navid mohammadi

Purpose; Entering the era of the fourth industrial revolution and facing the increasing flow of digital technologies, this research aims to analyze and evaluate digital marketing strategies for tourism platforms using a hybrid fuzzy multi-attribute approach. Method; This research first has weighed attributes for choosing a digital marketing strategy using the fuzzy-best/worst method and then used these criteria for evaluating a set of digital marketing strategies in tourism platforms using the fuzzy-TOPSIS method.Findings; Cost reduction, audience increase, customer loyalty, brand development and user experience improvement were selected as strategy evaluation attributes. Based on weighted attributes and the Fuzzy-TOPSIS method, social network marketing has the highest priority and was identified as the most effective digital marketing strategy for tourism platforms.Conclusion; Social network marketing was placed at the top for wide access and diverse content creation, and search engine optimization for its cost-effectiveness and resilience was ranked next. In the new era of information technology, tools such as e-mail marketing are no longer paid much attention, and in order to advertise in the digital space, one should focus on tools based on social networks, artificial intelligence, and big data.Research innovation; The results of this research can be recruited in order to develop models for evaluating the performance of advertising and digital marketing in the atmosphere of uncertainty and ambiguity, relying on multiple attributes. On the other hand, the methodology used in this research can be considered for prioritizing other initiatives, strategies and advertising/sales programs by referring to expert opinions.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic that has spread worldwide. The high rates of morbidity and mortality associated with the disease are notable, causing significant socioeconomic damage in many parts of the world.

This study investigates the epidemiological status of COVID-19 in patients admitted to 15 hospitals between 2020 and 2021.

In this multicenter cross-sectional study, we analyzed 18,653 patients with COVID-19 who were treated in hospitals. Demographic characteristics, symptoms, and comorbidities were also assessed. Additionally, the duration of hospitalization and the outcomes of the disease (recovery or death) were recorded. Data were extracted from the National Registry System of the Medical Care Monitoring Center (MCMC) and analyzed using SPSS software version 18. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to analyze categorical data. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

From February 4, 2020, to February 3, 2021, 18,653 patients were hospitalized in hospitals in Qazvin province with COVID-19 symptoms. A total of 2,678 patients died. Approximately 14.7% (2,614) of the patients required intubation, and 9.2% (1,635) required oxygen therapy. Cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were the most common comorbidities.

The present study indicates that advanced age, underlying diseases, and intubation are associated with an increased risk of death in patients with COVID-19. Given the various strains of coronavirus, epidemiological studies are essential for the prevention, control, and understanding of this disease.

The paper compares the performance of two altitude controllers, model predictive controller (MPC) and linear quadratic requlator (LQR), for aircraft in cruise flight and height change conditions. The design of the controllers is based on the linearized state space matrix of the aircraft’s longitudinal motion around the trim conditions. The controllers’ ability to track the desired altitude while satisfying input and state constraints is evaluated, and it is found that both controllers are effective in maintaining the desired height. However, the MPC controller performs less overshoot, settling time and transient error than the LQR controller and achieves a more efficient control input by predicting the future behavior of the system. The proposed altitude controllers provide a promising solution for maintaining the desired aircraft altitude in cruise flight conditions, and the comparative analysis of the two control methods can assist in selecting the appropriate control strategy for a given aircraft system based on the desired performance requirements.

The scope of technologies such as the Internet of Things has caused a large amount of data to be produced by humans and machines. In addition, the development of virtual space and Internet users also provides a platform so that the needs and opinions of customers and users of products and services can be easily recorded and exploited. This data is an opportunity to design products, services and systems in a data-oriented manner. The product design and development period behind the closed doors of the companies' research and development unit has ended. Companies must survive in the current turbulent era, take advantage of the knowledge available in the surrounding world, move towards open innovation, and create shared value. The customers and final consumers are the most important part of the value chain of any business, and one of the most important sources of information among them is their preferences and reviews. These resources are generally uploaded and stored on the Internet, online shopping and selling sites, social media, and other similar databases. Accordingly, it will be vital to use the reviews and experiences of customers in the process of developing new products. Considering the importance of this issue, this research has used bibliometric and systematic literature review.

Cardiovascular disease, the first leading cause of death worldwide, is associated with different consequences, including rehospitalization. Health literacy (HL) is a factor with potential effects on rehospitalization. This study aimed to examine the relationship between HL and rehospitalization among patients with myocardial infarction (MI). This prospective cohort study was conducted in 2015–2017. Participants were 366 hospitalized patients with MI who were conveniently recruited from four teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran. A demographic questionnaire and the Health Literacy for Iranian Adults instrument were completed for participants at the time of their hospital discharge. One month after hospital discharge, thirty-day rehospitalization was assessed over telephone. The SPSS program (v. 16.0) was used to analyze the data through the Chi-square test, independent-sample t test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and logistic regression analysis. T he t otal m ean s core o f H L w as 5 3.08±16.64 ( in the possible range of 0–100). Most participants (78.6%) had inadequate or barely adequate HL. At the time of rehospitalization assessment, fifteen participants were inaccessible. Among the remaining 351 participants, 28 (8%) reported thirty-day rehospitalization. The mean scores of HL among the participants with and without rehospitalization were 55.36±19.06 and 53.08±16.53, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting the effects of potential confounders, HL had a significant relationship with rehospitalization (odds ratio=1.05; 95% confidence interval: 1.007–1.1; P=0.024). Most hospitalized patients with MI have limited HL, and their HL has a significant relationship with rehospitalization.

Clinical education plays a major role in shaping the professional abilities of learners. In order to achieve the desired clinical education, it is necessary to perform continuous evaluation and monitoring. In this study, the views of medical students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (QUMS) regarding the educational atmosphere of the medical school in 2019-2020 were evaluated.
The present study is a descriptive epidemiological study and medical students of QUMS in 4 levels of basic sciences, physiopathology, stager, and intern participated in this survey. The instrument used was the DREEM questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale that contains 50 questions with a total score of 200. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS 25 using T-test and ANOVA.
The total mean score of the educational space of 168 students surveyed was 96.02±22.68, which was in a semi-optimal condition. There was no significant difference in the score of general space and the score of subgroups governing educational environments by gender (P>0.05). But the mean score of physiopathology students' perceptions, of learning (p=0.001) teaching (p=0.002) educational atmosphere (p=0.005), and academic self-perceptions (p=0.015) were significantly higher from other levels of learners. The lowest score belongs to the internship level (student’s perceptions of learning, teaching, and social self-perceptions).
This study showed that the educational atmosphere at QUMS is in a partially favorable condition and interns have a more negative understanding of the learning environment and professors, hence needs further investigation.
 
Perceptions of medical students in different phases about educational environment: Qazvin University of Medical Sciences
The researchers showed that the educational atmosphere is one of the important components in students' learning (El Mahai Moeed-2013). The educational atmosphere is more related to how the curriculum is implemented, the teachers' attitude towards learning, the behavioral and organizational culture of the educational institution, and the student's view of the learning environment (Atapatu, Kumari et al. 2016). An appropriate educational environment creates opportunities for effective learning (Ikeda, Kubta et al. 2019). The DREEM model has been proposed to measure the educational atmosphere (Bakhshi Aliabad et al. 2019) is designed independently of cultural contexts and provides a comparison between different courses (Farough, Rahman et al. 2018). This study was conducted on the medical students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (QUMS) using the DREEM questionnaire. The results of this study can help teachers and managers enhance the learning experiences of medical students (Whittle, SR 2018).
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 168 medical students in QUMS in 2019-2020 after being approved by the Ethics Committee of QUMS (ethics code IR.QUMS.REC.1397.414). Sampling was based on the census. The DREEM questionnaire was used. Students at the end of the semester of internship, physiopathology, and basic sciences were questioned. This questionnaire contains demographic information and 50 questions in five areas of learning, teachers, students' academic self-perception, educational atmosphere, and student's social self-perception.
Questionnaire scoring is based on a five-item Likert scale. The items are scored as follows: (4) strongly agree, (3) agree, (2) unsure, (1) disagree and (0) strongly disagree. However, 9 items out of the total of 50 items are negative expressions and their scores were calculated in reverse. The overall score is classified into four categories: unfavorable (0 to 50), relatively favorable (51 to 100), favorable (101 to 150) and completely favorable (151 to 200). The statistical tests used include analysis of variance and t-test. Also, the standardized score of 100 was also calculated. The data were analyzed using SPSS v25. Ethical considerations such as completing the informed consent form, voluntary participation, explaining the research objectives, and ensuring the confidentiality of information were observed.
The mean DREEM score was calculated as 96.02±22.68, which is in a relatively favorable range. Based on the standardized score of the five areas, the highest score was related to their academic self-perception (54.56). The educational atmosphere with 49.64 and the learning environment with 36.95 has the lowest grade.
There was no difference between the mean DREEM score of the two genders in total and the 5 sub-areas of educational environments.
The mean scores of physiopathology students in the learning environment (p=0.001), teachers (p=0.002), and their academic self-perception (p=0.015) and educational atmosphere (p=0.005) were significantly higher than the students of other levels (table 3). From the students' point of view, the course of physiopathology is practical, and the course of basic sciences is impractical. Also, this desirable result is most likely due to the appropriate timing of this course. In QUMS, the course of physiopathology has been offered in an integrated form, but in the apprenticeship period, the theory classrooms are not coordinated with the schedule of the related clinical departments.
The lowest score belongs to the internship level (learning environment, teachers, and social self-perception). This result is similar to Peretti et al.'s study (Pai, Menzes et al. 2014). High work pressure, resident-oriented training in some clinical departments (Ikeda, Kubta et al. 2019), the inappropriate feedback especially in the morning report of some educational groups causes interns to feel that their personality is not respected. In fact, the clinical environment is not suitable for effective learning unless it is well-planned and organized (Demirren, Peleglu et al. 2008). Students' perception of clinical teachers can indicate that these teachers still do not use comprehensive methods. Internship students have the most negative impression of teachers. Active participation of students, accountability, effective supervision, and giving positive feedback are vital (Khorsandi and Khosravi 2002). The lowest score in the subcategory of students' understanding of social self-perception was related to internship level due to stresses related to bedside activities and worries about the future of employment. It seems that there is no good support system for stressed learners.
One of the limitations of this study was regarding physiopathology students. The collection of information for this group coincided with COVID-19 restrictions, and as a result, the questionnaire was completed online. Also, due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, generalization of the results should be done with caution.
The result of the study showed that the educational atmosphere is partially favorable. Among possible changes that may be useful are periodic surveys of students and accurate evaluation of their results, holding workshops on medical ethics and how to provide correct educational feedback to students for teachers, careful monitoring of teachers students' feedback, and creating support systems for students. Also, hidden curriculum effects may be important in explaining the relatively low DREEM scores of internship students. It is necessary to continuously monitor the learning environment. It is also recommended to use student-centered learning-teaching methods, more interaction between students and teachers, and psychological support for students in order to reduce their anxiety and stress and improve their social self-perception.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprises a group of conditions that happen together and increase the risk of heart disorders. MetS has known characteristic diagnostic criteria and is diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests. This syndrome is extremely prevalent in patients with acute myocardial infarction. We aimed to determine the prevalence of MetS and its relationship with myocardial infarction and response to treatment in patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction under fibrinolytic treatment.

In this cross-sectional study, 145 patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were enrolled. They were referred to Bu-Ali Sina Hospital in Qazvin, Iran, between January 2018 and January 2019 and were candidates for thrombolytic therapy. The patients were divided into two groups with and without MetS according to the NCEP ATP III definition (the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III). In each group, the ST resolution of more than 50% in electrocardiogram was evaluated 90 minutes after thrombolytic administration. In addition, angiographic information and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were compared between the two groups.

Overall, the prevalence of MetS was 57.2% in the study population. After treatment, ST-segment resolution of more than 50%, the number of involved coronary vessels, the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade, mean LVEF, and type of myocardial infarction were similar in both study groups.

Our study indicates that MetS does not affect the response rate to thrombolytic treatment.

The present study was designed to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii seronegative pregnant women, estimate the frequency of fetuses at risk of congenital toxoplasmosis in the study area, and also to investigate the awareness of the studied mothers about T. gondii disease. A total of 740 pregnant women referred to two health centers in Qazvin province were surveyed voluntarily for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgG avidity test was used as a confirmatory test for samples showing positive or borderline results for IgM antibodies. Data on socioeconomic, demographic, and knowledge of participants about toxoplasmosis were collected using questionnaires and through face-to-face interviews. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify the potential predictor variables for T. gondii infection.  Overall, 21.2% (157/740) and 0.27% (2/740) of pregnant women were positive for T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Only 1.7% (13/740) of expectant mothers had prior information on toxoplasmosis. Among socioeconomic and demographic variables, contact with soil was the merely cause of a significant association with T. gondii infection. Other variables including age, occupation, education level, residential area, source of drinking water, abortion history, number of childbirth, consumption of raw/undercooked meat, having home cat and and consumption of raw vegetables failed to establish significant associations.  Our results clarified that the prevalence of T. gondii has remarkably reduced in the study area. This finding indicates a low risk of congenital toxoplasmosis in this region.

Although the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy are still unclear, the role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their associated receptors (AGER) in initiating the inflammatory process in this disease has attracted attention. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between rs1800624 polymorphism of AGER gene with  risk of diabetic nephropathy in Iranian population.

In this case-control study, patients were divided into two groups, group1 without diabetic nephropathy (n = 71) and group2 with diabetic nephropathy (n = 79). TETRA-Primer ARMS-PCR technique was used to determine the frequency of genotype and allele of rs1800624 polymorphism in the promoter region of AGER gene. Using standard methods, biochemical tests including measurement of glucose, creatinine, glycosylated hemoglobin and blood urea nitrogen and calculation of eGFR were performed. We used SPSS and FAMHAP softwares for data analysis.

The results showed that AA genotype rs1800624 polymorphism in the promoter region of the AGER gene may be associated with an increased risk of diabetic nephropathy. Allele analysis also showed that allele A of the polymorphism may be associated with an increased risk of developing nephropathy, although the results were not statistically significant between the two groups in relation to  rs1800624 polymorphism.

The findings of this study showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between rs1800624 polymorphism in AGER gene with diabetic nephropathy in the Iranian population, but increase in sample size may result in a tendency to develop diabetic nephropathy.

This study aimed to compare the fracture resistance using a bioceramic sealer and an epoxy resin-based sealer.

One hundred maxillary central incisors were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: AH Plus sealer using the single-cone technique, AH Plus sealer using the lateral compaction technique, SureSeal Root sealer, and two positive and negative control groups. Then the fracture resistance of the prepared tooth roots was determined. The data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey Post Hoc tests.

There were statistically significant differences between the five study groups (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the negative control and Sureseal groups (P = 0.183). There were significant differences between the SureSeal and AH Plus groups (P < 0.05).

SureSeal Root sealer significantly increased the fracture resistance of the teeth compared to AH Plus sealer.

Administration of intravenous vitamin C in hemodialysis patients can reduce their ferritin levels. Nevertheless, little research has been carried out in this regard. Hence, this study aimed to determine the effect of intravenous vitamin C on ferritin levels in a group of hemodialysis patients.

The study population included 32 patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis who had been referred to Qazvin Hospital. These patients had functional iron deficiency (IDA) and high levels of serum ferritin. Patients were randomly allocated into intervention group A (n = 16) and control group B (n = 16). Group A was given intravenous ascorbic acid, while group B was given the same amount of distilled water as a placebo three times a week after each dialysis session for three months along with erythropoietin. Laboratory parameters were assessed at the beginning and the end in an interval of three months.

In patients who received vitamin C injections, the mean ferritin level decreased at the end of the study (P < .05). But vitamin C intake did not affect BUN, creatinine, sodium, potassium, TIBC, hemoglobin, platelets count, and the length and number of dialysis sessions.

Results of our study showed that vitamin C can reduce serum ferritin levels in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, it can be used as an adjunct in the treatment of anemia in patients.

Addiction is one of the most prominent problems and the fourth leading crisis worldwide. In Iran, this issue is more complicated because of increasing young population in this country.

This study aimed to predict addiction susceptibility regarding students’ personality traits at Qazvin universities.

In this cross-sectional study, 227 students from Qazvin universities were selected using the multistage random stratified sampling method. Data collection tools were demographic information form, Addiction Susceptibility questionnaire (ASQ), and NEO personality inventory. After collecting the required data, SPSS software version 21 was used to analyze the data by running variance analysis and paired sample t-test.

In this study, neuroticism (P = 0.031) and openness (P = 0.043) with regression coefficients of 0.584 and 0.586 had positive and significant effects on addiction susceptibility, respectively. In contrast, extraversion (P = 0.023), agreeableness (P = 0.038), and consciousness (P < 0.001) with regression coefficients of -0.639, -0.186, and -1.342 had negative and significant effects on addiction susceptibility, respectively.

The findings revealed a significant relationship between personality traits and addiction susceptibility. Accordingly, the aforementioned psychological traits must be empathized in educational, preventive, and therapeutic programs so that the vulnerable groups, including students, would receive some help.

Evaluating employee performance is one of the key tasks of human resource managers. Lack of an effective performance appraisal system can have several negative consequences at the individual and organizational levels. Therefore, it is necessary for managers of organizations to evaluate the effectiveness of employee performance appraisal system using a comprehensive model and take the necessary measures to improve it. The purpose of this study is to develop such a model for one of the armed forces organizations of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This research is of developmental, survey and qualitative type which has been done by content analysis method. Eleven human resources experts in the target organization have participated in this study, which have been selected based on snowball sampling. The findings indicated that the performance evaluation system has six dimensions (purposefulness, fairness, accuracy, acceptability, having an appropriate plan, and being practical), 16 components, and 47 indicators. The obtained model shows its compatibility with the research literature and is appropriate to the nature of the target organization and can increase the effectiveness of its performance appraisal system.

There is controversy about the efficacy of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors in COVID-19 patients. Some assumed that finasteride might be a risk factor for deterioration and others proposed it as a possible adjunct treatment for moderate to severe COVID-19 infection in the elderly.

We performed a randomized controlled clinical trial (registration ID IRCT20200505047318N1) on 80 hospitalized male patients aged ≥50 years diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia in a tertiary hospital in Qazvin (Iran) from April to July 2020.   The patients were randomized into one of the 2 treatment groups using simple randomization.  Treatment group patients underwent routine drug therapy and 5 mg finasteride once daily for 7 days. The primary endpoint was mortality rate and length of hospital stay (LOS), and secondary endpoints were peripheral capillary oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and inflammatory markers changes. The study protocol was approved by the medical ethics committee of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (registration ID IR.QUMS.REC.1399.080). Data were analyzed by statistical tests and SPSS version 25. Also, p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

We found a significant difference on O2 saturation among the 2 study groups on fifth day compared with the admission time (p= 0.018). The results did not show significant differences in mortality rate (2.5% vs 10%; p= 0.166) and LOS (p= 0.866) between patients in the finasteride and the control group.

A short course of finasteride administration partially improves O2 saturation but does not influence other outcomes in hospitalized male patients aged ≥50 years with COVID-19 pneumonia. Further research in a large scale with longer follow-up is required to help clarify the role of finasteride in this setting.

This paper conducted to present a Model of supply chain and value chain of marine, in case of Makran coast in south of iran. Our research method is qualitative and basis on comparative studies. The methodology that used in this article is, interviews with experts and in parallel, the library studies. This Model was carried out in four stages that include, input process chain, fish breeding stations, main-chain processes and outputs. In this article we have tried to estimate inputs and assumptions of our fisheries chain from interviews and articles, to estimate the outputs. The output of the chain consisting of fish, fingerlings, shrimp, Artemia, Salicornia and many other outlets. According to estimates, in addition to domestic needs, we have ability to export these items to the countries. Presentation of integrated model of marine chain is the Innovation of this paper. This research was performed in cooperation with IRGC navy Development Center.

The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a suitable tool for the assessment of functional capacity in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases. This study aimed to assess the clinical determinants of the six-minute walk distance (6MWD), exercise-induced desaturation (EID), and pretest saturation of arterial oxygen (SataO2) in patients with diffuse non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis.
In this cross-sectional study, a total of 57 clinically stable patients with diffuse non-CF bronchiectasis were enrolled. Anthropometric measurements (body mass index [BMI], mid-arm muscle circumference [MAMC], and triceps skinfold thickness [TSF]), spirometric indices (forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC], and FEV1/FVC ratio), imaging assessment (CT scan), and bacteriological sputum studies were performed, and then, 6MWT was carried out.
The mean 6MWD was measured to be 447.11±94.59 m. The average walked distance in patients with severe, moderate, and mild bronchiectasis was 427.73±92.07, 439.63±102.65, and 485.87±80.47 m, respectively, with no significant difference. The pretest SataO2 was 88.92±5.59%, 93.75±3.36%, and 94.87±2.88% in the severe, moderate, and mild bronchiectasis groups (P<0.001). A significant inverse correlation was observed between the distance walked and BMI (r=-0.434, P=0.001).
The predictors of 6MWD in stable non-CF bronchiectasis patients were FVC, SataO2 at rest, BMI, and MAMC. The FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and BMI were independent predictors of SataO2 at rest. The extension of bronchiectasis was the only predictor of EID during the test.

 One of the complications of diabetes, as a chronic metabolic disorder, is cardiovascular diseases. 
Objective This study aims to investigate the effect of an eight-week High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) program on serum Cardiac troponin I (CtnI) level in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. 

 In this experimental clinical trial, 30 rats were randomly assigned into three groups of healthy Control (C), Diabetic (D), and diabetic+training (D+T). The third group performed the training which included a treadmill running at an intensity of 85%-90% of maximum speed in 6-12 sessions of 2 min for 8 weeks, 5 days per week. Blood glucose level and high-sensitive CtnI levels were measured 48 hours after the last training session and 12 hours of fasting. One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test were used to analyze the collected data, considering a significance level of P<0.05.

 The induction of diabetes caused a significant increase in blood glucose (P=0.01) and high-sensitive CtnI (P=0.01) levels in the D group. Also, a significant difference was observed in the blood glucose level of D+T group compared to the D group (P=0.001). The CtnI level also slightly reduced (11%) in the D+T group compared to the D group, but it was not statistically significant (P=0.591).

 he HIIT program can reduce the fasting blood glucose and increase the serum level of high-sensitive CtnI to some extent in diabetic rats; therefore, it can be an appropriate strategy for diabetics. However, there is a need for more studies in this area.

Chronic colonization with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) has been shown to significantly increase the risk of gastric ulcer and duodenum as well as chronic gastritis in children and adults. Due to the importance of early detection and treatment of HP infection especially in children, this study aimed to compare the clinical, endoscopic and histopathological findings in children with HP gastroduodenitis and control group.

In this cross-sectional study, all children referred to the gastroenterology clinic of children´s hospital, Qazvin, Iran, between 2016 and 2018, with a history of gastrointestinal complaints underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy if necessary, then tissue samples were taken, and rapid urease test was performed; subsequently the patients were divided into two equal groups of 200: HP positive (patient group), and Hp negative (control group).

The mean age in the Hp positive group and in the control group was 8.11±3.68 and7.22±2.96 years, respectively (p <0.05). The most common clinical manifestation in the Hp positive group was chronic abdominal pain (n=66, p <0.001). Endoscopic examinations revealed that the evidence of mucosal erythema, erosions and nodular mass of the corpus, antrum and bulb were significantly higher in Hp positive group. Histopathologic studies also showed more evidence of corpus, antrum and bulb inflammation in the Hp positive group compared to the control group.

Overall, based on the results of this study, it seems that endoscopic evidence of mucosal appearance of erythema, obvious nodularity and mucosal erosion in the corpus and antrum as well as bulb of duodenum in children with HP gastroduodenitis has a diagnostic value.

This study aimed to assess root canal transportation of curved canals following glide path preparation by PathFile and Scout RaCe rotary systems compared with manual instrumentation with stainless steel (SS) hand files using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

This in-vitro experimental study was conducted on extracted human mandibular first and second molars (n=51) with 25-45° canal curvature in their mesiobuccal root. All teeth underwent CBCT and were randomly divided into three groups (n=17). In group 1, a glide path in the mesiobuccal canal was created using SS hand files to the working length. In groups 2 and 3, after canal negotiation with a #8 SS hand file, a glide path was created with PathFile and Scout RaCe systems, respectively. The teeth underwent CBCT. Pre- and postoperative CBCT scans were compared to calculate the magnitude of canal transportation at 3, 6, and 9 mm from the apex. The results were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Freedman tests (P<0.05).

Manual instrumentation caused significantly higher canal transportation at 3 and 9 mm from the apex compared with rotary systems (P<0.05). PathFile and Scout RaCe were not significantly different at 3 (P=0.39) or 9 mm (P=0.99). No significant difference was noted in canal transportation among the three groups at 6 mm (P=0.15).

Scout RaCe and PathFile cause less canal transportation than manual instrumentation with SS files when used for glide path preparation in curved canals, especially in the apical third.

 Poisoning is one of the most common medical emergencies in young children. Substantial differences in socioeconomic and cultural situations cause various epidemiological patterns of acute poisoning with different poisonous agents.

 We aimed to determine the extent of pediatric poisoning in a referral teaching hospital in the center of Iran.

 The electronic database of Qods Children Hospital in Qazvin, Iran, was searched for children younger than 12 years old and referred for acute poisoning from 2015 to 2018. The cases (n = 184) were classified according to their age, gender, symptoms at the time of admission, the toxins, and their types.

 The frequency of poisoning in boys was more than girls (M/F = 1.49). The mean age of the patients was 3.4 years, and the average length of stay in hospital was 1.3 days. Children poisoned with petroleum products had the highest average stay (3.10 days). Although more than 65 agents were identified as the poisoning agents, narcotics were the most common category (n = 62, 33.7%), and methadone was the most common agent in our study (n = 46, 25%). Central nervous system symptoms were recorded more than other signs and symptoms on admission or during the stay. Only two patients (1.1%) had been discharged with complications.

 With predominance for boys, most of the children had toxicity with medications. Methadone, other narcotics, and psychotropic medications were the most common agents that indicate a need for more severe control and education for prevention from poisoning in children.

The placental calcification is often considered as a physiologic aging process of the placenta but it may be accompanied with the altered levels of vitamin D (vit D). The aim of this study was to evaluate association between placental calcification and vit D in low risk pregnant women.  In a case-control study eighty otherwise healthy pregnant women with a gestational age between 37-41 weeks were recruited and divided into the case (n=40), and control (n=40) groups (based on the result of the ultrasonography and according to the Grannum grading). The serum of calcium in pregnant women and vit D level in cord blood were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Neonatal anthropometric values were measured after birth, too. Most of the pregnant women (n=74, 92%) showed either insufficiency or deficiency of vitamin D in cord while calcium levels were normal in both groups. Serum calcium showed a significant difference between two groups [p=0.042, odds ratio (OR): 2.006, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.024-3.928], but vitamin D did not (p=0.144, OR: 1.048, 95%CI: 0.984-1.115). Vitamin D level had a significant relationship with calcification of the placenta as well as maternal age, gestational age, and birth weight. It is better to measure calcium and vitamin D in mothers with calcified placenta because the vitamin D level had a significant relationship with placental calcification and we recommend the administration of vitamin D in pregnant women.

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and especially methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a major cause of healthcare-associated infections worldwide. Health care workers (HCWs) may act as reservoirs for transmission of MRSA to patients and other HCWs. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the prevalence of SA and MRSA colonization among HCWs in Iran. The used keywords for searching were: “Iran”, “S. aureus” and “MRSA” conducted in PubMed, and Google Scholar, and two national scientific databases and proceedings of recent national conferences. The studies related to SA or MRSA prevalence in Iran published from 1993 to 2018 were included for review. Meta-analysis was performed using the Open Meta (Analyst) software. Results showed that the prevalence of SA among HCWs was 26% (95% CI=19.4-32.6%). The ratios of MRSA/total isolated SA and MRSA/total HCWs were obtained 35.4% (95% CI=29.6-41.1%) and 7.6% (95% CI= 6.4-8.8%), respectively. Older studies showed a higher prevalence compared to recent studies. The prevalence of nasal MRSA carriage among Iranian HCWs was in a range between the rates reported in the U.S/European and African countries.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has become a highly prevalent condition in pediatric care. OSA in children might considerably impact children’s quality of life. We aimed to evaluate sleep disorders in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

This was a descriptive-analytical and questionnaire-based study of children with adenotonsil-lar hypertrophy referring to otolaryngology clinic at Qazvin Children Hospital, Iran, in 2018-2019. 181 children who were randomly selected from the referral hospitals were evaluated using the validated Persian version of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Eight main branches were also completed by the parents and how they evaluated the last week sleep patterns of their children.

A total of 120 completed questionnaires were collected from children aged 1 to 15 years. 52.5% were male and 76.7% were urban residents. 88.8% had snoring and 90.0% had no family history of insomnia. 76.3% fell asleep in the morning, 74.3% had moderate to severe bedtime resistance according to the parents’ reports, and 60.0% had mild and 22.5% had severe sleep onset delay. Finally, 107 children had confirmed sleep disorder that figures 89.2% of the cases included in the study.

Our study showed a high prevalence of sleep disorders in our cases and its effects on behavioral disorders. Children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy had less sleep duration and more sleep disorder as parents reported in present study. Further studies are highly recommended to understand the etiology of sleep disorders in studied population.

This study aims to compare the anesthetic efficacy, postoperative pain, hemorrhage & dry sock incidence of articaine 4% versus lidocaine 2% in inferior alveolar nerve block during impacted lower third molar surgery.

A prospective randomized study was conducted on 20 subjects planned for elective surgical removal of bilateral impacted mandibular with similar difficulty indices. A single operator performed all surgeries on basis using 4% articaine or 2% lidocaine as an anesthetic agent and with the same concentration of vasoconstrictor (epinephrine 1:100,1000). Latency, duration of anesthetic effect, intra and post surgical pain experiences, hemorrhage & dry socket occurrences were evaluated with respect to the type of anesthetia. A visual analog scale was used to score pain. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, repeated measures ANOVA, Wilcoxon and McNemar’s test (α=0.05).

Latency, Intra & Postoperative pain and hemorrhage showed clinical differences in favor of articaine, though statistical significance was not reached. In turn, the mean duration of anesthetic for articain was much extended and showed statistically significant difference. Dry socket incidence consisted of two occurrences (5%) and those two only occurred in Lidocain group.

Although 4% articaine offers better pharmacological performance than 2% lidocaine, both articaine and lidocaine have demonstrated adequate, negligible differences and acceptable clinical profiles. For this reason, their use in oral surgery should remain of the professional preference who will evaluate their use base on the necessary surgical time.

 The effect of physical activity and nutrition on the method of childbirth has been studied; however, it cannot be assured. 

 This study aimed to explore the relationship between the type of delivery and nutrition and physical activity.

 In a case-control study, women were entered either in cesarean section or normal vaginal delivery (each group: 52 subjects) groups. Data regarding physical activity and nutrition information during pregnancy were collected using a questionnaire. The scale’s reliability and validity were confirmed by the experts. 

 Age, height, pre-pregnancy weight, gestational age, the number of previous pregnancies, and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), were not different in the two groups; however, the groups differed in terms of BMI at the end of pregnancy, rate of changes in BMI, the employment status, sweets consumption before bedtime, taking medicines, the participants’ energy status compared with natural position, and reading nutrition facts label.

 If the observed differences between the two groups are causative, the interventions can reduce the risk of cesarean section, such as preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Otherwise, they can be used as markers or pose a possibility of childbirth type.