مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهرکرد
سال بیست و چهارم شماره 4 (پیاپی 117، Autumn 2022)

None of the available constipation treatments for children are completely successful. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution 40% and fig syrup on the treatment of chronic constipation in children.

In this double-blind clinical trial, 120 patients with chronic functional constipation were selected and divided into two groups. The first group received 5 mL of fig syrup without senna 3 times daily, and the second group took PEG 40% syrup at 1 mL/kg of body weight per day (the dose was adjustable according to the patient’s condition and need). At weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6, a checklist containing questions about children’s constipation was completed by the researcher, and the data were analyzed by SPSS version 24.

Changes in the frequency of abdominal pain at fourth times 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks demonstrated statistically significant differences between the two groups (P=0.044), and it was significantly lower the in PEG group; however, the defecation was not statistically significant (P=0.902). After six weeks, the frequency of painful defecation, difficult defecation straining during defecation, and fear of defecation was significantly lower in the group given PEG syrup compared to the fig syrup-receiving group (P=0.001).

Overall, PEG syrup was significantly effective in treating chronic functional constipation in children compared to the fig syrup.

Due to the different levels of exposure of different people to the coronavirus and different levels of immune response among them, this study was designed to investigate the humoral immune responses against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in healthcare staff in hospitals and medical centers admitting COVID-19 patients.

In this descriptive-analytical study, which was performed by call-out, the serum levels of IgM and IgG antibodies in 492 staff of hospitals and medical centers were evaluated using ELISA. Then, factors influencing the immune response of participants were determined.

IgG positivity was 11.6% among participants of this study, 19.2% of the staff had a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and the IgG positivity rate among them was only 16%. There was no significant relationship between body mass index, underlying diseases, diabetes, immune system-related diseases, herpes simplex virus, workplace, blood type, education level, symptoms, and IgG response (P>0.05). Further, the rate of IgG positivity in healthcare staff indicated a significant relationship only with gender (P=0.005), history of hospitalization (P=0.002) due to COVID-19 and position (P=0.008).

This study found that the prevalence of humoral immune response in healthcare staff was lower than the prevalence of the disease based on molecular tests. Based on the results of the present study, it is possible to provide an accurate estimate of the level of involvement and predisposition of healthcare staff in hospital wards and medical centers and to use this information for disease management and control.

This study aimed to investigate and compare the effect of early and late breast milk fortification on growth parameters in preterm infants.

In this clinical trial, 90 preterm infants (28-32 weeks) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Hajar Hospital in Shahrekord, Iran were randomly divided into three groups. The fortification was performed when the milk intake reached 30 (group A), 70 (group B), and 100 cc/kg (group C). The height, weight, and head circumference of newborns were measured at the beginning of birth and 4 weeks after the birth. The incidence of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis, and milk tolerance were investigated as well. All analyses were conducted with Stata software, and P values<0.05 were considered statistically significant.

The value changes in the height, weight, and head circumference in all three groups at 4 weeks were significant (P<0.001). The mean weight changes in the A, B, and C groups were 727.33±163.85, 947.33±155.38, and 808.66±168.82, indicating a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). Further, the mean change of weight after 4 weeks showed statistically significant differences (P<0.001) among the A, B, and C groups. The weight gain in the B group was significantly higher than that of the A and C groups (P<0.05); however, no significant difference was observed in the mean weight gain between the A and C groups (P=0.264).

The breast milk fortification when the milk intake reached 70 cc/kg had better efficiency on neonatal weight gain compared with the early and delayed fortification.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers of the female reproductive system. Despite the importance of cervical cancer screening in early detection, the uptake of screening is poor. The present study aimed to predict the factors that influence the cervical cancer screening behavior of Iranian women visiting health centers.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 661 women of reproductive age referred to health centers in Karaj, Iran, in 2021, who were selected by convenience sampling. Data collection was performed with a multi-sectional questionnaire designed to collect information about demographic characteristics and constructs of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and emotional support. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24.0, and AMOS version 24.

The mean age of the participants was 38.2±13.77. Most of the participants had a high school diploma and a moderate socioeconomic status. The results showed the direct effect of intention on behavior (β=0.54) and the direct effect of fear on intention (β=-0.66). Perceived self-efficacy had the greatest indirect effect on behavior through intention (β=0.34). All protection motivation constructs except response cost (β=0.06) showed a significant effect on cervical cancer screening behavior. Model fit indices showed the good capability of the extended protection motivation model to predict cervical cancer screening behavior.

Perceived self-efficacy is the strongest predictor of cervical cancer screening behavior, and emotional support affects this behavior through self-efficacy and intention. Therefore, it is recommended to pay attention to these factors when designing and planning educational interventions for improving cervical cancer screening behavior.

Post-traumatic growth refers to the positive psychological changes experienced after an incident. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is seen as a traumatic incident that impacts many aspects of a person's life. The present study aimed to investigate the association between perceived social support and mental health with the post-traumatic growth model through the mediating role of coping strategies in COVID-19 recovered patients.

This study was conducted using a path analysis method from the correlation matrix. The research population included all COVID-19 recovered patients in Golestan Province. Using the convenience sampling method, 300 patients who recovered from COVID-19 were selected. The research instruments included the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, the General Health Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. The data was analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM) using SPSS and AMOS software version 25.

The findings revealed that the suggested model fit the data. The relationship between post-traumatic growth, perceived social support, and mental health with problem-focused coping strategies were positive and significant (P<0.01). The relations between mental health and perceived social support with post-traumatic growth were positive and significant. Post-traumatic growth and perceived social support had a negative and significant relationship with emotion-focused strategies (P<0.01). Furthermore, the relationship between mental health and emotion-focused strategies was not significant.

Mental health, perceived social support, and problem-focused strategies play an essential role in COVID-19 patients' post-traumatic growth. As a result, they might be helpful in minimizing the psychological impact of COVID-19.

The consumption of grape seed nanoparticles extract can control cardiovascular risk factors. Exercise plays a protective role against cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of eight-week resistance training (RT) and the use of grape seed nanoparticles on mitochondrial biogenesis of heart tissue in myocardial infarction (MI) models.

In this experimental study, 25 rats were randomly divided into five groups including (1) control (C), (2) MI, (3) MI+RT, (4) MI+grape seed, and (5) MI+RT+grape seed. MI was induced by subcutaneous injection of isoprenaline (85 mg/kg). Grape seed nanoparticles were daily administered at a dose of 150 mg/kg for 8 weeks, and RT was performed 5 days a week. Finally, data were analyzed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post hoc tests (P≤0.05).

MI models showed decreased expression of PGC-1α, PPARγ, and UCP-1 genes in cardiac tissue (P=0.001). However, RT combined with the use of grape seed nanoparticles had a significant effect on increasing the expression of PGC-1α (P=0.001), PPARγ (P=0.002), and UCP-1 (P=0.003) genes in the heart tissue of MI model mice.

The consumption of grape seed nanoparticles along with RT has more effects on improving the expression of PGC-1α, PPARγ, and UCP-1 genes in MI than either alone. Therefore, the use of grape seed nanoparticles together with RT is recommended in case of MI.

Highly active oxygen causes DNA or protein damage. This study aimed to determine the effect of the extract of three medicinal plants, royal jelly, and metformin on the survival of human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells under oxidative stress induced by H2 O2 .

Hydroalcoholic extracts were prepared from Nigella sativa, Carum carvi seeds, and Taraxacum officinale flower. The growth curve of HDF cells was plotted in Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium (DMEM). The cells were exposed to H2 O2 stress and treated with different concentrations of the extracts, royal jelly, and metformin. The cells viability was then calorimetrically analyzed during different times in 69-well plates.

The exponential growth phase of HDF cells was observed during 24–72-hour growth. High cell survivals were seen during 72 hours of exposure to 25 mg/mL royal jelly (99.13±3.22%), 15 mg/mL C. carvi extracts and N. sativa (97.87±3.25% and 96.22±5.47%, respectively), 10 mg/mL royal jelly (96.14±4.72%), 16 mg/mL metformin (91.23±5.34%), and 8 mg/mL T. officinale (86.31±7.44%), respectively. These results were significantly higher than the results of 48 and 24 hours of exposure to 15 mg/mL N. sativa (P=0.013), 15 mg/mL C. carvi (P=0.019), and 16 mg/mL metformin (P=0.027). Moreover, royal jelly (25 mg/mL) significantly indicated greater effect on the cell survival compared with the highest concentrations of the extracts and metformin at different exposure times (P=0.016-0.032).

Royal jelly, N. sativa, and T. officinale extracts revealed remarkable effects on the stressed HDF cells; therefore, they can be proposed for treatment of wounds and burns after clinical analysis.