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Background and Aim: Depression is the most common and important psychological disorder among End-Stage Renal Failure especially those who are undergoing hemodialysis, that can have a negative impact on quality of life and treatment acceptance. Since the patient participation in self-care activities, lead to more independence and patient adjustment with his/her illness, the aim of this research is to determine the relationship between self-care and depression in hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: This is an analytical-descriptive (cross-sectional) study from correlation type that was done on 60 patients under hemodialysis treatment that were selected in randomized cluster sampling in Imam Reza and 17 Shahrivar hospitals of Mashhad in 2006. Data were collected through three questionnaires including demographic information, self-care and depression of CES-D. The data were analyzed by SPSS 11.5 soft ware and with Pearson correlation test, linear regression, Kendal b Tao and kruskal-wallis test. (p<0.05) Results: The mean age of the patients was 42.6±12.3 years and the most frequencies were 63.3% males, 78.3% unemployed, 76.6% married, and 33.9% with elementary education. The findings showed that there is a strong negative relationship between self-care and depression. It means that with self-care increase, depression rate is decreasing in the patients. (p<0.001, r = -0.59). There was a significant relationship between depression and self-care levels. (p= 0.016) Conclusion: There is a negative relationship between depression and self-care in hemodialysis patients. It is better and recommended to improve and prepare any way and methods (teaching and …) for improving self-care in hemodialysis patients behavior to decrease physical and mental complications resulted from hemodialysis treatment.

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Background and Aim: Hyperlipidemia, particularly hypercholesterolemia, is one of the major risk factors in cardiovascular diseases. Egg yolk is one of the richest sources of dietary cholesterol in human nutrition. Because egg yolk has relative high cholesterol, we wish to investigate the effect of consuming regular eggs on serum lipid profile. Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental trail, twenty six healthy normolipidemic volunteers (8 men and 18 women) were recruited for the study and two well-cooked moderately sized eggs were added to their breakfast in addition to their regular diet for 4 weeks. Fasting blood samples, the dietary intakes, serum lipids, and anthropometric measurements were compared before and after starting new diet applying paired t-test using SPSS software (ver.13) for windows. Results: The 4-week egg consumption (2 per day) significantly increased the average level of total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglyceride from 129.76, 72.19 and 99.63 mg/dl before having egg to 160.69, 98.03 and 105.34 mg/dl, respectively, after using eggs (p=0.0001). While HDL-C decreased significantly from 54.84 mg/dl to 50.73 mg/dl (p=0.008), cholesterol intake significantly increased from 251.2 mg/day to 534.1 mg/day (p=0.0001). Conclusion: Because egg yolk has relatively high cholesterol concentrations, limited egg consumption is often recommended to reduce serum cholesterol concentrations and to help prevent coronary heart diseases (CHD).

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Background and Aim: Coronary artery diseases are the major causes of death around the world and dyslipidemia is one of the most susceptive factors. It is very important to control the dyslipidemia to prevent the cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia in Gonabad city. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 606 persons (401 women and 205 men) with 41.39±12.56 mean years were selected based on random cluster sampling method, and serum lipids including triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C and HDL-C were determined in fasting condition. The data were analyzed through statistic tests, that is, chi-square and t-test using SPSS software. Results: The results showed that the most prevalence of dyslipidemia was high LDL-C and total cholesterol levels that were showed in 49.6 and 45.6 percent of men and women, respectively. The lowest prevalence of dyslipidemia was low Levels of HDL-C that were showed in 17.5 and 11.6 percent of men and women, respectively. The prevalence of all lipid abnormalities in expect of high levels LDL-C that were higher in men than women, and HDL-C levels were significantly lower in men than women. There was a significant relation between age and mean lipid values. The results showed increasing means of triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-C with aging until 50-59, but beyond that age a decrease was showed. The prevalence of lipid abnormalities in expect of HDL-C was significantly more in the individuals above 40 years old than the younger ones. Conclusion: With regard to the fact that the prevalence of lipid abnormalities is almost high in the present study, it seems that more educational recommendations, modification of dietary habits, lifestyles, and also progress of physical activities are necessary for the prevention of ischemic heart disease risks.

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 Abstract

  Background and Aims: Quality in educational system deserves special importance and its purpose is the maximum use of resources. Also, evaluation plays a fundamental role in quality improvement. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the internal evaluation of community and mental health nursing department of Gonabad university of medical sciences.

  Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive one. The sample included faculty members, managers, students and related resources as well as the documents of community and mental health nursing department of Gonabad university of medical sciences. A non-random selection based on the objective was used for their selection. Data collection tools were a questionnaire and a checklist. Moreover, observation, inquiry and focus group discussion were used to collect data. The data were analyzed via descriptive statistics.

  Results: Evaluation resulted in 8 factors, 41 criteria and 212 markers that were studied and indicated that the total score of facilities and educational equipments were the highest (92.18%). The minimum score was allocated to educational courses, academic and nonacademic curricula (55.55%).

  Conclusion: The department should attempt to maintain and promote the items with desired status according to progress of science and technology, they also should try to improve the factors that did not get high score on internal evaluation, by careful planning. University administrators also should provide necessary resources and good conditions to improve the group and achieve the best conditions.

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 Abstract

 Background and Aim: The increase of quality of education depends on the improvement of educational groups. Internal evaluation is effective on the development of education quality. So, this study was designed to investigate the internal evaluation of department of basic sciences in medicine in one of the universities of medical sciences in Iran in 2010.

 Materials and Methods: This research was a descriptive cross-sectional study the population included all faculty members of the department of basic sciences in medicine, the documents and resources. Sampling was based on purpose . A questionnaire was used to collect data which was also completed with interview, observation and document review. The obtained data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods in the form of frequency distribution tables and indexes of central tendency and dispersion.

  Results: Evaluation results indicated that all factors except theses, study opportunities and seminars are satisfactory. The total score of the mission, goals, and organization was the highest (3 out of 3) and the lowest score belonged to theses, study opportunities and seminars (1.66 out of 3) .

 Conclusion: The evaluation plays a fundamental role in quality improvement. Therefore, it is recommended that to preserve and promote the study factors which have favorable situation and plan a program to improve the factors that weren't good. Also, it is recommended that internal evaluation be repeated in certain time periods. The university administrators should provide conditions and resources to improve the situation.

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Aims: The types of energetic materials that are presented to active muscles during body activities are very important. This research aimed to compare the effect of interval, continuous and parallel aerobic exercise on urea, uric acid and creatinine of urine level in 24 hours and protein catabolism of adolescents.

Methods: This quasi-experimental research was performed on 12-15 year old student boys from hostelry guidance schools of Gonabad city in 2011-12 educational years and 15 individuals were chosen randomly and entered to the study. Urine samples collected 24 hours before starting exercise and immediately after finishing each exercise method for 24 hours and the level of urea, uric acid and creatinine were determined by photometric method. The protein catabolism level was calculated after each exercise. Data were entered into SPSS 19 statistical software and were analyzed by descriptive statistics and ANOVA test.

Results: The weight and body mass index of samples did not show any significant difference at the first of 3 types of exercises. There were no significant difference between the effect of one session exercise of interval, continuous and parallel aerobic activity on urea (p=0.33), uric acid (p=0.21) and creatinine of urine level in 24 hours (p=0.41) and the balance of protein catabolism (p=0.33) of adolescents.

Conclusion: The interval, continuous and parallel aerobic exercises do not have any effect on urea, uric acid and creatinine of urine level in 24 hours and the balance of protein catabolism of adolescent between 12 to 15 years old.

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Abstract Aims: Diarrhea is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries after respiratory infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of simultaneous consumption of rice soup and Oral Rehydration Salt on weight gain and blood factors in 8-24 months old children with acute diarrhea. Materials & Methods: This study is a controlled clinical trial which was done on 40 children 8 to 24 months old with acute diarrhea hospitalized in the pediatric ward in 22th Bahman hospital, Gonabad in 2013 who were selected using simple sampling method. Subjects were assigned into control and intervention groups using random allocation. The weight gain rate and blood factors including creatinine, urea, hemoglobin, hematocrit, bicarbonate and pH were studied and compared before and after intervention. Data was analyzed using SPSS 14.5 software using Chi-square, independent T and Mann-Whitney tests. Findings: There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of blood factors such as creatinine, urea, hematocrit, pH and bicarbonate before and after intervention. Also the reduction in hemoglobin was not significant between two groups, but the reduction in urea and creatinine in intervention group was more than control group. The mean of weight gain in the first and second 24hours had significant difference between two groups and it was higher in intervention group rather than control group. Conclusion: Rice soup consumption is caused more weight gain in treatment of children with acute diarrhea. The rice soup has no effect on blood factors except urea and creatinine in children with acute diarrhea as well.

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Abstract Aims: Dialysis patients have experienced some degree of pain, especially foot pain. Some complementary interventions such as muscle relaxation are effective in relieving pain. This study was performed with the aim of assessing the effect of muscle relaxation on hemodialysis patients’ pain. Materials & Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 90 hemodialysis patients of Khatamolanbia and Imam Ali hemodialysis centers of Zahedan during 2013 and 2014. The patients were chosen by purposive sampling based on inclusion criteria and randomly divided into control and experimental groups. Pain intensity was measured by McGill questionnaire before intervention. Then, Benson muscle relaxation was taught to patients’ of case group and was performed by them for 15-20 minutes twice a day for a month. The control group received no training. The pain intensity of two groups was compared after one month. The data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent T and Mann-Whitney tests by SPSS 21 software. Findings: Most of the patients were men, married, housekeeper with under diploma education and the mean age of them was 43.0±15.0 years. There was a significant decrease in pain intensity in the intervention group compared to the control (p=0.03). Conclusion: The muscle relaxation technique can be employed to reduce pain in hemodialysis patients.

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Aims: Anxiety is a common phenomenon in cardiovascular diseases and its control is very important. This study aimed to investigate the effect of guided imagery on anxiety in hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome in the cardiac intensive care unit. Materials & Methods: In this clinical trial in 2014, 50 patients with acute coronary syndrome in the cardiac intensive care unit of 22 Bahman Hospital in Gonabad City, Iran, were selected by convenience sampling method and were randomly divided into two control and experimental groups. At first, all the samples completed the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory questionnaire and Visual Analog Scale of anxiety. In addition to usual care, experimental group listened to the CD of guided imagery 2 times a day, morning and night for 16 minutes and the control group received only routine care. At the end, the mentioned questionnaires were filled again and the data were analyzed in SPSS 14.5 software by independent T-test, Chi-square and Fisher exact tests. Findings: The mean of pretest and posttest scores of total anxiety and hidden anxiety in the experimental group decreased significantly compare with the control group (p<0.05), but mean score decreasing of the pretest and posttest of clear anxiety in the experimental group was not significant compare with the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Guided imagery can reduce the total anxiety and hidden anxiety of heart patients with acute coronary syndrome hospitalized in cardiac intensive care unit. Keywords Imagery (Psychotherapy) [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68019018] Anxiety [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68001007] Acute Coronary Syndrome [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68054058]

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Aims: Leachate is a type of highly concentrated wastewater containing chemical and microbial contaminants. Leachate discharged in receiving earth and water leads to the diffusion of different types of dangerous environmental pollutions. The aim of this study was to reduce the coliform bacteria in fresh urban leachate through electrolysis equipped by copper-iron combined electrodes.

Materials & Methods: In the laboratory-experimental study, 36 fresh leachate samples were prepared from urban solid-waste collecting trucks in Gonabad using standard combined method from July to November 2015. The leachate samples were poured into a closed reactor containing three copper-iron combined electrode pairs. Data was analyzed by SPSS 18 software using one-way ANOVA.

Findings: The higher the voltage and reaction time were, the higher the coliform removal was. In 60 minutes, all three voltages removed 100% of microbial pollution. There was a significant difference between the rate of the removed coliforms through different voltages in 15, 30, and 45 minutes (p<0.05). The rates of the removed coliforms in different reaction times were significant in 10V (p=0.001) and 20V (p=0.002).

Conclusion: Through the utilization of copper-iron combined electrodes and applied proper voltages, the electro-chemical method can be used as a clean and eco-friendly method to remove the coliform bacteria from fresh leachate.

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Aims: As a highly developed oxidation process, the solar photo-catalytic process is highly used to reduce the environmental pollutants. In addition, it most sufficiently analyzes many organic pollutants and pathogenic microbial agents, completely. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of the photo-catalytic process in the removal of microbial pollutant of the refinery wastewater of Gonabad Behshiran Dairy Factory.

Materials & Methods: In the cross-sectional study, samples of the refinery wastewater of Gonabad Behshiran Dairy Factory were prepared in spring and summer 2015. The processes were photolysis through concentrated sun light (P1), photo-catalytic at the presence of concentrated sun light (P2), photo-catalytic at the presence of normal sun light (P3), and photolysis with normal sun light (P4). Data was analyzed by SPSS 20 software using ANOVA.

Findings: Passing from spring to summer, there were increases in the intensity of solar radiation, UV, and IR, while there was more change in UV. Using concentrated sun light, microbial removal efficiency hugely increased in such a way that there was a significant correlation between radiation intensity and microbial removal efficiency in P2 and P3 processes.

Conclusion: Compared to normal sun light, the concentrated sun light considerably reduces microbial load. In addition, TiO₂ Nano-particles in photo-catalytic process lead to a higher disinfection rate.

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Aims: Some severe hemodynamic changes are known as problems due to 5% lidocaine spinal anesthesia at the elderly. Such changes, also, may lead to the cardio-vascular or renal problems. The aim of this study was to compare between the hemodynamic changes in two spinal-cord anesthesia methods with 5% lidocaine (the current method) and with low 5% lidocaine dose with 50μg fentanyl in the elderly patients with a systemic blood-pressure increase history in the transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). 

Materials & Methods: In the two-blinded clinical trial, 148 patients aged more than 50 years with benign prostate hypertrophy, who had referred to 15^th of Khordad Hospital of Gonabad for TURP between 2011 and 2012, were studied. The subjects, selected via simple random sampling method, were randomly divided into two groups (n=74 per group). The first and the second groups underwent spinal-cord anesthesia with the administrations of 5% lidocaine (2cc; 100mg) and 5% lidocaine (1cc; 50mg) + fentanyl (1cc; 50μg), respectively. Blood-pressure and heart-rate were recorded immediately after the anesthesia and at every 5 minutes. Data was analyzed by SPSS 21 software using independent T and Fisher’s exact tests. 

Findings: Mean reductions in the systolic and the diastolic blood-pressures (p<0.001) and mean reduction in the heart-rate (p=0.009) in lidocaine+fentanyl group were significantly lower than lidocaine group. In lidocaine group, ephedrine and atropine administrations were required in 26 and 19 patients, respectively. Nevertheless, no administration either of ephedrine or of atropine was required in lidocaine + fentanyl group (p<0.001). 

Conclusion: Without any hemodynamic instability, low lidocaine dose (50mg) with fentanyl (50μg) may result in sufficient anesthesia and no-pain in the elderly patients with a history of controlled high-pressure, who undergo TURP.

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Aims: Blood sugar control is an important factor in mortality reduction in diabetic patients with acute and critical illness. ICU nurses have an important role in preparing and controlling the blood glucose sample. Due to the lack of evidence for appropriateness of measuring blood glucose in patients with hemodynamic instability using glucometers, the current study aimed to compare the glucometry results with venous blood sugar in diabetic patients undergoing open heart surgery with hemodynamic instability.

Instrument & Methods: In this comparative study with a time-series design, which was conducted in the heart surgery and ICU wards of Vali-Asr hospital of Birjand in 2015, 60 diabetic patients were selected based on convenience sampling method. Blood glucose samples were measured through venous blood sampling and simultaneously with glucometry method at four stages (before surgery and admission to the operating room, opening time of the thorax, admission in the ICU, and one hour after admission to the ICU). The data were analyzed with SPSS 16 software, using Pearson correlation test, repeated measures analysis and Bland and Altman’s charts.

Findings: There was a significant difference between glucometry blood glucose average with venous blood glucose at all four sampling occasions (p<0.001). Bland and Altman’s chart showed difference between two methods. There was a strong correlation between two measuring methods of blood sugar (p<0.001; r=0.94).

Conclusion: It seems inappropriate to measure blood sugar in patients with hemodynamic instability via the glucometry method and venous blood sampling seems more reasonable.

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Aims: Nowadays, the pulse oximetry is widely used to monitor the oxygen saturation constantly. In the clinical care, it is observed that the ear pulse oximetry with the finger sensor is sometimes utilized in the ICUs. The aim of the study was to determine the accuracy of the ear pulse oximetry and the fingertip with the finger sensor in the ICU patients under the mechanical ventilation. 

Materials & Methods: In the analytic comparative study, 60 hospitalized patients under the mechanical ventilation in the ICU of Moddares Hospital in Kashmar Township were studied in 2015. The subjects were selected via available convenience sampling method. One finger pulse oximetry sensor having been attached to the upper part of the ear and the other to the fingertip, the arterial blood sampling was done simultaneously. Data was analyzed by SPSS 22 software using repeated ANOVA and Spearman correlation tests. 

Findings: Mean oxygen saturation percentage and the heartbeat of ear, fingertip, and arterial blood pulse oximetry were significantly different (p<0.001). In addition, the oxygen saturation percentage of ear, fingertip, and arterial blood pulse oximetry was significantly correlated by the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂; p=0.001). Nevertheless, the mentioned parameters were not significantly correlated by the peripheral edema and especially, by the hand (p>0.05).   

Conclusion: The utilization of ear pulse oximetry with the finger sensor on the fingertip cannot lead to accurate results of the oxygen saturation in the hospitalized patients in the ICU under the mechanical ventilation. However, in case of any reduction in the arterial blood oxygen pressure, the accuracy of the finger pulse oximetry starts to drop out.

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Aims: Hepatitis B infection is one of the common diseases and the most prevalent communicable virus transferred by blood to the healthcare personnel. Active immunity, through vaccination, is the most effective way to prevent hepatitis B infection. The current study aimed to determine the protective antibody titer against HBs antigen in Gonabad University of Medical Sciences students, Gonabad City, Iran, 2018.
Methods & Materials: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 416 students of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences. The HBsAb level was determined in blood samples by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit made in Iran. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics like frequency distribution tables and inferential statistics as independent 2-sample t-test and Chi-square test to determine the relationship between variables. The significance level was considered P<0.05.
Findings: HBsAb level of 217 cases (51.8%) was below 10 IU/mL, 96 (61.3%) had an HBsAb level between 10 and 100 IU/mL, and in 106 (36.5%) cases, HBsAb level was above 100 IU/mL. There was no statistically significant difference between the means of HBsAb in terms of gender, age, and body mass index (P<0.05).
Conclusion: In general, more than 50% of the study participants had mild immunity against hepatitis B viruses. Therefore, in these people, it is recommended to check the antibody titer periodically to ensure immunity against hepatitis B.

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Aims Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) is a membrane receptor expressed on the surface of T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, natural killers, and dendritic cells. In cancer, the PD-1/PD-L1 system prevents the proliferation of T lymphocytes and causes the release of cytokines and cytotoxicity, which leads to the apoptosis of tumor-specific T cells, thereby preventing the immune response to cancer cells. 
Methods & Materials In this study, the extracellular part of the humanized PD-1 protein was cloned and expressed, and the protein was injected as an antigen into a camel (Camelus dromedarius) to obtain a camel polyclonal antibody against PD-1 protein. 
Findings The obtained results indicate the proper expression of the protein in the prokaryotic system. Also, using various tests, such as ELISA and western blot, it was confirmed that the polyclonal antibody obtained from camel can identify PD-1 protein. 
Conclusion This study showed that because of the advantages, such as the ability to bind multiple epitopes, camel polyclonal antibodies can be used in antibody-based research for effective and strong molecular applications to detect PD-1 receptors.