Self-Care Level in Diabetic Patients

Objective The present study was done with the objective of assessing the self-care practices among diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in hospital of Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 314 Iranian patients older than 18 years of age with type 2 diabetes were completed Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire. Data was analyzed by ANOVA, t-test, correlation and liner regression. Results A significant association was found between the diabetes self-management sum scale and body mass index, Dietary control subscale and body mass index, Physical activity subscale and body mass index & job and Healthcare use subscale and diabetes treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion Due to the high BMI in respondents, Overweight and obese respondents need to be advised by health professionals on physical activities and proper diet to achieve healthy weights to avoid complications related to diabetes mellitus. Keywords Diabetes self-management, Type 2 diabetes, Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/63-02 Publication date: January 31st 202

Creating an Empirical Model of the Effect of Relationship Marketing Strategy on Customer Loyalty Case Study: Insurance Firms in Iran

To understand the mechanism of how loyalty programs can work effectively, this paper creating an empirical model of the effect of relationship marketing strategy on customer loyalty. The findings indicated that the relationship marketing positively related to the customer loyalty both toward the programs themselves and the stores. So, our population statistical is customer of insurance firm in Iran and the amount of sample according to Cochran formula is 140 person. For testing the data, we use from SPSS 19 with correlation and regression, according to finding all of the hypothesis are accepted.

The prophylactic effect of hydroxychloroquine on the severity of COVID-19 infection in an asymptomatic population: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Laboratory and observational data suggest that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has biological activity against SARS-CoV-2, potentially permitting its use for disease prevention. This study aimed to evaluate the hydroxychloroquine effect as prophylaxis for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled trial,  1000  healthy people without any signs and symptoms of COVID-19 were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 800 mg hydroxychloroquine or placebo (four 200 mg tablets in two divided doses on day 1 of the first week, followed by 200 mg (in a single dose) weekly for the next 6 weeks). Results: Among 871 participants who remained and followed within 10 weeks 97(11.1%) became SARS-CoV-2 positive. there were statistically significant differences between infected or non-infected in the hydroxychloroquine (36 of 97 [37.1%]) and placebo (61 of 97 [62.9 %]) groups with a risk ratio of 2.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 - 3.21; p = 0.005). The incidence of severe forms of COVID-19 ( hospitalized in the coronavirus ward or the ICU) was 2 of 97 (0.02 %) in participants who received a placebo compared to hydroxychloroquine. The proportion of non-infected people who received hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis was nearly twice higher than that of placebo users (1.87, 95% CI: 1.19 - 2.84, p = 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding side effects (1.1% vs. 0.9%), and no severe adverse reactions were observed. Conclusion: Pre-exposure therapy with hydroxychloroquine appears to prevent moderate and severe illness caused by COVID-19 in asymptomatic persons

Global Study of Viral Meningitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Meningitis can quickly become a life-threatening sickness and therefore is considered a medical emergency. Viruses, after bacteria, are known as main pathogens involved in meningitis; therefore, we investigated the prevalence of viral meningitis worldwide and evaluated the clinical and preclinical features for rapid detection of viral meningitis. The results showed that the most prevalent viruses in viral meningitis are Enterovirus, Coxaci, Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Herpesviridae family; and the most prevalent viruses in aseptic meningitis are Echovirus, Enterovirus, Coxaci and HSV. The findings revealed differences in the prevalence of various viruses in these two types of meningitis, even though there was no significant difference in clinical manifestations between viral and bacterial meningitis. This indicates the importance of laboratory diagnostic methods for discriminating between these two types of meningitis

Non-Pharmacologic Interventions in COVID-19 Pandemic Management; a Systematic Review

Introduction: Different countries throughout the world have adopted non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce and control SARS - CoV-2. In this systematic approach, the impact of non-pharmacologic interventions in management of COVID-19 pandemic was assessed. Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, systematic search was carried out on the basis of a search strategy on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and WHO databases on COVID-19. The impact of travel ban, personal protective equipment, distancing, contact tracing, school closure, and social distancing and the combined effect of interventions on COVID-19 were assessed. Results: Of the 14,857 articles found, 44 were relevant. Studies in different countries have shown that various non-pharmacological interventions have been used during the COVID-19 pandemic. The travel ban, either locally or internationally in most of the countries, movement restriction, social distancing, lockdown, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), quarantine, school closure, work place closure, and contact tracing had a significant impact on the reduction of mortality or morbidity of COVID-19. Conclusion: Evidence shows that the implementation of non-pharmacologic interventions (NPIs), for example, social distancing, quarantine, and personal protective equipment’s are generally effective and the best way to prevent or reduce transmission. However, this study suggests that the effectiveness of any NPI alone is probably limited, thus, a combination of various actions, for example, social distancing, isolation, and quarantine, distancing in the workplace and use of personal protective equipment, is more effective in reducing COVID-19

The relationship between dietary calcium intake and anthropometric indices in 20-60 years old staff of Lorestan university of medical sciences

Background : There is contradictory evidence regarding the effects of calcium intake on the weight and body fat percentage. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between calcium intake and anthropometric indices among adults. Methods and Materials: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 94 employees of the Lorestan university of medical sciences. The height and waist circumference of samples  were measured using standard procedure, and weight, fat percentage, and visceral fat area were measured using a body composition analyzer machine (ioi 353). To determine the amount of calcium intake, a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire was completed for each individual and the obtained data were added to the Nutrition 3 application.Then, the data were analyzed using SPSS 19. Results: Based on the results, 44.7% of the participants had normal weight, while 55.3 percent were overweight or obese. The mean calcium intake for men and women were 982.69 and 1124.16 mg per day, respectively. No significant relationships were found between calcium intake and the variables of BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and visceral fat area in men and women

Study of Prevalence and Characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus and CA-MRSA Nasal Colonization in 2-5 Years Old Children in Isfahan

Background and Aim: We carried out a descriptive study to determine the extent of nasal colonization and characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus and CA-MRSA isolates in 2-5 year old children of day care centers in Isfahan. Materials and Methods: The characteristics of isolates were determined using standard phenotypic profiles including colony morphology, Gram staining, catalase, hyaluronidase, coagulase and Dnase tests as well as mannitol fermentation. The MRSA detection was carried out according to CLSI guidelines with oxacillin agar screen test. Methicillin resistance was further confirmed by detection of a 310 bp fragment of mecA gene of MRSA by PCR. Drug susceptibility testing to antibiotics other than methicillin was conducted by disk diffusion. The Beta-lactamase production and inducible clindamycin resistance were also determined by performing the double-disc diffusion(D-test). Results: Out of 323 children, 115 (35.6%) carried S. aureus and 11 (9.5%) carried MRSA. All MRSA strains were found to contain mecA gene. The susceptibility of strains to vancomycin, rifampicin and Linezolid were 100%. The susceptibility of strains to gentamicin, clindamycin, erythromycin, co-trimoxazole, amoxiclav, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and penicillin were 99%, 97%, 94%, 94%, 93%, 88%, 44.4% and 1.8% respectively. Beta-lactamase production was seen in 19 (16.5%) of staphylococcal strains. Inducible clindamycin resistance was seen in 4 (3.5%) of the isolates. Conclusions: Our data indicates that the spread of CA-MRSA within Iranian population is worthy of consideration and merits further molecular investigation to determine the source and mode of transmission

Comparison of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among healthy, obese and chronically ill Iranian children

Abstract Background Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has frequently been compared between both healthy and obese children and healthy and chronically ill children; however, there is glaring lack of evidence regarding comparison of HRQoL in obese children with their counterparts with chronic diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to compare HRQoL among healthy, obese and chronically ill children. Methods This cross sectional study was conducted among 802 children (8–12 years) who were recruited via convenience sampling method. Participants were 98 healthy, 102 obese and 602 chronically ill children with six groups of chronic conditions including different types of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic gastrointestinal, kidney, neurologic and respiratory diseases. HRQoL was assessed using the Iranian version of the PedsQL questionnaire and both reports including child self-report and parent proxy-report were obtained. To compare subscales and total scores of HRQoL among healthy, obese and six groups of chronically ill children, the general linear model was used. Results Mean self-reported HRQoL total scores were 73.7 ± 13.3 and 74.6 ± 11.8 in girls and boys respectively; based on the parents’ reports, mean HRQoL total scores were 71.6 ± 15.4 and 71.4 ± 13.0 in girls and boys respectively. From the prespectives of both children and parents, HRQoL total score was significantly lower in obese girls compared to both healthy girls and girls with chronic gastrointestinal, kidney, neurologic and respiratory diseases. Considering both children’s and parents’ reports, HRQoL total score was significantly lower in obese boys compared to both healthy boys and boys with chronic respiratory diseases. In terms of subscales of HRQoL, the impairment of HRQoL in obese children, compared to their counterparts with other chronic diseases, was more common in social functioning and physical functioning subscales, specifically in girls. Conclusion Obese children reported poorer HRQoL compared to their healthy counterparts, as well as their counterparts with chronic diseases. Current findings emphasize the important impact of childhood obesity on the perceived health of these children, particularly in the social dimension, underscoring thereby the designing, planning and implementation of health promotion programs for prevention and treatment of childhood obesity