نشریه ابن سینا
سال بیست و ششم شماره 3 (پیاپی 88، پاییز 1403)

With the increasing prevalence of smart mobile phones, their impact on various aspects of life has become a significant issue. This study aimed to investigate the effects of long-term use of smart mobile phones on the structural profile of the upper body and overall quality of life.

In a causal comparative research, 90 participants, consisting of both males and females aged 18 to 30 years from the city of Miandoab, Iran, voluntarily took part in this research. The subjects were divided into two groups: 45 long-term users and 45 short-term users, as determined by the mobile phone addiction questionnaire. The assessment included measurements of forward head posture, rounded shoulders, cervical spine alignment, and shoulder asymmetry through photographic analysis. Kyphotic curvature and lordotic posture were evaluated using a flexible ruler, while quality of life was measured using the SF-36 questionnaire.

The results indicated a significant difference in forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and kyphosis between long-term and short-term users (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in terms of wry neck, shoulder asymmetry, lordosis, or overall quality of life between the two groups.

Based on the findings of this research, it is recommended that long-term mobile phone users reduce their usage duration to prevent musculoskeletal abnormalities such as kyphosis and forward head and shoulder posture. Additionally, implementing considerations for corrective exercises is advised to mitigate these issues.

Due to its nature, social anxiety can disturb the social adjustment of adolescents. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on the social adjustment of adolescents with social anxiety disorder. 

This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-/post- test format alongside a control group. The statistical population consisted of male students diagnosed with social anxiety disorder in the second year of high school within the first district of Babol city during the 1401-1402 academic year. A total of 45 participants were selected from this population using purposeful sampling, ensuring they met the study's inclusion criteria. These participants were randomly assigned to three groups: 15 in the CBT group, 15 in the ACT group, and 15 in the control group. Data were collected using social adjustment questionnaire, and the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was utilized for data analysis.

The findings indicated that both CBT and ACT significantly improved social adjustment in adolescents with social anxiety disorder (p<0.001), with no significant difference in effectiveness between the two treatments.

CBT and ACT, both can be recommended for enhancing social adjustment among adolescents with social anxiety disorder.

Self-injury and substance abuse in people with borderline personality disorder can lead to serious harm to themselves and those around them. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness and emotion regulation therapy based on dialectical behavior therapy on substance abuse and self-injury in people with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

This research was conducted using a single-case experimental design (SCED) of the multiple baseline type, consisting of eight one-hour sessions for three patients, followed by a one-month follow-up period. The statistical population included patients diagnosed with PBD. Three individuals were selected based on their voluntary participation and adherence to the research criteria, utilizing targeted and available sampling methods. Inclusion was based on a psychiatrist's diagnosis and a structured clinical interview. They received dialectical behavior therapy based on emotion regulation and mindfulness for eight sessions. Data were collected using the Risky Behaviors Questionnaire by Mohammadkhani and the Personality Assessment Inventory Borderline Features Scale (PAI-BFS).

Data analysis, presented through graphs and tables for SCED, indicated that mindfulness and emotion regulation interventions based on dialectical behavior therapy resulted in significant changes. The effect sizes for the first subject in the variables of self-harm and substance abuse were 4.526 and 2.260, respectively; for the second subject, they were 6.253 and 6.772; and for the third subject, they were 3.651 and 6.134.

This treatment method has led to statistically significant improvements in the symptoms of substance abuse and self-harm among patients with BPD.

Exercise training is employed as a practical method to combat muscle atrophy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) conducted before and after hindlimb suspension (HLS) on the gene expression of MSTN and ActRIIB in the skeletal muscle of male Wistar rats.

Thirty-two male rats, aged four to six months, were randomly divided into four groups (N=8 each): (1) control, (2) training-suspension-retraining, (3) non-training-suspension-retraining, and (4) training-suspension-non-training. The HIIT duration was five weeks, while the HLS lasted for two weeks. Gene expression levels were assessed using RT-PCR.

A significant decrease in the expression of MSTN and ActRIIB was observed in the soleus muscle of the group (2) compared to the other groups (p<0.05). There was also a notable reduction in MSTN expression in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle among the experimental groups relative to the control group (p<0.05), with the group (2) showing a greater effect than the others. Additionally, a significant decline in ActRIIB expression in the EDL muscle of the group (2) was noted compared to the other groups (p<0.05). The group (3) also exhibited a significant decrease in ActRIIB expression in the EDL muscle compared to the control group (p<0.05).

The findings of this study suggest that the training-retraining approach (with HIIT) is particularly effective in mitigating muscle atrophy induced by HLS. These results highlight the HIIT training model as a highly efficient treatment method for preventing and reducing atrophy in rodent skeletal muscle.

Age-related metabolic changes and oxidative damage in the brain, particularly in the hippocampus, can contribute to cognitive decline and the onset of neurological disorders. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic interval training and ginger extract on catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, in the hippocampus of aged rats.

This semi-experimental study involved 20 Wistar rats with an average weight of 500 grams, randomly divided into four groups (n=5): control, ginger, training, and ginger, training+ginger group. The aerobic interval training protocol lasted for eight weeks, with three sessions per week. Ginger extract was administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg, dissolved in water and provided as the drinking water. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test were employed to analyze the data.

Tukey's post-hoc test revealed that the mean MDA levels in both the training group and the training+ginger group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p=0.005 and p=0.013, respectively). Additionally, the mean levels of catalase and SOD in the training+ginger group were significantly higher compared to the control group (p=0.016 and p=0.034, respectively). No significant differences were observed between the means of the other groups and the control group.

The findings suggest that both aerobic exercise and its combination with ginger extract lead to a reduction in MDA levels. Although exercise and ginger consumption alone did not significantly affect MDA, SOD, or catalase levels, their combined effect resulted in an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by challenges in communication and social interaction, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of eight weeks of corrective games on the rate of navicular bone drop, attention deficit, and both static and dynamic balance in children with flat feet who were on the autism spectrum.

In a quasi-experimental study with control group, 20 autistic boys aged 7 to 12 years with flat feet were purposefully selected and randomly divided into two groups: a corrective games group (n=10) and a control group (n=10). A caliper ruler, Conner's questionnaire, and the Bruininks-Oseretsky test were utilized to evaluate navicular drop, attention deficit, and static and dynamic balance, respectively. The corrective games were conducted for eight weeks under the supervision of a trainer. Covariance analysis and paired t-tests were employed to assess differences between and within groups.

After the corrective games, there was a significant decrease in navicular drop and in attention deficit (p<0.05). Additionally, static and dynamic balance improved significantly (p<0.05) in boys on the autism spectrum with flat feet following participation in the corrective games. In contrast, the control group showed no significant differences.

The results of this study indicate that corrective games positively impact navicular drop, attention deficit, and both static and dynamic balance, thereby improving the overall stability of autistic children with flat feet. It is recommended that trainers and occupational therapists incorporate these corrective games into their practices.

Nursing is a high-risk profession often associated with burnout, leading to conditions such as workplace fatigue and job dissatisfaction. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy and reality therapy training in reducing compassion fatigue and job burnout among the medical staff during the COVID-19 outbreak.

This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test and a control group. A total of 45 male and female staff members from Kashani Hospital in Shahrekord were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: two experimental and one control (15 participants each). Participants completed questionnaires measuring compassion fatigue and job burnout prior to the intervention. After eight sessions of training in positive psychotherapy and reality therapy for the experimental groups, participants completed the questionnaires again for the post-test phase. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

The findings indicated a significant difference between the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy and reality therapy training on compassion fatigue and job burnout among the medical staff, with reality therapy demonstrating greater effectiveness (p<0.01).

The results of this study suggest that both positive psychotherapy and reality therapy training are effective in mitigating compassion fatigue and job burnout. Moreover, reality therapy is more effective than positive psychotherapy in achieving these outcomes.

One of the most common endocrine disorders affecting females during their reproductive years is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is associated with symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, infertility, hirsutism, acne, and obesity. This study aimed to induce a polycystic ovary model in female adult rats through a single injection of estradiol valerate.

In this experimental study, 50 adult female rats were divided into four groups: PCO+1 (N=15), PCO+2 (N=15), control (N=10), and sham (N=10). The PCO+1 and PCO+2 groups received subcutaneous injections of estradiol valerate at doses of 1 mg and 2 mg, respectively, combined with 0.2 ml of olive oil. The sham group received a subcutaneous injection of 0.2 ml of olive oil, while the control group underwent no intervention. Body and ovarian weights were measured, and histological analyses were performed to count ovary follicles.

A significant increase in weight was observed in the PCO+2 group compared to the other groups. The numbers of primary, secondary, and mature follicles, as well as corpora lutea, were lower in the PCO+2 group compared to the others. However, there was no significant difference in the number of atretic follicles. Notably, the PCO+2 group showed a significant increase in the number of cystic follicles compared to the other groups.

The results of this study indicate that a single injection of 2 mg of estradiol valerate effectively induces a polycystic ovary model, characterized by the presence of cystic follicles and a reduction in mature follicles.

Exercise activities can help to reduce and control  apoptosis-related damage in patients with diabetes. This research aimed to review studies investigating the effects of exercise on apoptosis in diabetic patients.

We conducted a search for studies examining the response of apoptosis signaling pathways to aerobic, resistance, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise in diabetic patients. This was accomplished using scientific national and international databases focusing on keywords such as "The role of apoptosis in diabetes," "Intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis," "aerobic exercise and apoptosis," and "resistance and high-intensity interval training in diabetic patients."

Our review covered three articles related to the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, three on the extrinsic pathway, and five addressing apoptosis specifically in diabetic patients. We identified six articles discussing the effects of aerobic exercise on apoptosis signaling pathways, one article on resistance exercises, and five on the implications of HIIT on apoptosis across various types of diabetes. The findings suggest that aerobic, resistance, and HIIT exercise interventions increase Bcl-2 expression while decreasing the expression of Bax, Bcl-xL, p53 protein, and caspase-3, ultimately delaying the process of apoptosis in diabetic patients.

Regular participation in aerobic, resistance, and HIIT activities appears to have beneficial effects on anti-apoptotic biomarkers in diabetic patients, thereby controlling apoptosis. Consequently, a combination of HIIT and aerobic exercises is recommended as an effective non-pharmacological strategy to manage apoptosis in patients with diabetes.

Given the emergence of black fungal disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the prevalence of fungi in various environments and the diversity of fungal species, understanding the causes of fungal infections is crucial. This study aimed to analyze the factors contributing to the prevalence of invasive fungal infections.

This research utilized keywords related to fungal infections, key factors, blood group, immunodeficiency, chemotherapy, age, race, and their equivalents to perform searches in international databases.

A total of 25 relevant articles on invasive fungal infections and associated key factors were included in this review. The findings indicated that the primary factor influencing invasive fungal infections is immune system weakness. The second significant group of factors consists of blood groups, while demographic factors such as age, gender, and race were categorized in the third group. Other predisposing factors identified include diabetes, pregnancy, prolonged ICU hospitalization, organ transplantation, and chemotherapy.

Invasive fungal infections caused by opportunistic fungi are a critical cause of mortality and disease burden. Therefore, it is imperative for healthcare managers to prioritize essential measures for the prevention, timely diagnosis, and appropriate treatment of fungal infections.