navid jamalzadeh

 The aim of the study was to determine the anatomical variations of the sphenoid sinus and its adjacent critical structures using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). 

 This cross-sectional study was conducted on CBCT scans of 67 females and 84 males between 18 to 67 years. Presence/absence of intersphenoid septa, sphenoid sinus pneumatization and its type (conchal, presellar, sellar, and postsellar a and b), protrusion of the optic canal and carotid canal into the sphenoid sinus, optic canal and carotid canal dehiscence, and Anterior Clinoid Process (ACP) pneumatization was evaluated on CBCT scans, and their prevalence and correlation were calculated. Data were analyzed by the Chi-square test (alpha=0.05).   

 The prevalence of intersphenoid septa was 98.68%. Postsellar type a was the most common type of sphenoid sinus pneumatization with a prevalence of 41.3%. The prevalence of conchal, presellar, sellar and postsellar b types was 0, 11, 30, and 17.7%, respectively. The prevalence of optic canal and carotid canal protrusion into the sphenoid sinus was 50 and 52.7%, respectively. The prevalence of optic canal and carotid canal dehiscence was 48.3 and 40.3%, respectively. The prevalence of ACP pneumatization was 45%. Optic canal and carotid canal protrusion had a significant correlation with ACP pneumatization (p<0.001). Also, carotid canal and optic canal protrusion and dehiscence were significantly correlated with degree of sphenoid sinus pneumatization (p<0.001). 

 Sphenoid sinus pneumatization significantly increases the likelihood of carotid canal, optic canal protrusion into the sphenoid sinus and their dehiscence, therefore, a preoperative 3D imaging is strongly recommended prior to trans-sphenoidal surgical procedures.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the mode of education, causing universities to shift from face-to-face to online delivery mode for offering various courses and programs. Thus, it is essential to focus on the curriculum content to tackle the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and provide methods to effectively educate nursing students in nursing practice.

This study aimed to determine the clinical effectiveness of virtual nursing process (NP) education in undergraduate nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This educational evaluation study with a quasi-experimental longitudinal design was applied in four educational steps over six months for first-year undergraduate nursing students (n = 30) using Iran's national learning virtual environment.

The paired t-test results showed a significant difference in the mean and overall scores of nursing diagnosis and nursing outcomes/goals before and after the virtual intervention (P < 0.001). Six months after virtual education, the students registered for the ‘clinical nursing process (CNP) unit in the third semester. In the final step of the study, the overall mean score of the students' nursing care plan was 16.59 ± 2.31, which was higher than the mean score, meaning virtual NP education was effective in a clinical setting.

Virtual mode of teaching can be effective for theoretical and CNP education.