CKD prevalence was 27.5% (95%CI: 26.57–28.34) in all participants, 24% in male, and 30.3% in female. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age (OR = 1.89, 95%CI:1.082–1.96), women (OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.45–1.79), BMI ≥ 30 (OR = 1.40,95%CI: 1.20–1.62), diabetes (OR = 1.38, 95%CI: 1.22–1.57), hypertriglyceridemia(OR = 1.20, 95%CI: 1.01–1.43), history of cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.20, 95%CI: 1.01–1.43), hypertension (OR = 1.18, 95%CI: 1.04–1.33), smoking (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.02–1.33), LDL ≥ 130 (OR = 1.15, 95%CI: 1.01–1.31), history of kidney stone (OR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.01–1.32) and hypercholesterolemia (OR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.01–1.32) as risk factors for CKD. Among individual factors, obesity (11.25%), Hypertriglyceridemia (9.21%), LDL ≥ 130 (7.12%) had the greatest Population-Attributable Fraction, followed by Hypercholesterolemia (5.2%), diabetes (5.05%), smoking (3.73%) and high blood pressure (2.82%). Conclusion The results showed that the main determinants of CKD are potentially modifiable risk factors. Therefore, implementing early detection and screening programs in people at risk as well as preventive measures such as lifestyle modification programs and risk factors controlling can prevent the disease.

Abstract Background and Aims The diabetes is one of the most common noncommunicable diseases, the prevalence of which is increasing worldwide. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, and correlates the factors of diabetes in the setting of Shahedieh cohort study in Yazd, Iran. Method The present study is a cross‐sectional study conducted on the data of the initial stage of Shahdieh Yazd cohort. This study examined the data of 9747 participants aged from 30 to 73 years. The data included demographic, clinical, and blood test variables. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (OR), and the risk factors of diabetes were studied. Meanwhile, population attributable risks for diabetes were estimated, and reported. Results The prevalence of diabetes was 17.9% (CI95%: 17.1–18.9); 20.5% in women, and 15.4% in men. Based on the results of multivariable logistic regression showed female sex (OR = 1.4, CI95%: 1.24–1.58), waist‐hip ratio (OR = 1.4, CI95%: 1.24–1.58), high blood pressure (OR = 2.1, CI95%: 1.84–2.4), cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (OR = 1.52, CI95%: 1.28–1.82), stroke (OR = 1.91, CI95%: 1.24–2.94), age (OR = 1.81, CI95%: 1.67–1.96), hypercholesterolemia (OR = 1.79, CI95% triglyceride: 1.59–2.02), and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) (OR = 1.45, CI95%: 1.4–1.51), as risk factors for diabetes. Among the modifiable risk factors, high blood pressure(52.38%), waist‐to‐hip ratio (48.19%), the history of stroke (47.64%), hypercholesterolemia (44.13%), history of CVD (34.21%), and LDL ≥ 130 (31.03%) had the greatest population‐attributable, respectively. Conclusion The results showed that some of the main determinants of diabetes are the modifiable risk factors. Therefore, implementing early detection, and screening programs for people at risk and preventive measures, such as lifestyle modification programs, and control of risk factors can prevent this disease.

Introduction: Assessing students' professional skills, teamwork and communication proficiency in the clinical environment by multiple evaluators such as educators, peers and students themselves is essential. The aim of this study was to compare the self-assessment method and peer assessment as means of evaluation on the clinical competence of medical students of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 110 medical students of University of Medical Sciences in 2020-2021.Convenience sampling method was used. To assess clinical competence, a valid and reliable questionnaire was used in four areas of communicative proficiency, cooperation with the medical team, patient management and practical skills. Data analysis was performed using independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Result: The results of self-assessment showed that students in the field of practical skills (12.44 ± 3.16) were more capable but in the field of communication skills (7.96 ± 2.01) scored low on their ability. Peer assessment, the highest score was seen in the field of practical skills (12.69 ± 2.44) and the least was allocated to the field of cooperation with the treatment team (7.70 ± 1.96.). Comparing the mean scores of self-assessments with the mean scores of peers demonstrated a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Self-assessment and peer assessment as a complementary, applicable and accessible method for assessing students' achievement of expected competencies can be considered in the evaluation system of clinical education.

Abstract Background One of the global problems is to control the coronavirus epidemic, and the role of different medicines is still unknown to policymakers. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of losartan on the mortality rate of COVID-19 in hypertensive patients. Methods The research sample of analytical study included 1458 patients presenting to COVID-19 diagnostic centers in Yazd that were examined in the first six months of 2020. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, t test, and logistic regression. Results Of 1458 subjects that were studied, 280 were hypertensive of whom 179 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 PCR. The results showed a lower chance of death by more than 5 times in hypertensive patients who used losartan (P = 0.003). Moreover, regarding the effect of losartan on the prevention of COVID-19 in hypertensive patients, it was found that this medicine played a protective role although this relationship was not statistically significant (P = 0.86). Conclusions The results showed that losartan reduced the chance of mortality in hypertensive patients. It is recommended that the effect of losartan and other blood pressure medicines on COVID-19 patients be investigated in larger studies as well as laboratory investigations.

Abstract Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an uncommon proliferative disease with an unknown cause. Its clinical manifestations vary and can involve a variety of organs. To diagnose LCH, radiographs, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings are essential. The gold standard for a definite diagnosis is positive CD1a/CD207 and S100 in the immunohistochemical results. Different treatment plans are available for patients struggling with LCH. To our knowledge, the LCH incidence rate is about 8.9 in one million children and 1–2 cases in one million adults. Our case shows the importance of early diagnosis of this rare condition for the prevention of any further spreading. This case report is about a 35‐year‐old male patient struggling with diabetes insipidus with a chief complaint of tooth mobility. Based on his X‐ray radiographs, osteolytic lesions were found. A biopsy was performed, and due to histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, it was diagnosed as a case of LCH in adults. This paper shows that although the incidence rate of LCH is rare in adults, dealing with a patient struggling with diabetes insipidus and osteolytic bone lesions with an unknown cause, LCH must be taken into consideration. Due to the fact that LCH's first manifestations are mostly first oral, its good prognosis in the early stages, and if it progresses, it can turn fatal, it is important that dentists are aware of this disease, its clinical manifestations, and patient management. In case of suspicion, X‐ray examination, biopsy, histopathological, and immunohistochemical exams must be performed.

Odontomas are benign tumors of jaws with mixed tissue, which are the result of proliferation of odontogenic epithelium and mesenchymal cells. They occur almost centrally and seldom peripherally. There is no report of such a lesion externally while attaching a tooth crown. In this case, we present a lesion on the buccal surface of the right maxillary central incisor crown, which is misconstrued with a dental overgrowth. Such cases may confuse diagnosis during clinical examination. Radiographically, such odontomas may be mistaken for various other lesions. Ultimate diagnosis should be relied upon microscopic evaluation and histopathological results.

No abstract is available.

Background: Patient communication skills are considered as one of the quality standards of nursing care. Educational methods play a major role in increasing nursing students' communication skills. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effects of lecture-based and role-playing educational methods on patient communication skills in nursing students. Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study. The statistical population of the study consisted of 42 third-year nursing students of Jahrom Nursing and Paramedical School in 2020. They were selected by using a census method and were randomly assigned to role-playing and lecture-based educational groups. Communication skills educations were held in three two-hour sessions for three weeks in both groups. Data were collected using a communication skills checklist before and one month after the intervention and analyzed using independent t-test, paired t-test and chi-square and in SPSS-21 software. Results: The mean scores of patient communication skills in the role-playing and lecture-based educational groups were not statistically significant before the intervention (P > 0.05). However, after the intervention, the mean scores of patient communication skills in the students of the role-playing education group (67.38 ± 8.71) were higher compared to students of the lecture-based education group (47.00 ± 12.82) and this difference was statistically significant (p

Abstract It has been necessary to use methods that can detect the specificity of a virus during virus screening. In this study, we use a dual platform to identify any spiked virus and specific SARS-CoV-2 antigen, sequentially. We introduce a natural bed-receptor surface as Microparticle Vesicle-Galactins1 (MV-gal1) with the ability of glycan binding to screen every spiked virus. MV are the native vesicles which may have the gal-1 receptor. Gal-1 is the one of lectin receptor which can bind to glycan. After dropping the MV-gal1 on the SCPE/GNP, the sensor is turned on due to the increased electrochemical exchange with [Fe(CN)6]−3/−4 probe. Dropping the viral particles of SARS-CoV-2 cause to turn off the sensor with covering the sugar bond (early screening). Then, with the addition of Au/Antibody-SARS-CoV-2 on the MV-gal1@SARS-CoV-2 Antigen, the sensor is turned on again due to the electrochemical amplifier of AuNP (specific detection).For the first time, our sensor has the capacity of screening of any spike virus, and the specific detection of COVID-19 (LOD: 4.57 × 102 copies/mL) by using the natural bed-receptor and a specific antibody in the point of care test.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of chemical burns among the patients admitted to Shiraz burn treatment centers. Methods: It is a descriptive study that was conducted on 62 patients with chemical burns who were admitted between 2008 and 2018. The patients’ records were used in the research using the census sampling process. A questionnaire with questions about age, sex, the extent of the burn, the cause of the burn, duration of hospital stay, level of education, incident location, and clinical outcome was used to collect data (survival-death). The data was analyzed by using descriptive statistical methods. Results: The prevalence of chemical burns was 1% during 2008-2018. Acid and alkali burns were accounted for 93.5% and 6.5% of burns, respectively. 77.4% of patients were male, and 22.6% were female. The mean age of patients was 27 years. The average burn percentage was 16%. 70.6% of patients were illiterate or had primary education. Burns occurred at the workplace and home in 12.9% and 66.1% of cases, respectively. Moreover, Burns occurred due to accident (61%), acid attack (29%), and self-immolation (10%). The average length of hospital stay was 20 days. One patient (1.6%) died from burns. Conclusion: The study’s findings revealed that chemical burns were more common in men than women, and the majority of chemical burns occurred at home. To minimize the occurrence of chemical burns and acid attacks, teaching methods of preventing burns is important at home and work, as well as restricting nonspecialists’ access to chemicals.

Abstract Background Patients with multiple sclerosis face numerous problems during their lifetime. A self-report measurement of disease - specific problems is required to be developed for patients with multiple sclerosis based on different cultural factors. Accordingly, this can advance our understanding on the disease-specific problems for care planning as well as improving coping ways and quality of life. This study aimed to develop and validate the scale of disease-specific problems of Multiple Sclerosis. Methods This was an exploratory sequential mixed method study conducted in three phases. Correspondingly, in the first phase, the concept of disease-specific problems was defined using the content analysis approach in patients with MS. In the second phase, the item pool was generated from the findings of the first phase, and in the third phase, psychometric properties of the scale, including face, content, and construct validity and reliability, were evaluated. Results After examining both validity and reliability, 28 items were developed in the final questionnaire. As well, by performing the factor analysis, five factors were revealed as follows: physical problems, psychological problems, emotional problems, family problems, and socio-economic problems. Internal consistency and stability of the questionnaire were calculated as 0.82 and 0.90, respectively, indicating an excellent reliability. Conclusion The 28-item questionnaire is valid and reliable for measurement of level of disease - specific problems in Iranian people with MS.

Introduction: Oral health indicators such as DMFT and the use of denture have significant impact on the quality of individual and social life in women. This study was performed with aim to assess the prevalence of DMFT index and denture use according to fertility status in women of Shahedieh cohort study. Methods: This descriptive-cross sectional study was conducted in 2019 on the data from Shahedieh cohort study with the participation of 4935 women in the age range of 35 to 70 years. Variables related to fertility status such as: pregnancy, number of pregnancies, duration of breast feeding, and menopause were derived from Shahedieh questionnaire after permission. Prevalence of DMFT index and denture use was recorded in these participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 22) and statistical tests of Chi-square, T-test and ANOVA. P

Recently, fuzzy linguistic variables have gained a great deal of attention from researchers in many decision-making problems. In this problems, type-2 fuzzy sets have been used to better cover linguistic data uncertainty. However, many of research works in this regard have been performed in type-2 fuzzy domain and in static mode. Since the decision-making problems in the real world usually fluctuate over time, so it need to use decision-making models in multi-period of time. In the present research, a Multi-Period (Dynamic) Multi-Attribute Group Decision-Making (MPMADM) method is presented based on type-2 fuzzy sets where decision-making attributes are first expressed in linguistic terms and then incorporated, as interval type-2 fuzzy numbers, into problem-solving where a new integrating operator called Multi-Period Trapezoidal Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Number Weighted Arithmetic averaging (MPTIT2FNWA) is defined on type-2 interval fuzzy numbers to integrate decision-making information in multiple periods of time. Once finished with explaining the proposed method, a numerical example is given to evaluate the proposed method in terms of effectiveness and applicability, with the results compared to those of other methods.

Background: Lapse has been one of the major challenges in the treatment of drug dependence sometimes leading to its relapse. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the lapse rate in drug dependent patients as for the 2 methods of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT) in Yazd city. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 626 female and male patients who had referred to 5 SUD treatment centers in Yazd and had been treated with methadone and buprenorphine maintenance were studied. Participants were divided into 2 groups of MMT and BMT and were evaluated based on lapse within 6 months. Results: In this study, 60.9% of patients were treated with methadone but the rest were treated with buprenorphine. Overall, 33.1% of patients lapsed (35.2% for methadone and 29.8%for buprenorphine). Lapse in methadone treatment was correlated with age, occupational status, and duration of treatment ( P .05). Lapse rate in buprenorphine treatment was also related to marital status and the drug used ( P .05). The results demonstrated that given the low dose, lapse stood higher in the buprenorphine group than the methadone group; however, as to high dose, the buprenorphine group showed lower lapse than the other group. Conclusions: In regard with the high rate of lapse, it is recommended to consider the factors related to the 2 methods of treatments, and provide counseling and training programs to lower lapse in the patients. Ethics Committee (REC) approval code: IR.SSU.REC.1394.158.

Background:Bipolar disorder is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine the elevated lipoprotein (a) level and 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease among patients with bipolar disorder. Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients with bipolar disorder in Yazd province, Iran. Elevated lipoprotein (a) concentration was defined as the lipoprotein (a) level of greater than 30 Mg/dL. The Framingham risk equation was used to estimate the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease. The data were analyzed using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test, and independent sample-t or Mann-Whitney test. Statistical significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results:In this study, 75 male (75%) and 25 female (25%) patients with bipolar disorder were investigated. Based on the findings, smoking was significantly more prevalent among men than women (p 0.05). High levels of lipoprotein (a) were observed in 41% of the participants. Most individuals (77.3%) were at low risk for developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years. Conclusion:The findings suggest a high level of lipoprotein (a) among patients with bipolar disorder. Most participants were at a low risk for developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years. Psychiatrists and health professionals should be informed about cardiovascular risk factors in bipolar patients and monitor them regularly for early detection.

Background and purpose: Adolescence is an important and vital stage of life that is associated with physical, emotional, and evolutionary changes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based counseling approach on health promoting behaviors in adolescents with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Materials and methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in 86 students with PMS selected from high schools in Meybod, Iran 2019. They were randomly divided into intervention group (n= 43) and control group (n= 43). The intervention group attended counseling sessions based on mindfulness approach for 8 sessions/2 hours/ a week. Demographic characteristics were recorded and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) and premenstrual symptoms screening tool (PSST) were administered. The scales were completed in both groups at beginning of the study, and at weeks eight and 12 after the intervention. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V19 applying independent t-test, repeated measures test, and LSD test. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in demographic variables (P>0.05). Before the intervention, there was no difference between the two groups in mean scores for health-promoting behaviors (P= 0.161), but, compared to the control group, the mean scores for health-promoting behaviors in intervention group showed significant increase immediately and one month after the intervention (P

Introduction: Due to the global burden of measles, many measures have always been taken to control and eradicate this disease. However, epidemics of this disease still sometimes occur in some parts of the world and Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of measles cases in the south of Kerman Province during 2014-2015. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 326-suspected cases of measles using a checklist and review forms. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16. Results: During the years of 2004 and 2005, out of the total number of suspected cases (n=326), 23% were laboratory confirmed. The highest percentage of measles was in the age group of 1 to 4 years (45.3%) and above 10 years (30.7%) and the highest cases of measles were among males (61.3%). Most cases of definite measles were in people without a history of vaccination (61.3%), in Iranians (81.3%) and in rural areas (73.3%). Conclusion: According to the results of the study, there is a need to pay attention to additional immunization in remote areas and in places of gathering of foreign nationals. The highest prevalence of measles were among people who did not have a history of measles vaccination, it seems that the measles vaccination program has not been very successful in the cities covered by the Jiroft University of Medical Sciences. It is recommended that additional studies be performed to determine the risk factors for measles.

Background: Lifestyle modification is an important factor in promoting the health of middle-aged women. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of telephone counseling on the nutritional status and physical activity of middle-aged women in Yazd, Iran. Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was done on 50 middle-aged women during September to February 2017. Eligible women was recruited from religious places and then were randomly assigned into two intervention and control groups. The participants in the intervention group received the counseling program in 8 calls for 20-30 minutes twice per week. The control group received no intervention. Data were gathered using a health promoting life-style questionnaire for middle-aged women in three time points; before intervention, immediately, and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed in SPSS 16 software using Chi-square, repeated measures ANOVA and independent t-test. A significance level was considered P

Abstract Introduction:Health literacy is one of the effective factors in health promotion of chronic patients. However, little attention has been paid to it; no exact and clear definition of health literacy has ever been accessible in chronic diseases. This study was conducted with aim of defining and clarifying attributes, antecedents, and consequences of health literacy in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Methods: Rodgers’ evolutionary method of concept analysis was used to clarify the concept of health literacy in MS patients. A literature review was conducted with key terms "multiple sclerosis", "health literacy", "information literacy", "functional health", "health education", "health promotion" and "health behavior". Eight hundred and sixty papers for the period 1980– 2019 were found and finally 23 articles and texts were selected for the analysis. Data analysis was carried out using a thematic analysis. Results: Health literacy in MS patients is a multidimensional concept with forth attributes: health information evaluation, understand disease and its related issues, reading skills and capacity to use knowledge. Ability to read and comprehend, interacting with health personnel, and interacting with peers as an antecedents and improved self-care, health promotion, medication adherence, and decreased use of health care services to be the consequences of these attributes were found. Conclusion: The findings can add knowledge about the concept of health literacy in MS patients. Also, health care professionals can use a deeper understanding of the concept of health literacy in providing care plan for MS patients.

Introduction: Determining methods for assessing heat stress in different work environments is one of the major challenges for researchers in this field. The purpose of this study was to validate WBGT index and heat pressure assessment (HPA) by some physiological responses in Iranian South Oil Company. Material and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 154 employees of Kharg, Asalouyeh and Mahshahr oil terminals recruited from three different working conditions including indoor, outdoor and rest environments in the summer. The amount of heat stress in the workplace was evaluated by WBGT index HPA method. To meet this purpose, the environmental parameters i.e., temperature, wet temperature, radiation temperature, relative humidity, water vapor pressure and air flow rate were determined. In addition to the direct reading method by the WBGT meter, ISO 7243 was used to calculate the WBGT index. In order to validate the heat stress indicators, physiological parameters of oral temperature, tympanic temperature and work metabolism were measured. Results: The results of paired sample t-test showed a significant difference between WBGT index and HPA in indoor and outdoor environment (P

Introduction: Current medications used for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) such as mercaptopurine target molecular factors involved in its onset and progression including DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) because these enzymes are implicated in methylation and therefore expression of genes which are related to cell proliferation. This study evaluated the effect of mercaptopurine on the DNMT3A gene expression. Materials and Methods: The study was an analytical study of before and after type, performed on 8 children with B-cell ALL referred to children’s medical center of Tehran enrolled by convenience sampling. Their blood samples were taken in pre-treatment phase as well as 2 months after treatment with mercaptopurine. Ten healthy children referred to Yazd central medical laboratory were also sampled. RNA was extracted from the blood samples, and DNMT3A gene expression was measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: DNMT3A gene expression in patients with B-cell ALL who received mercaptopurine was significantly higher compared with pre-treatment time (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Increased expression of this regulatory gene occurred due to drug mercaptopurine. So, the mechanism of action of this drug may be through epigenetic processes due to higher methylation of DNA in leukemic cells.

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) require health literacy to manage the symptomsand problems of the disease, which improves their quality of life. Health literacy is recognized asa critical indicator of health care outcomes. This study aimed to compare the effect of peer-led andlecture-based education on health literacy in MS patients.Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on MS patients in Jahrom from December2018 to November 2019. 90 patients were selected using convenience sampling and then assigned intocontrol (n=45) and intervention groups (n=45). While routine education was presented to patients inthe control group, peer education intervention was held for the intervention group. The number ofsessions held for both groups was six sessions (one session per week). For data collection, MS healthliteracy questionnaire (MSHLQ) was used before and one month after the intervention in both groups.Data were analyzed through SPSS version 21 using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test and t-test. Thesignificance level was considered p

Background and aim: Adjunctive therapy can increase periodontal treatments' success, and to date, various drugs had been suggested. This study aimed to test the efficacy of a new formulation of locally delivered- slow-releasing 10% doxycycline (DOX) gel as a thermogelating system by histologic evaluation in rats with experimental periodontitis. Materials and methods: Periodontal disease was induced with a ligature in maxillary left and right upper first molars of twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats in a seven-day duration. Left molars were treated with DOX gel while the right ones received vehicle drug in the subgingival area. Animals were randomly divided into two groups (each group contained ten rats). One group received the drug only once, while the second one was treated with twice the drug's application. After seven days, animals were killed and prepared for histologic evaluation. Results: Application of DOX gel reduced the degree of inflammation, presence of osteoclasts and resorptive lacuna, and the amount of disorientated collagen fibres after one week compared to teeth treated with vehicle drug (p

Introduction: Social and organizational supports are effective factors closely related to job burnout and Due to the limited studies in this area on Iranian workers, this study aims to determine the predictability of social support and organizational support in job burnout for workers in Yazd. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 200 textile workers in Yazd through stratified random sampling. The data were collected by the tools including demographic characteristics, questionnaires of social support, organizational support, and Maslachchr('39')s job burnout. The data were analyzed by SPSS using the Pearson correlation coefficient and the multiple linear regressions. The Significance level of tests was considered as p

Statement of the Problem: Mel-CAM (CD146, MUC18) is a 113-kD heterophilic cell-cell adhesion glycoprotein found in normal and tumoral tissues. The biologic functions and role of the Mel-CAM can be employed as a diagnostic marker in pathology. Purpose: The aim of this study was assessing the expression of Mel-CAM in common oral carcinomas like salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to differentiate the OSCC from high-grade MEC. Materials and Method: This study was performed on 19 specimens of MEC and 17 specimens of OSCC, which were retrieved from the archive of Department of Pathology of Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Immunohistochemical staining was performed by using antibody against CD146. The data were analyzed using SPSS software through Mann-Whitney, Spearman's correlation coefficient, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: Mel-CAM was expressed in all MEC samples and 10 OSCC cases. The two groups were significantly different regarding the CD146 expression (p= 0.035). Furthermore, the CD146 expression was found to be significantly correlated with the invasion mode (p= 0.002), tumor size (p= 0.012), and histological grade (p= 0.024) in OSCC group. No significant correlation existed between the expression, intensity, and location with the histological grade of MEC (p> 0.05) nor was any significant correlation detected between the CD146 expression and lymph node metastasis in neither group. Conclusion: Regarding the significant correlation between the CD146 expression and the prognostic factors in OSCC, this marker may predict the prognosis in OSCC patients, but not the MEC lesions. It cannot be used for differentiating high-grade MEC and OSCC.

Objective (s): Measles is a severe acute respiratory viral infection. The single-stranded RNA morbillivirus from the Paramixoviridea family is easily transmitted among humans through coughing or sneezing droplets. Methods: This was a case-control study that was carried out among people living in cities under coverage of Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran in 2014-2015. Seventy-five patients with confirmed measles (case group) and 150 healthy individuals (control group) were selected for the study. The case group included entered into the study through census method. The control group was randomly selected by simple random sampling from the people who had the inclusion criteria. To control the confounding factors, each case was matched with two persons from the control group for age and gender. Conditional logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Results: After adjusting for confounding variables, a significant relationship between measles and, not receiving the vaccine (OR=14.35, CI 95%=7.03-29.27), the history of contact with the definite cases of measles (OR=1.9, CI 95%=1.09-3.43), non-native residents (OR=5.46, CI 95%=1.88-15.78), motherchr('39')s age of older than 30 years at birth (OR=2.8, CI 95%=1.23-6.38) were identified. Conclusion: Based on the findings independent risk factors for developing measles disease were not having measles vaccine, non-native people, history of contact with definite cases of measles and, motherchr('39')s age at birth.

Abstract Background Consuming oral contraceptive pills is one of the methods for preventing pregnancy worldwide. As using the pills has always caused the greatest concern for the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases and also given the limited conducted studies in this regard, this study was carried out to determine the impacts of low dose birth control pills on plasma levels of nitric oxide, homocysteine, and lipid profiles in the exposed vs. non exposed women as the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Methods This was a combined cohort study conducted on 100 women, having the age range 20–35 years and normal menstrual cycles, referred to the health care centers in Yazd, Iran. The demographic data were obtained through face to face interviews performed by the researcher. Anthropometric indexes were measured and biochemical factors were determined by testing blood samples. Then, using SPSS 16 and statistical independent t-test and Chi- square, the data were analyzed. Results The mean ± standard deviations of plasma levels of homocysteine, nitric oxide, cholesterol, triglyceride, Low Density Lipoprotein, and High Density Lipoprotein levels in the group consumed low dose contraceptive pills were 3.84 ± 2.35 μmol/l, 181.36 ± 90.44 μM, 180.7 ± 38.28 mg/dl, 129.82 ± 47.92 mg/ dl, 101.42 ± 30.66 mg/dl, and 56.46 ± 8.42 mg/dl, There were significant statistical differences between those consuming the pills and those not consuming the pills regarding cholesterol (P

Background: Illness Perception and self-care behaviors are essential elements in treatment and management of patients with diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of group counseling with a cognitive-behavioral approach to illness perceived and self-care behaviors in middle-aged women with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: The present study is a quasi - experimental study with two groups of intervention and control in parallel with pre-test, post-test and one month control in Isfahan, Iran, comprehensive health centers. For each group, 32 middle-aged women with T2D were selected by convenience sampling. Both groups received routine care of diabetic patients, but the experimental group received a cognitive behavioral group-counseling program. Data was collected through demographic questionnaire, the illness perception questionnair (IPQ), and summary of diabetes self-care activity (SDCS) and a checklist. Data was analyzed by SPSS 16 software using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and independent t-test with significance level of 0.05. Result: The groups were not significantly different demographically. The mean age was 38.65±4.23 and 39.19±4.87, and the duration of diagnosis was 2 years and less. Of patients, 77% had a history of hypertension or hyperlipidemia or both in both groups. There were no significant differences in self-care behaviors (t=-0.0222, P=0.859) and illness perception (t=-0.178, P=0.859) in the pre-test. However, in the post-test, the intervention group showed a significant improvement in self-care behaviors (t=4.25, P=0.01) and disease perception (t=3.93, standard deviation=0.87). There was also an improvement in self-care behaviors (t=4.41 and P=0.014) and illness perception (t=414 and P=0.01) in the follow-up period, indicating the persistence of changes in counseling Conclusion: Group counseling based on cognitive-behavioral approach can enhance the perception of disease and self-care behaviors in T2D. Therefore, it can be used as a therapeutic approach to medication for patients with T2DM.

Background: Using blood-based biomarkers such as microRNAs (miRNAs) may allow particularly effective and minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. Objective: We evaluated the differential expression of circulating miRNA-185-5p (miR-185-5p), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) target genes between endometriosis and healthy women. Materials and Methods: 25 women with a history of endometriosis (grad III-IV) diagnosed by laparoscopy as the case group and 25 women without endometriosis underwent laparoscopy for ovarian cysts or pelvic pain as the control group were enrolled in this case-control study. Blood samples were obtained, and total RNA was used for high-throughput small RNA sequencing, and this was confirmed by means of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: miRNA expression profiling using non-coding RNA sequencing revealed that one miRNA including miR-185-5p was significantly down-regulated in the case group compared with the controls. The qRT-PCR results showed significant downregulation of the expression level of miR-185-5p (p < 0.01) in the plasma of the case group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed the area of miR-185-5p under the ROC curve for endometriosis diagnosis was 0.919 (p < 0.001). The RT-PCR results demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the expression of VEGF and PDGF mRNA of blood samples in the cases compared to the control group (PDGF, p = 0.09 and VEGF, p = 0.36). Conclusion: The low expression of miR-185-5p in the plasma of women with endometriosis could be employed as an important non-invasive biomarker for early detection and screening of endometriosis by blood samples.