Jundishapur Scientific Medical Journal
Year:2020 | Volume:19 | Issue:6|Papers Count:10

Background and Objectives: This study aims to investigate the relationship between the rate of cardiovascular and respiratory death and the average concentration of major air quality index "AQI” , including NO2, SO2, CO, O3 and PM10 in Ahvaz city, Khozestan, Iran, in the period of 10 years. Subjects and Methods: This retrospective analytic study was conducted in Ahvaz city in 2019, based on referrals and the number of cardiovascular and respiratory patients through HIS system (Hospital Information System) and air pollutants were obtained and air quality monitoring stations in Ahvaz, respectively. The data were analyzed by SPSS and Poisson Distribution Regression Model to evaluate the effects of each pollutant and the rate of hospitalization. Results: Based on the results, there was a significant relationship between the average concentration of NO2, O3, CO and SO2 and hospitalization of patients with cardiovascular disease (P value<0. 05) that the case with NO2 more than other pollutants. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between the average concentrations of NO2, CO and PM and the hospitalization rate of patients with respiratory problems (P value<0. 05). Also, the effects of NO2 was higher than other pollutants. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrated that exposure to air pollutants, especially NO2, can predispose to higher risk of deaths due to cardiovascular and respiratory complications. Therefore, reducing the concentration of these pollutants can reduce the number of these types of deaths.

Background and Objective: In recent years, in order to solve problems related to the storage and retrieval of paper-based medical records, the hospitals scan those using imaging systems. New technology development allows unauthorized access to data therefore, data protection rules and principles are required to maintain the confidentiality of patients’ information. In the present study, we investigated the confidentiality of electronic archive of medical records in hospitals in the city of Ahvaz and suggest a primary model for maintaining and enhancing data confidentiality. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that investigates the confidentiality of electronic archive of medical records in selected hospitals of Ahvaz in 2019. The study population includes 11 selected hospitals. The required data were gathered through a researcher-made checklist completed in person (by observing) at Medical Record Department and Information Technology Units. Frequency tables were provided by Excel software (Ver 2016). Results: According to the study, despite various security criteria to protect the confidentiality of data, obtaining written letter of commitment for non-disclosure of the password and username had been ignored in all the centers under study except one. Conclusion: Considering the sensitivity of health data, it is recommended that hospitals develop a written form as letter of commitment to improve confidentiality. They should require information technology and medical documents officials as well as all users to fill in the form before they can access any type of medical data.

Background and Objective: Esophageal atresia is one of the most common congenital anomalies in neonates, and it can increase the incidence of complications and mortality, so it is essential to find a way to cure this disease more successfully. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the efficacy of maintaining the azygos vein in esophageal fistula in esophageal atresia patients. Subjects and Method: This study was performed on 40 neonates (20 patients in the preserved group and 20 patients in the ligation group). After recording the patients’ demographic data, the complications of both surgical procedures, duration of surgery and hospital stay were recorded. Chi-square and t-tests were used to compare the results. Results: In the present study, it was found that the maintenance of azygos vein in neonates with esophageal atresia can increase the duration of surgery (P <0. 05), but it also reduces the hospitalization and ICU stay and, on the other hand, the incidence of various complications such as pneumonia and anastomosis leak were significantly decreased. (P <0. 05). Conclusion: In neonates who are candidates for surgical treatment of esophageal atresia, preservation of the azygos vein surgical method is preferred instead of the classical ligation method, thus reducing short-term and long-term complications and reducing hospital costs.

Background and Objective: Due to prevalence of amphetamine abuse and necessity of appropriate treatment, the present research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) of dorsolateral zone of Pre-Frontal Cortex (DLFPC) on craving in methamphetamine abusers. Subjects and Methods: In this cross-sectional double-blind study, with pre-and post-test, 30 methamphetamine-dependent patients were included according to the inclusion criteria. We applied 20 min ‘ anodal’ tDCS (2 mA) or ‘ sham’ tDCS over right DLPFC in a random sequence while subjects performed a computerized cue-induced craving task (CICT) starting after 10 min of stimulation. Immediate craving was assessed before the stimulation, after 10 min of tDCS, and after tDCS termination by visual analog scale (VAS) of 0 to 100. Results: The results showed that in the real tDCS group 10 min after the start of electrical stimulation, while in the control group the mock tDCS did not change significantly the craving rate for methamphetamine. Also the results showed the rate of methamphetamine cravings increased in both groups after the 20 minutes (P> 0. 05). Conclusion: Using tDCS as a complementary treatment is recommended for decreasing methamphetamine craving.

Background and Objective: Today, most digital imaging systems make available various types of image processing techniques. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to compare the digital Bite-Wing radiographic function with the image's gamma value changes (image gamma is a functional digital imaging feature, so that the image contrast is selectively increased in bright or darker areas by changing the gamma value of the image). Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, a cavity was created for class II amalgam restoration at both proximal surfaces of 80 healthy premolar teeth. Caries lesions were artificially created in each tooth and repaired with amalgam. Digital radiographs were processed in three gamma modes (low, medium and high). Then, recurrent caries in conventional digital radiograph with low, medium and high gamma values were investigated by two radiologists with at least 2 years of work experience. Specificity, sensitivity, and overall accuracy were calculated using Kappa Test. Results: The results of this study showed that the highest sensitivity and specificity value are related to the images with low gamma and then to medium gamma images. The lowest sensitivity and specificity rate belonged to the images with high gamma. Conclusion: Low-gamma images used to identify proximal recurrent caries can be adopted as a processing filter. While images with medium and high gamma recognize proximal recurrent caries to a lesser extent.

Background and Objective: Inflammation plays a major role in insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of zinc supplementation and combination of Zn supplementation and exercise on the level of some inflammatory factors in men with type 2 diabetes. Subjects and Methods: In the present quasi-experimental study, 48 men with type 2 diabetes were randomly selected and randomly divided into 4 groups: control, Zn supplementation, exercise and Zn supplementation plus exercise. The training protocol comprised of six weeks of training, three sessions/week, and each training session consisted of 60 min of combined resistance training and aerobic training. Zn supplementation was taken daily in a capsule containing 30 mg of Zn sulfate. Results: The results showed that exercise training significantly reduces inflammatory factors and glycemic index compared to the control group (P <0. 05). Supplemental consumption also significantly reduces inflammatory factors without a significant effect on glycemic index compared to the control group (P <0. 05). Changes in IL-1β and insulin resistance were significantly higher in the training and combination groups than in the supplement group (P <0. 05). Also, changes in CPR and fasting blood sugar were higher, significant in the combination group than in the supplement group (P <0. 05). Conclusion: The results showed that both zinc supplementation and exercise interventions reduce the level of inflammation in diabetic patients. But exercise interventions are needed for greater effectiveness and improving the insulin resistance.

and Objecitve: Teachers often speak loudly for long periods in noisy classroom environments without adequate vocal fold tissue rest or recovery. This is a specific occupational group with numerous economic, social, and health problem. The aim of the present study was to examine a number of vocal acoustic parameters in a group of male and female elementary school teachers in comparison to their normal peers. Subjects and Methods: Fifteen female and 15 male primary schoolteachers in the age range of 35-40 years with 15 years teaching experience volunteered to participate in the study. The control group consisted of 30 non-teacher adults aged 35-40 years (15 men and 15 women). Recordings and audio signal analyses were carried out using Praat software. Each subject was asked to sustain the vowel /^a/ using habitual and constant vocal pitch, loudness, and quality for at least 5 seconds. Five tokens from each subject were obtained. Results: For the male subjects, the results indicated no significant difference (at the 0. 05 level) for each variable between the two groups. However, for the female subjects, t tests showed significant differences between the teachers and the non-teacher controls in all parameters at the 0. 01 level. The female teachers had significantly lower F0 (190. 27 Hz) than the control group (236. 32 Hz). Also, for the perturbation acoustic parameters (jitter% and shimmer%), the female teacher group had significantly higher values than their corresponding control group. Similarly, the harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR) measures for the female teacher population were significantly lower than for their corresponding control group. Conclusion: The results indicate that female teachers appear to be more susceptible to voice stability change than the male teachers. Also, acoustic analysis of voice for teachers may significantly contribute to the objective voice examination of this group. Further investigations of factors that promote individual susceptibility to vocal stability are necessary.

Background and objectives: Tuberculosis is still one of the public health challenges in both developed and developing countries. This study designed to investigate the relationship between the human development index, one of the most important indicators of economic, social and health conditions of a country and tuberculosis’ incidence. Subjects and Methods: In this ecological study, data on the incidence of tuberculosis and the Human Development Index in 2018, were extracted from the World Health Organization's website and the United Nations Development Program's website. Spearman correlation coefficient and 95% bootstrap confidence interval were used to determine the relationship between tuberculosis incidence and human development index (and its components). Results: The highest incidence of tuberculosis in 2018 was observed in countries with the lowest human development index. Human development index (and its components including: life expectancy at birth, education, per capita gross national income) had an inverse and significant relationship with the incidence of tuberculosis. Conclusion: The incidence of tuberculosis is correlated with the Human Development Index and its components. Therefore, in addition to the commitment of those involved in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis to the guidelines of the World Health Organization, it is necessary that health policymakers, especially in low-income countries, focus on the environmental and social components associated with burden of tuberculosis.

Background and Objective: Heart failure is a serious public health problem that leads to frequent hospitalization, reduced quality of life and death. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a valuable treatment for heart failure, but the response rate is high in this treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CRT on EF improvement in heart failure patients base of gender. Subjects and Methods: The present study was a clinical trial, before and after the intervention, which carried out on 21 heart failure patients with CRT admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital of Ahvaz in 2019. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were assessed and recorded, and all patients underwent 3D echocardiography before and 2-3 weeks after CRT to assess response to treatment. In all subjects, left ventricular EF was measured when the CRT was switched off and also after switching on the CRT device. Results: The study subjects were included 12 men (57. 1%) and 9 women (42. 9%) with a mean age of 64. 57± 9. 99 years. The results showed that the MR intensity index score decreased significantly after the intervention (P=0. 002). The mean EF changes before and after CRT intervention were not significant based on patient’ s gender (P=0. 754) and age (P=0. 617). Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that CRT treatment in patients with heart failure causes a positive clinical response by increasing EF. Moreover, the effect of this treatment and EF changes was independent of patient’ s age and gender.

Background and Objective: Vigorous exercise induces the production of active free radicals and oxidative stress in the body. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aerobic exercise with chlorella consumption on lipid peroxidation indices and total antioxidant capacity in inactive obese men following one session exhaustive activity. Subjects and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study with pre-and post-test design with control group. For this end 40 obese men of Urmia University with a mean age of 23. 3 ± 6. 71 yr, weight of 106. 02± 14. 05 Kg and body mass index of 32. 97 ± 21. 10, were randomly divided into four groups as below: (supplemental, exercise, exercise + supplement and control). Blood samples were taken half an hr before and immediately after the Bruce exercise test and after 6 weeks of aerobic training and chlorella supplementation. The variables of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde and antioxidant capacity were measured. Data were analyzed by using of SPSS software version 20 and with repeated measure ANOVA test. Results: The results showed that exhausting exercise significantly increased the amount of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase in all subject suffered Bruce protocol. Aerobic exercise with chlorella supplementation significantly reduced this indices and also increases the total oxidative capacity after doing Bruce protocol (P<0. 05). Conclusion: The results showed that aerobic exercise and consumption of chlorella in inactive obese men can prevent oxidative damage due to exhausting exercise.