مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی ایلام
سال بیست و نهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 128، امرداد 1400)

Implementation of standard precautions plays an important role in preventing nosocomial infections, as well as the safety of patients, and health care workers. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and compliance of health care workers with standard precautions in teaching hospitals in Ilam, Iran, during 2019.

This study was conducted based on a descriptive cross-sectional research method. The study setting included all teaching hospitals affiliated to Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran. The study population consisted of 200 health care workers, including nurses, paramedics, midwives, as well as associates and experts of the operating room, laboratory, and anesthesia, who were selected through the census method. The data were collected using demographic and professional characteristics form, as well as knowledge and compliance with standard precautions questionnaire. Knowledge questionnaire covers 20 items, and the maximum possible score is 20 (range:0-20). A higher score indicates a higher level of knowledge about precautionary standards. Compliance with standard precaution questionnaire consists of 20 items giving a score range of 0-80. A higher score indicates a higher level of precautionary standards. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 22).

Data from 180 participants were collected and analyzed in this study. The mean (SD) knowledge score and compliance with standard precautions were obtained at 15.58 (3.07) and 69.64 (9.89), respectively. There was a significant difference between the knowledge scores of the participants regarding gender and ward type (P<0.05). The most important predictors of compliance with standard precautions were knowledge of standard precautions, the history of sharp injury in the last six months, and work experience (P<0.05).

The study findings showed that health care workers' knowledge and compliance with standard precautions was moderate to good. Regular related infection control training courses, provision of adequate equipment, and ongoing monitoring are recommended to improve health care workers' adherence to standard precautions.

Considering the ever-increasing developments in medical research, especially the use of human subjects in research projects, the implementation of such research according to the ethical principles and criteria of creditable national and international declarations is of great significance. The present study aimed to investigate the rate of observance of research ethics in proposals approved at Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran,  from 2010 to 2016.

This descriptive-retrospective study evaluated 489 research proposals that had been approved between 2010 and 2016. Following that, the required information was extracted using six checklists prepared using the standard questionnaires of the Ethics Review Committee in World Health Organization (WHO/ERC) and other related studies. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS software. 

According to the results, 402 (82.2%) proposals observed the ethical consideration section. However, only 20 (4%) proposals were referred to the Research Ethics Committee and approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Furthermore, in 163 (57.8%) proposals, the subjects were informed of their participation in the study, and in 177 (36.2%) proposals, informed consent was included. In the proposals with human subjects, the confidentiality of the subjects' information in the research was predicted in 257 (52.6%) proposals.

The ultimate goal of national/regional Research Ethics Committees is the improvement of the current situation and getting closer to the related standards, which totally showed a progressive trend. Holding educational workshops for honorable members of scientific boards as well as students, and careful supervision of ethics committees, especially in clinical trials and animal studies, is presented as a proposed optimization strategy to improve the ethical environment.

Medicinal plants are among the most important products in agriculture and medicine. The usefulness and cheapness, environmental friendliness, and limited side effects of medicinal plants have increased the rate of use of these plants in recent years. Plant extracts, such as cloves, have long been used in medicine, perfumery, and as additives in cooking. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-cancer effects of clove essential oil and nanoemulsion.

Antioxidant activity of essential oil and clove nanoemulsion by measuring the inhibitory activity of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS radicals (2 and 2-azino-bis-3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) was measured in this study. The evaluation of antibacterial and bactericidal properties of essential oil and clove nanoemulsion was conducted by culture medium and suspension of four pathogenic bacteria of gram-positive, including Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, and gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by the measurement of the diameter of the growth inhibition zone. In addition, the effects of cytotoxicity of clove essential oil and nanoemulsion on different concentrations of 15.6, 31.2, 62.5, 125, and 250 μg/ml on MCF7 cancer cells were evaluated by MTT staining.

Clove nanoemulsion, compared to essential oil, had good antioxidant potential and a significant effect on free radical scavenging. The rates of free radical scavenging (IC50) of clove essential oil nanoemulsion were obtained at 67.29 and 78.39 μg/ml measured by DPPH and ABTS methods, respectively. Clove essential oil and nanoemulsion had an inhibitory effect on both groups of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria tested in this study. The toxicity test also showed a greater effect of clove nanoemulsion in killing breast cancer cells, compared to the clove essential oil. 

The results of this in vitro study indicate the antioxidant and anti-cancer effects of clove nanoemulsion, compared to essential oil, which can be used to prevent and treat many diseases associated with the development of reactive oxygen species.

The location of sanitary landfills is one of the most important environmental issues in cities. If the design of landfills is not appropriate, it will threaten human health. This study aimed to detect a suitable location for a landfill in Ilam, Iran.

A questionnaire and consultation with experts were used to conduct the research. For this purpose, three main criteria of the environment (e.g., vegetation, surface water resources, and habitats of animal species), hydrology (e.g., groundwater depth, and distance from springs, wells, as well as aqueducts), and access roads/population centers (e.g., distance from protected areas, the prevailing wind direction, and distance from the main roads) were considered in this study. The data were then weighted based on Analytic Network Process, and Super Decision software was used to integrate the information layers. Subsequently, based on the studied criteria and sub-criteria, four areas were proposed for waste disposal in Ilam. Finally, based on the weight and ranking of criteria, their coefficient, and the paired comparison matrix tables, the most appropriate option was selected for landfilling.

According to the results, location 1 with a weight of 0.419 and a consistency ratio of 0.05 is the most suitable place for landfilling in Ilam among the four selected options.

The results showed that Super Decision software has a good ability to locate the landfill.

There is growing evidence about the use of antioxidants to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and cancer drug resistance. Therefore, this study aimed to use vitamin C as an antioxidant and determine its effect on drug resistance in HT29 cells.

During this case-control study, HT29 cells were first cultured and evaluated by MTT assay for cell death in the presence of vitamin C and 5FU. DAPI staining was also performed to visualize cell apoptosis. After RNA extraction and cDNA preparation, to determine the molecular mechanism of apoptosis by the drug and the inhibition effect or aggravation of vitamin C on cellular signaling of apoptosis, expression of growth-related genes and apoptosis of Caspase-3 and Bax were measured by real-time PCR.
 Findings

The results of the MTT test showed that vitamin C had no significant effect on cell apoptosis induced by 5-FU. DAPI and DNA ladder assay results from HT29 cells showed qualitative changes in cell apoptosis. In addition, real-time PCR results revealed increased expression of Bax and Caspase-3 in HT29 colon cancer cells treated with chemotherapy.

Our findings showed that vitamin C did not prevent the effect of chemo drug although it had no positive effect on the growth of cancer cells. Therefore, vitamin C intake by patients undergoing chemotherapy will not affect the drug's effect on the tumor and may protect the patient from side effects.

The use of plants is one of the most effective methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles based on green chemistry. The magnetic properties of nanoparticles let the attached drugs conduct by a magnetic field in the body. This study aimed to use the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized via green chemistry as a carrier for the chloramphenicol drug delivery system. 

Extraction of Echinops Persicus was performed at 60°C by water solvent. Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using plant extract as a reducing agent. The synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analyzer (PSA), and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The antibacterial activity of coated nanoparticles was also investigated in this study.

The results of the XRD showed the cubic shape of iron oxide nanoparticles. The mean size of the nanoparticles was determined to be in the range of 16-56 nm. The coating of chloramphenicol on iron oxide nanoparticles was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, FT-IR confirmed the functionalization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with chloramphenicol. The magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with chloramphenicol showed good antibacterial activity against infectious Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The highest antimicrobial activity and the diameter of the growth inhibition zone of Staphylococcus aureus (11.25±0.35) and Escherichia coli (9.5±0.17) were determined at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. 

According to the results of this study, the coating of Iron oxide nanoparticles with chloramphenicol antibiotics increased the antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles and confirmed the appropriateness of the loading method of chloramphenicol antibiotics.

Paddy farming has been reported as one of the most important causes of non-fatal injuries and occupational accidents among farmers. The ignorance of the health of farmers can cause harm to farmers and lead to disability. As a result, these health consequences can result in less exploitation and economic growth in households. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the general health status of paddy field workers in Mazandaran province, Iran. 

This cross-sectional descriptive study evaluated 384 paddy farmers in Mazandaran province, Iran, who were selected using stratified random sampling. The required data were collected using the standard questionnaire of GHQ-28 with four domains of somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, and symptoms of depression. The obtained data were then analyzed using SPSS software (version 25) through Spearman, Kendall, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

The highest number of participants in this study was in the age group of 50-59 years with a mean age of 46.9 years. According to the results, the total general health score was obtained at 64.3% for the subjects. Moreover, the scores of four areas of general health were determined at 91.1% (depression symptoms), 73.4% (social dysfunction), 48.7% (anxiety symptoms and insomnia), and 47.1% (somatic symptoms) in descending order.

The general health of the studied population was not in a good range. In addition, the most observed disorder in the general health of paddy farmers was related to the symptoms of depression, followed by somatic symptoms.

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a tree belonging to the Leguminosae family. It is used for forestry and ornamental purposes. The tree is of importance due to its medicinal properties and its ability to treat infertility.  The present study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and fatty acid profile of the fruit.

Maximum extraction yields of the fruit were determined by utilizing different solvents for extraction. Methanolic extracts of the fruit were analyzed by GC-MS. EDS analysis was utilized for elemental analysis of the dried fruit powder (pods). The fatty acid profile of the fruit was determined by GC-FID. Antioxidant properties of the extracts were evaluated utilizing the ABTS assay.

Highest extraction yields were obtained with water. Phytochemical tests confirmed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, steroids, and terpenoids in ethanolic extracts of the fruit. In total, 38 organic compounds were identified in methanolic extracts of the fruit, most of which belonged to fatty acids. Totally, 8 minerals were identified of which copper and zinc were the main minerals. Analysis of lipid extracts revealed the presence of eight fatty acids. Antioxidant activity of the extracts showed that aqueous extracts had the highest IC50 value.

The role of Carob fruit in the treatment of infertility can be due to the presence of many antioxidant compounds and their role in reducing oxidative stress in sperm and also the presence of nutrients as cofactors involved in the path of oxidative stress and also the presence of abundant fatty acids.

Oleuropein is the most important phenolic compound in olive leaves which has several pharmacological properties. So far, this compound has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-atrogenic, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. Scopolamine is a muscarinic antagonist used as standard medication for inducing cognitive deficits in humans and animals. This study was performed to investigate the effect of oleuropein on the function of passive avoidance memory, malondialdehyde level, and expression of GluN2B gene in the model of memory impairment caused by scopolamine.

In total, 35 male mice were randomly divided into five groups (n=7). The control group received normal saline, and the Sco (scopolamine) group received intraperitoneal scopolamine at a dose of 1 mg/kg for three weeks. The treatment groups received oleuropein in three doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg. At the end of the shuttle box test, the brain tissues of the animals were removed for the determination of oxidative stress and molecular tests.

The results of our study showed that scopolamine significantly decreased memory and induced oxidative stress (P<0.05). On the other hand, oleuropein improved memory and learning and reduced oxidative damage (P<0.05). Oleuropein treatment reduced the elevated brain MDA levels in mice receiving scopolamine (P<0.05). Oleuropein at three doses used in this study did not significantly alter the expression of the GluN2B gene in the hippocampus (P>0.05).

In general, the treatment of mice with oleuropein improved memory impairment due to dysfunction of the cholinergic system in the brain that may be due to the reduction in oxidative stress; moreover, it may be regarded as a method to manage neurological disorders in conditions of dementia.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of mindfulness on the alexithymia and academic achievement of male middle school students in Ilam, Iran.

This semi-experimental study was conducted based on a pretest-posttest design using experimental and control groups. The study population included all junior male students of middle school (n=3750) in Ilam (the academic year 2018-19). Accordingly, five schools were selected from the districts in Ilam. In the next stage, some classes were selected and investigated randomly. According to the Cochran formula, 348 students were selected as samples using the cluster random sampling method. Of these, 60 students had high levels of alexithymia and were selected as the main sample. After the identification of the population and sample, the researcher referred to the schools and commenced the treatment sessions following the obtainment of the required permission. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Pekrun Academic Achievement Questionnaire were used in this study. The experimental group received eight 60-min training sessions using the mindfulness method. On the other hand, the control group received no training. The content of the intervention was designed by Kabat-Zayn et al., and Narimani et al. used and approved the designed content.

Based on the findings, the calculated F values for academic achievement and alexithymia were obtained at 114.511 and 143.511, respectively. Moreover, the covariance analysis showed a significant difference between experimental and control groups regarding the dependent variables (P<0001) after the posttest.

Generally, based on the findings, it was shown that mindfulness has a positive effect on the academic achievement and alexithymia of the students. This leads to an increase in academic achievement and a decrease in alexithymia levels in students.