The Relationship Between Spirituality and Religiosity with Death Anxiety Among Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aimed to summarize the evidence regarding the relationship between spirituality and religiosity with death anxiety (DA) among cancer patients. This systematic review was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA) checklist. An extensive search was conducted on electronic databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Iranmedex, and Scientific Information Database (SID) via keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings from the earliest to February 9, 2022. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies (AXIS tool). Fifteen studies were selected for inclusion in this systematic review. Nine and six studies assessed the relationship between spirituality and religiosity with DA in cancer patients, respectively. Most studies had a negative relationship between spirituality (n = 8) and religiosity (n = 4) with DA. In sum, most studies showed that religion and spirituality are negatively related to DA in patients with cancer.

Potential cytotoxic and anti-metastatic effects of berberine on gynaecological cancers with drug-associated resistance.

Gynaecological disorders, such as cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers are the second most prevalent cancer types in women worldwide. Therapeutic approaches for gynaecological cancers involve chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. However, lifespan is not improved, and novel medications are required. Among various phytochemicals, berberine, a well-known natural product, has been shown to be a promising cancer chemopreventive agent. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of berberine have been investigated in the several experiments against numerous diseases. Here, we aimed to provide a literature review from available published investigations showing the anticancer effects of berberine and its various synthetic analogues against gynaecological disorders, including cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. In conclusion, berberine has been found to efficiently inhibit viability, proliferation, and migration of cancer cells, mainly, via induction of apoptosis by both mitochondrial dependent and -independent pathways. Additionally, structural modification of berberine showed that berberine analogues can improve its antitumor effects against gynaecological cancers.

Comparison of Glasgow Coma Scale, Full Outline of Unresponsiveness and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation in Prediction of Mortality Rate Among Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury Admitted to Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Choosing an appropriate diagnostic tool is critical in early stage for appropriate decision about primary diagnosis, medical care and prognosis. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the Glasgow coma scale (GCS), full outline of unresponsiveness (FOUR) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) with respect to prediction of the mortality rate of patients with TBI admitted to intensive care unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This diagnostic study was conducted on 80 patients with TBI in educational hospitals. The scores of APACHE II, GCS and FOUR were recorded during the first 24 hours of admission of patients. In this study, early mortality means the patient death before 14 days and delayed mortality means the patient death 15 days after admitting to hospital. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inductive statistics. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean age of the patients was 33.80 ± 12.60. From a total of 80 patients with TBI, 16 (20%) were females and 64 (80%) males. The mortality rate was 15 (18.7%). The results showed no significant difference among three tools. In prediction of early mortality, the areas under the curve (AUCs) were 0.92 (CI = 0.95. 0.81 - 0.97), 0.90 (CI = 0.95. 0.74 - 0.94), and 0.96 (CI = 0.95. 0.87 - 0.9) for FOUR, APACHE II and GCS, respectively. In delayed mortality, the AUCs were 0.89 (CI = 0.95. 0.81-0.94), 0.94 (CI = 0.95. 0.74 - 0.97) and 0.90 (CI = 0.95. 0.87 - 0.95) for FOUR, APACHE II and GCS, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Considering that GCS is easy to use and the FOUR can diagnose a locking syndrome along same values of subscales. These two subscales are superior to APACHI II in prediction of early mortality. Conversation APACHE II is more punctual in the prediction of delayed mortality.

Submental intubation in maxillofacial fracture: a case report.

It can be challenging to create a safe airway in maxilla facial fracture and some skull surgeries. In this case study, the patient experienced jaw fractures that disturbed the dental occlusion and associated fracture of the base of the skull. Neither nasal nor oral intubation was possible based on the side effects of tracheotomy; therefore, submental intubation was applied successfully. The procedure and results are presented in the text.

Effectiveness of discharge-planning on physical quality of life of patients with ischemic heart disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: One of the goals of health care team is to improve the quality of life of patients during and after hospitalization period. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of performing discharge planning on ischemic heart disease patient's physical quality of life. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 74 ischemic heart disease patients which randomly allocated to discharge-planning group (n = 37) and usual care group (n = 37). The discharge-planning included the patients' educational needs, self-care instructions for patients, and caregivers. This program was performed through supporting patients during hospitalization and after discharge. The physical aspect of quality of life was assessed by standard questionnaire Short Form 36 and the data were analyzed through Mann-Whitney, independent t-test, variance analysis, Friedman and Wilcoxon. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between intervention and control groups in physical aspects of the quality of life before intervention (P = 0.423) while two groups were significantly different after intervention (P = 0.000) and quality of life of patients in the case group improved significantly. CONCLUSION: Applying the discharge-planning program as an effective, efficient, cost-effective, and noninvasive intervention on physical aspects of the quality of ischemic heart disease patients' lives is useful and helpful. Hence, it is recommended to use this program to promote and improve the quality of ischemic heart disease patients' lives.

Common causes of red eye presenting in northern Iran.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the causes of red eye disease among patients of Mazandaran-Northern Iran. METHODS: This cross sectional study included 840 patients who referred to eye clinics with ocular complaints. A detailed history of patients was recorded and their eyes were examined. Then, pre designed checklists were completed by the researcher. RESULTS: The most common cause of red eye was conjunctivitis - 30% (252/ 840), foreign bodies 23.2%, trauma including penetrating or blunt 8.6%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the red eye trauma, with acute onset and duration of less than a week (P=<0.0001). Diagnoses of red eye were conjunctivitis in 31.3% of the cases separately, viral causes (19.5%), allergic (7%) and bacterial (4%), foreign bodies 22.9%, pterygium 7%, and trauma 6.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In the current study, the most common causes of red eyes were conjunctivitis, foreign bodies, and trauma respectively. Red eye was more common in males than in females. An appropriate and proper training of risky factors of red eyes in the future could reduce the risk of serious visual problems.

Epidemiology and symptoms of red eyes in patients from Northern Iran.

AIM: We aimed to determine the epidemiology and symptoms of red eyes in patients from Northern Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive study was planned involving 840 patients referred to the eye clinic of Bu-Ali Sina hospital in Sari, Iran, with the chief complaint of eye redness. RESULTS: Of 840 patients, 525 were men (62.5%) and 315 were women (37.5%). Most of the patients were over 39 years of age. 55.7 percentage of them lived in cities and 44% were from villages. The most common eye symptoms with eye redness were: Eye abrasion (57%), tears in eyes (49%) and swollen eye lid (30%). Red eyes without any symptoms in eyes were diagnosed as runny nose (4.2%) and headaches (3.4%). 11.9% and 19.6% of the patients had a previous history of red eye and had visited doctors for red eyes respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Red eyes are more common in men than women. Introducing dangerous causes of red eyes in the future can help to health care professional to on time diagnosis of red eyes related problems.

The effectiveness of lavender essence on strernotomy related pain intensity after coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Considering the side effects of pharmacological methods, there has been a suggestion to use nonpharmacological methods such Aromatherapy following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of lavender 2% aromatherapy on sternotomy pain intensity after coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients who have undergone surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During this clinical trial, 50 patients who were candidates for CABG, were randomly divided into two equal groups, that is, the control group (n = 25) and the case group (n = 25). Following CABG, the case group received two drops of 2% lavender oil every 15 minutes with supplemental oxygen and the control group received only supplemental oxygen through a face mask. The data collection tools comprised of the demographic check list and visual analog scale (VAS) for evaluating the pain intensity. The pain intensity were assessed pre- and five, 30, and 60 minutes post aromatherapy. The final data were analyzed by the t-test and chi-squared test. RESULTS: The findings showed that the pain perception intensity in the case group was lower than that in the control group at the 30- and 60-minute phases after intervention (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The result indicated that aromatherapy can be used as a complementary method in postoperative pain reduction, as it reduced pain. The patients require two sedative drugs, and moreover, it avoids expenses of treatment.

Comparison of the effects of heparin and 0.9% sodium chloride solutions in maintenance of patency of central venous catheters.

BACKGROUND: Occlusion of central venous catheters is one of the limiting factors in using them. Heparinized saline solution is the standard solution used for keeping the catheters open. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effect of heparin saline solution and normal saline in maintenance of patency of central venous catheters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This double-blind study was performed on 84 patients of intensive care unit who had central venous catheters. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of heparin saline receivers and normal saline receivers. In the heparin group after each drug injection into the lumen, 3 mL of heparin saline solution was injected in the catheter as well. The other group only received 10 mL of normal saline instead. The catheters were examined for blood return and flushing every eight hours for 21 days. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 20 and descriptive and analytic statistics were studied. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the rate of flushing (P = 0.872) and possibility of taking blood samples from catheters (P = 0.745) in the two groups of heparin and normal saline receivers. Furthermore, using heparin had no effect on prolonging the survival of catheters. CONCLUSIONS: Considering possible side effects of heparin and the increase in treatment charges and the fact that using heparin did not have a significant effect on patency and survival of catheters in the studied patients, it is recommended to use normal saline solution to maintain the patency of central venous catheters.

The prevalence rate of hepatitis B and hepatitis C co-infection in HIV positive patients in Mazandaran province, Iran.

AIM: To investigate the prevalence rate of hepatitis B (HVB) and hepatitis C (HCV) co-infection in HIV positives in Mazandaran province. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study lasted from 2008 to 2010. The population of this study included 188 HIV positive persons confirmed to be infected by tests of ELISA I, II and western blood (WB) in the hospitals of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services. After getting permission, 5 cc venous blood samples were taken and drawn into a lab tube without citrate. RESULTS: Among the total of 188 HIV positive patients in Mazandaran province, only 80 patients were available, 62 had moved to other provinces, and 46 had died. Of the samples, 66 (82.5%) were males and 14 (17.5%) were females with the mean age of 37. Among the patients, nine (11.3%) were co-infected with HIV/ HBV, 27(33.8%) with HIV/HCV, while 20 (25%) were co-infected with HIV/HBV/ HCV. Only one patient had travelled abroad and eight of them stated that they had used shared syringes. CONCLUSION: The differences in the rate of HBV and HCV co-infection can be due to the epidemiologic conditions of viruses with different factors including different risk factors causing infection with these factors such as the rate of virus penetrating the body, the manner of penetration, patients' health condition, patients' culture, and their socio-economic condition, etc.

Quality of life and depression in caregivers of patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Caregivers have a considerable role in caring and recovery of cancer patients. They may experience psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and decreases in quality of life (QOL). Present study aimed to explore depression and quality of life and their relationship among care givers of patients with breast cancer . METHODS: In this cross sectional study, enrolled 63 care givers of women with breast cancer attending IMKH hospital in Iran as outpatients during 2009-2010. In order to assess the QOL and depression, we used Caregiver QOL Index-Cancer (CQOL-C) and Beck Depression Inventory respectively. RESULTS: We found depression has strong negative correlation with QOL and participants with depression were more likely to have a poorer overall QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Depression has some effects on QOL of breast cancer patients' care givers. Assistance and giving information through education and intervention from healthcare professionals is the key of improve the ability of caregivers to enhance their QOL.