Nurses' Competence and Job Related Factors among Nurses in University Hospitals: A Cross Sectional Descriptive Design

Introduction: Nurses' Competence is a critical factor for providing safe and quality care and self- assessment is a key issue in maintenance of competence. This study was conducted to identify the level of competence and its associations with some job related factors. Methods: A cross sectional and descriptive design was conducted at seven university hospitals in Rasht during September 2015. This study included 230 nurses working in university hospitals who were selected using stratified sampling method. The majority of nurses was female and had a bachelor's degree. Nurses' competence was measured using self reported competency inventory for registered nurses (Persian version). Data was analyzed with Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney-U SPSS /21 software. Results: The average score of competence was 173.59±26.72 and was considered in high level. The highest and the lowest competence were in dimensions of 'ethical-legal performance' (M=3.23±.52) and 'Critical thinking/research aptitude' (M=3.11±.51) respectively. There were significant associations between nurses' competence and some job related factors consisting work experience (p = 0.001), monthly salary (p = 0.001), working hours per month (p = 0.004), Nurses' shift work (p = 0.021), and employment type (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Nurses assessed their competence at a desirable level, which may be due to self-assessment tool. Some job related factors associated with nurses' competence. Exploring the competence level and its relationship with these factors could be helpful in managerial interventions for professional competency

Patient Safety Culture; the Strengths and Weaknesses: A Case study of Imam Reza Hospital of Kermanshah

Background: Nowadays, strengthening Patient safety culture has received widespread attention by healthcare organizations. The first step in improving the safety of the patient is to assess the safety culture of the hospital. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of Patient safety culture from the nurses' point of view. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a convenient sample, including 214 nurses, was selected among nurses in Imam Reza university hospital, Kermanshah, 2016. Data were collected by a hospital survey on patient safety culture (HSOPSC) in 12 dimensions via self-reporting method and were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests using SPSS 19 software. Results: The dimension of "organizational learning - continuous improvement" with 75.86% positive score was the strength of the Patient safety culture. While the dimensions of feedback to errors (45.64%), the frequency of reporting events (41.70%), staffing issues (27.33%), the openness of communication channels (24.63%), and the non-punitive response to errors (15.59%) were the weaknesses of the Patient safety culture. The overall Patient safety culture score was at an undesirable level (48.93%) and needed to improve. The Patient safety culture score was not significantly correlated with individual variables of nurses (P >0.05). Conclusion: Based on the findings, the Patient safety culture, particularly in the dimensions of "communication openness", "non-punitive response to errors", and "staffing issues" was in an undesirable level and required managerial interventions to improve. Improving Patient safety culture can prepare the basis for providing safe and high-quality care

Appraisal of fibroblast viability in different concentration of glucose as mimicry diabetic condition

Diabetes mellitus is a common name for a group of diseases of a much diversified etiopathogenesis, characterized by chronically increased concentration of blood glucose. Diabetes results from alterations of various genes, each having a partial and additive effect. The inheritance pattern is thus complex, and environmental factors play an important role in favoring or delaying the expression of the disease. Diabetes can cause devastating complications, including cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, and blindness, leg and foot amputations, delay in wound healing, which often result in disability and death. Fibroblast cells play a critical role in wound healing. They are the most common cells of connective tissue in animals. Tissue damage stimulates fibrocystic and induces the mitosis of fibroblasts. Wound healing processes in diabetic patients are so longer and sometimes cause to cut damaged tissue. In this study Fibroblasts were isolated from foreskin and cultured as primary cell culture in different concentrations of glucose (8.8 mmol/l, 13.13 mmol/l, 18.31 mmol/l, 27.7 mmol/l, 37.18 mmol/l, 47.17 mmol/l, 83.24 mmol/l, 124.8 mmol/l and 166.4 mmol/l) for 48h incubation time. Traditionally, the determination of cell growth is done by counting viable cells after staining witha vital dye. Among several approaches have been used in the past, The MTT method of cell determination is most invaluable to cultures which are prepared in multiwall plates. This assay is a sensitive, quantitative and reliable colorimetric assay that measures viability, proliferation and activation of cells. The results of this preliminary study suggest that altered glucose concentrations may affect fibroblast behavior in ways that are important for tissue repair and wound healing. The cells had low level of confluency and viability and in high concentration fibroblast had very low cell division.

Socioeconomic-related inequalities in oral hygiene behaviors: a cross-sectional analysis of the PERSIAN cohort study

Background Socioeconomic-related inequality in oral hygiene behaviors in Iran is poorly understood. This study aims to measure and decompose socioeconomic-related inequalities in oral hygiene behaviors among middle-aged and elderly adults in Iran. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was performed using data from the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN), a large national cohort study. A total of 130,016 individuals aged 35 years and above from 17 cohort centers in Iran were included in the study. The normalized concentration index (C-n) was used to measure the magnitude of inequality in oral hygiene behaviors, i.e. brushing at least twice and flossing once daily, among middle-aged and elderly Iranian adults included in the cohort centers. Decomposition analysis was performed to quantify the contribution of each determinant to the observed inequality in oral hygiene behaviors. Results Totally, 65.5% of middle-aged and elderly adults brushed their teeth twice a day or more, 7.6% flossed at least once a day and 3.48% had both habits. The estimated C-n of the two habits combined, i.e. tooth brushing and dental flossing, for all provinces taken part in the PERSIAN cohort study was 0.399 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.383 to 0.417), indicating that the prevalence of the two habits combined is more concentrated among individuals with higher socioeconomic status. Inequality in oral hygiene behaviors was pro-rich in all cohort centers. The decomposition results suggested socioeconomic status as the main factor contributing to the overall inequality, followed by the level of education, and the province of residence. Conclusion A low prevalence of oral hygiene behaviors among middle-aged and elderly Iranian adults was observed. There was also a pro-rich inequality in oral hygiene behaviors among middle-aged and elderly adults in all cohort centers. These results suggest an urgent need for targeted policy interventions to increase the prevalence of preventive oral hygiene behaviors among the poor and less-educated middle-aged and elderly adults in Iran

TIM-3/Gal-9 interaction affects glucose and lipid metabolism in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines

Introduction: T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3 (TIM-3) is a transmembrane molecule first identified as an immunoregulator. This molecule is also expressed on leukemic cells in acute myeloid leukemia and master cell survival and proliferation. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of TIM-3 interaction with its ligand galectin-9 (Gal-9) on glucose and lipid metabolism in AML cell lines. Methods: HL-60 and THP-1 cell lines, representing M3 and M5 AML subtypes, respectively, were cultured under appropriate conditions. The expression of TIM-3 on the cell surface was ascertained by flow cytometric assay. We used real-time PCR to examine the mRNA expression of GLUT-1, HK-2, PFKFB-3, G6PD, ACC-1, ATGL, and CPT-1A; colorimetric assays to measure the concentration of glucose, lactate, GSH, and the enzymatic activity of G6PD; MTT assay to determine cellular proliferation; and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to designate FFAs. Results: We observed the significant upregulated expression of GLUT-1, HK-2, PFKFB-3, ACC-1, CPT-1A, and G6PD and the enzymatic activity of G6PD in a time-dependent manner in the presence of Gal-9 compared to the PMA and control groups in both HL-60 and THP-1 cell lines (p > 0.05). Moreover, the elevation of extracellular free fatty acids, glucose consumption, lactate release, the concentration of cellular glutathione (GSH) and cell proliferation were significantly higher in the presence of Gal-9 compared to the PMA and control groups in both cell lines (p < 0.05). Conclusion: TIM-3/Gal-9 ligation on AML cell lines results in aerobic glycolysis and altered lipid metabolism and also protects cells from oxidative stress, all in favor of leukemic cell survival and proliferation.Isfahan University of Medical Science

Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles by two bacterial and fungal strains, Bacillus cereus and Fusarium oxysporum , and assessment and comparison of their nanotoxicity in vitro by direct and indirect assays

Background: Although nanoparticles (NPs) have many advantages, it has been proved that they may be absorbed by and have toxic effects on the human body. Recent research has tried to evaluate and compare the nanotoxicity of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) produced by two types of microorganisms in vitro by two different methods. AuNPs were produced by Bacillus cereus and Fusarium oxysporum, and their production was confirmed by visible spectral, transmission electron microscope, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The human fibroblast cell line CIRC-HLF was treated with AuNPs, and the induced nanotoxicity was measured using direct microscopic and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Results: The results showed that the produced AuNPs had a maximum absorbance peak around 510\u2013530 nanometer (nm), with spherical, hexagonal, and octagonal shapes and average sizes around 20\u201350 nm. The XRD results confirmed the presence of GNPs in the microbial culture supernatants. An MTT assay showed that GNPs had dose-dependent toxic effects, and microscopic analysis showed that GNPs induced cell abnormalities in doses lower than the determined half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s). Conclusions: In conclusion, the biologically produced AuNPs had toxic effects in the cell culture, and direct techniques such as microscopic evaluation instead of indirect methods such as MTT assay were more useful for assessing the nanotoxicity of the biologically produced AuNPs. Thus, the use of only MTT assay for nanotoxicity evaluation of AuNPs is not desirable

Measuring and Decomposing Socioeconomic Inequalities in Adult Obesity in Western Iran

Objectives Obesity is a considerable and growing public health concern worldwide. The present study aimed to quantify socioeconomic inequalities in adult obesity in western Iran. Methods A total of 10 086 participants, aged 35-65 years, from the Ravansar Non-communicable Disease Cohort Study (2014-2016) were included in the study to examine socioeconomic inequalities in obesity. We defined obesity as a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2. The concentration index and concentration curve were used to illustrate and measure wealth-related inequality in obesity. Additionally, we decomposed the concentration index to identify factors that explained wealth-related inequality in obesity. Results Overall, the prevalence of obesity in the total sample was 26.7%. The concentration index of obesity was 0.04; indicating that obesity was more concentrated among the rich (p<0.001). Decomposition analysis indicated that wealth, place of residence, and marital status were the main contributors to the observed inequality in obesity. Conclusions Socioeconomic-related inequalities in obesity among adults warrant more attention. Policies should be designed to reduce both the prevalence of obesity and inequalities in obesity by focusing on those with higher socioeconomic status, urban residents, and married individuals

TIM-3/Gal-9 interaction affects glucose and lipid metabolism in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines

IntroductionT-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3 (TIM-3) is a transmembrane molecule first identified as an immunoregulator. This molecule is also expressed on leukemic cells in acute myeloid leukemia and master cell survival and proliferation. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of TIM-3 interaction with its ligand galectin-9 (Gal-9) on glucose and lipid metabolism in AML cell lines.MethodsHL-60 and THP-1 cell lines, representing M3 and M5 AML subtypes, respectively, were cultured under appropriate conditions. The expression of TIM-3 on the cell surface was ascertained by flow cytometric assay. We used real-time PCR to examine the mRNA expression of GLUT-1, HK-2, PFKFB-3, G6PD, ACC-1, ATGL, and CPT-1A; colorimetric assays to measure the concentration of glucose, lactate, GSH, and the enzymatic activity of G6PD; MTT assay to determine cellular proliferation; and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to designate FFAs.ResultsWe observed the significant upregulated expression of GLUT-1, HK-2, PFKFB-3, ACC-1, CPT-1A, and G6PD and the enzymatic activity of G6PD in a time-dependent manner in the presence of Gal-9 compared to the PMA and control groups in both HL-60 and THP-1 cell lines (p &gt; 0.05). Moreover, the elevation of extracellular free fatty acids, glucose consumption, lactate release, the concentration of cellular glutathione (GSH) and cell proliferation were significantly higher in the presence of Gal-9 compared to the PMA and control groups in both cell lines (p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionTIM-3/Gal-9 ligation on AML cell lines results in aerobic glycolysis and altered lipid metabolism and also protects cells from oxidative stress, all in favor of leukemic cell survival and proliferation

Decomposing socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health among Iranian adult population: results from the PERSIAN cohort study

Background Socioeconomic inequality in mental health in Iran is poorly understood. This study aimed to assess socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health among Iranian adults. Methods The study used the baseline data of PERSIAN cohort study including 131,813 participants from 17 geographically distinct areas of Iran. The Erreygers Concentration index (E) was used to quantify the socioeconomic inequalities in poor mental health. Moreover, we decomposed the E to identify factors contributing to the observed socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health in Iran. Results The estimated E for poor mental health was - 0.012 (95% CI: - 0.0144, - 0.0089), indicating slightly higher concentration of mental health problem among socioeconomically disadvantaged adults in Iran. Socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health was mainly explained by gender (19.93%) and age (12.70%). Region, SES itself, and physical activity were other important factors that contributed to the concentration of poor mental health among adults with low socioeconomic status. Conclusion There exists nearly equitable distribution in poor mental health among Iranian adults, but with important variations by gender, SES, and geography. These results suggested that interventional programs in Iran should focus on should focus more on socioeconomically disadvantaged people as a whole, with particular attention to the needs of women and those living in more socially disadvantaged regions. Keywords:Mental health; Socioeconomic inequality; Concentration index; Decompositio