Journal of Arak University of Medical Sciences

Pattern of Structural Relationships of Covid-19 Epidemic Anxiety based on Self-Control Mediated by Emotional Resilience

Zahra AkhaviSamarein

Introduction: Considering the destructive effects of the prevalence of infectious diseases such as Covid-19 and the resulting social crisis on physical and mental health, a leading study was conducted to investigate Pattern of structural relationships of Covid-19 epidemic anxiety based on self-control mediated by emotional resilience.
Methods: The method of this research was descriptive-correlational and the statistical population of the present study included all students of Mohaghegh University in the academic year 2021-2022. Corona, resilience, completed the self-control questionnaire. Pearson correlation coefficient tests and structural equation modeling using Spss.25 and Lisrel 8.8 software were used to analyze the data.
Ethic: This research has been approved by the ethics code IR.ARUMS.REC.1400.045 in the ethics committee of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences.
Results: The results showed that coronary anxiety was negatively associated with self-control and emotional resilience. Emotional resilience is also positively associated with self-control. Model fit indices also confirmed the path of self-control over coronary anxiety mediated by emotional resilience.
Conclusions: According to the results of the current study, psychiatric clinics, counseling centers and health networks can use the findings of the research in the field of mental health and to face the covid-19 epidemic.

Study of some Polymorphisms of CTLA-4 Gene in Women with Breast Cancer–Markazi Province

Seyedeh Zahra Shifteh

Introduction: Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease. The antigen molecule of four cytotoxic T-lymphocytes is involved in inhibition of T cell response and immune response regulation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CTLA4 gene can affect the expression of the aforementioned molecule. The aim of this study was to investigate the polymorphisms of rs4553808 and rs733618 of CTLA4 gene with the risk of breast cancer.
Methods: In this study to investigation polymorphisms, the DNA of 80 patients with breast cancer and 80 healthy individuals in central province of ARAK were extracted from peripheral blood. Then, PCR-RFLP technique was used. The results were analyzed using SPSS software and SNP Analyzer. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Arak University (Code: Ir.arakmu.rec.1396.25).
Results: Statistical analysis rs4553808 polymorphism showed no significant increase in the risk of patients with GG genotype compared with the control group (OR = 2/013, CI = 95% 1/721-2/353). Also, heterozygotes AG genotype analysis did not show any relationship between the genetic diversity and breast cancer (OR = 1/204, CI = 95% 0/604-2/402). The combination of AG + GG genotypes did not show any significant correlations (OR = 1/130, CI = 95% 0/569-2/242). Statistical analysis for rs733618 polymorphism showed increase in the risk of breast cancer. The results indicate that the TC (OR = 2/992, CI = 95% 1/280-1/998) showed a significant relationship between the genetic diversity and breast cancer. The analysis of the combined CC and TC genotypes was associated with increased risk for breast cancer compared to TT genotypes (OR = 0/334, CI = 95%; 0.143-0.782, P = 0.009). Considering that the distribution of CC and TC genotypes was significant between the two groups of control and the patient, so the frequency of TT genotype with the same amount of P = 0.001 was significant between the two groups of control and the patient.
Conclusions: There was a significant relationship between the genotypes rs733618 polymorphism and breast cancer. However, there was no significant relationship between rs4553808 polymorphism and breast cancer risk.

Investigating the Role of Medical Staff in Health Policies during the Corona Virus Pandemic

Morteza Ghasemi

Introduction: The current research was conducted with the aim of "investigating the role of medical staff in health policies during the corona virus pandemic".
Methods: This research is practical in terms of purpose and exploratory research in terms of method.
Results: The statistical population of this research is all the medical staff of Arak city Since access to all these people is not possible; Therefore, the sampling method is used. The data collection tool in this research was a questionnaire. This research was done using the factor analysis model.
Conclusions: The data and information extracted from the factor analysis test showed that: establishing proper communication with patients, interacting with citizens and the government, paying attention to the laws and encouraging others to comply with them, learning specialized training to contain the corona virus, explaining the situation to worried people, Adhering to health protocols and informing others, perception of organizational justice, alignment between individual and organizational goals, transfer of sense of responsibility to the work environment, existence of an efficient evaluation system and encouragement to inject vaccines are the most important role of the medical staff in health policies. They were during the corona disease pandemic.

A review on Antiviral Activity of Phytogenic Compounds against SARS, MERS and Covid-19 Coronaviruses

Maryam Karimi-Dehkordi

Introduction: Coronaviruses are mainly the cause of respiratory disease in humans, and among the known species, the coronaviruses that cause SARS, MERS, and Covid 19 cause severe respiratory disease. So far, no specific treatment has been found for these diseases. Considering the beneficial effects of medicinal plants as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, the use of herbal compounds can be effective in mild infection of coronaviruses.
Methods: PubMed database was used to search for articles containing the terms coronavirus, SARS, MERS, as well as human and herbal medicine. The inclusion criteria were all full articles with the mentioned keywords and the exclusion criteria were summary articles and articles presented in conferences. A total of 36 articles on human coronaviruses were found. Most of the studies were about SARS (SARS-CoV) with 26 articles (72.22%). Two articles (5.55%) were found about Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and only one article (2.77%) about MERS (MERS-CoV). It should be noted that one study included SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV and six studies (16.66%) also investigated SARS, MERS and Covid-19 at the same time. Ethical principles have been respected in writing the article, according to the instructions of the National Ethics Committee and COPE regulations.
Results: Some medicinal plants have been identified with effective antiviral activity against SARS, MERS, and Covid-19 coronaviruses, including green tea, cinnamon, licorice, cure, sage, chives, rhubarb, nettle, and blackberry. Considering that these medicinal plants have already been used with different therapeutic effects in the human medicinal pharmacopoeia, it is recommended to conduct clinical trials on humans in order to achieve an effective dose against common human coronaviruses.
Conclusions: Although some medicinal plants have been recommended for use in the treatment of coronavirus respiratory syndrome in humans, the effects of these plants on other biological factors have not been studied, until now. It is necessary to evaluate their side effects simoultaneous with clinical trials and confirming the effectiveness of these compounds.

Emotion regulation, psychological flexibility and quality of life in dermatologic patients with Lichen Simplex Chronicus

Mehdi Zemestani

Introduction: Since dermatologic diseases are relatively high prevalent in the society and are associated with various psychological consequences, the present study was conducted to compare the difficulties in emotion regulation, psychological flexibility and quality of life in dermatologic patients with Lichen Simplex Chronicus and normal population.
Methods: The study design was causal-comparative, and the statistical population included all men and women with dermatologic diseases who referred to skin clinics in Tehran, Karaj and Qom cities. A convenience sampling method was employed to select 199 patients as the study sample. In addition, for the comparison group 200 normal individuals were selected from normal population. All participants assessed by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and Short Form-36 Quality of Life (SF-36). Data were analyzed by Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA). This study was approved by Research Ethics Committee of University of Kurdistan (Code: IR.UOK.REC.1401.015).
Results: Results showed that there was significant difference between two groups in terms of difficulties in emotion regulation, psychological flexibility and quality of life. The mean scores of difficulties in emotion regulation scale and psychological flexibility were higher in the patient group and lower in quality of life than the healthy group.
Conclusions: According to the present results, psychological factors of emotional dysregulation and psychological inflexibility may play a role in the persistence of skin problems of Lichen Simplex Chronicus. Since psychological underlying factors are often involved in the development and maintenance of dermatologic diseases, it is suggesting to use psychological interventions for these patients at the same time.

Identification of Mutation in RNF170 Gene in a Person with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia Using Whole Exome Sequencing Method

Milad Gholami

Introduction: Hereditary spastic paraplegia is a rare disease with different inheritance patterns. The prevalence of this disease is about 1.8 per 100 thousand people. Most of the affected patients are the result of consanguineous marriages. Weakness and muscle spasm is the main manifestation of this disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mutation analysis of a person with hereditary spastic paraplegia by the whole exome sequencing method.
Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from a person suffering from gait disorder and lower limb spasm with autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. DNA extraction and whole exome sequencing was performed. After analyzing the data related to the whole exome sequence, the disease-causing mutation in the affected person was confirm using Sanger sequencing method. Also, parents were investigated to separate mutation and carrier status. This study was approved by Arak University of Medical Sciences (code IR.ARAKMU.REC.1401.039). Ethical principles have been followed in accordance with the guidelines of the National Ethics Committee and COPE regulations.
Results: In the present study, a homozygous pathogenic mutation (NM_030954.4): c.304T>C (p.Cys102Arg) in the RNF170 gene was identified in the patient, therefor, hereditary spastic paraplegia type 85 was confirmed in him. Also, the parents of the affected person were heterozygous for the mutation.
Conclusions: Homozygous mutation in RNF170 gene was detected using whole exome sequencing method. A mutation in this gene causes hereditary spastic paraplegia. Considering the consanguineous marriage of carrier parents, this finding can be used for preventive measures in future children.

The Effect of Diaphragmatic Breathing Training on Dyspnea and State Anxiety in Patients with COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Moloud Farmahini Farahani

Introduction: One of the common problems of patients with covid-19 is the occurrence of respiratory problems that may accompany the person for a long time. Also, based on clinical and research evidence, different degrees of anxiety and stress have been observed in those who have recovered from this disease. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of diaphragmatic breathing on dyspnea and state anxiety in patients with covid-19.
Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial conducted in 2021-2022. The study population consisted of 78 patients with covid-19 hospitalized in Amir al-Momenin Hospital in Arak city, who were selected by available sampling and divided into two groups of 40. In this study, the Spielberger anxiety inventory, Borg scale, MRC breathlessness scale and measurement of blood oxygen saturation were used. The test group received diaphragmatic breathing training on the day of discharge and performed the exercise for ten minutes, and after discharge, they performed diaphragmatic breathing twice a day (ten minutes each time) at home for a week. Questionnaires were completed by the patients before the intervention, immediately after and one week later. The data was analyzed with SPSS software version 23 at the level (P < 0.05).
Results: The findings showed that the mean anxiety score of the patients immediately and one week after the intervention in the test group was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.001). The mean oxygen saturation in the test group after the intervention was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.001). Also, a significant difference was observed between the mean dyspnea scores using the MRC and Borg dyspnea scales after the intervention in the two groups (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: The results showed diaphragmatic breathing reduced anxiety and shortness of breath in patients with covid-19 after discharge. Therefore, teaching this simple and effective method is recommended for these patients during discharge from the hospital.

The Effect of a Program based on Empowering Nurses on Self-Care and HbA1c Control in Elderly People with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Living in Isfahan Nursing Homes in 2019

Ahmad Bahrami

Introduction: Today, the increasing prevalence of diabetes and its complications in the elderly is one of the most challenging problems in the health sector. One of the most important strategies for managing diabetes in the elderly is teaching self-care behaviors, which requires competent nurses in the field of diabetes education. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of empowering nurses on self-care and HbA1c control of elderly people with type 2 diabetes living in nursing homes.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted as a single group on 32 nurses and 30 elderly people with type 2 diabetes residing in nursing homes by convenience sampling. Nurses participated in a one-day empowerment workshop on type 2 diabetes. Data collection tools were a researcher-made questionnaire of workshop content to measure nurses' empowerment, Tobert and Glasgow self-care questionnaire and laboratory index HbA1c for the elderly. Data were analyzed using Spss version 20 at the 0.05 level. The present research has been registered with the ethics code IR.IAU.KHUISF.REC.1398.190 in the Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University - Isfahan Branch (Khorasgan).
Results: Based on the findings, there was a significant difference between nurses' empowerment after the workshop compared to before (P=0.001). The mean scores of elderly before and three months after nurses' empowerment were significant in terms of self-care behaviors (P=0.000) and HbA1c index (P=0.000).
Conclusions: The results showed that the empowerment of nurses has desirable potential to change the outcomes of self-care in elderly people with type 2 diabetes resident in nursing homes, and by focusing on the approach of empowering nurses, positive steps can be taken in the management of diabetes and HbA1c of this group.