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Papers by farshid rezaei

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Background Plague may recur after several decades in its endemic regions; therefore, the continuo... more Background Plague may recur after several decades in its endemic regions; therefore, the continuous monitoring of wildlife is essential, even when no human cases are reported in the old foci. The present study was conducted to monitor rodents and their ectoparasites as well as carnivores to learn about the epidemiology of plague infection in an old focus of Iran. Methodology The present study was conducted from 2019 to 2020 in Takestan county of Qazvin Province in northwestern Iran. Rodents were caught using live traps, and their fleas were separated. Blood and spleen specimens were taken from the captured rodents. Serum samples were also collected from sheepdogs and wild carnivores. The collected samples were tested by culture, serology (ELISA), and molecular methods to detect Yersinia pestis infection. Findings A total of 399 small mammals were caught, of which 68.6% were Meriones persicus. A total of 2438 fleas were collected from the rodents, 95.3% of which were Xenopsylla buxto...

Health Monitor Journal of the Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research

Objective (s): Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination could be influenced by attitude towards the vac... more Objective (s): Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination could be influenced by attitude towards the vaccine. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of adult attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: First, an item pool was generated by reviewing existing resources. Then content and face validity was examined. In the next stage, the structural validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis) of the questionnaire was examined in two distinct samples among 505 Iranian adults. Finally, the attitude was assessed among two samples. The internal consistency of the instrument was estimated by calculating Cronbach's alpha. Results: The initial questionnaire consisted of 38 items that after examining the content and face validity, a number of items was removed and corrections were applied to the remaining items. The results of exploratory factor analysis showed a three factor solution (emphasis on the need for corona vaccine, no need for corona vaccine and emphasis on the side effects of corona vaccine) including 13 items that jointly explained about 52% of variance observed. Similarly, the results obtained from confirmatory factor analysis indicate a good fit for the data. The fit indexes were as follows: (X 2 /df =2.15, GFI=0.91, CFI=0.95, NFI=0.91, NNFI=0.94, SRMR=0.068, RMSEA=0.076). The reliability of the questionnaire as assessed by the Cronbach's alpha was 0.853 for the scale and ranged from 0.68-0.74 for its dimensions. Finally, the mean attitude score of the participants was 64.1 out of 100 points. Conclusion: Considering the validity and reliability of the attitude assessment questionnaire regarding the COVID-19 vaccination in adults, this questionnaire could be used for measuring attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination.

Health Monitor Journal of the Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research

Objective(s): Since usually health literacy should be assessed in complex health care settings, t... more Objective(s): Since usually health literacy should be assessed in complex health care settings, this study aimed to develop a short version of the Health Literacy Instrument for Adults (HELIA-SF). Methods: In this methodological study, the research team selected a number of items from the main instrument covering the main constructs of the HELIA. The selection was based on the most relevant items to each construct. A group of 12 experts and ten adults assessed content and face validity respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess structural validity. The reliability of the instruments was evaluated by internal correlation (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) and intraclass correlation (ICC). Results: A nine-item questionnaire was developed. Experts identified the content validity of the short version as desirable (the CVR was more than 0.56, the CVI was more than 0.79). Also, the face validity as assessed by ten adults was satisfactory. The results obtained from exploratory factor analysis showed a two-factor structure for the questionnaire, namely basic skills and decision-making skills, that jointly accounted for about 61% of the variance observed. Furthermore, the confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable fit indexes for the data: X2/df =2.20, GFI=0.95, CFI=0.97, NFI=0.95, NNFI=0.96, SRMR=0.068, and RMSEA=0.074. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient and ICC for each of the two dimensions were satisfactory (alpha = 0.84 and 0.81 and ICC = 0.85 and 0.82). The values for the whole items were 0.91 and 0.81, respectively. Conclusion: The HELIA-SF, including nine items and two subscales (basic skills and decision-making skills), was found to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure health literacy in adults. This version is suitable for measuring health literacy in different urban and rural population groups due to its short and concise nature.

Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran, 2022

Brief Com In March nounced the p SARS-CoV-2 adults during health concer the most impo patients wi... more Brief Com In March nounced the p SARS-CoV-2 adults during health concer the most impo patients with targeting olde ing the numb physical and them. Therefo of older adul authorities ar older adults c support, prote correct inform According 7.4 million pe ly, 14,419 ol Based on the cation (MoH cases and 127 10, 2021 (10 hospitalizatio ief Commu p://mjiri.iums.a

Iranian Journal of Public Health, 2021

In the last two decades, we have witnessed three major epidemics of the coronavirus human disease... more In the last two decades, we have witnessed three major epidemics of the coronavirus human disease namely, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome, and more recently an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Iran, a country of nearly 84 million, in the Middle East, severely involved with the COVID-19 disease. A documented multidimensional approach to COVID-19 disease is therefore mandatory to provide a well-balanced platform for the concerned medical community in our county and beyond. In this review, we highlight the disease status in Iran and attempt to provide a multilateral view of the fundamental and clinical aspects of the disease including the clinical features of the confirmed cases, virology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, and laboratory methods needed for diagnosis.

Iranian Journal of Virology, 2008

iranian journal of epidemiology, 2019

Background & Aim: Nursing practice is influenced by nurses' precived professional values. A s... more Background & Aim: Nursing practice is influenced by nurses' precived professional values. A small number of studies have been focused to measure professional values in nursing, whereas most of them focused on measuring values of nursing students. This study aimed to explore how nurses prioritize professional values. Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, the professional values of nurses who were working at hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, were investi-gated. A simple random sampling method was used and 127 nurses randomly selected to participate in this study. A two-part questionnaire was used to collect the data. The first part included demographic variables and the second part included the Nursing Professional Values Scale-Revised (NPVS-R). Results: The mean scores of the NPVS-R items on the five point Likert-type scales ranged from 2.89 to 4.32. The most five important professional values statements identified by parti...

BMC Infectious Diseases, 2019

Background Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a widespread mosquito-borne virus representing a serious ... more Background Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a widespread mosquito-borne virus representing a serious challenge to public health. The largest outbreak in the Middle-East was recorded in 2016–2017 in Pakistan. Sistan and Baluchistan Province of Iran shares a wide border with Pakistan; accordingly, introduction of CHIKV from Pakistan to Iran seems to be probable. The current study is aimed at investigating CHIKV infection in Sistan and Baluchistan Province. Methods Between April 2017 and June 2018, a total of 159 serum samples of CHIK suspected cases from 10 cities of Sistan and Baluchistan Province were tested by molecular and serological assays. Samples obtained up to 4 days after onset of illness were tested by real time PCR (n = 8). Samples collected 5–10 days after disease onset were subjected to ELISA, as well as real time PCR tests (n = 72). Samples obtained after the 10th day of disease onset were tested by only ELISA (n = 79). Phylogenetic analysis of real time PCR positive sample...

Iranian Journal of Public Health, 2019

Background: Zika virus infection has recently attracted the attention of medical community. While... more Background: Zika virus infection has recently attracted the attention of medical community. While clinical manifestations of the infection in adult cases are not severe and disease is not associated with high mortality rates, Zika virus infection can have an impact on fetal development and lead to severe neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Methods: To gain insight into different aspects of Zika virus infection, a comprehensive literature review was performed. With regard to epidemiology and geographical distribution of Zika virus infection, relevant information was extracted from CDC and WHO websites. Results: In this review, we discuss different basic and clinical aspects of Zika virus infection including virology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of disease. Laboratory methods required for the diagnosis of disease together with ethical issues associated with Zika virus infection will also be discussed in detail. Conclusion: Herein, we have tried to provide a multi-faceted view of Zika ...

Archives of Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2019

Background: Influenza causes high mortality rate among pregnant women, while morbidity and mortal... more Background: Influenza causes high mortality rate among pregnant women, while morbidity and mortality cases of this disease and its side effects among pregnant women can be simply prevented by vaccination and reducing risk factors such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, etc. Objectives: Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the risk factors and mortality rate of seasonal influenza among pregnant women referring to healthcare centers in Iran during 2015-2016. Methods: This case-control study was conducted to examine the odds ratio of seasonal influenza among pregnant women with seasonal influenza who had referred to all healthcare centers in Iran with severe respiratory disease symptoms during 2015-2016. The statistical population consisted of 2,080 pregnant women of whom, 24 dead women constituted the case group and 100 randomly selected living women constituted the control group. A researcher-made checklist was used for data collection. The collected data were analyzed using the statistical test of the odds ratio with SPSS-22 software. Results: Mean (standard deviation) of age was 31 (2.3) and 34 (3.8) in living and dead pregnant women, respectively. The most frequent type of conflicting influenza virus was H1N1 in both case and control groups (83% and 71%, respectively). There was a significant difference between case and control groups in the risk factors including diabetes (P = 0.003), blood pressure (P = 0.001), obesity (P = 0.026), cardiovascular diseases (P = 0.001), renal diseases (P = 0.013), and respiratory diseases (P = 0.012). Among these risk factors, the highest odds ratio (OR) was related to cardiovascular diseases (OR = 24), blood pressure (OR = 16.3), and diabetes (OR = 12.9), in sequence. Oseltamivir prescribed to all patients in the control group and 92% of patients in the case group. Seven patients in the control group and none in the case group had a history of influenza vaccination. Conclusions: It is necessary to take steps and underpin training programs to reduce the risk factors of seasonal influenza among pregnant women based on the national vaccination guidelines.

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 2019

Background: With the emergence of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), health care preparedne... more Background: With the emergence of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), health care preparedness has received increasing attention, which requires valid tools to assess the knowledge and attitude of health workers, such as nurses, with regard to this disease. Aims: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a knowledge and attitudes questionnaire on MERS coronavirus for Iranian nurses. Methods: A questionnaire was developed based on international and national guidelines and a literature review. Ten nurses were recruited to assess face validity and 11 experts reviewed the instrument to determine the content validity ratio and index. Exploratory factor analysis was then done with a random sample of 155 nurses in Tabriz city, Islamic Republic of Iran. Results: Following determination of face and content validity, 78 items (61 knowledge and 17 attitude) were retained in the final version of the questionnaire. The knowledge scale had an average content validity index of 0.80 and the attitude scale a value of 0.91. In the exploratory factor analysis, five dimensions with eigenvalues > 1 and loading level ≥ 0.4 were extracted for the knowledge scale (46 items) and two for the attitude scale (16 items). The Kuder-Richardson 21 coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient for the knowledge scale were 0.94 and 0.91 respectively. In the attitude scale, the Cronbach alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.82 and 0.89 respectively. Conclusions: The scale developed in this study is reliable and stable and a suitable instrument for evaluating the knowledge and attitude of nurses about MERS-CoV.

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 2016

There are few estimates of influenza burden in the WHO Region for the Eastern Mediterranean. In t... more There are few estimates of influenza burden in the WHO Region for the Eastern Mediterranean. In this study we estimated the burden of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and influenza-associated SARI (F-SARI) in selected provinces of Islamic Republic of Iran, the trends of SARI and confirmed cases of influenza (F-SARI) over 12 months (seasonality), and the age groups most at risk. Using the electronic Iranian influenza surveillance system and data of cases in sentinel hospitals of 3 selected provinces, we estimated the monthly trend (seasonality) of incidence for SARI and F-SARI, overall incidence of SARI and F-SARI and their disaggregation by age with the aid using the Monte Carlo technique. The age groups most at-risk were children aged under 2 years and adults older than 50 years.

Iranian journal of public health, 2018

International journal of preventive medicine, 2011

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause. In this st... more Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause. In this study, we report a case of SLE that was presented with persistent vomiting and liver involvement. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a patient with hepatic necrosis as the initial presentation of SLE in a previously healthy woman without any significant past medical history. In the literature, we found few cases of SLE with liver necrosis. In addition, all the cases found had a past medical history of a missed abortion or other complications of the disease. Therefore, if a young woman presents hepatic necrosis with a background of a previously missed abortion, it is better to perform anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and anticardiolipin antibody tests as a preventive method for early diagnosis and early treatment.

Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2012

The prevalence of anemia in HIV infected patients has not been well characterized in Iran. This s... more The prevalence of anemia in HIV infected patients has not been well characterized in Iran. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of anemia and related factors in HIV positive patients. In a cross-sectional study, anemia prevalence and risk factors of 212 HIV positive patients were assessed, at the behavioral disease consulting center in Isfahan. The relationship between anemia, demographic variables, and clinical histories were analyzed. Mild to moderate anemia was defined as hemoglobin 8-13 g/dL for men and 8-12 g/dL for women. Severe anemia was defined as hemoglobin, 8 g/dL. A total of 212 HIV positive patients with a mean±SD age of 36.1 ± 9.1 years were assessed. We found that hemoglobin levels were between 4.7 and 16.5 gr/dL. In this study, the overall prevalence of anemia was 71%, with the majority of patients having mild to moderate anemia. Mild to moderate anemia and severe anemia occurred in 67% and 4% of patients, respectively. The mean absolute CD4 count was 348 ± 26...

Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2011

During August 2009, novel H1N1 influenza virus began causing illness in Isfahan. Since rates of h... more During August 2009, novel H1N1 influenza virus began causing illness in Isfahan. Since rates of hospitalization and mortality due to the disease have varied widely in different countries, we described the clinical, radiologic, and demographic features of H1N1 hospitalized patients in a hospital in Isfahan. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Alzahra Hospital during September 2009 to February 2010. Totally, 216 patients with confirmed, probable, or suspected cases of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) were admitted. Most patients were women (50.5%). Mean age of patients was 26.6 ± 19.5 years. The most common complains on admission were respiratory symptoms (91.6%, n= 198), fever (88.4%, n = 191), myalgia (65.7%, n = 142). In addition, 120 patients (56%) had at least one underlying medical disorder. Thirty-six patients (16.7%) died. Mortality was higher in children under 5 years old (10/36, 10%) and female cases (63.9% of died patients). Predicting variables affecting mortality were inte...

Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2011

Background: Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus arrived to Isfahan in August, 2009. The virus is... more Background: Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus arrived to Isfahan in August, 2009. The virus is still circulating in the world. The abnormal thoracic computerized tomographic (CT) scan findings vary widely among the studies of 2009 H1N1 influenza. We evaluated the ...

Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2011

Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus arrived at Isfahan in August 2009. The virus is still circul... more Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus arrived at Isfahan in August 2009. The virus is still circulating in the world. The abnormal thoracic computerized tomographic (CT) scan findings vary widely among the studies of 2009 H1N1 influenza. We evaluated the thoracic CT findings in patients with 2009 H1N1 virus infection to describe findings compared to previously reported findings, and to suggest patterns that may be suggestive for 2009 influenza A (H1N1) in an appropriate clinical setting. Retrospectively, the archive of all patients with a diagnosis of 2009 H1N1 influenza A were reviewed, in Al-Zahra Hospital in Isfahan, central Iran, between September 23(rd) 2009 to February 20(th) 2010. Out of 216 patients with confirmed 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus, 26 cases with abnormal CT were enrolled in the study. Radiologic findings were characterized by the type and pattern of opacities and zonal distribution. Patchy infiltration (34.6%), lobar consolidation (30.8%), and interstitial infilt...

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2011

Xanthogranulomatous osteomyelitis is a rare type of inflammatory process which is characterized b... more Xanthogranulomatous osteomyelitis is a rare type of inflammatory process which is characterized by composition of immune cell aggregation on histological studies. Delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction of cellmediated immunity may be implicated in its pathogenesis. Gross and radiological examination can mimic malignancy, and differentiation should be confirmed by histopathological evaluation. We describe the case of a 14-year-old Afghan boy presenting with pain in right shoulder and left leg with prior history of trauma. Fever, limitation in right shoulder range of motion, and tenderness in right shoulder and left thigh were detected following examination. Mild leukocytosis, elevated alkaline phosphatase, and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate with negative C-reactive protein (CRP) were revealed. X-ray imaging showed mixed density, periosteal reaction, and cortical disruption. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed lesions involving medulla and cortex, periosteal reaction with soft tissue component, and bone marrow infiltration in right humerus and left fibula. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), signal abnormalities in medulla, metaphysis, and diaphysis of the left fibula associated with cortical irregularity and diffuse soft tissue hypersignal areas were demonstrated. Finally, xanthogranulomatous osteomyelitis was confirmed by histological sample. The clinical manifestations and radiographic and laboratory findings of this rare condition are discussed.

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Background Plague may recur after several decades in its endemic regions; therefore, the continuo... more Background Plague may recur after several decades in its endemic regions; therefore, the continuous monitoring of wildlife is essential, even when no human cases are reported in the old foci. The present study was conducted to monitor rodents and their ectoparasites as well as carnivores to learn about the epidemiology of plague infection in an old focus of Iran. Methodology The present study was conducted from 2019 to 2020 in Takestan county of Qazvin Province in northwestern Iran. Rodents were caught using live traps, and their fleas were separated. Blood and spleen specimens were taken from the captured rodents. Serum samples were also collected from sheepdogs and wild carnivores. The collected samples were tested by culture, serology (ELISA), and molecular methods to detect Yersinia pestis infection. Findings A total of 399 small mammals were caught, of which 68.6% were Meriones persicus. A total of 2438 fleas were collected from the rodents, 95.3% of which were Xenopsylla buxto...

Health Monitor Journal of the Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research

Objective (s): Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination could be influenced by attitude towards the vac... more Objective (s): Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination could be influenced by attitude towards the vaccine. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of adult attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: First, an item pool was generated by reviewing existing resources. Then content and face validity was examined. In the next stage, the structural validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis) of the questionnaire was examined in two distinct samples among 505 Iranian adults. Finally, the attitude was assessed among two samples. The internal consistency of the instrument was estimated by calculating Cronbach's alpha. Results: The initial questionnaire consisted of 38 items that after examining the content and face validity, a number of items was removed and corrections were applied to the remaining items. The results of exploratory factor analysis showed a three factor solution (emphasis on the need for corona vaccine, no need for corona vaccine and emphasis on the side effects of corona vaccine) including 13 items that jointly explained about 52% of variance observed. Similarly, the results obtained from confirmatory factor analysis indicate a good fit for the data. The fit indexes were as follows: (X 2 /df =2.15, GFI=0.91, CFI=0.95, NFI=0.91, NNFI=0.94, SRMR=0.068, RMSEA=0.076). The reliability of the questionnaire as assessed by the Cronbach's alpha was 0.853 for the scale and ranged from 0.68-0.74 for its dimensions. Finally, the mean attitude score of the participants was 64.1 out of 100 points. Conclusion: Considering the validity and reliability of the attitude assessment questionnaire regarding the COVID-19 vaccination in adults, this questionnaire could be used for measuring attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination.

Health Monitor Journal of the Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research

Objective(s): Since usually health literacy should be assessed in complex health care settings, t... more Objective(s): Since usually health literacy should be assessed in complex health care settings, this study aimed to develop a short version of the Health Literacy Instrument for Adults (HELIA-SF). Methods: In this methodological study, the research team selected a number of items from the main instrument covering the main constructs of the HELIA. The selection was based on the most relevant items to each construct. A group of 12 experts and ten adults assessed content and face validity respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess structural validity. The reliability of the instruments was evaluated by internal correlation (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) and intraclass correlation (ICC). Results: A nine-item questionnaire was developed. Experts identified the content validity of the short version as desirable (the CVR was more than 0.56, the CVI was more than 0.79). Also, the face validity as assessed by ten adults was satisfactory. The results obtained from exploratory factor analysis showed a two-factor structure for the questionnaire, namely basic skills and decision-making skills, that jointly accounted for about 61% of the variance observed. Furthermore, the confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable fit indexes for the data: X2/df =2.20, GFI=0.95, CFI=0.97, NFI=0.95, NNFI=0.96, SRMR=0.068, and RMSEA=0.074. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient and ICC for each of the two dimensions were satisfactory (alpha = 0.84 and 0.81 and ICC = 0.85 and 0.82). The values for the whole items were 0.91 and 0.81, respectively. Conclusion: The HELIA-SF, including nine items and two subscales (basic skills and decision-making skills), was found to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure health literacy in adults. This version is suitable for measuring health literacy in different urban and rural population groups due to its short and concise nature.

Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran, 2022

Brief Com In March nounced the p SARS-CoV-2 adults during health concer the most impo patients wi... more Brief Com In March nounced the p SARS-CoV-2 adults during health concer the most impo patients with targeting olde ing the numb physical and them. Therefo of older adul authorities ar older adults c support, prote correct inform According 7.4 million pe ly, 14,419 ol Based on the cation (MoH cases and 127 10, 2021 (10 hospitalizatio ief Commu p://mjiri.iums.a

Iranian Journal of Public Health, 2021

In the last two decades, we have witnessed three major epidemics of the coronavirus human disease... more In the last two decades, we have witnessed three major epidemics of the coronavirus human disease namely, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome, and more recently an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Iran, a country of nearly 84 million, in the Middle East, severely involved with the COVID-19 disease. A documented multidimensional approach to COVID-19 disease is therefore mandatory to provide a well-balanced platform for the concerned medical community in our county and beyond. In this review, we highlight the disease status in Iran and attempt to provide a multilateral view of the fundamental and clinical aspects of the disease including the clinical features of the confirmed cases, virology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, and laboratory methods needed for diagnosis.

Iranian Journal of Virology, 2008

iranian journal of epidemiology, 2019

Background & Aim: Nursing practice is influenced by nurses' precived professional values. A s... more Background & Aim: Nursing practice is influenced by nurses' precived professional values. A small number of studies have been focused to measure professional values in nursing, whereas most of them focused on measuring values of nursing students. This study aimed to explore how nurses prioritize professional values. Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, the professional values of nurses who were working at hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, were investi-gated. A simple random sampling method was used and 127 nurses randomly selected to participate in this study. A two-part questionnaire was used to collect the data. The first part included demographic variables and the second part included the Nursing Professional Values Scale-Revised (NPVS-R). Results: The mean scores of the NPVS-R items on the five point Likert-type scales ranged from 2.89 to 4.32. The most five important professional values statements identified by parti...

BMC Infectious Diseases, 2019

Background Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a widespread mosquito-borne virus representing a serious ... more Background Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a widespread mosquito-borne virus representing a serious challenge to public health. The largest outbreak in the Middle-East was recorded in 2016–2017 in Pakistan. Sistan and Baluchistan Province of Iran shares a wide border with Pakistan; accordingly, introduction of CHIKV from Pakistan to Iran seems to be probable. The current study is aimed at investigating CHIKV infection in Sistan and Baluchistan Province. Methods Between April 2017 and June 2018, a total of 159 serum samples of CHIK suspected cases from 10 cities of Sistan and Baluchistan Province were tested by molecular and serological assays. Samples obtained up to 4 days after onset of illness were tested by real time PCR (n = 8). Samples collected 5–10 days after disease onset were subjected to ELISA, as well as real time PCR tests (n = 72). Samples obtained after the 10th day of disease onset were tested by only ELISA (n = 79). Phylogenetic analysis of real time PCR positive sample...

Iranian Journal of Public Health, 2019

Background: Zika virus infection has recently attracted the attention of medical community. While... more Background: Zika virus infection has recently attracted the attention of medical community. While clinical manifestations of the infection in adult cases are not severe and disease is not associated with high mortality rates, Zika virus infection can have an impact on fetal development and lead to severe neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Methods: To gain insight into different aspects of Zika virus infection, a comprehensive literature review was performed. With regard to epidemiology and geographical distribution of Zika virus infection, relevant information was extracted from CDC and WHO websites. Results: In this review, we discuss different basic and clinical aspects of Zika virus infection including virology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of disease. Laboratory methods required for the diagnosis of disease together with ethical issues associated with Zika virus infection will also be discussed in detail. Conclusion: Herein, we have tried to provide a multi-faceted view of Zika ...

Archives of Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2019

Background: Influenza causes high mortality rate among pregnant women, while morbidity and mortal... more Background: Influenza causes high mortality rate among pregnant women, while morbidity and mortality cases of this disease and its side effects among pregnant women can be simply prevented by vaccination and reducing risk factors such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, etc. Objectives: Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the risk factors and mortality rate of seasonal influenza among pregnant women referring to healthcare centers in Iran during 2015-2016. Methods: This case-control study was conducted to examine the odds ratio of seasonal influenza among pregnant women with seasonal influenza who had referred to all healthcare centers in Iran with severe respiratory disease symptoms during 2015-2016. The statistical population consisted of 2,080 pregnant women of whom, 24 dead women constituted the case group and 100 randomly selected living women constituted the control group. A researcher-made checklist was used for data collection. The collected data were analyzed using the statistical test of the odds ratio with SPSS-22 software. Results: Mean (standard deviation) of age was 31 (2.3) and 34 (3.8) in living and dead pregnant women, respectively. The most frequent type of conflicting influenza virus was H1N1 in both case and control groups (83% and 71%, respectively). There was a significant difference between case and control groups in the risk factors including diabetes (P = 0.003), blood pressure (P = 0.001), obesity (P = 0.026), cardiovascular diseases (P = 0.001), renal diseases (P = 0.013), and respiratory diseases (P = 0.012). Among these risk factors, the highest odds ratio (OR) was related to cardiovascular diseases (OR = 24), blood pressure (OR = 16.3), and diabetes (OR = 12.9), in sequence. Oseltamivir prescribed to all patients in the control group and 92% of patients in the case group. Seven patients in the control group and none in the case group had a history of influenza vaccination. Conclusions: It is necessary to take steps and underpin training programs to reduce the risk factors of seasonal influenza among pregnant women based on the national vaccination guidelines.

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 2019

Background: With the emergence of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), health care preparedne... more Background: With the emergence of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), health care preparedness has received increasing attention, which requires valid tools to assess the knowledge and attitude of health workers, such as nurses, with regard to this disease. Aims: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a knowledge and attitudes questionnaire on MERS coronavirus for Iranian nurses. Methods: A questionnaire was developed based on international and national guidelines and a literature review. Ten nurses were recruited to assess face validity and 11 experts reviewed the instrument to determine the content validity ratio and index. Exploratory factor analysis was then done with a random sample of 155 nurses in Tabriz city, Islamic Republic of Iran. Results: Following determination of face and content validity, 78 items (61 knowledge and 17 attitude) were retained in the final version of the questionnaire. The knowledge scale had an average content validity index of 0.80 and the attitude scale a value of 0.91. In the exploratory factor analysis, five dimensions with eigenvalues > 1 and loading level ≥ 0.4 were extracted for the knowledge scale (46 items) and two for the attitude scale (16 items). The Kuder-Richardson 21 coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient for the knowledge scale were 0.94 and 0.91 respectively. In the attitude scale, the Cronbach alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.82 and 0.89 respectively. Conclusions: The scale developed in this study is reliable and stable and a suitable instrument for evaluating the knowledge and attitude of nurses about MERS-CoV.

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 2016

There are few estimates of influenza burden in the WHO Region for the Eastern Mediterranean. In t... more There are few estimates of influenza burden in the WHO Region for the Eastern Mediterranean. In this study we estimated the burden of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and influenza-associated SARI (F-SARI) in selected provinces of Islamic Republic of Iran, the trends of SARI and confirmed cases of influenza (F-SARI) over 12 months (seasonality), and the age groups most at risk. Using the electronic Iranian influenza surveillance system and data of cases in sentinel hospitals of 3 selected provinces, we estimated the monthly trend (seasonality) of incidence for SARI and F-SARI, overall incidence of SARI and F-SARI and their disaggregation by age with the aid using the Monte Carlo technique. The age groups most at-risk were children aged under 2 years and adults older than 50 years.

Iranian journal of public health, 2018

International journal of preventive medicine, 2011

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause. In this st... more Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause. In this study, we report a case of SLE that was presented with persistent vomiting and liver involvement. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a patient with hepatic necrosis as the initial presentation of SLE in a previously healthy woman without any significant past medical history. In the literature, we found few cases of SLE with liver necrosis. In addition, all the cases found had a past medical history of a missed abortion or other complications of the disease. Therefore, if a young woman presents hepatic necrosis with a background of a previously missed abortion, it is better to perform anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and anticardiolipin antibody tests as a preventive method for early diagnosis and early treatment.

Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2012

The prevalence of anemia in HIV infected patients has not been well characterized in Iran. This s... more The prevalence of anemia in HIV infected patients has not been well characterized in Iran. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of anemia and related factors in HIV positive patients. In a cross-sectional study, anemia prevalence and risk factors of 212 HIV positive patients were assessed, at the behavioral disease consulting center in Isfahan. The relationship between anemia, demographic variables, and clinical histories were analyzed. Mild to moderate anemia was defined as hemoglobin 8-13 g/dL for men and 8-12 g/dL for women. Severe anemia was defined as hemoglobin, 8 g/dL. A total of 212 HIV positive patients with a mean±SD age of 36.1 ± 9.1 years were assessed. We found that hemoglobin levels were between 4.7 and 16.5 gr/dL. In this study, the overall prevalence of anemia was 71%, with the majority of patients having mild to moderate anemia. Mild to moderate anemia and severe anemia occurred in 67% and 4% of patients, respectively. The mean absolute CD4 count was 348 ± 26...

Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2011

During August 2009, novel H1N1 influenza virus began causing illness in Isfahan. Since rates of h... more During August 2009, novel H1N1 influenza virus began causing illness in Isfahan. Since rates of hospitalization and mortality due to the disease have varied widely in different countries, we described the clinical, radiologic, and demographic features of H1N1 hospitalized patients in a hospital in Isfahan. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Alzahra Hospital during September 2009 to February 2010. Totally, 216 patients with confirmed, probable, or suspected cases of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) were admitted. Most patients were women (50.5%). Mean age of patients was 26.6 ± 19.5 years. The most common complains on admission were respiratory symptoms (91.6%, n= 198), fever (88.4%, n = 191), myalgia (65.7%, n = 142). In addition, 120 patients (56%) had at least one underlying medical disorder. Thirty-six patients (16.7%) died. Mortality was higher in children under 5 years old (10/36, 10%) and female cases (63.9% of died patients). Predicting variables affecting mortality were inte...

Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2011

Background: Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus arrived to Isfahan in August, 2009. The virus is... more Background: Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus arrived to Isfahan in August, 2009. The virus is still circulating in the world. The abnormal thoracic computerized tomographic (CT) scan findings vary widely among the studies of 2009 H1N1 influenza. We evaluated the ...

Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2011

Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus arrived at Isfahan in August 2009. The virus is still circul... more Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus arrived at Isfahan in August 2009. The virus is still circulating in the world. The abnormal thoracic computerized tomographic (CT) scan findings vary widely among the studies of 2009 H1N1 influenza. We evaluated the thoracic CT findings in patients with 2009 H1N1 virus infection to describe findings compared to previously reported findings, and to suggest patterns that may be suggestive for 2009 influenza A (H1N1) in an appropriate clinical setting. Retrospectively, the archive of all patients with a diagnosis of 2009 H1N1 influenza A were reviewed, in Al-Zahra Hospital in Isfahan, central Iran, between September 23(rd) 2009 to February 20(th) 2010. Out of 216 patients with confirmed 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus, 26 cases with abnormal CT were enrolled in the study. Radiologic findings were characterized by the type and pattern of opacities and zonal distribution. Patchy infiltration (34.6%), lobar consolidation (30.8%), and interstitial infilt...

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2011

Xanthogranulomatous osteomyelitis is a rare type of inflammatory process which is characterized b... more Xanthogranulomatous osteomyelitis is a rare type of inflammatory process which is characterized by composition of immune cell aggregation on histological studies. Delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction of cellmediated immunity may be implicated in its pathogenesis. Gross and radiological examination can mimic malignancy, and differentiation should be confirmed by histopathological evaluation. We describe the case of a 14-year-old Afghan boy presenting with pain in right shoulder and left leg with prior history of trauma. Fever, limitation in right shoulder range of motion, and tenderness in right shoulder and left thigh were detected following examination. Mild leukocytosis, elevated alkaline phosphatase, and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate with negative C-reactive protein (CRP) were revealed. X-ray imaging showed mixed density, periosteal reaction, and cortical disruption. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed lesions involving medulla and cortex, periosteal reaction with soft tissue component, and bone marrow infiltration in right humerus and left fibula. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), signal abnormalities in medulla, metaphysis, and diaphysis of the left fibula associated with cortical irregularity and diffuse soft tissue hypersignal areas were demonstrated. Finally, xanthogranulomatous osteomyelitis was confirmed by histological sample. The clinical manifestations and radiographic and laboratory findings of this rare condition are discussed.