A case study on the COVID-19 discourse in politicians’ speeches: Investigations into the speeches of former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

This paper aims to analyze former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s thirty speeches on COVID-19 delivered between February 2, 2020 and April 27, 2020. We apply Laclau and Mouffe’s theory of discourse analysis to investigate and analyze Rouhani’s rhetorical and discursive strategies in making meaning of COVID-19. Findings showed that COVID-19 discourse in Rouhani’s speeches has mainly revolved around three nodal points: “the country”, “the enemy”, and “the state of exception”. Thus, the structural articulation of COVID-19 discourse resembles the hegemonic discourse in Iran. Our results also explain how Rouhani used COVID-19 as an empty signifier to reinforce the hegemonic discourse in Iran while trying to redefine his relations with the state-leaning organizations. Furthermore, we analyzed the rhetorical practices that Rouhani employed to articulate the COVID-19 discourse. This paper contributes to a growing body of literature into discursive aspects and implications of a global pandemic by providing empirical evidence form an understudied context: Iran

Measuring Serum Level of Ionized Magnesium in Patients with Migraine

How to Cite This Article: Assarzadegan F, Asadollahi M, Derakhshanfar H, Kashefizadeh A, Aryani O, Khorshidi M. Measuring Serum Level of Ionized Magnesium in Patients with Migraine. Iran J Child Neurol. Summer 2015;9(3):13-16.AbstractObjectiveMigraine is known as one of the most disabling types of headache. Among the variety of theories to explain mechanism of migraine, role of serum magnesium is of great importance. Serum magnesium, as a pathogenesis factor, was considerably lower in patients with migraine. We established this study to see if serum ionized magnesium, not its total serum level, was different in migraineurs from normal individuals.Materials & MethodsIn this case control study, all participants were recruited from Neurology Clinic of Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Ninety-six people were entered in the study, 48 for each of case and control groups. The two groups were matched by age and sex. Migrainous patients were selected according to the criteria of International Headache Society. Various characteristics of headache were recorded based on patients’ report. Controls had no history of migraine or any significant chronic headaches. Serum ionized magnesium level was measured in both of the case and control groups and the results were compared to each other. P value of <0.05 was considered as significant.ResultsCase group consisted of 13 males, 35 females, and control group included 14 males, as well as 34 females. Mean age was 33.47± 10.32 yr for case and 30.45 ±7.12 yr for control group. Twenty-eight patients described the intensity of their headaches as moderate; 15 patients had severe and the 5 remainders had only mild headaches. Mean serum level of ionized Mg was 1.16± 0.08 in case group and 1.13± 0.11 in control group of no significant difference (P >0.05).ConclusionSerum ionized magnesium, which is the active form of this ion, was not significantly different in migraineurs and those without migraine. This may propose a revision regarding pathogenesis of migraine and question the role of magnesium in this type of headache

An investigation into the correlation between Spiritual Intelligence and communication skillsamong nursing students

Background & Aim: The key to playing role in the nursing profession is the proper communication and is, in fact, the basic part of nurses' careers in looking after the patients. Recognizing the factors related to communication skills of nursing students, including spiritual intelligence, can be used to increase the quality of care. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between spiritual intelligence and communication skills of nursing students in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, 286 nursing students were selected by stratified sampling method. Data were collected by King&rsquo;s Spiritual Intelligence Questionnaire and Barton&rsquo;s Communication Skills Questionnaire. Data analysis was done by descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS 21 software. Results: The mean age of the students was 21.37&plusmn;2.39 years. Most of the students were male (55%) and studying in the fourth year of the university (30%) (Seventh semester (17.1%)). The mean (standard deviation) of spiritual intelligence was 59.71 (12.04) and communication skills was 51.83 (10.10). Based on Pearson correlation coefficient, the correlation between communication skills with spiritual intelligence and its areas was positive (0.414) and was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: There was a positive and significant correlation between spiritual intelligence and communication skills. Considering this issue in students, along with physical, mental and social dimensions, can increase the communication skills and increase the quality of nursing care in the future