Original Article
Biophysics & Radiotherapy
Mohammad Hossein Imani; Arash Khameneh Bagheri; Negin Ghafarzadeh
Abstract
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has been associated with a high prevalence of thromboembolic complications, particularly pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). This study aims to investigate the incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and its correlation with clinical ...
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COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has been associated with a high prevalence of thromboembolic complications, particularly pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). This study aims to investigate the incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and its correlation with clinical and demographic factors, enhancing understanding of the associated risks and outcomes.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, in 2023. 100 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with suspected PTE underwent CT pulmonary angiography. Data on demographics, comorbidities, severity of COVID-19, and PTE outcomes were collected and analyzed. Statistical comparisons were made between PTE and non-PTE groups to identify potential risk factors.Results: PTE was diagnosed in 24% of COVID-19 patients, with a mean age of 58.79 years (SD = 11.56). The prevalence of PTE was higher in females (63%). No significant differences were found between the PTE and non-PTE groups in age, gender, or severity of lung involvement. Severe PTE occurred in 45.8% of cases, with an overall PTE-related mortality rate of 20.1%. Elevated D-dimer levels were identified as a predictive marker for PTE; however, no significant differences in clinical severity or mortality were found based on PTE status.Conclusion: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are at significant risk for PTE, which may occur independently of baseline demographics or COVID-19 severity. Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring thromboembolic complications and timely interventions, particularly in patients with elevated D-dimer levels.
Review article
Biophysics & Radiotherapy
Marziyeh Behmadi; Ruhollah Ghahramani-Asl; Hamid-Reza Sadoughi
Abstract
Introduction: Dosiomics is an emerging field in radiotherapy that focuses on the extraction and analysis of quantitative characteristics of dose distribution patterns. Compared to traditional dosimetry, which primarily relies on volume-dose metrics, dosiomics provides a deeper understanding of ...
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Introduction: Dosiomics is an emerging field in radiotherapy that focuses on the extraction and analysis of quantitative characteristics of dose distribution patterns. Compared to traditional dosimetry, which primarily relies on volume-dose metrics, dosiomics provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between dose distributions and clinical outcomes.
Materials and Methods: This systematic review was conducted with the PRISMA checklist. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar to identify studies related to dosiomics in radiotherapy. Articles published within the last 10 years were included. Following the title and abstract screening of 250 articles, two authors selected 32 articles for evaluation of the full texts, and a narrative synthesis of the data was performed.
Results: The findings indicated that dosiomics, by integrating high-dimensional dose data with modern computational techniques such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, can improve tumor control and reduce side effects in patients undergoing radiotherapy. Main studies have demonstrated the predictive potential of dosiomics across various cancer types, emphasizing its significant role in optimizing dose delivery and enhancing the accuracy of normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models.
Conclusion: Integrating dosiomics into clinical radiotherapy can facilitate the design of personalized treatment approaches and create opportunities for further optimizing therapeutic techniques. However, challenges such as data heterogeneity and the need for standardization must be addressed through multicenter collaborations and technological advancements to unlock the full potential of dosiomics in clinical practice.
Original Article
Nursing
Maryam Asharloo; Mohammad Hassan Rakhshani; Hossein Rafiei; Mostafa Rad
Abstract
Introduction: Previous studies have explored various methods to reduce injection pain, including techniques such as stretching, pressure application, and complementary approaches. However, there is limited research specifically examining the relationship between skin phototype and pain severity. This ...
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Introduction: Previous studies have explored various methods to reduce injection pain, including techniques such as stretching, pressure application, and complementary approaches. However, there is limited research specifically examining the relationship between skin phototype and pain severity. This study aims to investigate the relationship between skin phototypes and the intensity of pain caused by intramuscular injection of dexamethasone.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 401 patients selected through convenience sampling at the injection unit of Qazvin Province Hospital. Pain intensity was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Patients' pain levels were evaluated and recorded once during and immediately after the injection. The skin phototypes of the participating patients were classified according to Fitzpatrick's classification. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24.
Results: The average age of participants was 38.5 years, with 46.1% identified as male and 53.9% as female. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to assess the effect of skin phototype on pain intensity. The findings indicated that different skin phototypes did not significantly affect pain severity (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that skin phototype is not associated with pain severity caused by intramuscular injection of dexamethasone. Given the lack of prior research on this topic and the limitations of this study, further investigation into other factors influencing pain, such as anxiety levels or injection techniques, is recommended.
Original Article
Psychology
Mehri Rostamnejad; Javad Khalatbari; Mohammadreza zarbakhsh
Abstract
Introduction: Despite various treatments such as mastectomy and combined therapies for cancer patients, these individuals often experience a wide range of psychological challenges that can adversely affect their quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the mediating roles of self-compassion and ...
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Introduction: Despite various treatments such as mastectomy and combined therapies for cancer patients, these individuals often experience a wide range of psychological challenges that can adversely affect their quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the mediating roles of self-compassion and perceived social support in the relationship between sexual performance and quality of life in breast cancer patients.
Materials and Methods: This correlational descriptive study involved women diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent a mastectomy and visited hospitals in Sari and Babol. A purposive sample of 480 participants was selected. Data collection utilized the Quality of Life (QLQ-BR2T), Rosen's Sexual Performance, Zimet's Perceived Social Support, and Reiss's Self-Compassion Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling with SPSS-22 and AMOS-23 software.
Results: The findings indicated a significant direct relationship between sexual performance and quality of life in breast cancer patients. Structural equation modeling revealed a significant indirect relationship between sexual performance and quality of life, mediated by perceived social support and self-compassion
Conclusion: To enhance the quality of life for women with breast cancer, it is recommended to implement group therapy sessions involving these women, their families, and sexual partners.
Original Article
Physical Education
Roya Askari; Mahsa Kazemi Talebi; Seyed Alireza Hosseini kakhak; Bahram Sadeghi
Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to compare the effects of nine weeks of combined exercise training with and without milk on body composition, physical fitness, and appetite in overweight female students.
Materials and Methods: Overweight female students aged 9 to 12 from Mehr Primary School in Mashhad ...
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Introduction: This study aimed to compare the effects of nine weeks of combined exercise training with and without milk on body composition, physical fitness, and appetite in overweight female students.
Materials and Methods: Overweight female students aged 9 to 12 from Mehr Primary School in Mashhad were purposefully selected and randomly divided into two groups: one group engaged in combined exercise with milk supplementation, while the other group did not (n=40). The combined exercise included resistance training with elastic bands and jump rope activities, each lasting 30 minutes, conducted three times per week for nine weeks. Following the training sessions, the milk supplementation group received 240 ml of low-fat milk, while the control group received the same volume of water. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21, employing the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality and repeated measures ANOVA for group comparisons, with a significance level set at P<0.05.
Results: After nine weeks of combined exercises, the group that did not consume milk exhibited a greater reduction in appetite compared to the milk consumption group. However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding cardiorespiratory endurance, core and shoulder muscle endurance, handgrip strength, and body composition. Notably, the average changes within each group indicated improvements in these factors.
Conclusion: Nine weeks of combined training may reduce appetite more effectively than training with milk supplementation. Further research is necessary to evaluate the impact of these interventions on physical fitness in obese children.
Original Article
Psychology
Yekta Akafian; Seyed Hamid Atashpour; Hadi Farhadi
Abstract
Introduction: Chronic and incurable diseases, such as celiac disease, impose significant psychological stress and inefficiencies on affected individuals and their families, leading to a diminished quality of life. Primary caregivers, particularly mothers, are at an increased risk for psychological distress, ...
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Introduction: Chronic and incurable diseases, such as celiac disease, impose significant psychological stress and inefficiencies on affected individuals and their families, leading to a diminished quality of life. Primary caregivers, particularly mothers, are at an increased risk for psychological distress, making it essential to enhance self-efficacy and distress tolerance. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of solution-focused therapy (SFT) on distress tolerance and parental self-efficacy in mothers of children diagnosed with celiac disease.Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental intervention study employed a pre-test, post-test, and 3-month follow-up design. The statistical population consisted of mothers with at least one child diagnosed with celiac disease who were members of the Celiac Association of Iran in Isfahan. From this population, 40 individuals were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received SFT, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using parental self-efficacy and distress tolerance questionnaires at all three time points. The data were analyzed using mixed variance analysis in SPSS version 26.Results: The interventions resulted in a significant increase in self-efficacy and distress tolerance among mothers of children with celiac disease (p < 0.001). Furthermore, no significant difference was found in the effectiveness of these interventions on self-efficacy and distress tolerance between the experimental and control groups. These results remained stable during the follow-up phase (p < 0.01Conclusion: The findings suggest that SFT can be a beneficial intervention for enhancing self-efficacy and distress tolerance in mothers of children with celiac disease.
Original Article
Health and environment
Hossein Elyasi; Rahim Golmohammadi
Abstract
Introduction: Aflatoxin B1 is a common contaminant in animal feed and has the highest acute and chronic toxicity among mycotoxins. In various studies, the adverse effect of aflatoxin B1 on animal health and, consequently, human health has been proven; therefore, determining the concentration ...
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Introduction: Aflatoxin B1 is a common contaminant in animal feed and has the highest acute and chronic toxicity among mycotoxins. In various studies, the adverse effect of aflatoxin B1 on animal health and, consequently, human health has been proven; therefore, determining the concentration of aflatoxin B1 in animal feed is essential. For this purpose, and given the lack of research in this field in this area, this study was designed and implemented to study the concentration of this toxin in animal feed in dairy farms around Sabzevar.
Materials and Methods: There are about 360 dairy farms around Sabzevar city, which we divided into two groups of large (industrial) and small (traditional) dairy farms for sampling. According to the frequency of each group, a number of samples were randomly selected from each group and samples were taken from their animal feed storage from different food groups (concentrate, dry bread and dry fodder) and after drying and pulverizing, the test was performed using the ELISA method.
Results: The results of this study showed that all concentrate, fodder, and dry bread samples collected from traditional and industrial dairy farms were contaminated, and the average concentration of aflatoxin B1 in the samples was 14.01 micrograms per kilogram, and the contamination level of all of them was higher than the permissible limit of the Iranian national standard (5 µg/kg).
Conclusion: Given the high aflatoxin B1 contamination in animal feed in Sabzevar dairy farms, it is necessary for health institutions to have more careful monitoring and supervision of animal feed.
Original Article
Physiology & Pharmacology
Morteza Erfanitalab; Bita Baghebani; Mohammad -Shafi Mojadadi; Marzieh kafami; Samad Nazemi
Abstract
Introduction: Neuropathic pain is a complex and debilitating condition resulting from damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nervous system, associated with significant physical, psychological, and economic repercussions. Healthcare workers are particularly vulnerable due to the physical demands of ...
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Introduction: Neuropathic pain is a complex and debilitating condition resulting from damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nervous system, associated with significant physical, psychological, and economic repercussions. Healthcare workers are particularly vulnerable due to the physical demands of their roles. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of chronic neuropathic pain and its associated factors among employees at Vasei Hospital in Sabzevar.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 202 hospital employees selected through random sampling. The presence of neuropathic pain was assessed using the DN4 (Douleur Neuropathique 4) questionnaire. Statistical analyses, including t-tests, chi-square tests, and correlation coefficients, were performed (P<0.05).Results: Among the participants, 45 (22.3%) had a DN4 score ≥4, indicating a high prevalence of neuropathic pain. The most commonly reported chronic pain was back pain (30%), followed by neck pain (20%) and leg pain (20%). Significant associations were observed between DN4 scores ≥4 and age (P<0.001), height (P<0.001), and work experience (P<0.001). DN4 scores ≥4 were also significantly associated with chronic pain in the back (P<0.001), shoulders (P<0.001), and legs (P=0.012). No significant associations were found with marital status, working hours, job type, or education level.Conclusion: Chronic neuropathic pain significantly affects healthcare workers, particularly in the back, neck, and shoulders. Targeted interventions, including ergonomic exercises and regular screenings, are essential for improving well-being and productivity. Further research is necessary to explore strategies for the long-term management of neuropathic pain in healthcare settings.
Original Article
Anatomy, Histologyو Embryology
Armin Hosseinzadeh Siahkolaei; Soheil Shahramirad; Aref Arminfar; Faeze Shaabani; Hessamedin Babaei; Leila Khojasteh; Behrooz Yahyaei
Abstract
Introduction: Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant, and prolonged use can lead to dependency. The hippocampus, a part of the limbic system, consists of densely packed neurons arranged in the depth of the temporal lobe. Given the widespread consumption of methamphetamine ...
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Introduction: Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant, and prolonged use can lead to dependency. The hippocampus, a part of the limbic system, consists of densely packed neurons arranged in the depth of the temporal lobe. Given the widespread consumption of methamphetamine and the importance of the hippocampus in sensory-motor functions, we conducted the present study.Materials and Methods: In this experimental laboratory study, 40 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups of eight: a control group, a methamphetamine group, a methamphetamine with aerobic exercise group, a methamphetamine with berberine hydrochloride group, and a methamphetamine with aerobic exercise and berberine hydrochloride group. Following anesthesia induction, hippocampal samples were isolated and examined under a light microscope.Results: Histopathological analysis revealed significant tissue disorganization and prominent vascular dilation in the hippocampal region of methamphetamine-treated subjects. The methamphetamine with the exercise group exhibited tissue disorganization accompanied by slight hyperemia. In the methamphetamine group with berberine hydrochloride, cellular integrity was better than in the methamphetamine group, although hyperemia and vascular dilation were still evident. Compared to the group receiving berberine alone, the methamphetamine, exercise, and berberine hydrochloride group demonstrated improved activity and morphology with less hyperemia.Conclusion: Methamphetamine has detrimental effects on hippocampal tissue, disrupting cellular integrity and leading to hyperemia and vascular dilation. The simultaneous use of berberine hydrochloride and exercise yields more effective outcomes than using either intervention alone.
Original Article
Fariba Najafi; Zahra Hayatbini; Maryam Hematti; Alireza Montazeri; Parsa Lorestani; Molouk Jaafarpour
Abstract
Introduction: Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects the genital area more than other areas. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes in women diagnosed with genital atrophic lichen sclerosus.Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical ...
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Introduction: Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects the genital area more than other areas. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes in women diagnosed with genital atrophic lichen sclerosus.Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted among women referred to Haji Dai Kermanshah Dermatology Clinic, who were diagnosed with genital atrophic lichen sclerosus using a census method. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, employing descriptive and analytical statistical methods.Results: Among the patients with genital lichen sclerosus, 24.27% were found to have hypothyroidism, 20.38% had T2DM, and 8.73% presented with both conditions concurrently. The prevalence of genital atrophic lichen sclerosus was significantly higher in women aged 59 years and older (P = 0.048).Conclusion: Findings indicate a notable prevalence of hypothyroidism and T2DM in patients with genital atrophic lichen sclerosus, suggesting a potential association with the occurrence of this condition.