Hospitals In Ahvaz Research Articles

Evaluation of hospital information system acceptance from the point of view of users of teaching hospitals of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences according to the information technology usage model

Introduction: The hospital information system is an electronic tool that collects, classifies, stores and retrieves the financial, administrative and clinical information of patients using computer capabilities and provides them to decision makers at any place and time. The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the acceptance of the hospital information system from the point of view of the users of teaching hospitals of Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences. Method: The present study is descriptive observational. The samples included 270 users of teaching hospitals in Ahvaz. Sampling was done randomly and samples were available. The data collection tool was a standardized questionnaire.An average of less than 2.5 indicates a low acceptance level, an average of 2.5 to less than 3.75 is considered an average acceptance level, and an average greater than 3.75 to 5 indicates a favorable level of HIS acceptance by users Results: The average variables of the questionnaire in terms of task support dimension, user interface, support for interdisciplinary cooperation and support service dimension are 4.42, 4.05, 4.64, 4.25, respectively, which indicates the level of acceptable acceptance. And in the dimensions of adaptability to tasks, learning ability, and accessibility, respectively, 3.73, 3.07, and 3.59, which indicate the average level of acceptance Conclusion: Officials can increase user satisfaction by providing appropriate platforms in terms of accessibility and learning capabilities, and also by improving hospital information systems, they can significantly save time and increase the quality of services provided in the health care sector

Evaluation of the relationship between serum BDNF concentration and indicators of oxidative stress and inflammation in COVID-19 patients with neurological disorders - a pilot study

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe aim of this study was to determine the effect of serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on the development of neurological disorders in COVID-19 patients and the probable role of oxidative stress and inflammation in this phenomenon.MethodsThe present case-control study included 42 COVID-19 patients referring to Golestan and Sina hospitals of Ahvaz, Iran, for treatment. Patients with (n = 18) and without (n = 24) neurological disorders were allocated into test and control groups, respectively. Following blood sampling, serum isolation was done, and the serum was stored at −80°C until biochemical assessment for measuring BDNF, oxidative stress indices, and inflammatory factors.ResultsAlthough no significant brain damage was observed in the COVID-19 patients with neurological disorders, the results showed that the serum level of BDNF in the test group increased compared to that in the control group, and this increment was accompanied with increased Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and decreased Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels in the serum. Moreover, compared to the control group, patients in the test group had a decreased level of Thiol and an increased level of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between the serum concentration of BDNF and nitric oxide (NO) in the test group.ConclusionUsing over-the-counter (OTC) medicines which include thiol-group-related agents or any other antioxidants can alleviate oxidative stress and the associated increased inflammation in COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms.

Low presence of papillomavirus and its lack of correlation with clinicopathological factors in breast cancer: a case control study.

Breast cancer is currently the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm in women worldwide. There is evidence that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may play a key role in breast cancer aggressiveness, but results are conflicting across studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of the HPV viral genome in benign and malignant breast tissue samples and its clinicopathological characteristics of cancer. In this case-control study, 100 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) of breast cancer and 100 blocks of non-cancerous breast tissue were selected as a control group from the pathology department of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz from 2020-2022. The presence of HPV was detected using nested PCR including MY09/11 primers and sequencing were performed for virus genotyping. The present study enrolled 100 subjects each in two cancer and control groups with a mean age of 52.81±13.23 and 35.77±11.65, respectively. The risk of cancer in HPV-infected patients is almost 5 times higher than in HPV-negative individuals, it is not statistically significant (OR =4.99, 95% CI 0.35 to 72.15, p=0.238). The prevalence of HPV in the cancer and control groups was 7% and 1%, respectively and HPVs detected in two groups were of the HPV 16 genotype. Although the chance of ER and PR expression, lymphvascular involvement, perineural invasion, and higher tumor grade was higher in HPV-positive subjects than in HPV-negative subjects, this was not statistically significant (OR>1, p>0.05). Based on studies reporting the existence of sequences of different high-risk HPV types (oncogenes) in breast cancer tissues, this study confirmed the hypothesis of a possible infectious cause in the development of breast cancer. So far, however, the results have been controversial and inconclusive. Further studies with large sample sizes are needed to demonstrate the link between HPV and breast cancer.

A retrospective study of neonatal and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women suffering from inflammatory arthropathy treated with adalimumab

IntroductionAnti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) treatments have been available for over two decades to treat inflammatory arthropathies (IA). Most of these disorders are common among women of reproductive age, which emphasizes the need to evaluate their safety in pregnancy. ObjectiveThis study aims to scrutinize neonatal and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant IA patients treated with adalimumab. Materials and methodsThe current cross-sectional work was conducted by reviewing the medical files of pregnant IA patients (n=30) receiving adalimumab referred to Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz (Iran) from 2014 to 2017, followed by extracting demographic profiles as well as neonatal and pregnancy outcomes. ResultsNoteworthy among the findings were PsA (n=13), RA (n=5), IBD (n=4), AS (n=3), uveitis (n=2), Behcet's disease (n=2), and panuveitis (n=1). The mean age of subjects, duration of illness, and duration of treatment were estimated at 29.53±5.88, 2.85±1.15, and 1.96±.90 years, respectively. No delivery outcome was found for 27 (90%) cases, and delivery outcomes observed in three (10%) patients were abortion (n=2) and preterm complications (n=1). No neonatal complication was found for 28 (93.3%) cases and neonatal IUGR outcome was reported in 2 (6.7%) cases. Cesarean section was a delivery method in 7 (23.3%) cases and natural method in 21 (70%) cases. There were no significant differences for the prevalence of cesarean section and neonatal outcomes based on the type of disease, but differences were observed for the outcome of delivery based on the type of disease. ConclusionAccording to our findings, definitive conclusions on the safety of adalimumab during pregnancy were impossible and there is a need for further research with a larger sample size.

Prevalence of asymptomatic strongyloidiasis co-infection in COVID-19 patients residing in endemic areas

BackgroundFatal forms of strongyloidiasis, hyperinfection syndrome (HS) and disseminated strongyloidiasis (DS), are caused by exaggerated autoinfection of the intestinal nematode, Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis). Corticosteroids, frequently administered to patients with severe COVID-19, can transform chronic asymptomatic strongyloidiasis into the above-mentioned fatal diseases. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of strongyloidiasis in COVID-19 patients receiving corticosteroids in a hypoendemic region.MethodsThe present cross-sectional study enrolled 308 COVID-19 patients admitted to two hospitals in Ahvaz and Abadan in the southwest of Iran between 2020 and 2022. A real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test and chest computed tomography (CT) scan were employed to detect and monitor the disease’s severity in the patients, respectively. All patients were evaluated for IgG/IgM against S. stercoralis using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Subsequently, individuals with a positive ELISA test were confirmed using parasitological methods, including direct smear and agar plate culture (APC).ResultsThe patients were between 15 and 94 years old, with a mean age of 57.99 ± 17.4 years. Of the 308 patients, 12 (3.9%) had a positive ELISA test, while 296 (96.1%) had negative results. Three of the 12 patients with a positive ELISA result died, and three failed to provide a stool sample. To this end, only six cases were examined parasitologically, in which S. stercoralis larvae were observed in five patients. Significant differences were found between S. stercoralis infection with sex (p = 0.037) and age (p = 0.027). Binary regression analysis revealed that strongyloidiasis was positively associated with sex (odds ratio [OR]: 5.137; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.107–23.847), age (OR: 5.647; 95% CI 1.216–26.218), and location (OR: 3.254; 95% CI: 0.864–12.257).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that screening for latent strongyloidiasis in COVID-19 patients in endemic areas using high-sensitivity diagnostic methods, particularly ELISA, before receiving suppressive drugs should be given more consideration.

Evaluation of operations and causes of corneal transplantation in patients referred to the ophthalmology ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz 2003 to 2019

Introduction: Corneal transplantation is one of the most common eye surgeries and the most common and successful tissue transplant in the world. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of causes and types of corneal transplantation in patients referred to the ophthalmology ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz from 2003 to 2018. Methods: This descriptive study was performed on the records of the patients who underwent corneal transplantation. The information included age, sex, cause of transplantation, sex and age of the donor, need for re-transplantation, reason for re-transplantation, laterality of cornea and the type of operation. Results: The mean age of patients receiving cornea was 50.93 years and included 491 (49.3%) male and 505 (50.7%) female. 51.7% of corneal transplant operations were related to the right eye and 47.9% of the operations were related to the left eye respectively. PBK was the most cause of corneal transplantation. Most patients underwent corneal transplantation by PK and then DSAEK. Conclusion: Frequency of PBK was increased in this study as compare to other previous studies which may be due to significant increase in the rate of phacoemulsification surgeries. DSEAK and DMEAK have become more accepted and favorable surgeries in the case of corneal endothelial disease. Based on new surgical techniques and advances in post of management we suggest, new meta-analysis study to evaluate associated diseases , comparison of the regraft rate in different surgical techniques and post op management of them.

Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Pathotypes Among Children under 5 Years in Khuzestan, Iran

Background: Diarrhea is a life-threatening cause of high mortality, especially among children living in areas with poor sanitation. Enterobacteriaceae is one of the serious causes of bacterial diarrhea in children and adults. In this family, infection with diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) pathotypes in children is associated with extensive health risks and is of particular importance. In this study, we compared the distribution of pathotypes, epidemiological patterns, and antibiotic resistance of DEC in two diarrheal and non-diarrheal groups among children less than 5 years. Methods: In this study, 303 stool samples were collected from patients admitted to Golestan hospitals in Ahvaz and Dr. Ganjavian in Dezful, Khuzestan. To this end, 201 samples from children with diarrhea (case group) and 102 samples from healthy children (control group) were examined. DEC was characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for each stool sample, and DEC isolates were tested with antibiotic resistance tests against different antibiotic agents to identify the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains in both groups. Results: DEC was found in 24% (48 out of 200) of the children with diarrhea and 3.8% (4 out of 103) of the healthy children. Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) was the DEC most frequently associated with diarrhea (32 out of 48, 66.6%), which was followed by enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) 22.9% (11 out of 48, 22.9%), and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) (5 out of 48, 10.4%) from children with diarrhea. Four DEC isolates were identified in healthy children: EAEC (2 out of 4, 50%) and EPEC (2 out of 4, 50%) in the healthy group, but no enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) or enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) strains were found in both groups in this study group. In general, DEC isolates exhibited high resistance to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, and 33 (63.4%) isolates of DEC were MDR. Conclusion: A high prevalence of DEC strains was observed in the group of children with diarrhea and healthy children. Accordingly, further attention should be paid to continuous monitoring of the prevalence and pattern of antibiotic resistance of diarrheal bacterial isolates among children and the whole community.

Undiagnosed Brucellosis in Psychiatric Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Brucellosis, also known as malt fever, poses significant health and economic challenges across various regions worldwide, particularly in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries. Objectives: This study aimed to identify cases of undiagnosed brucellosis among psychiatric patients. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz, Khozestan Province, Iran. The study aimed to investigate cases of undiagnosed brucellosis among psychiatric patients during the first six months of 2021. The diagnosis of brucellosis relied on standard tests, namely the Wright test, the Coombs-Wright test, and the two-mercaptoethanol test, which are widely recognized as reference techniques. In the endemic region of Iran, a positive titer of at least 1: 80 in the Wright test and titers of at least 1: 40 in the two-mercaptoethanol test are considered diagnostic criteria. The Coombs-Wright test is deemed positive when the titer is three dilutions higher than the Wright test titer in symptomatic patients. Results: A total of 225 patients admitted to psychiatric wards with psychiatric disorders underwent examination for brucellosis. The study revealed an undiagnosed brucellosis prevalence of 7.6% (n = 17). None of these patients had a recent or prior history of brucellosis, nor had they received any treatment for the disease. Among the seventeen patients, three reported experiencing typical and commonly observed symptoms of brucellosis, such as myalgia and arthralgia, during the clinical interviews. However, the remaining fourteen patients did not display any clinical symptoms typically associated with brucellosis, including myalgia, arthralgia, fever, and sweating. Instead, they solely exhibited psychiatric symptoms alongside their condition. Conclusions: Out of the 225 patients who were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, 17 individuals were found to have brucellosis. Remarkably, 14 out of these 17 patients did not exhibit typical symptoms associated with brucellosis, but rather only showed psychiatric symptoms as manifestations of the disease.

Acute Renal Failure in a Patient with Coronavirus: A Case Report of a Rarely-Seen Presentation

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) presents primarily as an acute respiratory disorder with interstitial and vesicular pneumonia but affects various organs, including the kidneys, heart, gastrointestinal tract, blood, and gastric nervous system. This study aimed to report a case of COVID-19 with acute kidney injury (AKI). Case Presentation: A 37-year-old female patient with two positive COVID PCR and Cr = 0.8 but with no record of AKI was admitted to Razi Hospital in Ahvaz in April 2020 for ten days. After completion of the informed consent, her blood samples were obtained, and a renal biopsy and other tests were performed on her. Conclusions: Announced COVID-19 cases reported in AKI. In sum, patients with a high prevalence of comorbidities, such as AKI, suffered from severe COVID-19. Therefore, it was recommended that the risk of acute kidney damage, in addition to the respiratory failure risk, should be taken into consideration in patients with COVID-19. Furthermore, COVID-19 may have presented symptoms of AKI in patients with no history.

Molecular identification of non-tuberculous mycobacterial species isolated from extrapulmonary samples using real-time PCR and rpoB sequence analysis

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of mortality among infectious diseases and accounts for a serious health hazard wordwide. Apart from TB, the members of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), which includes around 170 species, may also cause different diseases in humans. Therefore this study aimed to investigate the distribution of NTM strains isolated from extrapulmonary (EP) samples by Real-Time PCR and PCR-sequencing methods in Southwest Iran. Three hundred and twenty-five suspected EP samples were collected from patients referred to the referral hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran. The isolates were initially screened by acid fast staining and identified by phenotypic culture and biochemical tests. The Real-Time PCR and rpoB- based PCR methods were performed followed by sequence analysis of rpoB gene. From 124 samples, 77 (62%) were positive for NTM by culture and rpoB sequence analysis. M. fortuitum was the most commonly isolated NTM in present study. In Real-Time PCR, only 69 (55.64%) isolates showed more homology with standard NTM isolates. In general, the growing trend of EPNTM infections in Iran needs specific programs and resources to get a better diagnosis. PCR sequencing is a reliable method, it can be used for definitive identification of positive cultures for identification of NTM species.

The effect of an infection control guideline on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients admitted to the intensive care units

Background and aimStandard airway care can reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). This study aimed to determine the effect of implementing infection control guidelines on the incidence of VAP in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).Materials and MethodsIn this clinical trial, 121 patients admitted to the intensive care units of Golestan and Imam Khomeini hospitals of Ahvaz, Iran who were under mechanical ventilation were assigned to two groups of control and intervention in non-randomly allocation. The study was conducted in two consecutive periods. In the intervention group, infection control guidelines were performed to prevent VAP and in the control group, routine care was performed. Data collection is done by used a three-part instrument. The first part included questions on the patients’ demographics and clinical information. The second part was the modified clinical pulmonary infection scale (MCPIS) for the early detection of VAP. The third part of the data collection instrument was a developed checklist through literature review. The MCPIS was completed for all patients on admission and the 5th day of the study.ResultsThe two groups were homogenous respecting their baseline characteristics (P > 0.05) including the mean MCPIS score (P > 0.05). However, the intervention group had lower body temperature (P < 0.001), lower white blood cell counts (P < 0.038), lower MCPIS score (P < 0.001), and higher PaO2/FIO2 (P < 0.013) at the end of the study. The incidence of VAP was significantly lower in the intervention group when compared to the control group (i.e. 30% vs. 65.6%, P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe implementation of infection control guidelines could significantly reduce the incidence of VAP and its diagnostic indicators in patients admitted to the ICU. Nurses are advised to use these guidelines to prevent VAP in patients admitted to ICU.

A case–control study of drinking beverages and the risk of multiple sclerosis in Iran

BackgroundThere is no study in the world on the relationship between consuming black and green tea as beverages containing polyphenols and the risk of MS. This study aimed to determine the association between the consumption of green and black tea, coffee, non-alcoholic beer, milk, fruit juices and carbonated beverages with the risk of MS.Methods and materialsThis case–control study was performed on 150 patients with MS and 300 healthy individuals as a control group among patients who were referred to the ophthalmology ward of a referral hospital in Ahvaz with the groups matching for age. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire including demographic information and beverage consumption. Analysis was performed using univariate and multiple logistic regression models.ResultsThe mean age of patients at the time of diagnosis was 38.55 ± 8.88 years. The results showed that drinking milk (OR = 5.46), natural juice (OR = 2.49), and carbonated beverages (OR = 16.17) were associated with an increased chance of developing MS. However, drinking non-alcoholic beer (OR = 0.48), black tea (OR = 0.20), green tea (OR = 0.29) and coffee (OR = 0.07) were associated with a reduced chance of developing MS.ConclusionThe results show that drinking black and green tea, non-alcoholic beer, and coffee are associated with a decrease in the chance of developing MS. The results of this study can be used to design interventional research and to change people's lifestyles to prevent MS.

Ranking of Factors Affecting Productivity in Ahvaz Hospitals Using Analytic Network Process (ANP) Technique

Background: The hospital system is essential for providing medical services, and improving productivity is vital for enhancing the health system. Objectives: This study aimed to rank factors affecting productivity in Ahvaz hospitals using the analytic network process (ANP) technique. Methods: The statistical population of the current study was 60 personnel of Ahvaz hospitals (20 from each hospital), who were selected by purposive sampling. The sampling method was purposive. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data related to research variables, and its validity was evaluated using content validity. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient test was used by SPSS software version 22 to measure the reliability, which was as much as 0.87. The ANP method was used by the Super-Decisions software to prioritize the influencing factors on hospital efficiency. Finally, the normalized weight (NW) was calculated for each main factor and sub-factors using the geometric mean technique after normalizing the obtained values. Results: Prioritizing the main factors affecting the productivity of Ahvaz hospitals showed that management factors (NW = 0.294), economic factors (NW = 0.269), human factors (NW = 0.267), and technological factors (NW = 0.171) were placed in the first to fourth priority, respectively. Conclusions: Based on the results, factors such as the relatively weak management of hospitals, failure of supervisory mechanisms, lack of human resources, unrealistic tariffs for diagnostic and therapeutic services, incomplete implementation of the new hospital administration system plan, low salaries and wages of personnel were the most critical obstacles for improving productivity in Ahvaz hospitals. Therefore, enhancing the level of hospital management and fully implementing the new hospital administration system plan is essential for increasing the productivity of Ahvaz hospitals.

Investigating the impact of written emotion disclosure on the level of occupational stress among intensive care nurses.

The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the impact of rewriting pleasant events on the level of occupational stress in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses. This is a quasi-experimental research conducted on nurses working in the intensive care units of Imam Khomeini and Golestan hospitals in Ahvaz, from July to November 2021. Seventy-six nurses were selected based on the inclusion criteria, and were then randomly assigned to the intervention and the control groups. The nurses' demographic information form and the Expanded Nursing Stress Scale (ENSS) were used to collect data. In the intervention group, the technique of rewriting pleasant events was used for 8 weeks, at least once a week. The data was analyzed with SPSS V20. No significant difference in the demographic characteristics was observed between the intervention and the control groups (p > 0.05). The pre-intervention occupational stress of the nurses in the intervention and the control groups were reported to be 173.86 ± 26.75 and 173.05 ± 24.47, respectively, showing no statistically significant difference (p = 0.89). After the intervention, the occupational stress scores were 134.21 ± 16.09 and 172.36 ± 24.33, respectively, showing a significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.001). Considering the impact of rewriting pleasant events on the level of occupational stress of ICU nurses, it is recommended that nursing managers and nurses plan training programs for nurses in this area, and encourage other nurses to do so, too. It is also suggested to implement this intervention on the nurses of other wards as well.

Investigating the Effect of Thyroid Hormones on Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients Referred to Ahvaz Hospitals in 2017

Background: Nephropathy is one of the most common microvascular complications of diabetes. Type 2 diabetic patients with subclinical hypothyroidism are associated with a high prevalence of diabetic nephropathy. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effect of thyroid hormones on diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients referred to Ahvaz hospitals in 2017. Methods: In this case-control study, 200 diabetic patients (100 with nephropathy and 100 without nephropathy) referred to Ahvaz hospitals were randomly selected. After sampling, biochemical parameters such as fasting blood sugar, BUN, creatinine, uric acid, calcium, and phosphorus were measured. Then, thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) hormones were measured by the quantitative luminescence method. Results: Thyroid hormones in the patient group were lower than in the control group (P &lt; 0.001). The concentration of TSH in the patient group was higher than in the control group (P &lt; 0.001). Thyroid hormones were negatively and significantly related, and TSH hormone was positively and significantly related to kidney assessment markers. Other results showed that increased TSH and decreased thyroid hormones could increase the risk of developing diabetic nephropathy. So that the T3 hormone was associated with diabetic nephropathy with a greater effect (0.000002 - 0.001057) (CI) = 0.000048 = Odds ratio T3 hormone at 0.73 ng/mL levels has a diagnostic value with a sensitivity of 83% and the specificity was 84% for the differentiation of nephropathy in diabetic patients. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that an increase in TSH hormone and a decrease in thyroid hormones could increase the chance of developing diabetic nephropathy. The T3 hormone is more effective with diabetic nephropathy, and with high diagnostic value, it can be suggested as a biomarker for predicting nephropathy in diabetic patients.

Common Respiratory Infections in Children Admitted to Aboozar Children's Hospital in Ahvaz City in the First Semester 2021: Frequency, Risk Factors and Clinical Subgroups

Background and Objectives The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of respiratory infections in children admitted to Aboozar Children's Hospital in Ahvaz and the associated risk factors. Subjects and Methods A total of147 children aged 12 years and below admitted to the emergency department were selected for this case-control study, including 96 children with respiratory infections and 51 children without respiratory and/or digestive infections as a control group. Their demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded and statistically compared between the two groups. Results Pneumonia (80.2%), especially pneumonia caused by coronavirus 2019, was the most common type of respiratory infection in children. The prevalence and risk of respiratory complications were significantly higher in boys than in girls (p=0.003). The mean age of children with respiratory infections was also higher than that of the control group (p&lt;0.05). In addition, high body mass index, underlying diseases, low birth weight, reduced or no breastfeeding, a family with many children, parental smoking and air pollution were significantly associated with the high risk of infection (p&lt;0.05). Compared to the control group, the children with respiratory infections had lower levels of red blood cells and lymphocytes, but higher levels of neutrophils (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion Knowledge of diagnostic markers and possible risk factors for respiratory infections in children at the beginning of admission to the ward can play a key role in timely diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Comparison of Quality of life, Thyroid Hormones, and Blood Glucose in Active and Inactive Pregnant Women

Background and Objectives Pregnancy is one of the most important periods of a woman's life, which affects most body systems due to the extensive metabolic needs of pregnancy. This research aimed to compare quality of life, thyroid function, and blood glucose profile in active and inactive pregnant women. Subjects and Methods In the present study, 120 pregnant women were purposefully selected from the pregnant women who were referred to the women's Clinic of Amir al-Momenin and Social Security Hospital in Ahvaz, Khuzestan province, Iran, in 2022. The activity and inactivity of pregnant women were based on the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ). In addition, the participants completed the quality of life questionnaires (WHOQOL-BREF). To measure thyroid hormones and sugar profile, blood sampling was done in the Hospital Laboratory while fasting. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance and independent t-test. Results The results of the present research showed that active pregnant women had significantly higher quality of life and T3 and T4 hormones compared to inactive pregnant women. Furthermore, active pregnant women had significantly lower fasting blood glucose, two-hour blood glucose, and thyroid-stimulating hormone compared to inactive pregnant women. Conclusion Overall, the present study emphasizes the importance of the role of physical activity on the psychological and physiological variables of pregnant women and suggests exercise interventions in future research.

Assessment of the Barriers to Medical Error Reporting the Viewpoint of Nurses in Selected Hospitals of Ahvaz

Background and Objective: Error reporting leads to changes in hospital processes and improved health outcomes. In this regard, this study aimed to examine the barriers to the reporting of medical errors from the viewpoint of nurses in selected hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran. Materials and Methods: The statistical population of this descriptive analysis research included all the nurses working at Golestan Educational and Medical Hospital, Amir AL-Mominin Hospital, and Aria Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran. The total sample size was calculated at 256 participants with the help of the Morgan table. The required data were collected using Anderson's questionnaire on barriers to reporting medical errors. Quantitative data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 23). Results: The results showed that legal factors (2.14±0.476) are the most important reason for not reporting medical errors. Fear of reprimand (85.9%), high workload (92.5%), exposure to accusations (93.8%), and the possibility of added workload (87.4%) were the most important legal, cultural and organizational, supervision regulation, and financial factors, respectively. Moreover, the results showed that the nurses of Golestan and Amir AL-Mominin Public Hospital and Aria Private Hospital stated legal and financial factors as the most important reason for not reporting medical errors, respectively. Besides, the findings revealed that there are significant relationships between the factors of reporting medical errors and the variables of age, work experience, and the amount of overtime. Conclusion: Effective communication, sufficient support of managers for nurses, the existence of an efficient error reporting system, and effective use of the obtained reports are effective in increasing medical error reporting.

Comparison of Sural Nerve Amplitude and Sural/Radial Amplitude Ratio in Electrodiagnosis of patients with neuropathy in Type 2 diabetes

Diabetic neuropathy is the most common and bothersome diabetes mellitus complication, leading to considerable morbidity and mortality. The results of these studies and the importance of early detection and prevention of polyneuropathy in diabetic patients motivated the authors to carry out the present study. In this cross-sectional study all consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were referred to the Endocrinology Clinic at Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran. The Nihon Kochden gadget was utilized on all patients, who were all examined by an individual. Average sensory amplitude was defined as greater than 6 V for the sural nerve and greater than 15 V for the radial nerve. In the present investigation, a sural/radial nerve amplitude ratio greater than or equal to 21 percent was considered normal. In total, 80 subjects were included in the analysis, there is a non-significant direct correlation between the sural nerve and sural/radial nerve amplitude ratio, to diagnose patients with and without neuropathy (p=0.625). Moreover, there is a non-significant direct correlation between the sural nerve and sural/radial nerve amplitude ratio with the body mass index of patients with diabetes, and this correlation is negligible (p&gt;0.05). The findings demonstrated that sural/radial nerve amplitude ratio was a promising method for detecting neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Also, sural nerve and sural/radial nerve amplitude ratio had a significant inversion relationship with age and duration of diabetes for detecting diabetic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes patients

Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Outcome of Cardiac Dysrhythmias in a Noncardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Several extrinsic factors contribute to the development of cardiac dysrhythmias. In intensive care unit (ICU) settings and among critically ill patients who are exposed to a large number of risk factors, cardiac disturbances are more common. This study aimed to examine the epidemiology, risk factors, and outcome of cardiac dysrhythmias in a non-cardiac ICU. This is a retrospective, single-center, observational study conducted in a tertiary noncardiac ICU at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran. Out of the 360 adult patients aged 18 years and older who were admitted to ICU for longer than 24 h, 340 cases who met the study inclusion criteria were recruited between March 2018 until October 2018. The most common nonsinus dysrhythmias were new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) (12.9%) and ventricular tachycardia (21 patients-6.2%). According to our results, previous percutaneous coronary instrumentation, acute kidney injury, sepsis, and hyperkalemia act as risk factors in the development of cardiac dysrhythmias. Additionally, we found out that thyroid dysfunction and pneumonia can predict the development of NOAF in critically ill patients. The estimated mortality rate among patients with NOAF in this study was 15.7% (p < .05). Cardiac dysrhythmias are common in ICU patients and treating the risk factors can help to prevent their development and improve patient management and outcome.