مجله سلامت و بهداشت
سال پانزدهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 60، بهار 1403)

The examination of dental images is a crucial method for diagnosing diseases, devising treatment plans, and assessing treatment progress by dentists. While X-rays are beneficial in treating certain ailments, they also pose risks; thus, safeguarding against X-ray exposure is paramount for both dentists and patients. A study was undertaken to evaluate the awareness, attitudes, and practices of dentists in Birjand concerning ionizing radiation effects and protective measures.

This descriptive-analytical research, employing random sampling, assessed dentists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices through questionnaire distribution. Data were gathered from 111 dentists in Birjand and analyzed using t-tests and analysis of variance with SPSS 20 software.

The study comprised 52 males (46.8%) and 59 females (53.1%). Average scores for dentists' knowledge, attitude, and practices in radiation protection were 77.85%, 83.5%, and 43.7%, respectively. Notably, no statistically significant disparity was observed in knowledge levels between those who had completed retraining courses and those who had not (P>0.05). Furthermore, 35.1% of participants utilized lead aprons, while 73.8% employed thyroid necklaces for patient protection.

Findings indicated that dentists in Birjand exhibit a satisfactory level of knowledge and attitude towards radiation protection. Despite the lack of a significant difference in awareness between retraining course attendees and non-attendees, there was a collective interest in participating in such courses. Hence, it is recommended that refresher courses incorporate updated radiation protection guidelines.

Road dust pollution containing trace elements like antimony (Sb), lanthanum (La), lithium (Li), molybdenum (Mo), and vanadium (V) has been relatively overlooked. Despite their toxicity and established reference doses, there has been limited research on these elements. This study aims to assess the levels of these elements in the road dust of southern Tehran, an area with high pollution potential, and evaluate the associated health risks.

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, road dust samples were collected from the surfaces of roads in southern Tehran during a dry period. The samples were digested with acid, and the concentrations of Sb, La, Li, Mo, and V were determined using ICP-OES. Enrichment factor (EF), pollution index (PI), and Nemerow Integrated Pollution Index (NIPI) were calculated based on the concentration data. Non-carcinogenic risk was assessed through Monte Carlo simulation.

The average concentrations of Sb, La, Li, Mo, and V were 2.01, 14.68, 9.05, 7.33, and 58.28 μg/g, respectively. The highest and lowest EF values were recorded for Sb and Li, respectively. NIPI values ranged from 2.16 to 44.58. The non-carcinogenic risk values of Sb, Li, Mo, and V for both adult and child age groups, and La for adults, were below 1, except for the risk of La in children, which was deemed unacceptable.

The findings of this study highlight significant levels of toxic trace elements in road dust in southern Tehran, indicating high pollution levels. Moreover, the current levels of La may present an unacceptable non-carcinogenic risk to children. Hence, greater attention towards this type of pollution is imperative, necessitating identification and control of its sources.

Covid-19 is an emerging disease that has affected the world in recent years. In addition to pulmonary effects, some skin manifestations are also observed in Covid-19 patients. Considering the lack of studies on the prevalence of these demonstrations in Ardabil, the present study was conducted. The purpose of this study was to investigate skin and mucosal manifestations in patients with Covid-19 admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital (RA) in Ardabil.

The study population was the patients of Covid-19 hospitalized in the Corona ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital (RA) in Ardabil province in 3 months of autumn 1400. In this study, 274 patients were examined and the required information was collected using a checklist.

Among the studied people; 191 patients (69.7%) were women and 83 patients (30.3%) were men. The average age of the study patients was 59.25 years with a standard deviation of 12.32. 14 patients (5.1%) had skin manifestations. Among the 14 patients with skin manifestations, 78.6% mentioned that these manifestations occurred after contracting the coronavirus. Also, 50% mentioned that these lesions are itchy. 50% described these lesions as progressive. 57.1% of patients with skin manifestations mentioned that they experienced hair loss after contracting the coronavirus.

The prevalence rate of skin manifestations in corona patients of Ardabil city was 5.1%. This amount showed the need to pay more attention to skin manifestations, especially in patients without a history of skin sensitivity.

This study aims to assess the antibacterial efficacy of montmorillonite nanoclay modified with silver and bismuth nanoparticles against Escherichia coli, a common gram-negative bacterium known for causing gastrointestinal and extraintestinal infections.

In this research, the initial steps for producing montmorillonite nanoclay included extracting bentonite from mines, crushing and grinding the raw material, and then sieving the resulting powder to obtain particles smaller than 74 μm. The nanoclay underwent optimization and was treated with silver and bismuth nanoparticles. The analysis involved electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, laser diffraction for particle size assessment, and evaluation of quartz peak intensity to measure the effectiveness of the antibacterial nanoclay synthesis. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined through agar dilution to assess its impact on E. coli viability in vitro.

Utilizing Results Using montmorillonite particles smaller than 2 μm was effective in producing pharmaceutical nanoclay. The montmorillonite nanoclay with silver showed the highest efficacy against the standard E. coli strain, with a MIC value of 64 μg/mL. Following in effectiveness were the bismuth nanoparticle-modified nanoclay and the montmorillonite nanoclay, having MIC values of 128 and 512 μg/mL, respectively.

The physical production method emerged as the safest and most efficient approach for pharmaceutical-grade nanoclay. Treating nanoclay with silver ions showed greater success compared to bismuth nanoparticle modification.

Effective reduction of tuberculosis necessitates insight into its spatio-temporal distribution. This study sought to analyze the spatial-temporal distribution pattern of tuberculosis in West Azerbaijan province from 2015 to 2019 using ArcGIS software. By examining the spatial distribution of tuberculosis in the region, the study aimed to provide valuable information for efficient health planning, resource allocation, and implementation of preventive measures.

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on tuberculosis data (754 patients) at the provincial level, sourced from the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education of Iran between 2015 and 2019. Spatial changes were identified using Moran's correlation analysis and Getis Ord G*. Moreover, correlation analysis based on distance and cluster analysis was utilized for spatial-temporal analysis.

The study revealed that 80% of tuberculosis cases in West Azerbaijan province were concentrated in Urmia, Miandawab, Selmas, and Chahar Borj. Furthermore, Piranshahr, Mahabad, Shahindej, and Takab were identified as hot spots for tuberculosis. These cities exhibited a positive and statistically significant Z-Score, indicating a high prevalence of tuberculosis.

The spatial analysis indicated clustering of tuberculosis cases in West Azerbaijan, particularly in Urmia, Miandawab, Selmas, and Chahar Borj with the highest patient numbers. Spatial distance emerged as a critical factor influencing the spread of tuberculosis within the province, with inter-provincial travel facilitating disease dissemination from central to peripheral areas.

This study explores the influence of socio-economic factors on income reduction and dietary habits in relation to the outbreak and spread of Covid-19 in Mashhad, Iran.

In this article, the impact of socio-economic factors on income and the nutritional behavior of people during the outbreak of covid-19 in Mashhad city were evaluated using a questionnaire.

Findings suggest that socio-economic factors affect individuals' income amid the Covid-19 pandemic. To mitigate income loss, individuals reduced family gatherings and travel frequency, with minimal cuts in spending on fruits, vegetables, and proteins.

By supporting tenants, households with a large population and low-income groups, the losses caused by Corona can be reduced.

Many of the problems in families and current societies stem from the maladjustments of adolescents. Understanding the factors affecting adaptability, especially during adolescence when behavioral deviations intensify, is of great importance. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of group counseling based on the healthy lifestyle in enhancing adaptability among the adolescent students who were studying at the NODET schools in Sanandaj city.

The present research was conducted using a semi-experimental method with a pretest-posttest design along with a control group. The statistical population included all students of NODET (national organization for development of exceptional talents) schools in the secondary level in Sanandaj city during the academic year 2021-2022. The research sample consisted of 30 participants selected through convenience sampling and divided into two groups of 15 members each, experimental and control. The experimental group underwent 8 weekly sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. The data collection tools included the Walker's Health Promoting Lifestyle Questionnaire and Sinha and Singh's Compromise Questionnaire. SPSS software version 22 was used for data analysis including descriptive statistics and covariance analysis.

There were no significant differences between the experimental and control groups in terms of gender, age, and education. Comparing adaptability scores in the experimental and control groups at the posttest stage showed an obtained F value of 44.5, which was significant at the 0.01 level (p< 0.01). The adjusted average for the experimental group was 44.28, while it was 30.32 for the control group. The higher average for the experimental group indicates the effectiveness of group counseling in increasing adaptability scores.

According to the results of this study, therapists and health professionals can utilize the group counseling program for the healthy lifestyle in improving health-related characteristics, particularly enhancing adaptability in adolescents studying at the NODET schools.

Background & objecives:

 The prevalence of Covid-19 disease has spread worldwide and has a high mortality rate.the present study examines the challenges and facilitators of coronavirus prevention from the perspective of environmental health experts and experts in food preparation and distribution centers in 1400. The global spread of Covid-19 with its high mortality rate necessitates an examination of the challenges and facilitators in coronavirus prevention. This study explores insights from environmental health experts and professionals in food preparation and distribution centers in 1400.

The current study was a descriptive-analytical qualitative study. Target-based data collection was saturated with 22 samples. The data collection method was a semi-structured interview with environmental health experts and technicians, using open-ended questions to achieve data saturation. The data were provided to professors and specialists through coding and re-interviewing text, then reviewed and analyzed through content analysis.

Of the present study in the challenges section included economic problems, educational poverty, manpower, judiciary, and lack of resources. In the facilitators section, there were 4 main components and 45 sub-components those studies showed, with removing economic barriers, repeated training, providing necessary resources to enforce the law, and dealing with offenders being identified as effective facilitators in preventing the coronavirus.

Given the current challenges of Covid-19, enhancing facilitators such as ongoing education and raising community awareness, increasing surveillance, empowering health ambassadors, providing robust legal backing for enforcement, vaccinating individuals aged 12 and older, and promoting online shopping and commerce could significantly aid policymakers, health professionals, and decision-makers in the field.

Stress is a kind of physical or psychological exhaustion caused by real or imagined problems. Occupational stressors play a major role in influencing employees' actions by reducing focus and creating doubt. Three types of reaction time, including simple, diagnostic, and selective, are essential in the performance of various motor tasks.

This descriptive-analytic study was conducted cross-sectionally among 82 emergency personnel. Reaction time and job stress were measured using a reaction timer and the Iranian version of the HSE Job Stress Questionnaire, respectively. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-20, and a significance level of p<0.05 was considered.

The mean values for job stress, simple reaction time, diagnostic reaction time, and selective reaction time in the study population were 125.51, 310.98, 473.50, and 453.82, respectively. An independent T-test indicated that gender does not affect occupational stress and reaction time. Additionally, according to the Pearson test, a significant inverse relationship was found between job stress and diagnostic and selective reaction times, indicating that as job stress increases (or stress reduces), a reduction in reaction time is observed (p<0.05). However, there was no significant relationship found between job stress and simple reaction time.

It is recommended that in jobs requiring high reaction time and accuracy, improving job performance by reducing individual stress should be prioritized. This approach can help prevent work-related accidents, which are sometimes caused by delayed responses. Additionally, it is advisable to monitor individuals not only through physical examination but also in terms of their mental and psychological conditions.