DRINO IMBERBIS (WIEDEMANN) (DIPTERA: TACHINIDAE), A PARASITOID OF MALACOSOMA DISSTRIA HUBNER (LEPIDOPTERA: LASIOCAMPIDAE) CATERPILLARS IN IRAN

Malacosoma disstria Hubner (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) is a widespread generalist defoliator of a wide variety of plants in Iran. This study was conducted to identify the indigenous parasitoids of the forest tent caterpillar in the Borazjan region of the Bushehr province, Iran. Samplings were conducted in different sites within a single cabbage field heavily infested with M. disstria. The forest tent caterpillars were reared in the laboratory until the emergence of parasitoids. A parasitoid species from the family Tachinidae was found, reared, and identified as Drino imberbis (Wiedemann). Malacosoma disstria is a new host record for D. imberbis in Iran

Toxicity of neem and chinaberry extracts and additive effect of the essential oil Salvia mirzayanii on the date palm spider mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The date palm spider mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus (MCG.), is one of the important pests of date palm in the south of Iran where the application of a wide range of chemical acaricides by growers adversely affects the quality of harvest. Acaricidal activity of water extracts from Azadirachta indica A. Juss and Melia azedarach L., on adult O. afrasiaticus, was evaluated and compared with a commerical formulation of A. indica (Neemgold) under laboratory condition. Additive effect of the essential oil of Salvia mirzayanii Rech. f. & Esfand on these plant extracts was studied through dipping the date fruits in the extracts. Both plants showed acaricidal activity against O. afrasiaticus and the LC50 were 0.06% (commercial Neemgold), 2.23% (A. indica) and 3.25% (M. azedarach). The additive effect of S. mirzayanii in combined application with palnt extracts against O. afrasiaticus was observed as well

Audit nursing reports in intubated neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care unit of Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital, Babol, Iran

Background: Accurate and complete documentation of nursing records is one of the preconditions of the evidence-based cares and is considered as one of the most important professional tasks in nursing. The aim of the present study was to audit the nursing reports in intubated neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care unit of Ayatollah Rouhani hospital, Babol. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 nursing reports were randomly selected from the neonatal intensive care unit. Data were collected by a researcher using a checklist which was developed in accordance with the standard and indicators of nursing documentation in national and international reliable sources and then compared after determining the content validity and reliability (observers' agreement coefficient). Data were analyzed using SPSS20, and statistical methods of Man-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis were used at a significant level of p<0.05. Results: The quality of 93%, 1% and 6% of nursing records was good, moderate and poor, respectively. Overall, the quality of nursing records was desirable in terms of content and structure and there was no significant difference in nursing documentation record in dimensions of structure and content according to overtime (P=0.92 and P=0.11), work experience (P=0.61 and P=0.16) and age group (P=0.09 and P=0.76). Conclusions: The quality of nursing records in neonatal intensive care unit of Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital of Babol has been improved according to the Accreditation of Health Care Centers. In addition, the increase of nurses' knowledge about legal and professional issues has also been effective on improving the quality of the documentation

Laboratory features of severe vs. non-severe COVID-19 patients in Asian populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: More severe cases of COVID- 19 are more likely to be hospitalized and around one-fifth, needing ICU admission. Understanding the common laboratory features of COVID-19 in more severe cases versus non-severe patients could be quite useful for clinicians and might help to predict the model of disease progression. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the laboratory test findings in severe vs. non-severe confirmed infected cases of COVID-19. METHODS: Electronic databases were systematically searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from the beginning of 2019 to 3rd of March 2020. Heterogeneity across included studies was determined using Cochrane's Q test and the I2 statistic. We used the fixed or random-effect models to pool the weighted mean differences (WMDs) or standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). FINDINGS: Out of a total of 3009 citations, 17 articles (22 studies, 21 from China and one study from Singapore) with 3396 ranging from 12 to1099 patients were included. Our meta-analyses showed a significant decrease in lymphocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil, hemoglobin, platelet, albumin, serum sodium, lymphocyte to C-reactive protein ratio (LCR), leukocyte to C-reactive protein ratio (LeCR), leukocyte to IL-6 ratio (LeIR), and an increase in the neutrophil, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), Procalcitonin (PCT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), fibrinogen, prothr

Using Evidence-Based Interventions to Improve the Completion Rates of Advance Care Directives

Background: Advance care directives reduce unnecessary suffering, improve life quality, and further engage patients and families in the decision-making process to ensure that end-of-life care preferences are considered and applied. Despite the proven benefits of advance care directives, advance directives completion rates are approximately 33% in the United States. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase advance directive completion rates among patients at one clinic through an educational intervention. Methods: The intervention was used to educate patients about the benefits of advance care directives, and present opportunities for patients to complete the directive. The intervention included educational pamphlets and posters available in the clinic waiting room. The participants included patients and their families who attend the clinic. Results and Conclusion: The educational campaign resulted in a 20.3% increase in the completion rates of advance directives among the randomly selected health records. Age, gender, and race were found to be influential factors in patients’ attitudes toward completing advance directives. This quality improvement project supports the application of an educational intervention to increase the completion rates of advance directives in clinics caring for patients who are immigrants, refugees, and low-income earners

Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Heteroptera: Miridae), a predatory species of the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Iran

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), is a major worldwide pest of tomato crops, both in the greenhouse and in open field cultivations. Since this pest’s new introduction in Iran, it has caused extensive damage. Chemicals have mainly been used to control this pest. The purpose of our research was to identify the indigenous predators of the tomato leafminer, associated with tomato in the Borazjan region of the Bushehr province, Iran. From March to May 2014, infested tomato leaves were collected from protected tomato crops. A predator species from the family Miridae was found, reared, and identified as Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter 1895). This species is reported for the first time on tomato leafminer in Iran. Identification of important natural enemies provides a scientific basis for including these predators in the biological programs against this pest

Effectiveness of Positive Group Psychotherapy on Resiliency, Happiness and General Health on Women with a Substance Dependence Spouses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of positive group psychotherapy on resiliency, happiness and general health in Women with substance dependent spouse. The research design was quasi - experimental with pre-test, post-test and one-month follow - up with the control group. The sample was comprised of women whom their spouse were referred to addiction clinic. Twenty - four women were selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Both groups were assessed by Davidson Resilience Scale, Peterson happiness directions questionnaires and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Positive group psychotherapy was conducted on the experimental group for 14 sessions, each session lasting 90- minutes. The data was analyzed with ANCOVA. The findings indicated that the mean scores of post-test in the experimental groups on resilience, happiness, and public health, was significantly higher than the mean scores of post-test in control group. Benferroni test was indicating the stable effect of therapy. According to the findings, it can be said that group positive psychotherapy was effective in promoting resiliency, happiness, and general health of women with the dependent drug spouses

Study of relationship between a strain of E.coli and colorectal cancer

Background and Aim: The most important factors of colorectal cancer (CRC), as a multifactorial disease is bacterial infections. The studies showed that a certain type of infection with E.coli with PKS positive strain. This strain of bacteria can be promoted colorectal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). In fact, the E.coli with PKS gene disrupt the cell cycle by producing the colibactin as secondary metabolites of bacteria, so leads to initiation and progression of colorectal cancer. The aim of this paper is describing the latest achievements regarding molecular study of this matter in the Iranian patients with CRC. Materials and Methods: 126 colon biopsies were obtained from colorectal cancer patients (60sample) and the healthy individuals (66samples) during Aug_Dec 2013. After Isolating the E.coli and extraction of their DNA, duplex-PCR performed for PKs Island region. Results: The frequency of E.coli with Pks positive strains was 12.2% and 4% in colorectal cancer patient and healthy individuals, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study rather than similar studies in European countries showed the lower frequencies for E. coli with PKs positive strain in patients with CRC

Persistence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with coronary artery diseases after percutaneous coronary interventions

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is as a leading cause of death and disability all around the world. Multiple risk factors have a role in the development and progression of coronary heart disease (CHD). It is necessary to control risk factors, to achieve optimal results of treatment. The aim of present study was to evaluate the persistence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with CADs after percutaneous cardiac interventions. Methods: In an analytical-descriptive study, 150 patient with CAD and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were performed for them, and referred to Cardiology Clinic of Shahid Madani Hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, from September 2013 to September 2015, were studied. The persistence of coronary risk factors, 12-24 months after performing PCI, was evaluated. Results: The mean age of patients at time of PCI performing was 57.90 ± 12.26 years. 72.7% of patients were male and 27.3% were female and male to female ratio was 1 to 0.37. Dyslipidemia in 52.0% of patients, hypertension in 51.3% patients, and diabetes mellitus (DM) in 41.3% patients were the most common underlying comorbidities. In both before and after doing PCI, 26.7% were a smoker, and smoking rates after doing PCI also showed no significant change (P = 0.055), and also there were no significant changes in the physical activity of patients compared before and after performing PCI. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and DM, was the most frequent underlying diseases in patients with CAD respectively. Risk factors such as smoking, and lack of exercise, had no significant changes after performing PCI