Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:21 Issue: 1, Jan 2019

Mental fatigue is a very common problem in everyday modern life, during which, individual performance decreases for complex cognitive activities. This study aimed to determine the level of mental fatigue and its relationship with mental workload among nurses. In this descriptive analytical cross-sectional study, 203 nurses were selected from several hospital wards in Kermanshah, Iran. A demographic form, Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS) and NASA-TLX were used to obtain data. The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient, analysis of variance and independent t-test. The mean (SD) scores for the participants’ mental fatigue and mental workload were 13.24 (7.41) and 69.73 (15.26), respectively. Data analysis did not show any significant relationship between mental fatigue and mental workload (P = 0.120). Generally, most of the nurses perceived having minor problems to no problems with respect to mental fatigue, and workload was not found as a contributing factor to mental fatigue.

Hip abduction is considered an effective exercise to strengthen the gluteus medius muscle due to its performance simplicity and proper muscle involvement. The present parametric study aimed at the assessment of the hip abductor muscle activity in two different modes of exercise, two muscular strength conditions (normal and weak) and three weight loads (0, 2.5, and 5 kg). A comprehensive musculoskeletal model (AnyBody, version 5.3.1) was used to calculate the activities of the gluteus medius muscle based on the optimized inverse dynamics approach. The model performed side-lying and upright standing hip abduction exercise in an iso-kinetic mode. The side-lying exercise required 40% activation of the muscle in the no-weight normal case while the standing exercise needed lower than 20% in the same condition. The addition of extra weights to the abducting leg caused a considerable increase in the muscle recruitment and the muscle weakness induced greater endeavor of the gluteus medius. The rehabilitation of the weak hip abductor muscles may start with standing no-weight cases and continue by adding extra weights. The side-lying exercise may extremely involve the muscle, specifically in weaker individuals.

Women with infertility problem experiences high emotional pressure such as stress, anxiety, and depression. The health locus of control seems to have an important impact on health-related problems. The purpose of this study was to predict infertility stress based on health locus of control (internal, powerful others, and chance) among a group of women with fertility problem in Shiraz. One hundred and twenty women with fertile problems were recruited from infertility clinics in Shiraz using purposeful sampling. Participants completed the research measures, including Fertility Problem Inventory and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. Regression analysis indicated that the component of chance locus of control (P < 0.01) and illness duration (P < 0.01) significantly predicted infertility stress in women with fertility problem. The participants who attributed their infertility to chance or fate experienced less fertility stress. Furthermore, those who had a longer duration of fertility problem were more likely to experience infertility stress. The two other components of locus of control, including internal health locus of control and powerful others health locus of control, did not predict infertility stress. This study highlights the importance of perceiving control on the psychological well-being of women with infertility problem.

One of the beverages improving athletic performance is beetroot juice. The aim of the present study was to investigate if six weeks of beetroot juice ingestion can increase VO2max and improve the performance of female soccer players. 20 female soccer players (age: 23.13 ± 0.77 years) were selected and assigned into two groups: experimental (beetroot juice, n = 10) and control (placebo, n = 10). The Bruce test was first done to assess VO2max without drinking beetroot juice. Then, the experimental group started consuming 200 mL of the juice two hours before each training session for six weeks. Finally, the second Bruce test was performed after six weeks of beetroot juice ingestion. There was a significant increase in VO2max in the experimental and control groups from pretest to posttest (P < 0.001). In addition, the results of independent samples t-test showed there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in VO2max (P < 0.001, t = 12.39). The present study provides evidence that beetroot juice positively affects performance and increases the maximum volume of oxygen consumption in female soccer players. Therefore, we can propose this juice to female soccer players to improve their performance.

The close physiological and biochemical relationships between insulin/thyroid hormones and intermediary metabolism, as well as hepatic homeostasis, are well documented. Apart from significant changes in thyroid hormones levels and altered insulin secretion or resistance, there is no consistency regarding the presence of hepatic storage diseases and fatty liver in hypothyroid patients. The main objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of experimental hypothyroidism on insulin level and histological alterations in the liver such as changes in lipid and glycogen reservoirs. In this study, 20 adult male Wistar rats were assigned to two similar groups including control and hypothyroid. Experimental hypothyroidism was induced by 0.02% propylthiouracil (PTU) administered to rats via drinking water for two months. The rates were then killed and blood samples were assayed for TSH, T4, T3, insulin hormones, and lipid profile. The left lobes of rats’ livers were also used for the histological study. Our results indicated that the two-month administration of 0.02% PTU induced mild hypothyroidism associated with about a 50% reduction in the insulin level. The examination of liver samples showed that there were no significant changes in the overall architecture of liver tissue as compared to normal controls; that is, hepatocytes morphology, appearance, and position of the core, as well as glycogen content, were the same. The main finding of the current work was that in the hypothyroid group, the mild steatosis was accompanied by dyslipidemia. Based on our findings, a two-month administration of 0.02% PTU induces mild hypothyroidism in rates associated with a 50% decrease in the insulin level and mild steatosis in liver hepatocytes. This condition in long period may predispose hypothyroid individuals to develop diabetes mellitus and fatty liver simultaneously.

Oral focal mucinosis (OFM) is an uncommon soft tissue lesion of unknown etiology. It is presented as a harmless swelling that can be sessile or pedunculated. Histologically, OFM is characterized by focal myxoid degeneration of the connective tissue. The diagnosis of the lesion is established based on the histopathological analysis. OFM is treated with surgical excision and its recurrence is unreported. In the present case report, a 53-year-old female presented with a lesion on the gingiva around the dental area of 44 and 45 that was clinically similar to irritation fibroma. An excisional biopsy was performed and the diagnosis was OFM based on the clinical and pathological findings. This case report emphasizes that it is nearly impossible to predict the detection of OFM. Therefore, although OFM is a rare lesion, it should be distinguished from other similar soft tissue lesions in the oral cavity.