p. ebrahimi

At the beginning of the pandemic, Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was one of the most widely used drugs prescribed to patients admitted to hospitals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We try to find the effect of HCQ on the severity and mortality of patients who did not receive corticosteroids.

In this retrospective study, patients with COVID-19 disease were collected from February 20, 2020, to July 21, 2020, at Rouhani Hospital in Babol. Patients were followed up until December 6, 2021. In this study, 170 patients in case and control groups were studied. We used logistic and COX regression models to explore the effects of drugs. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 22.

The use of HCQ did not affect mortality (p=0. 46, 95%CI= 0.63 to 2.71, OR= 1.31) and final severity (p= 0.75, 95%CI= 0.59 to 2.06, OR= 1.10) at admission time. However, azithromycin remained in the final model but did not have a significant effect (P= 0.08, HR= 0.28, 95%CI= 0.06 to 0.18). Heparin use was not associated with severity improvement (p= 0.06, 95%CI= 0.97 to 2.81, HR= 1.65), while ceftriaxone remained a factor affecting severity in the model (p = 0.03, 95% CI= 0.29 to 0.95, HR = 0.52).

In this study, HCQ harmed mortality admission time and was ineffective in the long term. The use of ceftriaxone compared to other drugs showed protective effects against the mortality hospitalization time. Heparin is not recommended without considering the risk of bleeding in COVID-19 patients.

In this study, arapid and sensitive electrochemical electrode was fabricated to measure the amount of sunset yellow in food samples. This analytical sensor was mediated using a NiO-decorated single-walled carbon nanotubes (NiO-SWCNTs) nanocomposite and N-octylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid (IL). The morphology of the NiO-SWCNTs nanocomposite was investigated by means of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Square Wave Voltammetry (SWV) techniques were utilized to verify the appropriateness of the suggested sensor. In comparison to the bare carbon paste electrode (CPE), the electrochemical response of modified electrode had a considerable improve. According to the Chronoamperometry and scan rate analyses, diffusion index (D) and transfer coefficient (α) were obtained 1.8×10-5 cm2/s and 0.52, respectively. The outcomes achieved from SWV technique demonstrated a reasonable linear dynamic range (LDR) between 0.09 and 750 µM, and the Limit of Detection (LOD) was obtained 0.05 µM. Eventually, the quantity of sunset yellow in real samples showed a recovery range between 99.2 and 99.86%, confirming the accuracy of the proposed sensor.

Chitin is the most abundant natural biopolymer that can be converted to chitosan, which has various biomedical applications. This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant activity of chitosan extracted from shrimp shells on body weight of broiler chickens. The study comprised three experiments. In experiment 1, shrimp (Penaeus merguiensis) shells were demineralized using HCL (1N), deproteinized using NaOH (1N), decolorized using acetone, and deacetylated using 50% NaOH. The antioxidant potencies of chitosan and vitamin C were compared by their abilities to scavenge 1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of chitosan at varying concentrations (1-20 mg/ml) ranged between 34.59 and 87.11%, whereas that of 1 mg/ml of vitamin C was 91.1%. In experiment 2, six dietary treatments containing varying concentrations of chitosan (0, 0.125, 0. 25, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg) were allocated randomly to 60 male broiler chicks from 10 to 42 days of age. Chitosan at varying concentrations had no significant effect on the body weight, but it significantly decreased the MDA level in breast meat (p<0.05). In experiment 3, a total of 20 male broiler chickens were divided into two groups (n=10) and were fed a corn-soybean basal diet with or without chitosan for 42 days. On days 35 and 38, five chickens from each group were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) at 1 mL/kg body weight to induce oxidative stress. Administration of CCL4 significantly decreased body weight and increased AST and ALT activities, which are indicators of liver damage, on day 42, whereas chitosan improved and normalized body weight and enzyme activity (p<0.05). The results suggested that chitosan extracted from shrimp shells exhibits antioxidant effects by increasing the shelf life of the meat and normalizing the body weight of the broilers as well as serum AST and ALT enzyme activities.

Abstract

Organizational culture and employee attitude towards information technology are considered as the factors influencing successful implementation of information systems. The aim of this research was to determine the related factors to Hospital Information System (HIS) acceptance according to Competing Values Framework.

In this descriptive-correlative study، the conceptual model was proposed according to the related literature، and it was confirmed by the views of 7 experts. The two-part questionnaire including «HIS Acceptance» and «Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument» with total of 90 questions was developed based on the model variables. The validity of the questionnaire was obtained by content validity ratio، and its reliability was measured by calculating Cronbach’s Alpha. The research data was gathered through distributing the questionnaires among 400 users of HIS in the considered hospitals by using stratified sampling method. To test the conceptual model، Structural Equation Modeling and path analysis methods were used by applying LISREL Software version 8. 7.

The Normed Chi Square Index (1. 88) showed that the model had fitness with the gathered data. The indices included Goodness of Fit Index=0. 98، Comparative Fit index= 0. 98، Adjusted Goodness of Fit index=0. 94، Root Mean Square Error of Approximation= 0. 047. According to the research model، the correlation of developmental culture and Perceived Usefulness (P=0. 020) and the correlation of developmental، also hierarchical cultures and HIS use (P=0. 019) were statistically significant.

The results of testing the research model indicated that developmental and hierarchical cultures are related to HIS acceptance. In order to facilitate and improve HIS acceptance، it is recommended that the related authorities embark on fostering an environment with tendency towards developmental and hierarchical culture in the hospitals.

I ssues related to organizations and users are among factors influencing successful implementation of information systems. These factors should be taken into account by managers. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of supervisors and workgroup on Hospital Information System (HIS) acceptance by users in medical hospitals of Tehran (former Iran) University of Medical Sciences.

After the literature review، a primary model including seven variables influencing HIS acceptance was proposed. A questionnaire including 121 questions based on the variables was developed، the validity and reliability of which were tested and confirmed by an expert panel and through Chronbach Alpha. The population of the study were 400 HIS users in hospitals selected by stratified random sampling method. To confirm the model and determine the relationship between variables، Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method was used by applying LISREL Software.

The result of Normed Chi Square Index (χ 2 /df= 2. 49) showed that the model had fitness with the collected data. According to the model، supervisers and workgroup influenced Perceived Ease of Use، Perceived Usefulness، and Satisfaction which affected users Behavioral Intention to use Hospital Information System in these hospitals (P-value= 0. 0054).

Considering the goodnesss of fit indices، it is concluded that supervisors and workgroup factors have the potential to influence HIS acceptance. The application of the suggested model could increase the possibility of HIS acceptance in hospitals under the study.

Leishmaniasis is one of the important endemic diseases in Iran and is divided into cutaneous and visceral Leishmaniasis. Since determining the type of the parasite is effective in the controlling and preventing of the disease، we sought to find a method for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

In this research 35 cutaneous leishmaniasis patients from different part of Iran [8 infectious cases from the province of Isfe-han and its margins namely، Ardestan، Kashan and Samiram; 2 cases from Kerman (the foci of the infection was Sirjan)، 4 cases from Khorasan، 2 cases from Mashhad، 2 cases from Esfraeian، 2 casese from Boshehr، 3 cases from Semnan (the foci of the infection was Damghan) and 1 case from ghom] were collected. After preparing the direct slide DNA extracted from all patients، polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done for the gene of ITS1.

The results of PCR indicated that all of the cases were positive and showed DNA fragment bands in the size range of 69-350 bp. The results from restriction fragment length of polymorphism (RFLP) indicated that 94% (33 persons) and 6% (2 persons) of the cases were detected as Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica، respectively. Discussion &

These results showed that PCR-RFLP method by using Apo1gene is suitable for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by leishmania species.

Background and

The role of trace elements (Cu, Zn) in chronic inflammatory states has provided interest, as many of them are co-factors in metabolic processes, involving arthricular tissues and immune system function. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate zinc and copper plasma concentration in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, who were referred to the Sari Outpatient Clinics and were compared with control group.

We studied plasma concentrations of Zn and Cu in 40 patients with RA and compared them with sex and age matched of healthy subjects (N=40). Plasma Cu and Zn concentrations were determined by an analysis of 100 Perkin Elmer model flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS)

The plasma Zn concentration in the patient group was statistically lower than control group. The plasma copper was not statistically different in comparison with control group. There was no correlation between Cu and Zn concentration in patient group. In contrast to Cu, there was a significantly positive correlation between Zn and Zn/Cu ratio. However, the decrease of Zn/Cu is more influenced by decreasing the Zn concentration.

It appears the decrease of Zn plasma concentration in patients (comparison with control group) is more important than the differences in plasma Cu concentration, but the use of Zn supplement for RA patients needs more investigation.