Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2019 | Volume:18 | Issue:9 |Papers Count:12

Background and Objectives: Loneliness is one of the common aging problems that can influence general health. Group activities with peers have a significant impact on the psychosocial well-being of the elderly people. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of participation in group leisure time activities on loneliness and general health of elderly widowed women Materials and Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 64 elderly widowed women referred to health centers of Jiroft, Iran, 2018. The samples were chosen randomly according to the inclusion criteria. Then they were randomly divided in two groups of intervention (32 individuals) and control (32 individuals) in a simple random way. In the intervention group, eight sessions of group leisure time activities (2 sessions for 2 hours per week) were performed. There was no intervention in the control group during the study. Data were collected before and two weeks after intervention by UCLA-LS and GHQ-28 questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using independent t-test and paired t-test. Results: Before intervention the average score of loneliness and general health had no significant statistical difference between the two groups (p>0. 05). But after the intervention, the difference between the average score of loneliness in the intervention group (27. 25± 5. 86) compared with the control group (40. 90± 14. 68) and also between the average score of general health in the intervention group (17. 62± 6. 04) compared with the control group (29. 06± 7. 66) was found statistically significant (p<0. 001). Conclusion: Participation in group leisure time activities can be used as an effective intervention to decrease loneliness and increase general health in elderly people.

Background and Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to determine the simultaneous effect of high intensity interval training and decellularized amniotic membrane scaffold on gene expression of cell proliferation factors of satellite cells in the volumetric muscle loss injury in the tibialis anterior of rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, after preparation of human amniotic membrane and its decellularization process, volumetric muscle loss (VML) on the tibialis anterior muscle was performed on 24 rats. The rats were divided into two groups of 12 according to receiving and not receiving amniotic membrane scaffold. Each group was then divided into High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and untreated groups. Real-time PCR technique was used to examine the gene expression of the three PAX7, MyoD1 and Myogenin genes. Results: There was a significant difference in the gene expression of PAX7 in the HIIT group with scaffolds compared to the non-scaffold training group (p=0. 004) and the other two groups (p<0. 001). In the gene expression of MyoD1, the HIIT group was significantly different from the sedentary group with scaffold (p=0. 050) and the two groups without scaffold (p<0. 001), respectively. In the gene expression of Myogenin, the HIIT group was significantly different from the sedentary group with scaffold (p=0. 031) and the two groups without scaffold (p<0. 001), respectively. Conclusion: The results showed that the combination of HIIT and insert of decellularized amniotic membrane scaffold increases the gene expression of PAX7, MyoD1 and Myogenin and may be effective in the regeneration of volumetric muscle loss injury.

Background and Objectives: Ciprofloxacin is an emerging and degradable pollutant that cannot be efficiently removed by common water and wastewater treatment processes. Electro-Fenton process is one of the most effective processes for the treatment of these compounds. Hence, the present study aimed to remove ciprofloxacin by Electro-Fenton method with heterogeneous catalysts, Fe+2 and Fe+3. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, a reactor with 250 ml capacity, containing two mesh stainless steel (1×8cm) with a spacing of 2 centimeters, was used to remove ciprofloxacin. The effect of different factors such as ciprofloxacin concentration, current density, catalyst concentration and reaction time were investigated. Sampling was performed using spectrophotometer at 275 nm. One-factor method was used to design the experiments. Results: The highest removal rate of ciprofloxacin in the presence of two iron sources, magnetite nanoparticles and iron sulfate, under optimal initial concentration of ciprofloxacin 20 mg/L, catalyst concentration=1 g/L, current density=120 mA, hydrogen peroxide concentration=100 mg/L, contact time= 45 minutes and pH=3 were 97. 89 % and 99. 99%, respectively. Conclusion: The results showed that Electro-Fenton process can remove ciprofloxacin from aqueous solutions, but it is recommended to use magnetite nanoparticles as iron sources due to recycling and reuse possibility of nanoparticles.

Background and Objectives: Lack of attention to marketing innovation for achieving competitive advantage leads to pharmaceutical brands performance decline. In this regard, the purpose of the present research was to determine the relationship between marketing innovation and market performance of pharmaceutical brands. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, statistical population included marketing managers and experts of the top fifteen pharmaceutical companies in 2017. Available sampling method was used and finally, 72 analyzable questionnaires were obtained. The collected data were analyzed using Variance-Based Structural Equation Modeling. Results: The most important findings of the research indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between marketing innovation and market performance in pharmaceutical industry (β =0. 840, t=14. 768). Otherwise, the data showed that a decrease in marketing innovation could ultimately lead to pharmaceutical brands performance decline in the market. Also, goodness of fit index equal to 0. 74 indicated that the relationship was desirable and R squared equal to 0. 705 indicated that 70. 5 percent of the variance for market performance variable was explained by innovation marketing variable. Conclusion: It seems that marketing innovation to be effective in increasing pharmaceutical brands performance. Therefore, it is recommended to pharmaceutical companies’ managers to take an innovative approach in formulation and implementation of marketing elements in order to grow pharmaceutical brands performance and prevent their decline.

Background and Objectives: Road traffic accidents are a major cause of disability and mortality around the world and the most common cause of these accidents is often attributed to human errors. Considering the importance of emotional intelligence in controlling individual behaviors, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and risky driving behaviors and violation consequences in traffic offenders in Tehran in 2018. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 182 traffic offenders who were selected by convenience sampling method in Tehran in 2018. Demographic data form, Manchester Driving Behavior and Siberia Shering's Emotional Intelligence questionnaires were used for gathering information and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test and Structural Equations Modeling. Results: The Mean± SD score of emotional intelligence and risky driving behaviors were 1. 85± 0. 33 and 2. 09± 0. 59, respectively. Although the mean score of emotional intelligence was higher in men than women, this difference was not significant (p=0. 065). The results of Structural Equation Modeling showed that with increasing emotional intelligence, risky driving behaviors with a coefficient of-0. 36 and the violation consequences by a coefficient of-0. 27 significantly decreased (p<0. 05). Conclusion: Due to the low level of emotional intelligence of offending drivers and considering the importance of emotional intelligence in reducing risky driving behaviors, it is suggested that the emotional intelligence be considered before applicants getting a driver's license. Also, casualties and traffic accidents can be reduced by training emotional intelligence skills to offending drivers.

Background and Objectives: Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant endocrine, accounting for 1% of all cancers. One of the most effective genes in thyroid cancer is the TC1 gene. Therefore, this study aimed to determine TC1 gene expression changes under the influence of hydro alcoholic extract of fennel in mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, hydro alcoholic extract of fennel was prepared. Then, the concentrations required for the experiment were prepared and MTT assay was performed on BCPAP and L929 cells. Simultaneous tumor induction was performed in mice. Then sampling thyroid tissue, RNA extraction and cDNA Synthesis was performed. The results of gene expression changes were evaluated using Real-time technique and analyzed by t-test, ANOVA and Tukey’ s test. Results: The results showed that fennel extract reduced the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. The lowest cell survival was observed at 200 μ g/ml, which was significant at the level of p<0. 05. Also, TC1 gene expression increased significantly on day 28 after tumor induction and decreased significantly after treatment with extract (p<0. 05). Conclusion: According to the results, the expression of TC1 gene in thyroid malignancies increased. Therefore, it might be possible to use the TC1 gene alone or in combination with other genes as a marker for distinguishing between malignant and benign samples. Treatment with fennel extract also reduced the gene expression, and also reduced and increased cell proliferation, in the cell lines. Therefore, it may be possible to use fennel extract to improve cell proliferation and also to control cancer cells.

Background and Objectives: Obesity is one of the major health problems in the developed and developing countries. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight in preschool children in Rafsanjan. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the status of obesity, overweight, normality, weight loss and severe weight loss in 1292 pre-school children was investigated in 2018. Data were analyzed using chi-square test and one-way ANOVA. Results: Of the total number of children, who were examined, 91 children (7. 0%) were very thin, 248 children (19. 2%) thin, 750 children (58. 0%) normal, 108 children (8. 4%) overweight and 95 children (7. 4%) obese. The results also showed no statistically significant association between gender and the state of obesity and weight loss in the children (p=0. 303). Conclusion: Considering the relatively high prevalence of obesity and overweight, it seems necessary to examine the causes and take action to prevent it.

Background and Objectives: Exposure to high levels of noise can lead to physical and psychological problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the sound level of welding centers in Babol. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was randomly performed in 20 welding workshops in 2018. The sound level was measured by sound level meter. The researcher-made form was completed by the welders to determine the health consequences of the sound. Results: Mean and standard deviation of sound level at the side of the machine was122. 75± 7. 65 dB and at one meter away from the device was 87. 45± 12. 76 dB. 42 (84%) and 8 (16%) patients reported that sound persistence was in half shift and less than half shift. 22 (44%) had hearing loss in the last two years. Conclusion: The results showed that the level of noise was higher than the standard in all measurements next to the device and one meter away from it in all welding centers.