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Background and aims: Head lice infestation is a global parasitic disease that poses a significant threat to public health and is considered a health priority. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between epidemiological factors and the prevalence of head lice infestation in girls' primary schools in Kabudarahang County. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted during the academic year 2022-2023. Information on infested students in girls' elementary schools was recorded following identification. The results were analyzed with the Chi-square test. Results: In this study, 1,427 students were examined, and 272 were identified as having head lice infections.The prevalence of head lice infestation was found to be 19.1%. Significant associations were observed with factors such as age, educational levels of parents, number of family members, use of personal combs, bathing frequency per week, and previous disease history (p

Abstract Blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE) is a challenging disease because of the significant impact of delayed diagnosis on patients. In this study, excised heart valves and blood serum samples were collected from 50 BCNE patients in two central hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Sera were tested by IFA for the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against Bartonella quintana and B. henselae. Genomic DNA extracted from the heart valves was examined for Bartonella-specific ssrA gene in a probe-based method real-time PCR assay. Any positive sample was Sanger sequenced. IgG titer higher than 1024 was observed in only one patient and all 50 patients tested negative for Bartonella IgM. By real-time PCR, the ssrA gene was detected in the valve of one patient which was further confirmed to be B. quintana. Bartonella-like structures were observed in transmission electron microscopy images of that patient. We present for the first time the involvement of Bartonella in BCNE in Iran. Future research on at-risk populations, as well as domestic and wild mammals as potential reservoirs, is recommended.

Today, because of the increasing level of people's need to improve wellbeing in social and individual life, air pollutants have been released that have Pollution harms both human health and the environment. This research examined Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes (BTEX) levels in indoor air across different global locations from 1963 to 2023. The investigation employed both; a systematic review and meta-analysis method. The health risks associated with long and short-terms exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene were assessed. That average concentration benzene was 23.07 μg⁄m3, toluene was 131.60, ethylbenzene was 28.91, and xylene was 63.87. Also, the health risk assessment based on a 95% confidence level showed that the pollutants in question play a role in causing diseases such as lung neoplasm, stomach neoplasm, colon neoplasm, liver neoplasm, headache, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, etc. Consequently, it is crucial to implement stringent measures aimed at lowering the levels of these contaminants in indoor spaces.

Background and Objective: The burden of care reduces the stability of family caregivers of stroke survivors in life. Resilience helps them to strengthen stability and adapt to life's adversities. Due to the global spread of the Internet, the provision of virtual-based educational interventions to affect resilience and burden of care seems useful. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 86 family caregivers of stroke survivors in Hamadan Besat Hospital were selected by convenience method and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Before the intervention, data were collected employing the Modified Rankin disability scale, demographic form, Connor-Davidson resilience, and Novak & Guest caregiver burden questionnaires. Thereafter, the intervention group received virtual training and telephone follow-up for a month. At the end of the intervention, as well as two weeks and one month later, resilience and burden of care were re-examined. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 25) using descriptive statistics, Independent t-test, Chi-Square, Fisher's Exact Test, and Repeated Measures ANOVA. Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in resilience and caregiver burden between the two groups. Nonetheless, after the intervention, a significant difference was observed in increasing resilience in the intervention group and decreasing it in the control group. Moreover, the burden of care increased in the intervention group and increased in the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Considering the positive effect of virtual training and telephone follow-up on caregivers' resilience and burden of care, it is suggested that healthcare providers, especially nurses, make use of this method in their training.

Abstract Objectives Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is highly prevalent and annoyingly in patients with diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC) compared to pregabalin in PDN. Methods One hundred two eligible patients with type 2 diabetes and PDN were randomly recievied pregabalin (150 mg/day) or N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) (600 mg/ twice a day) for 8 weeks. Mean pain score, Sleep interference score (SIS), Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC), and also, serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total thiol groups (TTG), catalase activity (CAT), nitric oxide (NO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. Results NAC was well tolerated in all patients. The decrease in mean pain scores and increase in SIS was similar between two groups. More improvement in PGIC and CGIC from the baseline was reported in NAC group. NAC, significantly, decreased serum levels of MDA, and NO, but increased TAC, TTG, and CAT. Pregabalin, significantly, decreased serum levels of MDA, and NO and increased TAC. Discussion NAC is efficacious in alleviate symptoms of PDN which is probably related to its antioxidant effects. Trial registration The research protocol received approval from the Ethics Committee of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (IR.UMSHA.REC.1397.137). The trial registry URL and number in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): https://www.irct.ir/trial/33313 , IRCT20180814040795N2 (Registration date: 2019-01-21, Retrospectively registered)

Abstract Background In this umbrella review, we systematically evaluated the evidence from meta-analyses and systematic reviews of maternal factors associated with low birth weight. Methods PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched to identify all relevant published studies up to August 2023. We included all meta-analysis studies (based on cohort, case-control, cross-sectional studies) that examined the association between maternal factors (15 risk factors) and risk of LBW, regardless of publication date. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the summary effect size along with the 95% confidence interval (CI), 95% prediction interval, and heterogeneity (I2) in all meta-analyses. Hedges’ g was used as the effect size metric. The effects of small studies and excess significance biases were assessed using funnel plots and the Egger’s test, respectively. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the AMSTAR 2 tool. Results We included 13 systematic Review with 15 meta-analysis studies in our study based on the inclusion criteria. The following 13 maternal factors were identified as risk factors for low birth weight: crack/cocaine (odds ratio [OR] 2.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.26–3.52), infertility (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.2–1.48), smoking (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.76–2.28), periodontal disease (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.67–3.47), depression (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.34–2.53), anemia (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.13–1.55), caffeine/coffee (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.14–1.57), heavy physical workload (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.00-3.47), lifting ≥ 11 kg (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.02–2.48), underweight (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.20–2.67), alcohol (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04–1.46), hypertension (OR 3.90, 95% CI 2.73–5.58), and hypothyroidism (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.01–1.94). A significant negative association was also reported between antenatal care and low birth weight. Conclusions This umbrella review identified drug use (such as crack/cocaine), infertility, smoking, periodontal disease, depression, caffeine and anemia as risk factors for low birth weight in pregnant women. These findings suggest that pregnant women can reduce the risk of low birth weight by maintaining good oral health, eating a healthy diet, managing stress and mental health, and avoiding smoking and drug use.

Electromobility contributes to decreasing environmental pollution and fossil fuel dependence, as well as increasing the integration of renewable energy resources. The increasing interest in using electric vehicles (EVs), enhanced by machine learning (ML) algorithms for intelligent automation, has reduced the reliance on. This shift has created an interdependence between power, automatically, and transportation networks, adding complexity to their management and scheduling. Moreover, due to complex charging infrastructures, such as variations in power supply, efficiency, driver behaviors, charging demand, and electricity price, advanced techniques should be applied to predict a wide range of variables in EV performance. As the adoption of EVs continues to accelerate, the integration of ML and especially deep learning (DL) algorithms will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable transportation. This paper provides a mini review of the ML impacts on mobility electrification. The applications of ML are evaluated in various aspects of e-mobility, including battery management, range prediction, charging infrastructure optimization, autonomous driving, energy management, predictive maintenance, traffic management, vehicle-to-grid (V2G), and fleet management. The main advantages and challenges of models in the years 2013–2024 have been represented for all mentioned applications. Also, all new trends for future work and the strengths and weaknesses of ML models in various aspects of mobility transportation are covered. By discussing and reviewing research papers in this field, it is revealed that leveraging ML models can accelerate the transition to electric mobility, leading to cleaner, safer, and more sustainable transportation systems. This paper states that the dependence on big data for training, the high uncertainty of parameters affecting the performance of electric vehicles, and cybersecurity are the main challenges of ML in the e-mobility sector.

This collection, extracted from the Special Issue “Climate Change and the Impacts on Power and Energy Systems”, features ten papers that address key topics related to the resilience and adaptation of electrical power and energy systems in response to climate change [...]

Background: The exposure to toxic metals is a major global health concern due to their stability, bioaccumulation, and high toxicity. These metals can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta and exposure can last throughout life. This systematic review focused on the potential risks of arsenic (As) in breast milk to newborns and infants. Methods: Multiple keywords, such as “human milk” and “breast milk”, associated with “toxic metal”, “heavy metal” or “arsenic” were used to search related databases. Of the 151 articles found, 45 studies were eligible for qualitative review, and 34 were included in the meta-analysis. Results: The lowest and highest levels of arsenic were found to be 0.04 ± 0.70 and 27.75 ± 28.30 μg/L, respectively. The overall pooled average concentration (95% CI) of arsenic in breast milk was 0.11 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.12). The results indicated that infants who consume breast milk are within a safe limit for cancer risk. Conclusion: The exposure to significant metals is associated with disease development. Therefore, ongoing knowledge creation through mental acts and continuous observation is necessary to better understand the effects of heavy metals in future studies.

Background: Diabetes is the most common and severe metabolic disease in human. Self-treatment behaviors are common problems among diabetic patients.Aim: The present study was conducted with aim to identify the factors related to self-treatment behaviors among type 2 diabetic patients based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 381 diabetic patients referred to Hamadan Diabetes Research Center in 2019, which were recruited with a simple sampling method. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, including demographic characteristics and TPB constructs. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 18) and descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Independent t-test, and Linear regression. p

Abstract Background This study aims to synthesize and characterize hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nano-HA) and evaluate their effects on the remineralization of demineralized enamel in the presence to Er,CR: YSGG laser irradiation. Materials and methods Enamel specimens from 44 human molars were divided into four groups: control, demineralized enamel, demineralized enamel treated with nano-HA, and demineralized enamel treated with nano-HA followed by Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation (0.5, 20 Hz, 60 µs, 20 s). Vickers microhardness test was used to evaluate the enamel surface hardness. The morphology and chemistry of enamel surfaces were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. Result The result of this study showed that the application of Er,CR: YSGG laser irradiation to demineralized enamel treated with nano-HA had the highest impact on its microhardness. Conclusion ER,CR: YSGG laser irradiation promotes enamel remineralization after treatment with nano HA.

In this paper, we introduce a new transistor structure that has improved alternating current and direct current parameters compared to the basic structure. The cutoff frequency of the proposed structure is 33 GHz, while the cutoff frequency of the basic structure is 25.5 GHz. One important improvement is that the gate-drain parasitic capacitors in the channel area are nearly zero, thanks to the presence of an air layer between the gate and source electrodes and a nickle layer in the burried oxide. In addition to the alternating current parameters, the direct current parameters have also been strengthened. The maximum output power density for the new structure is 1.08 W/mm, compared to 0.455 W/mm for the normal structure. Furthermore, the breakdown voltage in the new structure has increased to 30 V, while the basic structure has a breakdown voltage of 16 V. These improvements are attributed to the transfer of the gate to the source and the increased distance from the drain region, as well as the presence of two layers of oxide and air on both sides of the gate. Consequently, the new structure can effectively operate at high voltages and powers.

Abstract Aims To identify informational and practical deficits of mothers of hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis and to determine the effect of intervention on enhancing mothers' participation in providing care. Design This study was a two‐group pre‐ and post‐test quasi‐experimental study. Methods Sample size was eighty mothers of hospitalized children younger than 5 years with acute gastroenteritis in each group using consecutive sampling method. Based on the needs assessment, the training and practical demonstration were performed individually in the intervention group. The control group received usual and standard care. The care practice of mothers were observed before and three times after the intervention at a 1‐day interval. The confidence level was 0.95. Results After intervention, there was a significant increase in the mothers' care practice in the intervention group and a significant difference between the two groups. The participatory care approach could enhance mothers' practice in providing care to the hospitalized children with AGE.

Abstract Objective Suicide is a significant public health concern worldwide, and efforts to prevent it are crucial. This study aims to assess suicide ideation among transgender individuals in Iran. A cross-sectional design was used, with 235 transgender participants recruited through snowball sampling across Iran. The data collection included a questionnaire containing demographic inquiries, while the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation was employed to gather data. Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed using SPSS software. Results The findings indicate that the prevalence of suicidal ideation among the transgender individuals in the study was 83%, with a mean score of 12.8 ± 8.8 on the suicide ideation scale. Individuals with lower levels of education, younger age, unemployment, and being divorced or single demonstrated significantly higher scores compared to others (p

Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact of training based on the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM) on blood pressure and self-management of patients with hypertension. Methods: This randomized controlled trial study was conducted. Seventy-two hypertensive patients were referred to the Farshchian Hospital clinic in Hamadan from April 2021 to March 2022. Samples were selected and randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 36) and control group (n = 36). The intervention group participated in a training program based on the CSM in five sessions of 30–45 min for one month. Phone follow-up was also done once every three days. The control group only received routine clinic education. The clinic’s nurse measured the patients’ blood pressure, and the participants completed the self-management questionnaire before and three months after the start of the study. Results: A total of 68 participants completed the study. Results showed that before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean scores of self-management and its dimensions, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure between intervention and control groups (P > 0.05). However, after the intervention, the mean of systolic blood pressure (116.21 ± 14.52 vs. 128.62 ± 16.88) mmHg, mean arterial pressure (88.03 ± 8.47 vs. 98.11 ± 11.69) mmHg and the scores of self-management and its dimensions among patients in the intervention group were decreased comparison with control group (P

BackgroundThe association between red meat, fish, and processed meat consumption and the risk of developing gastrointestinal (GI) cancers remains inconclusive despite several investigations. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to update the existing scientific evidence.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases until May 20, 2023. We analyzed observational studies that examined the associations between red and processed meat and fish consumption and GI cancers. We assessed between-study heterogeneity using the χ2 and τ2 tests, as well as I2 statistics. We explored the likelihood of publication bias using Begg's and Egger's tests and trim-and-fill analysis. We reported the overall effect sizes as odds ratios (ORs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using a random-effects model.ResultsOf the 21,004 studies identified, 95 studies involving 5,794,219 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The consumption of high levels of red meat, as compared to low levels, was found to significantly increase the risk of developing esophageal, pancreatic, liver, colon, rectal, and colorectal cancers. Similarly, the consumption of high levels of processed meat, as compared to low levels, significantly increased the risk of pancreatic, colon, rectal, and colorectal cancers. In contrast, the consumption of high levels of fish, as compared to low levels, significantly reduced the risk of colon, rectal, and colorectal cancers.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis provides updated evidence on the association between red meat, processed meat, and fish consumption and the risk of developing five major types of GI cancers.

Objective. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the best treatment for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Evidence is in favor of ticagrelor over clopidegrel in STEMI patients regarding the reduction of stent thrombosis risk during and after PCI. We compared initial thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow in STEMI patients on ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel. Methods. This prospective cohort recruited 160 patients with acute STEMI, referred to the emergency department of Farshchian Heart Center, during March 2018–2019. Before angiography, the patients received clopidogrel (600 mg) or ticagrelor (180 mg) on top of aspirin. Initial TIMI flow was compared between the two groups as the primary outcome. A logistic regression was performed to calculate the predictors of initial TIMI flow. Analyses were performed using R, version 4.2.1. Results. In ticagrelor and clopidogrel groups, the mean ± standard deviation age of the patients was 59.46 ± 13.11 and 61.34 ± 11.08 years (p value = 0.33), respectively. In the ticagrelor and clopidogrel groups, initial TIMI flow grades were as follows: 0 : 50% and 71.2%, I: 26.2% and 16.2%, II: 12.5% and 10%, and III: 12.9% and 2.5%, respectively (p value = 0.005). Final TIMI flow grades were as follows: I: 26.2% and 16.2%, II: 7.5% and 13.8%, and III: 66.3% and 70%, respectively (p value = 0.41). Ticagrelor was associated with significantly higher initial TIMI flow grade compared to the clopidogrel group (adjusted odds ratio: 2.90 (95% CI: 1.51–5.72)). Conclusion. In STEMI patients who were candidates for primary PCI, ticagrelor administration led to a better initial TIMI flow grade compared to clopidogrel.

Background and Objective: A proper safety culture is one of the important factors that ensure a healthy and safe work environment. In order to ensure safety performance in the workplace, healthcare departments are required to establish safety rules and procedures and ensure they are applied throughout the organization. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the safety culture among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Borujerd. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional-analytical study was conducted on 452 HCWs in Boroujerd (1400-1401). Study subjects were selected by random stratified sampling method. The standard safety culture questionnaire was used to assess safety culture. The linear regression was used in SPSS (version 22) to identify factors related to safety culture. Results: The mean age of the study sub­jects was 33.97±5.69 years, and most of them were female (58%). The mean score of safety culture was 172.64±23.53; moreover, 7.1% and 92.9% of sub­jects had a negative and positive safety culture, respectively. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that the overall score of safety culture decreases with an increase in age. The overall score of safety culture in the occupational group of discharge and income and guards was lower than in the radiography group, and it was higher in participants with illness and accident history than in those without illness and accident history. Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the safety culture in the HCWs in this study was at a high level. The variables of age, history of accidents, illness, and occupation are the factors influencing the safety culture score.

Introduction: The COVID-19 crisis poses a heightened risk to vulnerable populations. Considering factors influencing deterioration, complications, and mortality, it is especially important to pay attention to these groups, including persons with hypertension (HTN) and diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the angiotensin II (ANG II) level and the disease severity and clinical course in COVID-19 patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 COVID-19 patients (mean age 59.1±20) admitted to Sinai hospital in Hamedan. The blood samples of the patients were taken during hospitalization and discharge, and the plasma ANG II level was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The quantitative comparison was analyzed with paired t test and qualitative comparison with the chi-square test. The correlation of variables was checked with the Pearson test, and P

Understanding the influence of teaching culture (tradition) within academic departments is crucial for new teachers navigating the complex landscape of higher education. This paper investigates the possible impact of the department’s teaching culture on the pedagogical approaches of new teachers, forming their teaching style, concentrating on insights gathered from interviews with experienced colleagues in a Swedish university department with a focus on engineering education. By exploring the department’s teaching traditions and identifying potential challenges faced by new teachers, this study offers valuable insights into enhancing teaching styles and fostering student engagement. Drawing upon both experiential knowledge and insights from pedagogic literature and courses, the authors provide practical strategies to overcome obstacles and promote operative teaching practices. Ultimately, the outcomes of this study aim to empower new teachers to create enriching learning environments that promote student motivation, engagement, and overall academic success, aligning with the findings of existing literature on pedagogy and student learning outcomes.

Objective: Research findings on the relationship between vitamin D and suicide are not consistent; therefore, the objective of the present paper is to assess the relationship between vitamin D and suicide behaviors using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method: A search strategy was developed using keywords including “Vitamin D”, “Vitamin D deficiency”, “suicide” "attempted suicide", "completed suicide”, “Suicide, Attempted”, “Suicidal Ideation.” We searched databases including Scopus, Medline, Web of Science, and Google Scholar by July 7, 2022. We examined the titles, abstracts, and full texts of the articles to select eligible ones. To pool the results of the selected studies, we used the random-effect method and mean difference as the effect size. The quality of the articles was evaluated by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Moreover, heterogeneity and bias of reporting were evaluated by the I2 statistic and Egger's and Begg's tests, respectively. Results: Out of 149 studies retrieved in the databases, 11 studies were included in the final phase. Among these, the pooled findings of seven studies included in the meta-analysis phase showed that low levels of vitamin D are related to increased probability for suicide behaviors (P < 0.05). Moreover, subgroup analysis showed a significant relationship between vitamin D and suicide ideation and suicide attempt (P < 0.05). In addition, the I2 statistic indicated moderate heterogeneity (58%) and Egger's and Begg's tests did not show any evidence of publication bias (P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study provides evidence in favor of the relationship between vitamin D and suicide behaviors. It suggests that insufficient levels of vitamin D play a role in suicidal behaviors. However, it should be noted that further and stronger evidence is needed to establish this role. Finally, incorporating vitamin D-rich foods into the diet or taking vitamin D supplements is recommended to reduce the risk of suicide.

Background and Objectives: Nurses must be sufficiently skilled in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of case scenario teaching methods and concept map on learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills among nursing students. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study consisting two-groups, before-after intervention, 103 nursing students chosen by simple random sampling were put in two groups: case scenario group (October entrance, 53 students) and concept map group (February entrance, 50 students). The data collection tool was a cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills checklist that was completed before and after the intervention. Training sessions were held for each group for 3 days and 4 hours every day. The collected data were analyzed using Independent t-test, Paired t-test, and Chi-square. Results: The mean learning score before the educational intervention was 19.57 in the case scenario group and 18.80 in the concept map group (P = 0.258). After the intervention, the mean was 33.55 in the case scenario group and 39.46 in the concept map group (P = 0.0001). The learning score after the intervention compared to before the intervention was increased in the concept map group by an average of 20.66 and in the case scenario group by 13.98 points, the difference between groups was statistically significant (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: Both educational methods are effective in raising the learning efficacy of students. However, training by concept map method compared to case scenario method caused better learning of cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills among nursing students.

Background and Objective: Oxidative stress is one of the causes of tinnitus. The therapeutic effect of nanocurcumin on the antioxidant processes of various diseases has been confirmed; however, no study, to the best of our knowledge, has been conducted on its therapeutic effect on tinnitus. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of nanocurcumin on treating tinnitus. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial (triple-blind intervention). A total of 62 patients with tinnitus were selected by randomized block design with observance of concealment. Then, the participants were divided into two groups of 31 and were treated with nanocurcumin and a placebo. Both groups were similar in terms of age and gender with frequency matching methods. Hearing tests were performed for all patients. Patients received 80 mg/day of nanocurcumin and similar placebo capsules for 21 days. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the age in the nanocurcumin and placebo groups were 44.77 ± 15.2 and 46.32 ± 15.2 years, respectively (P>0.05). The difference between the mean duration of tinnitus was not significant in both groups (P>0.05). The results indicated that the antioxidant nanocurcumin reduced the tinnitus score (P=0.02). However, nanocurcumin failed to affect the frequency, high score, degree of annoyance, mean score of speech discrimination, and speech reception threshold (P>0.05). Also, no side effect was reported from using nanocurcumin. Conclusion: Nanocurcumin is not effective in the treatment of tinnitus.

Abstract Background This study aimed to decompose the age and cause inequality in life expectancy between two Iranian provinces with the highest and the lowest life expectancy using the Arriaga method. Methods The required data was extracted from the death registration system (DRS) and statistical center of Iran. First, we calculated life expectancy at birth for 31 provinces of Iran using life tables, and subsequently, two provinces with the highest and the lowest life expectancy were determined. To decompose the age and cause share in the life expectancy gap between the two provinces, we used Arriaga's method. Results Tehran with 80.09 years and Sistan and Baluchistan with 72.9 years had the highest and the lowest life expectancy among Iranian Provinces respectively. As a result, the life expectancy gap between Tehran and Sistan and Baluchistan was 7.19 years. Results of age decomposition showed that the highest share in the life expectancy gap attributed to the age group under one year (1.25 years). In terms of the cause of death, the highest percentage belonged to hypertensive diseases with a share of 1.77 years. Conclusions There is a wide gap between two provinces with the highest and the lowest life expectancy. Age less than one year and hypertensive diseases were major factors in this inequality. Therefore, policy-makers should concentrate on improvement of survival in children and the reduction of hypertensive diseases to promote life expectancy in Sistan and Baluchistan.

Introduction: There are numerous dressings used to treat pressure ulcers (PUs), depending on their advantages to achieve optimum patient outcomes. This study aimed to compare hydrocolloid dressings and silver nanoparticles in treating PUs among patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 70 patients with SCI in Iran. Participants were randomly divided into two equal groups (n=35) receiving silver nanoparticle dressing and hydrocolloid dressing, respectively. The groups were evaluated in four assessment periods using the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 13, repeated measures ANOVA, non-parametric tests, and chi-square. Results: Chi-square test was used to investigate the difference between the scores before the intervention, the results of which were not statistically significant. In repetitive measurements, the results of the analysis of variance showed that the average assessment score in both groups decreased and both dressings were effective in the treatment process. Although PU improvement status in the group that received silver nanoparticles was better, between-group analysis of variance did not show any statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Our results indicated that silver nanoparticles and hydrocolloid dressings can be used interchangeably in the treatment of PUs.

Introduction: Nursing is one of the high risk jobs in the world and its occupational hazards have a direct impact on the health of nurses. Work-based musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent among health care workers, particularly nursing staff. The purpose of this study was to systematically review studies on the relationship between occupational stress based on demand-control-support model and nurses' musculoskeletal disorders. Materials and Methods: In this study, major international electronic databases including PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus and ScienceDirect and Persian databases including SID, Irandoc, Magiran and Medlib were studied. The keywords used were: social support, job stress, job control, job demand, and musculoskeletal disorder. The main criterion for inclusion was the survey of the top three variables in the nursing community. After evaluating the inclusion criteria and the quality of the articles, 6 studies were identified and included in the study. Results: According to the results of 6 studies, in 4 studies variables of job strain and in 5 studies psychological demands of job were related to the musculoskeletal disorders. The relationship between job control and supervisor support has also been confirmed in one study. Conclusion: Surveys clearly show that the greater the individual's perception of control over their work and the lower the level of psychological demands in their job, the health of the individual increases.

In this article, the influence of important parameters on the size-dependent thermoelastic behavior of functionally graded magneto-electro-thermo-elastic microcylinders (FGMEE) is studied by means of modified stress couple theory and under the influence of combined mechanical-thermal-magnetic loads. The equations of motion were derived by considering the linear behavior of the shells and considering the first-order theory of the nonlocal shear deformation of the shells. In the following, the results of solving the equations governing the buckle are analyzed. Based on this, firstly, the mechanical properties used in the shell are presented, then the linear buckling behavior is studied, and finally, the size-dependent buckling behavior of these structures is studied. In the presented results, the mode numbers of each buckling load are shown as n and m, where n and m represent the circumferential and longitudinal mode numbers, respectively. In the theory section, using the pairwise size-dependent theory, the stress is corrected, and considering the shell with a relatively thick geometric structure and the forces due to the heterogeneous thermal boundary conditions, a combination of convection heat transfer and displacement is used to obtain a three-dimensional shell temperature distribution. The equilibrium equations of the term electromagnetic coupling system are obtained using the first-order shear displacement field of the shell and the structural relationships in the functionally graded magneto-electro-thermo-elastic (FG-METE) intelligent material. Then, using appropriate analytical and numerical methods, various components of the displacement field, electrical and mechanical potential, and, most importantly, structural stresses for different boundary conditions are obtained.

Objectives: Bruising is an important side effect of enoxaparin injection. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is used to treat different types of wounds, bone fractures, and bruising in traditional medicine in many countries for centuries. This study aimed to determine the effects of the Comfrey ointment on the bruise size and color following enoxaparin injection. Methods : This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 80 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The participants were randomly divided into two groups of 40, namely Comfrey and Placebo. Changes in bruise size and color in both groups were assessed daily before and after the intervention. Results : The Comfrey and Placebo groups were homogeneous in demographic and clinical variables. A downward trend was observed in the bruise size in both groups throughout the study. However, the bruise size was smaller in the Comfrey group than the Placebo group on day 2-5 of the intervention. Moreover, there was a significant difference in bruise color between the groups, with a shorter healing course in the Comfrey group. Conclusion : The Comfrey ointment accelerated the healing process of enoxaparin injection-induced bruising in patients with ACS. It is recommended as a safe and simple approach for these patients.

Background: Out-of-Pocket (OOP) payment is categorized among the critical indicators of health system financing. Given the high hospitalization costs of the hospitals, the ministry of health has attempted to implement Health Transformation Plan (HTP) in Iran to reduce OOP. The purpose of this paper is to show the effects of HTP on OOP payments of the hospitalized patients in Hamedan, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 587 patients in the educational hospitals of Hamedan. The data obtained before and after implementing the HTP was from 2013 to 2015. Data analysis was performed using SPSS16. Results: In this study, each patient's expenditures increased by 32.2 % in 2015, compared to before the implementation of the HTP. Therefore, the health insurance organization's coverage of OOP payments decreased to 8.3 % of the total costs by a 20.2 % reduction in 2015, compared to before the implementation of the plan. Conclusion: According to the study, HTP and government health subsidies were adequate, but the total hospitalization costs had an upward trend in all funds.

Background: The association between Helicobacter pylori infection and overweight, as one of the most common health issues, remains controversial. In this study, we systematically reviewed the effect of H. pylori infection and overweight to get a reliable answer. Methods: We used the Preferred Reporting Items for the Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis statement. We searched the association between H. pylori and overweight infection in international databases including Medline, Web of knowledge and Scopus, without any limitations of language, publication type, and publication status in search step of this systematic review from 2000 to 2020. We surveyed the title, abstract and full text of each research studies, and we used Newcastle-Ottawa quality for assessing the quality of each paper. A random effects model was used to calculate the pooled odd ratio with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Fifteen papers were eligible for this review. The selected studies reported different Odd Ratio between overweight and H. pylori infection but Odds Ratio (95% confidence interval) in our systematic and meta-analysis study was estimated at 1.42 (95%CI; 1.12, 1.81) and it was statistically significant (P: 0.003). Conclusion: H. pylori infection is significantly associated with overweight, therefore, the eradication of H. pylori infection is suggested because this infectious might be resulted in overweight.

Problem considered: Pain is one of the most significant symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis that reduce the quality of life. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of eucalyptus on pain and the quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 70 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were selected by random sampling. In the eucalyptus group, 1 mL of eucalyptus oil was inhaled for 5 min, 3 times a day, for one month. The control group received placebo inhalation. Both groups used routine treatments. Data were collected using a questionnaire of demographics, the numerical pain rating scale (NRS), and Quality of Life (SF-12). Statistical analysis was done using 19th edition SPSS software and applied on paired t-test, chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and analysis of covariance. Results: The mean score of pain severity in the eucalyptus group significantly decreased in comparison with the control group (P 0.05); however, in the third and fourth weeks after the intervention, the mean severity of pain in the eucalyptus group was lower than in the control group, and these differences were statistically significant between the two groups (p

Due to high toxicity and non-biodegradability, heavy metals pollution is between the major concerns of today's world. Among various techniques, membrane separation technology has taken precedence over other counterparts due to reduced separation units, low energy consumption, facile upscaling, and continuous separation. This study aims to fabricate ultrafiltration membranes made from abundant natural materials to reduce fabrication/operational costs, including precursors, sintering temperature, and filtration pressure. Moreover, SnO2/Montmorillonite nanocomposite is synthesized via the hydrothermal procedure and incorporated into the membrane matrix to decrease membrane fouling, enhance water flux, and improve heavy metals rejection rate. Results delineate 97.88–99.26%, 76.79–92.23%, and 24.97–64.74% of Cu (II), Zn (II), and Ni (II) removal from aqueous solutions in the 5–50 ppm range. An enhancement up to ∼40% is observed upon nanocomposite incorporation. Furthermore, ∼30% increase in Cu (II) removal is obtained for SnO2/MMT-incorporated membranes. Moreover, utilization of abundant natural minerals results in decreased fabrication/operational cost. Therefore, the obtained removal results and the estimated overall cost provide guidance for the large-scale utilization of low-cost membranes. As a result, the demand for heavy metals removal from wastewaters before their discharge to protect and govern the environment and implementation for agricultural purposes are fulfilled.

Background and Objective: Drug interactions are one of the problems caused by the irrational administration of drugs and one of the common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients. Since drug interactions are usually predictable, they are therefore avoidable and manageable. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of drug interactions and their related factors in hospitalized patients of the intensive care unit in the Hamadan Besat hospital, Iran. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on the clinical records of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (2019-2020) of Besat Hospital in Hamadan, Iran. Data were analyzed to determine the type of drug interactions based on the interactions available on the Up To Date and RxList databases. Other information was obtained from the patients' clinical records. Completion of information was recorded in the Pre-Design checklist. Finally, the data was analyzed using SPSS software version 22 and appropriate descriptive-analytical methods. Results: The mean number of total drug interactions per prescription was 5.94 ± 4.91. Most interactions were type C (63.89%), Moderate (67.66%), Fair (70.96%) and Significant (44.76%). Conclusion: According to the results, prolonged stay in an intensive care unit, the elderly, and polypharmacy are the main important factors associated with the occurrence of drug-drug interactions. These results indicate the importance of paying more attention to the monitoring and control of prescribed drugs in these patients.

Background and Objective: Acute pulmonary thromboembolism is an emergency disease that can lead to mortality if not diagnosed on time. Proper triage of patients based on clinical findings and the Wells Score will have a significant impact on the medical teamchr('39')s decision-making and patient management. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 patients selected by the census sampling method. The patients were suspected of acute pulmonary thromboembolism referring to Farshchian Heart Hospital in Hamadan, Iran, within October 2017-March 2020. The cases considered a candidate for computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography were selected and compared regarding CT pulmonary angiography results and the risk of embolism based on Wells Score. Results: According to the results of CT angiography, 91 (30.3%) patients had acute pulmonary thromboembolism, 16.5%, 45.1%, and 38.4% of which were in the low-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk groups, respectively (P

Background and Objectives: Epilepsy is a chronic disease with different effects on performance. It is important to control seizures in the shortest possible time using medications with the least side effects. There are controversies regarding the effectiveness and side effects of new generation medications, compared to old and first-line therapeutic agents. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness and side effects of two medications, including sodium valproate (as a first-generation medication) and levetiracetam (as a second-generation medication). Materials and Methods: All children over two and under 18 years old with a new diagnosis of generalized and focal epilepsy who met the inclusion criteria and were willing to enter the study were enrolled randomly. They were then divided into two groups of treatment with sodium valproate and levetiracetam. The frequency of recurrent seizures in patients and complications after taking the medications were accurately recorded with a six-month follow-up. Results: The results showed no significant difference of age, gender, and family history of seizures in the patients of both groups with the success rate in seizure control. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the type of medication (sodium valproate and levetiracetam), type of seizure (focal and generalized), and success in treatment (seizure inhibition). Additionally, the group treated with sodium valproate revealed more significant side effects, compared to the levetiracetam group (P

This paper presents a comprehensive study of winter temperatures in Norway and northern Sweden, covering a period of 50 to 70 years. The analysis utilizes Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) to investigate temperature trends at six selected locations. The results demonstrate an overall long-term rise in temperatures, which can be attributed to global warming. However, when investigating variations in highest, lowest, and average temperatures for December, January, and February, 50% of the cases exhibit a significant decrease in recent years, indicating colder winters, especially in December. The study also explores the variations in Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) variations as a crucial climate factor over the last 15 years, estimating a possible 20% decrease/slowdown within the first half of the 21st century. Subsequently, the study investigates potential similarities between winter AMOC and winter temperatures in the mid to high latitudes over the chosen locations. Additionally, the study examines another important climatic index, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and explores possible similarities between the winter NAO index and winter temperatures. The findings reveal a moderate observed lagged correlation for AMOC-smoothed temperatures, particularly in December, along the coastal areas of Norway. Conversely, a stronger lagged correlation is observed between the winter NAO index and temperatures in northwest Sweden and coastal areas of Norway. Thus, NAO may influence both AMOC and winter temperatures (NAO drives both AMOC and temperatures). Furthermore, the paper investigates the impact of colder winters, whether caused by AMOC, NAO, or other factors like winds or sea ice changes, on electrical power and energy systems, highlighting potential challenges such as reduced electricity generation, increased electricity consumption, and the vulnerability of power grids to winter storms. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of enhancing the knowledge of electrical engineering researchers regarding important climate indices, AMOC and NAO, the possible associations between them and winter temperatures, and addressing the challenges posed by the likelihood of colder winters in power systems.

Abstract Background Late-diagnosis of HIV is a major challenge for the control and prevention of AIDS in the world. The present study aimed to specify factors associated with the late diagnosis of HIV in Iran from 1987 to 2016. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, data for 4402 diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients were extracted from 158 behavioral disease counseling centers of 31 Iranian provinces. We defined late diagnosis as having a CD4 count less than 350 within 3 months after diagnosis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors influencing late diagnosis. Moreover, we used multivariate Cox regression to assess the association of these factors with the patients’ survival. Results In this study, the prevalence of late diagnosis among the patients was 58.2%. People aged 50 years and over (adjusted OR = 3.55), transmission through blood transfusion (adjusted OR = 2.89), co-infection with tuberculosis (adjusted OR = 2.06), and male gender (adjusted OR = 1.38) were the strongest predictors for late diagnosis of HIV. On the other hand, baseline CD4 (adjusted HR = 2.21), people aged 50 and over (adjusted HR = 1.81), male gender (adjusted HR = 1.76), being a widow (adjusted HR = 1.68), people with unknown transmission way (adjusted HR = 18.24), people who inject drugs (adjusted HR = 1.87), diagnosis at previous years (adjusted HR = 2.45) and co-infection with tuberculosis (adjusted OR = 1.77) significantly associated with the survival of patients. Conclusion The prevalence of late diagnosis is high among Iranian HIV/AIDS. The risk factors of late diagnoses include being males and aged 50 years and over, transmission through blood transfusion, and co-infection with tuberculosis. Therefore, implementation of screening programs for early diagnosis of HIV these high risk groups is recommended to Iranian health providers and policymakers.

Objective: Diabetes is a common and costly disease. Nursing care services, not only are effective in reducing costs but also improve the quality of life and the relationship between the patient and the nurse. The aim of this research was evalution of telephone nursing Follow-up effects on self-efficacy in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Hamadan. Method: In this Clinical Trial study, 58 type 2 diabetic patients who met the inclusion criteria were recruited in Hamadan diabetes center by simple sampling. Patients were divided into two groups using block randomization. Data were collected using demographic and disease information questionnaire and Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale (DMSES). Intervention in the experimental group was done by telephone nursing for 12 weeks in which phone calls were made during the first month (twice a week) and the second month (once a week). Phone nursing content included emphasis on diabetic diet, timely medication use, insulin injection, recreation and exercise, self care, stress management techniques, communication skills training, and more. The average duration of the call was 10-15 minutes on each call, and the time of phone call was agreed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Patients were told that telephone nursing is free so patients could contact the researcher by phone or text if they had any questions. It should be noted that the patients in the control group received only the follow-up and routine care of the Hamadan diabetes center. Finally, the data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 19 software. Results: Findings of the study showed that the mean of self-efficacy in both groups before intervention was not statistically significant (P=0.15). After training the intervention group, the mean self-efficacy at one and two months after treatment was significantly improved compared to the control group (P

Abstract Objective CD4 Lymphocyte Count (CD4) is a major predictor of HIV progression to AIDS. Exploring the factors affecting CD4 levels may assist healthcare staff and patients in management and monitoring of health cares. This retrospective cohort study aimed to explore factors associated with CD4 cell counts at the time of diagnosis in HIV patients using Poisson, Generalized Poisson, and Negative Binomial regression models. Results Out of 4402 HIV patients diagnosis in Iran from 1987 to 2016, 3030 (68.8%) were males, and the mean age was 34.8 ± 10.4 years. The results indicate that the Negative Binomial model outperformed the other models in terms of AIC, log-likelihood and RMSE criteria. In this model, factors include sex, age, clinical stage and Tuberculosis (TB) co-infection were significantly associated with CD4 count (P

Background and Objective:Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most important and debilitating complications of diabetes with an increasing prevalence in most countries. It has a dramatic effect on peoplechr('39')s quality of life and increases the symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with diabetes. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Materials and Methods:This descriptive/ cross-sectional study was conducted on 245 patients with retinopathy referred to the ophthalmology clinic of Farshchian Hospital in Hamadan during 2019- 2020. They were selected via available and consecutive sampling method and were evaluated for depression with the 21-item Beck questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 16) at a 95% confidence level. Results:The mean scores of patientschr('39') age and duration of diabetes were reported as 54.47± 8.5 and 8.5 ± 4.15 years, respectively. In terms of gender, the majority of participants (58.7%) were female. The prevalence of depression in patients with diabetic retinopathy was obtained at 49.8% and in proliferative and non-proliferative retinopathy were 68.2% and 43%, respectively (P

Abstract Background Ample evidence indicates the efficacy of serotonin type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists in the treatment of patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Mirtazapine is an atypical antidepressant with a well-known 5-HT3 receptor antagonist property. This study, therefore, was undertaken to investigate whether compared to placebo, mirtazapine would be efficacious and safe in the treatment of patients with IBS-D. Methods From November 2019 until July 2020, 67 patients meeting Rome IV criteria for IBS-D were randomized in a double-blind fashion into either the mirtazapine treatment group (n = 34) or the placebo treatment group (n = 33). Patients started with mirtazapine 15 mg/day at bedtime for one-week; after which the dose was increased to 30 mg/day for an additional 7-week. Outcomes included changes in the total IBS symptom severity score (IBS-SSS), Hospital anxiety and depression scale score (HADS), and IBS Quality of Life. Additionally, changes in the diary-based symptoms scores including pain, urgency of defecation, bloating, stool frequency, and stool consistency based on the 7-point Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), and a number of days per week with pain, urgency, diarrhea, or bloating, once during the 1-week run-in period, and once during the last week of treatment were recorded. Results All analyses were performed on an Intention-to-Treat (ITT) analysis data set. The results showed compared to placebo, mirtazapine is more efficacious in decreasing the severity of IBS symptoms (P-value = 0.002). Further, at the end of the treatment period, all diary-derived symptoms except bloating showed significantly more improvement in the mirtazapine-treated subjects compared to the placebo-treated subjects. While was well-tolerated, mirtazapine also significantly improved the patients’ quality of life (P-value = 0.04) and anxiety symptoms (P-value = 0.005). Conclusions Overall, mirtazapine seems to have a potential benefit in the treatment of patients with IBS-D, particularly those with concomitant psychological symptoms. However, further studies are warranted to determine whether these findings are replicated. Trial registration Trial registration: Registration number at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials: IRCT20120215009014N311 . Registration date: 2019-10-21.

Abstract Background Our knowledge on the prevalence of high-risk behaviors among women of Alborz is not reliable due to the sensitivity of the issue. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of seven risk behaviors among the reproductive age women in Alborz Province, Iran. Method In this cross-sectional study, 2000 women were randomly selected from a registered healthcare system in 2019. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect the required data. The prevalence of the risk behaviors including drug abuse, hookah, alcohol drinking, tobacco smoking, extramarital intercourse, and gambling was estimated using the unmatched count technique, and the prevalence rate was reported at a 95% confidence interval. Results The response rate for this study was 95%. The estimated prevalence for drug abuse, hookah, alcohol drinking, tobacco smoking, extramarital intercourse, and gambling were 3% (95%CI: 2.78 to 3.22), 10.5% (95%CI: 10.29 to 10.71), 7% (95%CI: 6.78 to 7.22), 10% (95%CI: 9.78 to 10.22), 8.7% (95%CI, 8.29 to 8.71), and 7.5% (95%CI, 4.71 to 7.28), respectively. Conclusion High risk behaviors are highly prevalent among Iranian women. Enforcing laws, prohibition, marketing restrictions, increasing taxation, expanding treatment, promoting condom distribution and providing community-based service are recommended to reduce the effects of high risk behaviors among women.

Vibration behavior of different types of porous functionally graded (FG) conical sandwich shells are investigated based on a modified high order sandwich shells theory for the first time. Sandwich shell includes FG face sheets covering a homogeneous core and the second one includes homogeneous face sheets and a FG core. Power law rule modified by considering two types of porosity distributions is used to model the functionally graded materials. All materials are temperature dependent and uniform, linear and nonlinear temperature distributions are used to model the effect of the temperature variation in the sandwiches. Governing equations are obtained by the Hamilton's energy principle and solved with Galerkin method. To verify the results, they are compared with ones achieved by finite element method obtained by Abaqus software for special cases with the results in literatures.

Background: There is positive correlation between infant serum ghrelin and the growth of infants in breastfed infants. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate of the relationship between breast milk ghrelin and serum ghrelin and growth in breast-milk-fed infants by systematic review and meta-analysis approaches. Methods: Electronic resources used in the current search were Scopus, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, PubMed, and EMBASE. The English language full-text articles and abstracts published from 1999 to July 2019 were collected. Only the articles that explored infants under two years of age and receiving breast milk exclusively were reviewed. Papers related to healthy mothers and infants were entered in this study. The results of 6 papers regarding the effect of serum ghrelin on the growth of infants, i.e., evaluated by meta-analysis using Stata software. The data addressing the effect of breast milk ghrelin on growth were reported by a systematic review manner; three articles were found in this area. We used Preferred Reporting Items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (prisma) checklist for performing this study. Results: In this study, the association of infants’ serum ghrelin with infants’ growth was evaluated by meta-analysis. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) value was ≥7scores for the 6 explored meta-analysis articles. The present meta-analysis research suggested a positive and significant correlation between infant serum ghrelin and the growth of infants (r=0.163). Conclusions: The random-effect model data demonstrated a positive and significant correlation between infant serum ghrelin and the growth of infants. However, in the study of the effect of breast milk ghrelin on infants’ growth, the number of articles was limited and contradictory results were reported. Accordingly, no general conclusion was reached.

Background & Objectives: Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Inflammation is one of the components of metabolic syndrome and many inflammatory cytokines play a critical role in this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate correlation between seborrheic dermatitis and metabolic syndrome. Materials & Methods: In this case- control study 39 seborrheic dermatitis patients who referred to Sina Hospital of Hamadan as case group and 39 age and sex matched healthy individuals as control group were compared in terms of metabolic syndrome. Statistical analysis was performed using version 16.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL). Results: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in the patient group were statistically significantly lower than in the controls (in women P=0.046 and in men P=0.044). Mean of triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein(LDL), fasting blood glucose (FBS), systolic and diastolic blood pressure and waist circumference in case group were more than in control group but just systolic blood pressure and waist circumference were statistically significant (P

Introduction: Patients transferred from ICU to general ward need a higher level of nursing attention and care than other patients admitted to the ward. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the role of the liaison nurse on physiological indicators and the level of consciousness of patients transferred from the intensive care unit. Methods: The present article is the result of a two-group clinical trial that was performed on 90 patients admitted to the special and general wards of Besat Hospital in Hamadan, Iran. Available sampling and patients were randomly assigned to the two groups. The control group received routine care and in the intervention group was visited twice a day by the liaison nurse for up to three days. The instrument used was a checklist of physiological indices and the GCS scale. Mean, standard deviation, variance and frequency percentage were used to describe the data by SPSS 16. Results: There was no significant difference between the demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups at the beginning of the study. After the intervention of the intensive care unit nurse, the two groups were not significantly different in terms of physiological parameters and level of consciousness (P> 0.05). Conclusion: In nursing services, the interface is not effective on physiological indicators and level of consciousness in patients transferred from the intensive care unit to the general ward. Further studies in this area are recommended.

Abstract Background Findings on the association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and suicide are contradictory. This paper aimed to resolve this uncertainty by conducting a meta-analysis. Methods We found the relevant studies using keywords include “Toxoplasmosis” and “Suicide” and the related synonyms in international databases such as ISI, Medline, and Scopus. The eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis phase. The random effect approach was applied to combine the results. Results Out Of 150 initial studies, 15 were included in the meta-analysis. Odds of suicide in people with T. gondii infection was 43% (OR: 1.43, 95%CI; 1.15 to 1.78) higher than those without this infection. The test for publication bias was not statistically significant, which indicates the absence of likely publication bias. Conclusion This study confirms that T. gondii infection is a potential risk factor for suicide. To reduce cases of suicide attributable to T. gondii infection, it is recommended to implement some measures to prevent and control the transmission of the disease.

Background Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) can lead to depressive symptoms in infertile women due to their low success and high costs. Mindfulness-based group counseling can decrease depressive symptoms by increasing mental concentration. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of mindfulness-based group counseling on depression in infertile women undergoing IVF. Materials and Methods The present clinical trial included 90 infertile women undergoing IVF treatment in an infertility center in 2016. Women were divided into two groups, intervention and control. Both groups completed a demographic questionnaire and the Beck depression inventory (BDI). Eight 90-minute sessions (two each week) of mindfulness-based group counseling were held with the intervention group, while the control group received treatment as normal. Following the intervention, the BDI was again completed by both groups. The data were analyzed and independent t tests and, paired t tests conducted at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results No statistically significant demographic differences were observed between the two groups. Women in the control group had a somewhat lower depressive symptom score than the intervention group before the intervention. However, compared with before, the depressive symptom score among women in the intervention group decreased significantly (48%) (P < 0.001) after the intervention. In contrast, the depressive symptom score in control women was higher after the intervention than before. Conclusion According to the findings of the present research, mindfulness-based group counseling is able to reduce depressive symptoms in infertile women under IVF treatment. Therefore, group counseling sessions are suggested for all depressed women undergoing infertility treatment (Registration number: IRCT2015082013405N14).

Introduction: Hugo point is the most important pain control point in the body, so the study was performed to determine the effect of Hugo point massage on respiratory volume and the pain intensity after chest tube placement. Materials and methods: The study was performed as a randomized crossover clinical trial on 61 patients with a chest tube. Patients were placed in every 2 h through the ternary permutation block once under a false point pressure, once under a Hugo point pressure, and once without intervention. Data were collected using a questionnaire of demographic, clinical information, the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and spirometry. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to analyze the data. Findings: There was no significant difference in the pain intensity before and during the intervention between the three groups. However, after the intervention, the mean pain intensity in the control group was higher than the Hugo and placebo groups (P