Showing papers by "Mahdi Mohammadi published in 2018"

Effects of Dust Exposure on the Respiratory Health Symptoms and Pulmonary Functions of Street Sweepers.

Abstract: Background The most common risks for street sweepers are respiratory symptom and airway obstruction increases as a result of dust inhalation. The aim of this study was to compare the respiratory symptoms and pulmonary functions of dust-exposed street sweepers with those of unexposed individuals. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of 84 street sweepers with occupational dust exposure (exposed group) and 80 office workers (control group) working for the municipality of Zahedan in Iran. Each of the participants completed the American Thoracic Society respiratory questionnaire, and their lung functions were measured using a calibrated spirometer. Results The respiratory symptom frequencies were significantly higher in the exposed group than in the reference group (P < 0.05). Specifically, coughing was the most common complaint of the street sweepers (81%) when compared to the controls (16.3%). The means of the peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory flow at 25%-75% of the pulmonary volume were significantly less in the exposed group than in the control group. Conclusion Occupational exposure and unhealthy working conditions are the most likely causes of mild obstructive disease and pulmonary function parameter changes. Providing street sweepers with the appropriate respiratory protection equipment, as well as periodic spirometry for the early diagnosis of pulmonary dysfunction, could be effective for preventing many types of pulmonary damage.

Relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and anthropometric indices among bus drivers in Zahedan city

Abstract: Introduction. Most work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are associated with improper postures and poorly designed workstations. This study is an attempt to examine the prevalence and sever...

Assessment of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 6 level in gingival crevicular fluid during orthodontic tooth movement: a randomized split-mouth clinical trial

Abstract: Background Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is based on induction of periodontal tissue remodeling. Mechanical tooth stimulation results in the release of pro-inflammatory mediators. These mediators cause bone resorption and deposition at the pressure and tension sites and play a role in OTM. Thus, assessment of chemical biomarkers can help determine the exact amount of load and its duration of application required for each tooth and select the most efficient treatment plan with minimal complications. Objective This study aimed to determine the level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) during OTM. Methods This randomized split-mouth clinical trial (parallel) was performed on 10 patients who were presenting to the Orthodontic Department of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences from November 2015 to June 2016. A canine tooth was randomly selected as the study group and subjected to distalization force while the contralateral canine tooth served as control. Using paper strip, GCF was collected from the study and control teeth prior to orthodontic force application (T0), one hour after (T1) and 28 days after force application (T2), then the level of TNFα and IL-6 was measured using ELISA. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 via Friedman and Wilcoxon test, and considering the significance level at p Results The level of TNFα (p=0.0799) and IL-6 (p=0.678) at both sides of study teeth was higher than both side of control teeth at T1. Also, the level of IL-6 (p=0.515) and TNFα (p=0.508) were higher at the tension side compared to the pressure side; but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion Due to the free circulation of GCF in gingival sulcus, the level of mediators in the GCF collected from the mesial and distal areas alone cannot serve as a suitable index for assessment of activity at the tension and pressure sites. Trial registration The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with the IRCT ID: IRCT2017030632903N2. Funding The present study was supported by a grant from the Research Council, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran (thesis no.: 40).

The Households Health Spending and Impoverishment: A Study After Iran's Health Transformation Plan

Abstract: Background: Iran’s Health Transformation Plan (HTP) was implemented to decrease households’ out of pocket and protect them from facing catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment from 2014. It is needed to assess the effect of HTP; therefore, the study aimed to examine the households’ impoverishment due to health expenditure after HTP. Methods: A household survey was carried out in 2017 in Sistan and Baluchestan province in southeast Iran. About 2400 households were selected as the study sample using a multi-stage sampling technique. The household section of the World Health Survey questionnaire was used to collect data. Independent variables contained households’ characteristics, household income, chronic illness status, the use of health services, and health spending. The dependent variable was whether the household was faced with health spending impoverishment. Mixed effects logistic regression was used to assess the effect of the independent variables on the impoverishment using SPSS software 21. Results: About 7.5% of the households had no basic insurance and 757 (31.6) heads’ of the households were unemployment. The results showed that about 5.4% of the households impoverished due to health expenditure. The households in the furthest region were forced with impoverishment more than other regions (23.0%). Living in a rural area, unemployment, economic status, and inpatients and outpatient costs were the main determinates on impoverishment (P < 0.05). In addition, having supplementary insurance was a protective factor in facing impoverishment (P = 0.05). Conclusions: In general, despite the implementation of HTP, healthcare expenditures leading to impoverishment of high percent of the households and Iranian development goals have not been fulfilled in this region. Economic poverty of the people may also be an important factor in this regard. It is recommended that outpatient services are covered by health insurances.

Protective Effects of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine on the Density of Spiral Ganglion Cells and Histological Changes Induced by Continuous Noise Exposure in Rats.

Abstract: Background Noise exposure causes loss of cochlea hair cells, leading to permanent sensorineural hearing loss, and initiates pathological changes to the bipolar primary auditory neurons (ANs). This study focuses on the effects of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) in protecting the density of spiral ganglion cells and in histological changes induced by continuous noise exposure in rats. Methods Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four experimental groups to receive NAC, saline, noise, or both noise and NAC. Noise exposure continued for ten days. Saline and NAC were injected daily during the noise exposure, and 2 days before and after the noise exposure. Evaluation of cochlear histopathology and the density of spiral ganglion cells was performed 21 days after exposure. Results In the animals exposed to noise, a reduction in the density of spiral ganglion cells was evident in both the basal and middle turns of the cochlea. This improved on receiving NAC treatment (P = 0.046). In the histopathology evaluation, some histological changes, such as disorganised architecture of the outer hair and supporting cells and a slightly thickened basilar membrane, were found in the basal turns in the noise group. Conclusion NAC offered partial protection against noise exposure by improving the density of spiral ganglion cells and reducing morphological changes.

Prevalence of health-risk behaviors among teen girls in Southeastern Iran.

Abstract: Background Investigating female adolescents' health status is essential because of their two-fold role within the health of the community and the impending generations' health. Objective The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of health-risk behaviors among teen girls in Southeastern Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 457 tenth grade female adolescents in four public high schools in Zahedan in Southeastern Iran, in 2015. First, high schools were randomly selected; then, all students in Grade 10 were enrolled in the study through a census. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire of the health-risk behaviors with the content validity ratio (CVR) of 0.80, the content validity index (CVI) of 0.88 and Cronbach's α score of 0.71. The Results were analyzed using ANOVA test with SPSS-15. Results The highest prevalence rate of health-risk behaviors of students included: failing to drink natural fruit juice (53.1%), failing to wear a seat belt (43.0%), sitting in a car while the driver is sending message or emails (43.0%), failing to drink milk daily (36.0%), lack of minimum daily physical activity 37.0%, and watching TV more than 3 hours a day (35.0%). On average, the number of health-risk behaviors among under study students was 1.47. Additionally, the ANOVA showed a statistically significant difference in the average number of health-risk behaviors of adolescents in families with high economic status, those who never talked with their parents or those who had physical relations with the opposite sex (p Conclusion It is suggested that attention be paid to emphasizing the pattern of healthy eating, increasing physical activity, and reducing unsafe behaviors in adolescents; moreover, behavioral consultation should be given regarding relationships with the opposite sex. Furthermore, more attention must be paid to the familiar behavior patterns and the relationships in school health programs.

A study on school health policies and programs in the southeast of Iran: a regression analysis.

Abstract: Background Investing in adolescent health is one of the most important interventions in the health system. Accordingly, health-promoting schools organize their policies, methods, infrastructures, and activities towards protecting and promoting the health and well-being of the students, teachers, directors, authorities and society as a whole. Objective To study the health policies of schools in the southeast of Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out on all governmental high schools (113 schools) which were enrolled by census sampling method in January 2017, in Zahedan, in the southeast of Iran. The study tool was a validated questionnaire about the "School Health Policies and Programs" that was completed by the principals or staff of the schools. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 15, using descriptive statistic and linear regression test. Results About one-third of the schools did not have a health educator. Some policies, including annual medical examinations, having a healthy breakfast at school, healthy food supply at lower prices in school buffets, and counseling the students with special conditions in schools were not implemented. The most inter-sectoral cooperation was among the health centers (47.8%). The mean score of health policy implementation in schools was 89.70±11.51. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between type of school (p<0.05) and number of students in schools as well as attendance of a health educator in schools (p<0.001) with health policies. Conclusions Despite the implementation of the program in Iran in recent years, there are no clear and identical policies in the schools. Therefore, there is need to establish health policy committees in schools from among staff, teachers, parents, and students. In addition, success of the program requires inter-sectoral collaboration, supporting environmental health and improvement of parents' relationships with the school.

Understanding Female Students’ Needs to Develop Health Promoting School Programme: An Exploratory Qualitative Analysis

Abstract: Background This study was carried out on Iranian female adolescents to understand health needs for the purpose of designing health promoting intervention in schools. Methods In this exploratory qualitative study, two focus group discussion (15 teachers) and 30 individual in-depth interviews were conducted among female adolescents in the eighth grade in Zahedan, Iran. Qualitative content analysis was used for data evaluation. Results The views of students and teachers demonstrated nine of needs including: informing students about the schools' health project aims, education and training all dimensions of health with an emphasis on mental health, use of experts in various fields for education from other organisations, employing capable and trusted counselors in schools, utilisation of a variety of teaching methods, activating reward systems for encouraging students' participation in group activities, teaching communication and the ability to establish good relationships with parents and strategies for resolving family conflict, teaching parents and students high-risk behaviours and strategies for handling them as well as reforming wrong attitudes and indigenous sub-culture. Conclusion This study found the different needs of Iranian female students compared to other cultures about a health promoting school programme. Therefore, their contribution can provide an insight for formulating policies and intervention in schools.

Comparison of the Rate and Causes of Surgery Cancellations before and after the Implementation of the Health Sector Evolution Plan: a case study in selected public hospitals

Abstract: Background: Operating room efficiency is one of the main factors in determining hospital costs. Since Health Sector Evolution Plan (HSEP) was implemented with the idea of increasing people's access to hospital services, this study aimed to compare the rate and causes of cancellation of surgical procedures in public hospitals before and after HSEP. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was carried out in two public hospitals in Zahedan in 2017. A total of 8138 of registered profiles were selected randomly and reviewed. A standard checklist containing 9 questions were used for data gathering. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests and through SPSS software version 21. Results: The number of surgies has increased after HSEP. Befor HSEP, most of the surgeries had been canceled for organizational and managerial reasons (58%) while after HSEP, patient issues were the main cause of cancellation of surgeries (66%). Surgery cancellation related to the surgery team, patient, anesthesia, medical, equipment and organisation had a significant relation with the marital status of patients (P=0.011) and their type of health insurance (P= 0.021). Conclusion: Performing detailed planning for operating rooms, providing necessary training programs for patients, patients' visit by anesthesiologists, as well as quantitative and qualitative improvement of operating room conditions can increase the efficiency of oprtaing rooms and hospitals.

Reiteration of the elimination status of measles in the southeast of Iran, 2015.

Abstract: During 2015, the number of measles cases reported from Iran increased about three times the previous year; and Sistan-va-Baluchestan Province, located in the southeast of Iran, was the hottest poin...