Assessment the satisfaction level of faculty members from virtual teaching during corona crisis in Rafsanjan School of Medicine.

BACKGROUND: Evaluating the experiences and the satisfaction level of the academic members is an important parameter in planning for virtual education during COVID-19 pandemic. The present study was designed to evaluate the satisfaction level of faculty members of Rafsanjan School of Medicine regarding virtual education in COVID-19 crisis in two stages between 2019 and 2022. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted on the faculty members of Rafsanjan Medical School. The satisfaction level with virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic was determined using a researcher-made questionnaire with appropriate validity and reliability. For analysing of quantitative variables, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, independent t tests and one-way analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were used. RESULTS: Data showed that only 15.2% of the faculty members had a previous experience of virtual teaching prior to the pandemic and 30.3% had a history of passing the empowerment course on virtual education before the COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, 68.2% passed the empowerment course on virtual education at the same time as the COVID-19 epidemic spread. The overall satisfaction with virtual education in the first and second stages of the study was 49.05 and 49.22 out of 100, respectively. The satisfaction of NAVID learning management system was 66.66 percent among faculty members. The level of satisfaction in non-clinical members was significantly more than clinical members. CONCLUSION: The overall satisfaction of faculty members with virtual education was at an average or medium level. From the point of view of the faculty members, some aspects of virtual education need to be improved. Therefore, it seems necessary to improve the infrastructure and empower the faculty members to enhance the quality of virtual education.

General and central obesity prevalence in young adult: a study based on the Rafsanjan youth cohort study.

Growing prevalence of obesity among youth would have adverse consequences and increased risk of developing chronic diseases at older ages. This study explored the prevalence of obesity and its association with relevant risk factors in the Rafsanjan youth cohort population. This cross-sectional study was done on 3006 individuals from the 15-35-year-old population included in the Rafsanjan youth cohort study. The data were extracted from the youth cohort databases, which had been collected through in-person interview and standard questionnaires. Definition of general obesity was considered as body mass index ≤ 30 and that of central obesity as waist to hip ratio (WHR) ≥ 0.9 for men and ≥ 0.85 for women. Multivariate stepwise proportional odds model and multivariable stepwise logistic regression models were done to explore the factors associated with general obesity and central obesity. The mean age was 25.78 ± 6.06 years with 56% (n = 1683) female. The prevalence of general obesity was 15.80% (95% CI 14.50-17.11) and central obesity was 28.41% (95% CI 26.80-30.02). The risk of general obesity increased with increasing age (OR = 1.053, P < 0.0001), being married (OR = 1.658, P < 0.0001), history of diabetes (OR = 1.609, P = 0.0185), history of hypertension (OR = 1.609, P < 0.0001), elevated triglyceride (OR = 1.007, P < 0.0001) and LDL (OR = 1.015, P < 0.0001), while decreasing with being employed (OR = 0.748, P = 0.0002) and elevated HDL (OR = 0.975, P < 0.0001). Prevalence of obesity was high in study population. Marital status, increasing age, and history of chronic diseases were associated with obesity. Preventing programs should be developed against obesity and for promoting healthy habits in young adult especially during education at schools.

Correlation of iron and related factors with disease severity and outcomes and mortality of patients with Coronavirus disease 2019.

BACKGROUND: Iron is a trace element that possesses immunomodulatory properties and modulates the proneness to the course and outcome of a diverse viral diseases. This study intended to investigate the correlation of different iron-related factors with disease severity and outcomes as well as the mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. METHODS: Blood serum samples were obtained from 80 COVID-19 cases and 100 healthy controls. Concentrations of ferritin, transferrin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and iron level was measured by immunoturbidometric method. RESULTS: Concentrations of iron, transferrin, and TIBC were low, while ferritin level was high in the COVID-19 cases in comparison to controls. In non-survivor (deceased) patients as well as severe subjects, the levels of iron, ferritin, transferrin, and TIBC were significantly different than survivors (discharged) and mild cases. Significant correlations were found between iron and related factors and the clinicopathological features of the patients. Based on ROC curve analysis, iron, ferritin, transferrin, and TIBC had potential to estimate disease severity in COVID-19 subjects. CONCLUSION: Iron metabolism is involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Iron and related factors correlate with disease outcomes and might serve as biomarker in diagnosis of the disease severity and estimation of mortality in the COVID-19 subjects.

Positive Association between Hemoglobin Concentration and Blood Pressure in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Rafsanjan Cohort Study.

Introduction: Identification of factors associated with blood pressure (BP), including hemoglobin, can be used in diagnosing, controlling, and predicting the prognosis of patients. This study aims to investigate the cross-sectional association between hemoglobin concentration and BP in people aged 35-70 years in a cohort study of Rafsanjan, Iran. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 9398 urban and rural population of Rafsanjan adult cohort study as a part of the prospective epidemiological research studies in Iran (PERSIAN). Demographic information, medical history, history of smoking and alcohol intake, systolic and diastolic BP, and hemoglobin concentration were collected. A logistic regression test was performed to evaluate the relationship between hemoglobin concentration and BP in 4 unadjusted and adjusted models based on demographic indicators, clinical and laboratory findings using SPSS.24 software and SAS software version 9.2. Results: The mean age of the participants was 49.78 ± 9.53 years, and 53.2% (5002 people) were women. Adjusted models 3 and 4 showed a positive association between BP and hemoglobin. For each unit increase in hemoglobin, the odds ratio (OR) of BP in the adjusted model 3 was 1.062 (95% CI: 1.005-1.121), and in the adjusted model 4, it was 1.090 (95% CI: 1.031-1.153). Conclusion: Based on the results, the positive trend of BP and hemoglobin levels may indicate the need to pay more attention to these people as higher-risk groups for hypertension.

Neuroprotective effect of Achillea millefolium aqueous extract against oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by chronic morphine in rat hippocampal CA1 neurons.

Chronic opioid abuse can impair the hippocampal region of the brain. This study evaluates the neuroprotective effect of Achillea millefolium (Ach) on chronic morphine­induced learning and memory impairment, oxidative stress, and neuronal apoptosis in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus. Thirty­two male Wistar rat rats were classified into four treatment groups (n=8). Morphine sulfate was administered chronically. The treatment groups were given Ach aqueous extract (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg), orally, each day. After 28 days, the Morris water maze test was performed on all subjects. Caspase­3, Bax, and Bcl­2 proteins expression in the CA1 region of hippocampal tissue was analyzed using the western blot method. Also, malondialdehyde concentration, glutathione peroxidase activity, and superoxide dismutase activity were evaluated. The results indicated that Ach extract can improve spatial learning and memory defects in morphine­treated rats. Ach administration also ameliorated apoptosis and oxidative stress indicator levels in hippocampal CA1 of morphine­treated animals. Based on the present study, Ach improved spatial learning and memory defects, and reduced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the hippocampus CA1 region, in chronic morphine­treated animals.

The effect of abdominal massage (I Love You method) on the gastric function of preterm infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care units: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: Preterm infants often suffer from nutritional problems because of gastrointestinal problems. Massage could make the infants feel more peace and comfort, but limited studies have focused on the effects of massage on the gastric function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of abdominal massage on the gastric function of preterm infants. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial compared gastric function of preterm infants with and without massage therapy. The preterm infants were randomly allocated to control and massage groups. The massage group received the abdominal massage before feeding, twice a day, for 15 min, over 5 days. Furthermore, the gastric function was compared between the control and experimental groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (Version 15.0). RESULTS: The average weight in both groups had no significant (p>0.05) changes before and after the study, and both groups showed a negative trend in the weight gain. The abdominal circumference, the frequency of vomiting episodes, the residual volume, and defecation frequency were significantly (p<0.05) different between the two groups after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The abdominal massage could be an effective nonmedicinal method to reduce the gastrointestinal problems in the preterm infants. The abdominal massage could be offered to the preterm infants as an inexpensive, available, and feasible method to alleviate gastrointestinal problems as well as improve the gastric function.

Comparing the effects of auricular seed acupressure and foot reflexology on neonatal abstinence syndrome: A modified double blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The neonates of addicted women are at risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome. This study aimed to compare the effects of auricular seed acupressure and foot reflexology on neonatal abstinence syndrome among the neonates of addicted women. METHODS: Thirty one neonates of addicted women were purposively recruited and randomly allocated through coin flipping to receive either foot reflexology then seed acupressure or seed acupressure then foot reflexology. Interventions were performed in two successive days with a 12-h washout interval. Foot reflexology was applied for 15 min to the first horizontal zone of the sole while seed acupressure was applied for 24 h through attaching acupuncture-specific ear seeds to the posterior surface of the auricle on the SJ 17 acupoint. The symptoms of abstinence syndrome were assessed using Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System before and after foot reflexology, and before, 15 min, and 24 h after the onset of the seed acupressure intervention. Symptom assessment was done by a research assistant who was blind to the study intervention. FINDINGS: The mean score of abstinence symptoms for the foot reflexology intervention significantly reduced from 10.32 ±â€¯2.10 at pretest to 7.87 ±â€¯2.04 at posttest (P < 0.001). Moreover, the mean score of abstinence symptoms for the seed acupressure intervention significantly reduced from 9.70 ±â€¯2.10 to 8.70 ±â€¯1.46 at the first posttest (P = 0.007) and 7.32 ±â€¯1.42 at the second posttest (P < 0.001). The change in the mean score of the foot reflexology intervention was significantly greater than the change in the mean score at the first seed acupressure posttest (P < 0.001) but did not significantly differ from the change in the second seed acupressure posttest (P = 0.880). CONCLUSION: Both foot reflexology and auricular seed acupressure has significant effects on abstinence symptoms. Of course, 15-min seed acupressure is less effective than 15-min foot reflexology, while 24-h seed acupressure is as effective as 15-min foot reflexology in alleviating abstinence symptoms.

Overproduction of CXC chemokines CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL12 in ß-thalassemia major or patients.

BACKGROUNDS AND OBJECTIVES: B-thalassemia major is one of the most frequent hematological genetic disorders, worldwide. Chemokines are the main components of the immune system and play fundamental roles in pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine whether serum CXC chemokines are altered in b-thalassemia major patients. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: We enrolled 63 b-thalassemia patients and 80 controls in this cross-sectional study, which was performed during 2012-2013 in Kerman, Iran. METHODS: We enrolled 63 b-thalassemia patients and 80 controls in the present study. Patients were selected from referrals to Samenolhojaj clinic for thalassemia, Kerman, Iran. The circulating levels of CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL12 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in thalassemia patients and healthy controls immediately after blood collection. Data were analyzed by c2, t-test, and analysis of variance statistical methods and using SPSS, version 13 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). RESULTS: The results of the study demonstrated a significant elevation of CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL12 in thalassemia patients than in control. These results also demonstrated that serum chemokine levels are related to transfusion duration and post-transfusion viral infections. CONCLUSION: According to the results obtained, it can probably be concluded that chemokines are also involved in the pathogenesis of b-thalassemia major and its clinical complications in addition to several other parameters.

CXC chemokines CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL12 are variably expressed in patients with sickle cell disease and carriers: are they predictive tools for disease complications?

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell hemoglobinopathies are amongst a group of genetic disorders resulting from a single base-pair DNA mutation at the beta chain of hemoglobin. Chemokines and cytokines play a part in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and infectious diseases. They are also involved in balancing angiogenesis/angiostasis processes to form new vascular networks. We aimed the present study to measure the circulating CXC chemokines CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL12 in the plasma of sickle cell patients (SCD). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Kerman Special Disease Center and Rafsanjan Molecular Medicine Research Center during 2010 to 2011. Peripheral blood specimens were collected from 77 children with SCD and 70 controls. Serum samples were isolated and CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL12 were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: The findings of this study demonstrated that serum concentrations of CXCL1 and CXCL12 were elevated in SCD patients when compared with controls. Results also showed that the circulating levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 were decreased in SCD patients in comparison to control subjects. However, we found increased levels of CXC chemokines in SCD patients suffering from pain crisis but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study it can probably be concluded that the balance between angiogenesis/angiostasis CXC chemokines is an important predictive factor for initiation of complications in SCD patients. The elevated level of pro-inflammatory CXC chemokines may also be related to inflammatory responses associated with SCD complication.

Evaluation of circulating concentrations of CXCL1 (Gro-α), CXCL10 (IP-10) and CXCL12 (SDF-1) in ALL patients prior and post bone marrow transplantation.

The immune system plays an important role in the development of leukemia. CXC chemokines, as the molecular members of this system, are involved in the immune responses. Therefore, this study was designed to examine and compare the levels of CXCL1 (Gro-α), CXCL10 (IP-10) and CXCL12 (SDF-1) in ALL patients prior to and post bone marrow transplantation (BMT). In this experimental study, samples were obtained from ALL patients and controls, and subjected to ELISA for detection of chemokines. Demographic data were also collected by a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Our results showed that the serum levels of CXCL1 (Gro-α), CXCL10 (IP-10) and CXCL12 (SDF-1) were significantly increased in ALL patients compared to the controls. We also showed that the CXCL10 (IP-10) level was increased after BMT in ALL patients, while CXCL1 (Gro-α) and CXCL12 (SDF-1) were inversely decreased. Our results allow for the conclusion that CXCL1 (Gro-α), CXCL10 (IP-10) and CXCL12 (SDF-1) are important for the pathogenesis of ALL. Notably, these chemokines might be used as pivotal biological markers in the diagnosis of leukemia. Recombinant CXCL1 (Gro-α), CXCL10 (IP-10) and CXCL12 (SDF-1) may be applied as a therapeutic approach in the treatment of leukemia patients.