Health Science Monitor
Volume:2 Issue: 3, Summer 2023

Due to the prevalence of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19), it is essential to know the level of people’s knowledge, attitude, and practice toward this disease to plan preventive decisions. The purpose of the present study was to investigate knowledge, attitude, and practice in over 20-year-old individuals regarding the new Coronavirus in Iran.

This cross-sectional study incorporated 506 individuals in Iran, in 2020. Data were collected by a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire through virtual and non-probable methods (available and snowball sampling). The questionnaire used in the current study entailed questions about demographic (9 questions), knowledge (3 questions, range 1-3), attitude (10 questions), and practice (6 questions). Finally, the data were entered into SPSS16 software, and independent t-tests and analysis of variance with a P-value less than 0.05 were used to analyze the data.

The average scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice of the studied subjects regarding the Coronavirus were 80.13, 75.6, and 66.5, respectively. In this study, 83% of people were aware of Coronavirus transmission methods, and more than 85% of people were fully aware of the symptoms of the disease. Also, more than 76% of people knew how to prepare the disinfectant solution. The average score of attitude and practice of women, compared to men, toward COVID-19 was markedly higher. There was also no significant association between the gender and score of knowledge, which its average was higher in individuals with non-university education than educated people.

The study reveals that the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the people about the coronavirus are almost at the optimal level. However, more attention from the policymakers and the media is required to break the chain of infection.

Dear Editor:Since December 2019, the world has been involved in a major pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic had devastating effects on health, hygiene, economy, and society, particularly educational systems (1). Before COVID-19, the education system was one of the major concerns of all countries. But the higher importance of students' health caused the closure of face-to-face education during the pandemic. For this reason, it is said that the long-term psychological damage and destructive effects of this epidemic can often be seen for decades (2, 3). Undoubtedly, the positive effects of this pandemic on education cannot be ignored. Educational systems have not changed for nearly several centuries. In the last few decades, small steps have been taken to change educational systems in some countries, but COVID-19 has caused all countries to move towards alternative methods of education, e.g. designing and preparing educational programs through the Internet, radio, and television. However, what was neglected in the meantime was attention to the issue of education and its connection with the psyche (4-6). The results of an online questionnaire-based study conducted in England on 927 parents of children aged 5 to 11 showed changes in the emotional state and behavior of the children. The most common symptoms during the quarantine were boredom (73.8%), feeling lonely (64.5%), and disappointment (61.4 %). Also, irritability, restlessness, anger, anxiety, sadness, worry, and an increased likelihood of arguing with other family members were othee symptoms reported by parents (7). One of the largest studies on the effects of COVID-19 on mental health of students was conducted in France because it was the most affected country among the European countries at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In that study, 59,000 students were selected based on three mental health indicators, including depression, anxiety, and distress, and questionnaires were prepared. The results indicated that 6.96% suffered from severe depression, 39.19% experienced anxiety, and 20.7% experienced severe distress during COVID-19. Moreover, girls obtained higher score than boys in mental disorders. At the same time, the study showed that students who faced financial problems during the pandemic were noticeably more likely to suffer from mental disorders (8). The above-mentioned statistics and similar statistics all indicate that education and training have a serious effect on the mental health. Although during the quarantine, the issue of education improved to a large extent, the mental issue was weakly addressed. In fact, what causes the educational backwardness of students is the challenges that have arisen between parents and students, therby causing students' confusion, anxiety, and depression. Therefore, schools should be reopened, while considering these difficulties. However, if these challenges are not taken into account, the educational system will face serious problems, one of which will be the lack of cooperation of parents and students to return to school (9). The reopening of schools should be presented as a social and psychological imperative because families clearly witnessed the behavioral abnormalities of their children during the COVID-19 era. According to our statistics, parents should be informed that physical health the same as mental health is highly important. Based on announcement of the head of the Mental Health Office of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education announced in 2019, about 23% of the country's population suffers from some kinds of mental disorders. This figure means that one out of every four people has a mental disorder (10). During the quarantine, children spent significantly more time on screens and less time on physical activity and sleep. In addition, family life was described as rather difficult. It is not an exaggeration to say that COVID-19 has physically affected 2% of the entire society, but mentally, all the society has been affected by this disease. For this reason, it is crucial to pay attention to the mental issue in this pandemic, and the most vulnerable group of society, both physically and mentally, are students.

AIDS is a disease for which there is currently no effective vaccine and basic treatment, the only way to fight AIDS is to prevent infection, which is possible with health education. This study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effect of two types of AIDS prevention, educational interventions by peer and adult groups on awareness and behavior among high school students in Mashhad.

 This interventional study was performed to compare two methods of education via peers against education by adults about awareness towards HIV/AIDS among high school students of Mashhad city in 2014- 2015. The studied groups included three groups of peer education, adult education, and control. Examining the level of knowledge and attitude of the subject was conducted through a questionnaire of the designated researcher, whose validity and reliability were tested again in a pilot.

The initial awareness of students was evaluated at about 28%. The most important source of information was television. In enhancing the level of awareness post-intervention in different areas of the peer and adult intervention groups, there was significant difference compared to the control. However, no significant difference was found between the two genders when comparing the peer and adult groups.

The peers' good understanding of the social and cultural environment of the target group would improve social norms and healthy behaviors, which are among the advantages of this method. The results can be used for the educational planning of students because it shows the level of knowledge of students at the pre-university level and the educational needs of students for appropriate educational planning.

Aerobic capacity has a significant impact on both health and work performance. Therefore, promoting the health and improving the performance of employees require examining and paying attention to their aerobic capacity. The primary purpose of the current study was to determine the aerobic capacity and to analysis individual factors associated with VO2max among university students.

One hundred and thirty male and female students with a mean age of 21.6 ± 0.4 years, voluntarily participated in the present study. Aerobic capacity was determined using ergometer and the Astrand protocol. Demographic information and body mass index (BMI) of participants were also collected. Data were analyzed by using single and multiple-regression techniques.

Mean maximum aerobic capacity was 2.18 ± 0.41 L/min. The maximum aerobic capacity was associated with weight, BMI and heart rate. The results of regression analysis indicated that BMI and heart rate could significantly predict the VO2max of the students. The best VO2max prediction equation has been developed based on regression analysis.

The mean of students’ VO2max is lower than the counterpart population in the same society. The lack of regular exercise and a subsequent increase in BMI may lead to a significant decrease in VO2max. The significant relationship between HR, BMI and VO2max could be used to predict VO2max in young people.

One of the most common benign tumors that arise from the smooth muscles of the uterine wall is leiomyoma. In this study, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed in leiomyoma patients and compared with healthy individuals.

In this case-control study, 50 women with leiomyoma and 50 healthy women were selected as case and control groups, respectively. ELISA method was used to measure MDA and TAC.

The results showed that the serum level of MDA in leiomyoma patients increased significantly, as compared to healthy individuals (0.52±1.48 vs. 0.65±1.3), while that of TAC had a significant reduction in patient group compared to healthy individuals (151±151 vs. 466±212).

Our findings show a relationship between leiomyoma and oxidative stress indicators.

Corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an evolving global disease which has burst into 2019. SARS-CoV-2 infects human cells through recognition of and binding to angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) through the spike (S) glycoprotein. Spike is an immunogenic protein that can elicit immune responses. Multi-epitope vaccines are novel and efficient class of vaccines which are designed by linking the B and T cells. These epitopes stimulate both humoral and cellular immunity.

Based on bioinformatics online tools, appropriate epitopes of S protein were selected, linked together via suitable linkers, a TLR4 binding adjuvant was added, and a multi-epitope construct was constructed. The 3D model of the construct was predicted, refined, and validated. The antigenicity, allergenicity, solubility, and physico-chemical properties of vaccine were checked. The B cell conformational epitopes and IFN-γ inducing parts were detected. The adjuvant and TLR4 binding were evaluated by docking and protein-protein complex stability was assessed by elastic-mode analysis. The coding sequence of the vaccine construct was optimized and sub-cloned in expression vector through an in silico approach. Finally, the structure, energy, and stability of vaccine coding mRNA were evaluated.

Ten continuous B cell epitopes, 9 T helper epitopes, and 8 CTL epitopes were chosen. The results showed that multi-epitope vaccine is a stable and soluble protein which can stimulate humoral and cellular immunity. Besides, the vaccine could stimulate immunity without inducing allergenicity in human body.

Finally, the vaccine can bind the TLR4 appropriately and can be expressed by a recombinant vector. The designed multi-epitope vaccine against COVID-19 could be considered as a suitable candidate for experimental studies.

Opioids cause dry mouth, tooth decay, discoloration of oral tissues, and periodontal diseases. Adequate saliva flow is a prerequisite for a healthy periodontium, and the salivary urea concentration is an important parameter for the tooth and gum health. The purpose of the present study was to investigate salivary urea concentration in opioid users.

This case-control study was conducted on 240 people in 2021. The case group included 120 people referred to addiction treatment centers of Birjand. The control group also consisted of 120 people with no history of addiction and was selected from clients referred to the Faculty of Dentistry of Birjand University of Medical Sciences and Samen Dental Clinic in Birjand. The control and case groups were age matched, and their demographic information and periodontal clinical data were collected. The obtained data were then analyzed using SPSS ver. 19.

The amount of stimulated saliva in the case group was significantly lower than the control group (P value=0.000), while the salivary urea concentration in methadone and opium users was significantly higher than the control group (P value = 0.000).

Drug addiction causes dry mouth and increased salivary urea concentration. Poor oral and dental hygiene and increase in chronic periodontitis are also observed in drug addicts, and chronic periodontitis causes a raise in salivary urea concentration. Hence, the reason for enhanced salivary urea concentration in drug addicts could increase chronic periodontitis.

Esophageal cancer is a research priority due to its invasive nature and poor prognosis. It ranks sixth in mortality among all forms of cancer and esophagectomy is the most conventional treatment. Jejunostomy tube feeding can reduce complications in patients and hospital costs. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of jejunostomy tube feeding, as opposed to the common nutritional method.

A retrospective case-control study was conducted at a teaching hospital in Iran in 2015. The sample of the study included 100 candidates for esophagectomy. In the case group (enteral), a Jejunostomy tube was inserted for 50 patients undergoing esophagectomy. The control group (parenteral) consisted of 50 patients undergoing esophagectomy without jejunostomy tube.  

The median oral intake was on the third day in the case group, with a shorter hospital stay (P=0.02) compared to the control group. The mean total costs of hospitalization per patient in the case group and in the control group were 2228 and 3666 US dollars, respectively. The cost-effectiveness ratio of the jejunostomy tube against the common nutritional method was about 40 US dollars per day of the median decrease in oral intake.  

According to our findings, jejunostomy tube is cost-effective and preferable to the common nutritional method with a decreased median of oral intake start day, a decreased span of hospitalization, fewer complications in the nutritional support of the patients undergoing esophagectomy, and finally, more comfort for patients. The decrease in the average length of stay in hospitals is also important from the point of view of policymaking. So, this method can be a cost-effective alternative to the common nutritional method.