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Showing 569 results for AS
Zoleikha Qureishi , Gholam Reza Mahmoodi-Shan , Ali Akbar Abdollahi , Naser Behnampour ,
Volume 26, Issue 3 (10-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Non-adherence to treatment regimens is a significant factor contributing to the persistence of cardiovascular diseases and their complications. This study aimed to compare the effects of two educational methods, with and without short message service (SMS) reminder, on adherence to treatment regimens among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 111 patients with ACS divided into three 37-people groups: A control group (receiving routine education), the first intervention group (receiving education and a booklet), and the second intervention group (receiving education, a booklet, and SMS reminders). The study was conducted in patients at the coronary care units (CCUs) and post-CCUs of the following educational therapeutic centers: Shahid Sayyad Shirazi in Gorgan, the Fifth Azar in Gorgan, Amir Al-Momenin in Kordkuy, and Al-E-Jalil in Aqqala, Iran, during 2019. The research instrument consisted of the Treatment Adherence Perception Questionnaire (TAPQ) in three domains, including dietary regimen, medication regimen, and exercise and activity, which was completed at the time of discharge and two months later.
Results: The mean scores of adherence to treatment dietary in patients with ACS two months after discharge in the three domains of dietary regimen, medication regimen, and exercise and activity were significantly higher in the group receiving education and SMS reminders (105.54±75.8, 16.00±2.71, and 23.67±3.85, respectively) compared to the education group (84.73±5.02, 11.05±1.69, and 17.45±2.48, respectively) (P<0.05). Moreover, the scores in the three investigated domains were significantly higher in both intervention groups compared to the control group (82.68±13.54, 11.40±1.96, and 17.67±5.04, respectively) (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The use of education and a booklet along with SMS reminders to patients with ACS discharged from the hospital increased adherence to treatment. This adherence was higher in the intervention group receiving SMS reminders.
Ali Shafizadeh , Farhad Shourie , Behnam Ghasemi , Sajad Bagherian ,
Volume 26, Issue 3 (10-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Restrictions imposed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a decrease in physical activity levels across various age groups, particularly among students. This study aimed to determine the effect of eight weeks of corrective exercises on musculoskeletal pain levels in 13-15-year-old students.
Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 101 students (44 girls and 57 boys) aged 13 to 15 experiencing musculoskeletal pain in various body parts in Bandar Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province, during the second half of the academic year 2021-2022. Participants were selected based on the Adolescent Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), considering only the first question regarding the presence or absence of pain in each of the nine body regions (neck, shoulder, elbow, hand, upper back, lower back, pelvis, knee, and ankle) in the past seven days. A score of 1 was assigned to the presence of pain and 0 to the absence of pain. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups of 60: A control group and an intervention group. The intervention group performed corrective exercises at home for eight weeks, with three sessions per week, each lasting 40 minutes. No intervention was provided to the control group. Musculoskeletal pain levels in the neck, shoulder, upper back, elbow-arm, wrist, lower back, knee, and ankle were then compared in the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up.
Results: The mean and standard deviation of the total pain scores for the intervention and control groups were 1.32±0.41 and 1.33±0.46 in the pre-test, 1.01±0.08 and 1.34±0.46 at the post-test, and 1.17±0.36 and 1.11±0.31 at follow-up, respectively. Results revealed that eight weeks of corrective exercises significantly reduced musculoskeletal pain levels in the students’ neck, shoulder, upper and lower back, elbow, knee, wrist, ankle, pelvis, and thigh (P<0.05); however, this improvement was not sustained at the follow-up.
Conclusion: Performing corrective exercises reduced musculoskeletal pain levels in the neck, shoulder, upper and lower back, elbow, knee, wrist, ankle, and pelvis and thigh of 13-15-year-old students; however, the benefits were not sustained when the exercises were stopped.
Mohammad Sharifi , Javad Mazloom Khorasani , Parisa Rajaee ,
Volume 26, Issue 3 (10-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The therapeutic outcomes of amblyopia after the age range of 8-10 years are poor, and amblyopia in older individuals is resistant to treatment. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), among the efforts intended to modulate cortical excitability in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, has been believed to be associated with a specific disease. This study aimed to determine the effect of rTMS on the treatment of treatment-resistant amblyopia in adult patients.
Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 16 patients (12 males and 4 females) with unilateral amblyopia, with a mean age of 30±5 years referring to the clinics of Khatam al-Anbia Eye Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, during 2016-17. Patients were randomly selected from those with unilateral amblyopia (refractive, strabismic, or mixed) who had not responded to conventional treatments (patching or penalization). The healthy eye was considered a control. The therapeutic intervention consisted of four rTMS sessions at two-week intervals. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were measured and compared three times: Before the intervention, at the first session of intervention, and at the fourth session of intervention.
Results: The mean visual acuity at baseline (0.36±0.19) was not significantly different compared to the first treatment session (0.41±0.1); however, a significant increase was observed compared to the fourth session (0.45±0.23) (P<0.05). The mean contrast sensitivity at baseline (2.02±0.74) was not significantly different compared to the first (1.97±0.63) and the fourth (2.16±0.94) treatment sessions.
Conclusion: In most follow-ups, improvement in contrast was not observed in patients with treatment-resistant amblyopia at older ages using rTMS. Only an improvement in visual acuity was observed in the last follow-up compared to the baseline in the patient group.
Abolghasem Yaghoobi , Khosro Rashid , Leila Ali Bolandi ,
Volume 26, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Abstract
Trichotillomania disorder, or hair pulling disorder, is a condition in which patients unconsciously engage in hair-pulling, which reinforces compulsive hair pulling behaviors, culminating in conscious and deliberate hair pulling. Behavioral therapy is a common treatment approach for this disorder. Habit-reversal training (HRT) is a particularly effective treatment method for children with intellectual disabilities who exhibit this disorder. This case report presents the efficacy of HRT in reducing trichotillomania-associated severity and distress. The patient was a 13-year-old girl with intellectual disability who met the diagnostic criteria for trichotillomania according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V). She received eight sessions of HRT techniques over one month. The Massachusetts General Hospital Hair Pulling Scale (MGH-HPS) was employed to measure the severity and distress of the hair pulling behavior. Given the patient’s intellectual disability (intelligence quotient [IQ]=65) and limited ability to respond to self-report questions about the nature of self-interests, the parent-report version of the scale was used both during the treatment and the one-month follow-up. The effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated using visual analysis of graphs, percentage of improvement, effect size, and photographs of the eyebrow hair pulling before and after treatment. The results indicated that the HRT significantly reduced both the severity (effect size=1.75) and distress (effect size=1.77) of the trichotillomania disorder, and the patient exhibited a high percentage of improvement. The one-month follow-up demonstrated that the results were maintained.
Ali Nasr-Esfahani, Kosar Pashaei , Marziyeh Tavalaee , Paria Behdarvandian , Bahare Nikoozar, Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani ,
Volume 26, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Obesity and advancing age in men, in addition to numerous health problems, can negatively affect spermatogenesis and fertility potential. The present study aimed to determine the correlation of sperm parameters with age and body mass index (BMI) in infertile men.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, semen parameters (concentration, motility, and morphology) of 7069 men referring to an infertility center in Isfahan were evaluated based on the 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. BMI was calculated by dividing an individual’s weight (kg) by the square of their height (m).
Results: A weak positive correlation was observed between men’s BMI and age (P<0.001, r=0.07). Also semen volume (P<0.001, r=-0.02), sperm concentration (P<0.001, r=-0.02), and sperm count (P<0.001, r=-0.04) had a weak negative correlation with BMI. No statistically significant correlation was observed between sperm motility and BMI. Regarding men’s age, only a weak negative correlation was observed between this parameter and sperm motility (P<0.001, r=-0.04).
Conclusion: Increasing BMI and age in men may be associated with decreased sperm quality and fertility potential.
Masoumeh Habibian ,
Volume 26, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency affects a broad range of health-related factors. Both obesity and vitamin D deficiency are associated with the development of oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. Inflammation can culminate in decreased vitamin D levels through the induction of oxidative stress. Evidence suggests that exercise may improve vitamin D status. However, the effects of exercise interventions on inflammation and oxidative stress in the coexistence of vitamin D deficiency and obesity/overweight are not well-established. Therefore, this review aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise on inflammation and oxidative stress in vitamin D deficiency status accompanied by obesity/overweight. A search for articles from 2006 to 2023 was conducted in specialized databases of PubMed, Scopus, and state inpatient database (SID). The searched studies were original research articles, reviews, and clinical trials selected using the keywords of vitamin D deficiency, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, chemokine, exercise, obesity, and overweight. According to the studies, regular exercise can inhibit the vicious cycle of oxidative stress-inflammation in vitamin D deficiency status accompanied by obesity/overweight by negatively regulating some inflammatory factors and chemokines, reducing lipid peroxidation levels, and increasing antioxidant status. Moreover, the increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels resulting from exercise can be considered another mechanism for reducing oxidative stress-inflammation in vitamin D deficiency status accompanied by obesity/overweight.
Leila Kashani , Fatemeh Sadat Samsam Shariat , Najmeh Shahini , Gholamreza Veghari , Aazam Sadat Heydari Yazdi ,
Volume 26, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: In the post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era, messages and video calls with loved ones, family, and friends have brought individuals closer together and made social isolation more bearable. Although the utilization of these tools has numerous positive aspects, there are also negative ones. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Internet addiction among medical students at Golestan University of Medical Sciences and its association with psychiatric disorders.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 189 medical students (73 males and 116 females; mean age=23.35±3.03 years) at Golestan University of Medical Sciences in 2021. A convenience sampling method was used, and all students were taken into account as the statistical population. Data collection tools included Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) short form, which were completed by the students.
Results: Fifty (26.45%) medical students were identified as being at risk of Internet addiction, and 3 (1.58%) students were classified as having Internet addiction. Less than 4% of the students had severe psychiatric disorders, while 9.5% to 19.6% exhibited various psychiatric disorders of moderate severity. Beyond the area of hypochondriasis symptoms, significant positive correlations were found between Internet addiction and increased psychiatric disorders in other areas, including depression (r=0.285, P<0.001), hysteria (r=0.170, P<0.019), psychopathy (r=0.338, P<0.001), paranoia (r=0.384, P<0.001), mania (r=0.336, P<0.001), psychasthenia (r=0.432, P<0.001), and schizophrenia (r=0.415, P<0.001). With increasing Internet addiction, the severity of psychiatric disorders also increased.
Conclusion: The prevalence of Internet addiction among medical students was shown to be at a low level, but the severity of psychiatric disorders increased with higher levels of Internet addiction.
Mohammad Sharifi , Samira Hassanzadeh, Marzieh Najjaran , Negar Shahsavar , Negar Morovatdar ,
Volume 26, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Intermittent exotropia is the most common form of exotropia in children. Non-surgical treatments include refractive error correction, occasional patching of the normal eye in young children, prism therapy, and orthoptic exercises. This study aimed to compare the effects of wearing overminus spectacles versus patch therapy in 3- to 8-year-old children with intermittent exotropia.
Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 30 children (9 boys and 21 girls) with intermittent exotropia aged 3 to 8 years with no previous treatment history referring to the strabismus clinic of Khatam-al-Anbia Hospital in Mashhad. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: Patch therapy (n=20) and overminus (n=10). In the patch therapy group, the patient’s healthy eye was patched for 2 to 4 hours a day for 6 months. Overminus spectacles were selected based on cycloplegic refraction between 2 and 4 diopters. Astigmatism was fully prescribed. Patient follow-up time was 3 months and then 6 months. Finally, data, including the size of the deviation and the degree of deviation control, were collected and analyzed.
Results: The median spherical error of patients before intervention in the overminus group was +1 diopter in the right eye and +0.75 diopter in the left eye, and in the patch therapy group, +0.75 diopter in both the right and left eyes. Six months after the intervention, the median spherical error in the overminus group was +0.62 diopters in both the right and left eyes, and in the patch therapy group, +0.75 diopters and +0.62 diopters in the right and left eyes, respectively. No significant statistical difference was found between the study groups. The median deviation size of patients in the overminus group before intervention was +25 prism in distance vision and +25 prism in near vision, and 6 months after intervention, it was +22.5 prism in distance vision and +20 prism in near vision. Also, the median deviation size of patients in the patch therapy group before intervention was +25 prism in distance vision and +25 prism in near vision, and 6 months after intervention, it was +25 prism in distance vision and +25 prism in near vision. No significant statistical difference was found between the study groups. The median deviation control based on the Newcastle Scale Score (NSS) of patients before intervention was 3.5 in the overminus group and 4 in the patch therapy group, which was 1.5 in the overminus group and 3 in the patch therapy group 6 months after the intervention. Although there was a greater improvement in control based on the NSS in the overminus group compared to the patch therapy group.
Conclusion: Both overminus and patch therapy are effective in treating patients with intermittent exotropia. In patients using the overminus method, deviation control is higher compared to the patch therapy method.
Ali Mikaeili , Samira Ghasemi , Nastaran Ghiasvand , Abdolmajid Valadbeigi , Mahdi Mojarrab ,
Volume 26, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Dermatophytosis is a significant skin disease in both humans and animals. Its resistance to common treatments is on the rise. Allylamines, polyenes, and azoles are prominent groups of anti-fungal drugs used to treat dermatophytosis. Various species of Artemisia, which are widely distributed in Iran, are regarded as a rich source of natural compounds with valuable biological activities. This research aimed to determine the anti-fungal effects of aerial part extracts of Artemisia biennis, Artemisia ciniformis, and Artemisia turanica.
Methods: This descriptive study examined the petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanolic, and hydroalcoholic aerial part extracts of Artemisia biennis, Artemisia ciniformis, and Artemisia turanica against fungi causing dermatophytosis. The investigated fungi included Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton verrucosum, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Microsporum cannis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test was performed based on the agar dilution method. The most active extracts were investigated in preliminary phytochemical tests.
Results: In the initial screening, Epidermophyton floccosum and Microsporum cannis exhibited the highest resistance (11 out of 15) and sensitivity (12 out of 15), respectively, to the tested extracts. Petroleum ether extracts from all three Artemisia species were the most active extracts used in the tests. Hydroalcoholic extracts showed the least anti-dermatophytic activity. The lowest MIC (78.1 μg/mL) was recorded for the petroleum ether extract of Artemisia ciniformis against Trichophyton rubrum. Preliminary phytochemical studies showed the common presence of terpenoids in all plant species extracts.
Conclusion: Some lipophilic compounds present in petroleum ether extracts of Artemisia biennis and Artemisia ciniformis, as well as dichloromethane extract of Artemisia biennis, exhibited significant in vitro anti-dermatophytic activities.
Somayeh Jahanabadi , Abolhasan Halvani , Sareh Rafatmagham , Mohammadjavad Berizi ,
Volume 27, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has shown an increasingly rapid progression in individuals with underlying diseases or comorbidities, frequently culminating in mortality. This study was conducted to compare certain risk factors associated with mortality due to COVID-19 in patients at Shohadaye Kargar Hospital in Yazd.
Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 120 surviving (recovered) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive COVID-19 patients (55 males and 65 females) with a mean age of 52.8 ± 18.88 years and 60 deceased PCR-positive COVID-19 patients (34 males and 26 females) with a mean age of 75.4 ± 15.4 years at Shohadaye Kargar Hospital in Yazd, Iran during 2019-2020. Census sampling was performed on all confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Variables including age, gender, cigarette use, presence of diabetes, hypertension, pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, and malignancies, which were collected in Yazd Province by the Provincial Coronavirus Committee, were evaluated.
Results: The variables of gender, cancer, cigarette use, asthma, and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) did not show any statistically significant differences between the recovered and deceased groups. The variables of diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and age showed statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Advanced age and the presence of hypertension and diabetes are considered risk factors in COVID-19 patients.
Leila Sabouri , Abbas Meamarbashi , Mohsen Barghamadi , Zeljko Zilic , Amir Fatollahi ,
Volume 27, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is among the common causes of anterior knee pain in adolescents and individuals under 60 years of age. This study was conducted to determine the effect of closed kinetic chain exercises on changes in plantar foot pressure dynamics in women with PFPS.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 30 female university students aged 20 to 35 divided into two groups of 15 (one group diagnosed with PFPS and a healthy control group) at Mohaghegh Ardabili University in 2023. The PFPS group had a pain history of at least two months to a maximum of one year. The experimental group performed closed kinetic chain exercises three times a week for eight weeks. Plantar foot pressure variables were measured using a pressure foot scanner (sampling rate of 300 Hz).
Results: The peak forces in the first toe during slow-speed running exhibited a statistically significant decrease in both the healthy group (64.91 ± 28.69) and the PFPS group (215.19 ± 60.28). Furthermore, the time to reach the peak ground reaction force in the PFPS group (49.65 ± 44.332) showed a statistically significant increase during the post-test at slow-speed running (P<0.05). The external heel force (153.97±3.62) and the fifth metatarsal bone (65.19±19.77) in the healthy group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the post-test compared to the PFPS group during fast-speed running (P<0.05). In both the healthy and PFPS groups, statistically significant decreases were observed in the post-test for center of pressure (COP) displacement variables in the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions during both slow-speed and fast-speed running (P<0.05). Additionally, in the healthy group, a statistically significant reduction was found in the post-test for COP displacement at the first toe (64.5±51.08) during fast-speed running (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Closed kinetic chain exercises lead to a statistically significant reduction in plantar foot pressure variables in women with PFPS and healthy women.
Zakieh Solbi , Gholamhassan Vaezi , Abbasali Dehpour Juibari , Nahid Masoudian , Vida Hojati ,
Volume 27, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Sodium valproate (SV) is a commonly used antiepileptic drug; however, its therapeutic application is limited due to its potential to induce oxidative stress. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol, possesses antioxidant properties. This study was conducted to determine the effect of resveratrol on SV-induced oxidative stress in the hippocampal tissue of BALB/c mouse fetal brains.
Methods: In this experimental study, 40 pregnant female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to 5 groups of 8, including control, SV at 40 mg/kg/bw, SV at 40 mg/kg/bw + resveratrol at 0.6 mg/kg/bw, SV at 40 mg/kg/bw + resveratrol at 0.35 mg/kg bw, and SV at 40 mg/kg/bw + resveratrol at 0.225 mg/kg/bw. SV was administered orally per day, and resveratrol was administered daily via intraperitoneal injection. From gestational day 8 to 18, pharmacological interventions were initiated and continued until the birth of the neonates. On gestational day 18, the maternal mice were anesthetized, and 8 fetuses from each group were separated. Following the anesthesia of the fetuses, the brain tissue was dissected. Subsequently, oxidative stress parameters, including the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in nmol/mg as an index of lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) level alterations in µg/mg, and protein carbonyl (PC) level alterations in nmol/mg, were evaluated in the hippocampal tissue.
Results: SV induced oxidative stress by increasing MDA (4.8 nmol/mg) and PC (51.4 nmol/mg protein), and also decreasing GSH (31.86 μg/mg) in the brain tissue compared to the control group (P<0.05). In a concentration-dependent manner, resveratrol reduced oxidative stress by decreasing MDA and PC to 3.02 and 37.21 nmol/mg, respectively, and also by increasing GSH to 49.76 μg/mg in the brain tissue. The most significant effect was observed at a concentration of 0.6 mg/kg/bw, which was statistically significant compared to the SV group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The combined administration of SV and resveratrol culminates in a reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress-related factors in mouse fetuses.
Afagh Zamen Ghadirli , Hessamedin Babaei , Marzieh Goodarzi , Soheil Shahramirad , Aref Arminfar , Alireza Avazzadeh , Behrooz Yahyaei , Leila Khojasteh,
Volume 27, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Ketamine, a derivative of phencyclidine, is utilized as an anesthetic agent in surgical procedures. Like other medications, it can be associated with various adverse effects on different organs in the body. This study was conducted to determine the effect of injectable ketamine on the histopathological changes in the liver in neonates born to pregnant rats subjected to short-term and long-term anesthesia.
Methods: In this experimental study, 15 pregnant female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 5 each: A control group, a short-term anesthesia group (receiving an intraperitoneal injection of ketamine at a dosage of 25 mg/kg/bw), three times per week for 4 weeks), and a long-term anesthesia group (receiving an intraperitoneal injection of ketamine at a dosage of 75 mg/kg/bw, once per week for 4 weeks). Following parturition and during the lactation period, when the neonatal rats reached two weeks of age, they were initially anesthetized and sacrificed for tissue sampling via intraperitoneal injection of 7 units of ketamine and 3 units of xylazine. Tissue samples, with a thickness of 5 to 6 microns, were sectioned and examined using light microscope after fixation in formalin.
Results: In the short-term anesthesia group, dilation of the centrilobular veins and fluid accumulation were observed, with an intensity score of 2. Additionally, some hepatocytes exhibited degenerative-necrotic changes, characterized by acidophilic and dark cytoplasm, with an intensity score of 1. In the long-term anesthesia group, the liver tissue showed hyperemic changes in the portal space with a score of 1, as well as increased dilation of sinusoidal spaces and centrilobular veins of varying sizes and irregularities, also with an intensity score of 1. Fluid and blood accumulation were also noted in some of these structures. In the control group, cellular structures were maintained with complete regularity, and the intensity score of changes was determined to be zero.
Conclusion: Ketamine administration to pregnant rats can induce histopathological changes in the liver tissue of their offspring. These detrimental changes were more pronounced in the long-term group compared to both the short-term and control group.
Navid Mohammadi , Kiana Aslani Mehr , Abbas Allami ,
Volume 27, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The widespread use of digital devices by children has become a significant threat to global health. This study was conducted to evaluate the correlation among screen time, sleep quality, and overweight in preschool children.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 100 preschool children (46 boys and 54 girls) aged 3 to 6 years and their parents in the city of Qazvin, Iran during 2019-2020. Data were collected using interviews and the Factors Associated with Screen Time in Iranian Children and Adolescents Questionnaire (Mozafarian et al., 2017).
Results: Seventy-six percent of the children were the firstborn in their families. The mean cumulative screen time for the children was four hours per day. Fifty percent of the parents did not adequately supervise their child’s television screen time at home. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between body mass index (BMI) and television screen time duration (r=0.24, P=0.01). With an increase in the children’s cumulative screen time, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the child’s sleep duration (r=−0.21, P=0.04). Although mothers had a significantly higher mean screen time compared to fathers (P<0.001), children’s television screen time exhibited a statistically significant correlation with their fathers’ television screen time (r=0.23, P=0.002).
Conclusion: The mean screen time for preschool children is high. Furthermore, the mean screen time is associated with children’s decreased sleep duration and increased BMI.
Naser Behnampour , Zahra Rashidian , Farhad Lashkarblouki , Hamideh Sadeghzadeh , Mahnaz Sheikhi , Mohammad Reza Honarvar ,
Volume 27, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Malnutrition is a significant factor contributing to delays in recovery or failure of tuberculosis (TB) treatment. One nutritional support strategy involves providing food baskets to TB patients during their treatment course. This study was conducted in Golestan Province to determine the effect of food support on the treatment outcomes of TB patients.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical observational study, supported by the Community Nutrition Improvement Office of the Ministry of Health, was conducted longitudinally in two parallel groups in Golestan Province, during 2017. The first group consisted of 129 TB patients under treatment who had received two supportive food baskets and had completed their treatment course. The second group comprised 399 TB patients who did not receive any supportive food baskets. The outcomes, including mortality, treatment non-adherence, treatment failure, and recovery, were tracked for both patient groups by the healthcare system, and the necessary information was recorded in the patients’ records and compared.
Results: During an 8-month follow-up period, commencing from the second month of treatment, the increase in the mean weight of patients receiving the supportive food basket was statistically significant (P<0.05). Recovery rates in patients receiving the supportive food basket were determined to be 94.6%, while in patients not receiving the supportive food basket, it was 88.7% (P<0.05). The relative risk of non-recovery in the group not receiving the supportive food basket was 2.078 times that of the group receiving the supportive food basket (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.961-4.494).
Conclusion: Receiving a supportive food basket is effective in the treatment of TB patients in Golestan Province.
Kimia Moradiani , Vahideh Moradi , Gholamreza Hassanzadeh , Hamid Reza Asgari , Ardalan Shariat ,
Volume 27, Issue 2 (7-2025)
Abstract
Stroke survivors often experience various motor complications, and sustained treatment is crucial for their recovery. Game-based telerehabilitation interventions appear to facilitate motor improvement in these patients by ensuring sustained treatment. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate game-based telerehabilitation on motor function in stroke patients. This narrative review involved a comprehensive search of the PubMed database up to August 2024, using the keywords "Game," "Games," "Serious games," "Telerehabilitation," and "Stroke," both individually and in combination. Out of 118 articles initially identified, duplicates and articles published before 2018 were excluded. Ultimately, 9 articles meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected for review. The full text of these English articles was then analyzed and compared in terms of study design and intervention outcomes on improving motor function. Of the 9 studies reviewed, 6 focused on improving upper extremity motor function, 2 on improving lower extremity motor function, and 1 on improving motor function in both upper and lower extremities. All 9 studies reported positive results regarding improving upper and lower extremity motor function through game-based telerehabilitation. However, most studies had small and varied sample sizes, and there was no consensus on the optimal frequency or duration of game use. Furthermore, the technology employed in these games was found to be expensive for less developed countries. Given the positive outcomes of this approach for stroke patients, developing affordable, localized games and integrating them into national rehabilitation programs could significantly benefit both patients and healthcare systems.
Ebrahim Piri , Abbas Ghadimi Kheshtmasjedi , Sajjad Ghadimi Kheshtmasjedi , Mohsen Barghamadi ,
Volume 27, Issue 2 (7-2025)
Abstract
Studies indicate a significant impact of rehabilitation exercises on improving complications related to ankle injuries. This review aimed to evaluate the effects of various exercise protocols with and without the use of taping and kinesio taping, in individuals with ankle injuries. Article were searched in both Persian and English from 2007 to 2023 in the specialized databases of PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science (WoS), Google Scholar, Islamic World Sciences Citation (ISC), Civilica, State Inpatient Database (SID), and Magiran. The keywords used for article extraction included "Ankle ligament," "Ankle injury," "Ankle sprain," "Corrective exercises," and "Taping." Ultimately, 16 articles related to the effects of various exercise protocols with and without the use of taping following ankle injury were reviewed and analyzed. A review of 6 articles revealed that exercise protocols with the use of taping have reduced the likelihood of lower extremity injuries by increasing ankle muscle strength and improving selected kinetic variables, proprioception, and ankle function. Additionally, an examination of 3 articles on exercise protocols with the use of taping demonstrated that the application of taping had no significant effect on function. Furthermore, a review of 7 articles on exercise protocols without the use of taping demonstrated that performing such exercises culminated in the restoration of muscle strength and improved proprioception and static balance. The results revealed that various exercise protocols with and without the use of taping are significantly effective in preventing recurrent ankle ligament injuries; however, the application of taping may have a superior effect on ankle injury recovery.
Mahsa Besharat , Javad Enayat , Fatemeh Nassaj Torshzi ,
Volume 27, Issue 2 (7-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Most Iranian provinces, including Golestan Province, have achieved the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for childhood mortality. However, evidence suggests that mortality rates in some population groups within these regions remain high and concerning. This study aimed to determine the childhood mortality rate in the city of Aqqala in Golestan Province, Iran.
Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 416 cases (243 males, 172 females, 1 ambiguous genitalia) of mortalities among children aged 0-18 years residing in rural and urban areas of the city of Aqqala from 2017 to 2022. All registered mortalities were extracted from the electronic health record system at Golestan University of Medical Sciences. Incomplete records or those with imprecisely documented causes of mortality were excluded from the study. The causes of childhood mortality were categorized based on the International Classification of Diseases (10th Revision, 2016). Age divisions were regarded as 0-28 days, 1-12 months, 1-2 years, 2-6 years, 6-12 years, and 12-18 years for neonates, infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, and adolescents, respectively.
Results: The overall mortality rate was determined to be 2.15 deaths per 1000 live births, with rates of 23.1 per 1000 live births for male children and 10.3 per 1000 live births for female children. This rate decreased from 22.7 deaths per 1000 live births in 2017 to 12.3 deaths in 2022. The neonatal mortality rate was determined to be 32.8 per 1000 live births, and the infant mortality rate was 5.5 deaths per 1000 live births. The primary causes of mortality, in order of frequency, included certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (28.2%), congenital malformations and chromosomal abnormalities (17.2%), and transport-related accidents (12%).
Conclusion: Despite a declining trend in the overall mortality rate of children under 18 years in the city of Aqqala in Golestan Province, the neonatal mortality rate in this region is alarmingly higher than the Iranian average, necessitating attention and appropriate measures for further evaluation and intervention.
Mohammad-Hosein Validad , Hava Shafiee , Monireh Mahjoob , Tahereh Rakhshandadi , Hadi Ostadimoghaddam , Abbas-Ali Yekta , Javad Heravian Shandiz , Neda Nakhjavanpour , Sara Farsi ,
Volume 27, Issue 2 (7-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Evaluating the agreement among various corneal imaging devices is crucial due to their varying technologies in diagnosing corneal parameters. This study aimed to assess the agreement of Advanced Corneal Explorer (ACE) with Pentacam and Orbscan in myopic individuals with healthy corneas.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 45 myopic individuals (25 women and 20 men; mean age=30.37±6.13 years) referring to Al-Zahra Ophthalmology Hospital in Zahedan, Iran, during 2023. Anterior segment imaging was performed using three devices: ACE, Pentacam, and Orbscan. Corneal parameters, including topography, tomography, and corneal aberrations, were examined. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and 95% limits of agreement (LoA) were used to evaluate the agreement of ACE data with the data obtained from the other two devices.
Results: ACE exhibited good agreement with Pentacam for the mean power (ICC=0.97), maximum power (ICC=0.98), and minimum power of the anterior corneal surface (ICC=0.97) (P<0.05). Additionally, ACE exhibited good statistical agreement with Orbscan for the mean power of the anterior corneal surface due to an ICC of 0.98 (P<0.05). The ICC values for central corneal thickness and thinnest corneal thickness with the ACE and Pentacam devices were 0.99 and 0.95, respectively, indicating significant statistical agreement (P<0.05). White-to-white distance, pupil size, and corneal aberrations did not show good agreement among the three devices (ICC<0.75).
Conclusion: Topography values and corneal thickness measured with ACE showed good agreement with Pentacam; therefore, they can be used interchangeably. Other measured variables from ACE did not show good agreement with Pentacam and Orbscan and are not interchangeable.
Abdolreza Fazel , Seyed Reza Khandoozi , Gholamreza Roshandel , Ashour Kor ,
Volume 27, Issue 3 (10-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, causing the death of many worldwide each year. Given the importance of determining prognosis and the role of biomarkers, this study aimed to determine the expression level Ki-67 biomarker and its relationship with metastasis time and location in breast cancer patients.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 154 breast cancer women admitted to the Fifth Azar Educational-Therapeutic Center in Gorgan, Iran, during 2009-2019. Upon admission, Ki-67 expression levels in tissue were determined using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Other required information, including demographic characteristics, disease stage, time interval from diagnosis to metastasis, and metastasis location, were identified and evaluated.
Results: Most of the patients (63%) were in the 40-60 age group. Ki-67 levels were determined to be below 15% in 45 patients (29.2%) and above 15% in 109 patients (70.8%). A statistically significant relationship was observed between Ki-67 expression levels and the time interval from diagnosis to metastasis (P<0.05). No statistically significant relationship was found between Ki-67 expression levels and age group, metastasis location, or disease stage.
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that individuals with tissue Ki-67 levels above 15% experienced metastasis within a shorter period of time.
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