Effect of play therapy and storytelling on the anxiety level of hospitalized children: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Children are anxious when hospitalized due to being away from home and undergoing treatment.This anxiety has an effect on their disease process, treatment, growth and development.Children's anxiety has an effect on parents' anxiety and can lead to lower level of cooperation among the children and their parents with the treatment team.

Identifying competency development needs of hospital managers in Iran: a national survey.

Background: A competent management workforce is crucial to achieve the effectiveness and efficiency of health service provision and to lead and manage the health system reform agenda. However, the traditional recruitment and promotion approach of relying on clinical performance and seniority provides limited incentives for competency development and improvement among hospital managers in Iran. There is limited evidence on the competency development needs of hospital managers in Iran that can guide setting training and development direction.

Classifying strategies for building community health movements: a guide for implementers.

Background: Enabling community-led health initiatives will contribute to reducing the burdens on the healthcare system. Implementing such initiatives successfully in high and upper-middle income Asian countries is poorly understood and documented. We undertook a Rapid Review, systematically synthesising the evidence to develop implementation guidelines to address this gap.

Gap analysis of maternity service quality and associated factors at a maternity hospital in northwest Iran: a cross-sectional survey using SERVQUAL and HEALTHQUAL questionnaires.

Background: Concerning maternity service, the mother's quality assessment is central because emotional, cultural, and respectful support is vital during labour and the delivery process. Studies concerning the perceived quality of maternity services from the perspective of mothers have rarely been carried out in Iranian hospital settings. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the gap between the expectations of patients with maternity services and their perceptions of the service and identify associated factors at a maternity hospital in northwest Iran using service quality (SERVQUAL) and health quality (HEALTHQUAL) questionnaires.

Frequency and types of antibiotic usage in a referral neonatal intensive care unit, based on the world health organization classification (AwaRe).

Background: Excessive prescription of antibiotics in infants increases the risk of short-term and lifelong morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless, the use of antibiotics in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is significantly high. This is primarily because neonatologists are concerned about the fragile immune systems of newborns, their vulnerability to serious infectious diseases, and the challenge of accurately distinguishing between infectious and non-infectious conditions.

Genotype-phenotype correlations for 17 Chinese families with inherited retinal dystrophies due to homozygous variants.

In this study, patients with inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) who visited Ningxia Eye Hospital from January 2015 to September 2023 were analyzed. Through Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and Sanger verification, 17 probands carrying homozygous variants were detected. The association between the genotype and clinical phenotype of patients with homozygous variants was analyzed.

The differences in injury patterns and outcomes of thoracic trauma between rural and urban level two trauma centers in a single country.

Purpose: Equal level trauma centers in the same country might have significant differences regarding their demographics and types of trauma. Understanding geographic variations in injury patterns are essential for optimal care. Here we describe the differences in injury patterns and associated outcomes of thoracic trauma patients between rural and urban level-II trauma centers in a single country.

Impact of obstructive jaundice on outcomes in acute biliary pancreatitis: a retrospective study.

Objective: To examine the effects of obstructive jaundice on the outcomes of patients with acute biliary pancreatitis.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 332 cases of acute biliary pancreatitis admitted to Rambam Health Care Campus, Israel, from January 1st, 2018, to December 31st, 2021. Patients were categorized based on the presence or absence of obstructive jaundice.

The association between the dietary inflammatory index and multiple myeloma: a case-control study.

The dietary inflammatory index (DII) is a common grading system for diet inflammatory potential. Recent investigations link DII to hematopoietic malignancies. However, the relationship between DII and Multiple myeloma (MM) is unknown.

Neonatal near miss and associated factors among neonates delivered at East Gojjam zone public health hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia.

Neonatal mortality and morbidity is a significant public health issue globally, particularly in low-income countries including Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the proportion and associated factors of neonatal near misses among newborns delivered at public hospitals in the East Gojjam zone of Northwest Ethiopia. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 21 to June 20, 2023, among 560 newborns and their mothers in randomly selected five public hospitals.

Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on physical activity levels in different sub-populations of Iranians: a national survey.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the level of physical activity (PA) has been reported to decrease worldwide. A sedentary lifestyle is widely recognized as a significant risk factor for various diseases, necessitating extensive big data analysis to uncover the diverse aspects linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PA levels across diverse population subsets in Iran and to identify the barriers to PA during the fifth wave of COVID-19 outbreak.

Skin tactile perception is associated with longitudinal gait performance in middle-aged and older Japanese community dwellers.

Background: Skin tactile perception may indicate frailty in older adults. Although gait performance is crucial for diagnosing frailty, its association with skin tactile perception has not yet been explored.

Objectives: To examine the association between skin tactile perception and changes in step length, cadence, and gait speed in middle-aged and older adults.

Microscopic and molecular studies of bovine Babesiosis in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq.

Bovine Babesiosis, a tick-borne disease that causes major economic loss in cattle farms, is caused by Babesia species. The diagnosis of the disease is suspected through clinical features (e.g.

First report of anthelmintic resistance among sheep in six farms from three governorates in Jordan.

This study aimed to identify the presence of gastrointestinal nematode populations resistant to albendazole, levamisole, and ivermectin in six farms located in three regions of Jordan (Irbid, Mafraq, and Ma'an). Infected sheep (40 per farm) with at least 100 eggs per gram were randomly divided into four groups (10 animals per group). Three groups were treated with ivermectin, albendazole, or levamisole while the fourth group was used as a negative control group.

First report of Saemundssonia lari on yellow-legged gull (larus michahellis) from Iran.

Pediculosis caused by chewing lice may pose a threat to domesticated and wild birds' health. These ectoparasites can cause pruritus, poor feather condition and do weaken hosts making them susceptible to other infections. Species of the genus Saemundssonia which are called ecomorphic head lice parasitize a wide range of aquatic birds from the family Laridae.

Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in semen of breeding dogs from southeastern Iran.

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan, is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, an important public health and reproductive disease. T. gondii could cause significant damage in breeding kennels due to abortion and other reproductive disorders.

Barriers to Blood Donation: Donor Deferrals in a Saudi Hospital Setting.

Objective: Blood donation plays a critical role in healthcare systems by supplying blood and blood products for surgeries, emergency care, and chronic disease management. In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of genetic disorders, like sickle cell disease and thalassemia, further increase the need for a stable blood supply. However, high rates of donor deferrals remain a significant barrier to maintaining a reliable blood supply.

Burden and mortality of breast cancer attributed to diabetes and smoking in women: a secondary analysis based on Global Burden of Disease 2019 in North Africa and the Middle East.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer in the world. This study aimed to investigate the burden of BC due to some risk factors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries from 1990 to 2019.

Methods: This study is a secondary analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease 2019 data.

Ecopsychosocial strategies for the self-exploration of professional family caregivers to manage the behavioural and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer patients in Iran: a qualitative study.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore the experiences and viewpoints of professional family caregivers in the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) to identify the ecopsychosocial strategies applied by them.

Design: Qualitative study.

Setting: Kerman, Iran.

EVALUATION OF VITAMIN D LEVEL IN SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH VITILIGO.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency promotes initiation and sustainment of numerous medical disorders, including cancer, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. The expression of vitamin D receptors by melanocytes suggests a role for it in controlling their physiology.

Aim: Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare serum vitamin D levels in patients with vitiligo and normal healthy individuals.

Hyalomma aegyptium: Observed global distribution, imported specimens, preferred hosts and vector competence.

The tortoise tick Hyalomma aegyptium (Linnaeus, 1758) is a three-host tick, predominantly infesting land tortoises of the genus Testudo. A database was compiled, resulting in 557 H. aegyptium georeferenced locations in the Palearctic.

Artificial sweeteners and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A review of current developments and future research directions.

While artificial sweeteners are Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS), the scientific community remains divided on their safety status. The previous assumption that artificial sweeteners are inert within the body is no longer valid. Artificial sweeteners, known for their high intense sweetness and low or zero calories, are extensively used today in food and beverage products as sugar substitutes and are sometimes recommended for weight management and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Investigating the relationship between social media use and the attitudes towards nutrition and body image shame among Iranian female students: A cross-sectional study.

Social media are Internet-based services that allow participation in online communities and exchanges. Considering the high and increasing statistics of the use of social media all over the world and its impact on people's lives, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between social media and nutritional attitudes and body image shame among Iranian female students. This cross-sectional study was performed on 201 female student of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran from May to December 2023.

Prevalence of FGFR2b Protein Overexpression in Advanced Gastric Cancers During Prescreening for the Phase III FORTITUDE-101 Trial.

Purpose: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 isoform IIIb (FGFR2b) protein overexpression is an emerging biomarker in gastric cancer and gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC). We assessed FGFR2b protein overexpression prevalence in nearly 3,800 tumor samples as part of the prescreening process for a global phase III study in patients with newly diagnosed advanced or metastatic GC.

Methods: As of June 28, 2024, 3,782 tumor samples from prescreened patients from 37 countries for the phase III FORTITUDE-101 trial (ClinicalTrials.

Undergraduates' lifestyle and Suboptimal Health Status (SHS): A cross-sectional study in the Ha'il region of Saudi Arabia.

Background: University students in Saudi Arabia are embracing some of the negative traits of the fast-paced modern lifestyle, typified by unhealthy eating, low physical activity, and poor sleep habits that may increase their risk for poor health. Health and holistic well-being at the population level are among the priorities of the 2030 vision of a vibrant society in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The current study thus aims at determining the prevalence and predictive factors of Suboptimal Health Status (SHS) among university students.