The Most Important Risk Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome and its relationship with the severity of the disease. Methods: A total of 131 patients with clinical symptoms of CTS and 131 normal subjects were enrolled, of whom 121 were female both in the CTS cases and the controls. All cases were electro diagnostically confirmed and assigned to three severity groups. BMI, wrist ratio, shape index, digit index and hand length/height ratio were measured in all participants. Mean values for each item were compared between cases and controls and severity subgroups. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent CTS risk factors. Results: The mean values of BMI, wrist ratio and shape index were significantly higher in all CTS patients and females compared to controls, whereas in males only BMI and wrist ratio were higher. The patients in the mild severity subgroup had a significantly lower age and wrist ratio. BMI, wrist ratio and shape index were found to be independent risk factors of CTS development in all patients and females. Conclusion: Our study showed BMI, wrist ratio and shape index as independent risk factors for CTS. These findings are important anatomically and clinically and these are the risk factors of anatomical malfunction of the wrist in CTS.

The Attitude of Healthcare Services Management Students towards Self-Directed Learning

Background: Due to the many developments in the field of science and knowledge, self-directed learning can play a key role in lifelong learning and empowerment as a very important skill. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the attitude of healthcare services management students of Zabol University of Medical Sciences towards self-directed learning in 2019. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 62 students of health care management major were selected using the census method. A standard questionnaire was used in this study. Data were analyzed using appropriate descriptive and inferential tests. Results: The most frequent elements were "lack of influence from the teacher" (3.24 ± 0.935) in the category of perception of self-direct learning, "higher arousal power than the traditional method" (2.65 ± 0.791) in the category of how to effect learning, "quizzes and tests" (2.73 ± 0.961) in the category of barriers and "good lecture" (3.02 ± 1.000) in the category of motivational factors. Conclusion: From the students' point of view, Individual characteristics played an important role in determining self-directed learning efficiency and lack of knowledge was one of the major obstacles.

Evaluation of Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Mothers with Spinal Analgesia in Comparison with the Control Group

Background: Proper reduction of labor pain has always been one of the most important goals of medicine and the patient's request for labor pain relief is a sufficient necessity for the use of pain relief methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the maternal and fetal outcomes of mothers who underwent spinal analgesia in comparison with the control group in mothers who referred to the maternity ward of Ali Ibn Abitaleb Hospital in Zahedan in 2020. Methods: The present study was a case-control study that was performed on 200 pregnant women in 1398. Pregnant women whose criteria for admission and selection of an anesthesiologist were divided into painless (spinal) delivery groups. The control group was selected by simple random sampling from among those who met the inclusion criteria but did not want to have a painless delivery. The two groups were compared using ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Linear regression, Chi-Square and Fisher's exact tests. A significance level of 0.05 was considered. Results: The length of the first and second stages of labor in the non-intervention group was significantly shorter than the painless groups. In the analgesic method used, the Apgar score of the infant had no negative effects on the type of delivery and did not lead to complications in the mother in the postpartum stage. Conclusion: Findings from this study showed that spinal analgesia had no negative effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

The Correlation between Intra-Arterial Partial Pressure of CO2 (PaCO2) and Post-Operative Nausea, Vomiting (PONV) and Pain in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting is a common complication after surgery that no single theory has been expressed as to the cause of this complication so far. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between PaCO2 and nausea, vomiting and pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 88 patients in Alzahra hospital, underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy were selected and the level of pre and postoperative PaCO2, as well as duration of postoperative nausea, incidence of vomiting, and severity of postoperative pain was assessed. The correlation between PaCO2, HCO3 and PH with these postoperative complications were evaluated. The patients’ data were analyzed by using Chi-square, t-test, Pearson correlation, Paired t-test and Repeated Measure ANOVA tests. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The correlation between duration of nausea and PaCO2 levels before and after surgery was 0.05 and 0.04, respectively, which was not statistically significant (p value = 0.63 and p value = 0.72, respectively). In addition, the correlation between PaCO2 level and severity of postoperative pain was 0.2 (p value = 0.07), which was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that PaCO2 level has not statistically significant effect on duration of postoperative nausea, incidence of vomiting, and severity of postoperative pain.

Evaluation of Parents' Performance and Beliefs in Dealing with Symptoms Associated with Tooth Eruption in Kashan

Background: It is widely believed that the growth of deciduous teeth can be accompanied by systemic and localized symptoms. This study was conducted in Kashan in 2019 with the aim of parents' performance and beliefs in the face of tooth eruption and its associated factors. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of 290 parents with children aged 6 to 36 months who were referred to Kashan health centers who were selected by available sampling. The researcher-made questionnaire was completed by the participants and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact Chi-Square test by SPSS 16 statistical software. P value < 0.05 was considered as a significant level. Results: The most common symptoms reported by parents include; Restlessness (78.6), chewing (70.0), loss of appetite (65.5), weight loss 55.2), fever (53.4), swelling, and redness of the gums (51.7), runny mouth (50.0). Most parents' beliefs came from those around them. There was a statistically significant relationship between parents' education with weakness and colds (p value < 0.01). There was a significant difference between parents' performance in controlling symptoms and their education (p value < 0.01). Conclusion: Although tooth growth is a physiological phenomenon, it can be accompanied by a series of local and systemic symptoms. Educating parents will improve their beliefs and help their children's health.

Assessing the Quality of Physical and Psychological Health of Retired Elderly People in Saravan City

Background: Aging is a critical period of human life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of physical and mental health of retired elderly in Saravan (Sistan and Baluchestan province). Methods: The present descriptive-analytical-cross-sectional study was performed on 150 elderly people in Saravan. The sampling method was cluster based on urban population distribution. Using the Physical Health and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), different dimensions of their health were assessed. Data were analyzed using at descriptive and inferential levels. Results: 75% of the population were men and 25% were women. The mean of the overall physical health score (212.09 ± 70.89) which indicated moderate health. The overall general health score was (43.31 ± 19.73) which is in the moderate disorder group in the qualitative evaluation. There was also a significant relationship between physical and mental health of the evaluated retirees (p value < 0.001). Conclusion: The physical health of the retirees was moderately expressed and evaluated. Also, the general health studied in this group had moderate problems. Since there is a close relationship between mental health and physical health, and since the retired class is very vulnerable, these problems should be carefully evaluated.

The Relationship between Cognitive Anxiety and Stress Caused by Covid-19 Virus with Sleep Quality in Public Society

Background: Since the Covid-19 virus its initial outbreak has caused many psychological problems for humans, the present study aims to done the relationship between cognitive anxiety and stress caused by Covid-19 virus with sleep quality in public society. Methods: The present study was a descriptive correlational survey. The statistical population of the study included all the people of the country in 1399 through questionnaires that were placed electronically on popular sites, channels and people messengers, which finally 239 people answered the questionnaires. Research tools include; Alipour et al. Corona cognitive anxiety Questionnaire (2020), Lovibond & Lovibond Stress Questionnaire (1995), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (1989). After electronic collection of questionnaires, the obtained data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Correlation coefficient, and Regression analysis simultaneously. Results: The results showed that cognitive anxiety and stress caused by Covid-19 have a significant relationship with sleep quality (p value < 0.001), so that both can predict 0.41 changes in sleep quality. Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that anxiety and stress caused by Covid-19 can predict the quality of sleep.

Investigating the Relationship between Depression and Dietary Patterns in Students of Zabol University of Medical Sciences

affect different aspects of human life. Today because of changing in lifestyle and unhealthy dietary patterns, there is augment in the incidence of obesity, chronic disease and mental disorders like depression. In this study, we have investigated the prevalence of depression and dietary patterns in the students of Zabol University of Medical Sciences. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study carried out on 313 students of Zabol city using simple random sampling in 2019. Results: The prevalence of depression in studied students was 58%. Two major dietary patterns were identified: the healthy dietary pattern and the unhealthy dietary pattern. After adjusting confusing variables, individuals who gained higher scores in unhealthy dietary pattern, had higher probability (OR = 2.19, 95%CI: 1.10 to 4.36, p value = 0.02) of depression, however healthy dietary patterns showed no significant association with the risk of depression. Conclusion: Findings indicate a higher prevalence of depression and positive relationship between unhealthy dietary patterns with the risk of depression in studied students.

The Effect of Cold Atmospheric Plasma on the Expression of Apoptotic Genes in Breast Cancerous Cells

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most malignant cancers in the world. Cold micro plasma jet (CMPJ) Known as cold atmospheric jet microplasma, it has recently been introduced as an alternative way to overcome the challenges of finding an effective cancer treatment. Numerous studies have reported promising results, so our aim of this study was to investigate how this method affects cell death and its role on the expression of apoptotic genes in the MCF-7 cancer cell line. Methods: In this study, helium gas was used to generate plasma at room temperature in the form of point radiation at different times of 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds and at different distances of 1 cm. Flow cytometry will be used to examine the extent of apoptosis and necrosis. Genes involved in apoptosis P53, P21, Bax and Bcl-2 were measured by real-time PCR. Results: Our Studie indicate that the mechanism of action of cold plasma on cancer cells is related to generation of reactive oxygen species with possible induction of the apoptosis pathway. The percentages of necrotic and late apoptotic cells following treatment with different times plasma (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 s) were about 0.55 ± 0.06, 20.13 ± 0.01, 20.12 ± 0.03, 26.81 ± 0.04 and 17.51 ± 0.05. The mRNA expression of bcl-2 showed a decrease of 90s of plasma while the mRNA expression of p53, bax and caspase-8 genes increased compared to untreated cells. Conclusion: In general, research in the last decade has confirmed the ability of CMPJ as an effective anti-cancer tool. Therefore, it may be used to help treat cancer. However, its clinical application requires much further studies to determine the severity and duration of exposure to CMPJ for effective treatment based on the type of cancer.

Coping with Exercise Induced Spatial Memory Improvement in Morphine Dependent Rats by Inhibiting Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)

Background: Addiction as a chronic disorder that requires long treatment. One way to treating this chronic disease is exercise. Chronic exposure to opiates impairs spatial learning and memory. Given the well-known beneficial effects of voluntary exercise on cognitive functions, we investigated whether voluntary exercise would ameliorate the cognitive deficits that are induced by morphine dependence. If an effect of exercise was observed, we aimed to investigate the possible role of hippocampal brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) in the exercise-induced enhancement of learning and memory in morphine-dependent rats. Methods: The rats were injected with bi-daily doses (10 mg/kg, at 12 hr. intervals) of morphine over a period of 10 days of voluntary exercise. Following these injections, a water maze task was performed twice a day for 5 consecutive days, followed by a probe trial 2 days later. A specific BDNF inhibitor (TrkB-IgG chimera) was used to block the hippocampal BDNF action during the 10 days of voluntary exercise. Results: The voluntary exercise diminished the severity of the rats’ dependency on morphine. A blockade of the BDNF action blunted the exercise-induced improvement of spatial memory, hippocampal neuron counting and BDNF protein levels in the dependent rats. Our results indicate that voluntary exercise could be increase the expression of LTP by lowering the induction threshold for LTP in the DG of morphine-dependent rats. Conclusion: Thus, voluntary exercise might be considered as a potential method to ameliorate some of the deleterious behavioral consequences of the abuse of morphine and other opiates.