Relationship between Job Burnout and Quality of Life of Operation Room Technologists in Educational Hospitals Affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2016-17

AbstractIntroduction: Quality of life is affected by Job burnout, which can be caused by long-term exposure to occupational stress. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between job burnout and quality of life of operation room technologists.Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, 125 operation room technologists were randomly selected. The data were collected using three questionnaires: Demographic, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and WHO Quality of Life-BREF with 26 items, and analyzed using Spearman correlation test in SPSS software, and the significance level was considered as P≤0.05.Results: The mean of Job burnout score in terms of intensity, frequency, and quality of life was 47.88±17.50, 47.95±17.42, and 63.1±18.57, respectively. There was an inverse correlation between quality of life and job burnout in terms of Intensity (P<0.01) and frequency (P<0.05).Conclusions: Considering the significant inverse correlation between job burnout and quality of life, reducing the job burnout of employees can increase their quality of life and consequently prevent from the reduction of their productivity

Serum anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies before and after treatment by disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic disease involving joints. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) as a specific antibody is a reliable index to early diagnosis of RA. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can reduce progression of RA joint destruction. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of DMARDs in reducing serum anti-CCP. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on 30 patients including 22 females and 8 males RA patients according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria, who referred to the Rheumatology Clinic. Treatment with DMARD group started at the beginning of the study (May 2009). At 1st and 6th month of the study, clinical findings and disease activities were recorded and anti-CCP was measured. RESULTS: At the beginning and the end of the study, morning stiffness for more than 1 h and involvement of three areas were, 28 (93%) and 12 (40%), respectively. Indicators of disease severity in patients, the mean ± SD serum levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate at the beginning and end, were 40.7 (30-59) mm/1 h and 13.4 (9-86) respectively. Anti-CCP at the beginning and end of the study was 141.83 (65.8-101.09) U/ml and 65.8 (62-92) U/ml respectively (P < 0.05). Disease Activity Score in 28 joints and rheumatoid factor positive and C-reactive protein positive were significantly different at the onset and at the end of the study (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Measurement of serum anti-CCP is a helpful index of treatment response and monitoring of treatment efficacy in patients with RA.

Serum anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies before and after treatment by disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic disease involving joints. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) as a specific antibody is a reliable index to early diagnosis of RA. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can reduce progression of RA joint destruction. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of DMARDs in reducing serum anti-CCP. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on 30 patients including 22 females and 8 males RA patients according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria, who referred to the Rheumatology Clinic. Treatment with DMARD group started at the beginning of the study (May 2009). At 1st and 6th month of the study, clinical findings and disease activities were recorded and anti-CCP was measured. RESULTS: At the beginning and the end of the study, morning stiffness for more than 1 h and involvement of three areas were, 28 (93%) and 12 (40%), respectively. Indicators of disease severity in patients, the mean ± SD serum levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate at the beginning and end, were 40.7 (30-59) mm/1 h and 13.4 (9-86) respectively. Anti-CCP at the beginning and end of the study was 141.83 (65.8-101.09) U/ml and 65.8 (62-92) U/ml respectively (P < 0.05). Disease Activity Score in 28 joints and rheumatoid factor positive and C-reactive protein positive were significantly different at the onset and at the end of the study (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Measurement of serum anti-CCP is a helpful index of treatment response and monitoring of treatment efficacy in patients with RA

Study the Concentration of Heavy Metals and some Chemical Parameters in Water Distribution Network of Sanandaj city in 2014

Background and Objective: The industrial development along with the rising in human population has led to releasing considerable hazardous materials such as heavy metals into the environment. Environmental pollution by heavy metals can in turn threaten the human health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the concentration levels of some heavy metals including; Cd, Pb, Cr and Cu, as well as to estimate the physico-chemical parameters of drinking water distribution network of Sanandaj city in 2014. Methods: In order to accomplish the present descriptive study, 18 samples were collected from the water distribution network of Sanandaj during 2014. The level of heavy metals were assayed by using a graphite furnace atomic absorption (Phoenix 986). The standard approaches mentioned in the standard method book were used to measure the fluoride, nitrate and hardness of water. The Pearson Correlation test was used to estimate the association between parameters. Results: The mean concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr and Cu were found to be 0.0004, 0.011, 0.03, 0.3 mg/L respectively. Moreover, the mean levels of fluoride, nitrate, and total hardness were 0.11, 6.57, and 166 mg/L respectively. The level of Hazard Quotient in this study was lower than 1 (HQ < 1). Conclusion: The concentration of all heavy metals in this study were lower than the national and international thresholds of drinking water. It is concluded that Sanandaj drinking water is safe to drink concerning health issues