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Background and Purpose: Fatigue control in hemodialysis (HD) patients requires a multidisciplinary approach. This study aimed to comprehensively review the available research literature regarding the nonpharmacological interventions used for reducing fatigue among Iranian HD patients. Methods: In this systematic review, an extensive search of the literature was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, using the keywords related to the purpose. Also, the Persian equivalent of these keywords was searched in Iranian databases, such as Iranmedex and Scientific Information Database (SID) from the inception to June 16, 2020. Results: Of 2,761 articles, 25 studies were included in the review. Among a total of 1,748 Iranian HD patients with a mean age of 54.17 (SD = 12.27) years, 61.38% were male. Interventions such as educational-based programs (n = 5), nutrition-based programs (n = 2), massage therapy (n = 3), exercise-based programs (n = 4), relaxation technique (n = 3), combination of relaxation technique and inhalation aromatherapy (n = 1), energy therapy (reflexology and acupressure) (n = 3), and mind-guided imagery (n = 1) were effective in reducing fatigue in Iranian HD patients. Discussion/Conclusion: These simple, low-cost, and practical interventions can be used for the reduction of fatigue among HD patients by nurses. However, future well-designed studies are recommended to confirm the efficacy of these and other potentially effective interventions for reducing fatigue in HD patients.

Background: Due to the growing prevalence of cancer globally, the disease is considered one of the most important sources of stress, disability, and reduced life satisfaction. Although life satisfaction is supposed to be a relatively stable psychological construct, it may change in response to life events. Life-satisfaction is the assessment of the quality of life according to one’s chosen criteria. Objectives: The purpose of this research is the psychometric evaluation of the Persian version of “Brief Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale” (BMLSS) in Iranian patients with cancer. Methods: The present study was a methodological research, during which the BMLSS was translated and the Farsi version was validated for patients with cancer. Results: The fit indices of confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the dual dimension of the BMLSS. Regarding the convergent validity of the BMLSS, the total score of the instrument had a positive and significant relationship with age and the sense of religiosity. Cronbach's alpha and Intraclass Correlation were calculated. Conclusions: The findings indicated that this Persian version has good validity and reliability and can be used as a comprehensive instrument in Iran.

Background: Mandibular condylar fractures mostly result from traumatic accidents or strife. There is still dispute on the effectiveness of various therapeutic methods. Here we aimed to evaluate and compare the open or closed repair methods for mandibular condylar fractures. Methods: This is a clinical trial that was performed in 2015-2021 in Iran on all patients that referred to our medical centers with mandibular fractures due to traumatic events. Those cases with severe lateral dislocation of the mandibular condyles or severe dislocations of the fractured parts were assigned to the open surgical treatment group. The other patients were treated using Arch bar + intermaxillary fixation (IMF). The patient’s abilities of mouth opening were assessed in centimeters within 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after the operations. Results: 726 mandibular fractures were evaluated. Our data showed that 302 fractures (41.6%) were in the mandibular condyles. Of the 302 condylar fractures, 172 fractures (57.1%) occurred due to automobile accidents and 82 fractures (27.5%) occurred due to direct trauma. 203 patients (67.2%) underwent the close surgical procedures using maxillary and mandibular fixation using arch bar + IMF. 99 patients (32.8%) underwent open mandibular fixation operation and internal fixation (ORIF). Assessments of mouth opening showed significant improvements in this ability within the follow-up period in both groups (P

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the effect of wet-cupping on pain intensity in patients with migraines. Method: 132 patients were diagnosed with migraines. Pain intensity was evaluated based on the visual analogue scale. After homogenizing the data, patients were randomly divided into two (wet-cupping and control) groups. Paired t-test, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean of pain intensity of wetcupping (7.61+/-1.29) and control (7.22+/-1.21) before the intervention showed no significant difference (p=0.401). There was a significant difference between the mean of pain relief intensity of wet-cupping (2.4+/-1.9) and control (0.6+/-0.8) groups before and after interventions (p

Evaluation of cytokine production in COVIID-19 disease, in which the cytokine storm is one of the most important pathological features in complicated cases, especially interleukin 6 as a pre-inflammatory cytokine that exacerbates the immune response, could help determine the pathophysiology of the disease. Examining the level of this cytokine along with other related factors can help to better understand the pathogenesis of this disease. In this cross-sectional study, 48 patients with COVID-19 whose disease was confirmed by swap testing were evaluated. The demographic information of the individuals, the symptoms of the disease, and the ward in which they were admitted were recorded. Blood samples were taken from patients to test for interleukin-6 levels by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA, Roche Diagnostics). Due to the lack of specific treatment protocols for patients and the use of supportive treatments based on meeting the nutritional needs for all patients, blood albumin levels and nutritional status of patients were also evaluated using Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) Form. Their calorie intake was assessed by calculating the number of calories received based on the type of nutrition and compared to the required amount calculated through the Harris-Benedict equation. 48 laboratory-confirmed 2019-nCoV infected patients were included in the study with the mean age of 46.4 ± 8.3 years. 21 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). There was no significant difference between the ICU admitted and patients admitted inward in terms of demographic characteristics, and history of previous diseases (p > 0.05). The average interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients was 72.3±34.4 pg/ml. ICU admitted patients had higher IL6 levels (p=0.001). The mean interleukin 6 level was 89.04±34.1 pg/ml in patients admitted for less than 7 days and it was significantly higher (119.2±28.3) in patients hospitalized for more than 7 days (p=0.001). there was no significant difference in terms of nutritional status and albumin level between ICU admitted and ward admitted patients (p >0.05). Our study shows that there may be possible associations of IL6 and disease severity and ICU stay length.

Background: Cancer is one of the major health challenges that requires palliative care. Home care is one of the most desirable palliative care models. The implementation of any model of care requires the assessment of the views of the service providers and as nurses represent most of the manpower providing home care, their point of view should be considered. Objectives: This research aimed at investigating nurses’ views on the feasibility of home palliative care in Iran. Methods: In this descriptive study, 196 nurses were selected purposefully from all over Iran and filled out demographic information and the Global Home Health Nursing Care Assessment questionnaires. Data analysis was performed, using SPSS software version 20. Results: According to the opinion of the nurses, in order to provide home palliative care for patients with cancer, there is social acceptability and relative satisfaction regarding access to medications, equipment, and pain management. However, lack of access to end-of-life services and hospices as well as achieving educational opportunities are amongst the most important obstacles to the implementation of this kind of care. Conclusions: By having proper planning to promote home palliative care, using the existing potentials as well as applying functional changes to the nursing curriculum at Bachelor’s level, home palliative care can be developed for patients with cancer.

Introduction: In patients with cancer, pain may influence their life style, and feeling of satisfaction and comfort, leading to fatigue, and cause impairment of their quality of life, personal relationships, sleep and daily activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of therapeutic touch (TT) on pain related parameters of in patients with cancer. Methods: In a randomized clinical trial a total of 90 male patients referring to Specialized Oncology Hospital in Mashhad, were conveniently selected and randomly divided into three intervention, placebo, and control groups. The intervention consisted of TT in 7 sessions for a 4-week period. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire along with the Brief Pain Inventory, which were then analyzed and compared using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: By comparing scores parameters of pain scales (general activity, mood, walking ability, relations with other people and sleep) in the three groups, there was no significant difference at the beginning of the first session. However, a significant difference was observed at the end of TT sessions between the three groups (p= 0.001). Furthermore, the groups were compared two-by-two by using Mann-Whitney test and Bonferroni correction, and the result indicated significant differences between the two intervention and placebo groups as well as between the two intervention and control groups. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that TT had a positive impact on the positive management of pain related parameters in cancer patients. Therefore, TT is suggested to be used by healthcare providers as a complementary method for managing pain and its parameters.

Background and Purpose: Heart failure (HF) is a chronic, debilitating disease, and physical limitations and progressive symptoms of which associated with this condition can reduce quality of life (QOL). Patient education regarding heart HF is one of the main components of self-care. In this respect, peer education is significant in improving health and creating a learning environment. This study was performed to determine the effect of peer education on QOL in HF patients. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study performed during 2016, 60 HF patients affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences were randomly divided into intervention and control groups (n=30). After preparing the peer group, four peer-to-peer training sessions were conducted during one month. The Persian version of Ferrans and Powers' Quality Of Life Questionnaire was used for data collection, which was completed by both groups before, just, and one month after the intervention. SPSS version 21 was employed for data analysis. Results: No significant difference was observed between the two groups in overall QOL score and its domains before the intervention (P=0.31). The mean scores of QOL immediately after the intervention were 126.2±6.7 and 163.1±1.6 in the case and control groups, respectively. The mean scores of QOL one month after the intervention were 134.5±0.7 and 169.9±2.3 in the case and control groups, respectively. After the intervention, paired t-test showed that peer education had a significant relationship with QOL of the HF patients (P

Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) techniques has been growing. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine places therapeutic touch (TT) into the category of bio field energy. This literature review is aimed at critically evaluating the data from clinical trials examining the clinical efficacy of therapeutic touch as a supportive care modality in adult patients with cancer. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Scholar Google, and Science Direct) were searched from the year 1990 to 2015 to locate potentially relevant peer-reviewed articles using the key words therapeutic touch, touch therapy, neoplasm, cancer, and CAM. Additionally, relevant journals and references of all the located articles were manually searched for other potentially relevant studies. Results: The number of 334 articles was found on the basis of the key words, of which 17 articles related to the clinical trial were examined in accordance with the objectives of the study. A total of 6 articles were in the final dataset in which several examples of the positive effects of healing touch on pain, nausea, anxiety and fatigue, and life quality and also on biochemical parameters were observed. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, an affirmation can be made regarding the use of TT, as a non-invasive intervention for improving the health status in patients with cancer. Moreover, therapeutic touch was proved to be a useful strategy for adult patients with cancer.