The seizure recurrence rate in epileptic patients following universal health coverage: A time-series study

Background: Epileptic patients (EP) should be free of seizure recurrence (SR). Universal Health Coverage (UHC) was implemented in 2005 in Iran, aiming to tackle obstacles in front of health services’ utilization. This study was done in order to assess the SR rate in EP after UHC implementation.   Methods: This study was a prospective time series that was done in rural areas of Falavarjan district in Isfahan province in central Iran from March 2016 to March 2017. 245 patients who suffering from any type of epilepsy and whom epilepsy confirmed by a neurologist, registered. All epileptic patients monitored continuously every month through the study, and the signs or symptoms attributed to the suspected seizure were assessed and referred to a physician for additional assessment and consultation to improve treatment compliance.  The patients’ data about their demographic characteristics, type of epilepsy, any SR attack, and their risk factors were gathered from their self-files based on the checklists.   Results: Despite treatment schedules that were carried out for all EPs, during one year follow up, however, 37 (15.1%) patients displayed SR attacks. 19 (7.75%) patients who suffered RS were male with the mean age of 40 ± 13.5 years, without gender statistical difference (P=0.810). In patients who had RS, the main causes of lacking adherence to their treatment were forgetting to take medicines in 10 (55.6%), poverty in 3 (16.7%), and lacking motivation in 2 (11.1%) EPs.   Conclusion: Following UHC implementation in the primary health delivery system, that neuropsychiatric health packages were integrated, the incidence rate of SR attack in EPs was low

Clinico-epidemiological Analysis of Adult Patients With Acute Poisoning

Background: Patients with acute poisoning sometimes require hospitalization in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The correct admission of these patients has resulted to lower mortality. This study compared the characteristics of adult patients with acute poisoning who were admitted to the poisoning ward and the ICU. We also determined the relevant outcome predictive factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on adult acutely poisoned patients who were admitted to the emergency room of Khorshid Hospital affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences from October 2018 to 2019. The clinico-epidemiological variables and outcomes were compared between adult patients hospitalized in the ward (n=100) and ICU (n=100). Binary logistic regression was used for predicting the outcome factors.Results: The Mean±SE age of the study patients in the ICU and ward were 36.6±1.62 (median: 34) and 34.20±1.19 years, (median: 33, P=0.23), respectively. There was no significant difference between the study groups respecting substance dependence, alcohol and drug abuse, disease history, and the type of exposure (P>0.05). However, self-mutilation, the kind of substance, the vital signs and level of consciousness at admission, and outcomes were significantly different between the research groups (P<0.05). Variables predicting outcomes (complication/death) were as follows: gender (male) (OR: 4.51; 95%CI: 1.51-13.42; P=0.007), the kind of substance (pesticides) (OR: 8.84; 95%CI: 1.78-44.07; P=0.008), time to admission (OR: 1.04; 95%CI: 1.02-1.08; P=0.002), hypotension (OR: 14.88; 95%CI: 3.01-71.58; P=0.001), and the place of hospitalization (ward) (OR: 2.85; 95%CI: 1.23-6.62; P=0.01).Conclusion: The self-mutilation, kind of substance, vital signs, level of consciousness at admission, and outcomes were significantly different between the study patients hospitalized in the ICU, compared to the ward. Gender (male), the kind of substance (pesticides), delayed arrival times, hypotension, and the place of hospitalization (ward) were essential factors for outcome (complication/death) prediction

Prevalence hearing loss of truck and bus drivers in a cross-sectional study of 65533 subjects

Background: Noise pollution is one of the most important occupational pollutants in heavy-vehicle drivers. Therefore, this epidemiological research was conducted with the aim of determining the prevalence of hearing loss in heavy-vehicle drivers in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional research was conducted on 65,533 heavy-vehicle drivers including truck and intercity bus drivers from February 2006 to March 2016. The air and bone threshold of pure tone was measured for each ear at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz by a skillful radiology expert. The obtained data from this research was analyzed in SPSS software using statistical tests such as descriptive analysis and paired t test. Results: Mean (standard deviation) of hearing loss in left and right ears of all people was 23.02 (8.25) and 22.48 (7.86), respectively. Paired t test showed that hearing loss difference in left and right ears was significant (P < 0.001). Mean and standard deviation of paired t test showed that hearing loss difference in left and right ears was significant in all frequencies except 1000 Hz (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings of this research generally showed that 26.8% of the studied drivers have hearing loss. Hearing loss in the left ear was more than right ear keywords: Bus drivers, Hearing loss, Prevalence, Truck driver

Knowledge of Mothers About Puberty Health in Girls: A Survey in the Center of Iran

Introduction: Maintaining and promoting health during puberty is among the most important educational matters and demands sufficient awareness. This is while, the knowledge of parents in this regard and its problems is not enough. Therefore, the present study investigated the knowledge of mothers regarding their daughters’ puberty health. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the mothers of 200 girls’ aged 10-15 years and living in the center of Iran were chosen using the random sampling method and surveyed using a researcher-made questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was calculated using Cronbach alpha (0.844). Results: The mean score of mother’s knowledge regarding social puberty was 83.61 ± 15.38, regarding psychological puberty was 79.94 ± 20.20, regarding physical puberty was 72.22 ± 18.00, and regarding nutrition during puberty was 76.55 ± 17.60. There was a direct correlation between mother’s education and mother’s knowledge scores (P Conclusion: The results indicated that mothers are well-informed of their daughters’ experience with puberty. Since mothers are considered the educational source for their daughters in most cases, their level of knowledge is important

Developing and validating questionnaires to assess knowledge, attitude, and performance toward obesity among Iranian adults and adolescents: TABASSOM study

Abstract BACKGROUND: The present study describes the methods of developing and validating two questionnaires that will be used to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice of adults, children and adolescents regarding obesity

Nitric Oxide-cGMP Signaling in Hypertension:Current and Future Options for Pharmacotherapy

For the treatment of systemic hypertension, pharmacological intervention in nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling is a well-explored but unexploited option. In this review, we present the identified drug targets, including oxidases, mitochondria, soluble guanylyl cyclase, phosphodiesterase 1 and 5, and protein kinase G, important compounds that modulate them, and the current status of (pre)clinical development. The mode of action of these compounds is discussed, and based upon this, the clinical opportunities. We conclude that drugs that directly target the enzymes of the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate cascade are currently the most promising compounds, but that none of these compounds is under investigation as a treatment option for systemic hypertension

Musculoskeletal symptoms and job satisfaction among office-workers: A Cross- sectional study from Iran

Objective. Office-work poses a high-risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), with consequences for workers, employers and society. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in a sample of Iranian office workers, to investigate the association between pain severity and job satisfaction and to investigate the association between MSDs and job satisfaction. Materials and methods. Iranian office workers from a university setting (n=91) were randomly selected and included in this cross-sectional study. The Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire plus visual analogue scale of pain, and the Brayfield-Rothe Job Satisfaction Index were used to study the prevalence of MSDs, pain intensity and job satisfaction, respectively. Descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis were performed for statistical assessment. Results. Eighty-nine percent of participants reported musculoskeletal symptoms during the past 12 months, most commonly in the neck (69.2 %), low back (58.2%), knees (41.8%), shoulders (35.2%), and upper back (34.1%). There was a significant negative correlation between pain intensity and job satisfaction. Pain intensity, low-back pain in the last week, wrist pain in the past 12 months and shoulder pain were significantly associated with job satisfaction (p<0.05). Conclusion. This study provides evidence that musculoskeletal symptoms are common in Iranian office workers, associated with low job satisfaction. These findings indicate the need for more attention to MSDs among office workers and designing effective preventive interventions

Comparison of coronal discoloration induced by White MTA and CEM Cement

Coronal discoloration of endodontically treated teeth is a challenge in clinical dentistry. This study aimed to compare coronal discoloration induced by White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Calcium-enriched mixture cement. Fifty single-rooted, unrestored premolar teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons were selected. After access cavity preparation, all the root canals were instrumented with MTWO rotary files up to #40.6%. The specimens were randomly assigned to two experimental groups, White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Calcium-enriched mixture cement groups (n = 20), and two control groups (n = 5). In the White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Calcium-enriched mixture cement groups, the material was condensed via the access cavity 3 mm below the cementoenamel junction to a thickness of 3 mm. Tooth color was assessed using computer analysis of digital images. Tooth color measurements were recorded at eight time intervals: before material placement (but after tooth preparation), at 24 h, 48 h, one week, two weeks, four weeks, eight weeks, and sixteen weeks after material placement. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, repeated measure ANOVA, and Tukey HSD tests. The significance level was set at 5% for all the tests. Cervical discoloration of teeth in both experimental groups significantly increased over time (p &lt; 0.05). However, samples in the White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate group showed more discoloration in cervical regions than Calcium-enriched mixture cement specimens after two, four, eight, and sixteen weeks (p &lt; 0.05). Applying both White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Calcium-enriched mixture cement induced coronal discoloration; however, White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate samples exhibited greater cervical discoloration than Calcium-enriched mixture cement specimens after two, four, eight, and sixteen weeks