@article{ 
author = {Zeinali, Ahad and Ghareayaghi, Yashar and Seyedarabi, Hadi and Saberi, Hass},  
title = {Using a photographic image processing method as a part of the QA program in some radiotherapy departments where CTs are involved with COVID-19 patients}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Owing to the significant role of CT images in diagnosis and follow up of patients affected with coronavirus, the imaging section of cancer centers in some countries engaged in providing services to COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study was to introduce a CT-independent photographic-based QA method in some radiotherapy departments where CTs are involved with COVID-19 patients. Materials & Methods: An anthropomorphic woman-like torso phantom was used in the first step of study for setup arrangement and preliminary data extractions. Then in the second step, four patients with early stage breast cancer were evaluated. In all steps, the key parameters extracted from photographic-based method were compared with the same parameters extracted from CT system, which was considered as the gold standard method. A home-made computer code developed in MATLAB was used to extract parameters in the new method. Finally, the corresponding parameters were compared using the non-parametric Wilcoxon method. Results: Our results showed that the newly introduced method can predict desired parameters equal to CT-based method. Using this method, a part of the QA program will be performed with no dependency on CT systems. Also, the image sections load work in some radiotherapy departments, which their CT systems are involved with COVID-19 patients, can reduce. Conclusion: The proposed method could help identify and remove important uncertainties and errors in radiotherapy courses, especially between fractions, without imposing ionizing radiation on patients in pandemic conditions.},  
Keywords = {Geometric uncertainty, Photographic based image processing, QA, Radiotherapy, Setup error},
volume = {2},
Number = {1}, 
pages = {1-9}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.1.1},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-71-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-71-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Ghelichi-Ghojogh, Mousa and Khezri, Rozhan and Rezaei, Fatemeh and Aljalili, Somayeh and Valizadeh, Rohollah and Sadighpour, Tell},  
title = {Health inequality in COVID-19 vaccination coverage}, 
abstract ={Dear Editor, According to the latest report of World Health Organization,  which was published on November 8, 2021, more than 249,743,428 people were infected with COVID-19 and 5,047,652 people died from  this disease worldwide. Furthermore, more than seven billion doses of vaccine have been used against the COVID-19 pandemic across the world (1). COVID-19 can take two forms including the asymptomatic and symptomatic forms and may cause a wide and varied range of symptoms (2-6). One of the most serious and current human rights is to have access to diagnostic, treatment and vaccination facilities against COVID-19, especially in the poor areas and low-income countries. In addition, vaccination is regarded to be a very important primary preventive measure since it causes a significant reduction in the COVID-19 development, decreases its morbidity, and reduces its mortality rates (7). In fact, health inequality is a comprehensive concept that reflects the differences and inequalities in people's access to health care (8). It is obvious that health-care-access injustice ultimately leads to inequality in health (9). At the beginning of 2021, several COVID-19 vaccines were developed. These vaccines were classified into three categories. The first category involved the RNA messenger vaccines (mRNA) which included Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. The second category comprised the vaccines which were made with the help of human and mammalian adenoviruses such as Spuntink-V, Astera-Zenec, and Johnson & Johnson. Finally, the third category involved the inactivated viral vaccines such as Bharat Biotech, Sinopharm, and Sinovac (10). These vaccines and the new medications have been effective (11). Nonetheless, there are still countries around the world which are not able to purchase the approved vaccines. Moreover, a number of the people, who have access to the vaccines, are not willing to trust a new vaccine. These two issues are major concerns which severely affect the vaccination coverage rate, the break in the disease transmission chain, and the end of the COVID-19 pandemic (12). Finally, it can be stated that the causes of low vaccination coverage include the following factors (13, 14): Lack of access to vaccines Distrust of governments Negative role of national media Poor performance of health personnel Negative role of social and virtual networks Complications of vaccination Low knowledge about the consequences of the COVID-19 among the general population. In conclusion, it can be noted that, the above mentioned factors influence inequality in COVID-19 vaccination coverage. More specifically, the countries have different vaccination coverage rates. Therefore, the consequences of COVID-19 and the general health status are different across the world.},  
Keywords = {COVID-19, inequality, vaccination},
volume = {2},
Number = {1}, 
pages = {10-12}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.1.10},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-69-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-69-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {KazempourDizaji, Mehdi and Kiani, Arda and Varahram, Mohammad and Abedini, Atefe and Zare, Ali and Roozbahani, Rahim and AlizedehKolahdozi, Niloufar and Nadji, Syeyd Alireza and Emamhadi, Mohammad Ali and Marjani, Maji},  
title = {Estimation and prediction of the prevalence rate of COVID-19 disease based on multilayer perceptron artificial neural networks model}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Nowadays, with the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, millions of people have been infected with the coronavirus, and most countries in the world have been unable to treat and control this condition. The aim of this study was to estimate and predict the COVID-19 prevalence rate based on multilayer perceptron artificial neural network (MLP-ANN) model. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, based on the information of 4,372 patients with COVID-19 referred to Dr. Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran, the prevalence rate of this disease was estimated. In addition, considering the role of the health measures and social restrictions, the trend of this index based on the MLP-ANN model was predicted. Results: According to the results of this study, the prevalence of COVID-19 increased by an average of 7.05 per thousand people daily during the 48 days from the onset of the epidemic, and it reached about 341.96 per thousand people. Based on the MLP-ANN model with a lack of attention to the health measures by individuals in the community and failure to reduce social restrictions by the government, the COVID-19 prevalence increased by an average of 1.03 per thousand people per day. While in the case of attention to the health measures by the people and continued social restrictions by the state, the prevalence of this disease decreased by an average of 2.13 per thousand people, daily. Conclusion: The study on the prevalence of COVID-19 disease and prediction of the trend of this index provides researchers with useful information about the role of the health measures and social restrictions in controlling this disease.},  
Keywords = {COVID-19, Prevalence index, Perceptron artificial neural network, Prediction},
volume = {2},
Number = {1}, 
pages = {13-20}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.1.13},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-100-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-100-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Fathi, Behrouz and Alinejad, Vahid and Moslehi, Samad and Marouzi, Parviz},  
title = {Prevalence of the Common Cancers by Gender using GIS System in Razavi Khorasan Province}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Cancer is one of the most important causes of death and disability worldwide. In most cases, cancer is not caused by inherent biology, but by the environment where a person lives. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of the common cancers by gender using GIS system in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran. Materials & Methods: In this cohort study, all the cancer reports, based on gender, in Razavi Khorasan Province were collected annually from 2011 to 2014. The study variables included the number of people diagnosed with cancer, type of cancer, and gender. The GIS software was employed to draw a geographic map for the prevalence of cancer separately by gender in Razavi Khorasan Province. A geographical map was drawn for breast cancer in women and colon cancer in men in 20 cities of the above-mentioned province. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of breast cancer in women and stomach cancer in men was higher than other cancers. Also, breast cancer in women and stomach cancer in men was the highest in the capital of the province (Mashhad), which was equal to 4,623 and 2,770 cases, respectively, during the years 2011-2014. Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of three types of breast cancer in women and colon cancer in men in Razavi Khorasan Province, especially Mashhad city, it is highly recommended to take necessary measures to prevent these diseases. Drawing a geographic map for breast (women) and intestine (men) cancers for 20 cities of Razavi Khorasan province could be useful for future planners.},  
Keywords = {Breast cancer, Colon cancer, GIS, Prevalence},
volume = {2},
Number = {1}, 
pages = {21-29}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.1.21},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-88-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-88-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Ataei, Mina and AkbarianFiroozabadi, Maryam and Abdollahi, Samira and Hashemnejad, Maryam},  
title = {Screening prenatal depression to assess childbirth and neonatal complications: a cohort study}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: The prevalence of the mood or anxiety disorders during pregnancy is reported to be 18.2 %. This study aimed to investigate the effect of prenatal depression on childbirth and neonatal complications. Materials & Methods: This cohort study selected 600 pregnant mothers who were referred to Kamali Alborz hospital in 2021 as the participants. These 600 pregnant woment were classified into three groups including: the group of pregnant mothers without depression whose Beck score was below 10, the group of pregnant mothers with untretaed prenatal depression whose Beck score was above 16, and the group of pregnant mothers with prenatal depression who were treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). There were 200 participants in each of the above-mentoned groups. These groups were compared with each other in terms of preterm labor, cesarean section, abortion, preeclampsia, birth weight, apgar, and NICU hospitalization status. Results: In our study, the number of infants with low birth weight in the group of mothers with untretaed prenatal depression was higher than the number of these infants in the group of normal mothers (p < 0.05). Nontheless, there was not a significant differences between the groups in terms of the premature births (p = 0.092).  The rate of cesarean sectionwas higher in the group of mothers with untreated prenatal depression compared to the group of mothers who were treated with SSRIs. Moreover, this rate in both of these groups was higher than cesarian section rate in the group of the normal mothers (p < 0.05). The number of the infants who were hospitalized in the NICU was significantly higher in the SSRIs group (p < 0.05) compared to the other groups. Finally, the number of infants with 1-minute Apgar<7 was significantly higher in the group of mothers who were treated with SSRIs than the group of normal mothers (p = 0.126). Conclusion: According to the results, cesarean section, premature birth, birth weight, and abortion were more satidfactory in the group of non-depressed mothers and the group of the depressed mothers who were treated with SSRIs in comparison with the group of the depressed mothes with ntreated depression.},  
Keywords = {Child birth, Complication, Neonatal, Prenatal depression},
volume = {2},
Number = {1}, 
pages = {30-38}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.1.30},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-86-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-86-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Hallaj, Tooba and Amjadi, Mohammad and L.Manzoori, Jamshi},  
title = {A Sensitive Chemiluminescence Probe Based on Cerium (IV)-Sulfite Reaction for the Determination of Methamphetamine in Biological Samples and Street Drugs}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Methamphetamine is one of the most widely abused drugs worldwide. Its rapid and simple detection and determination in street drugs and biological samples are of great importance for forensic science applications. Materials & Methods: In this work, a simple and sensitive chemiluminescence-based method was established for methamphetamine analysis. It is based on the enhancing effect of methamphetamine on Ce(IV)-Na2SO3 chemiluminescence (CL) reaction. A possible mechanism was discussed for the CL system. Optimization of chemical variables affecting the CL response of the system was performed by an experimental design approach using the central composite design. Results: Under the optimum conditions, the enhanced CL intensity was proportional to the concentration of methamphetamine in the range of 0.005-5.0 µg/mL, with a detection limit of 1.2 ng/mL. Conclusion: The developed method applied to determine methamphetamine in street drugs and human plasma samples showed satisfactory results.},  
Keywords = {Chemiluminescence, Cerium (IV), Experimental design, Methamphetamine, Sodium sulfite},
volume = {2},
Number = {1}, 
pages = {39-49}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.1.39},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-54-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-54-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Rosatammarouf, Sama and Kavousi, Amir and Soori, Hami},  
title = {Investigating the effect of psychological factors and spiritual health on drivers\' behavior: using the structural equation modeling approach}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Nowadays, traffic accidents are one of the major causes of death worldwide. Therefore, it is essential to determine the modifiable risk factors in order to reduce traffic accidents. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the psychological factors, the spiritual health, and the drivers' behavior of the employees of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the data on 3245 participants in the Health Cohort Study of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The required information was collected using general health questionnaire (GHQ-28), Manchester driving behavior questionnaire (MDBQ), spiritual health questionnaire (SHEL), aggression questionnaire (AGQ), and Beck's anxiety and depression questionnaires. The data were analyzed with the help of structural equation modeling using SPSS 25 and Amos 24 software. Results:  The study used the information on 1386 people. Moreover, 754 of these people were men. All of the correction indices highlighted the good fit of the hypothesized model (CMIN/DF=3.3, GFI=0.96, AGFI=0.94, CFI=0.97, TLI=0.97, IFI=0.97, NFI=0.95, SRMR=0.03, RMSEA=0.04). According to the model, aggression (β=0.45, p<0.001), depression (β=0.05, p<0.001), anxiety (β=0.29, p<0.001), and physical and social dysfunction (β=0.29, p<0.001), significantly increased the drivers’ dangerous driving behavior .On the other hand, spiritual health had an inverse and significant relationship (p<0.001, β=-0.4) with risky driving behavior. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that psychological factors and spiritual health affected the drivers’ behavior. Therefore, it is necessary to implement effective interventions regarding these factors to reduce traffic accidents.},  
Keywords = {Aggressive Driving, Psychological Factors, Risk Behavior, Spirituality, Structural Equation Modeling},
volume = {2},
Number = {1}, 
pages = {50-60}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.1.50},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-55-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-55-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Houshmand, Hamidreza and Jafary, Reza and Rasoli, Javad and Ahmadi, Ahm},  
title = {Investigation of specific antibody titer against SARS-CoV-2 virus during hospitalization and one month after discharge in hospitalized children with severe and critical Covid-19 infection}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: The response of the human immune system to the COVID-19 disease is of vital importance in many ways, including determining the place of serological methods in the survival of patients. Therefore, the present study was designed and implemented with the aim of determining the specific antibody titer against SARS CoV-2 during hospitalization and one month after discharge in children hospitalized in Shahid Motahari Hospital in Urmia. Materials & Methods: In this longitudinal study, hospitalized patients with positive RT-PCR test were included in the study due to COVID-19. Inclusion criteria included age less than 15 years and parental consent, and exclusion criteria included immune system disorder or developmental disorder and negative RT-PCR test. Demographic information and severity of the disease along with specific antibody titer of SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated and extracted for all patients. Results: The average age of the 40 studied patients was 2.48 years, and 32.5% of them were girls. The average level of IgG during discharge and one month after discharge was equal to 73.66 and 128.36, respectively, and it was significantly higher one month after discharge than during discharge (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two sexes in terms of antibody titer during discharge (p=0.77) and one month after discharge (p=0.31). There is no significant relationship between the specific antibody level of SARS-CoV-2 during discharge (r=0.12 and p=0.45) and one month after discharge and length of hospitalization. There was no statistically significant difference between disease severity and antibody titer during discharge (p=0.54) and one month after discharge (p=0.20). Conclusion: The specific antibody titer of SARS-CoV-2 increases significantly after one month of discharge. There was no significant difference between the level of this antibody during discharge and one month later between girls and boys and people with different severity of the disease. No significant relationship between antibody titer and hospitalization time was observed.},  
Keywords = {Children, COVID-19, Hospitalized patients, Specific antibody},
volume = {2},
Number = {1}, 
pages = {61-72}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.1.61},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-76-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-76-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {SolahaeKahnamouii, Bita and Mivefroshan, Azam and Ravanyar, Leila and Hosseini, R},  
title = {The epidemiological study of end-stage renal disease among patients admitted to hemodialysis wards of Ayatollah Taleghani and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Urmia city of Iran, in the 2020\'s second half}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Chronic kidney disease (CKD), mainly its final stage, known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is one of the major challenges for the healthcare system in Iran, and deserves more reflections. Against this background, the present study aimed to elucidate the epidemiology of ESRD among the patients, undergoing permanent treatment, admitted to the hemodialysis (HD) wards of the selected hospitals in Urmia, Iran. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, using the census method for sampling, we investigated patients experiencing permanent treatment and admitted to the HD wards of the selected hospitals in Urmia, Iran, from October 2020 to March 2021. The criteria for entering the study are the availability of medical record and ESRD cases. On the other hand, the cases receiving intermittent HD were excluded. Furthermore, a checklist was utilized to collect the required data. Results: The ESRD patients' mean age was 60.63. Also, 59.6% of the cases were male, and the rest (40.4%) was female. Besides, 54.7% of these patients had degrees below high school diplomas, and 72.8% was living in urban areas. The most frequently occurring blood type was O, and the majority of the patients were the Rhesus positive. The average level of serum creatinine was also 20.7 mg/dL. Moreover, the most common underlying diseases were hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM), respectively. Conclusion: The study findings revealed that monitoring and controlling chronic diseases, such as HTN and DM, as well as raising more awareness among the patients with low literacy, could significantly contribute to managing CKD and its progress.},  
Keywords = {Chronic Kidney Disease, End-Stage Renal Disease, Epidemiology, Hemodialysis},
volume = {2},
Number = {2}, 
pages = {73-79}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.2.73},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-56-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-56-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Rhikhtegar, Ehsan and Fathi, Behrouz},  
title = {We should pay more attention to the community context in the disaster management: lessons learned from the first days after the Khoy earthquake}, 
abstract ={Dear Editor-in-Chief On January 28, the city of Khoy (the northwest of Iran) was struck by a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 on the Richter scale at 21:44:44 and a depth of 7 km, X: 45.01 and Y: 38.05 (1). This earthquake occurred 117 kilometers from Urmia, the capital of the West Azerbaijan Province. Over 370,000 people were affected by this earthquake, which resulted in three deaths and more than 1,750 injuries. More than 70 villages in the area and the cities of Khoy and Firouraq were damaged to varying degrees (2). A few days before the earthquake, a rumor circulated on the internet that there would be a strong earthquake on Saturday January 29th, followed by a magnitude 9 earthquake on February 16th. After the earthquake, many of affected people left their homes in the early hours and went to the cities of Salmas, Urmia, and Tabriz. In the quake-hit area, people took shelter in makeshift camps or tents near the destroyed homes. Humanitarian aid arrived from all over the country and neighboring provinces to the affected area. Government organizations, military, religious bodies, associations, unions, and non-governmental organizations provided the basic needs and equipment needed by the people of the earthquake-affected area. However, the distribution of food and equipment among people affected by the earthquake was inappropriate. For instance, some donors were providing aid directly, essential drugs were not adequately supplied. Despite the large amount of aid sent, a distribution aid was concentrated in some areas and neglected in other areas, and some people did not yet manage to receive essential items such as food, blankets, tent heating equipment (3). In Urmia, adequate services were provided in the camps established in the mosques. Health teams had a daily presence in the mosques, providing free medical and health services. The mosques were run by the Basij (volunteer mobilization force), or Mosque Council, with most help coming from donors and official and unofficial communications from the council. One notable thing was that earthquake victims tended to receive more than actually need medical and pharmaceutical services, as well as other services. Some people were unwilling to leave their homes and settled in the makeshift camps for reasons such as fear of possible theft of their property from damaged houses. Due to rumors of a stronger earthquake on February 16th, those shelter in nearby cities did not want to return to the disaster area. Iran is located on the earthquake fault line (4), and several faults in the northwest of the country activated in the past and caused devastating earthquakes such as the earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.4 on the Richter scale that occurred in the cities of Khoy and Salmas in 1900 and 1930 (5,6). Therefore, the occurrence of similar or stronger earthquakes in this area can be expected in the region in future (6,7). In general, observations show that the scale of destruction and damage does not exceed national and even provincial capabilities. However, one thing that is evident, despite the formation of numerous crisis preparedness committees before the earthquake, the lack of complete coordination in the calculation, as well as supply and distribution of the real basic needs among stakeholders in the crisis management scene is one of the main challenges. Considering the occurrence of similar problems during similar natural disasters in the northwest region, it is suggested that policy makers focus more on the community context in disaster management. A model that can align the participation of government organizations, unions, and social groups can lead to more coordination in the proper distribution of aid and meeting the needs of the victims in the early days.},  
Keywords = {Earthquakes, Disasters, Natural Disasters},
volume = {2},
Number = {2}, 
pages = {80-81}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.2.80},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-108-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-108-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Soltani, Siamak and Memarian, Azadeh and Aghakhani, Kamran and Abdolkarimi, Leyla and Taftachi, Farrokh},  
title = {Epidemiology of cause and burn pattern in self-immolated patients during 2014-2020}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Lots of suicides leading to death in Iran are related to self-immolation. This study aimed to evaluate the cause and burn patterns in self-immolated patients referred to Shahid Motahari Trauma and Burn Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 282 patients who were hospitalized, due to self-immolation, in the above-mentioned hospital between 2014 and 2020. During the study, information such as patients’ demographic data, burn percentage, burn grade, and organs involved due to self-immolation, duration of hospitalization, and infection and mortality rates following self-immolation were recorded. Results: The mean age of self-immolated people was 35.5 ± 12.5 years, and the majority were male (58.2%) and married (61.7%) with non-university education (89.7%) and poor financial status (90.4%). Most of the patients (94%) had used caustic agents. The cause of self-immolation in 84% of people was family disputes and in 13.4% mental illnesses, and 51.1% finally died. The gender of the patients had a statistically significant relationship only with marital status (P = 0.001) and whole-body burns (P = 0.01). Conclusion: According to our findings, self-immolation is prevalent in men, especially in upper limbs, and the most common cause of self-immolation is family disputes. Self-immolation mostly results in grade 3 burns in both genders. In the hospital, infection after burn is of great importance; therefore, prevention and control measures of nosocomial infection are necessary.},  
Keywords = {Burn Pattern, Self-Immolation, Suicide},
volume = {2},
Number = {2}, 
pages = {82-89}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.2.82},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-97-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-97-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {KazempourDizaji, Mehdi and Varahram, Mohammad and Tabarsi, Payam and Roozbahani, Rahim and Zare, Ali and Moniri, Afshin and Madani, Mohammadreza and Abedini, Atefe and BaghaeiShiva, Parvaneh and Marjani, Majid and AlizadehKolahdozi, Niloufar},  
title = {Prediction of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in tuberculosis patients using perceptron artificial neural networks model}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Diagnosis and treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are very important. Hence, it is necessary to predict and diagnose these patients based on individual, demographic and clinical characteristics before starting treatment. This study aimed to predict MDR-TB in TB patients using the perceptron artificial neural networks (ANNs) model. Materials & Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 1,050 TB patients who have been treated in Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Iran from 2005 to 2015. Data on personal and demographic information, as well as medical data such as drug therapy, final outcome of treatment, and the diagnosis of MDR-TB, were collected from the patients' medical records. Results: The results of this study indicated that the predictive power of MDR-TB for both training and testing groups was 85% and 80%, respectively. Also, the variables of marital status, education, drug use, being imprisoned, extrapulmonary TB, history of comorbidities, AIDS, patients' age, and family size were identified as very effective factors. However, variables of residence, smoking history, contact with a TB person, pulmonary TB, drug side effects, nationality, and diabetes were found as effective factors in predicting the development of MDR-TB. Conclusion: Application of the perceptron ANNs model in the study of MDR-TB is able to create new horizons in the diagnosis of these patients due to high predictive accuracy.},  
Keywords = {Artificial neural networks, Perceptron, Tuberculosis, Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis},
volume = {2},
Number = {2}, 
pages = {90-98}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.2.90},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-101-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-101-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Ravanyar, Leila and Mostafavi, Firoozeh and Hashemian, Shervin-Sadat and Oryadi-Zanjani, Mohammad Maji},  
title = {Effectiveness of the interventional program for empowering mothers with hearing-impaired children for the improvement of expressive language skills}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Family-centered care demands family to be accepted as the primary core of all cares neglected in practice. The purpose of the study was to plan and put into effect a family-centered interventional training program for the empowerment of mothers while examining its effectiveness on the expressive language skill of children with hearing impairment. Materials & Methods: The sampling method in this process was a randomized controlled trial of the available type. The samples were selected from the people who referred to the centers providing speech therapy services to hearing impaired children in Shiraz (Iran). By selecting random blocks, 35 people were placed in each intervention and control groups. Family-centered intervention was scheduled into 6 sessions, each session lasting 80 minutes. Meantime, we used a researcher-made questionnaire and Newsha developmental scale to assess mothers' empowerment and children's speech development, respectively. Results: Data gathered from 35 intervention and 33 control group members were carefully examined. Repeated measurement test used for the assessment of primary and interactional effects of “time” and “group” showed the effect of time (i.e. pretest, posttest, and follow-up) on the variables of “awareness”, which was significantly large. As for the "self-efficacy" variable, the triple time stages have also proved effective. Time and interaction both manifested a meaningful effect on "child's expressive language skills" (P<0.001). However, "self-esteem" skills and "perceived support" did not show significant differences between time and group effects (P>0.001). Conclusion: The study wraps up by affirming the role of family-centered intervention programs in expanding the ability of mothers with hearing-impaired children and, consequently, upgrading the expressive language skill of the child.},  
Keywords = {Children, Expressive language, Hearing loss, Mothers},
volume = {2},
Number = {2}, 
pages = {99-109}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.2.99},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-74-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-74-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Navidjouy, Nahid and Maheri, Mina and Teimouri, Maryam and Dehghani, Anahit},  
title = {Attitude of students towards their field of study and future career at the Urmia University of Medical Sciences in 2021}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Considering the importance of academic fields, especially healthcare fields, knowing students’ attitude towards their field of study and future careers is highly important. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the attitude of Urmia University of Medical Sciences students towards their field of study and future career. Materials & Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 200 students of Urmia University of Medical Sciences (Urmia, Iran) were participated by convenience sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire that included two parts. The first part entailed the demographic information and second part some questions to measure the attitude towards the field of study and future career. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16 software. Results:  The mean score of attitude of 80 students towards their field of study and future career was 52.01 ± 7.63, while that of 70 cases was 49.65 ± 10.47. The majority of the students had an average attitude towards their field of study (72.5%) and future career (54.0%). Students of some fields, such as medicine, pharmacy, nursing, operating room, and emergency medicine, had a more positive attitude towards their field of study and future career than other fields. Only 5.5% and 29.5% of students had a good/positive attitude towards their field of study and future career, respectively. Conclusion:  The weak attitude of students of some fields, including public health, environmental health, radiology, anesthesia, and laboratory sciences, towards their field of study and future career shows the need for an appropriate planning to improve and strengthen educational programs and increase the career capacities of the mentioned fields.},  
Keywords = {Attitude, Field of study, Future career, Students, Urmia},
volume = {2},
Number = {2}, 
pages = {110-120}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.2.110},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-90-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-90-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Sarrafan, Negar and Pishva, Seyyed Sajjad and Jafariheydarlou, Mohammad and IraniFam, Fahimeh and Seyyedi, Seyyed Amir},  
title = {Green tea relieves erosive, atrophic, and ulcerative lesions in patients with oral lichen planus: a pilot clinical trial study}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease of stratified squamous epithelium. Numerous treatment approaches have been introduced for the treatment of OLP, but there is no substantial evidence to support the effectiveness of these methods. Green tea is a popular drink widely used to relief and treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The present pilot study aimed to investigate the effect of green tea tablets on OLP. Materials & Methods: In this pilot clinical trial study, we recruited 10 patients (48.1 ± 12.44 years old) with erosive and atrophic OLP from Western Azerbaijan, Urmia, in Iran. All patients received a green tea tablet (450 mg) daily for one month. The patients were monitored and followed up for pain severity scale with a visual analog scale (VAS), lesion size, and number of lesions. Finally, the collected data were examined using statistical software. Results: The mean of VAS score before intervention was 4.1 ± 2.02, whereas it was 2.2 ± 2.25 at the end of the intervention. Statistical analysis indicated the decreased VAS score after 30 days of tablet consumption (p < 0.001). Moreover, lesion number and size were markedly decreased in patients after 30 days of tablet consumption. However, no complete recovery was observed in patients after 30 days. Conclusion: Our study indicates that using green tea tablets could be an effective and complementary therapy for patients with erosive, inflammatory, and atrophic lesions. However, further studies are required to investigate green tea tablets efficiency in long-term usage.},  
Keywords = {Green tea, Herbal medicine, Oral lichen planus, Oral lesion},
volume = {2},
Number = {2}, 
pages = {121-127}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.2.121},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-106-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-106-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Habibi, Mahshad and Miranzadeh, Sedigheh and Maghami, Mahboobeh and Azizi-Fini, Ismail},  
title = {Companions’ knowledge, attitude, and practice which enable them to take safety precautions against Covid-19 in infectious wards in Iran: a cross-sectional study}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: The patients’ companions need to take precautionary measures in the hospital for taking care of their patients. The relevant studies have not focused on the precautionary measures of the patients’ companions. Considering this issue, this study aimed to determine the companions' knowledge, attitude, and practice which enabled them to take the safety precautions against Covid-19 in infectious wards. Materials & Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytical study. The researchers used convenience sampling to select 284 companions of the patients with Covid-19 in teaching hospitals in Kashan (Iran) from June to September 2021 as the participants of the study. The data collection instrument was a self-report researcher-developed questionnaire which examined the companions’ knowledge, attitude, and practice which enabled them to take care of their patients. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v16 software. The Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman's correlation tests were used to analyze the obtained data. Results: The results of the study showed that the companions’ level of knowledge (11.27±5.01) was weak. Nonetheless, their attitude (99.84±16.50) and practice (94.69±12.32) were moderate and acceptable. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between the companions’ familial relationship with the patient, history of participation in the Covid-19 training classes, education, and occupation and their knowledge, attitude, and practice (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between the companions’ history of being in the hospital as a companion of Covid-19 patients and the mean values of their attitude and practice (p < 0.05). Finally, on the basis of the results, there was a significant relationship between the mean values of the companions' practice and their knowledge and attitude (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Companions are not provided with satisfactory education regarding precautionary measures in the hospital wards. Therefore, there is a need for the protocols which inform them about the precautionary measures in hospitals.},  
Keywords = {Attitudes, Caregiver, Covid-19, Knowledge, Practices},
volume = {2},
Number = {2}, 
pages = {128-141}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.52547/hsm.2.2.128},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-82-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-82-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Emran, Erfan and Khoshgoftar, Mohadeseh and Tahmasebi, Fereshteh and Khanjari, Ghazal and Ghobadi, Kamel and Pirzadeh, Asiyeh},  
title = {Study of knowledge, attitude, and practice in over 20-year-old individuals regarding the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Due to the prevalence of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19), it is essential to know the level of people’s knowledge, attitude, and practice toward this disease to plan preventive decisions. The purpose of the present study was to investigate knowledge, attitude, and practice in over 20-year-old individuals regarding the new Coronavirus in Iran. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study incorporated 506 individuals in Iran, in 2020. Data were collected by a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire through virtual and non-probable methods (available and snowball sampling). The questionnaire used in the current study entailed questions about demographic (9 questions), knowledge (3 questions, range 1-3), attitude (10 questions), and practice (6 questions). Finally, the data were entered into SPSS16 software, and independent t-tests and analysis of variance with a P-value less than 0.05 were used to analyze the data. Results: The average scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice of the studied subjects regarding the Coronavirus were 80.13, 75.6, and 66.5, respectively. In this study, 83% of people were aware of Coronavirus transmission methods, and more than 85% of people were fully aware of the symptoms of the disease. Also, more than 76% of people knew how to prepare the disinfectant solution. The average score of attitude and practice of women, compared to men, toward COVID-19 was markedly higher. There was also no significant association between the gender and score of knowledge, which its average was higher in individuals with non-university education than educated people. Conclusion: The study reveals that the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the people about the coronavirus are almost at the optimal level. However, more attention from the policymakers and the media is required to break the chain of infection.},  
Keywords = {Attitude, COVID-19, Iran, Knowledge, Practice},
volume = {2},
Number = {3}, 
pages = {142-152}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.3.142},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-93-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-93-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Marzban, Ameneh and Salehi, Fariba and Razmi, Mohammad Rez},  
title = {Effects of COVID-19 on mental health among students}, 
abstract ={Dear Editor: Since December 2019, the world has been involved in a major pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic had devastating effects on health, hygiene, economy, and society, particularly educational systems (1). Before COVID-19, the education system was one of the major concerns of all countries. But the higher importance of students' health caused the closure of face-to-face education during the pandemic. For this reason, it is said that the long-term psychological damage and destructive effects of this epidemic can often be seen for decades (2, 3). Undoubtedly, the positive effects of this pandemic on education cannot be ignored. Educational systems have not changed for nearly several centuries. In the last few decades, small steps have been taken to change educational systems in some countries, but COVID-19 has caused all countries to move towards alternative methods of education, e.g. designing and preparing educational programs through the Internet, radio, and television. However, what was neglected in the meantime was attention to the issue of education and its connection with the psyche (4-6). The results of an online questionnaire-based study conducted in England on 927 parents of children aged 5 to 11 showed changes in the emotional state and behavior of the children. The most common symptoms during the quarantine were boredom (73.8%), feeling lonely (64.5%), and disappointment (61.4 %). Also, irritability, restlessness, anger, anxiety, sadness, worry, and an increased likelihood of arguing with other family members were othee symptoms reported by parents (7). One of the largest studies on the effects of COVID-19 on mental health of students was conducted in France because it was the most affected country among the European countries at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In that study, 59,000 students were selected based on three mental health indicators, including depression, anxiety, and distress, and questionnaires were prepared. The results indicated that 6.96% suffered from severe depression, 39.19% experienced anxiety, and 20.7% experienced severe distress during COVID-19. Moreover, girls obtained higher score than boys in mental disorders. At the same time, the study showed that students who faced financial problems during the pandemic were noticeably more likely to suffer from mental disorders (8). The above-mentioned statistics and similar statistics all indicate that education and training have a serious effect on the mental health. Although during the quarantine, the issue of education improved to a large extent, the mental issue was weakly addressed. In fact, what causes the educational backwardness of students is the challenges that have arisen between parents and students, therby causing students' confusion, anxiety, and depression. Therefore, schools should be reopened, while considering these difficulties. However, if these challenges are not taken into account, the educational system will face serious problems, one of which will be the lack of cooperation of parents and students to return to school (9). The reopening of schools should be presented as a social and psychological imperative because families clearly witnessed the behavioral abnormalities of their children during the COVID-19 era. According to our statistics, parents should be informed that physical health the same as mental health is highly important. Based on announcement of the head of the Mental Health Office of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education announced in 2019, about 23% of the country's population suffers from some kinds of mental disorders. This figure means that one out of every four people has a mental disorder (10). During the quarantine, children spent significantly more time on screens and less time on physical activity and sleep. In addition, family life was described as rather difficult. It is not an exaggeration to say that COVID-19 has physically affected 2% of the entire society, but mentally, all the society has been affected by this disease. For this reason, it is crucial to pay attention to the mental issue in this pandemic, and the most vulnerable group of society, both physically and mentally, are students.  },  
Keywords = {COVID-19, Educational System, Mental Health, School, Students},
volume = {2},
Number = {3}, 
pages = {153-155}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.3.153},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-47-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-47-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Khajedaluee, Mohammad and Salehi, Maryam and Hosseini, Rana and Ravanyar, Leila and Babazadeh, Maryam},  
title = {Comparison of the effect of two educational methods, education by adults and education by peers, on the awareness of high school students in Mashhad city, in the characteristics, transmission and prevention of AIDS}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: AIDS is a disease for which there is currently no effective vaccine and basic treatment, the only way to fight AIDS is to prevent infection, which is possible with health education. This study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effect of two types of AIDS prevention, educational interventions by peer and adult groups on awareness and behavior among high school students in Mashhad. Materials & Methods:  This interventional study was performed to compare two methods of education via peers against education by adults about awareness towards HIV/AIDS among high school students of Mashhad city in 2014- 2015. The studied groups included three groups of peer education, adult education, and control. Examining the level of knowledge and attitude of the subject was conducted through a questionnaire of the designated researcher, whose validity and reliability were tested again in a pilot. Results: The initial awareness of students was evaluated at about 28%. The most important source of information was television. In enhancing the level of awareness post-intervention in different areas of the peer and adult intervention groups, there was significant difference compared to the control. However, no significant difference was found between the two genders when comparing the peer and adult groups. Conclusion: The peers' good understanding of the social and cultural environment of the target group would improve social norms and healthy behaviors, which are among the advantages of this method. The results can be used for the educational planning of students because it shows the level of knowledge of students at the pre-university level and the educational needs of students for appropriate educational planning.},  
Keywords = {Adults, AIDS, Awareness, Peer education, Prevention},
volume = {2},
Number = {3}, 
pages = {156-166}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.3.156},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-58-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-58-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Kermanjani, Bahareh and Allahyari, Teimour and Mohebbi, Iraj and Khalkhali, Hamidrez},  
title = {Estimation of aerobic capacity among university students and determination of its related factors}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Aerobic capacity has a significant impact on both health and work performance. Therefore, promoting the health and improving the performance of employees require examining and paying attention to their aerobic capacity. The primary purpose of the current study was to determine the aerobic capacity and to analysis individual factors associated with VO2max among university students. Materials & Methods: One hundred and thirty male and female students with a mean age of 21.6 ± 0.4 years, voluntarily participated in the present study. Aerobic capacity was determined using ergometer and the Astrand protocol. Demographic information and body mass index (BMI) of participants were also collected. Data were analyzed by using single and multiple-regression techniques. Results: Mean maximum aerobic capacity was 2.18 ± 0.41 L/min. The maximum aerobic capacity was associated with weight, BMI and heart rate. The results of regression analysis indicated that BMI and heart rate could significantly predict the VO2max of the students. The best VO2max prediction equation has been developed based on regression analysis. Conclusion: The mean of students’ VO2max is lower than the counterpart population in the same society. The lack of regular exercise and a subsequent increase in BMI may lead to a significant decrease in VO2max. The significant relationship between HR, BMI and VO2max could be used to predict VO2max in young people.},  
Keywords = {Aerobic capacity, Astrand protocol, BMI, Ergometer bicycle},
volume = {2},
Number = {3}, 
pages = {167-173}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.3.167},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-113-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-113-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Hoseini, Hosnie and Sarani, Azade},  
title = {Evaluation of serum oxidative stress markers in women with leiomyoma}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Background: One of the most common benign tumors that arise from the smooth muscles of the uterine wall is leiomyoma. In this study, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed in leiomyoma patients and compared with healthy individuals. Materials & Methods: In this case-control study, 50 women with leiomyoma and 50 healthy women were selected as case and control groups, respectively. ELISA method was used to measure MDA and TAC. Results: The results showed that the serum level of MDA in leiomyoma patients increased significantly, as compared to healthy individuals (0.52±1.48 vs. 0.65±1.3), while that of TAC had a significant reduction in patient group compared to healthy individuals (151±151 vs. 466±212). Conclusion: Our findings show a relationship between leiomyoma and oxidative stress indicators.  },  
Keywords = {Leiomyoma, Malondialdehyde, Total antioxidant capacity},
volume = {2},
Number = {3}, 
pages = {174-179}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.3.174},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-50-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-50-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Tourani, Mehdi and SamavarchiTehrani, Sadra and Movahedpour, Ahmad and RezaeiArablouydareh, Sahar and Maleksabet, Amir and Savardashtaki, Amir and Ghasemnejad‐Berenji, Hojat and Taheri-Anganeh, Mortaz},  
title = {Design and evaluation of a multi-epitope vaccine for COVID-19: an in silico approach}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an evolving global disease which has burst into 2019. SARS-CoV-2 infects human cells through recognition of and binding to angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) through the spike (S) glycoprotein. Spike is an immunogenic protein that can elicit immune responses. Multi-epitope vaccines are novel and efficient class of vaccines which are designed by linking the B and T cells. These epitopes stimulate both humoral and cellular immunity. Materials & Methods: Based on bioinformatics online tools, appropriate epitopes of S protein were selected, linked together via suitable linkers, a TLR4 binding adjuvant was added, and a multi-epitope construct was constructed. The 3D model of the construct was predicted, refined, and validated. The antigenicity, allergenicity, solubility, and physico-chemical properties of vaccine were checked. The B cell conformational epitopes and IFN-γ inducing parts were detected. The adjuvant and TLR4 binding were evaluated by docking and protein-protein complex stability was assessed by elastic-mode analysis. The coding sequence of the vaccine construct was optimized and sub-cloned in expression vector through an in silico approach. Finally, the structure, energy, and stability of vaccine coding mRNA were evaluated. Results: Ten continuous B cell epitopes, 9 T helper epitopes, and 8 CTL epitopes were chosen. The results showed that multi-epitope vaccine is a stable and soluble protein which can stimulate humoral and cellular immunity. Besides, the vaccine could stimulate immunity without inducing allergenicity in human body. Conclusion: Finally, the vaccine can bind the TLR4 appropriately and can be expressed by a recombinant vector. The designed multi-epitope vaccine against COVID-19 could be considered as a suitable candidate for experimental studies.  },  
Keywords = {Bioinformatics, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Spike glycoprotein, Vaccine},
volume = {2},
Number = {3}, 
pages = {180-204}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.3.180},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-119-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-119-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Parvaei, Parvin and Eydzade, Marziyeh and Osmani, Freshteh},  
title = {Investigating the relationship between stimulated salivary markers and the history of opioid use: a case-control study}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Opioids cause dry mouth, tooth decay, discoloration of oral tissues, and periodontal diseases. Adequate saliva flow is a prerequisite for a healthy periodontium, and the salivary urea concentration is an important parameter for the tooth and gum health. The purpose of the present study was to investigate salivary urea concentration in opioid users. Materials & Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 240 people in 2021. The case group included 120 people referred to addiction treatment centers of Birjand. The control group also consisted of 120 people with no history of addiction and was selected from clients referred to the Faculty of Dentistry of Birjand University of Medical Sciences and Samen Dental Clinic in Birjand. The control and case groups were age matched, and their demographic information and periodontal clinical data were collected. The obtained data were then analyzed using SPSS ver. 19. Results: The amount of stimulated saliva in the case group was significantly lower than the control group (P value=0.000), while the salivary urea concentration in methadone and opium users was significantly higher than the control group (P value = 0.000). Conclusion: Drug addiction causes dry mouth and increased salivary urea concentration. Poor oral and dental hygiene and increase in chronic periodontitis are also observed in drug addicts, and chronic periodontitis causes a raise in salivary urea concentration. Hence, the reason for enhanced salivary urea concentration in drug addicts could increase chronic periodontitis.},  
Keywords = {Salivary urea concentration, Stimulated saliva, Opioids, Salivary biomarkers},
volume = {2},
Number = {3}, 
pages = {205-209}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.3.205},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-80-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-80-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Mahmodlou, Rahim and Yusefzadeh, Hasan and Farjami, Amin and Nabilou, Bahram},  
title = {Cost–effectiveness analysis of jejunostomy tube feeding versus conventional nutritional method in esophageal cancer: a retrospective case control study}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Esophageal cancer is a research priority due to its invasive nature and poor prognosis. It ranks sixth in mortality among all forms of cancer and esophagectomy is the most conventional treatment. Jejunostomy tube feeding can reduce complications in patients and hospital costs. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of jejunostomy tube feeding, as opposed to the common nutritional method. Materials & Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted at a teaching hospital in Iran in 2015. The sample of the study included 100 candidates for esophagectomy. In the case group (enteral), a Jejunostomy tube was inserted for 50 patients undergoing esophagectomy. The control group (parenteral) consisted of 50 patients undergoing esophagectomy without jejunostomy tube.   Results: The median oral intake was on the third day in the case group, with a shorter hospital stay (P=0.02) compared to the control group. The mean total costs of hospitalization per patient in the case group and in the control group were 2228 and 3666 US dollars, respectively. The cost-effectiveness ratio of the jejunostomy tube against the common nutritional method was about 40 US dollars per day of the median decrease in oral intake.   Conclusion: According to our findings, jejunostomy tube is cost-effective and preferable to the common nutritional method with a decreased median of oral intake start day, a decreased span of hospitalization, fewer complications in the nutritional support of the patients undergoing esophagectomy, and finally, more comfort for patients. The decrease in the average length of stay in hospitals is also important from the point of view of policymaking. So, this method can be a cost-effective alternative to the common nutritional method.},  
Keywords = {Cost- effectiveness, Esophageal cancer, Esophagectomy, Jejunostomy, Nutrition},
volume = {2},
Number = {3}, 
pages = {210-216}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.3.210},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-114-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-114-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Sheikhi, Siamak and Razavan, Bina and Allahyari, Teimour},  
title = {Investigation of the relationship between occupational stress and job burnout among bank employees}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Bank employees commonly experience high job stress due to the inherent demands of their work. Although previous studies have highlighted significant occupational stress and considerable job burnout among bank employees, few investigations have specifically explored the relationship between occupational stress and job burnout within this employee group. This study aimed to examine the association between occupational stress and job burnout among bank employees. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Iran, focusing on employees working at a single bank branch in Urmia. One hundred two bank employees, comprising 83 males and 19 females aged between 25 and 55 years, participated in the study. Data were collected using the Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Correlation analysis was employed to explore the relationship between occupational stressors and their subscales as independent variables, and job burnout as the dependent variable. Results: The findings indicated that bank employees experienced moderate to severe levels of occupational stress, with individuals exhibiting low stress reporting no burnout. Conversely, individuals with high stress levels demonstrated moderate levels of burnout. Notably, there was a significant relationship between dimensions of the occupational stress scale, such as role overload, role ambiguity, and the physical environment, and job burnout. Among these dimensions, the physical environment exhibited a particularly noteworthy correlation with job burnout (r = 0.429, p = 0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that specific dimensions of occupational stress significantly influence job burnout, underscoring the importance of implementing organizational interventions to mitigate occupational stress and job burnout.  },  
Keywords = {Bank employee, Job burnout, Occupational stress},
volume = {2},
Number = {4}, 
pages = {217-224}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.4.217},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-133-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-133-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {KazempourDizaji, Mehdi and Emamhadi, Mohammad Ali and Roozbahani, Rahim and Varahram, Mohammad and Abedini, Atefe and Zare, Ali and Kiani, Arda and AlizedehKolahdozi, Niloufar and Nadji, Syeyd Alireza and Marjani, Maji},  
title = {Investigating the effect of health measures and social restrictions on the COVID-19 epidemic based on the SIQR mathematical model}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: COVID-19 pandemic is a serious concern of the World Health Organization and is considered the most important global health challenge. This study aimed to study the effect of health measures and social restrictions on the COVID-19 epidemic based on the susceptible-infectious-quarantine-recovered (SIQR) mathematical model. Materials & Methods: Using the SIQR model, we assessed the effect of health measures and social restrictions on the COVID-19 epidemic by considering different values for the reproductive rate parameter and constant values for the recovery rate and quarantined rate (or disease detection rate). Results: The results indicated that with increasing the level of social restrictions and health measures equivalent to 20, 40, 60, and 80%, the reproductive rate of the COVID-19 reduced from 2.5 to 2, 1.5, 1, and 0.5, respectively. Also, with increasing the levels of social restrictions and health measures, a smaller percentage of people in the community became infected. Considering the level of social restrictions equal to 20, 40, 60, and 80% during the COVID-19 epidemic, about 60, 50, 35, and 10% of the individuals were infected with COVID-19, respectively. Conclusion: The study of the impact of health measures and social restrictions on the COVID-19 epidemic will provide appropriate information on how the disease spreads and also help researchers select the proper level of these measures and restrictions to prevent further spread of COVID-19 disease.},  
Keywords = {COVID-19, Epidemic, Health measures, Mathematical modeling, SIQR model, Social restrictions},
volume = {2},
Number = {4}, 
pages = {225-232}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.4.225},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-104-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-104-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Nemati-Mansour, Sepideh and Tayebi, Fateme and Zahedi, Amir},  
title = {Determination of environmental impact and energy recovery from municipal solid wastes in the Northwest of Iran}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Unsuitable management of municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the main factors in environmental degradation, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to analyze the quantitative and qualitative properties of MSW for energy recovery in the city of Mahabad, located in the West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Materials & Methods: Sampling from MSW was taken during the four seasons in 2014. Quality and quantity analyses included chemical composition, moisture percentage, dry weight, ash percentage, and heat value, which were performed in the lab as per the American Society for Testing and Materials Method D 5231-92. The experience modeling was used to extract chemical composition and heat value. Results: The results showed that MSW was composed of 75% food waste, 12% ash, and 61% moisture. In the MSW organic fraction (C28.7H43.6O15.3N1S0,065), carbon/nitrogen and heat values were found at 28.7 and 2.1 × 104 Kj Kg-1, respectively. Also, in the MSW biodegradable organic fraction (C23.7H37.7O14.69N1S0.069), heat value and produced methane were calculated to be 10077 Kj Kg-1 and 207 liters (148 g), respectively. Any carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere will hang around for a long time, between 200 and 200 ton day-1, which contributes to trapping heat and warming the atmosphere. Conclusion: This study shows energy recovery from MSW is a good option, due to the high heat value. However, it is not an eco-friendly method as it will produce more greenhouse and poison gases and needs control systems.},  
Keywords = {Chemical composition, Municipal solid wastes, Energy recovery, Incineration, heat value, carbon/nitrogen},
volume = {2},
Number = {4}, 
pages = {233-237}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.4.233},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-95-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-95-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Ghorbanzadeh, Sima and Maheri, Mi},  
title = {Association between corona disease anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder with quality of life among the general population: a cross-sectional study}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the life of the general population potentially leading to various psychological problems which affect the quality of life and causes disruption in various dimensions of performance. It is necessary to provide evidence on its psychological effects to develop effective psychological interventions. The present study aimed to investigate the association between corona disease anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and quality of life among the general population. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 adults living in Urmia city, Iran. Data were collected using a standard electronic questionnaire that consisted of four sections: demographic information, Corona Disease Anxiety Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and 12-item Short-Form Health Survey, which were sent through WhatsApp to participants. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: The mean scores of corona disease anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and quality of life were 16.03 ± 11.12, 31.64 ± 18.78, and 66.12 ± 22.83, respectively. Corona disease anxiety (p value < 0.001, β = -0.396) and post-traumatic stress disorder (p value < 0.001, β = -0.225) were predictors of quality of life among the general population of Urmia Conclusion: The level of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder caused by COVID-19 was slightly lower than the moderate level among the general population of Urmia. The coronavirus is not the first virus that threatens humanity, and it will not be the last virus either. Therefore, communities should utilize effective strategies to protect themselves and others and interact better with each other in order to control and minimize the psychological consequences of disease outbreaks.},  
Keywords = {Anxiety, COVID-19, General population, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Quality of life},
volume = {2},
Number = {4}, 
pages = {238-248}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.4.238},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-129-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-129-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Houshmand, Hamidreza and Talebi, Mehdi},  
title = {Investigating risk factors related to asthma in children before school age in rural and urban areas of West Azerbaijan province}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: Allergic disorders are one of the most critical health problems in the world. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of childhood asthma and its related factors among urban-rural preschool children. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, children under 5 years referred to the Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology Clinic of Motahari Hospital were included. The children were divided into two groups: urban and rural group. A checklist in the form of a questionnaire (consisting of information about demographics, parental asthma, exposure to farm animals, and tobacco, adequate home air conditioning, use of antibiotics during the first year of life, maternal gestational age, type of delivery, birth weight, age of wheezing onset, length of breastfeeding, and siblings number) was filled by the parents of the children. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 21 software. Results: Of 149 children with asthma, 85 were boys (40.3%) and 61 were girls (59.7%). Among the compared risk factors of asthma between urban and rural patients, the statistically significant variables were Body Mass Index (BMI) which was high among urban children (p = 0.002), the number of siblings of children (urban = 74, rural = 75) (p < 0.001), age of wheezing onset (urban = 74, rural = 75) (p = 0.014), animal exposure (urban = 28.4%, rural = 46.7%) (p = 0.021), and cesarean section delivery (urban = 63.5%, rural = 37.3%) (p = 0.001) were statistically significant. Conclusion: The risk of asthma among preschool children is strongly predicted by their area of residence in early life. This risk increases further in children accompanied with other asthma risk factors such as passive smoking, type of delivery, exposure to animals, and other discussed factors.},  
Keywords = {Asthma, Children, Risk factors, Rural areas, Urban areas},
volume = {2},
Number = {4}, 
pages = {249-257}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.4.249},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-115-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-115-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Khezri, Rozhan and Rezaei, Fatemeh and Jahanian, Sepideh and ZareiVenovel, Mojg},  
title = {The importance of differentiating monkeypox from chickenpox: possible response for better preparedness}, 
abstract ={Dear Editor-in-Chief Monkeypox is a global public health concern that needs serious attention to prevent it from spreading worldwide and encountering a new pandemic like COVID-19 again. Since the 1970s, monkeypox has been endemic in several African countries, but the biggest outbreak of monkeypox started in May 2022 in non-endemic countries (1). On June 23, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox an "emerging threat of moderate public concern" due to the observation of more than 3,000 cases of monkeypox in more than 50 countries from five regions of the world in less than three months (2). Although monkeypox is a mild and self-limiting disease, it can cause severe consequences in pregnant women, children, and immunocompromised individuals (1). In this article, the authors described the epidemiology and clinical features of monkeypox and chickenpox in order to better equip clinicians and public health specialists to provide a correct and timely diagnosis.  },  
Keywords = {Chickenpox , Differentiating, Monkeypox},
volume = {2},
Number = {4}, 
pages = {258-261}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.4.258},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-111-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-111-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {Salesi, Mina and KhaleghnejadTabari, Ahmad and Maracy, Mohammad Rez},  
title = {Study of the prevalence and associated factors of major congenital anomalies at birth in Shahreza County during 2016-2018}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: The health and vitality of the future society depend on the health of today's infants and the future youth of the society, and one of the factors threatening this health is congenital anomalies. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence and some associated factors of major congenital anomalies at birth in Shahreza County during 2016-2018.  Materials & Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study and the study population included all newborns born in 2016-2017-2018 in Shahreza County, whom information were extracted from the mother and child records of the only hospital in the county (Amir Al-Momenin Hospital) and information registration (Sib) system. The prevalence of major congenital anomalies was estimated from the collected data, and data analysis was performed to find statistical relationships between variables using multiple logistic regression test and SPSS software v.20. A probability of < 0.05 was accepted as significant. Results: In total, 91 infants with major congenital anomalies were identified from 4,516 records. The prevalence of major congenital anomalies was 2.64% in 2016, 1.89% in 2017, 1.27% in 2018, and 2.01% in 2016 to 2018. There was a significant relationship between cesarean delivery type 0.6 (0.4-0.9), infant birth year 0.3 (0.1-0.5), and 0.4 (0.2-0.7), with congenital anomalies in the infants (p < 0.05).  Conclusion: The decline in the prevalence of congenital anomalies during the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 could be attributed to the screening of congenital anomalies during the fetal period based on the existing protocols before the 20th week of pregnancy and the termination of pregnancy in cases of diagnosis of a major congenital anomaly, with the permission of a forensic doctor. This suggests that improving the quality of prenatal care can reduce the prevalence of major congenital anomalies. Therefore, by conducting genetic counseling and fetal screening, the occurrence of major congenital abnormalities can be prevented.},  
Keywords = {Congenital Anomaly, Cross-Sectional Study, Infant, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Shahreza City},
volume = {2},
Number = {4}, 
pages = {262-272}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.4.262},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-87-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-87-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}

@article{ 
author = {MoutabSahihazar, Zahra and Ghahramani, Abolfazl and Galvani, Sadjad and Hajaghazadeh, Mohamm},  
title = {Investigating the mortality risk of silicosis and lung cancer in foundry workers}, 
abstract ={Background & Aims: The correlation between silicosis and elevated susceptibility to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and autoimmune disorders is well-established. Hence, it is imperative to thoroughly analyze the potential health risks posed by exposure to crystalline silica within the foundry industry. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the mortality rate associated with silicosis and lung cancer among workers in a foundry industry located in Urmia city in 2021. Materials & Methods: The concentration of crystalline silica in the air was determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in accordance with NIOSH 7602. Estimating the excess lifetime risk of mortality and rate of silicosis-related mortality was performed using Rice et al. and Mannetje et al. models. Results: The average concentration of crystalline silica in six occupational groups ranged from 0.029 to 0.064 mg.m-3. Among the six occupational groups studied, sand preparation workers were the most exposed to crystalline silica. According to the model of Mannetje et al., the cumulative exposure of 87% of people exposed to crystalline silica is in the range of 0 to 0.99, which indicates the death of one person per thousand people. Also, in this industry, the risk of dying from lung cancer was 15 per thousand people. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the average concentration of crystalline silica in all occupational groups exceeded the permissible occupational exposure limit of 0.025 mg.m-3 recommended by the Occupational Health Committee of Iran. Additionally, the estimated risk of death due to silicosis and lung cancer is also higher than the acceptable risk level. Therefore, the implementation of control measures against exposure to silica is highly recommended.},  
Keywords = {Crystalline silica, Foundry, Health risk assessment, Silicosis, Lung cancer},
volume = {2},
Number = {4}, 
pages = {273-281}, 
publisher = {Urmia University of Medical Sciences},

doi = {10.61186/hsm.2.4.273},
url = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-131-en.html},  
eprint = {http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-131-en.pdf},  
journal = {Health Science Monitor},  
issn = {}, 
eissn = {2980-8723}, 
year = {2023}  
}