Journal of Health Reports and Technology
Volume:8 Issue: 2, Apr 2022

The present study had a twofold objective, including the reconceptualization of medical tourists’ perceived risk in the COVID-19 pandemic and developing strategies to reduce medical tourists’ perceived risk during the pandemic. These two steps were referred to as a strategic-based approach. The first step defines medical tourists’ perceived risk as the subjective/cognitive (mind-driven) expectations and objective/actual (real-image driven) evaluation of the negative consequences/losses before/after making travel decisions to an unsafe COVID-19 destination. Following that, the associated dimensions were identified, such as psychological, financial, health, legal, performance, facility, and time risks. Finally, two main strategies (country-based and hospital-/clinic-based) were developed to create a safe COVID-19 destination. This study could make significant theoretical and practical contributions to strategic medical tourism management.

Academic cynicism means feeling tired because of demands and being pessimistic and unwilling about the texts and assignments.

The present study aimed to determine the correlation among academic cynicism and academic variables among Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS) students.

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 288 KUMS students in 2018, who were collected using simple random sampling method proportional to the selected sample size. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by nonparametric methods using SPSS Version 16.

The mean score of academic cynicism was as much as 11.48 ± 3.50, indicating that the participants obtained 57.4% of the maximum score of academic cynicism. According to results, there was a significant and inverse correlation among academic cynicism and academic achievement (r = -0.195). The mean rank of academic cynicism was significantly higher among MD students (P = 0.001) and dentistry (P = 0.008).

Students received more than half of the possible score for academic cynicism, which was significant and inversely affected academic achievement. Therefore, developing, implementing, and evaluating interventions are essential to prevent and reduce academic cynicism among students.

Psychosomatic symptoms manifest in different stages of human life. Students are vulnerable to the negative impact of these symptoms on their academic success and the possible consequences, such as illegal drug use and suicide attempts.

The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in the correlation between perceived social support and psychosomatic symptoms among university students.

This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on the students of the Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz in the academic year 2020 - 2021. The sample population included 372 students (178 males and 194 females) who were selected via simple random sampling. Data were collected using the medical outcomes study-social support survey, Neff’s self-compassion scale (shortform), and DSM-5 somatic symptoms experiences questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling.

A significant, negative correlation was observed between perceived social support and psychosomatic symptoms (β = -0.14; P = 0.03), and a significant, positive correlation was observed between perceived social support and self-compassion (β = 0.34; P = 0.001). Furthermore, a significant, negative correlation was denoted between self-compassion and psychosomatic symptoms (β = -0.52; P = 0.001). Self-compassion slightly mediated the correlation between perceived social support and psychosomatic symptoms (β = -0.19; P = 0.001), while gender did not moderate this mediating model.

According to the results, the modified model had a good fit. Therefore, self-compassion and perceived social support affected psychosomatic symptoms in the university students.

Performance is the primary concern of every organizational manager, and achieving higher performance is a significant goal of every organization. Organizational silencemay adversely affect organizational performance. Healthcare centers should pay special attention to this issue due to their different job descriptions and environments compared to other sectors.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of organizational silence and its dimensions on the professional performance of health workers in the medical centers in Qazvin province, Iran in 2020.

This was a descriptive-analytical study in terms of objective and a cross-sectional study in terms of design. The study was conducted in the medical centers affiliated to Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. In total, 365 questionnaires were distributed to select a sample of the healthcare workers from the selected centers in proportion to the total number of the staff. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 22 using path analysis at the significance level of 0.05.

A significant, inverse (negative) correlation was observed between organizational silence and the professional performance of the staff (P < 0.05). Among various dimensions of organizational silence, the highest and lowest mean scores belonged to acquiescent silence (15.633 ± 4.291) and altruistic silence (12.180 ± 3.719), respectively. As for the dimensions of professional performance, the highest and lowest mean scores belonged to evaluation (29.675 ± 6.071) and help (15.087 ± 3.206), respectively.

Based on the findings, it is recommended that the organizational atmosphere of the medical centers be improved so that the healthcare workers could provide feedback without concerns of being criticized by colleagues and superiors and the fear of consequences.

Mutations in bacteria frequently occur that display a crucial need for new antimicrobial agents. Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) are a growing threat to maintaining the effectiveness of beta-lactam antibiotics. Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics is one of the most common types of antibiotic resistance, which causes the ineffectiveness of antibiotics.

This study aimed to identify a novel inhibitor using molecular dynamics simulations to inhibit VIM-2 Metallo-βlactamases and overcome carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.

Computational biology tools were employed for this study, including molecular dynamics, binding free energy, virtual screening, and docking. Natural compounds were taken from the ZINC databank and prepared. At the next stage, the prepared compounds were screened based on docking energy in the active site of VIM-2 MBL by Schrödinger (Maestro) software, and better compounds were selected. Captopril was chosen as a positive control inhibitor for VIM-2 MBLs. Ultimately, molecular dynamics simulations were performed using GROMACS software, and outputs were analyzed.

Maestro software’s screening results showed that ZINC00517765 was the best inhibitor with -12.29 kcalmol-1 docking energy. The ADME investigations revealed that ZINC00517765 had an appropriate range of pharmacokinetics, lipophilicity, and drug-likeness features as an inhibitor of VIM-2 MBL. Molecular dynamics outcomes explicated that VIM-2 MBL in the presence of ZINC00517765 had better stability during simulation. The results of the MM-PBSA study illustrated that ZINC00517765 with -72.29 kJ mol-1 binding free energy was more potent than Captopril with -23.39 kJ mol-1 .

This study showed that VIM-2 MBL in the presence of ZINC00517765 has suitable stability during simulation. Also, more hydrogen bonds and stronger binding free energy than Captopril confirm that ZINC00517765 is a proper candidate for further studies and laboratory investigation.

Nowadays, the world is experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. Iron deficiency anemia and vitamin D deficiency are two of the world’s most prevalent health problems. Severe COVID-19 patients were found with elevated serum ferritin and decreased vitamin D levels. There is a need to investigate the possible roles of micronutrients in the severity and mortality of COVID-19. This descriptiveanalytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 437 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized from April to August 2020. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of the patients were collected. Medical experts determined the severity of the infection based on the severity of the clinical symptoms and the extent and degree of the lung infection. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software Version 16. The mean age of the participants was 60.74 ± 16.70 years old, and the most common comorbidities were diabetes type II (15.1%) and hypertension (12%). Shortness of breath (58.6%), anosmia (55.1%), and ageusia (45.1%) were the most common presenting symptoms. The mean serum vitamin D level was 28.86 ± 15.69 ng/mL, and vitamin D deficiency was found in 53% of patients. The mean serum ferritin level was 125.32 ± 97.99 for males and 302 ± 73.6 for females. Significant correlations were observed between serum vitamin D levels, lower oxygen saturation rate, and COVID–19 severity. A significant relationship was found between the serum ferritin levels and hospitalization duration (P < 0.05). Our findings indicated that COVID-19 patients treated in the hospital had a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D. The severity of the disease was increased in patients with vitamin D deficiency and elevated serum ferritin levels.

Individuals with alexithymia have a limited ability to adapt to stressful situations, leading to high levels of psychological distress, anxiety, and stress symptoms.

This study aimed to investigate the role of insecure attachment in psychological distress within Islamic Azad Universities of Tehran in 2020 by mediating alexithymia.

The structural equation modeling (SEM) was used as the primary research method in this study. The study population included all university students between 20- and 40-years old studying at the Islamic Azad Universities of Tehran in the 2019 - 20 academic year. A total of 305 students was selected as samples using the multi-stage cluster sampling method. Several research tools were used, including the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The data were analyzed using a correlation matrix in SPSS statistical software Version 24 and structural equation modeling (SEM) in Amos-26.

The results indicated that the insecure attachment style had a direst positive effect on the states of psychological distress (anxiety, stress, and depression) (P < 0.001). Alexithymia also played amediating role in insecure attachment affecting psychological distress (P < 0.001).

Results revealed in the correlation between insecure attachment and states of psychological distress mediated by the alexithymia. Given the importance of attachment style and alexithymia in the development of anxiety, stress, and depression, therapists are recommended to take these variables into account.