Journal of Birjand University of Medical Sciences
Year:2021 | Volume:28 | Issue:1|Papers Count:10

One of the goals of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization is to provide adequate healthy blood and reduce the risk of various viral and bacterial transmission infections. With the removal of alternative blood donation, all blood units and blood products are provided through voluntary blood donation in Iran. The Blood Transfusion Organization screens the donated blood according to standard guidelines to ensure blood recipients and physicians of providing healthy and pathogen-free components. With the emergence of novel pathogens, such as the pandemic of the COVID-19 virus, despite Iran's self-sufficiency in blood supply and blood products, the number of blood donors has decreased significantly since there is a lack of comprehensive information on pathophysiology and virus transmission ways. Moreover, the existence of some shortages in screening programs can cause problems. Therefore, this study was performed to review the studies conducted investigating this emerging virus regarding blood transfusions and the supply of blood components worldwide.

Background and Aims: Fear of delivery in females can lead to negative side effects, such as the experience of long and hard labor. Reduction of delivery fear is one of the goals of natural delivery program, and hypnosis has been considered a way to reduce this fear. With regard to the contradictory results of the studies in this field, this study aimed to determine the effect of self-hypnosis on the experience of delivery fear and duration of labor in primiparity. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 63 pregnant women who were divided into self-hypnosis (n=30) and control groups (n=33) using a blocking method in Mashhad, Iran, during 2019. The intervention group received two sessions of hypnosis at 37th and 38th weeks of pregnancy which consisted of listening to an audio file until delivery time. On the other hand, the control group received only the routine care. Fear was evaluated at 37th week of pregnancy and 24 h after delivery. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16), and a p-value less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean scores of delivery fear experience (P<0. 001), as well as the duration of the second stage (P=0. 013) and third stage of labor (P=0. 009) were significantly lower in the self-hypnosis group, compared to the controls. Conclusion: Self-hypnosis was effective in reducing the experience of delivery fear and duration of the second and third stages of labor in primiparity. Therefore, self-hypnosis is recommended to reduce the experience of delivery fear and duration of the second and third stages of labor in primiparity.

Background and Aims: Physical activity and blood flow restriction (BFR) training can affect bone metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a plyometric exercise session with and without blood flow restriction on bone metabolism markers, such as bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and C-terminal telopeptide of type 1collagen (CTX), as the markers of bone formation and destruction, respectively, among inactive adolescent females. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest. The participants (n=48) were randomly divided into four groups of high-intensity training (n=12), low-intensity training (n=12), low-intensity training+restricted blood flow (n=12), and control (n=12). The training protocol included 68 jumping movements. The intensity of the exercise was less than two and more than four times the body weight for low intensity groups with and without obstruction and the high-intensity group, respectively. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after the exercise to evaluate BALP and CTX. Data analysis was performed using dependent t-test and one-way ANOVA. A p-value of ≤ 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A significant decrease was observed in CTX serum levels in high-intensity exercise group (P=0. 04) and low-intensity exercise group with limited blood flow (P=0. 03), compared to those in the pre-test. However, there was no significant within-group and intergroup changes in serum levels of bone formation marker (P≥ 0. 05). Conclusion: According to the results, a low-intensity plyometric exercise session with blood BFR can be as effective as high-intensity plyometric exercises in altering bone metabolism (reducing bone absorption marker).

Background and Aims: Various therapies and surgeries are applied in heart valve surgery, including interrupted and semi-continuous suture techniques. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the clinical implications of two methods of interrupted and semi-continuous suture techniques during and after mitral or aortic valve replacement surgery among patients referred to Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: In this study, the required information of patients was collected through the checklist based on the objectives of the study. The subjects had undergone aortic or mitral valve replacement for heart valve replacement suturing with continuous or interrupted suturing techniques. The patients' records were examined to investigate the complications, and in case that the required information was not registered, the patient or his relatives were also contacted so that the patient could be examined and referred to the hospital by the patient's surgeon. Results: The mean age scores of patients undergoing surgery in the continuous and interrupted suture groups were obtained as 53. 06 13. 48 and 52. 86 12. 97 years, respectively. It was revealed that there was a large distribution of heart valve leakage, arrhythmia, heart attack, valve infection, involved valve type, and aortic and mitral valve size in the two groups; however, there was no significant difference (P>0. 05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the rate of cardiac function and complications caused by the two techniques of continuous and interrupted suturing were not significantly different from each other; therefore, these two methods were not superior to each other due to the mentioned cases.

Background and Aims: Klotho protein is a substance effective in increasing life expectancy. Moreover, it prevents muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the present aimed to assess changes in the expression of klotho protein and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) genes in the muscles of aged Wistar rats after eight weeks of resistance training. Materials and Methods: The present experimental study was connected on 16 Wistar male rats, aged 20 months, which were assigned to two groups of resistance training group and control. Resistance training was performed three sessions a week over eight weeks. After dissecting the rats, the soleus and flexor hallucis longus muscles of the rats were extracted to measure the expression of klotho protein and (IGF-1) genes using the real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. Results: After the resistance training program, Klotho protein in the fast-twitch muscle tissue of the trained rats did not show a significant difference, compared to that in the control group. Furthermore, IGF-1 in the fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscles of the training group did not display a marked difference, compared to that in the control group. Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the values of klotho protein and IGF-1 did not improve after a period of resistance training. It can be argued that resistance training should be conducted in longer periods and with different intensities, which should be scrutinized in future research.

Background and Aims: The present study aimed to compare the effects of three therapeutic methods (including herbal, atorvastatin, and exercise) on liver enzymes and lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic rats. Materials and Methods: A number of 32 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=8), including hypercholesterolemia (Hc) control group, anvil extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg, (Ext), exercise (E), and atorvastatin (AT) at a dose 10 mg/kg. Endurance training, anvil extract, and atorvastatin were performed three sessions per week for 8 weeks. Thereafter, liver biochemical tests, including alkaline phosphatase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lipid profiles were performed using a biochemical autoanalyzer (Ra-2000 made in USA) and the kits provided by Pars Azmun company. The data were analyzed in SPSS software using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test were used for data analysis. Results: The results of statistical analysis indicated that all variables (e. g., Alanine transaminase, Triglyceride, High-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), except for ALT, AST, and cholesterol, were significant in all groups. The results of the statistical analysis demonstrated that triglycerides and VLDL significantly reduced in the atorvastatin and exercise groups, compared to the hypercholesterolemic control group. Furthermore, HDL had a significant increase in the exercise group, compared to the atorvastatin, extract, and control groups. In addition, LDL significantly decreased in the exercise group, compared to the atorvastatin group. Conclusion: The results of the current study pointed to the similar effects of medication and exercise on the improvement of some lipid profiles. Nonetheless, exercise is advantageous over the use of medicine and herbal extracts due to the positive effects of exercise on the reduction of blood lipids and the absence of any side effects.

Background and Aims: The National Program for Hospital Preparedness is a comprehensive and unified model for planning and responding to accidents and disasters in hospitals and health centers of the country. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of training nurses on The National Program for Hospital Preparedness in their preparedness for disasters and accidents. Materials and Methods: The randomized controlled intervention study was performed on 62 nurses who were selected by the simple non-randomized sampling method. The research instrument was the Disaster Preparedness Questionnaire (READI). A one-day workshop was organized for nurses' preparedness for disasters in accordance with Hospital Preparedness National Program. The questionnaire was administered to case and control groups in three stages: before, immediately, and two months later. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher, independent t-test, and Bonferroni, and repeated measures ANOVA. A p-value less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. Results: As evidenced by the obtained results, the scores of clinical competence, managerial support, team cohesion, environmental competence, and survival skills increased after the educational intervention. Moreover, the total score of nurses' preparedness for disasters was improved from 191± 28. 4 to 193. 4± 36. 3 and 208. 4± 35. 4 immediately after the program and two months later, respectively (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Training on the National Program for Hospital Preparedness will further enhance nurses' preparedness levels. Due to the peculiar role of nurses in accidents, it is recommended that this program be integrated into nurses 'training courses and students' courses.

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is the most common human pathogen. Due to differences in HP prevalence in different geographical areas, this study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of HP in patients with gastrointestinal disorders referring to Imam Reza Hospital in Birjand, Iran, in 2018. After blood sampling of 2, 550 patients, the anti-HP antibody titer was measured by a commercial kit. The positive serum response of HP in this study was shown in 1, 045 individuals (41%). The results of the present study showed that there was no significant relation between serum positive reaction and gender. In addition, the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody with 83% was the most abundant antibody in individuals with positive seropositive reaction. Epidemiological studies, especially serum IgG, can highly help with the detection of HP infection, particularly in individuals with clinical symptoms (P<0. 05).

Milk is one of the important nutritional sources, and milk adulteration is a serious threat to human health. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of the adulteration of neutralizing agents and powdered milk in raw and pasteurized milk distributed in Birjand, Iran, in 2018. In this descriptive-analytical study, powdered milk and neutralizing agents were examined in 271 milk samples (181 and 90 samples of fresh and pasteurized milk, respectively). The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version: 25). A p-value of less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. The obtained results of the current study showed that none of the studied milk samples had neutralizing agents. Moreover, 17 samples (6. 3%) of the studied milk samples were observed to be contaminated with powdered milk. The highest relative distribution of powdered milk was reported for raw milk (n=14). There was a statistically significant relationship between the relative frequency of powdered milk with milk supply location, and season of supply (P<0. 05). It seems that the distribution of such manipulated products in the areas of the city that do not have a good economic and social condition and in winter is more prevalent. According to the results of the present study, the existence of an efficient control system and adoption of preventive measures to prevent milk contamination is really essential.

The symptoms of COVID-19, caused by the newly known type of coronavirus, vary widely from asymptomatic, mild to severe respiratory infection leading to hospitalization or death of patients. To date, no specific drug has been reported for the treatment of patients affected by this virus. One of the approaches adopted for the treatment of this disease is the use of plasma therapy, which contains antibodies against the virus. Following of the plasma therapy have not been reported any serious side effects. Currently, the numbers of these studies are limited, and evaluation of the larger population studies can provide stronger evidence for treating physicians about the effectiveness of this therapeutic approach.