Jundishapur Journal of Health Sciences
Volume:12 Issue: 3, Jul 2020

Cold-Fiber Solid-Phase Microextraction (CF-SPME) is often used for the extraction of volatile and semi-volatile compounds from complex matrices. Multivariate statistical optimization techniques can save time and chemicals and thus decrease the analytical cost in comparison with the Single Variable Approach (SVA). Over the past few decades, different beneficial mathematical tools have been developed for the optimization of separation processes.

In this study, the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) applications were compared for CF-SPME optimization to determine 2, 5-hexandion in urine samples. 2, 5-Hexanedione is a colorless liquid and the main metabolite of n-hexane as a result of occupational exposure.

N-hexane is widely used in the rubber industry, food processing, solvents, and medicinal drugs and has adverse effects such as neurotoxicity on humans. Thus, biological monitoring, analytic methods, and mathematical and statistical techniques concerning 2.5-HD are very important. The RSM and ANN are mathematical and statistical techniques applied for the optimization and process modeling. Designing an experiment based on the Historical Data Design (HDD) of RSM was adopted to evaluate the relationship between independent parameters such as extraction temperature, extraction time, sample volume, and extraction efficiency of 2, 5-hexandion.

The models were compared for their predictive ability by the coefficient of determination (R2) and Root Mean Square Error (RSME) based on the train and test dataset.

The results were highly significant (P < 0.05) for the optimization of variables. The ANN model had more generalizability than the RSM model. Also, the ANN had higher predictive accuracy.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide. The study of bacterial uropathogens in a local area and their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents is required to determine empirical therapy.

This study aimed to assess the profile and antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria, causing urinary infections isolated from female patients in Duhok province, Iraq.

A total of 530 urine samples were collected from females clinically suspected of UTIs over three years between January 2017 and February 2020. The samples were inoculated directly on MacConkey and Blood agar media and then incubated aerobically for 24 h at 37°C. Samples that gave up colony counts of ≥ 105 CFU/mL were considered as positive growth. Purified colonies were identified through standard bacteriological tests, and their susceptibility to different antibiotics was determined using the Vitek-2 system.

Out of 530 urine samples, 450 (84.9%) contained Gram-negative bacteria, while the other 80 (15.1%) harbored Gram-positive bacteria. Escherichia coli was the most common uropathogenic isolate (58.5%), followed by K. pneumoniae (14.3%), Staphylococcus spp. (8.9%), P. mirabilis (6.6%), E. faecalis (3.2%), and S. agalactiae (3.02%). The majority of Gram-negative uropathogens were resistant to ampicillin, aztreonam, ceftriaxone, and cefepime and around 95% were sensitive to ertapenem and imipenem. Most Gram-positive isolates showed high resistance to benzylpenicillin, oxacillin, gentamicin, and erythromycin, and high susceptibility to linezolid, tigecycline, and nitrofurantoin.

It was concluded from this study that E. coli is the predominant pathogen causing UTIs in female patients in Duhok province, Iraq. There were increasing antibiotic resistance rates, particularly to ampicillin, aztreonam, ceftriaxone, benzylpenicillin, and erythromycin. Therefore, empirical antibiotic therapy should be based on local sensitivity patterns rather than international guidelines.

Manual load lifting is one of the most important risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders, including occupational low back pain. These disorders are common in women workers who perform manual load lifting and displacement tasks at the workplace.

To determine the level of musculoskeletal disorders and to evaluate the recommended limits of manual load lifting in women workers using WISHA checklist and ACGIH TLV, the recommended limits of Iran, and compare the results of two methods.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 women workers who performed manual loading tasks in 2018. Nordic questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, and two methods, WISHA checklist and ACGIH TLV, were used to determine the recommended allowable limits for manual load lifting.

The results of the prevalence assessment of musculoskeletal disorders showed that most of the musculoskeletal disorders were in the low back (55%) in the past 12 months. The results of the assessment of the allowable lifting limits also showed that 8% of women in the WISHA checklist method and 31% in the ACGIH TLV method were at risk for low back injuries. The kappa coefficient test (0.031) also showed that there is a poor and insignificant agreement between the two methods of WISHA checklist and ACGIH TLV in determining the allowable limits for manual lifting.

The results of this study showed a poor agreement between the WISHA checklist and ACGIH TLV in determining the allowable limits for manual lifting, which suggest that the two methods are not mutually exclusive. Hence, owing to the increasing presence of women in various occupations and raising the hand load-lifting and, naturally increasing occupational low back pain among them, it is necessary that in a comprehensive study, the allowable limits of lifting loads according to anthropometric and physiological characteristics of Iranian women, prepare and compile according to a comprehensive instruction.

Hospitals are multi-specialist social security organizations that account for a significant portion of the health system’s budget. Given the economic conditions and the importance of hospitals in the field of social health, it seems important and necessary to pay attention to financial performance and compare them with each other.

The purpose of this study was to provide a model for evaluating the performance and financial ranking of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences’ Hospitals during 2018.

This cross-sectional study was conducted at Ahvaz hospitals. Twenty-two hospitals were chosen according to random stratified sampling. First, the financial performance indicators of hospital performance evaluations are identified using the previous study method. Then, the financial performance evaluation indicators of hospitals are finalized by interviews with managers and experts of Ahvaz Medical Sciences’ Hospitals. To rank the hospitals, a cross-performance approach was used. Cross-performance is an acceptable approach in data envelopment analysis that provides a complete ranking of decision-making units (DMUs). In addition, a new secondary goal is presented in cross-performance. In this paper, an algorithm based on cross-performance is presented, and we will provide a model for ranking hospitals. Data were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and t-student and ANOVA tests.

The results show that although the traditional data envelopment analysis model is not able to rank uniquely from hospitals, the introduced pattern offers a unique ranking of hospitals. According to the results of this study, Imam Khomeini Hospital of Ramhormoz has the first rank, and Baqaei Hospital has the rank (22nd) in this ranking.

The findings of this study represent the Hospital of financial position at the other hospitals and can be used in the hospital with good rankings in the service level of self-awareness as a template.

 Hemiscorpius lepturus is the most critical scorpion in Khuzestan, Iran, responsible for the majority of deaths caused by scorpion stings.

 This prospective randomized experimental study was performed from June to August 2019 to investigate the effects of various venom fractions on the hemostatic system.

 Lyophilized venom of H. lepturus was separated into six fractions by Sephadex G-50 gel chromatography. A total of 96 Albino male rats were treated in eight equal groups; Control: 0.5 ml normal saline (IP); Whole venom group: H. lepturus Lyophilized venom, one mg/kg, IP; F1-F6 groups: Isolated venom fraction 1-6, 0.12 mg/kg, 0.43 mg/kg, 0.08 mg/kg, 0.18 mg/kg, 0.06 mg/kg and 0.13 mg/kg, IP, respectively. Blood sampling was performed at 1, 3, and 24 hours after injection.

 Plasma fibrinogen was significantly elevated in the whole venom group, while it was significantly decreased in F3, F5, and F6 groups compared to the control group. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) assessment revealed that there was a significant prolongation of both tests in whole venom and fraction 5 and 6 receiving groups while fraction 2 only caused a significant PT extension, compared to the control group. Conversely, fraction 3 and 4 resulted in PT and APTT in comparison to the control group. The concentration of FDP and D-dimer was significantly increased in whole venom and F2 group compared to the control group at all sampling times.

 It seems that H. lepturus venom has both procoagulant and anticoagulant properties which are distinct characteristics of it. Further purification and sequencing of the amino acids in the fraction of peptides can lead to a more precise identification of the mechanisms of venom-induced coagulopathies.

 Having enough ability to perform delegated tasks has a crucial role in preventing job-related accidents and medical errors. Excessive workload, particularly multitasking, causes increased physical stress and job dissatisfaction. Pre-hospital emergency technicians play a crucial role in saving patients' lives, therefore assessing their mental workload and job satisfaction is highly important.

 The current study aimed to investigate the mental workload of pre-hospital emergency technicians working in hospitals in the city of Ahvaz and its association with job satisfaction.

 In this study, 252 pre-hospital emergency technicians were studied. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) was used to assess the mental workload. The Job Descriptive Index (JDI) questionnaire was used to collect information regarding job satisfaction. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA and chi-square tests. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 22.0.

 Participants had a moderate level of workload (mean score: 5296). The highest and lowest scores were related to mental demand (69.96 ± 19) and physical demand (32.35 ± 14.3), respectively. Also, participants had a moderate level of job satisfaction, and there was a significant association between job satisfaction and mental demand and frustration (P < 0.05).

 This study demonstrated an association between job satisfaction and mental demand and frustration in pre-hospital emergency technicians. Therefore, developing appropriate strategies is necessary.