Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals regarding dengue fever in high-risk regions of southeastern Iran.

BACKGROUND: Dengue fever (DF) is one of the most prevalent arboviral infections worldwide. In Iran, the dengue-positive serological cases as well as the presence of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti have raised health concerns, highlighting the need to enhance the dengue surveillance system. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding dengue fever in a large and high-risk region of southeastern Iran. METHODS: A total of 492 HCPs were recruited using a multi-stage sampling method from May 2022 to July 2023. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done using independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), one-factor and multi-factor general linear models, and simple and multiple regression models. RESULTS: About two-thirds (71%) of the participants did not receive any training on DF. A small percentage of participants were familiar with ovitrap (32.6%) and only 21.7% knew that destroying larval breeding sites could not eliminate the dengue vector. The knowledge of disease symptoms among HCPs was found to be lower in border areas compared to non-border areas (P = 0.018). However, the practice situation in HCPs working in border areas was better than in non-borders (P = 0.003). According to the multiple regression model, the most influential factors associated with knowledge, attitude, and practice were the type of healthcare facility and passing the DF training course. Additionally, education level, work experience, and gender were identified as other factors associated with it, respectively. Significant correlations were found between knowledge and practice (P < 0.001), indicating that higher knowledge led to better practice. Similarly, a positive attitude was significantly linked to better practice (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Regular, targeted, and continuous training courses are necessary to improve the knowledge level of HCPs, particularly those with lower education levels working in low-level health centers. Utilizing comprehensive dengue KAP studies to evaluate the status and impact of health education programs and identify gaps between knowledge and practice should be a research priority.

Prognostic Value of Porta-Hepatis Lymphadenopathy in Children with Hepatitis A.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of porta-hepatis lymphadenopathy (PHL) in children with hepatitis A virus. Methods: The present prospective cohort study included 123 pediatric patients with a definite diagnosis of hepatitis A who were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of PHL in their abdominal ultrasound: Group A included the patients with a porta-hepatis lymph node of >6 mm in diameter, whereas the patients with a porta-hepatis lymph node of <6 mm in diameter were classified in Group B. The patients were also classified based on the presence or absence of para-aortic lymphadenopathy: Group C had bisecting para-aortic lymph nodes, whereas Group D did not have such findings in their ultrasound. Afterward, the groups were compared in laboratory investigation results and hospital stay. Results: According to our results, Group A (n = 57) was significantly higher in aspartate and alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels compared to Group B (P < 0.05), whereas these two groups were not significantly different in the hospital stay. Furthermore, except bilirubin, all laboratory test results were significantly higher in Group C (n = 3) than in Group D. However, there was no significant correlation between the patients' prognosis with the absence or presence of porta-hepatis or para-aortic lymphadenopathy. Conclusion: We concluded that there was no significant relationship between porta-hepatis or para-aortic lymphadenopathy and the prognosis of the children with hepatitis A. However, ultrasound findings can help determine the disease severity in pediatric patients with hepatitis A.

Dental solid waste characterization and management in Iran: a case study of Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

The management of dental solid waste continues to be a major challenge, particularly in most healthcare facilities of the developing world. In Iran, few studies on management of dental solid waste and its composition are available. An effort has been made through this study to evaluate the hazardous and infectious status of dental solid waste, keeping in mind its possible role in cross-infection chain. For this study, 123 private dental centres and 36 public dental centres were selected and the composition and generation rate of dental solid waste produced were measured. Dental solid waste was classified to four main categories: (i) domestic-type; (ii) potentially infectious; (iii) chemical and pharmaceutical; and (iv) toxic, which constituted 11.7, 80.3, 6.3, and 1.7%, respectively, of the total. Also, the results indicated that the dental solid waste per patient per day generation rate for total, domestic-type, potentially infectious, chemical and pharmaceutical, and toxic wastes were 169.9, 8.6, 153.3, 11.2, and 3.3 g/patient/d, respectively. Furthermore, the per day generation rates for total, domestic-type, potentially infectious, chemical and pharmaceutical, and toxic wastes were 194.5, 22.6, 156.1, 12.3, and 3.4 kg/d, respectively. According to findings of this study, for best management of dental waste it is suggested that source reduction, separation, reuse, and recycling programmes be implemented and each section of dental waste be collected and disposed of separately and in accordance with related criteria.

Improving Breast Cancer Preventive Behavior among Female Medical Staff: The Use of Educational Intervention based on Health Belief Model.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer prevalent among women worldwide. Preventive behaviors such as early diagnosis through screening tests play an important role in prevention and control of the disease. This study aimed to determine the effects of educational intervention using a health belief model on breast cancer preventive behaviors. METHODS: This interventional study was conducted on 130 female employees of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences who were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. A questionnaire, made and validated by the researcher, was completed before and one month after training by the study subjects. Data were analysed using regression analysis, independent sample T-test, chi-square and Pearson's correlation coefficient using the SPSS software 18. RESULTS: There were significant changes in the training group, following educational intervention in the awareness construct and in some constructs of the model including perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers, as well as in practice compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, perceived barriers remained as the only predictor in the model, such that for every unit increase in this variable, the behavior score increased by 18%. CONCLUSION: The use of educational intervention based on Health Belief Model had positive effect on knowledge of breast cancer preventive behaviors among participants.

Porous three-dimensional network of Pd-Cu aerogel toward formic acid oxidation.

New self-assembled architectures have received great interest in nanotechnology, and are a highly desired target in recent studies. Among self-assembled architectures, noble metal aerogels are an important class owing to their collective characters as well as widespread applications. The synthesis of noble metal aerogels still faces several obstacles such as long hydrogel creation time and complicated multistep strategies. In this paper, we propose an efficient and useful approach to create the three-dimensional network of a Pd-Cu aerogel. This way offers a number of advantages including one-pot synthesis, simplicity, and short time to prepare the hydrogel. The Pd-Cu aerogel was prepared by the reduction of H2PdCl4 and CuCl2 in the presence of sodium carbonate by using glyoxylic acid monohydrate as a reducing agent followed by supercritical CO2 drying. The Pd-Cu aerogel was applied as an anode catalyst for electrooxidation process of formic acid, and depicts much higher electrocatalytic activity and durability compared to the Pd/C. We believe that the exceptional three-dimensional nanostructures fabricated by this route are powerful and promising catalysts for application in direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs), which may open great opportunities for widespread applications such as catalysis, sensors, optoelectronics, electrochemical energy systems, etc.

The Relationship between Serum Selenium and Zinc with Gastroesophageal Cancers in the Southeast of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) have antioxidant and anticancer properties. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of Se and Zn and the correlation between the levels of these two elements with risk of incidence of esophageal cancer (EC) and gastric cancer (GC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a case-control study, we selected sixty patients with GC or EC as the intervention group and 120 age-matched individuals as the control group. Exclusion criteria were the individuals with kidney and liver failure and the consumer of dietary supplements such as Se and Zn. Measurement of serum Se was done in a graphite furnace system and atomic absorption device of Varian and of serum Zn was done by a flame photometer system (flame) and atomic absorption device of Varian. RESULTS: In thirty patients of ECs, 90% were squamous cell carcinoma and 10% adenocarcinoma, and out of thirty patients of GCs, 90% were intestinal type and 10% diffuse type. The level of two elements in cancer patients was lower than the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant different between two cancer groups for level of Se and Zn, but there was a significant difference between the control group with two other groups. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed the findings from previous prospective studies and randomized trials that reducing of lower levels of Se and Zn can effect on incidence of cancer.

Does Salivary Calcium and Phosphate Concentrations Adequately Reflect Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis?

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is the inflammation of the periodontal supporting tissues. The response of periodontal tissues to local bacteria leads to bone resorption and destruction of periodontal junction. Given the possible association between periodontitis and low bone mineral density, the aim of present study was to find if measurement of salivary biomarkers as a less invasive method, can provide an appropriate screening method for assessment of bone mineral density in patients with chronic periodontitis? METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on 53 people, including 28 patients with severe chronic periodontitis and 25 healthy people between April 2014 to March 2015 in Zahedan (southeast of Iran). Following Periodontal examination, salivary samples were collected, and the concentration of salivary calcium and phosphate were measured and reported as mg/dl. Bone mineral density of participants was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and reported as gr/cm2. RESULTS: No significant association was found between concentrations of salivary calcium and phosphate levels with bone mineral density in either healthy people or in patients with severe chronic periodontitis, despite a significant bone density reduction (in the femur neck and lumbar spine L2-L4) in the periodontitis group compared to healthy people (P=0.006, and P=0.009 respectively). CONCLUSION: Concentration of salivary calcium and phosphate do not appear to be good indicators of bone mineral density. Further prospective studies with larger sample size are recommended.