Journal of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2019 | Volume:11 | Issue:2|Papers Count:17

Introduction: The origination of dust is often due to the wind erosion process. However dust emissions are sometimes the result of industrial activity during the production process, which is called industrial dust. One of these industries is rock crushing whose raw material is transferred from the mines to the factory. During the process of crushing, smaller pieces are eventually converted. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of fugitive dust emission from Bauxite crushing plant on soil contamination around Jajarm Alumina Factory Methods: In this study, topmost 0-2 cm of the soil near the station was sampled. Out of a total of 47 soil samples, 22 samples were taken from a transect in the length of 3000 m (in the direction of erosive winds), and 24 soil samples from a transect in the length of 5000 m in the direction of the prevailing wind, and at least three samples from the control area were sampled. Heavy metals of Nickel and Arsenic were measured using the ICP-OES method. Results: Average amount of Arsenic in the direction of erosive and prevailing winds were determined 16. 28 and 28. 8 mg/kg, respectively. The average amount of Nickel in the direction of erosive and prevailing winds determined respectively 39. 6 and 53. 1 mg/kg. Conclusions: A comparison between the obtained results and the standard quality shows that the amount of Arsenic and Nickel at the bottom of the bauxite crusher especially along the prevailing wind region is relatively high. So, along the wind erosion direction up to the vicinity of the workplace, and alongside the dominant wind up to 1200 m, the amount of heavy metals (especially Arsenic) was above the standard.

Introduction: Nursing is as a clinical profession that is improving day to day. One of the important problem at hospitals is that nursing management are not aware of the competency of new entrance nurses. So, this study was done to assess competency of new nurses Emam Hasan hospital at Bojnurd. Methods: This study was the first stage of an action research. Nurses with under 10 working years were selected by census sampling. Task-based checklists based on profession nursing task, 13 clinical competencies were chosen for OSCE stations with Checklists for every competency. Content validity and inter-rater reliability were done. The data was analysis with Spss20 and doing descriptive (Frequency, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson Correlation Coefficient), and considering levels of significance (P < 0. 05). Results: This study showed that clinical competency was in moderate level. It was significant relationship between clinical competency and sex, the college in which they have graduated while there are any significant relationship between clinical ward. Conclusions: The program in order to enhancing clinical competency should be done for new nurses to figuring out good quality of delivery nursing care. Also, it's needed to assess periodically clinical competency in nurses with any working year and wards. Applying retraining program systematically and according to nurses' needs can improve nurses' clinical competency and clinical practices.

Introduction: Despite all the advances, cancer is still a deadly disease. An important solution in encountering, confronting, and overcoming this deadly disease is hope among the patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social capital and hope in patients with cancer. Methods: Research method was survey, and the population was patients with cancer in Seyyedo-Shohada Hospital in Isfahan that 118 cases were selected through multi-stage random sampling method from Chemotherapy, Men’ s ward, Women’ s ward, Men's surgery, and Women's surgery. Research instruments to measure social capital was Onyx and Bullen's (2000) questionnaire, and to assess hope, Snyder’ s (1994) hope to future questionnaire was applied. Results: Based on the findings of the study, the hope for future is average among patients with cancer in Seyyedol Shohada Hospital in Isfahan. The results of structural equation modeling showed that, social capital has a positive and significant (P = 0. 010) relationship with hope to future and able to explain 56 percent of the variation of the dependent variable. Conclusions: With teaching social capital and increasing it, hope to future among patients with cancer can be promoted and one of the main challenges of the health and therapy system in Iran, cancer deaths, would be alleviated.

Introduction: Due to controversies in different studies about the effects of L-arginine supplementation on athletic performance and cardiovascular risk factors, this study aimed to review the current evidence on the effects of L-arginine supplementation on athletic performance and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: This study was done to summarize findings from earlier evidence on the effect of Larginine supplementation on the risk of cardiovascular disease. We searched in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar through 1975 till 2017 using the following keywords: cardiovascular OR athletic performance OR hypertension OR blood pressure OR sports performance OR lipid profile in combination with L-arginine OR arginine. After reviewing title and abstracts, all clinical trials and cross-sectional studies conducted on healthy people or those suffering from the disease were included. Results: In most studies, consumption of L-arginine supplementation improves athletic performance and body composition in athletes, although there are some contradictions in this field. Most studies confirmed the effect of L-arginine on decrease cardiovascular risk factors, and most of the work considered that this effects as a result of increased levels of nitric oxide (NO) in serum. Conclusions: Most of the clinical trials indicated favorable effects of L-arginine supplementation on athletic performance and cardiovascular risk factors and taking this supplement at a dose of 25 grams per day has no side effects and promotes the health. Due to controversies in some study for giving high doses of this supplement more research is needed to identify the complete related mechanisms of this effect.

Introduction: The first step in improving the quality of health care is to evaluate the quality of services, and the goal of implementing the healthcare reform plan is to increase the quality of services. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of family physician services in rural of Khorasan Razavi province before and after the health reform plan. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted on people referred to health centers in rural areas of Khorasan Razavi province before and after health reform plan. In the year 2012, 435 and in the year 2016, 354 SERVQUAL standard questionnaires, that validity and reliability confirmed, by clustering and simple randomized method were completed. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and Mann-Whitney statistics by SPSS 19 at a significance level of 0. 05. Results: The difference between the mean scores of expectation before (4. 45± 0. 56) and after (4. 36± 0. 53) the plan was not much (P ≤ 0. 047), but the mean of perceptions after (4. 01± 0. 67) the plan was higher than before (3. 52± 0. 82) the plan (P ≤ 0. 001). There was a significant statistical difference between the gap of expectations and perceptions in all aspects of the model before (-0. 93± 0. 90) and after (-0. 35± 0. 79) the health reform plan (P ≤ 0. 001). Conclusions: Reducing the quality gap between expectations and perceptions in all aspects of family physician quality of services suggests that the health reform plan has been accompanied by an increase in the quality of services. However, there is need to improve the quality of services with priority the dimensions of empathy and assurance.

Introduction: The prevalence of unilateral sensory neural hearing loss is 3 to 6 in every 1000 people and this prevalence will be about 3 to 5 percent by including conductive hearing loss. Studies have shown that people with unilateral hearing loss are having problems in speech and language development. Nowadays the available options for treatment and rehabilitation of people with unilateral hearing loss, include hearing aids, Contralateral Routing of Signals (CROS), implantable middle ear hearing aid (BAHA) and cochlear implants. Methods: In this review study, unilateral hearing loss was evaluated. Articles from 1990 to 2018, using the key words: Unilateral Hearing Loss, Minimal Hearing Loss were investigated. Finally, 47 articles were selected from the PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Magiran, databases. Results: People with unilateral hearing loss have difficulty in localization and lateralization, speech perception in noise, passing all school grades, proper cognitive functions, age appropriate normal behaviors, depended on hearing loss onset, duration and degree of hearing loss, and affected ear. Moreover, due to hearing deprivation and inappropriate auditory experiences in children with unilateral hearing loss, formation of verbal working memory is not as good as normal hearing peers. Conclusions: In Iran, there is not any documented information about prevalence and risk factors of unilateral hearing loss and problems that these patients may experience. Unilateral hearing loss seems to cause significant hearing impairment.

Introduction: Appendicitis is one of the most prevalent causes of abdominal pain requiring surgery. Diagnosis of appendicitis is one of the important challenges of surgeons in emergency care. Delay in the diagnosis of appendicitis is associated with an increase in disability and mortality. The timely and correct diagnosis of appendicitis is necessary to reduce the complications of appendicitis rupture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Alvarado scoring systems and RIPASA in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Methods: In this prospective study, the patients referring to Shahid Rajaei Hospital of Tonekabon between 2016 and 2017 who were suspected of acute appendicitis were studied. After the patients were visited by the emergency physician and the on call surgeon, in the case of confirmation of acute appendicitis of the patient, routine tests before the surgery were done and also Alvarado and RIPASA scoring system were determined for the patient. In this research. Results: 274 patients participated in this study, of which 170 (62. 05%) were male and 104 (37. 95%) were female. The mean age of patients was 28. 18 ± 15. 18 years. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the Alvarado benchmark were 78%, 51%, 92. 1%, and 24%, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of RIPASA were 73. 8%, 63% 93. 6% and 25% respectively. Conclusions: The results show that Alvarado and RIPASA scoring systems can be useful for diagnosis of the patients with acute appendicitis. These two methods can be applied easily and they are cheap and available RIPASA method has a higher specificity and positive predictive value than Alvarado method. Therefore, it is suggested that RIPASA method be used for diagnosing the acute appendicitis.

Introduction: Transmission of infection by the hands of dentists and staff of dentistry centers is a major source of pathogens for patients that may cause clinical infections and can be prevented by proper hygiene. Considering the prevalence of dentistry services in the country, the present paper aims at determining the predictors of hand hygiene among the dentistry centers staff based on the health belief model. Methods: 128 dentistry staff in Tehran with more than 40 dentistry units were selected in a crosssectional study through multi-stage probability sampling. Data were collected by an author-made questionnaire the validity and reliability of which were measured. The questionnaire included demographic variables, awareness variables, health belief model and behavioral constructs. Data were analyzed using SPSS v. 16 using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression test. Results: The obtained scores were in the medium range for the awareness and behavior and good for health belief model. Multiple regression test showed that awareness and health belief model constructs predicted a total of 27. 7% of compliance with hand hygiene rules. Among the studied constructs, the perceived barrier construct (P <0. 001, β = 0. 432) and knowledge variable (P = 0. 008, β = 0. 205) were significantly predictive of hand hygiene Conclusions: Emphasis should be made on the perceived barrier variables and awareness as the most important predictors of hand hygiene in the staff of dentistry centers in planning and designing educational interventions and developing educational content based on health belief model.

Introduction: There are different treatment methods for cancer therapy, including surgical, anatomy, biopsy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but the side effects of these methods as well as their inefficiency for complete omission of cancer have led researchers to find a way to safety remove cells and cancerous tumors. The aim of this study was evaluation of cytotoxicity effects and apoptotic properties of silver nanoparticles synthesized by Amaranthus cruentus in breast cancer cells. Methods: In this study the green method was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles by using Amaranthus cruentus extract. Then, MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with different concentrations of nanoparticles. The cytotoxicity effects of silver nanoparticles and Bax and Bcl2 genes expressions were analyzed by using MTT assay and real-time PCR respectively. Results: The results of MTT assay showed silver nanoparticles inhibit the proliferation of MDA cells depending on the concentration and time. Concentration 47µ g/ml in 24h, 45 µ g/ml in 48h and 31 µ g/ml in 72h caused the death of 50% of MDA cells. Also, the result of real-Time PCR for treated cells showed Bax gene expression was increased, while the expression of the Bcl-2 gene was decreased. Conclusions: Silver nanoparticles cause apoptosis in MDA cells and using these nanoparticles can be considered as a promising strategy in the treatment of breast cancer.

Introduction: Due to the increased antibiotic resistance of bacteria due to the uncontrolled use of antibiotics and the self-permeability of antibiotics, finding effective drugs with less complications is very important. Since traditional plants have good antibacterial properties, we decided to investigate the effect of methanolic extract of some samples from herbal plants of North Khorasan Province on Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: Plants were collected from different parts of North Khorasan and dried in shade. After being powdered in a solvent of methanol soaked for 48 hours, the solvent was evaporated by rotary device. After drying, the extracts were dissolved in DMSO and added to the blanc discs and prepared wells. Then, the discs containing the extract were placed on the medium of the Mueller Hinton agar culture medium, cultured with Staphylococcus aureus, from DMSO as negative control and gentamicin as positive control and incubated for 24 hours and finally, the diameter of the bacterial inhibition zone Measured in millimeters. Results: The studied plants showed antibacterial properties against gram positive bacteria of Staphylococcus aureus, among which Scutellaria pinnatifida and endocarp of walnut had the most antibacterial activity. Conclusions: Comparison of the results showed that the diameter of the no-growth zone of Scutellaria and interstitial wood of walnut was the highest in comparison with others, which can be used for the antibacterial properties of these two herbs as an alternative to antibiotics and also natural food preservatives Made.

Introduction: There are different approaches for controlling pain in patients after cesarean section, but still there is not enough to relieve the pain and satisfaction of the patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of ketorolac and Pethidine on pain control after cesarean section surgery in Birjand in2016-2017. Methods: In this Randomized clinical trial study, 122 pregnant women who were candidates for cesarean section were randomly assigned to two groups of Pethidine and Ketorolac after cesarean section. Four hours later, the faces pain scale and VAS were measured in both groups. The data were analyzed by SPSS software [16] using chi-square and independed sample T-test. P<0. 05 was considered as the significance level. Results: 61 patients with a mean age of 29. 29 ± 5. 88 years in the group of Pethidine and 30. 56 ± 5. 61years in the ketorolac group participated. The two groups were similar in terms of age, level of education, history of previous cesarean section, and duration of surgery. The mean pain intensity 4 hours after surgery based on VAS criteria in the Pethidine group was 5. 47± 2. 23 and 4. 98 ± 2. 27 in Ketorolac group [P=0. 17] and based on faces pain scale was 3. 75± 1. 20 and 3. 05± 1. 25 [P=0. 001], respectively. Conclusions: Average pain severity was lower in the ketorolac group as compared to the Pethidine group. Considering lower side effects and better analgesic effect of ketorolac and constraints of narcotic drugs like Pethidine, ketorolac can be a good alternative to post-cesarean pain control.

Introduction: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents and adults worldwide is known to be a critical health determinant that begins in childhood and continues most of the time until adulthood. Brain Drived Nurotrophic Factor Growth Factor (BDNF) stimulates and activates neuronal stem cells that proliferates and differentiates neurons, and is essential for the regulation of neurodevelopment to improve function and structure in neural circuits, learning and memory. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 6 weeks of intensive training of High Intensity Interval Ttraining (HIIT) and omega-3 on BDNF in blood plasma of inactive boys. Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 40 non-athletic students of high school were selected by random sampling method and randomly assigned to four groups of HIIT, omega-3 supplementation, Exercise + Supplement, HIIT Exercise, and Omega-3 Supplement and Control. The training group performed HIIT exercises three sessions per week with 80 to 90% of VO2max. Omega-3 supplements and placebo received two capsules daily for lunch. One-way ANOVA and post-test LSD test were used for statistical comparison of mean difference between groups (P <0. 05). Results: Results showed that after doing of intervention there were significant changes in the amount of plasma BDNF levels in groups under study. Plasma BDNF levels was significantly higher in the HIIT exercise group compared to the placebo and supplementation groups. Also, the level of this index was significantly higher in the combination group [HIIT exercise plus Omega-3 supplementation] than the supplementation group, but the level of plasma BDNF level in the combination group[HIIT exercise plus omega-3 supplementation] was not significantly different from that of the control and HIIT exercise group. Conclusions: Considering results acquired appears seems HIIT exercises alone and combination group [HIIT exercises plus omega-3 supplementation] have the positive effect on the amount of plasma BDNF levels in inactive teens.

Introduction: The use of narcotics during pregnancy is accompanied by injuries such as preterm delivery, low birth weight and severe complications such as birth defects, which can lead to increased stress, decreased self-regulation and hospitalization in infants with the escalation of stress caused by the environment in these infants, there is a need for an evolutionary care approach. Swaddlers and nests are effective interventions for these babies. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of nesting and swaddling on the self-regulation behavior of the newborn with the addicted mother. Methods: This cross-overal clinical trial was performed on 30 infants who were admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of Mashhad and had addicted mother with gestational age of 32 to 38 weeks. The sampling method was simple random sampling. The infants were divided into two groups of swaddling in the first three days (group A) and nesting in the first three days (group B), and the second three days in the opposite group, respectively. The duration of the intervention was six days. The demographic information questionnaire and the checklist form of observing the infant's behaviors were used for assessing stress and the Finnegan scale was used to assess the degree of neonatal abstinence syndrome. Data was analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Based on the results of independent t-test, the percentage of self-regulation behaviors was not significant in the first three days of the swaddle and the first three days of the nest group (P = 0. 066). Conclusions: The results showed that the effect of nesting and swaddling on the self-regulating behaviors of the newborn with the addicted mother was not significantly different. Therefore, these two methods do not differ significantly. According to the conditions of the newborn, the part and the mother's desire can be selected from one of them.

Introduction: Executive functions refer to the use of cognitive processes to control thoughts and emotions. The purpose of this study was to compare the executive functions in premature and normal children. Methods: The present study is a causal comparative study. The statistical population of this study was Tabriz Premature Children that 30 of these children were selected by using available sampling and compared with 30 normal children. Participants responded to the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF). Data were analyzed using analysis of multivariate variance. Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference between the mean components of vulnerability (inhibition, shift of attention, emotional control, initiation, work memory, organization) and total score of executive functions. Conclusions: Preterm children have weakness in terms of executive functions than normal children that the cause of this problem is the greater vulnerability of the central nervous system due to the early birth and educational problems of these children.

Introduction: Social support as an independent and predictable variable for all aspects of health and well-being, quality of life, morale and life satisfaction of the seniors. It conceptualized in format of two received social support and perceived social support. Therefore, this study conducted with the aim of comparing the received social support and perceived social support from the viewpoint of the elderly people of Dargaz in 2018. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study carried out on 210 elderly people through simple random sampling of Health Comprehensive Centers with the help of random numbers table and special codes in SINA System. The data collected through interviews and demographic questionnaires, index of received social support by Sherbourne and Stewart, and perceived social support by Zimet and analysed using correlation, one-way ANNOVA, Friedman, Independent T and Mann Whitney U tests. Results: There was direct linear correlation between received social support and perceived social support. [r = 0. 69, P= 0. 001] In dimensions of perceived social support, the difference in mean scores was significant [P= 0. 001] and the average score of family support was higher. Conclusions: In respect to aligned received social support and perceived social support with the special role of the family as the most influential component of social support from the viewpoint of elderly people, it suggested that meanwhile informing families in this regard, formal and informal planning and supports attended to family-focused cares.

Introduction: Plants have a range of phenolic compounds that have antioxidant properties and these natural antioxidants reduce the risk of cancer by protecting cells and increasing the strength of antioxidants in the plasma. The aim of this study was evaluated cytotoxicity effects of methanol extract of Johreniopsis stricticaulis on MCF-7 cell line. Methods: After collection of Johreniopsis stricticaulis, the plant was dried and powdered. Methanol extract was obtained by maceration method. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were evaluated by DPPH and folin-ciocalteu methods; cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 was evaluated by MTT method. Results: The methanolic extract of the plant in the pre flowering stage had a higher phenol content and this extract had higher antioxidant activity. Cytotoxicity effect was measured at different times (24, 48, 72 hours); methanol extract in pre-flowering stage possessed no inhibitory effect on cell growth, but in past-flowering stage was effective (IC50 ≥ 300µ g/ml, 234. 1 ± 6. 1, 246. 3 ± 5. 5). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that plant collection stage is effective on plant characteristics, this is due to the type of compounds in plant. As the plant passes from the flowering stage, some of the compounds may be destroyed. On the other hand, due to little cytotoxic effect on this cell line; so cytotoxic effect on other cell lines were recommended.

Introduction: The optimal allocation of resources is based on the resource requirement of important functions of the health system. The aim of this study is to introduce marginal budget planning and marginal analysis as a new approach to allocating resources of health system resources. Methods: Using the Medline and Google Scholar databases and the PBMA keyword search, studies published in relevant specialized domestic and foreign journals were considered and those with more sample size and references were selected in their reviews. Results: The PBMA framework is based on marginal opportunity cost analysis and analytics, and is more value-added than other techniques. Overall, PBMA is a process to help decision-makers to influence health care resources. Maximize the local population's health needs by proposing to decision-makers to reallocate resources where it benefits the most. This approach has been used for more than 3 decades in a variety of health care settings. Conclusions: Taking advantage of this approach is recommended to allocate the resources of health system resources in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency of health services and with regard to the economic status, social, cultural and political.