Journal of

Background and Aim: Work engagement is defined as a positive, fulfilling, work-related state of mind that is characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption. Since the quality of care delivery to patients depends on nurse's practices, the objective of this study was to determine work engagement & its effective factors among nurses of general hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was performed among 273 in-patient nurses of Namazi and Faghihi hospitals using 2 stages of sampling. Our questionnaire was validated by experts opinions and Cronbach's alpha index (86%). Descriptive statistics and correlation tests were used for the analysis of data by SPSS.

Results: According to the results obtained, mean work engagement was 58.95 ± 10.51 and there was a significant correlation between work engagement and organizational - supervisor support, organizational justice, job characteristics, reward & recognition, organizational citizenship behavior, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, turnover( p<0.05). The relationship between work engagement and reward was the strongest(r=0.512).

Conclusion: The results imply the importance of work engagement and its related factors. Nurses are one of the biggest health system groups, and their burnout disadvantages hospitals and community. Thus, work engagement should be noticed in all policy-making related to nurses.

Background and Aim: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients show differences in serum levels and toxicity associated with methotrexate after its treatment. Pharmacogenetics is an important determining factor for these differences. In this study, the effect of +452 C / T and -401C / T polymorphisms of GGH gene on serum levels and toxicity associated with methotrexate was studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of +452C / T and -401C / T polymorphisms of GGH gene on methotrexate level in serum and its associated toxicity in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Furthermore, the frequency of the above polymorphisms was investigated for the first time in Iran.

Materials and Methods: The prevalence of these polymorphisms was assessed in 83 Iranian patients with ALL using PCR and RFLP. The relationship between the polymorphism and serum methotrexate levels and its toxicity was estimated by calculating the Odds Ratio.

Results: No correlation was found between +452CT polymorphism and serum levels of methotrexate and methotrexate-related toxicity. -401CT polymorphism was found to be correlated with methotrexate-related toxicity leading to thrombocytopenia (95% CI= 0.009-0.019, odds ratio=0.265) and leukopenia (95% CI = 0.021-0.042, odds ratio = 2.182) in consolidation phase of the treatment.

Conclusion: Evaluation of patients for methotrexate-related polymorphism of GGH gene may be useful in selecting the appropriate dose of methotrexate and reducing the toxic side effects associated with its administration.