Caspian Journal of Health Research
Volume:7 Issue: 4, Dec 2022

The duration of the immune response induced by ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination in a real-world setting is unknown. 

This study is aimed to estimate the 6-month trend of SARS-CoV-2 antibody titer after Covishield vaccination among Health Care workers (HCW) and their associated factors.

A prospective single cohort study of health care workers was done in a tertiary care-teaching institute of central Kerala from January 2021 to October 2021. HCWs who have given pre-vaccination serum sample for SARS-CoV-2 antibody estimation and negative for SARS-CoV-2 antibody were included. They were followed up and their blood samples to check for antibody levels were taken 28 days after first dose, 2 weeks after second dose, and 3 and 6 months after first dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. Samples taken from 102 HCW were sent for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody testing. Quantitative results were reported as signal to cut-off (S/C) value.

Mean age of the study participants was 39.3 (age range:19-71) yrs. and 71.6% were females. Antibody levels of participants at 3rd month ranged from 0.28 S/C to 21.2 S/C with a mean of 8.01. Only 34 (33.3%) HCW had IgG antibody levels >9.5 S/C. Mean antibody level further declined to 6.09 S/C at 6th month. Only 19 (28.4%) had antibody levels more than 9.5 S/C at 6th month. HCW with aged less than 50 years and those who had COVID disease during the study period had a significantly higher level of IgG antibody titres.

The study found that after vaccination with Covishield vaccine IgG levels peaked at 14 days following second dose of vaccine, then getting decreased in the third month and further in sixth month confirming the need for a booster dose. COVID antibody levels were significantly higher in COVID infected HCW and in young age participants.

Play therapy is a structured approach based on therapy theories that establish children's learning and communication processes. 

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of play therapy on anxiety and shyness of elementary school children.

Methods & materails: 

This pre-test post-test with a control group design was conducted on students of both sexes studying at Rezvan Khutbehsarai Elementary School in the academic year 2020-2021, in Talesh, North of Iran. Students who had a high score on anxiety and shyness test were selected by purposive sampling method and then randomly allocated into experimental and control groups. Anxiety and shyness were assessed using Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and Children's Shyness Questionnaire. Cognitive-behavioral play therapy intervention was performed during ten sessions. Data were analysed using analysis of covariance.

Play therapy significantly decreased the mean score of shyness and anxiety in the experimental group. The adjusted post-test mean score of anxiety (52.13, SD= 3.775) and shyness (77.88, SD= 5.947) in the experimental group was significantly lower than the adjusted post-test mean score of anxiety (61.42, SD= 3.671) and shyness in the control group (94.11, SD= 4.332). 

The finding showed effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing anxiety and shyness in elementary school students. Parents should be motivated to learn concepts such as the need for play, types of games, and the role of play in repairing the parent-child relationship.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people suffering from psychological disorders has increased all over the world.

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship of mental health and resilience with posttraumatic growth (PTG) through mediating of defensive styles in the COVID-19 survivors.

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using structural equation modeling (SEM). The research population included all COVID-19 recovered patients in Gorgan, Iran. Using convenience sampling method, 300 patients who recovered from COVID-19 were selected. The research instruments included the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the General Health Questionnaire, and Defense Style Questionnaire. The participants were given questionnaires online.

The results of SEM suggested that the proposed model fits the data. The direct paths from PTG, mental health, and resilience to the developed defensive styles were positive and significant (P<0.01). In addition, the relationship between mental health and resilience with PTG was positive and significant (P<0.01). The relationship between PTG, mental health, and resilience with the immature and neurotic defensive styles was negative and significant (P<0.01).

The findings revealed that mental health, resilience, and developed defensive styles had a tremendous impact on the increase of PTG in COVID-19 patients. Accordingly, they can be used to reduce the psychological problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A healthy lifestyle based on healthy eating habits and appropriate physical activity during different periods of life, bring healthy old age to women through preventing overweight or maintaining a healthy weight

This study was aimed to determine the effect of Internet-based intervention on the lifestyle and healthy eating habits of women in northern Iran.

The present field-trial study was conducted on 268 women who were members of Population of Mental Health Assistants from November 2014 to May 2015.  The educational intervention was carried out through a website containing information on healthy lifestyle, nutrition, and cooking methods of various healthy foods. The participants of the intervention group were also received their special diet. All participants were evaluated after 3 and 6 months in terms of changes in weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and nutritional habits. Their lifestyle were measured using the standard questionnaire of health-promoting lifestyle profile-II (HPLP-II). Data was analyzed using repeated measure analysis of variance.

The average age (standard deviation (SD)) of the intervention and comparison group was 38.7 (10.8) and 36.9 (10.8) years, respectively. After six months, the average BMI of the intervention group decreased from 27.4 (SD=5.3) to 26.3 (SD=5.7) kg/m2 (P<0.001). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure of both groups showed a significant decrease (P<0.001). Nutrition (F1, 266=62.09, P=0.001, η2=0.19) followed by health responsibility (F1, 255=30.4, P= 0.001, η2= 0.11) were the most important dimensions of HPLP-II affected by intervention.

The Internet-based educational intervention program, using a bottom-up approach, has a favorable effect on the improvement of the lifestyle and weight loss of the participants. The findings of the present study showed the possibility of using the new e-health technology in order to promote healthy lifestyle and eating habits in women.

There are many well-known biologic and anthropometric risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Shift work (SW) may be associated with CVD risk factors.

This study was performed to investigate the relationship of shift work and some of CVD risk factors.

This analytical cross-sectional study was done in Occupational Medicine Center of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences from April to December in 2021. A total of 743 workers who referred for periodic health examination were selected by simple random sampling. Those workers with at least one year of work experience who had Satisfaction for participation were included to the study. Having congenital heart disease, heart failure, kidney disease, Taking drugs that increase blood pressure, blood lipid and sugar and pregnant women were excluded.  Demographic data, Physical examination and Blood cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose measures were collected. Data analysis was performed using Mann–Whitney U test, student t-test, Chi-Square and Multivariate Linear Regression model with SPSS software version 21 at a significant level of 0.05.

Of total, 73.4% were men and 47.3% were shift workers. The mean (Standard Deviation) of age was 33.9 (5.07) among shift workers, and 36.32 (5.81) among Day-time workers. There was significant independent association between shift work and triglyceride (B=7.5, 95%CI=1.02,1.21, P=0.03) and cholesterol (B=7.2, 95%CI=1.12,1.22, P=0.028) values.

The results of the present study showed that the concentration of blood triglycerides and cholesterol is higher in shift workers than day-time workers. Therefore, particular follow-up of shift workers should be recommended for screening and preventing cardiovascular risk factors

Poor self-care in patients with heart failure (HF) is directly associated with the patient’s general health getting deteriorated and hospitalized.

One of the factors influencing compliance with self-care behaviors is mood status. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between affective status with self-care behaviors in patients with HF.

In this analytical cross-sectional study, 372 HF outpatients referring to a specialized heart clinic have been included using convenient sampling method. Study tools had 4 parts including demographic and social factors, the European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviors scale, and positive and negative affect scales. The collected data were analyzed using multivariate linear regression model.

The multivariate model adjusted for patient’s education, suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart failure duration showed that positive affects (β=0.113, standard error (SE) =.056, P=0.046) and negative affect (β=0.341, SE=.053, P<0.001) were significantly related to self-care behaviors, but anhedonia did not have any significant relation with self-care behaviors (β=-0.105, SE=0.097, P=0.280). The separate models accounted for 8 to 11% of the variance in the self-care behaviors.

The result of current study indicates that patients' mood statue including positive and negative affect are significant contributors of self-care behaviors. So, it is recommended that in addition to the patient’s physical condition, the rehabilitation program of the heart failure patients should incorporate their psychological and mental status.

Zinc is an essential trace element for the healthy life of mothers during pregnancy. Besides, it plays a critical role during infancy. Zinc deficiency during pregnancy is a common problem all over the world. The immune system needs sufficient zinc for protective effects, especially during COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the author provided a special viewpoint to pay attention to zinc deficiency.