Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal
Volume:24 Issue: 12, Dec 2022

Donor detection is the first step of organ procurement for transplantation, and about 50% of all potential donors are not detected.

The present study aimed to evaluate the facilitators and barriers to donor detection based on hospital characteristics and staff opinions.

In this cross-sectional study, a 16-item questionnaire was prepared to clarify medical staff opinions about facilitators (10 items) and barriers (6 items) to potential donor detection. The questionnaire was distributed on social networks, and all medical staff members were invited to participate in the study.

A total of 230 medical staff participated in this study. From their point of view, the main facilitator was active detection via regular daily phone calls (150, 65.2%), which had the most advocators among medical staff of public (64.1%) and private hospitals (74.5%). Detection by donor coordinators or inspectors tanked the second (103, 44.8%). Moreover, private hospitals highly agreed with detection by donor coordinators and inspectors in 66.7% and 60.8% of cases, respectively. Donor detection by an in-hospital-coordinator was recommended by 42.6% of all 230 participants, with most advocators among those affiliated with an organization (65.4%). Staff opinions about donor selection and care to donor families were important barriers according to 53.5% and 46.1% of subjects, respectively.

To identify all potential donors, different strategies are necessary according to hospital characteristics. In public hospitals, daily calls; in private ones, active visits; and in an-organization-related hospitals, in-hospital coordinators could be effective.

Self-care during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVD-19) helps people follow self-care strategies to reduce the spread of the virus. To control the disease, people need to engage in self-care behaviors, and investigating these behaviors requires a valid and reliable instrument to yield valid and credible information.

This study aimed to validate the Persian version of the Self-Care in COVID-19 Scale (SCOVID-Scale).

The sample included 582 participants from XXX's general population who were selected using a convenience sampling method. They were divided into two groups, one half for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the other for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Cronbach's alpha coefficient and McDonald's omega were used to assess Internal consistency. Standard error of measurement (SEM) and interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to examine absolute stability and relative stability, respectively.

In the EFA, three factors, including Prevention, Routine Activities, and Lifestyle, were extracted that together explained 32.31% of the total variance of COVID-19 self-care. Internal consistency of the total scale using both Cronbach's alpha coefficient and McDonald's omega was above 0.7. The goodness of fit indices of second-order CFA was in the acceptable range.

The Persian version of the SCOVID Scale is a valid and reliable instrument, and it can be used in studies on COVID-19.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) can be easily diagnosed with computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). However, the diagnosis of PE is difficult when contrast material cannot be used.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether an increase in Pulmonary Artery- Diameter and an increase in PA-Diameter / Ascending Aortic-Diameter ratio can be used in the diagnosis of PE.

CTPA of patients diagnosed with PE (88 patients) and control group (89 patients) were examined retrospectively. Aortic (Ao) and pulmonary artery (PA) diameters were measured radiologically. PA-Diameter/Ao-Diameter ratio were proportioned.

Mean D-Dimer levels were found to be higher in the PE group (7.31±3.528 mcg/L) than in the control group (1.52±1.042 mcg/L), (p<0.001). PE diagnosis of right main PA, right segmental PA and right subsegmental PA was observed more than left. In PE group the mean Ao-Diameter (35,14±4,55 mm) was larger than in control group (34,97±5,28 mm), (p=0.828). In PE group the mean main PA-Diameter (30,45±4,77 mm) was larger than in control group (28,35±3,81 mm), (p=0.001). Also in PE group the mean main PA-Dimeter/Ao-Diameter ratio (0,87±0,15) were higher than in control group (0,82±0,13), (p=0.016).

The increase in PA-Diameter and PA-Diameter/Ao-Diameter ratio in non-contrast CT can be used in the diagnosis of PE in patients with suspected PE in whom contrast cannot be given in the ED.

Hazards have always been considered a threat to human life and preparedness to deal with risks for pre-hospital emergency as the first line of care and treatment is highly significant. Pre-hospital emergency (clinical) deals with different natural and man-made hazards which cause various harms. Preservation of disaster preparedness is one of the pre-hospital emergency concerns. In this regard.

The present study aimed to determine the priority of hazards and design preparedness programs based on health response.

The present study was based on a descriptive-analytical study that was conducted in Rasht, Iran in 2019. The method used in this study was a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. In a qualitative method, the major threats and potential hazards of pre-hospital emergency were identified by reviewing the texts and searching for relevant articles. Afterward, its effectiveness and the significance of its risk or threat were evaluated using a researcher-made checklist. In total, 19 crisis liaisons from the organizations involved in crisis management in Rasht were questioned, 18 of whom responded to the checklist.

The results obtained from the opinions of the experts showed that the risk of earthquakes (88.8%) and seasonal flood (83.3%),among all the risks investigated, have a higher priority than traffic accidents (77.7%) and heavy snowfall (72.2%) in the society. The pre-hospital emergency is closely related to many various risks, among which the earthquake risk was chosen as the priority by the community of experts participating in this research. For the emergency of the earthquake, preparedness plans were produced based on the response plan of the health sector and the additional comments of the expert community.

Identification of high-priority risks and design of appropriate response plans will help those in charge to face and prepare in time and reduce damages.

Anxiety is common among university students and previous research has highlighted the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and higher anxiety scores in the public.

In this regard, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the anxiety status of pharmacy students studying in Northern Cyprus and analyze the role of some parameters on the observed anxiety scores.

Anxiety scores of 185 pharmacy students studying at two universities in Northern Cyprus were evaluated using Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) assessments. Additionally, the information of participants was recorded in terms of sociodemographic and educational characteristics, antidepressants and anxiolytic use, and consumption of vitamin-mineral supplements. The questionnaires were distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic from December 11, 2020, to January 4, 2021, online via the Microsoft Teams® platform. It should be mentioned that responses were anonymous.

The mean BAI and GAD-7 scores of pharmacy students were 13.1±11.2 and 10±6.7, respectively. Based on the results, 6% of the students (n=11) revealed potentially concerning levels of anxiety in their BAI responses. Moreover, 31.9% of the pharmacy students (n=59) demonstrated severe anxiety scores on the GAD-7. Positive COVID-19 cases in the family led to statistically significant increases in anxiety on both instruments. Pharmacy students with five years of education (B.Pharm/M.Pharm) showed significantly higher anxiety scores on the BAI. Besides, age correlated negatively with anxiety scores on the GAD-7. Neither antidepressant and anxiolytic use nor vitamin/mineral supplement use were not related to the anxiety scores of participants.

Results of this study demonstrated an alarming anxiety status among pharmacy students during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Diagnosis of a family member with COVID-19 was observed to be critical in triggering the anxiety of pharmacy students. Data from this study should raise awareness to take action plans for the mental well-being of pharmacy students during pandemics.

Peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) is a reliable and safe method of central venous catheterization.

To investigate the operation techniques of peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) catheterization in special Positions.

From January 2015 to August 2020, 52 cases in special positions were successfully catheterized and been divided into four types. We analyzed the characteristics of body positions, the principle of position placement and sterile sheet laying, the position of the operator, the evaluation before the catheterization, the preparation of related equipment for the catheterization, and the technical points of the catheterization operation among these four types.

By adopting different techniques (patient position placement, disinfection, sterile sheet laying, operator location, and operation key points) according to different patient positions, PICC catheters were successfully inserted in 52 patients.

When PICC catheterization objects cannot be placed in conventional positions, individualized analysis should be carried out. According to the characteristics of their positions, special evaluation, position placement, disinfection and draping, and special equipment to assist individualized catheterization operations should be carried out.

Triage is used as one of the main concepts in the emergency medicine to differentiate between critically ill patients or patients in a non-emergency situation. Miss-triage occurs if the prioritization of patients or injured is not done correctly for any reason. Miss-triage occurs in two forms of over and under triage. According to studies, the incidence of miss-triage is high worldwide. Exercising is one of the ways to reduce the amount of miss-triage.

. This two-group pretest post-test intervention study aimed to investigate the effect of drilling on the miss-triage of emergency medical service personnel.

The tools used in this study included: demographic information form questionnaire, Triage Decision Making Inventory (TDMI), and designed START/jump START triage scenarios. After collecting the required data, these data were analyzed by appropriate parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, including mean and standard deviation, independent t-test, paired t-test, K-square.

Results showed that the Miss-triage rate decreased from (34.1%) before the intervention to (9.1%) after the intervention in the experimental group. Moreover, after drill, the score of triage decision-making power increased from (121) to (136.91). However, in the control group, no statistically significant change was observed in the amount of miss-triage and triage decision-making power in emergency medical service personnel at the end of the study (p>.05).

The findings of the present study revealed the effectiveness of this exercise method in reducing miss-triage in participants. Thus, this method could be used in emergency medical service personnel training and preparation programs.

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) is an enzyme multifaceted of eukaryotes mitochondria which is reason for converting succinate to fumarate as a component in the cycle of Krebs. Its dysfunction results inside several malignancies related to the endocrine and epithelial tumors. SDH is an enzymatic complex made of some subunits. Succinate is recognized as an oncometabolite so; the discovery of SDH mutations can give a straight connection among the changes of succinate and tumorigenesis. Progresses in laboratory technologies made it possible to make profiles and identification of the accumulation of succinate in several cancer types. Here at this point, we are going to review the potential roles of SDH mutation and changing of succinate in tumorigenesis and as tumor markers for the early discovery of malignancies.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) involves multiple organs, including the gastrointestinal tract. It also causes frequent thromboembolic events because of its thrombogenicity. This study reports a COVID-19 case of extensive bowel necrosis despite using warfarin.

A 52-year-old homeless addict male was brought via Emergency Medical Services with a chief complaint of abdominal pain for two days and loss of consciousness since the day before. He had a history of cough and dyspnea for seven days and had been using warfarin after mitral valve replacement three years earlier. On admission, he had low oxygen saturation, tachycardia, and fever. Because of his respiratory signs and symptoms, a chest CT scan was performed, and evidence of COVID-19 infection was detected. He had nausea, and on abdominal examination, there was generalized tenderness, rebound tenderness, and guarding. Following physical examination and abnormal laboratory test results,he underwent an emergent laparotomy. Extensive necrosis made surgical intervention impossible, and he died shortly after the surgery.

COVID-19-associated coagulopathy raises many challenges nowadays, and according to the present case, even using anticoagulants may not prevent it.