Epidemiology
Behrad Tanbakuchi; Masoud Amiri; Sara Valizadeh
Abstract
Background and aims: Level of satisfaction and opinion of patients are important factors that might be considered in assessing the quality of health care services. This study aimed to assess the level of satisfaction of patients who visited dental clinic of School of Dentistry, Shahrekord University ...
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Background and aims: Level of satisfaction and opinion of patients are important factors that might be considered in assessing the quality of health care services. This study aimed to assess the level of satisfaction of patients who visited dental clinic of School of Dentistry, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
Methods: This descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 on 400 randomlyselected patients visiting Endodontics, Periodontics and Implant, Pediatric Dentistry and Operative Dentistry Departments of Dental Clinic of School of Dentistry, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. A questionnaire encompassing demographic information and perspectives on dental care, some clinic-related factors, quality of received services, waiting time, and behavior of dental clinicians and personnel was filled out by the patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0.
Results: Of all the patients, 77% (n=310) reported improvement in their conditions and were completely satisfied with the received services; 12% reported worsening conditions and so they were dissatisfied with the treatments; and 19.5% (n=78) reported no change in their conditions. The highest level of satisfaction was related to quick presence of dental clinicians and their behavior. Patients were mainly dissatisfied with the treatment costs and welfare services.
Conclusion: Satisfaction of patients with the services provided by the dental clinic of School of Dentistry, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences was at an acceptable level. Items causing dissatisfaction in the patients should be properly addressed in order to maximize the satisfaction rate of patients with the services provided in this clinic.
Genetic Epidemiology
Shahrzad Aghaei; Masoud Amiri; Maryam Aghaei; Mohammad Ali Nilforoushzadeh
Abstract
Background: Vitiligo is an acquired, idiopathic, and common depigmentation disorder of the skin that affects people of all ages and both sexes equally in the worldwide. Although etiology of the disease is unknown, there are theories such as environment and genetic factors.Methods: In this article, we ...
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Background: Vitiligo is an acquired, idiopathic, and common depigmentation disorder of the skin that affects people of all ages and both sexes equally in the worldwide. Although etiology of the disease is unknown, there are theories such as environment and genetic factors.Methods: In this article, we collected and summarized the appropriate manuscripts regarding the epidemiology and genetics by using the terms vitiligo and genetic epidemiology in PubMed and Google scholar. Results: Studies showed the highest prevalence of disease in African countries, but with regard to distribute disease in different areas, environmental factors are as other causes of vitiligo and three genes FOXP3, XBP1 and TSLP had the most association with the disease.Conclusion: It seems that recognition of the genetic base of vitiligo will supply new insight therapies for its. Therefore, more genetic studies are needed to discover the genes and causes linked to clinical aspects of this disease.
Reza Sahebi; Masoud Amiri; Mohammad-Saeid Jami
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system (CNS). This highly disabling disorder is characterized by a variable clinical course. MS is a heterogeneous disease with a complex pathology and significant social and economic impact. MS is associated with dysfunction ...
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system (CNS). This highly disabling disorder is characterized by a variable clinical course. MS is a heterogeneous disease with a complex pathology and significant social and economic impact. MS is associated with dysfunction of parts of the nervous system which results in a range of signs and symptoms, including physical, mental, and sometimes psychiatric problems. There is no definite treatment for MS. Iran has been thought to be located in the low risk zone of MS prevalence. However, recent studies and investigations in some cities such as Isfahan, a central province of Iran, have suggested a medium-to-high risk level of MS prevalence. Pathophysiological processes in MS contribute to the disease course and clinical manifestations. Therefore, biomarkers that are indicators of these events would provide significant potential for diagnosis, prediction of disease course, and optimization of therapeutic responses. This review provides information on the prevalence of MS and some risk factors among Iranian people.
Tina Jafari; Masoud Amiri
Volume 3, Issue 2 , June 2016, , Pages 138-146
Abstract
Background and aims: Diabetes affects all physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of patient’s health. Postmenopausal diabetic women are more susceptible due to their crucial conditions. The emotional regulatory role of vitamin D may be because of the existence of its receptors distributed ...
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Background and aims: Diabetes affects all physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of patient’s health. Postmenopausal diabetic women are more susceptible due to their crucial conditions. The emotional regulatory role of vitamin D may be because of the existence of its receptors distributed in brain areas involved in emotional processing and affective disorders. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of 3-mounth regular consumption of vitamin D-fortified low fat yogurt on QOL indices in diabetic postmenopausal women. Methods: Fifty nine postmenopausal diabetic women randomly allocated to the ‘FY’ (received vitamin D-fortified low fat yogurt, containing 2000 IU vitamin D in 100 g) or ‘PY’ (received plain low fat yogurt without additive) treatment groups. The quality of life questionnaire SF-36 which is the most widely used method to assess the QOL was used before and after the intervention. Results: After the 3-month intervention, physical performance, vitality, and mental health scores significantly increased and the score of physical pain decreased in the FY group. In the PY group, physical performance, vitality, and emotional role scores significantly decreased. Final scores of physical performance and vitality significantly increased in the FY group compare to the PY group while physical? Conclusion: Three months daily consumption of 2000 IU vitamin D fortified low-fat yogurt improved physical performance, physical pain, and vitality while the other domains of QOL assessments did not show significant changes.
Epidemiology
Fereshteh Ahmadinejad; Mohammad-Amin Honardoost; Masoud Amiri; Mohammad-Saeid Jami
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, , Pages 204-208
Abstract
Background and aims: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus. After the primary onset of MERS in Saudi Arabia, in September 2015 cases began to increase. The number of laboratory-affirmed cases by MERS-CoV in the Middle East has been being increased ...
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Background and aims: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus. After the primary onset of MERS in Saudi Arabia, in September 2015 cases began to increase. The number of laboratory-affirmed cases by MERS-CoV in the Middle East has been being increased recently.Methods: In this current review article, by using the terms “MERS” and “coronavirus” we first searched for English language articles in the PubMed database, published in last five years. Then by a detailed review of related articles, we provided a comprehensive information about epidemiology, genetic, host and coronavirus treatment.Results: More importantly, evidences of human-to-human transmission in Europe and America indicate that the viral adaptations in humans may precede a large-scale epidemic. The genome of Coronaviruses is a linear positive-sense single stranded large RNA and they are enveloped viruses that have a helical symmetric nucleocapsid. Some new insights have been provided in previous few months in to the animal Coronavirus hosts, transmissibility, contagion of MERS Co-V and ideal laboratory diagnostic methods.Conclusion: It seems crucial to control this new human infection “MERS-CoV” by collaborating global and local health authorities and their continual support for further research on it.