Repository of Research and Investigative Information Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
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Investigating Factors Affecting the Occupational Health of Welding Operators in Small Workshops: A Narrative Review
No full textBackground: The welding process is indispensable in the development of job trends, especially in small industries. In the meantime, welders are faced with various harmful factors such as chemical, physical, and ergonomic factors, which increases the possibility of them contracting various acute and chronic occupational diseases. The principal aim of the current review was to contribute a better understanding of chemical, physical, and ergonomic hazards threatening the occupational health of the workers. Methods: In the current narrative review, Web of Science ،PubMed ،and Scopus as international databases, and SID, and Magiran as national databases in era of 2010 to 2023 were searched. Keywords such as “welding, workplace hazard, harmful agents, physical hazard, heat stress, noise, chemical hazard, and ergonomic hazard” were used to form the search strategy. Findings: In total, 53 articles were collected, among which 31 articles were in the field of chemical harmful factors, 9 were in the field of occupational diseases, 8 were in the field of physical harmful factors, and 5 were in the field of ergonomic harmful factors. Conclusion: Welding is a process in which people may suffer chronic or even acute illnesses or health disorders due to the use of tools and exposure to different harmful factors. In the meantime, lack of access to health equipment, personal protective equipment, and ergonomic facilities, as well as inappropriate training can put people at different levels of risk of exposure to harmful factors. © 2025, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved
A Review of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Journals' Guidelines Regarding the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Manuscript Writing
No full textObjective: To evaluate the submission guidelines of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) journals regarding their policies on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in manuscript preparation. Design: Cross-sectional study, including 54 MEDLINE-indexed PM&R journals, selected by searching “Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine” as a broad subject term for indexed journals. Non-English journals, conference-related journals, and those not primarily focused on PM&R were excluded. Setting: PM&R journals. Participants: Not applicable. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Reviewing policies regarding the use of AI and comparing CiteScore, Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP), Scientific Journal Ranking (SJR), and Impact Factor (IF) between journals with an AI policy and those without. Results: Of the 54 PM&R journals, only 46.3 had an AI policy. Among these, none completely banned AI use or allowed unlimited use without a declaration. Most journals (52) permitted AI for manuscript editing with a required declaration, 44 allowed unlimited AI use with a declaration, and only 4 allowed AI-assisted editing without any declaration. No significant difference was found in scientometric scores between journals considered with and without AI policies (P>.05). Conclusions: Under half of MEDLINE-indexed PM&R journals had guidelines regarding the use of AI. None of the journals with AI policies entirely prohibited its use, nor did they allow unrestricted use without a declaration. Journals with defined AI policies did not demonstrate higher citation rates or affect scores. © 2024 The Author
Effects of Adding Tizanidine on Stimulants in Treatment of ADHD: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
No full textBackground: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder and is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Various treatments have been recommended to manage this disorder, including stimulants and non-stimulants. Stimulants are the first-line treatment strategy for ADHD; however, approximately 30 of patients exhibit drug resistance or sensitivity to these medications. Consequently, other drug groups, such as Alpha2 agonists, are used in such cases. Clonidine and guanfacine are Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs for the treatment of ADHD, and they belong to this group. Tizanidine is an Alpha2 agonist that has not yet been studied for this disorder. Objectives: Due to the lack of information and studies in this area, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of adding tizanidine to stimulants in the treatment of ADHD. Methods: This research was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial conducted in outpatient units and admission wards of university hospitals. Forty patients aged 6 to 18 years, with at least one month of unsuccessful treatment of ADHD with lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), participated in the study. The participants received either Vyvanse and tizanidine (group 1, n = 20) or Vyvanse alone (group 2, n = 19) for an 8-week period. Symptom severity improvement was assessed using the CONNERS' Parent Rating Scale-48 (CPRS-48) and the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale (SNAP-IV). Safety measurements were assessed using pulse rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes during the study period. Results: During the 8-week follow-up, SNAP-IV measures did not change significantly in either of the two groups. A significant within-group change was observed only in the conduct domain of CPRS-48 (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Adding tizanidine is not effective in the treatment of ADHD but demonstrates sufficient safety for use in the pediatric age group. © 2025, Karbasi Amel et al
Dietary glycemic index and insulin index in association with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults
No full textThere is a lack of information from Middle Eastern countries regarding diet-disease associations. We examined dietary glycemic and insulinemic potential in relation to risk of incident diabetes among a large group of Iranian adults. The present study was carried out using data from Yazd Health Study (YaHS)-Taghzieh Mardom Yazd (TAMYZ), a prospective cohort study on adults aged 20 to 70 years in Yazd Greater Area, Iran. This study was initiated in 2014-2016 (baseline examination) and data are collected prospectively at one 5-year intervals. Data on demographic characteristics, dietary intakes, and potential confounders were gathered by interview. During the follow-up phase of the study, diabetes incidence was confirmed by laboratory tests and physician diagnoses. This study included a total of 6178 participants in the cross-sectional analysis and 5105 subjects in the prospective phase. Examining the cross-sectional phase, we failed to find any significant association between dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) as well as dietary insulin index (DII) or dietary insulin load (DIL) and prevalence of diabetes. No significant relationship was also seen between DII/DIL and risk of T2DM in the prospective phase; however, in the stratified analysis by BMI status, there was an inverse significant association between DII and risk of T2DM (HR for T3 vs. T1: 0.19; 95CI: 0.04, 0.92; P=0.03) in non-obese (BMI≥25 kg/m2) and overweight (BMI<25 kg/m2)participants. No significant association was found between dietary GI/ dietary GL/ DII/ or DIL with risk of T2DM. More research, particularly with a longer follow-up duration, is needed to confirm these findings. © 2025 Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved
A Comparative Study of the Preoperative Use of Lidocaine Gargle Versus Rosemary Gargle Effects on Sore Throat and Hoarseness after Endotracheal Intubation Under General Anesthesia in Patients Who Are Candidates for Surgeries
No full textBackground: Sore throat and hoarseness are common and unpleasant postoperative complications. Local use of rosemary and lidocaine is considered among anesthesiologists for their anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we compare the impacts of these substances on Sore throat and hoarseness. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial study conducted on 90 patients undergoing endotracheal intubation. Patients were randomly divided into three equal groups, Lidocaine gargle, Rosemary gargle, and control group, in which the tube cuff was filled with air till pressure reached under 30 cm H2O. Sore throat severity was assessed based on VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), and hoarseness severity was assessed based on the GRBAS scale immediately after extubation, within every 15 minutes in recovery and every 2 hours until 6 hours, then 12 and 24 hours after extubation. Findings: The findings of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between the severity of sore throat in different study groups at all times of study. Examining the trend of changes in the average severity of sore throat showed that this relationship was significant from the 30th minute (P = 0.009) until 24 hours after the operation (P < 0.001). Also, the results of this study showed that the severity of hoarseness between the study groups decreased significantly at all times of the study. Examining the trend of changes showed that this significant relationship remains from the 30th minute (P = 0.041) to the last measurement time (24 hours after the operation) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the use of lidocaine and rosemary significantly reduces the severity of both sore throat and hoarseness from the 30th minute to at least 24 hours after intubation. Also, the effect of lidocaine on reducing sore throat and hoarseness is greater than that of rosemary. © 2025 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved
Caregiving for Patients with Chronic Diseases: The Process of Caregiver Empowerment
No full textBackground: Family caregivers often provide non-professional care to family members with chronic diseases, requiring assistance with daily living activities. Caregivers typically experience significant stress, including physical, psychological, and emotional burdens, as well as social isolation associated with long-term care provision. As caregivers often do not have a role in care-related decisions, their stress levels can increase substantially. Empowerment of caregivers is essential to enable informed decision-making in care-related issues, thereby enhancing patient care outcomes and ameliorating caregiver stress. Accordingly, this study aimed to define and describe the features of the empowerment process for family caregivers providing care to patients with chronic diseases. Methods: This study was conducted using Walker and Avant’s concept analysis method. A total of 33 articles published from 2008 to 2024 focusing on family caregiver empowerment in chronic disease contexts were selected from CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Results: Key attributes identified in the family caregiver empowerment process included support for care recipients, constructive relationships with others, knowledge, skills, and an improved sense of positive feelings. Understanding caregiver needs is crucial for public policymakers, healthcare providers, and families in improving care quality and promoting the health of the family, self-reliance, adherence, and patient care outcomes. Conclusion: Clarifying the components of this concept will assist healthcare service providers to design and implement appropriate intervention programs, including support systems that enhance family caregivers’ empowerment in their caregiving roles. © 2025 The Author(s); Published by Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Community’s Educational Needs During the COVID‑19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study
No full textBackground: Due to its unknown nature, multifaceted symptoms, and rapid spread, the coronavirus has become a public health emergency, leading to international concerns. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the community’s educational needs during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This qualitative research was conducted between 2020 and 2021 using a conventional content analysis approach. The research sample comprised 340 recorded calls from individuals who contacted the emergency hotline of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences during the COVID‑19 pandemic to express their concerns and anxieties. Sampling was conducted randomly and purposively until data saturation was achieved. Additionally, Graneheim and Lundman’s approach was utilized for data analysis. Results: After analyzing the interviews, codes related to the reasons for contact were presented in five main categories, including awareness of the nature of the disease, awareness of preventive methods, awareness of diagnostic methods, awareness of treatment methods, and awareness of caring for high‑risk groups and 15 subcategories. Conclusions: The results of this study highlighted various concerns regarding the coronavirus disease during pandemic conditions, which can serve as a foundation for appropriate educational and counseling programs based on community needs during future infectious pandemics. © 2025 Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research
Survey of patients’ awareness of the actual cost of visits in relation to their individual responsibility for health
No full textAim: One of the effective factors in appropriate services utilization, optimal resource use, and preventing unnecessary visits to specialty clinics is informing people of the actual costs of the services provided and asking them to take their individual responsibility for health. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between patients' awareness of the actual cost of visits at specialized and sub-specialized clinics and their individual responsibility for health. Subject and methods: The present study is a cross-sectional study which was conducted in 2020. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. All patients who referred to specialty and sub-specialty clinics in Kerman (Southeast of Iran) were the study population, of whom a sample of 400 patients were selected by a stratified and simple random sampling approach. Results: The results showed that only 10 of the sample patients were aware of the actual costs of the visit. The level of individual responsibility for health was relatively good. The relationship between awareness of the actual costs of the visit and individual responsibility for health was not statistically significant (P-value < 0.1). Conclusions: This study indicated that people are not well aware of the costs, and health system resources could be wasted by overutilization due to the lack of awareness of their true value. However, the individual responsibility for health is good, which can be used for controlling health care costs by promoting informed and rational choices for health services utilization. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023
Comparing the Effect of Moderate-Intensity Versus High-Intensity Interval Training Exercise on Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) in Cardiovascular Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
No full textLeft ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) is a highly sensitive echocardiographic biomarker that detects signs of myocardial dysfunction. It has been proven that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves LV-GLS but whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is more efficient than moderate-intensity interval training (MIIT) to improve LV-GLS as cardiac deformation index in cardiovascular patients is debatable. In the current systematic review and meta-analysis, different digital databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (ISI), and Google Scholar were searched systematically with no time restriction to answer the abovementioned question. Studies were included that reported GLS as the outcome in CVD subjects before and after enrolling in HIIT and/or MITT. A random effects model was used for meta-analysis. Eleven sets of results from nine articles-two of which had two sets of results-were included. The result of the sensitivity test to check the publication bias was not significant either for MIIT (p = 0.211) or for HIIT (p = 0.238). Our findings showed that GLS was improved significantly after both MIIT (-1.72. -2.68, -0.77) and HIIT (-1.86 -3.01, -0.71) in CVD patients; however, the effect of HIIT was greater than MIIT. Subgroup analysis results showed that baseline disease and duration of exercises do not influence the effect of training on GLS. More studies are needed to confirm the conclusion
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after severe/critical COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccination
No full textBackgroundThe global COVID-19 pandemic was initiated by the appearance of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in 2019, presenting a spectrum of clinical manifestations from asymptomatic cases to severe pneumonia and multi-organ dysfunction, with some cases leading to death induced by hyperinflammatory responses. Neurological manifestations have been reported in more than one-third of COVID-19 patients, particularly in severe instances. While vaccines are pivotal in combating infectious diseases and enhancing public health, reports have linked Guillain-Barr & eacute; syndrome (GBS) to COVID-19 vaccination and infection. This study seeks to analyze four cases of GBS associated with COVID-19.MethodsClinical and demographic data were collected from all patients diagnosed with GBS from a biobank, including patients with severe COVID-19 and those with autoimmune conditions resulting from COVID-19 infection or vaccination, who were referred to Alzahra University Hospital in Isfahan, Iran, between October 2020 and December. 2023.ResultsClinical and demographic data of affected patients are presented. This includes a unique family case involving a daughter who passed away due to GBS following AstraZeneca vaccination, her mother who succumbed to post-COVID-19 GBS, and her father who passed away from severe COVID-19 a year earlier.ConclusionsThese cases provide valuable insights into investigating potential genetic or epigenetic influences on GBS and hyperinflammation. Furthermore, the occurrence of GBS following exposure to COVID-19 and vaccination suggests shared pathways of autoimmunity induction by SARS-CoV-2 and vaccines