Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology
Volume:3 Issue: 4, Autumn 2014

Pistachio is a plant that has long been cultivated in different parts of Iran. Pistachios are very nutritious and contain vitamins E and B, flavonoids, antioxidants, and carotenoids. Since the pistachio is effective in the treatment of some neurological disorders and is indigenous to Iran and considering the substantial use of this nut, it is necessary to investigate its effects on cognitive functions of the brain. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of the pistachio on avoidance learning in rats.
In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats (200-250 g body weight and 2-3 months of age) were divided into 4 groups. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) 2.5% (vehicle) and hydroalcoholic extract of the pistachio (10, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day) were administered by gavage for 14 days. Avoidance learning test was performed using the shuttle box.
The results of this study indicated a significant increase in the latency to enter the dark room in the groups receiving different doses of pistachio extract compared to vehicle treated group. Moreover, in the treated groups, time spent in the dark room was decreased compared to the vehicle group. The comparison of different doses of pistachio extract demonstrated that 100 mg/kg was more effective than 10 and 50 mg/kg of the extract.
The results of this study indicated that treatment of rats with pistachio extract, which is rich in vitamins, flavonoids, and antioxidant compounds, can improve learning and memory.

Plasterers are at risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to the nature of their occupation and ergonomic factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical risk factors for MSDs among plasterers.
In this descriptive study, 70 plasterers from Neyshabur, Iran, were studied in 2014. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used to determine the prevalence of MSDs and the ergonomic posture of plasterers was assessed based on the Ovako Working Posture Assessment System (OWAS). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software.
According to the results of the present study, 61.7% of plasterers had experienced back pain in the past 12 months and 44.1% of individuals in the last 7 days. In addition, in the last 12 months, 58.6% of individuals had experienced pain in the knee and 44.3% had experienced pain in the neck. Postural evaluation results showed that 55.8% of working postures need to be improved. Moreover, 6.1% of these postures have a very high level of risk, and plasterers are not authorized to work in these circumstances. Of these postures, 23% should be corrected immediately and as soon as possible and 26.7% should be corrected in the near future.
Results indicate that the majority of plasterers suffered from MSDs especially in the upper body and upper limbs. Thus, further studies are necessary to improve plasterers’ ergonomic statues.

The quality of clinical services is one of the main concerns around the world. Clinical governance as a new approach to improving the quality of care provided by the health care system plays a major role in the provision of higher quality health care services. The success of this approach depends on the existence of a strong and suitable organizational culture. The aim of this study was modeling the relationship between organizational culture, clinical governance, and organizational performance.
The purpose of this study is practical and its data collection is descriptive, but as a result it is an empirical study. This study was a correlative study based on structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population of this study consisted of all managers, supervisors, educational and clinical supervisors, and nurses of Tamin Ejtemaee (social security) hospitals in Mazandaran Province, Iran. Due to the limitation of the study, all individuals in the target population were selected as the study subjects. Thus, 124 questionnaires were distributed among them, and, 113 questionnaires were received. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and LISREL software. For data analysis, the Pearson correlation coefficient test and confirmatory factor analysis were used for precise measurement of the model.
The results show that there is a significant and positive relationship between the components (P With the improvement of organizational culture, the establishment of clinical governance will increase and it will achieve optimal performance by continuation and localization.

Hospitalization in the coronary care unit (CCU) is a concern for patients and their companions. Different studies have presented conflicting results about the effect of visitors on physiological parameters of patients. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in physiological parameters (systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate) due to presence of visitors at the bedside of patients admitted to CCU at Ali-ibn Abi Talib Hospital of Rafsanjan, Iran.
This was a cross-sectional study carried out on 281 patients hospitalized in the CCU. Patients’ systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were obtained using a heart monitoring device 2 hours before, during, immediately, and 2 hours after the visit and were recorded in checklists by nurses. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA.
Mean and standard deviation of patients’ age was 62.96 ± 12.16 years (ranged between 29-93 years). Mean changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate of patients in studied time periods was statistically significant (P 0.050). Average diastolic blood pressure in patients older than 70 years was less than other age groups and average heart rate in patients older than 60 years was higher than younger patients (P The average of physiological parameters increased during visits, but decreased to primary levels 2 hours after visits. These changes were not considered clinically important.

Soil pollution and accumulation of heavy metals in crops in industrial areas is one of the most important environmental issues threatening the life of plants, animals, and humans. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of Cr and Cd in the soil and barberry plants in farms surrounding the Qayen Cement Company, South Khorasan Province, Iran.
In this study, 8 soil samples were collected from a depth of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm and 4 samples of barberry plant containing fruits and leaves in summer 2014. The concentrations of Cr and Cd in the samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry.
The maximum concentration of Cr and Cd was observed in the soil sample collected from a depth of 0-30 cm (95.10 and 1.32 mg/kg of soil, respectively). The concentration of Cr and Cd was higher in the fruits of barberry than the leaves; 18.58 mg/kg and 59.45 µg/kg, respectively, which are higher than the standard values. Transfer factor was calculated as less than 1 for all stations.
According to obtained results, Qayen Cement Company has the greatest impact on plants in this region. The barberry fruit is the strategic product in Qayen; therefore, attention to and management of the impact of the cement factory on agricultural products is necessary.

One of the important aspects of the epidemiologic study of suicide and its related behaviors is the identification of suicide methods. This study aimed to investigate the geographical epidemiology of suicide and suicide attempts in Fars Province located in Southwestern Iran during the years 2010-2013.
The present study was conducted on 17,342 suicide and suicide attempt cases in Fars Province. To collect the data, the monthly suicide prevention program checklist was used. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software, R software, and ArcGIS software. Using Bayesian hierarchical models, the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were prepared and calculated according to the common suicide and suicide attempt methods.
On average, the suicide rate in Fars Province was 3.85 in one hundred thousand people per year. The geographic pattern of suicide in the mentioned province showed that the highest rates of hanging were reported in the cities of Firuzabad, Farashband, and Larestan, Iran, and the highest rates of self-immolation were reported in cities of Mamasani, Shiraz, and Firuzabad, Iran.
Despite the low rate of suicide in the cities of Fars Province, the rate of suicide-related behaviors, including suicide attempt and suicide by violent and deadly methods, was high in some areas of the province. Therefore, restricting access to lethal means and methods of suicide and planning to identify areas with high risk for suicide in the province is necessary.

Ototoxic chemicals can impair the sense of hearing and balance. In the past decades, the ototoxicity of solvents and their interaction with noise have become evident. This study has been carried out in the shoe manufacturing factory in Tehran (Iran) with the aim of evaluating the combined effects of noise and toluene on the worker's hearing.
This cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted on 64 workers selected through census. The participants were assigned to 3 groups according to their exposure to noise and toluene. Group 1 consisted of 33 workers who were exposed to noise, group 2 of 5 exposed to toluene, and group 3 of 26 exposed to noise and toluene. Toluene concentrations were measured in the worker's breathing zone as well as A-weighted sound pressure level (SPL), overall noise level (LpA) and equivalent continuous A-weighted SPL over 30 minutes, and the equivalent noise level A (LeqA) in the head position of workers. Then, the noise level was calculated and hearing thresholds were measured in 500-4000 Hz frequency range. The amounts of air and bone hearing loss were also calculated.
The results indicated that the relationship between hearing loss caused by noise (group 1) and noise and toluene (group 3) were statistically significant (P The results of the study suggest that authorities should pay greater attention to agents such as noise which affect the hearing loss and health of employees, especially with respect to sensitivity of hearing system disorders. Moreover, individual characteristics should also be considered in employing future personnel.

Health is an important pillar of human life and the pistachio is among the nuts which have an impact on human health. The aim of this study was to review the effects of pistachios on human health.
This was a review study. Data were collected from PubMed and from among articles published from the year 2005 to 15 July 2015 using the keyword pistachio in combination with cholesterol, cardiovascular, health, consumption, diabetes, serum lipid levels, glucose, and metabolic syndrome.
Of the total of 194 articles searched, 19 articles were included in the study. The consumption of pistachio, due to its minerals, vitamins, proteins, and antioxidants, improved health and had a positive impact on health outcomes, such as fat, blood sugar, and weight control. It also helped in the promotion of a healthy heart and recovery of high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), metabolic syndrome, and pre-diabetes.
Pistachio, due to its nutrients, has positive impact on human body health, including the cardiovascular system, blood lipids, and blood pressure. Moreover, because of its unsaturated fats, it also affects the lipoproteins and reduces cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes, and helps in the management of weight and metabolic syndrome. It can also help in the recovery of patients with pre-diabetes through changes in their harmful metabolism. Pistachios are recommended as part of a healthy diet for the human health and prevention of chronic non-infectious diseases.