manzume shamsi meymandi

One of the deadliest diseases in the world, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the ongoing global pandemic known as COVID-19. COVID-19 symptoms range from undetectable to deadly, hyper-inflammatory response and the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines or hypercytokinemia are key factors in the pathophysiology of severe COVID-19. However, no specific and effective treatment was available, anti-inflammatory drugs have been vastly used for treating patients. The goal of this narrative literature review (2020–2022) was to elucidate the connection between anti-inflammatory medications and COVID-19 outcomes, such as safety and survival rate. Overall, these studies are consistent in presenting that anti-inflammatory drug can be advised to target the host immune response in patients and have been beneficial in reducing the mortality rate. This is revealed in current recommendations from prominent global public health authorities, which support anti-inflammatory drug use for a decrease of cytokine storm during COVID-19.

Several research skills training courses are designed for both faculty members and students in educational and research institutions around the world.

The current study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a short-term research skills training course for faculty members of Kerman University of Medical Sciences.

The current scholarship study was conducted in three stages, in 2017. The first stage comprised of a comparative study needs assessment, and course design. The training course was conducted with the participation of 30 faculty members and the teaching of 10 experienced professors. Participants were evaluated through practical work and homework. Instructors were evaluated by participants using survey forms. The course was evaluated through interviews with several participants and professors.

After eight months of research and holding 16 sessions (which each took between 2 to 4 hours), a course with three main modules was designed in 2017. Instructors used appropriate teaching methods, including interaction with participants, problem-solving, discussing, teamwork, and practicing at home. According to the results of the evaluation, the content of the course was appropriate for the research activities of participants. Besides, they believed that the instructors were among the strengths of the course.

Certainly, increasing research skills of faculty members will lead to better guidance of assistants and qualitative improvement of research conducted by students

According to the fact that university students are role models for the whole society, this study was performed to evaluate reasons of and attitudes toward cigarette smoking among Iranian university students. This study was performed as a cross-sectional self-reported questionnaire based study among university students of Kerman city of Iran. Our questionnaire was attributed to 1750 university students who were selected randomly. Current smoking was defined as using cigarette within the last 30 days. Participants’ demographic data in addition to their reasons for and attitudes toward smoking were obtained. Frequency, distribution and factor analysis of attitude items followed by a varimax rotation was used to evaluate the attitudinal statements. From 1750 university students, who filled our questionnaire, 31% were ever smokers (51% males and 15% females) and 11% were current smokers (21.5% males and 2% females). Avoiding depression and taking pleasure were the reasons mentioned as important reasons the most frequently. Besides, the most frequently attitudinal statements were as follows:” My parents upset knowing my habit” and “Cigarette causes disease”. Furthermore, the mean score of encouraging attitudes was significantly higher among males, current smokers and those with a tendency toward cigarette smoking. This study confirmed that addressing attitudes toward smoking while developing preventive strategies against it among university students is an obvious necessity.