نشریه دانشگاه علوم پزشکی خراسان شمالی
سال پانزدهم شماره 4 (زمستان 1402)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common causes of disability in neurological diseases, especially in the age of 20-40 years. Many factors caused by the disease have a significant impact on the quality of life the MS patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the demographic factors including age, gender, occupation, marital status, education level, duration of disease, and the type of disease. Also, it was to survey the factors caused by the disease. such as the severity of depression, disability, cognition, and pain which all can affected the quality of life.

This non-experimental and cross-sectional study was conducted on 82 cases with multiple sclerosis (53 people with relapse-recovery type and 29 people with secondary progressive type) in a simple, non-randomized manner in the age group of 25-60 years. In order to investigate the relationship between variables and the factors affecting the quality of life, Pearson and Spearman correlation tests and multiple regression tests were used, considering the alpha level to be equal to 0.05.

The results of multiple regression demonstrated that all the above factors had a high correlation with the physical and psychological conditions of the MS patients' quality of life, with a correlation coefficient of 0.89 and 0.85, respectively. Moreover, depression severity and disability level were the most important influencing factors in determining the physical condition of the MS patients' quality of life, with the standard beta coefficient of -0.48 and -0.35, respectively. The only effective factor in the psychological state of the MS patients' quality of life was the depression severity (with a standard beta coefficient of -0.67).

The severity of depression is a critical and effective factor in the quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis

E-learning is a way to design, compile, present, and evaluate education that uses electronic capabilities to facilitate learning. Therefore, the current research was developed to design and psychometrically analyze the model of the electronic education system using virtual education at the North Khoran University of Medical Sciences.

The research method was a mixed method, and the research strategies in the qualitative and quantitative parts were content analysis and survey, respectively. The statistical sample in the qualitative stage was 20 experts and managers of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences selected by snowball sampling method. The statistical sample in the quantitative part was all the professors and experts of virtual education at North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences (n=440). The data collection method in this research was an interview (semi-structured) in the qualitative part and a questionnaire in the quantitative part.

The electronic education system using virtual education included 11 main themes: technological infrastructure, human infrastructure, economic infrastructure, management and leadership infrastructure, administrative infrastructure and supporting system, students, educational content and materials, management and expert staff, the use of hardware and software, and external factors and requirements, alongside 51 sub-themes. The results of the quantitative part showed that the mentioned model has the required validity.

The managers of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences can help to strengthen the learning process of the students by implementing the electronic education system.

Job stress is one of the main factors that reduce productivity in organizations and cause physical and psychological complications among employees. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between different dimensions of job stress and job satisfaction among accountants of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences.

This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 accountants. Questionnaires on job stress (role, communication, support from officials, support from colleagues, control, demands, and changes) and job satisfaction from Minnesota were used to collect data. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS22 with a significance level of P=0.05.

The results showed that there was no significant relationship between job stress and some factors such as age, education level, marital status, and work experience. Job stress and 6 of its 7 components (communication, support from officials and colleagues, control, demands, and change) were significantly related to job satisfaction (P=0.05).

Since job satisfaction is related to different dimensions of job stress, it can be increased in accountants by improving the different dimensions of job stress, including role, communication, and support from officials and colleagues

The lack of meaning in life is among the factors that can affect the successful treatment of addiction-related patients. Accordingly, identifying the most effective psychological treatments and interventions in this regard is of great importance. As a result, the present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of psychotherapy based on narrative therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy on increasing the meaning of life of opioid-dependent patients after detoxification.

This semi-experimental research had a pre-test and post-test design and follow-up with a control group. The statistical population was the patients of state-funded addiction treatment centers in Bojnurd, Iran, in 2022. Due to the semi-experimental nature of the project, a sample of 45 people was selected according to the inclusion criteria from the statistical community by the available sampling method, who were randomly divided into three groups of 15 people, including two experimental groups and one control group. The tool used in this research was the Meaning of Life Questionnaire developed by Steger et al. (2006). The experimental groups separately were subjected to 8 sessions of 90 minutes of psychotherapy based on narrative therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy, while the control group did not receive any training. The collected data was analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance and Ben Ferroni's post hoc test in SPSS software (version 25).

The obtained results indicated the effectiveness of both narrative therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy on increasing the meaning of life (P<0.001). Therefore, both approaches increased the meaning of patients' lives. Of note, the narrative therapy was more effective than cognitive- behavioral therapy in the post-test and follow-up period (P<0.05).

The results of this research showed that narrative therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy can be used to increase the meaning of life of opioid-dependent patients.

Sports activity increases the expression of PGC-1α, the regulatory factor of mitochondrial biogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of Moderate-intensity Continuous Training (MICT) and High-intensity Intermittent Training (HIIT), along with sodium citrate supplementation, on PGC-1α expression in male Wistar rats.

Forty rats were placed in the following five groups: Control, MICT, MICT+sodium citrate, HIIT, and HIIT+sodium citrate. The continuous training group ran for eight weeks and five sessions per week with an average intensity of 70% of the maximum running speed for 15-30 minutes. The interval training group ran for 12 minutes with an intensity range of 50% and 90%. In addition to exercise, the exercise+supplement groups received 15 mmol/l sodium citrate supplement daily. The expression of PGC-1α in the soleus muscle was measured by the western blot method. Data analysis was done using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test.

The PGC-1α protein expression increased in both the training groups and the training+supplement groups compared to the control group (P=0.001). Furthermore, adding sodium citrate could significantly increase the PGC-1α expression in the MICTgroup+supplement compared to the MICT group (P=0.005). However, the HIIT had a higher effect on PGC-1α expression than the MICT group.

Despite the effectiveness of both training methods, sodium citrate supplementation before HIIT could have more synergistic effects in increasing the expression of PGC-1α.

There is a risk of genetic mutations and damage to the bodies of the patients and employees who are exposed to ionizing radiation. Utilizing substances that neutralize the produced free radicals by ionizing radiation is one solution to overcome this problem. To study the radioprotective role of these compounds, the mean lethal dose that kills 50% of animals exposed to radiation within 30 days (LD50/30) should be determined. This value is the basis for studying radioprotectors effects on animals. The present study aimed to evaluate the survival or death rate in irradiated rats with different doses of X-rays to determine the mean lethal dose of 6 MV X-rays.

A total of 42 male and female Wistar rats with an approximate weight of 160 ± 10 g were examined. The animals were kept in the pet house at a temperature of 25°C and a light-dark cycle of 12 hours, and water and food were provided freely. The animals were randomly divided into seven groups. Six groups received X-rays with doses of 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, and 6.9 Gy, respectively. The seventh group (control group) received no radiation dose. The rats were examined for 60 days, and their mortality results were recorded.

Based on the obtained results, LD50/30 was 6.641 Gy for Wistar rats weighing 160 ± 10 g and 16 weeks’ old calculated by Probit Analysis.

This finding can be used to investigate the protective effects of natural substances and chemical drugs on the effects of X-rays on the body.

The COVID-19 disease has emerged from December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The disease can affect many organs of the body, mainly organs associated with respiratory distress syndrome, but liver damage has also been reported. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between liver enzymes and underlying diseases in COVID-19 patients admitted to Pasteur Hospital in Bam, Iran, in the first six months of 2021.

In this cross-sectional descriptive-analytical research, the study population consisted of COVID-19 patients admitted to Bam Pasteur Hospital. A researcher-made checklist was used to collect data regarding liver enzyme levels in people with underlying diseases. After data collection, the data were entered into SPSS software (version 22) and analyzed.

According to the findings of this study, a significant relationship was found between diabetes and variables such as age, ALP, and direct bilirubin. In addition, a significant relationship was observed between blood pressure and variables such as age, ALP(Alkaline Phosphatase), SGOT(serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase), SGPT (serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase), and direct bilirubin. Although heart disease was also significantly associated with variables such as age and SGOT, the results showed no significant relationship between addiction and variables such as age, SGOT, SGPT, ALP, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin.

Liver enzymes could be a warning sign of liver disease. It is recommended to screen COVID-19 patients for liver enzymes during the disease and be examined and treated

This study was conducted with the aim of creatingp a model of pregnant women's quality of life and self-care behaviors based on health literacy and mindfulness mediated by a health-oriented lifestyle.

The present study was a descriptive- correlative study. The study population was pregnant women who were admitted to the comprehensive health centers of the city of Bojnord in the last three months of 2019, of whom 240 pregnant women were voluntarily selected according to the available sampling method. The instruments used for data collection were the Maternal Health Literacy Questionnaire, Mindfulness Scale, Short Quality of Life Scale, World Health Organization Short Scale, Self-care in Pregnancyand Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire. The data was analyzed and structured using SPSS24 and Lisrel softwares and structural equation method.

The age of the participants was between 18-35 years. The independent variables " health literacy during pregnancy” and “mindfulness” and the mediating variable “health-oriented lifestyle” predicted 42% of the changes in self-care and 61% of the changes in quality of life. The indirect effects of health literacy during pregnancy on quality of life (0.52), pregnancy health literacy during pregnancy on self-care (0.50) mindfulness on quality of life (0.49), and mindfulness on self-care (0.47) were also significant due to health-oriented lifestyle (P<0.05).

In order to improve the quality of life and self-care behavior of pregnant women, it is suggested that in addition to health literacy and  mindfulness during pregnancy, attention should also be paid to a health-oriented lifestyle and its development in pregnant women.

One of the most important tasks of medical science universities is the training of qualified and specialized human resources to acquire the necessary skills and efficiency to meet the needs of society. Apprenticeship training is considered a serious issue in education; therefore, examining the current situation, identifying the problems in the trainee training and taking measures to rectify and correct them will lead to the achievement of learning objectives and the improvement of the quality of health services. The aim of the present study was to investigate the status of the clinical clerkship from the perspective of Esfarayen medical students.

This quantitative-qualitative study was conducted with 163 public health, nursing and emergency medicine students. In the quantitative phase, a standard questionnaire was used to assess check the status of the students' internships. The qualitative phase was also conducted with the aim of determining identifying the challenges in internships from the students' perspective through individual interviews and targeted group discussions.

The educational level of the internship was rated as relatively good with a standard average of 3.47. Although the academic situation of the students' internship was relatively good during the COVID-19 epidemic, there were always challenges in the course of the internship. In the individual interviews and group discussions, the challenges were identified in the form of 6 main codes (challenges related to the instructor, the students, the internship environment, the staff, the training programsand the clients) and 20 sub-codes.

Despite the relatively good condition of the clinical clerkship in a quantitative evaluation, these courses showed problems in a qualitative evaluation, such as insufficient experience and motivation of some professors and instructors, psychological problems of students, lack of educational facilities, weak interaction and participation of some staff, insufficient transparency of the training program, and lack of trust of patients in students. It is suggested to solve the challenges identified in this study to improve the quality and quantity of internship courses.

A dog is an animal that is usually kept as a pet and is often allowed to live indoors. However, the issue of the uncleanliness of dogs is an important matter of jurisprudence, and it is necessary to understand the ruling on their uncleanliness. Some people argue that considering dogs unclean is against their rights. The respectful treatment of such issues, especially for those who are not qualified to comment on religious issues, has raised doubts and uncertainties about the nature of certain religious tenets. On the other hand, the hadiths (traditions) of the infallibles clearly mention the uncleanliness of dogs. In the field of medical parasitology, dogs play an important role in the transmission of parasitic diseases such as hydatid cysts and toxocara.

This descriptive-analytical study aims to investigate the views of religious jurists on the uncleanliness of dogs and the effects of dogs on human health from a medical -parasitological and Islamic perspective.

According to the sciences of medical parasitology and Islam, the dog has a great impact on the pathogenesis of human diseases mediated by contact with the feces and urine of this animal.

In accordance with religious traditions about dogs, their impurity is indisputable. Many parasitic diseases in humans, such as hydatid cysts, toxocara, etc., can be transmitted to humans through the feces of dogs. Therefore, the uncleanliness of dogs is also important in terms of health and Islamic rules.