Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2023 | Volume:21 | Issue:10|Papers Count:8

Background and Objectives: Since vitamin D has been shown to have an important function in the regulation of metabolic pathways, this study aimed to investigate the association between serum levels of vitamin D with a number of metabolic indicators in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 122 patients with NAFLD referred to Sheikh Alreis Clinic in Tabriz, who were categorized into "vitamin D sufficient" (n=46) and "vitamin D deficient" (n=76) based on their serum vitamin D concentrations. NAFLD was diagnosed by upper abdomen ultrasonography, and the fasting serum concentrations of glucose (FBS), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) as well as Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured as metabolic markers. Serum concentration of liver transaminase enzymes and liver steatosis severity were assessed as liver function criteria. Results: Serum concentrations of insulin (p=0. 024), LDL-c (p<0. 001), and HOMA-IR (p=0. 011) were significantly higher in the NAFLD patients with vitamin D deficiency compared to the patients with sufficient vitamin D. Moreover, vitamin D deficient patients had higher NAFLD histologic severity (p=0. 042) and serum concentrations of alanine aminoteransferase (ALT) compared to the NAFLD patients with vitamin D sufficiency (p=0. 005). Vitamin D-deficient patients were at higher odds for having hypercholesterolemia (p=0. 009) and high LDL-c (p=0. 011) than ones with sufficient vitamin D status even when adjusted for confounders. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency in the patients with NAFLD was found to be associated with higher odds of an unfavorable lipid profile and NAFLD histologic severity.

Background and Objectives: Measuring the dimensions of bones is essential from the perspective of surgery related to bones and joints. The position of the nutrient foramen and the bones' dimensions vary in different populations. The aim of this study was to determine some anthropometric dimensions and topography of nutrient foramina in the femora and tibiae. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, the anthropometric dimensions of 45 femora and 25 tibiae were measured using a caliper, meter, and goniometer. The number, shape, position, and measurements of nutrient foramina were also evaluated. This measurement was made in 2022 and on the bones in the Anatomy Museum of the Faculty of Medicine. The results were reported as frequency, frequency percentage, mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum. Results: In the femur, 88. 06% (n=59) and in the tibia, all the foramina were oval. Also, in the femur and tibia, 40. 30% (n=27) and 50% (n=13) of nutrient foramina were located in the body's upper third, respectively. The average neck and head circumferences of the femur were 10. 47 and 13. 90 cm, respectively, and the average body length of the tibia and femur were 34. 08 and 42. 92 cm, respectively. Also, the average angle between the body and the neck and the femoral neck anteversion were 129. 5 and 13. 88 degrees, respectively. The medial and lateral femoral condyles lengths were 9. 89 and 10. 57, and their widths were 3. 04 and 3. 58 cm, respectively. Furthermore, the sizes of the medial and lateral condyles of the tibia were 3. 96 and 3. 55, and their widths were 2. 67 and 2. 69 cm, respectively. Conclusion: It is essential to collect anthropometric information specific to each population for clinical and forensic applications.

Background and Objectives: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is the most common anxiety disorder. The majority of individuals with social anxiety have a bias toward threatening signs. The present study was designed aiming to compare attentional bias in socially anxious, subclinical, and normal university students in Tabriz universities. Materials and Methods: The present study is descriptive and the statistical population included all university students in Tabriz in the academic year 2021-2022. Among the participants, 90 individuals were selected via purposive sampling. The measurement tools in this study were Connor's Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), Beck's Depression Inventory, Spitzer's Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7), Attentional Task (Dot-probe Task), and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Data analysis was conducted using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results: The results of MANOVA on attentional bias toward emotional faces showed that the members of socially anxious group spent significantly more time paying attention to emotional faces of sadness, anger, disgust, and fear compared to the normal group (P<0. 001). Also, subclinical individuals spent more time paying attention to the emotional face of anger than the normal group (P<0. 001). Conclusion: The results obtained from the present study showed that socially anxious and subclinical individuals show attentional bias towards emotional faces. Knowledge about attentional bias in socially anxious individuals can lead to an increase in understanding and awareness of their behavior for counseling and psychotherapy.

Background and Objectives: Hemodialysis patients are exposed to psychological risks related to health. Cognitive behavioral therapy can play an effective role in improving psychological characteristics related to health. Therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on self-awareness, emotional regulation, and quality of life of hemodialysis patients in Kerman. Materials and Methods: The present study is a quasi-experimental one with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design and a control group. The statistical population of this research was the patients of Shafa Hospital and Javad Al-Aima Clinic in Kerman in 2022. For this research 30 hemodialysis patients were selected using convenience sampling based on inclusion criteria, and randomly assigned into experimental and control groups of 15 subjects. The experimental group went under 8 sessions of 75 minutes twice a week, while the control group was held back on training. The evaluations of the participants were conducted using questionnaires of self-awareness, emotion regulation, and quality of life. The collected data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA. Results: The mean scores of coherent self-knowledge, emotion regulation, and quality of life before the intervention were 26. 68, 37. 93, 60. 27 in the cognitive behavioral therapy group and 26. 67, 37. 95, 59. 60 in the control group (p>0. 05), respectively. After the intervention, a significant increase was observed in the mean score of the investigated psychological characteristics in the cognitive behavioral therapy group compared to the control group (p<0. 001). Conclusion: The results of the study showed the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy intervention in the improvement of psychological characteristics in the experimental group. Therefore, this intervention can be used as a complementary treatment in hemodialysis patients.

Background and Objectives: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an immediate action to delay or prevent death with cardiopulmonary arrest. Since nurses are usually the first to face this situation, the current study examines the nurses’,awareness of the latest CPR protocol at the Ali Ibn Abitalib Hospital in Rafsanjan. Material and Methods: In this descriptive study conducted in the Ali Ibn Abitalib Hospital in Rafsanjan in 2019, 279 nurses were chosen by census method, and their level of awareness was assessed using a questionnaire based on the latest CPR instructions and the American Heart Association guidelines. Data analysis was accomplished by independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Chi-square and Fisher’, s exact tests. Results: The average age of the participants in this study was about 34. 59±, 7. 01, out of which 182 (65. 23%) were women. The average awareness score was estimated to be 71. 84±, 5. 57 (the highest score was 84. 06 and the lowest score 52. 17). Nine participants (3. 22%), 255 participants (91. 4%), and 15 participants (5. 38%) had a weak, good, and excellent awareness, respectively. Meanwhile, the correlation between nurse’, s awareness and CPR courses was not significant (p=0. 544). Conclusion: Most of the nurses had a good level of awareness of CPR, and practical training, exercises, and course evaluations in the field of CPR are recommended to increase the level of awareness of CPR.

Background and Objectives: Medical malpractice as professional negligence may cause injury or death of the patient. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cases of complaints against radiology specialists and medical staff referred to Fars Province General Administration of Forensic Medicine. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, all cases of medical malpractice complaints in the specialized field of radiology from 2001 to 2020 referred to Fars Province General Administration of Forensic Medicine were investigated. Descriptive statistics were used to report the findings. Results: In the present study, there were 64 complaints. According to the results of the commission, 38 cases (59. 37%) were acquitted, and 22 cases (34. 37%) were convicted. In terms of type of malpractice, 10 cases (15. 62%) were non-observance of government rules followed by compound malpractice occurred in 9 cases (14. 06%). Conclusion: In the present study, the most frequent types of malpractice were failure to comply with government systems and compound malpractice.

Background and Objectives: Teachers have a key role in reducing the complications of emergency events. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of primary school teachers in Rafsanjan regarding emergency events of diabetes and accidents in schools. Materials and Methods: This descriptive research was conducted on 100 primary school teachers in Rafsanjan City by census method. Data were collected in three sections of demographic information, knowledge, and attitude and behavior assessment. Data were analyzed using Pearson’, s correlation test, independent two-sample t-test, and one-way ANOVA. Results: There was a significant relationship and a direct correlation between the score of attitude towards diabetes and age (r=0. 240, p=0. 016) and the level of education (p=0. 013), and between the score of teachers’,attitude towards accidents and age (r=0. 217, p=0. 030) and their behavior and age (r=0. 242, p=0. 015). Conclusion: Despite the desirability of teachers’,knowledge, attitudes, and behavior score, it is recommended that the retraining program be implemented with the aim of improving the knowledge, attitude, and practice of younger teachers.