Thoracic Kyphosis Angle in Relation to Low Back Pain among Dentists in Iran

BACKGROUND: Non-specific low back pain (LBP) has a direct impact on the quality of life, active days at work and health care costs. AIM: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between LBP and thoracic kyphosis angle among dentists. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study carried out in the form of census among 84 dentists employed in a specialised clinic in Iran. Dentists LBP prevalence and intensity and thoracic kyphosis angle were evaluated respectively with the self-administered body map questionnaire, visual analogue scale and flexicurve ruler. Statistical data analysis was done using SPSS software, version 22. RESULTS: The data showed that the prevalence of LBP in dentists was 44.9% and intensity of LBP was reported about 71.9 ± 19.34. Pearson correlation coefficient between thoracic kyphosis angle and dentist’s characteristics was not significant except for work experience. The single linear regression model showed that 1.3% of thoracic kyphosis angle changes was positively dependent on LBP. Also, the present study proved that thoracic kyphosis angle changes were positively dependent to 2.6%, 10.8% and 5.7 percent of age, work experience and Body Mass Index (BMI), respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite the lack of significant statistical relation between LBP and thoracic kyphosis angle, there is a high prevalence and intensity of LBP among Dentists. To reduce the risk of work-related LBP among dentists, managing factors such as BMI, work postures and exercises during work should be taken into consideration

Mutation screening of 3’UTR and exons 1-2 of vsx1 gene by PCR-SSCP/HA and sequencing in patients with Vernal Keratoconjuctivis (VKC) in Shahrekord

Background and Objective: Vernal Keratoconjuctivis is an immune response in relation to environmental antigens, leading to inflammation of the conjunctiva. One of the presumable genetic factors in VKC is VSX1 gene. In this study, mutations in exon 1, exon 2 and 3'UTR of VSX1 gene in patients with VKC in Shahrekord were investigated by PCR-SSCP and PCR-HA. Materials and Methods: In this cross- sectional study, peripheral blood samples of 100 patients with VKC and 100 individuals with no confirmed eye disease as control group were investigated. Genomic DNA was extracted by phenol-chloroform method and then PCR was carried out. Then, SSCP and HA were performed and the samples with shifted bands were sequenced for the type of nucleotide change. Afterwards, to investigate the observed nucleotide change, RFLP method was used. Results: Our SSCP findings revealed six patients with shifted band in exons 1 and 2 and 13 patients in 3'UTR, which were sequenced for nucleotide change. Analysis of sequencing data showed a frameshift change (g. 25057561delG) in 3'UTR. There was no change in other sequences. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that, VSX1 gene most probably has no effective role in VKC pathogenesis in the studied population. Therefore, the role of VSX1 genes in VKC pathogens needs further investigation

The effect of consanguineous marriage on mental health among the students of the shahrekord university of medical sciences

Introduction: In Iran, after unintentional accidents, mental health problems are the second leading burden of disease. Consanguineous marriage is very common in Iran and the association between parental consanguinity and mental health is an important issue that has not yet been studied sufficiently in Iran. Aim: To investigate the effect of consanguinity and the degree of relationship on different levels of mental health. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, conducted in the Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, two groups of students were enrolled. The first group consisted of 156 students that had consanguineous parent (case group) and the second group was 156 students whose parents had non-blood relationship (control group). The students were evaluated using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Statistical analysis was conducted by pearson's correlation coefficient, independent t-test and the one-way analysis of variance. Odd ratio was used to estimate the relative risk. Results: Over 30% of the individuals were suffering from mental health problems. The most and least common mental health problems in both groups were social dysfunction (54.5% in the case group and the control group 50%) and depression (17.3% in the case group and 15.4% in the control group), respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in the frequency of overall mental health and its subscales between student with non-consanguineous parent (control group) and the students that had consanguineous parent (case group) (p>0.05) and the status of mental health was not significantly different among student with different degree of kinship (p>0.05). Conclusion: The study revealed that social dysfunction was very common among the study students and also there were no relationship between parental consanguineous marriage and mental health. Parental consanguinity and genetic factors may not be the major causes of high prevalence of mental health problems in Iran and the effects of the environmental factors on these problems may be greater than those of the inherited ones

Do occupational stress and cigarette smoking abet each other: survey of a steel industry in Iran

Background ― Occupational stress antagonizes human health directly as well as by instigating behavioral adversities like smoking; though it’s relation with latter is yet unveiled. This study aimed at ascertaining the relation between occupational stresses and smoking status among workers of a steel industry in Iran. Material and Methods ― This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 105 workers of steel industry in Iran. Standardized Health and Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool (HSE-MS IT) along with subjects’ demographic features were used to assess occupational stress; while smoking status was measured by standardized methods of Otten et al (1999). Results ― Response rate was 86.7% as 91 completed questionnaires were received back. Mean age of smoking and non-smoking workers 39.5±10.2 & 38.4±5.5 respectively (data presented as mean with standard deviation – M±SD), work experience of smokers and non-smokers 13±6.1 & 12.9±5.9 years respectively, while 90.4% were married. Total occupational stress scored 2.96±0.35; 13.5% staff were at high stress risk. Outcome scores were significantly different between smokers and non-smokers in stress dimensions including role, relationships, managers’ support and peer support. Conclusion ― Although smoking workers revealed better situation in role dimension, yet smoking employees depicted higher stress in relationships, managers’ support and peer support dimensions. Inferences qualify for imperative measures to implicate smoking cessation programs, as well as regime to attenuate occupational stress at workplaces

Amendment of Caulerpa sertularioides marine alga with sulfur-containing materials to accelerate Cu removal from aqueous media

This study reports a new approach of alga amendment in a live mode. The Caulerpa sertularioides alga was modified with sulfur-containing materials of methionine (C 5 H 11 NO 2 S) and sodium sulfate (Na 2 SO 4 ) to more concentrate the sulfur content of the yielded biomass (adsorbent). The simple and amended C. sertularioides alga was fully characterized with FTIR, SEM, EDX, BET, BJH, and pH zpc techniques. The copper adsorption from aqueous media was done by three adsorbents of C. sertularioides-simple (CSS), C. sertularioides-Na 2 SO 4 (CSN), and C. sertularioides-C 5 H 11 NO 2 S (CSC). The parameters of pH (2–6), adsorbent dosage (2–10 g/L), and contact time (3–80 min) were optimized at 5, 5 g/L, and 60 min, respectively. According to Langmuir isotherm (the best-fitted model), the maximum adsorption capacity of CSN (98.04 mg/g) was obtained 2.4 times higher than CSC (40.73 mg/g) and 9.5 times higher than CSS (10.29 mg/g). The Cu adsorption process by the adsorbents was best-fitted pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The CSN, CSC, and CSS biomasses were successfully reused 5, 4, and 4 times, respectively. The thermodynamic study revealed that the copper adsorption process by CSN is exothermic and non-spontaneous. Finally, the suitability of adsorbents prepared from algae was tested by cleaning a simulated wastewater