Knowledge of Dental Residents at Shahid Beheshti Dental School about COVID-19

Objectives After the onset of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2019, it turned out to be one of the most important issues in public health, and the healthcare community must have adequate knowledge about it; therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge level of dental residents at Shahid Beheshti Dental School about COVID-19. Methods The knowledge level of 104 dental residents at Shahid Beheshti Dental School about COVID-19 was evaluated with a standardized questionnaire that was developed, and its reliability and validity were confirmed. The questionnaire had 4 parts of (I) virology, basic information, and epidemiology, (II) clinical and oral manifestations, (III) prevention of virus transmission and vaccination, and (IV) diagnosis and treatment. The questionnaires were administered in both printed and online forms. Results The overall response rate was 72%. The mean number of correctly answered questions was 7.2 ± 2.6 out of 14. Correct answers were 44.5% in virology, basic information, and epidemiology, 49.2% in clinical and oral manifestations, 48,5% in prevention of virus and vaccination, and 69% in diagnosis and treatment. The knowledge level of dental residents was weak in 12%, average in 52%, and good in 36%. Conclusion The majority of dental residents had average knowledge about COVID-19. Considering the importance of adequate knowledge for proper diagnosis and management of COVID-19, it is suggested to arrange educational programs for dental residents’ knowledge enhancement

Estimation of health effects of PM2.5 exposure using Air Q model in Isfahan during 2013

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown that outdoor air pollution results in serious adverse health outbreaks such as respiratory and heart problems, lung dysfunction, chronic bronchitis and death. The aim of this study was to estimate the health effects and premature death due to atmospheric PM2.5 exposure in the city of Isfahan in 2013. Methods: This study was an ecological study. Annually collected PM2.5 data in Ostandari, Khajoo and Eliaderan monitoring stations were obtained from the department of environment and epidemiological data for the study period were attained form the province health center. The World Health Organization (WHO), Air Q 2.2.3 software was used to assess the impacts of PM2.5 on population health. Results: The results showed that the highest and lowest concentrations of PM2.5 were related to the Ostandari and Khajoo monitoring stations. Mean annual, winter and summer, and 98 percentile of PM2.5 concentration, were 76.64, 81.93, 71.37, and 204.3 μg/m3, respectively. The total number of deaths among the studied population attributed to base incidence was 683.5 per 105 people, and the deaths caused by PM2.5 exposure, with relative risks of 1.011, 1.015 and 1.019, were 733, 978 and 1213 persons, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that according to the AirQ software outputs, deaths attributed to PM2.5 in Isfahan city was 8.1 % of total non-accidental deaths recorded in 2013. The average PM2.5 concentration in the winter was higher compared to that in summer, which is due to the occurrence of thermal inversion and increasing use of fossil fuels for home heating. Therefore, controlling measures for reduction of pollutant emissions can considerably reduce the mortality rate

The effects of acute caffeine ingestion on decision-making and pass accuracy in young soccer players: A preliminary randomized controlled trial

Caffeine has been shown to benefit physical aspects of different sports. In this paper, we aimed to understand the effects of caffeine on decision-making and the accuracy of soccer passes. Twelve young soccer players (16–17 years old and 20.8 ± 2.7 kg/m2 BMI) completed the tasks once after taking 3 mg/kg body mass of caffeine (CAF) and once after consuming similar amounts of placebo (PLA). For the decision-making task, participants were asked to determine the best outcome of ten simulated pre-recorded soccer events. For the soccer pass accuracy, participants performed five short- (10 m) and five long passes (30 m), as well as the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test. Although not statistically significant, participants were 1.67 % more accurate in short- and 13.48 % more accurate in long passes when they consumed caffeine compared to the placebo (14.67 ± 2.74 vs. 14.50 ± 2.97, p = 0.34, g = 0.27 and 7.50 ± 2.84 vs. 6.83 ± 3.13, p = 0.60, g = 0.14, respectively). However, participants' decision-making was 7.14 % and LSPT scores were 3.49 % lower when they consumed caffeine compared to the placebo (29.50 ± 3.09 vs. 30.67 ± 2.93, p = 0.28, g = −0.30 and 55.38 ± 11.91 vs. 57.48 ± 12.13, p = 0.08, g = −0.51 respectively). In conclusion, while the short pass accuracy remained consistent among almost all participants before and after caffeine consumption, the performance varied in the case of long passes. Moreover, most of the participants scored lower on decision-making and LSPT after consuming caffeine. This may suggest that more complex tasks with a higher number of passes might negatively be affected by low doses of caffeine ingested one hour before playing soccer. Future studies are required to elucidate the effects of caffeine consumption on distinct cognitive and passing tasks

Oncocardiology: close collaboration between oncologists, cardiologists, and nephrologists

Cancer treatment can lead to combined heart and kidney complications, which can have a significant impact on patient outcomes. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy used to treat cancer can cause damage to both the heart and kidneys, leading to a range of complications. Managing combined heart and kidney complications following cancer treatment requires a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach, with regular monitoring and personalized management plans tailored to the individual patient’s needs

Evaluation of the validity and reliability of the Persian version of Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale in Iran

Introduction: The interaction between the doctor and the patient achieved when the physician is able to communicate effectively with the patient. Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale is a tool for this purpose. Given that ISAS is originally in English and understudy in Iran, we decided to translate this scale into Persian and evaluate its validity and reliability.Purpose: Our aim in this study is translating, validity and reliability of ISAS.Methods: This study is an observational study with a correlational design that adopts an analytical approach. The population consisted of all patients undergoing surgery at Imam Reza Hospital out of whom 162 patients met the inclusion criteria, i.e. aged 18 years and above, transferred from the OP to ICU, exposed to general anesthesia and signed the consent form.Results: Patients completed the questionnaire in 5 minutes. The mean (maximum-minimum) age of the patients was 57.39 (18-87). As for gender, 102 (63%) of patients were male and 56 (34.6%) were female. About 4 (2.5%) of the data went missing. Cronbach's Alpha was 0.85. The correlation analysis showed that Iowa scale was significantly correlated with RP (P = 0.007), BP (P = 0.002), RE (P = 0.007) and GH (P = 0.012). The PSQ questionnaire had a significant correlation with the LOWA questionnaire (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Validity and reliability of the Persian version of Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale (ISAS) in Iran are excellent

Association of regional cerebral perfusion impairment with gait and balance performance in dizzy patients using brain perfusion spect: Voxel-based analysis of a pilot sample

Objective(s): The purpose of this study was to investigate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) reduction in patients with dizziness and perfusion-related clinical impairment using brain perfusion single photon emission tomography (SPECT). Methods: Thirty-four patients with subjective dizziness and 13 age-and sexmatched healthy controls were studied. Dizziness-related impairments were assessed using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Brain perfusion SPECT scan was acquired from all participants. The carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was also measured. Brain perfusion data were qualitatively interpreted in all cases. Voxel-wise analysis was also conducted in 11 patients compared to healthy controls. Results: Thirty-four patients (mean age=53.8±13.4 years, m/f: 19/15) and 13 ageand sex-matched controls (mean age=51.5±13.1, m/f: 7/6) were included. The dizziness severity was mild in 58.8% (n=20), moderate in 26.5% (n=9), and severe in 14.7% (n=5). Qualitative interpretation of SPECT images showed normal scans in 4 (11.2%) patients and abnormal scans in 30 (88.2%) patients. Patients with dizziness showed a significantly decreased brain perfusion in the precuneus, cuneus, occipital lobe (superior and inferior parts), frontal lobe (inferior and middle parts), temporal lobe, parietal lobe (inferior and superior parts), cerebellum, insula, and putamen nucleus. Based on both qualitative SPECT interpretation and voxel-wise analysis, perfusion defect had a significant association with the total SPPB score and the scores of two sub-domains (p[removed]0.05) score . Conclusion: The perfusion-and atherosclerosis-related impairments of gait and balance were largely independent of subjective dizziness and dizziness severity. Moreover, this study provided support for contribution of perfusion impairment to the disturbance of gait and balance in older populations along with other pathologic processes. © 2021 mums.ac.ir All rights reserved

The Risk Factors of Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation after Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Background: Failure to wean a patient from mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery is associatedwith poor outcome.Aim: The present study was performed aimed to investigate the risk factors of prolonged mechanicalventilation (PMV) following isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.Method: This retrospective cohort study was performed on 2155 consecutive adult patientsundergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery (May 2012 to November 2016 at Imam Rezahospital, Mashhad, Iran). The subjects were assessed for duration of weaning from mechanicalventilation, predictive risk factors for prolonged mechanical ventilation and associated outcomesincluding intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS), and mortality. Data wereanalyzed by SPSS (version 22). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The median (25 -75 percentile) duration of mechanical ventilation was 360 (225-540)minutes. Also, 51.20%, 45.80% and 2.30% patients were weaned from mechanical ventilation in lessthan 6 hours, 7 to 24 hours, and more than 24 hours, respectively. Cerebral vascular accident was themost common cause of PMV (34.04%). After adjustment for confounder variables, on-pump CABG(P<0.05), duration of surgery (P<0.01), preoperative renal failure (P<0.05) and New York HeartAssociation (NYHA) class 4 were associated with PMV (P <0.05). PMV was associated withincreased length of ICU and hospital stay (P<0.01). There was a higher mortality rates in patients withPMV (P<0.001).Implications for Practice: Most patients are weaned from mechanical ventilation within 24 hoursuneventfully after isolated CABG. Furthermore, on-pump CABG, prolonged surgery, preoperativerenal insufficiency, and NYHA class 4 were independent predictors of prolonged mechanicalventilation. Identifying the risk factors causing PMV can prevent its adverse consequences

Global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Funding: F Carvalho and E Fernandes acknowledge support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), in the scope of the project UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020 of the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences UCIBIO and the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy i4HB; FCT/MCTES through the project UIDB/50006/2020. J Conde acknowledges the European Research Council Starting Grant (ERC-StG-2019-848325). V M Costa acknowledges the grant SFRH/BHD/110001/2015, received by Portuguese national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), IP, under the Norma Transitória DL57/2016/CP1334/CT0006.proofepub_ahead_of_prin