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BACKGROUND: Asthma is the most common respiratory disease with an increasing prevalence. On the other hand, obesity is also a challenging disease compromising health in human communities. This study sought to assess the correlation of asthma and body mass index (BMI) in occupational setting. METHODS: This study was conducted in a cable manufacturing company in 2012. A total of 551 workers from the production (exposed group) and non-production (unexposed group) units were studied. A questionnaire specifically designed for this purpose was filled out for study subjects and then all workers with respiratory symptoms suggestive of asthma thoroughly examined by a physician and medical history was taken from them. Complementary diagnostic tests were also carried out. RESULTS: A total of 11.6% of our understudy subjects had asthma. The prevalence of asthma in exposed subjects with BMI≥25 kg/m(2) was found to be significantly higher than in exposed workers with BMI<25 kg/m(2) (p<0.01). However, no significant differences existed in prevalence of asthma between the two subgroups of BMI≥25 kg/m(2) and BMI<25 kg/m(2) in the unexposed group (p>0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors significant associations were observed between BMI and asthma at cut points of 30 kg/m(2) and 25 kg/m(2) (OR: 8.53 and 2.41, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study results showed that prevalence of asthma might be higher in workers with higher BMI who are exposed to occupational asthmogens. This finding highlights the necessity of offering weight loss recommendations in periodic examinations to workers with exposure to occupational asthmogens.
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Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly emerged disease with many unknown facets, so both the treatment and the cause of spreading this disease have remained mysterious so far. Materials and Methods: Based on the information of 4372 patients with COVID-19 referring to Dr. Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran, the time-dependent changes in COVID-19 severity were investigated in this study using correlation analysis. Results: According to the results of this study, on average 154.80 patients were infected with mild to moderate COVID-19, and 39.06 were infected with severe COVID-19. The results of this study also indicated a descending trend in the number of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 (r=-0.40, P-value=0.004) and an ascending trend in the number of patients with severe COVID-19 (r=0.43, P-value=0.003) overtime on a daily basis so that almost two patients were removed from those with mild to moderate COVID-19 and one was added to the patients with severe COVID-19 on average per day. Conclusion: Based on the current study results, it is concluded that COVID-19 severity will not be constant over time, and there is a probability of COVID-19 becoming more aggressive. Therefore, by the lack of timely control of the disease over time, we will witness an increased number of patients with severe COVID-19 and an increased number of hospitalizations in the intensive care unit (ICU) ward.
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Background: The success of treatment strategies to control the disease relapse requires determining factors affecting the incident short-time and long-time of disease relapse. Therefore, this study was aimed to identify the factors affecting of short-and long-time of occurrence of disease relapse in patients with tuberculosis (TB) using a parametric mixture cure model. Materials and Methods: In this historical cohort study; the data was collected from 4564 patients with TB who referred to the Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Center of Dr. Masih Daneshvari Hospital from 2005 to 2015. In order to evaluate the factors affecting of short-and long-time of occurrence of disease relapse, a parametric mixture cure model was used. Results: In this study, the estimation of the annual incidence of TB relapse showed that the probability of recurrence in the first year is 1% and in the third and tenth years after treatment is 3% and 5%, respectively. In addition, the results of this study showed that the variables of residence, exposure to cigarette smoke, adverse effects of drug use, incarceration, and pulmonary and extra- pulmonary tuberculosis were the factors affecting the short-time recurrence of TB. The variables of drug use, pulmonary and extra- pulmonary tuberculosis, and also incarceration affected the long-term recurrence of this disease. Conclusion: Cure models by separating factors affecting the short-time occurrence from the long-time occurrence of disease relapse can provide more accurate information to researchers to control and reduce TB relapse.
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BACKGROUND: Continuing medical education (CME) is an integral part of nursing professionalization, which can be effective in the development of nursing behavior. E-learning can play an important role in CME programs. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an E-learning program in increasing the nurses' knowledge and behavior regarding care for venous thromboembolism (VTE) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-hundred nurses were selected via convenience sampling method and divided into E-learning and traditional education groups. All nurses had access to the Internet, as well as adequate Internet literacy. Each nurse in the E-learning group received three didactic files during the intervention (four weeks), which focused on the VTE risk assessment, methods of prophylaxis, prophylaxis guidelines, diagnosis, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, and patient education. On the other hand, nurses in the traditional education group were taught traditionally by an expert lecturer, who used audiovisual materials for teaching. A pretest-posttest analysis and a checklist were used to evaluate the impact of interventions in the groups. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were also used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The comparison of knowledge level between the groups showed that E-learning is not superior to traditional learning methods. The mean changes in the nurses' behavior was 3.16±1.49 in the E-learning group and 2.77±1.26 in the conventional education group. Statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between the score changes and E-learning. CONCLUSION: Integration of E-learning in CME programs, besides attendance of traditional courses, can be an effective learning method. We suggest that future studies compare the effects of these methods.
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BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoke is toxic for cells and could be a damaging factor to skin. The purpose of this study was to compare the biophysical properties of skin in smokers and non-smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 28 current smokers and 24 non-smokers. The hydration of the stratum corneum, trans epidermal water loss, pH, erythema, melanin content, sebum, friction and elasticity parameters (R0, R2, R5) of skin, epidermis and dermis thickness and echo-density were measured on middle forehead, right cheek and right inner arm of participants. Also volume, surface area and depth of right nasolabial folds were measured. The mean of these values in smokers were compared with non-smokers by independent sample T- test. RESULTS: Gross elasticity was significantly lower in smokers on forehead (p= 0.048). Thickness of epidermis was higher in smokers in all measured sites but the differences were not statistically significant. Thickness of dermis was higher in smokers in all measured sites too, but only the difference on cheek was statistically significant (p= 0.009). Density of epidermis was lower in smokers in all measured sites, but only the difference on forehead was statistically significant (p= 0.019). Density of dermis was lower in smokers in all measured sites, but only the difference on arm was statistically significant (p= 0.028). Volume and area of nasolabial folds were higher in smokers, but only the difference of area was statistically significant (p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Tobacco smoking could affect the biophysical parameters of skin, especially thickness and density of dermis and epidermis and nasolabial folds.
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BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disorder in which instability of the upper airways leads to a reduction or cessation of airflow during sleep. Sleep disorders such as OSAS increase the risk of occupational accidents and impaired work performance. Sleep deprivation during shift increases the risk of occupational accidents among health care employees. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between occupational injuries in hospital staff and the risk of sleep apnea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on hospital staff of Masih Daneshvari Hospital in 2012. In this study, the hospital staff's (715) response to the Berlin questionnaire plus additional information including a history of an occupational accident, night shifts, less than four hours of night sleep, history of smoking, chronic disease and quality of sleep were assessed. Information obtained was analyzed using SPSS 15. RESULTS: In general, 27.6% reported a history of occupational accidents. The incidence of occupational accidents in the high-risk group for sleep apnea was significantly higher than the low-risk group (OR=2.736, CI=1.522-4.917, P=0.001). The results of logistic regression analysis also showed a statistically significant association between occupational accidents and risk of sleep apnea (OR = 2.247, CI = 1.194-4.231, P= 0.012). CONCLUSION: This study showed that the incidence of occupational accidents in the hospital employees is strongly related to the probability of OSA. Therefore, special attention should be directed to respiratory sleep disorders in order to reduce occupational injuries at hospitals.