مجله طب دریا
سال چهارم شماره 2 (پیاپی 15، تابستان 1401)

Microplastics are small pieces of plastic waste that are accumulated in the environment on a global scale. This waste is generated by the direct release of plastic particles as well as the fragmentation of larger plastic items. Microplastics are distributed in marine habitats from the poles to the equator, from the sea surface and the shoreline to the depths of the sea. They are swallowed by a wide range of living organisms, including important commercial fish and bivalves. In some populations, the consumption of microplastics is very high, which can have toxic or physical side effects. However, our understanding of the relative importance of these side effects in different populations is very limited. The amount of microplastics in the environment seems to be increasing, and this is inevitable because even if new plastic materials can be prevented from entering the ocean, the fragmentation of existing plastic items will continue in the future years. The term microplastics have been used for a decade and has raised many questions about its harmful effects. Some solutions are available to reduce this pollution, however many studies are ongoing in this area. There is significant synergy in the new designs and production of plastic items and their efficient recycling because waste recycling reduces the use of non-renewable oil and gas energy in the production of new plastics and at the same time reduces the accumulation of microplastics in the environment.

Bioterrorism is the deliberate release of highly pathogenic biological agents including a variety of microorganisms or biological toxins that kill a large number of people. By training self-care programs about bioterrorism, the severe effects and consequences of bioterrorism actions can be reduced to some extent. The present study outlines the importance and role of self-care programs in bioterrorism attacks.

In this review, published papers related to self-care programs in bioterrorism attacks were searched in the library resources and databases of Google, SID, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Civilica and the CDC website from 2015 to 2020. Keywords of microbial agents, bioterrorism, biological warfare, self-care and self-rescue, bioluminescence, nanosensor and detector and training were used. The retrieved papers were critically reviewed and evaluated in line with the objectives of the study.

A total of 186 papers were found in the search. After excluding the papers without full text, 91 articles remained. In the screening stage, 34 papers were removed due to the non-relevance of the title and abstracts. Then 23 papers were removed due to invalid methodology, inconsistency of title and text, and finally, 34 papers were critically evaluated.

Considering the effective role of training in self-care programs to deal with bioterrorism agents; it is recommended that in addition to the national media, these programs be included in the curriculum of all academic disciplines

Among different groups, students are considered human capital who are in charge of the future of society, and the efforts to promote the health of this group provide the ground for the realization of a dynamic and healthy life. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between religious attitude and social health in students of Chabahar Maritime University.

This is a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population was 360 students studying at Chabahar Maritime University, Iran in 2022. A stratified random sampling method was used. Data were collected by completing three questionnaires: demographic, religious attitudes, and social health.

The mean scores of students' religious attitude and social health were 134.7±9.5 and 97.3±7.7, respectively. There was a significant relationship between marital status and social health. Pearson correlation showed that there is a positive and significant correlation between religiosity and social health.

According to the current findings, students with higher religious attitudes have better social health. Policymakers in Chabahar Maritime University should pay attention to spiritual and religious attractions in the social health promotion programs for students.

Promoting mental health in each stages of life improves the quality of life and brings numerous benefits to human society. The aim of this study was to predict the mental health of Iranian police officers based on the components of repetitive negative thinking.

This is a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population included Iranian police officers (NAJA) in Tehran, Iran province during 2022. By convenience sampling method, 203 people were selected. Data were collected using the repetitive negative thinking (McEvoy et al., 2010) and (Goldberg, 1979) Mental Health Questionnaires.

The findings of regression analysis show that 60% of mental health changes in Iranian police officers are predicted by repetitive negative thinking components. Accordingly, the regression model is significant (P<0.001).

It can be concluded that the components of repetitive negative thinking are able to threaten the mental health of police officers. Therefore, it is suggested that the authorities pay special attention to the destructive role of such factors on the mental health of police officers and consider support programs to deal with it.

One of the most sensitive wards of the hospital is the intensive care unit (ICU) in which nurses' caring behaviors are of special importance due to the complex and critical conditions of patients. In these circumstances, assertive behavior is considered one of the important components of the professional healthcare activities of nurses. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between assertiveness and health caring behaviors of nurses working in ICU.

This is a cross-sectional study (descriptive-correlation). The study population consisted of 165 nurses in ICU wards of military hospitals in Tehran, Iran in 2020. Sampling was done randomly. The research instruments included The Caring Dimension Inventory (CDI-25) and Gambrill and Ritchie (1975) Assertiveness Questionnaires.

The mean age of nurses in ICU was 33.7±7.2 years old and 56.4% were male. The married nurses significantly behave more assertively (P=0.028). The results showed that 96.4% of nurses have a moderate level of assertiveness. Also, the assertive behavior was able to explain 4.7% of the variance of health caring behaviors (β=0.068, P=0.005).

This study shows that the Iranian nurses working in ICU in the Armed Forces hospitals have a moderate level of assertiveness that affect their health caring behaviors. These findings are important because military nurses, in addition to the required nursing skills, must be prepared to work in hazardous or stressful situations of war and crisis. Therefore, training programs are needed to increase the assertive behavior of nurses working in ICU.

Offshore jobs in the oil industry are considered one of the most stressful jobs. The aim of this study was to determine the role of self-care and self-efficacy behaviors in predicting the mental health of employees in the offshore industry.

This is a quantitative and correlational study. The statistical population included all employees in the offshore industry working on projects and vessels, as well as oil and gas platforms in 2022. A total number of 152 people was selected by a simple random sampling method according to the table of Morgan. Data collection tools included Self-Care Behavior Questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, Mental Health Questionnaire.

There is a positive and significant relationship between self-care behaviors and self-efficacy (r = 25.2; P <0.001). There is also a positive and significant relationship between self-efficacy and mental health (r = 0.17; P <0.05). Self-care and self-efficacy behaviors can predict the mental health of offshore employees (R2 = 0.371).

According to the current findings, it can be said that self-care and self-efficacy behaviors can predict the mental health of employees in the offshore industry. This shows the importance of paying attention to the mental health of employees working in the offshore industry.

In recent years, the use of radio waves and devices operating in the 2.45 GHz range, such as cordless telephones and wireless modems, has greatly increased. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 2.45 GHz waves on hematological markers of the immune system in mice.

In this experimental study, 72 immature male BALB/C mice were used. Mice were divided into 3 groups; one control group and two groups exposed to radiation (group A and group B). Then two Wi-Fi modems were prepared, one simple and without antenna that mice of Group A were exposed to it and the second type had two antennas that mice of Group B were exposed to it. After exposure, blood samples were taken to measure the white blood cells, monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils.

The number of white blood cells, monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils increased during the study in control mice, but these parameters decreased significantly in the mice of the two intervention groups, which was time-dependent. There was no significant difference between the blood parameters of mice in the two intervention groups exposed to different modems.

The current findings indicate the side effects of 2.45 GHz on the immune system of exposed mice. This showed that white blood cells are more effective against long-term exposure to Wi-Fi waves.