Shiraz Emedical Journal
Volume:22 Issue: 5, May 2021

Context: 

There are three families and 66 species of scorpions in Iran, some of these species are medically relevant, and their sting cause public health problems. Thus, producing of the new geographical distribution of scorpions and the new species is very important. The goal of this study was to produce the distribution maps of Iranian scorpions that are medically important according to the latest information.

Evidence Acquisition: 

This present study included a review of all the articles related to Iranian scorpions published in ISI, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases during 2008 - 2019, using the relevant MeSH keywords. The data were entered in an Excel file, and spatial distribution maps were prepared.

 From the review of the related published documents, we found that there are 66 scorpion species in Iran, some scorpion names have been changed and new scorpion species have been added to Iranian scorpion fauna and the spatial distribution of some species has become wider.

 Considering the new distribution maps and data on Iranian scorpions, for scorpion envenomation treatment and control programs, these variations should be regarded.

 Probiotic bacteria are one of the useful dietary supplements for human health. The main reason for selecting probiotics is the lack of prolonged side effects.

 This study aimed to isolate lactobacilli from traditional yogurt and cheese samples collected in Neyshabur city, Khorasan Razavi, Iran, and to characterize them using specific biochemical and molecular assays.

 The probiotic potency of bacteria was tested by resistance to acid, bile, NaCl, and organic acid production. Moreover, the antagonistic effects of the isolates were investigated against enteric pathogenic bacteria using the well diffusion method. Bacteriocin production was also investigated using the microtiter plate assay.

 Four Lactobacillus spp. with > 99% homology to L. reuteri, L. plantarum, and L. acidophilus, were isolated with probiotic potency. The quantitative measurements used in the study with the statistical analysis resulted in the interpretation of good effects against Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. Our isolates exhibited bile salt hydrolase activity, excellent NaCl and acid tolerance (pH = 3), and bacteriocin production.

 Our results showed that Lactobacillus strains isolated from Neyshabur traditional cheese could be considered good potential probiotic strains and had more antagonistic activity against human pathogens when compared to other samples. Their antibacterial activity was associated with both bacteriocin and organic acids production, but they should be further investigated for their human health benefits.

 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can lead to psychological distress among clinicians and medical students due to the possibility of disease transmission and closure of educational centers.

 This study aimed to investigate the extent of psychological distress and coping strategies among clinicians and medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Rasht, Iran.

 Using the Kessler Psychological Distress scale (K10), this cross-sectional analytical study evaluated psychological distress and coping strategies among 109 clinicians and medical students working in Razi Hospital of Rasht, Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. The K10 scale has 10 items with a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 5 (always); the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated as 0.771. Also, to examine the coping strategies, a 10-item researcher-made checklist was used (CVI = 0.79; CVR = 0.82). The questionnaires were distributed by e-mail from May to June, 2020. After entering the data into SPSS software (version 20), the data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests.

 The mean age of the responders was 36.14 years (SD = 10.68). The mean K10 total scores was 12.94 (SD = 7.64). There was a significant negative correlation between age and K10 total scores (r = -0.397, P < 0.001). Single participants had a higher K10 total score compared with married ones (P = 0.003). Furthermore, interns had a higher K10 total score compared with residents (P = 0.012) and faculty members (P < 0.001).

 Since interns are at a higher risk of psychological distress due to less work experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, continuous monitoring of psychological distress and teaching coping strategies in crisis situations should be included in the training curriculum and educational courses of this group.

 Because of the high prevalence and serious complications of malnutrition in children, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of malnutrition in children with food and nutrition insecurity in Fars Province, Iran.

 In this case-control study, all 6 - 60-month-old children living in Fars Province in 2015 and their weight for age cures were below the third percentile, were included as the malnourished group (case group). Also, 1000 sex- and age-matched children without any growth retardations were selected as the well-nourished group (control group). The children’s food and nutrition insecurity was evaluated using a questionnaire consisting of the child's feeding, household sanitation status, and food security, besides maternal knowledge and practice about child nutrition. Finally, the food insecurity status of the two groups was compared.

 Based on the findings, 943 (47.1%) children lived in food-insecure households, with a higher percentage of malnourished children than well-nourished ones (57.8% vs. 36.5%; P < 0.001). The probability of malnutrition in the children with full time working fathers was half of those with unemployed fathers (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.38 - 0.83). Malnutrition in children was significantly associated with their birth weight (P < 0.001), maternal body mass index (P < 0.001), maternal knowledge and practice about child feeding (P < 0.001 for both), and having sanitary latrines at home as an indicator of household sanitary status (P < 0.001).

 Malnutrition in children had significant associations with many aspects of food and nutrition insecurity. To decrease the prevalence of malnutrition, health systems, and other organizations should design policies to improve food insecurity, especially those focusing on family education and nutritional support for low socioeconomic families.
 

 Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is still a common complication that occurs frequently at the time of recovery from eye surgery.

 The present study aimed to compare the effect of oral Ondansetron and Ginger on the frequency and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing eye surgery.

 A total of 148 patients were randomly assigned to Ginger, Ondansetron, and placebo groups. Group A received a Ginger capsule (1,000 mg), group B Ondansetron capsule (16 mg), and group C placebo capsule with 30 ml water, one hour before surgery. The frequency of nausea and vomiting and the severity of nausea were recorded immediately after recovery, 1, 2, and 4 hours after recovery. Also, some side effects following prescription such as headache, stomach ache, dizziness, and cardiac arrhythmias were recorded.

 Of the 148 participants, 54% were men, and 46% were women. The average age was in group Ginger (36.14 ± 2.17), group Ondansetron (36.24 ± 2.49), and group placebo (36.24 ± 2.20). There was no significant difference in the frequency of vomiting between the three groups immediately after recovery (P = 0.19) and 4 hours after surgery (P = 0.18). However, the frequency of vomiting in Ginger and Ondansetron groups 1 and 2 hours after the surgery was significantly lower than that in the control group (P = 0.003). No significant difference was observed in the severity of nausea between the three groups at certain times (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of the need for injection antiemetic drugs after surgery (P = 0.2).

 Ginger and Ondansetron can reduce the frequency of vomiting. However, Ginger was more effective, safer, and less expensive than Ondansetron; therefore, it may be a better substitute for Ondansetron to prevent PONV.

 Although seasonal influenza vaccination decreases infection rate and associated complications, its coverage rate is suboptimal in healthcare workers worldwide.

 The present study aimed at assessing the predictors of influenza vaccination and reasons for accepting or refusing it among nursing staff.

 The present study was conducted from February to March 2019 on nurses of three teaching hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in the Southeast of Iran. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire, including demographic data, knowledge, and attitude toward influenza and its vaccine, and reasons for accepting or refusing the vaccine. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 22. Independent samples t- and the chi-squared tests and the binary logistic regression were employed for data analysis.

 The influenza vaccination coverage rate was 10.1% among the nursing staff. Male gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) =2.13 - 10.64), receiving a recommendation for influenza vaccination in hospital (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.06 - 3.26), influenza vaccination of the family members (AOR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.55 - 4.41), and a higher score of attitude toward influenza vaccination (AOR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03 - 1.07) increased the likelihood of influenza vaccination in the nursing staff. Fear of vaccine adverse effects (64.7%), lack of trust in vaccine manufacturers (36.0%), and being healthy (29.7%) were the most common reasons for refusing vaccination. Likewise, self-protection (79.6%), patient protection (73.0%), and family protection (72.4%) were the most common reasons for undergoing vaccination. The odds of influenza vaccine uptake was four times more among males than females (AOR = 4.77, 95% CI = 2.13 - 10.64), and odds of influenza vaccination was 1.86 times more among nursing staff receiving recommendations for influenza vaccination in hospital than the ones not receiving such recommendations (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.06 - 3.26). Also, odds of influenza vaccination increased 2.73 times in nursing staff whose family members received influenza vaccine (AOR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.55 - 4.41). Furthermore, the model showed that one unit increase in the attitude score increased odds of influenza vaccination by 1.05 units (AOR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03 - 1.07).

 The influenza vaccination rate was suboptimal among the nursing staff. Also, there were poor knowledge and improper attitude toward influenza and its vaccine among healthcare workers. Therefore, appropriate policies should be made at national and regional levels on increasing the rate of influenza vaccination.
 

Geographic tongue (GT) is one of the benign inflammatory oral diseases with unknown etiology.

The present study aimed to find the correlation between temperament (mizaj) and GT lesions in the context of Persian medicine and conventional approach.

In this cross-sectional study, 401 eligible participants were selected, 201 as the case group and 200 as the control group. After obtaining informed consent, the participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire. Then, the collected data were analyzed using SPSS, version 21.

Patients with GT were moderate regarding hot-cold temperament, and they had dry temperament. There was a statistically significant relationship between dry temperament and GT lesions (P value = 0.037). In the control group, people without GT lesion possessed average temperament either regarding hot-cold or wet-dry temperament. Moreover, there was a statistically significant relationship between hot-dry temperament and GT lesions (P value = 0.002).

The results of our study showed a higher frequency of GT in dry temperament. The dominant pattern for people with GT in compound and simple temperament was hot-dry and dry, respectively. The second more frequent temperament was hot. Following temperament change, treatment of GT lesion or alleviation of its disturbing symptoms is an issue, which might be determined by conducting basic research and well-designed clinical trials in the future.

 Pistacia atlantica (PA) trees grow in all areas of Iran. Pistacia atlantica fruit is edible and mostly consumed by residents. Also, PA leaves, gum, and fruit are considered to have medicinal value in traditional medicine.

 This study was designed to evaluate the analgesic effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of PA leaves, gum, and fruit.

 Seventy-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 12 groups, including control and test groups. In the positive control group, the rats received the standard drug paracetamol at a dose of 100 mg/kg, IP. In the test groups, the rats received leaves, gum, and fruit extracts at the doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, IP. Then, the rats were assessed for antinociception by the tail-flick and formalin tests. In this study, the ethical guidelines approved by the Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences regarding the use of animals in experimental studies were followed.

 The results showed that the leaves extract at the doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg and the gum extract at the dose of 100 mg/kg had a substantial analgesic effect, as demonstrated by the increase in the latency time in the tail-flick test and the decrease in the pain sensitivity in the formalin test (P < 0.05). The fruit extract, compared with the other parts of the plant, had no analgesic effect.

 The stronger analgesic effects of PA leaves extract, compared to those observed for the extracts of other parts of PA, might be due to the higher concentration of components with analgesic properties in PA leaves.

 Asthma is identified as the most prevalent chronic non-communicable childhood illness at any age worldwide, mainly affecting health, functioning, and pediatric quality of life (PedsQL) dimensions in children.

 The current study aimed to evaluate the status of the PedsQL in asthmatic children versus healthy controls for the ultimate goal of developing childhood asthma community-based integrated preventive and management programs.

 This analytic cross‐sectional study was carried out on 96 children participants with asthma and 95 healthy children, aged eight to twelve years, from January to December 2019. The different aspects of quality of life (QoL) and demographic characteristics of all subjects with the same age and gender were examined using the standardized disease-specific PedsQL questionnaire (consisting of 23 items) and the personal information questionnaire, respectively. The P < 0.05 criterion was set as the significance threshold.

 The outcomes of patients’ responses associated with the PedsQL subscale showed significantly lower mean scores in children with controlled asthma compared to healthy children (P < 0.001). This model covered physical, emotional (significantly lower mean scores), psychological, and social effects in addition to school functions, showing statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.001). In contrast to physical and school-related activities, lesser social status, emotional characteristics, and an overall score of QoL were significantly associated with poor QoL in lower-income children (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding sex, maternal educational level, or family income, but the two groups were significantly different in terms of paternal educational level and smoking (P < 0.05).

 It was found that asthma had profound unfavorable effects on patients’ healthy lifestyles and activities, mostly concerning daily physical activities, socio-emotional functioning, intellectual performance, school productivity, and psychological harmonization.