Probiotics and Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Background: Genital infections are among the most common diseases for which women refer to gynecologists. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is the second most common infection among women. Objective: A few studies have been conducted on new therapeutic regimens improving the effectiveness of current medications; accordingly, the present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of clotrimazole with clotrimazole plus probiotics in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Materials and Methods: The present double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 80 women admitted to Shohada hospital in Tehran in 2014. The participants were randomly divided into 2 groups of clotrimazole and clotrimazole plus probiotics. The collected data included the participants’ sociodemographic information and their medical records along with their symptoms and laboratory results before and after the treatment. Finally, the collected data were analyzed using chi-square test, t test, McNemar test and Fisherexact test. Results: The results showed that both treatments (i.e. clotrimazole and clotrimazole plus probiotics) are equally effective in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (P = 0.499). Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that supplementing clotrimazole with probiotics results in similar effects compared to administering clotrimazole alone in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis

The cost effectiveness of intensity-modulated radiation therapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in the treatment of head and neck cancers

Abstract Purpose Intensity-modulated radiotherapy is developed as a replacement for 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy. Considering the difference in costs and effectiveness of these interventions, the aim of this study was to compare the cost effectiveness of intensity-modulated radiation therapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in the treatment of head and neck cancer in east of Iran. Methods A Markov model including six states based on xerostomia and dysphagia was developed to estimate the incremental cost effectiveness ratio from the perspective of societal. Cost and quality of life data were collected from 97 respondents via a checklist and EuroQol-5Dimension questionnaire. The robustness of results was examined by deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis. All analysis were conducted with Treeage software. Results The results of this study showed that the cost and quality adjusted life years for 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy were 9209.76 and 3.63 respectively. However, the cost and quality adjusted life years for intensity-modulated radiotherapy were 12562.90 and 3.17 respectively. Therefore, 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy produced 0.45 more quality adjusted life years than intensity-modulated radiotherapy and saved $3353. According to the incremental cost effectiveness ratio, 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy as compared to intensity-modulated radiotherapy saved$7367.27 per quality adjusted life years. These results confirmed by sensitivity analysis. Conclusion This study concluded that in the treatment of head and neck cancer, the 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy method appears to be cost-effective when compared with intensity-modulated radiotherapy

Multiple-scale spatial analysis of paediatric, pedestrian road traffic injuries in a major city in North-Eastern Iran 2015-2019

Background: Paediatric, pedestrian road traffic injuries (PPRTIs) constitute a major cause of premature death in Iran. Identification of high-risk areas would be the primary step in designing policy intervention for PPRTI reduction because environmental factors play a significant role in these events. The present study aims to determine high-risk areas for PPRTIs at three different geographical scales, including the grid network, the urban neighbourhood and the street levels in Mashhad, Iran during the period 2015–2019. Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study was based on all pedestrian accidents with motor vehicles involving children (less than 18 years of age) between March 2015 and March 2019 in the city of Mashhad, which is the second-most populous city in Iran. The Anselin Local Moran’s I statistic and Getis-Ord Gi* were performed to measure spatial autocorrelation and hotspots of PPRTIs at the geographical grid network and neighbourhood level. Furthermore, a spatial buffer analysis was used to classify the streets according to their PPRTI rate. Results: A total of 7390 PPRTIs (2364 females and 4974 males) were noted during the study period. The children’s mean age was 9.7 ± 5.1 years. Out of the total PPRTIs, 43% occurred on or at the sides of the streets, 25 of which labelled high-risk streets. A high-high cluster of PPRTI was discovered in the eastern part of the city, while there was a low-low such cluster in the West. Additionally, in the western part of the city, older children were more likely to become injured, while in the north-eastern and south-eastern parts, younger children were more often the victims. Conclusions: Spatial analysis of PPRTIs in an urban area was carried out at three different geographical scales: the grid network, the neighbourhood and the street level. The resulting documentation contributes reliable support for the implementation and prioritization of preventive strategies, such as improvement of the highrisk streets and neighbourhoods of the city that should lead to decreasing numbers of PPRTIs.This study was funded by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (fund number: 970733)

Survey the effect of drawing and implementing of concept map in a group method with a computer on the divergent thinking of nursing students

Introduction: Concept map is one of the effective methods in the evolution of medical education, which leads to the development of learning problem solving, group skills and creativity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of drawing and implementing of concept map in a group method with a computer on the divergent thinking of nursing students. Materials and methods: The present study was experimental and population enter to study in consensus method. 102 nursing students participated in this study. Using the random allocation method, 51 people were in the intervention group and 51 people were in the comparison group. The intervention plan of drawing and presenting a concept map was done in a group method using Mind Mapper software during 7 sessions that each session was 90 minutes. Peter Hani's questionnaire was used to measure students' divergent thinking. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22 software. Findings: The mean and standard deviation of divergent thinking scores of students in the intervention group were 5.68 ± 1.22, 8.23 ± 1.35 and 8.70 ± 1.18 before, after and one month after the intervention. The mean and standard deviation of divergent thinking scores of students in the control group were 3.41 ± 0.66, 3.41 ± 0.66 and 3.33 ± 0.62 before, after, and one month after the intervention, and there was a significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of divergent thinking. (P<0.001). Conclusion: The average of divergent thinking score of the students in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group, which shows the positive effect of drawing and implementing a concept map in a group method with the computer, so it is suggested to use this student-centered method in the teaching and learning process in higher education program

The investigation of the relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome with metabolic changes in women

Background: For exploring the relationship between metabolic changes and thyroid function in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, metabolic, endocrine, and thyroid parameters were assessed. Materials and Methods: alterations in endocrine, metabolic, and clinical characteristics in PCOS patients compared with healthy women were studied within a prospective investigation. Also thyroid parameters were considered. Results: 300 women with normal ovulatory as controls and PCOS patients were included and matched by age. There were significant increases in triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHL), and total dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in PCOS patients. Also, overall levels of Fast Blood Sugar (FBS), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Testosterone (T), Prolactin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were higher in compared with the normal women, but these higher amounts were not significant. There was an insignificant decrease in Luteinizing hormone(LH), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and Free T4 in PCOS patients compared with the controls. Conclusions: Our manuscript suggests the negative metabolic alterations in PCOS patients.The small increases of TG, CHL, and DHT levels may depend on these alterations in metabolic parameters in PCOS patients. Further investigations may clear a vague understanding of the relationship between metabolic parameters alteration and thyroid function

Supplemental Material - Pre-Hospital and Post-Hospital Quality of Care in Traumatic Spinal Column and Cord Injuries in Iran

Supplemental Material for Pre-Hospital and Post-Hospital Quality of Care in Traumatic Spinal Column and Cord Injuries in Iran by Arman Zeinaddini-Meymand, Vali Baigi, Mehdi Mousavi-Nasab, Sina Shool, Mohsen Sadeghi-Naini, Zahra Azadmanjir, Seyed Behnam Jazayeri, Samuel Berchi Kankam, Mohammad Dashtkoohi, Aidin Shakeri, Esmail Fakharian, Leila Kouchakinejad-Eramsadati, Habibollah Pirnejad, Homayoun Sadeghi-Bazargani, Laleh Bagheri, Yasaman Pourandish, Malihe Amiri, Ahmad Pour-Rashidi, James Harrop, and Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar in Global Spine Journal</p

The burden of metabolic risk factors in North Africa and the Middle East, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease StudyResearch in context

Summary: Background: The objective of this study is to investigate the trends of exposure and burden attributable to the four main metabolic risk factors, including high systolic blood pressure (SBP), high fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high body-mass index (BMI), and high low-density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL) in North Africa and the Middle East from 1990 to 2019. Methods: The data were retrieved from Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Summary exposure value (SEV) was used for risk factor exposure. Burden attributable to each risk factor was incorporated in the population attributable fraction to estimate the total attributable deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Findings: While age-standardized death rate (ASDR) attributable to high-LDL and high-SBP decreased by 26.5% (18.6–35.2) and 23.4% (15.9–31.5) over 1990–2019, respectively, high-BMI with 5.1% (−9.0–25.9) and high-FPG with 21.4% (7.0–37.4) change, grew in ASDR. Moreover, age-standardized DALY rate attributed to high-LDL and high-SBP declined by 30.2% (20.9–39.0) and 25.2% (16.8–33.9), respectively. The attributable age-standardized DALY rate of high-BMI with 8.3% (−6.5–28.8) and high-FPG with 27.0% (14.3–40.8) increase, had a growing trend. Age-standardized SEVs of high-FPG, high-BMI, high-SBP, and high-LDL increased by 92.4% (82.8–103.3), 76.0% (58.9–99.3), 10.4% (3.8–18.0), and 5.5% (4.3–7.1), respectively. Interpretation: The burden attributed to high-SBP and high-LDL decreased during the 1990–2019 period in the region, while the attributable burden of high-FPG and high-BMI increased. Alarmingly, exposure to all four risk factors increased in the past three decades. There has been significant heterogeneity among the countries in the region regarding the trends of exposure and attributable burden. Urgent action is required at the individual, community, and national levels in terms of introducing effective strategies for prevention and treatment that account for local and socioeconomic factors. Funding: Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation

Adolescent transport and unintentional injuries: a systematic analysis using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Globally, transport and unintentional injuries persist as leading preventable causes of mortality and morbidity for adolescents. We sought to report comprehensive trends in injury-related mortality and morbidity for adolescents aged 10-24 years during the past three decades. Methods Using the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors 2019 Study, we analysed mortality and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributed to transport and unintentional injuries for adolescents in 204 countries. Burden is reported in absolute numbers and age-standardised rates per 100 000 population by sex, age group (10-14, 15-19, and 20-24 years), and sociodemographic index (SDI) with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). We report percentage changes in deaths and DALYs between 1990 and 2019. Findings In 2019, 369 061 deaths (of which 214337 [58%] were transport related) and 31.1 million DALYs (of which 16.2 million [52%] were transport related) among adolescents aged 10-24 years were caused by transport and unintentional injuries combined. If compared with other causes, transport and unintentional injuries combined accounted for 25% of deaths and 14% of DALYs in 2019, and showed little improvement from 1990 when such injuries accounted for 26% of adolescent deaths and 17% of adolescent DALYs. Throughout adolescence, transport and unintentional injury fatality rates increased by age group. The unintentional injury burden was higher among males than females for all injury types, except for injuries related to fire, heat, and hot substances, or to adverse effects of medical treatment. From 1990 to 2019, global mortality rates declined by 34.4% (from 17.5 to 11.5 per 100 000) for transport injuries, and by 47.7% (from 15.9 to 8.3 per 100000) for unintentional injuries. However, in low-SDI nations the absolute number of deaths increased (by 80.5% to 42 774 for transport injuries and by 39.4% to 31 961 for unintentional injuries). In the high-SDI quintile in 2010-19, the rate per 100 000 of transport injury DALYs was reduced by 16.7%, from 838 in 2010 to 699 in 2019. This was a substantially slower pace of reduction compared with the 48.5% reduction between 1990 and 2010, from 1626 per 100 000 in 1990 to 838 per 100 000 in 2010. Between 2010 and 2019, the rate of unintentional injury DALYs per 100 000 also remained largely unchanged in high-SDI countries (555 in 2010 vs 554 in 2019; 0.2% reduction). The number and rate of adolescent deaths and DALYs owing to environmental heat and cold exposure increased for the high-SDI quintile during 2010-19. Interpretation As other causes of mortality are addressed, inadequate progress in reducing transport and unintentional injury mortality as a proportion of adolescent deaths becomes apparent. The relative shift in the burden of injury from high-SDI countries to low and low-middle-SDI countries necessitates focused action, including global donor, government, and industry investment in injury prevention. The persisting burden of DALYs related to transport and unintentional injuries indicates a need to prioritise innovative measures for the primary prevention of adolescent injury