فصلنامه ابن سینا
سال بیست و پنجم شماره 4 (پیاپی 85، زمستان 1402)

The COVID-19 epidemic has led to an increase in the prevalence of psychological disorders. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of stress, depression, anxiety, and related factors in conscripts residing in Tehran sanatoriums during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This descriptive-analytical study examined 384 resident conscript soldiers from the training units of the Ground Force, Air Force, and Defense Force of Army of the I.R. of Iran in Tehran. Data were collected using demographic information form and the DASS-21 questionnaire.

The mean age of the participating soldiers was 20.09±2.37 years. The results indicated that the mean scores for depression, anxiety, and stress among soldiers were 5.43±6.12, 9.93±5.67, and 16.31±6.79, respectively. Additionally, experience of severe to extremely severe depression, anxiety, and stress was in 4%, 17.2%, and 8.9% of soldiers, respectively.

The results of various studies suggest that stress and anxiety during the pandemic have increased due to the unknown nature of the virus and cognitive ambiguity surrounding it. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a decline in the mental health of individuals in society, particularly among soldiers residing in barracks. Therefore, relevant authorities in training units can implement appropriate interventions such as supportive group psychotherapy to promote mental health.

Concerns about death can have a negative impact on health-related quality of life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people experienced death anxiety, highlighting the importance of identifying factors that contribute to this anxiety during this time. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a model of death anxiety based on personality traits and cognitive emotion regulation, with anxiety about contracting the coronavirus as playing a mediating role.

This correlational research utilized the path analysis method and included all citizens of Qom province in 2021. A sample of 400 people was selected using the available sampling method. Data was collected using Costa and McCree's five-factor personality trait questionnaire (1985), Granfsky and Kraich's cognitive-emotional regulation scale (2002), Alipour et al.'s anxiety due to coronavirus scale (2018), and Templer's Death Anxiety scale (1970). Data analysis was conducted using the Pearson correlation test and path analysis.

The path analysis test results indicated that the research model had a good fit. Personality traits and cognitive regulation of emotion were able to explain 14% of the variance in anxiety associated with coronavirus. Furthermore, personality traits, cognitive regulation, anxiety about the coronavirus, and excitement were able to explain 36% of the variance in death anxiety.

These results demonstrate that anxiety about contracting the coronavirus mediates the relationship between personality traits, cognitive regulation, and death anxiety.

Due to the role of TRPC1/3 in muscle atrophy, this study aimed to investigate the effect of Chronic Constriction Injury (CCI) after a period of endurance training on TRPC1/3 gene expression in the plantaris muscle of male Wistar rats.

Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups of eight each (Control, Control-CCI, Training-CCI, and Training). Finally, the rats were anesthetized, and their plantaris muscle was extracted. Gene expression was measured using Real-Time-PCR. 

The findings showed a significant decrease in plantaris muscle weight in the CCI-control group compared to the training groups (Training-CCI and Training) (p=0.001). Additionally, a significant increase in TRPC1 expression was observed in the Training group compared to the control groups (Control and Control-CCI) (p=0.001). Moreover, there was a significant increase in TRPC1 expression in the Training-CCI group compared to the control groups (Control and Control-CCI) (p=0.006). Furthermore, a significant increase in TRPC3 expression was observed in the Training group compared to the other groups (p=0.001), and a significant increase in TRPC3 expression was observed in the Training-CCI group compared to the Control-CCI group (p=0.008).

The results demonstrated a significant difference in the weight of the plantaris muscle, as well as a significant increase in TRPC1/3 expression as a result of endurance training. CCI leads to muscle atrophy and TRPC1/3 dysregulation. Therefore, the history of endurance training can modulate the expression of TRPC1/3 and prevent CCI-induced muscle atrophy.

Low back pain is one of the most common and costly musculoskeletal disorders, and it is the main cause of reduced performance and disability worldwide. The present study aimed to determine the effect of twelve weeks of yoga rehabilitation on selected subjective variables and the flexibility of the muscles in the lower back and hamstrings of women suffering from non-specific chronic back pain.

Twenty-eight women suffering from non-specific chronic back pain were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and an experimental group. Pain intensity, disability, stress level, depression, anxiety, and quality of life were measured using the Quebec, Oswestry, 21-question scale, and SF-36, respectively. The flexibility of the back and hamstring muscles was assessed using the flexibility box in the pre- and post-tests. The covariance test was used to analyze the data.

There were significant decreases in pain (p=0.001), disability (p=0.004), stress, anxiety, and depression (p=0.002), and a significant increase in some scales of quality of life, including physical performance (p=0.025), general health (p=0.043), and health change (p=0.003). There was also a significant increase in the flexibility of the muscles in the lower back and hamstrings (p=0.001).

Performing yoga exercises has a positive effect on the physical and psychological factors of individuals with non-specific chronic back pain. It seems that coaches, specialists, physiotherapists, and even individuals can use the yoga exercise protocol as an effective intervention method to improve and treat non-specific chronic back pain during the rehabilitation phase.

Procrastination significantly impacts students' academic performance, and addressing it is crucial to prevent lasting harm. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of attributional retraining and emotional regulation interventions in reducing procrastination symptoms among students at Aja University of Medical Sciences.

This semi-experimental study included pre-test and post-test phases. Thirty students from the first semester of the 2022 academic year, selected through available sampling, and exhibiting sound mental health based on the SCL-90 questionnaire, with the highest scores in the Solomon and Rothblum academic procrastination questionnaire, were chosen as participants. They were randomly assigned to two experimental groups. The two groups received seven sessions of attributional retraining or eight sessions of emotional regulation training. The procrastination scale was administered in both pre-test and post-test phases, with data analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance.

After accounting for pre-test effects, both intervention methods were effective in reducing procrastination symptoms. Post-hoc analysis indicated that attributional retraining was more effective than emotional regulation in alleviating procrastination symptoms.

The findings of this study can inform the development of preventive educational programs and enhance students' academic performance.

The operating room, being a unique department, has encountered specific challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges can impact the performance of operating room nurses. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the experiences of operating room nurses in military hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This qualitative study utilized contractual content analysis in Iran in 2021. Purposive sampling with maximum diversity was employed for participant selection. Data was gathered through individual, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 12 operating room nurses in Tehran.

Twelve operating room nurses, with an average age of 32.31±5.23 years, participated in the study. Analysis of the data revealed three main categories: "disruption of the balance of interactions and relationships with the patient," "the stressful intersection of roles," and "the increase in the volume of tasks and the lack of life and job security."

This study highlighted the fears and anxieties experienced by military operating room nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, including concerns about contracting the disease, increased workload, lack of support, and inadequate post-infection facilities. The findings can be valuable for hospital authorities in developing efficient planning and effective management strategies during the ongoing pandemic.

Outsourcing is considered a vital economic tool for managing hospitals. This study aimed to conduct an economic evaluation of hospital services outsourcing in a military hospital in Tehran.

This study involved an economic evaluation through cost analysis (cost minimization) conducted in a military hospital in Tehran in 2019. The financial implications of outsourcing services to contracted employees were compared with the costs of direct employment under four different scenarios. Data analysis was performed using Excel 2019 software.

The study found that outsourcing, when the contractor fully complies with labor laws, resulted in a financial benefit of 5.1 million IRR per month for the hospital per outsourced job. However, non-compliance with labor laws by contracting companies led to a financial loss of 5.4 million IRR per month for each outsourced job.

The findings suggest that outsourcing can bring significant financial benefits to the hospital when the contractor complies with labor laws. Conversely, inadequate supervision of the contractor and a lack of commitment from the private sector can result in financial losses associated with outsourcing.

Covid-19 has the potential to trigger heightened health anxiety and concerns about health repercussions. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of illness anxiety disorder among individuals who have recovered from Covid-19 following hospitalization.

This cross-sectional descriptive study targeted individuals who had previously been hospitalized for Covid-19 at Shohada Hospital in Sarpol-e-Zahab city, with a minimum of six months elapsed since discharge. A total of 479 participants were randomly selected from the hospital's records and assessed face-to-face for levels of health anxiety and the presence of illness anxiety disorder using the short health anxiety inventory. Socio-economic status was determined using the Ghodrat-Nama’s  questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using Chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey test.

The study revealed that 50.93% of participants exhibited moderate to high levels of health anxiety, while the prevalence of illness anxiety disorder among all participants was 23.38%. Significant associations were found between illness anxiety disorder and gender, age, education level, marital status, and socio-economic status.

The findings indicate a high prevalence of illness anxiety disorder among individuals who have recovered from Covid-19 following hospitalization. Moreover, the prevalence of illness anxiety disorder was found to vary across different socio-economic statuses.

Identifying factors that contribute to the progression of COVID-19 in patients is crucial for preventing fatalities. Mucormycosis is one such influential factor. Hence, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review on the correlation between black fungus infection and COVID 19.

This systematic review followed the PRISMA protocol and utilized international databases.

A total of 161 cases were documented among 7495 COVID-19 patients. The majority of cases were reported in India. Among the case reports, 16 (76%) were male and six (24%) were female. Diabetes mellitus was prevalent in 56% of cases, with hypertension being the second most common comorbidity. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis emerged as the most prevalent clinical form of the disease.

Timely identification of mucormycosis cases, monitoring of hyperglycemia, appropriate use of antibiotics, and corticosteroids can help curb the rising incidence of this fungal infection.