Providing a Model of Workplace Health along with an Approach to Staff’s Physical Activity Improvement (Case Study: Mobarakeh Steel Company)

The present study brings forward a model of workplace health with an approach to staff’s physical activity improvement. this study was an applied and descriptive research that has been conducted with a mixed approach for data collection (qualitative and quantitative). The methodology is performed qualitatively on the basis of grounded theory of Glaser approach. The research participants in qualitative included 18 subjects selected through judgmental sampling method with snowball approach. In addition, the sample in quantitative section, 384 subjects were studied through convinience sampling based on  Krejcie and Morgan table. The analysis in the quantitative section is second-order confirmatory factor analysis. According to the results, components of workplace health comprising the physical environment with sub-components of preparing infrastructure along with strenuous company; the psycho-social environment with sub-components of education, culturalization, encouragement along with support; the health resources with the sub-components of evaluation, supervision and alignment of plans; and participation of the company which comprises management and planning

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the extract of a Moroccan endemic Narcissus: Narcissus broussonetii

The antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, of the extract of the Narcissus broussonetii bulbs were studied. The report concerning those properties of this Moroccan endemic species is described for the first time. Nine main alkaloids compounds were identified by GC and GC-MS such as tazettine, pretazettine, homolycorine, lycorine, ismine, 3-epimacronine and papiramine. The extracts of N. broussonetii up to 40 mg/100g b.wt, revealed a significant anti-inflammatory effect in mice and showed also a significant scavenging activity at 10 mg mL-1 . However, the extract showed a moderate antibacterial activity against all the microorganisms tested

Risk factors associated with long covid syndrome: A retrospective study

Background: Recently, people have recognized the post-acute phase symptoms of the COVID-19. We investigated the long-term symptoms associated with COVID-19, (Long COVID Syndrome), and the risk factors associated with it. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. All the consecutive adult patients referred to the healthcare facilities anywhere in Fars province from 19 February 2020 until 20 November 2020 were included. All the patients had a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. In a phone call to the patients, at least three months after their discharge from the hospital, we obtained their current information. The IBM SPSS Statistics (version 25.0) was used. Pearson Chi square, Fisher’s exact test, t test, and binary logistic regression analysis model were employed. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: In total, 4,681 patients were studied, 2915 of whom (62.3%) reported symptoms. The most common symptoms of long COVID syndrome were fatigue, exercise intolerance, walking intolerance, muscle pain, and shortness of breath. Women were more likely to experience long-term COVID syndrome than men (Odds Ratio: 1,268; 95% Confidence Interval: 1,122-1,432; P=0.0001), which was significant. Presentation with respiratory problems at the onset of illness was also significantly associated with long COVID syndrome (Odds Ratio: 1.425; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.177-1.724; P=0.0001). A shorter length of hospital stay was inversely associated with long COVID syndrome (Odds Ratio: 0.953; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.941-0.965; P=0.0001). Conclusion: Long COVID syndrome is a frequent and disabling condition and has significant associations with sex (female), respiratory symptoms at the onset, and the severity of the illness

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings: Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation: Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic

A descent scaled conjugate gradient method for unconstrained optimization with its applications in image restoration problems

Based on combining the conjugate gradient method proposed by Hager and Zhang with the scaled gradient idea, we presented a new scaled conjugate gradient method which satisfies the sufficient descent condition. In our method, the scaled parameter is determined so that the search direction becomes close to the three-term HS method suggested by Zhang, Zhou and Li. It is proved that the new method is globally convergent for general nonlinear functions, under some standard assumptions. Numerical comparisons on some test problems from the CUTEst library and image restoration problems illustrate the efficiency and robustness of our proposed method in practice

Impact of left ventricular ejection fraction on outcomes after left main revascularization: g-LM Registry

Aims: The impact of left ventricular dysfunction on clinical outcomes following revascularization is not well established in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease (ULMCA). In this study, we evaluated the impact of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on clinical outcomes of patients with ULMCA requiring revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Methods: The details of the design, methods, end points, and relevant definitions are outlined in the Gulf Left Main Registry: a retrospective, observational study conducted between January 2015 and December 2019 across 14 centres in 3 Gulf countries. In this study, the data on patients with ULMCA who underwent revascularization through PCI or CABG were stratified by LVEF into three main subgroups; low (l-LVEF \u3c40%), mid-range (m-LVEF 40-49%), and preserved (p-LVEF ≥50%). Primary outcomes were hospital major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and mortality and follow-up MACCE and mortality. Results: A total of 2137 patients were included; 1221 underwent PCI and 916 had CABG. During hospitalization, MACCE was significantly higher in patients with l-LVEF [(10.10%), P = 0.005] and m-LVEF [(10.80%), P = 0.009], whereas total mortality was higher in patients with m-LVEF [(7.40%), P = 0.009] and p-LVEF [(7.10%), P = 0.045] who underwent CABG. There was no mortality difference between groups in patients with l-LVEF. At a median follow-up of 15 months, there was no difference in MACCE and total mortality between patients who underwent CABG or PCI with p-LVEF and m-LVEF. Conclusion: CABG was associated with higher in-hospital events. Hospital mortality in patients with l-LVEF was comparable between CABG and PCI. At 15 months\u27 follow-up, PCI could have an advantage in decreasing MACCE in patients with l-LVEF

The physical activity development model of Mobarake steel company employees

Introduction: Human capital is one of the most important resources of an organization, and as a result, organizations strive to increase their productivity. Since employees' health contributes to it, this study aimed to determine the physical activity development model of Mobarake Steel Company employees. Materials and Methods: The current research is descriptive-analytical. It is a kind of exploratory and applied research that helps to solve the problem in Mobarake Steel Company of Isfahan. The statistical population in this research in the qualitative part includes all specialists, managers, and experts of Mobarake Steel Company as well as knowledgeable academic staff members who have expertise or experience in the field of human resources policy and sports management. Also, in the quantitative part, all the employees of Foulad Mobarakeh formed the statistical population of the research. The research tools in the qualitative and quantitative part were made by the researcher and based on the components extracted from the library studies and the results from the interviews, respectively. The research method in the qualitative part was Glazer's approach data model and in the quantitative part confirmatory factor analysis. The validity of the formal method and reliability was also confirmed through retesting. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 26 and SmartPLS software. Results: Evaluation of the obtained model using model fit indices has shown that the model was suitable (SRMR, 0.186, Chi-square, 341.256, and NFI, 0.087). Also, the final dimensions of the model include the psychosocial environment with the dimensions of promoting sports and physical activity and encouragement and support, the physical environment with the dimensions of providing infrastructure and active company, health resources with the dimensions of program alignment and evaluation and monitoring and company participation with the dimensions of management and Planning was achieved. Conclusion: Considering the comprehensive health program, considering the calendar and regular sports program, creating culture and forming a sports team with a dynamic environment, monitoring related instructions, forcing employees to evaluate physical health and monitoring the progress of physical activity development programs, managers' support, per capita allocation Appropriate exercise and ergonomics of control rooms and related equipment such as chairs and computers and things such as the level of lighting and even per capita dedicated space for employees and encouraging employees can be the results of the implementation of this research model