Archives of Hygiene Sciences
Volume:12 Issue: 3, Summer 2023

The most critical environmental challenge of maritime transport in recent decades has been oil pollution. The present study was carried out to identify and determine the rate and ranking of oil pollution in the unloading and loading dock of Imam Khomeini Port by the Development Approach of the Management Model of Prevention and Response against Pollution in Emergencies in 2020.

In the present descriptive-applied study, the criteria and sub-criteria influencing in prioritizing responses in oil spill emergencies in the unloading and loading dock of Imam Khomeini Port were identified by the documentary method, prioritized based on the technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) multi-criteria decision-making method, and scored by 10 experts. McKinsey’s 7s gap analysis method was also used to estimate the gap between the current and the ideal situation.

Out of 18 oil pollution scenarios, 4 were determined as emergencies. Conservation of environmental resources in case of an accident and determination of responsibility before accidents occur, with mean scores of 4.4 and 4.35, were determined as the most important agendas for planning in emergencies. In the gap analysis process with McKinsey’s method and the output spider web model, 7 components of strategy (1.65), skills (1.75), staff (2.2), management style (2.27), shared methods (2.38), structure (2.54), and system (2.79) were determined as the emergency response plan priorities.

The study’s results showed that while several factors can result in oil pollution emergencies in the unloading and loading dock of Imam Khomeini Port, there is no ideal situation for managing these threats based on gap analysis.

Psychiatric nurses are critical in caring for patients with mental health problems and many challenging problems. They are also likely to be tired because they have been in risky and stressful conditions for a long time. Thus, it is necessary to control job stress and burnout. This study examined the mediating influence of psychological capital in the relationship between job stress and burnout of psychiatric nurses.

The research method was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study population comprised all psychiatric nurses working in three psychiatric hospitals in Tehran, Iran from 10 August to 15 September 2022. The study selected 170 psychiatric nurses working as samples through convenience sampling. The research tools were Job Stress Questionnaire of Nurses, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ). After completing the questionnaires, Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression by IBM SPSS 24.0 program.

The findings show a significant correlation between job stress, psychological capital, and burnout. The path coefficient of the direct effect of job stress on job burnout is significant (β = 0.524, P < 0.001). The path coefficient of the direct effect of psychological capital on job burnout is significant (β = 0.551, P < 0.05). The bootstrap result for this model was 0.49. The confidence interval’s lower and upper limits were calculated as 0.41 and 0.58, respectively.

These findings suggest that psychiatric nurses’ burnout can be decreased by implementing different healthcare programs to increase psychological capital. In general, according to the results of this research, it is suggested that the phenomena of occupational stress and burnout among nurses should be taken seriously. These variables can have destructive effects on the quality of nurses’ therapeutic performance. One of the suggestions that can be made is holding psychological workshops to improve self-efficacy, optimism, hope, flexibility and psychological capital among nurses in general.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are exposed to various health threats, including fear of falling (FOF), which restricts their daily life activities and cause isolationism and lower social participation. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the severity of MS and FOF through the mediating role of cognitive and physical factors in patients with MS.

This was a correlational study based on path analysis. The statistical population consisted of all patients with MS who visited the neurology centers of hospitals in Sari, Iran, 200 of whom were selected as the sample using convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), MS Severity Scale, Cognitive Factors Questionnaire, and the MOS 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).

The results indicated that there was a negative and significant relationship between FOF and cognitive and physical factors and also a positive and significant relationship between FOF and the severity of MS (P < 0.01). In addition, the results corroborated the negative and significant relationship between the severity of MS and physical factors (P < 0.01). However, the direct relationship between the severity of MS and cognitive factors were excluded from the model because it was not established. The study findings confirmed the relationship between FOF and the severity of MS mediated by cognitive and physical factors (P < 0.001).

According to the results FOF was found to be much higher among patients with higher MS severity. The severity of MS had a positive relationship with FOF in the patients. Moreover, cognitive and physical factors had a mediating role in the relationship between the severity of MS and FOF.

Brassicaceae is a medium-sized family of flowering plants. The family contains more than 327 genera. Cardamine uliginosa is a type of plant of this species. Chemical and biochemical findings of this genus are very limited. This study aimed to investigate the chemical compounds and antioxidant and antibacterial properties of C. uliginosa.

Essential oil was prepared by hydrodistillation method and microwave assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD). The chemical composition of essential oil was evaluated by GC and GC-MS methods. The antioxidant property of the hydroalcoholic extract was investigated by 2, 2-dipheny1-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) solution. Finally, the antibacterial activity of C. uliginosa was investigated using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods.

Phetalic acid, Phenil, Caryophyllene, Eicosane, and other chemical compounds were found in the essential oil of C. uliginosa. The half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) of hydroalcoholic extract was 0.42 μg/mL. The MIC and the MBC against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 15.62 and 31.25 respectively. The major compounds in the essential oils were 3-methyl-4-isopropylphenol (15.20%) and 1, 2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (16.75%).

Considering the chemical compounds of C. uliginosa and the finding of the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of C. uliginosa in vitro, capability of this plant needs to be further investigated for use in health and medical industries.

Sarcocystis infection is one of the most common protozoan infections between humans and animals, which is caused by different species of Sarcocystis. The study aimed to investigate Sarcocystis infection in cattle and sheep slaughtered in Tabriz slaughterhouse by microscopic and macroscopic methods.

Diaphragmatic muscles of 500 cattle and 800 sheep were randomly selected for macroscopic and microscopic Sarcocystis cysts. A naked eye examination was done for macroscopic sarcocysts, while peptic digestion and Daub smear method were used for the microscopic cysts.

The overall prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. infection was 44.0% and 68.25% in cattle and sheep, respectively. The results showed that rate of infection of cattle with Sarcocystis spp. was 10.4%, 90.0%, and 22.3% by macroscopic, peptic digestion, and Daub smear methods, respectively. Meanwhile, the percentage of infected sheep was determined by macroscopic, peptic digestion, and Daub smear methods as 30.6%, 100.0%, and 44.1%, respectively (P < 0.05).

It is concluded that digestion is a perfect method for diagnosing sarcocysts in cattle and sheep. As well as, the high prevalence of microscopic Sarcocystis spp. in cattle and sheep of Tabriz, is suggested that meat should be cooked sufficiently, the people to be trained not to feed their dogs and cats with uncooked meat.

Iran is one of three countries with two-thirds of new infection AIDS in 2018, reaching 11,000 new infections. Therefore, measuring the awareness and subsequent health behaviors of high-risk groups is essential.

A total of 150 beauty salon workers (BSWs) in Songhor, Kermanshah were randomly selected to participate in this study. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire in four sections (individual questions, knowledge, attitude and practice). Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics in SPSS 20.

Regarding marital status 80% were married with age distribution of 16-25 (4%), 26-35 (56%) and 36-50 (40%), educational status 48% diploma and 68% of job experience of 1-10 years. Seventy-six percent of BSWs do tattoos for clients, 33% never used disposable razors and 28% disinfected the equipment incorrect. Their knowledge on HIV transmission methods was desirable, however was no significant correlation between knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) (P > 0.05).

Health centers staff played a major role in the training of hairdressers, and in Iran, television and radio is facing serious restrictions on AIDS training and transmission and prevention methods. There is a need for training programs to improve the health behaviors of this high risk group.

The use of resistant and widely used species such as corn in agriculture and industry can be an effective solution for the bioremediation of soil pollutants, including heavy elements. The current research aimed to investigate the effect of EDTA on the ability to absorb different concentrations of heavy metals in the soil of corn plants in 2019.

This research was conducted as a three-factor pilot design at concentrations of 0, 50, and 100 mg/kg in the greenhouse. The samples were analyzed using an atomic absorption device. The laboratory pilot design was based on Taguchi’s algorithm. Finally, transfer factor (TF), bioconcentration factor (BCF), and bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) were calculated.

The results showed that different organs (root, stem, and leaf) show different levels of bioaccumulation under the influence of variable factors in different concentrations of heavy elements (nickel, cadmium, and lead). Also, there is a significant difference between the measured amounts of heavy elements in different organs of the corn plant (P ≤ 0.05). The average TF levels for elements at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/kg were 0.79 and 1.66 for nickel, 0.82 and 0.78 for cadmium and 1.361, 1.378, and 1.387 for lead. Based on the results, with the increase in nickel concentration, the absorption level increased, and with the increase in cadmium concentration, the absorption level decreased.

The results of this research showed that it is possible to use EDTA to increase the efficiency of corn plants in absorbing heavy elements of nickel, cadmium, and lead.

An increase in occupational stress can cause physical and psychological disorders as well as mental complications and emotional distress in employees. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on positive affect, negative affect, and emotional exhaustion of employees with occupational stress.

This quasi-experimental research adopted a pretest-posttest control group design with follow-up. The statistical population included all employees with occupational stress at public organizations in Isfahan (Isfahan Province, Iran) in 2021. The convenience sampling method was employed to select 30 employees, who were randomly assigned to two 15-member groups called the MBSR group and the control group. The members of the MBSR group participated in eight intervention sessions, whereas the members of the control group received no intervention. After the participants completed the positive and negative affect and emotional exhaustion questionnaires in three stages, the repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for data analysis in SPSS 26.

The posttest and follow-up results indicated that the MBSR intervention decreased negative affect and exhaustion and increased positive affect in employees with occupational stress (P < 0.001). The repeated measures ANOVA results of within-group effects showed that the effects of treatment were persistent (P < 0.001).

According to the results, MBSR could improve positive affect and mitigate negative affect and emotional exhaustion in employees. Organizations can use MBSR courses to promote the psychological and emotional well-being of their staff.