Showing 199 results for Mohammad
Zahra Anbarani, Shokoufeh Mottaghi, Mohammad Hadi Safi,
Volume 21, Issue 3 (12-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: As a crisis, the Covid-19 disease affected all aspects of people's lives, especially the occupational aspect. Bank employees were more under pressure due to the type of service they provided to the public. The aim of this study was to analyze the challenges affecting the job efficiency of some of the Bank Melli Iran personnel during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods: This was a qualitative research project with a phenomenological approach. The research population was the employees of Melli Bank branches in the 10th district of Mashhad City, Iran in 2021, from among whom a sample of 10 people was selected by purposeful sampling, the sampling process continuing until saturation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the inductive thematic analysis method.
Results: Data analysis showed 12 sub-themes, 3 main themes including challenges at the individual, interpersonal and organizational levels, and a core theme.
Conclusion: The findings of this study show that the Bank employees’ concept of the Corona pandemic can affect their work efficiency. These findings can be used for planning to solve the problems and challenges of this group of people after the Corona pandemic.
Mohammad Amin Mirzaei, Majid Sartipi, Mehdi Mohammadi,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice in most patients with kidney disease. It is a surgical operation in which a person’s kidney with chronic failure is replaced with a healthy kidney. The present study was conducted with the aim of estimating the survival probability of a transplanted kidney in patients with chronic kidney failure in Zahedan city, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical retrospective cohort study using the survival analysis method carried out in 2020. The sample size was estimated to be 211 patients.
Data were analyzed with SPSS.VER22 software using descriptive tests, the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model of survival.
Results: The data obtained showed that in general 45 (21.3%) clients had been rejected. In the multiple logistic regression model of kidney transplantation several variables, including survival time, patient survival variables, marital status, donor status, blood pressure and diabetes remained in the model (P<0.05). Further analysis of the data revealed that in the kidney disease patients with transplant survival in Zahedan city, only donor status variables, high blood pressure and diabetes remained in the final multiple Cox regression model.
Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be said that the probability of survival of kidney disease patients is independent of the type of donor and the characteristics of the recipient, which indicates the evolution of kidney transplant management over the past few years; dialysis before kidney transplantation also has an effect on the probability of survival. These factors can help to increase the probability of kidney transplant survival.
Seyedeh Maryam Pourmousavi, Zoha Hajiha, Mohammad Marfat, Iman Zaghian, Hamed Moslehi,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and purpose: The purpose of this research was to write a critical review of the available service packages in the Mental and Social Health and Addiction Office (MSHAO) of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in the areas of drugs, alcohol and tobacco, which are currently used in the primary health care system. The content analysis method was used to extract the specialists’ critiques.
Materials and Methods: Initially the MSHAO sent 1362 pages of information in the form of 47 files to researchers to be reviewed. The files were classified, eliminating/removing additional, unrelated and duplicated items; finally 840 pages in 29 files were studied and carefully examined. Then, seven experts in the field of addiction were asked to criticize the packages, using the content analysis method to extract the experts' critiques.
Results: The findings showed that comprehensive information about drugs, alcohol and tobacco addiction is provided to the clients. However, based on a critical review of the existing packages four main critiques were extracted, namely, sources/references, epidemiology, incompatibility of Iranian-Islamic culture, and technical-specialist issues. In addition, criticisms were also extracted in the following areas/services: the number of files and the variety of interventions, editing and writing problems, interventions and discussions with inappropriate in-text sources/citations, some old sources/references (published in 2013 and 2014), old interventions, lack of appropriate compatibility with the culture of the Islamic society of Iran, and direct translation of some parts of the original texts and documents of international meetings/gatherings.
Conclusion: Despite the efforts of the Mental and Social Health and Addiction Office to cover the needs of the majority of people referring to the primary care system, it seems that the high number of interventions and additional information can cause confusion of/for the physician, mental health care provider, family health care provider, general health care provider and other relevant individuals. It is, therefore, suggested that some packages be merged with each other, duplicate items be removed and specific sections be added, some packages be fundamentally revised based on the suggested items, and updated packages be developed with due consideration of to the culture of the Iranian society.
Hosein Izadi Rad, Fereshteh Narouei, Parisa Mohammadi,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Women referring to health centers are one of the most important groups at risk of disease. Thus, in order to enjoy a high level of health, it is necessary for them to have health literacy. The purpose of this research was to find the demographic predictors of health literacy in women referring to comprehensive health service centers in Zahedan, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study including 400 women selected by random cluster sampling from health centers under coverage of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in 2022. The short form of the HELIA standard questionnaire was used to measure health literacy of the women. Data were analyzed using SPSS-22 software, the statistical tests being ANOVA, Kendall's correlation, and multiple regression.
Results: The subjects were between 18 and 60 years old. They were found to have obtained most of the information related to health and disease by asking doctors and healthcare workers (about 52.25%). The scores of the components of the subjects’ health literacy were as follows: average health literacy 69.91±23.34, reading 72.17±29.80, access 34.73±27.91, understanding 71.41±29.43, assessment 62.10±25.51, and the scope of decision-making and behavior 71.49±20.27. The strongest predictor of health literacy was found to be education, such that with an increase in the level of education, the health literacy of a woman would increase by 0.53 units. In addition, education variables, income level, age and ethnicity would predict 55% of the health literacy of the women.
Conclusion: This study shows that the health literacy score is related to age, education level, marital status, occupation, economic status and ethnicity, the strongest predictor of health literacy being the a high level of education. Therefore, considering the available evidence on the importance of health literacy and factors related to it and the low level of health literacy of women in this study, it is clear that women need to acquire, process and understand the basic information on health and therapeutic services in order to be able to make appropriate decisions. Briefly, women need to receive simple and understandable information and have more time to communicate with the health service personnel to understand health information.
Mohammad Bagher Moghadasi, Tayebe Rahimi Pordanjani, Zahra Ameri,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Vaccination, as one of the most cost-effective medical interventions, has significantly reduced the incidence of many infectious diseases. This study aimed to examine the moderating effect of mandatory vaccination policies on the relationship between corona anxiety and vaccine hesitancy among the employees of medical universities.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive-correlational study was conducted using convenience sampling on a sample of 152 employees selected from a medical university in North Khorasan Province, Iran. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire on mandatory vaccination policies and vaccine hesitancy and Corona anxiety questionnaires. Pearson correlation coefficient and hierarchical regression were employed to test the research hypotheses, and data analysis was performed using the SPSS and AMOS software.
Results: The findings showed that 77% of the employees supported mandatory vaccination policies in the workplace. In addition, the correlation coefficients between Corona anxiety and mandatory vaccination policies with vaccine hesitancy were significant (p<0.001). Furthermore, the interaction of Corona anxiety and mandatory vaccination policies accounted for an additional 2% unique variance in the model (R2Δ=0.02, FΔ=4.02, p=0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study it can be said that mandatory vaccination policies can moderate the relationship between Corona anxiety and vaccine hesitancy among employees of medical universities. It is, thus, recommended to use appropriate and cost-effective policies and executive guarantees to improve vaccination attitudes in employees with anxiety.
Soodeh Shadkam, Mehran Farhadi, Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paydar, Hossein Mohagheghi,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Considering the high prevalence of anxiety disorders, the high comorbidity of social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and the negative and lasting effects of social anxiety disorder on various aspects of a person's life, the present study investigated the effect of emotion regulation group therapy on the symptoms of social anxiety disorder comorbid with generalized anxiety disorder.
Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design with control and follow-up groups. The statistical population included all the patients with social anxiety disorder comorbid with generalized anxiety disorder referring to psychotherapy clinics in Shiraz, Iran, from among whom a sample of 30 people were selected by the available sampling method. Data were collected using Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-5 (SCID-5), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 and the Social Interaction Anxiety Questionnaire (SIAS) and analyzed with SPSS version 27 software using the analysis of variance method with repeated measurements
Results: The data obtained showed that emotion regulation group therapy could significantly reduce the symptoms of social anxiety disorder (p<0.001) and generalized anxiety disorder (p<0.001), the results remaining stable in a three-month follow-up (p<0.05)
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study it can be concluded that group therapy of emotion regulation is effective in, and can, thus, be used as a therapeutic intervention for, social anxiety disorder comorbid with generalized anxiety disorder.
Jalal Big Mohammadi, Mehdi Zanganeh,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The Health Transformation Plan (HTP) has been developed to be implemented in the rural areas with the goal of easy access of the villagers to the physician, their equitable benefit of the public facilities and improving the outpatient services. The present study was conducted to find and explain the experiences of family physicians of the rural centers and managers after the execution of HTP of the public health sector in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (ZAUMS), Zahedan, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This was a qualitative study using the content analysis method conducted in 1402 in the public health section in ZAUMS. The research population was the physicians and managers working in the rural areas of ZAUMS between 2015 and 2022; a sample was selected using the purposeful sampling method. Data were collected using the semi-structured interview based on the interview guide; content analysis was done using contract analytics.
Results: A group of 31 individuals including 20 men and 11 women and 19 physicians and 12 managers entered the study. Data were collected, analyzed and grouped in 6 main classes, namely, service delivery, integrated health system, resources, people and service recipients, monitoring and supervision, and suggestions; 12 sub-classes were extracted.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study it can be concluded that appropriate training, service quality, financial support, and sustainable skilled manpower are the factors that will help solve the challenges in the Health Transformation Plan. On the other hand, considering that one of the components of the health system for successful implementation of the Health Transformation Plan is human resources, the ability and flexibility of the personnel play an important role in the speed of service delivery and service quality.
Serajeddin Mahmoudiani, Majid Movahed Majd, Hadiseh Mohammadiha,
Volume 22, Issue 1 (10-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Healthy eating habits are undeniably one of the most crucial determinants of people's health in today's world. Undoubtedly food literacy and its components are key variables influencing food habits. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between food knowledge, food skills, resilience and healthy eating habits in the adult population of Shiraz City, Iran.
Materials and Method: A sample of 384 adults in Shiraz City was selected by cluster sampling and completed a questionnaire in 2023. Food literacy included 3 components, namely, knowledge, skill and resilience, determined using a standard 14-item questionnaire. The scale used to measure healthy eating habits included 6 items. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27 software.
Results: The majority of the sample demonstrated average levels of food knowledge, food skills, resilience and healthy eating habits. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between age and healthy eating habits, while individuals with university education exhibited significantly healthier eating habits compared to illiterate individuals. Furthermore, it was found that food knowledge and resilience had the most significant effect on healthy eating habits, respectively.
Conclusion: The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the components of food literacy and healthy eating habits in the adult population of Shiraz City, Iran. Food knowledge and resilience had significant effects on healthy eating habits. In general, it can be concluded that the implementation of targeted training courses with a special emphasis on improving food knowledge and skills should be prioritized by relevant authorities. Promoting food literacy has the potential to promote healthy eating habits and ultimately elevate the overall level of community health.
Aram Halimi, Goljamal Jorjani, Leyla Sharifi Aliabadi, Mohammad Reza Taherian, Haniyeh Yeganeh, Matin Shokrgozar, Gholamreza Ebrahimi, Mohammad Hossein Panahi,
Volume 22, Issue 1 (10-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: This study aimed to assess and prioritize the health needs of a community served by the Imamzadeh Ghasem Health Center in Tehran city, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted based on the North Carolina model for comprehensive community health assessment. General information and available facilities were extracted from secondary sources, while insights into specific community needs were gathered through interviews with 76 individuals representing diverse demographics. The assessment was made by secondary data analysis and direct interviews.
Finally, the prioritization of health needs of the community was based on a scoring system based on severity, extent, and ease of being solved.
Results: The findings revealed that sewage problems, construction issues and waste management were considered to be the primary health concerns in the region. Comparative analysis with the situation in other regions in Iran emphasizes the unique challenges faced by the community in the present study.
Conclusion: The prioritized health issues highlight the community's urgent needs, requiring targeted interventions. Proposed solutions include legal measures, public education and municipal interventions to address the sewage, construction and waste management problems.
Mehrnoosh Ahangarani, Mohammad Jafar Tarokh,
Volume 22, Issue 1 (10-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: In recent years, machine learning and evolutionary algorithms have drawn the attention of researchers and specialists in various fields, especially in healthcare, due to their practical applications in processing large datasets to provide valuable insights. Considering the increasing prevalence of diabetes and its rapid and accurate diagnosis being one of the most critical issues in medicine, significant concerns are faced by global communities worldwide. The present study was conducted with the aim of creating a diagnostic model based on evolutionary algorithms and machine learning to diagnose diabetes.
Materials and Methods: This research based on the Indian Pima diabetes dataset presents a framework based on intelligent diabetes diagnosis. The proposed method consists of two main stages. The first stage involves a classification approach using K-nearest neighbors and random forest algorithms. The second stage includes a combined feature selection and classification approach to enhance the results of the first stage, utilizing grey wolf optimization, whale optimization, and particle swarm optimization algorithms for feature selection. Comparative analysis among different approaches is conducted through evaluation metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score.
Results: After comparative comparisons among the proposed models, the random forest model based on the grey wolf optimization was selected and introduced as the final model with a prediction accuracy of 81.38%.
Conclusion: The findings of this research indicate that the use of evolutionary algorithms alongside machine learning models can often enhance the efficiency and accuracy of diabetes diagnosis and its associated complications.
Elham Fatholahi, Mohammad Jafari,
Volume 22, Issue 1 (10-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: In recent years the interrelationships among environment, energy and health have attracted increasing attention due to their significant impact on human health. This study aimed to investigate the complex interactions among environment, economy, development, energy and the health outcomes in Iran.
Materials and Methods: In this research the annual national data in Iran between 1981 and 2021 were used, using the fully modified least squares cointegration. The following variables affecting life expectancy at birth were included in the analysis: renewable energy consumption, health costs, air pollution, female literacy rate, inflation rate, Gini coefficient, GDP per capita, financial development and fossil fuel consumption.
Results: Data analysis showed the following: 1. financial development positively affects life expectancy with a coefficient of 0.037 ; 2. CO2 emissions and fossil fuel consumption decrease life expectancy by 0.015 and 1.02, respectively; 3. Renewable energy consumption and health expenses have improved life expectancy in Iran with positive coefficients of 0.025 and 0.035, respectively.
Conclusion: To improve health care outcomes action should be taken in the following areas: increasing health expenditures, increasing the use of renewable energy, reducing the use of fossil fuels, strengthening long-term financial development for easier access to medical treatments, decreasing disease risk, healthier lifestyles, and environmental quality improvement. In addition, as regards policy-making, planning to improve economic indicators can provide the basis for demand for healthy and educational goods and improve the health status of the society.
Adil Hamidvand, Behnam Behari, Mohammad Azimi,
Volume 22, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The soul and body of a person are one of the noblest subjects that require a person to study and reflect on. In this regard, the Holy Qur'an and Atrat, in addition to their basic purpose, which is to guide humanity to salvation, have also explained the issues essential for improving the quality of worldly life. Undoubtedly, the physical health of individuals and human societies is one of the most important concerns of contemporary wise people. In this research, different aspects of physical health are discussed. The objective of this study was to examine the components of physical health from the perspective of the Qur'an and hadiths.
Materials and Methods: This study was an applied research carried out in two stages. The first stage was a descriptive and analytical qualitative study. The triangulation method was used to extract and compile the materials, that is, the study was done by referring to the foundations of the Qur'an and the narrations of the innocents (PBUH) as well as using the related research and theoretical foundations. In the second stage the content analysis method was used to check the frequency and importance of physical health components in the Quran. The content of the research project was examined from the point of view of the respondent (the text of the Holy Quran) and nineteen main components in the area of physical health.
Results: Data analysis showed the absolute frequencies (A.F.) of the components of physical health from the perspective of the Qur'an to be as follows: (A). Components with an A.F. of 1: 1. Commanding people to look at foods; 2. Consumption of honey as a health promoting food; (B). Components with an A.F. of 2: 1. using animal skin to cover human body parts; 2. Abulition (ghosl), ablution before prayer (vozoo), abulition with earth or sand (tayammom); (C). Components with an A.F. of 3: 1. placing animals in a special place; 2. being halal the consumption of aquatic animals and plants (sea foods); (D). Components with an A.F. of 4: 1. prohibition (being haram) of eating the meat of dead animals; 2. eating decayed bodies of dead animals; 3. the prohibition of eating pork; 4. the prohibition of drinking blood; 5. allowing the milk of domestic animals for feeding; 6. prohibition of wine; 7. breastmilk to feed infants; (E). Components with an A.F. of 5: wearing clothes to cover the human body; (F). Components with an A.F. of 9: eating clean and halal foods; (G). Components with an A.F. of 13: 1. sending water for drinking and quenching people; 2. fasting; (H). Components with an A.F. of 14: being halal (allowed to be eaten) and permissible the consumption of the meat of halal domestic animals; (I). Components with an A.F. of 47 (the highest A.F.): growing all kinds of fruits and plants for feeding.
Conclusion: The findings of this study show that among the components of physical health from the perspective of the Qur'an, the highest and the lowest coefficients of importance were growing all kinds of fruits and plants for feeding (0/055) and consumption of honey as a health promoting food (0/034), respectively.
Zeynab Zaheri, Mohammad Kazem Fakhri, Shaaban Heydari,
Volume 22, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy on cognitive flexibility and executive functioning in epilepsy patients.
Materials and Methods: This research was a semi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test format with a control group. The statistical population was all girls aged 7 to 14 years with epilepsy in Mazandaran province, Iran. The statistical sample included 40 girls (20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group) selected by the available sampling method and randomly assigned in the two groups. The data collection tools were Dennis et al.'s Cognitive Flexibility (2010) and Coolidge's (2002) Executive Function questionnaires. Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 26.
Results: Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) showed that the cognitive behavioral training program had a direct effect on cognitive flexibility and executive functioning of the girls with epilepsy. The effect on cognitive flexibility (F=5.44 (35,1)) and executive functioning (F=2.73 (1,35)) was significantly different at the 0.001 level (P>0.01).
Conclusion: It is concluded that cognitive behavioral therapy has an effect on the cognitive flexibility and executive functioning of epilepsy patients, and the patients affected by cognitive behavioral therapy improve their cognitive flexibility and executive functions.
ُsamane Miresmaeelii, Ali Mohammad Mosadegh Rad, Ebrahim Jaafaripooyan,
Volume 22, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Accreditation as an external assessment model is considered a key program for evaluating health care organizations. The new health service accreditation system in Iran seems to lack the necessary standards for evaluating outpatient services and general clinics. The objective of this study was to design, based on the experiences of other countries, a model for accreditation of general clinics in Iran
Materials and Methods: This research was a qualitative review study conducted in two phases First, the methods and standards of accreditation of general clinics of selected countries were identified through a comparative review. In the second phase, the conceptual framework of the accreditation of these clinics was developed by an expert panel.
Results: The proposed framework for the accreditation of clinics starts with registering the application in the system and updating the information. After the clinic's self-evaluation and external evaluation, amendments will be made.
The key areas proposed for the accreditation of clinics included management and leadership, information management, process management, human resource management, salaries, and operational results. The country's clinics can be ranked in five levels, namely, excellent, good, average, poor, and substandard.
Conclusion: Considering the processes and areas determined in this study and the lack of a systematic approach, the proposed accreditation model could provide a scientific and practical method for the internal and external evaluating bodies to provide a relevant and valid evaluation of the general outpatient clinics in Iran.
Ronak Milady, Zahra Naghibifar, Mohammad Hossein Zamanian, Armin Naghipour, Arshia Sakhaei,
Volume 22, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Various viral infections are one of the risk factors of kidney transplant rejection in patients receiving this organ. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the frequency of viral infections in kidney transplant recipients in Iran.
Materials and Methods: This study was a systematic review. Keywords in the titles or abstracts of the articles published in Persian and English were searched in various databases during the period 2013-2023.
Results: A total of 2822 samples were examined, the largest and smallest sample sizes being 1615 and 50 patients, respectively. The highest viral infection frequencies were found in Gilan, Mashhad, Rasht and Ahvaz provinces with frequencies of 54 (52.9%), 54 (21.9%), 54 (49%) and 51 (41.8%), respectively. The frequencies of BK virus, cytomegalovirus and hepatitis C virus were the most common viral infections among the kidney transplant recipients.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study and higher prevalence of BK and CMV virus infections in kidney transplant recipients it is essential to screen organ donors for these viruses in the country.
Maryam Mahmoudi, Mina Hajimohammadi,
Volume 22, Issue 3 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Assessing dietary intake and nutritional status of dialysis patients can be challenging. Accurate and regular assessment of patients ensures adequate macronutrient and micronutrient intake, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality and improving patients' quality of life.
Materials and Methods: A scientific search was conducted in scientific databases and search engines such as PubMed, Google scholar, Science Direct, and Scopus with the keywords dialysis, peritoneal dialysis, end-stage renal disease, renal failure, chronic kidney disease, nutritional needs, and nutritional assessment in English to find studies published between 2014 and 2024. A total of 18 articles were found and reviewed based on the inclusion criteria.
Results: The goals of medical nutrition therapy for the management of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) include the following: preventing nutritional deficiency and maintaining appropriate nutritional status (in children, growth support) through adequate intake of protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals; controlling edema and electrolyte imbalance by controlling sodium, potassium, and fluid intake; preventing or delaying the progression of renal osteodystrophy by controlling calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone; enabling the patient to consume a balanced diet that is appropriate to the patient's lifestyle to the extent possible; coordinating patient care with family, dietitians, nurses, and physicians; providing initial nutrition education, periodic counseling, and long-term monitoring of patients with the aim of receiving adequate education to be able to control their diet.
Conclusion: Dialysis is a treatment for the survival of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and nutritional care is an integral part of the patient's treatment process.
Mohammad Bidkhori, Mahdi Akbarzadeh, Noushin Fahimfar, Bagher Larijani, Iraj Nabipour, Afshin Ostovar, Kourosh Holakouie-Naieni,
Volume 23, Issue 1 (6-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) is a novel tool for assessing bone microarchitecture and identifying individuals at risk for osteoporotic fractures. This study aimed to evaluate the association between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) of the SOST gene and TBS in Iranian postmenopausal women.
Materials and Methods: This study included 1/071 postmenopausal women from the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) Cohort study. Relationship between Seven independent SNPs in the SOST gene located on chromosome 17q21.31 were investigated with TBS L1–L4. Associations were tested using generalized linear models under additive, dominant, and recessive genetic models. A genetic score was also calculated by summing the weighted number of risk alleles based on the regression coefficients of the SNPs.
Results: After adjustment for age and Body Mass Index (BMI), SNP rs2023794-C showed a statistically significant association with TBS in the additive model (β = 0/ 03, P = 4/7×10⁻⁵, PFDR = 0/0003) and the dominant model (β = 0/033, P = 2/5×10⁻⁵, PFDR = 0/0003). Furthermore, higher genetic scores were positively associated with increased TBS values.
Conclusion: Our findings highlight the potential role of SOST gene variants and derived genetic score in predicting bone quality in postmenopausal women. These genes could aid in identifying individuals at higher risk of poor bone quality and in developing personalized osteoporosis prevention strategies.
Shahram Ranjdoost, Zahra Khandani, Mohammad Azimi, Morteza Golshani Gehraz,
Volume 23, Issue 1 (6-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The present study aims to qualitatively analyze the content of lower secondary school science textbooks in terms of the reflection of health education concepts and assumptions, with the goal of improving students’ comprehensive health development and quality of life through the prevention of social harms.
Materials and Methods: This study employed a qualitative and descriptive content analysis using a deductive approach. The units of analysis included pages (texts, questions, exercises, and illustrations). The statistical population consisted of all lower secondary school science textbooks used in the 2017–2018 academic year. Purposeful sampling was applied, and all three textbooks were selected for analysis. A content analysis checklist was used as the research instrument. To ensure validity, face validity, content validity, and expert opinions were applied, while reliability was confirmed using the retest technique, yielding a correlation coefficient of 0.89.
Results: A total of 698 instances of health education components were identified across the three textbooks. The most frequent component was “familiarity with body functions and organs” with 344 occurrences. In contrast, components such as “assertiveness and self-confidence”, “healthy communication with others”, “empathy and compassion”, “awareness of diseases such as AIDS”, “drug abuse”, and “consultation in life” were entirely absent from the analyzed content.
Conclusion: The findings indicated that health education components are distributed unevenly across the science textbooks of lower secondary education. Some components were underrepresented or completely missing. Therefore, educational policymakers and textbook authors should pay greater attention to the balanced and comprehensive inclusion of health education elements in lower secondary science curricula.
Mehdi Ahmadi, Farzad Amiri, Zahra Naghibifar, Mohammad Mehdi Mansouri, Armin Naghipour,
Volume 23, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Excessive use of antibiotics increases bacterial drug resistance in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Therefore, the use of natural compounds as supplements may be effective in managing diabetic wound infections alongside conventional drugs. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Sarizh ointment (containing natural ingredients) on the healing of infected diabetic foot ulcers.
Materials and Methods: This single-center randomized clinical trial was conducted on patients with diabetic foot ulcers hospitalized in the infectious disease department of Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah. Microbial cultures were obtained from the foot ulcers of all patients using the punch method. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: control and intervention. The control group received systemic antibiotics and a placebo dressing, while the intervention group received systemic antibiotics in addition to Sarizh herbal compounds as a supplement.
Results: A total of 30 patients with a mean age of 58.93 ± 6.15 years were included. The duration of hospitalization was 17.40 ± 3.06 days in the control group and 16.87 ± 3.52 days in the intervention group. The healing time was 17.34 ± 2.87 days in the control group and 12.06 ± 2.40 days in the intervention group. Sarizh ointment significantly reduced the healing time of diabetic foot ulcers (p = 0.001). Post-discharge bacterial cultures were negative, and complications such as redness, discharge, and pain at the wound site were similar between the two groups.
Conclusion: Sarizh ointment can be used as a complementary treatment alongside standard therapy to reduce healing time and promote wound recovery in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.
