ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Risk of Fungal Contamination of Ointments and Tablets after Opening of the Package for Use in Hospitals Background and purpose: Tablets and ointments are used to prevent, treat, and diagnose diseases in hospitals. Although it seems that these medications are sterile in the path of the building and packaging, their mishandling or wrong application method can cause them to be contaminated. Hence, the preservation of pharmaceutical forms from contamination before and after opening the cover in hospitals is an essential measure to be taken in health care. The objective of the present study was to investigate the challenges in fungal contaminants detection and recovery in some pharmaceuticals that were high intake for patients.   Materials and methods:  This study was conducted in 4 teaching hospitals on 4 types of tablets and 3 types of ointments that were high intake for patients in hospitals before and after opening and usage in Sari, Iran. Fungi were identified by using standard mycology procedures. Results: The results showed that among the samples of tablets after opening the cover in the delivery room and carrying them in container by trolley, and the samples of ointments after opening and usage, the contamination rates were 70.3% and 94.4-100%, respectively. Aspergillus species such as A. flavus and A. fumigatus were the most mold species and Rhodotorula spp. was the most yeast species isolated. However, it was documented that 16.7% of some pharmaceuticals had fungal contamination ahead of opening. Conclusion: The results showed the contamination of ointments and tablets used in hospitals after opening the cover. Although the source of contamination was not investigated in the present study, the findings revealed that most of the contaminations could be due to the storage period and mishandling in pharmacies and wrong application methods after opening. Some isolated fungi can also be harmful to patients who have a weakened immune system. http://jhs.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-455-en.pdf 2016-12-05 1 13 10.18869/acadpub.jhs.4.4.1 Pharmaceuticals Ointment Tablet Fungal contamination Health care Drug contamination hazard Seyed Reza Aghili aghili70@yahoo.com 1 Invasive Fungi Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran AUTHOR Akbar Hossein nejad 2 Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences Sari, Iran AUTHOR Mohammad Reza Jabbari Amiri 3 Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran AUTHOR Mahdi Abastabar 4 Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE The Satisfaction Evaluation of Nutrition Unit in the Largest Teaching Hospital in South of Iran Using Satisfaction Index Background and purpose: : The quality of cooking and serving food to patients and staff is one of the most important parts of providing services by the hospital hoteling, which could result in an increase in their satisfaction level. The present study was carried out to evaluate the satisfaction level of patients and staff in local domain. Materials and methods: The current research was a cross-sectional analytical study carried out in the year 2015 on 1,160 clients in nutrition unit of Nemazee Hospital in Shiraz (680 Patients and 480 staff). The data-collecting instrument was a questionnaire constructed by the researcher in a 5-point scale of Likert from very satisfied to very dissatisfied. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts and its reliability was confirmed through Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.81). Data analysis was also performed through SPSS 20 using descriptive and inferential statistics including independent sample [t] test, one-way ANOVA, and one-sample t-test. Results:  Mean and standard deviation of satisfaction of staff, patients and their caregivers with nutritional services was 3.06 ± 0.88, 3.17 ± 0.85, and 3.50± 0.84, respectively. The satisfaction levels of staff and patients were also 60.52 and 67.64 percent, respectively. Conclusion:     The results of the present study indicated a higher mean score of satisfaction above average (theoretical mean of 3) in all the studied groups, also this satisfaction level could be improved applying managerial skills, such as better planning, effective personnel development plan, education, and better use of materials in this unit. http://jhs.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-456-en.pdf 2016-12-05 14 24 10.18869/acadpub.jhs.4.4.14 Satisfaction Nutrition Staff Hospitalized patients Nemazee Hospital Seyyed Koosha Mirmasoudi 1 Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran AUTHOR Peivand Bastani bastanip@sums.ac.ir 2 Health Human Resources Research Centre, School of Management & Information SciencesShiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran AUTHOR Mahdi Khansalar 3 Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran AUTHOR Mahdiehsadat Ahmadzadeh 4 Health Human Resources Research Centre, School of Management & Information Sciences, Shiraz AUTHOR Isa Moradi 5 Health Human Resources Research Centre, School of Management & Information Sciences, Shiraz AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Assessment of Carson Trophic Index in Dam Lake: a Case Study of Ekbatan Dam Background and purpose: The study aimed to investigate the trophic state of Ekbatan Dam Lake. In the current research, the quality of water behind the dam was studied during the months July and January in order to compare the trophic state and zonation of the reservoir in two different seasons (dry and wet). Materials and Methods: 15 sites were selected in different points of Ekbatan Dam Lake and sampling was accomplished in July and January. To determine the rate of eutrophication in the reservoir, 30 samples (15 in July and 15 in January) were taken from the reservoir. In this study, secchi disk, nitrate, phosphate and chlorophyll-a were measured. Then, using Carlson’s Trophic State Index, the rate of eutrophication was estimated for all points. Also, using GIS zoning of water quality parameters and TSI (Trophic State Index), value was evaluated in two different seasons. Results: The findings of the current study showed that TSI varied between 35.7 and 50.7 in different stations of the lake in July. At the same time, it was documented to vary between 55.13 and 58.6 at different points in January. Also, the results revealed that the trophic state of the lake is oligotrophic to eutrophic in different stations in July while it was eutrophic for all points in January. Conclusion: Based on the estimated values of this index, the stations located at the entrance of the lake showed more eutrophic situation in July. Also, phosphorous was revealed to be the limiting nutrient in this system. The current research showed that eutrophication is a serious problem in Ekbatan reservoir. http://jhs.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-457-en.pdf 2016-12-05 25 33 10.18869/acadpub.jhs.4.4.25 Carlson Index Ekbatan Dam Eutrophication TSI Water Quality Abdollah Taheri Tizro 1 Department of Science and Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran AUTHOR Maryam Ghashghaie maryam_ghashghaie@yahoo.com 2 Department of Science and Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran AUTHOR Hamed Nozari 3 Department of Science and Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu Ali Sina University AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Body mass index and blood cell indices in students of Para-medical Faculty, Babol University of Medical Sciences Background and purpose: Approximately one-third of the world's population suffers from anemia. Anemia in adults causes irritability, impaired mental focus, difficulty in daily activities, and sleep. Body mass index (BMI) is an indicator of nutritional status in adults. The current study aimed to assess the body mass index and blood indices of students in local domain. Materials and methods:   This cross-sectional study was performed on the students of Babol University of Medical Sciences. BMI value was obtained based on weight and height for each case.  Cell blood count was also carried out for each participant. Hemoglobin of less than 12 g/dl and 13g/dl were considered as anemia in females and males, respectively. Results: Of 312 sample students, 212 cases were female and 100 were male. The average BMI and hemoglobin were 22.8 kg/m2 and 14 g/dl, respectively. Fifty-five (17.6%) students were anemic. Also, the analysis of distribution of BMI measurement by gender showed that being underweight was more prevalent in females (9.4%) in comparison with males (5%). The highest prevalence rate of anemia was observed in the cases that had BMI ≥ 25. Overall, not any significant statistical difference was observed between BMI and anemia. Conclusion: With regard to the results, overweight and obesity were associated with a lower probability of anemia in students. It was also revealed that anemia and emaciation, mainly observed in female students, should be considered as major issues for health care system. Thus, public health intervention was suggested to be performed so as to prevent combined micronutrient deficiencies and obesity. An investigation of the potential causes of this phenomenon was also recommended. http://jhs.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-453-en.pdf 2016-12-05 34 40 10.18869/acadpub.jhs.4.4.34 Anemia BMI Students Obesity Health Farahnaz Sadighian 1 Department Of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Para- Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences AUTHOR Haydeh Alaoddolehei alaee.ha@gmail.com 2 Department Of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Para- Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences AUTHOR Parvin Sajjadi 3 Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medical, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. AUTHOR Narges Kalantari 4 Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Department of Laboratory sciences, Faculty of Para- Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences AUTHOR Sorayya Khafri 5 Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medical, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Removing Fe, Zn and Mn from steel making plant wastewater using RO and NF membranes Background and purpose: Excessive amount of heavy metals in industrial wastewater is a seriously crucial issue and requires efficient methods to be introduced and dealt with. Meanwhile, steel making plants as productive units in every country release large amounts of fluid into surface and underground sources. Typically, this wastewater contains heavy metals in minor amounts, while this amount could cause severe damages to the living organisms. Materials and methods: In this study, removing iron, manganese, zinc and total dissolved solid in a typical wastewater resulted from steel making plant was considered using reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes. At first, different pH values and operating pressures were applied to the wastewater. Then, these parameters were evaluated for a wastewater only containing iron to compare the interaction of other elements in iron removal. Results: The results indicated that RO and NF membranes could successfully treat industrial wastewater containing several heavy metals with high concentrations of Fe, Zn and Mn, especially at optimum pH and pressure. Moreover, the interaction of other heavy metals and components in the influent decreased the efficiency of RO but improved the NF efficiency to remove iron. To have a better image, a formula was proposed for each method to represent the influence of the parameters on removal rates. Finally, cost estimation for both procedures showed that RO was not economically-technically efficient in comparison with NF. Conclusion: NF showed an acceptable performance with high water flow which made it more suitable for industries. At the end, the relative cost analysis showed that even if the initial price of NF is high, the energy consumption and total cost of RO will be higher. http://jhs.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-454-en.pdf 2016-12-05 41 55 10.18869/acadpub.jhs.4.4.41 Heavy metals Environment Regression Cost Seyed Ahmad Mirbagheri 1 Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Nader Biglarijoo nbiglarijoo.civil@gmail.com 2 Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Siavash Ahmadi 3 Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Parisa Razmara 4 Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran AUTHOR Alireza Yazdan Doost 5 Buali-Sina University, Hamedan, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Assessment of Nutritional Status and Its Related Factors among Iranian University Students Background and purpose:  Sufficient nutrition is the appropriate proportions of food required for physical development and maintenance as well as supplying energy to the body. This study aimed at assessing the nutritional status and its related factors among Iranian University Students. Materials and methods:  As a cross-sectional research, the present study was conducted with the participation of 1031 students in Shahroud, Iran. The relevant information was obtained through a 24-hour diet recall questionnaire. Also, the anthropometric measurements were taken for these students. Results: The students’ mean BMI and energy intakes were 22.01 ± 3.57 and 1974 ± 750.35Kcal, respectively. Majority of the students (73.91%) were of normal Body Mass Index (BMI), but some cases of malnutrition including both underweight and overweight were also observed among the students. The findings showed that the mean daily intakes of fiber, phosphorous, calcium, iron, vitamins A, B6, and B12 were less than the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances) values. Hence, a significant relationship  was observed between BMI and food consumption at each meal, type of snack, eating breakfast, number of snacks taken per day, speed of food consumption, adding butter or oil to the prepared food, the duration of daily activities, working with computer, and watching television (p<0.001). Conclusion:  The results obtained through the methods of nutritional status revealed that due to BMI categories, some cases of malnutrition including both underweight and overweight were observed among the studied students. Examining the consumed food indicated qualitative and quantitative deficiencies as compared with standard recommendations, so that students were affected by hidden hunger resulting from micronutrients deficiency. http://jhs.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-458-en.pdf 2016-12-05 56 68 10.18869/acadpub.jhs.4.4.56 Body Mass Index Nutritional assessment Dietary intake University student Iran Mehri Delvarianzadeh 1 School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran AUTHOR Saeed Saadat 2 School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran AUTHOR Mohammad Hossein Ebrahimi 3 School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran AUTHOR