Journal of Human, Environment, and Health Promotion

145-152

Authors: Kenia Silva *; Stephanie Belga; Ana Rabelo; Elen Gandra; Fernanda Santos; Izabel Magalhães Neto; Rayssa Guimarães; Letícia Silva; Lidia Almeidaa

Social inequalities are public health issues that require the development of professional competence in the training of nurses through highlighting actions based on equality. The present study aimed to assess the teaching strategies to approach social inequalities in nursing training. The publications in the past 10 years in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were reviewed and indexed in five databases. In total, 426 papers were found, and 16 were selected and grouped based on similarities or the adopted teaching strategies. The selected studies were mostly conducted in the United States at the undergraduate level, presenting predominantly low evidential levels. Punctual interventions were observed as the proposition of elective disciplines and adoption of counseling and innovative and structuring guidelines with the potential to reach the discussion of inequalities. In addition, service learning has been identified as a potent strategy to address social disparities by enabling the development of active reflection for experiential learning. Virtual and classroom simulations and theoretical classes have also been employed to provide training on the social inequalities associated with clinical education. Although the analyzed strategies have specificities, their combined use could further enhance the commitment of nursing education to surpass inequalities.

160-164

Authors: Marziyeh Rezaei; Morteza Khomeiri; Maryam Ebrahimi; Sonia Kiani; Mojtaba Raeisi *

Background: Milk is an essential human nutrient, and the monitoring of its sanitation is vital during transportation and storage. The present study aimed to assess bacteriological contamination with Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes in the raw milk samples of the dairy farms in Golestan province, Iran. Methods: In total, 100 samples were collected from dairy farms in hot and cold seasons. The frequency of E. coli and L. monocytogenes was determined using biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The biochemical tests indicated that 28% and 27% of the samples were contaminated with E. coli and L. monocytogenes based on the culture-dependent methods, respectively. In addition, 35 and 40 samples were contaminated with E. coli and L. monocytogenes based on PCR, respectively. PCR had higher sensitivity compared to the biochemical tests (P ˂ 0.05). E. coli and L. monocytogenes contamination was significantly higher in traditional dairy farms than industrial dairy farms (P ˂ 0.05). However, seasonal sampling and geographical region had no significant effects on the contamination load. Conclusion: According to the results, E. coli and L. monocytogenes were highly frequent in the raw milks samples. However, the microbial loads had no significant differences in hot seasons and traditional dairy farms.

172-176

Authors: Mehrdad Inanloo; Gholamreza Sadeghi *

Background: Chemical industries and facilities pose the risk of potential hazards in case of accidents, which lead to injuries and financial losses due to the spread of materials in the surroundings of the accident. These materials often have harmful properties (e.g., toxicity or flammability), and their release could cause secondary accidents (e.g., fire, poisoning, and explosion). The present study aimed to assess the effects of toxic sulfur dioxide (SO2) in a suffocation unit. Methods: A possible scenario of SO2 emission was selected using the matrix presented by the researchers. Afterwards, the hazard and operability study method was used to analyze the conditions. The modeling and evaluation of the outcomes of the selected scenario for SO2 gas emission from the gas pipeline were carried out using the PHAST7.11 software. Results: The worst scenario was observed in the employees within the approximate distance of 10 meters and height of two meters from the gas leakage (100 mm leakage diameter) and gas diffusion angled from horizontal impingement. Conclusion: About 1.84 seconds after the leakage of toxic SO2 (distance: 10 meters, height: 1.39 m), the concentration was approximately 39,339 ppm, which was the worst scenario in August, with the possible mortality risk of 49%.

183-187

Authors: Mohsen Moghadami; Masoud Sheybani; Abbas Reziaean Zadeh;Tayebeh Rakhshani *

Background: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of thalassemia minor and sickle hemoglobin in marriage applicants referring to the Genetic Diseases Counseling Center of Kazeroun Health Center over 2014-2018. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kazeroun, Iran. The statistical population included all couples referring to the marriage counseling centers in Kazeroun for pre-marriage tests during 2014-2018. In this study, the registration data associated with the health records of the couples seeking marriage counseling were used. Results: Over the years under scrutiny, 31114 applicants (15557 couples) referred to the health counseling center for marriage tests under the supervision of the health network. Among the marriage applicants, the highest prevalence of beta-thalassemia, alpha-thalassemia, anemia, sickle cell hemoglobin, and hemoglobinopathy was reported in 2014 (0.07), 2018 (0.15), 2014 (0.66), 2018 (0.9), and 2014 (0.05), respectively. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the prevalence of thalassemia and sickle cell anemia in Kazeroun over the study years was similar to that in other parts of Iran over the same years.

98-103

Authors: Davoud Balarak *, Hosssein Ansari, Mahdethe Dashtizadeh, Maryam Bazi

Background: Phenolic compounds are an important group of pollutants in industrial wastewater, which must be treated before disposal into water resources. The present study aimed to use synthesized graphene oxide (SGO) to remove bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous solutions. Methods: Graphene oxide was synthesized using Hummers' method, and BPA adsorption was assessed as a function of solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and initial BPA concentration using the batch method. Isotherms and kinetic evaluation of dye adsorption was performed using the equilibrium data. Results: Adsorption was rapid and strongly dependent on pH and adsorbent dosage, reaching the peak at the pH of 7 and adsorbent dosage of 0.8 g/l. BPA removal efficiency at the initial concentration of 10 mg/l was 98.8 ± 0.62%. Analysis of the experimental isotherm data using the Langmuir-Freundlich and Temkin models indicated that the removal process followed the Langmuir isotherm, while the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum adsorption capacity was calculated by Langmuir fitting and determined to be 58.12 ± 1.14 mg/g. Conclusion: According to the results, SGO could be employed as an effective agent for the removal of BPA from aqueous solutions.

110-115

Authors: Yasser Shahbazi *, Mahya Mozaffarzogh

Background: The present study aimed to determine the antimicrobial effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus reuteri against Campylobacter jejuni in fresh and roasted chicken breast fillets. Methods: Fresh and roasted chicken breast fillets were soaked in probiotic suspensions (11 log CFU/ml) and immersed in C. jejuni suspension (5 and 3 log CFU/ml). Afterwards, the fillets were placed in clean stomacher bags and refrigerated for 10 days until further analysis. Results: The count of 5 log CFU/g in the fresh fillets treated with L. acidophilus, L. reuteri, L. reuteri, and L. acidophilus reached 3.45, 3.89, and 4.25 log CFU/g after 10 days of refrigerated storage, respectively. In the roasted fillets, the corresponding counts were estimated at 2.99, 3.54, and 3.92 log CFU/g, respectively. In addition, the inoculated 3 log CFU/g of C. jejuni reached 1.09-1.11 log CFU/g after the refrigerated storage of the fresh and roasted chicken breast fillets. Conclusion: According to the results, the addition of L. acidophilus and L. reuteri to the fresh and roasted chicken breast fillets had inhibitory effects against the growth of C. jejuni.

121-126

Authors: Behrouz Alizadeh Savareh, Mohsen Mahdinia, Samira Ghiyasi, Jmshid Rahimi, Ahmad Soltanzadeh *

Background: Several factors contribute to accidents in small-scale construction projects (SSCPs). The present study aimed to assess the influential factors in SSCP accidents and introduce a model to predict their frequency. Methods: In total, 38 SSCPs were within the scope of this investigation. The safety index of accident frequency rate (AFR) causing 452 injury construction accidents during 12 years (2007-2018) was analyzed and modeled. Data analysis was performed based on feature selection using Pearson's χ2 coefficient and SPSS modeler, as well as the artificial neural networks (ANNs) in MATLAB software. Results: Mean AFR was estimated at 26.32 ± 14.83, and the results of both approaches revealed that individual factors, organizational factors, training factors, and risk management-related factors could predict the AFR involved in SSCPs. Conclusion: The findings of this research could be reliably applied in the decision-making regarding safety and health construction issues. Furthermore, Pearson's correlation-coefficient and ANN modeling are considered to be reliable tools for accident modeling in SSCPs.

132-136

Authors: Seyyed Saman Mozafari, Alireza Seidavi *, Shahaboddin Gharahveysi, Joao Simões

Background: Savory herbs and their active essential oils have been extensively investigated as feed additives and an alternative to the use of antimicrobial agents. The present study aimed to assess their effects on broiler chicken performance. Methods: Dried savory powder (SP) (1.0% or 2.0%) or savory extract (SE) (50 or 100 ppm) was added to the basal starter (until day 22) and grower diets/drinking water, respectively. In total, 308 male Ross broilers aged 225 days were assigned to four treatment groups and the non-supplemented control group. Results: On day 42, the feed conversion ratio (FCR), improved in the treatment groups (FCR =1.63 on 1.0% SP) compared to the control group (FCR =1.81±0.04; P < 0.005), while no such change was observed in the feed intake or daily weight gain. The FCR was similar between the SP and SE at different levels. Conclusion: According to the results, 1% or 2% savory powder and 50 or 100 ppm of the savory extract as food and drinking water additives could improve the FCR in the 42-day broiler production cycle and could be a proper alternative to commercial essential oils.

50-55

Authors: Faramarz Majidi, Younes Khosravi *, Kamalad-Din Abedi

Background: The present study aimed to replace the integrated sound level meter by the noise map of a work environment in order to estimate the equivalent continuous sound level (Leq) as an important quantity in the noise monitoring of continuous noise sources. Methods: In this theoretical-experimental study, the grid method was initially used. Sound pressure level (SPL) was measured at the selected stations in three noisy industrial halls. Data analysis was performed in ArcGIS 10.2 software, and the noise map was plotted for each hall separately. Afterwards, the different zones with various SPL intervals were calculated on each noise map, and Leq was determined. For the comparisons, Leq was also calculated using logarithmic equations, based on which the integrated sound level meters were programmed. Results: The proposed method was highly accurate with the relative error of less than 2%. Furthermore, it decreased the number of mathematical operations 7-15 times compared to the conventional logarithmic method. Conclusion: According to the results, the available GIS-based software could be accurately replaced by the routine Leq measurement hardware to estimate the Leq spatial noise in noisy industrial environments.

61-65

Authors: Farzaneh Golabi, Monir Doudi *, Mahboobeh Madani

Background: Drug resistance is a major concern in the treatment of burn wounds. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of silver crystalline nanofibers on the bacteria isolated from burn wounds at Imam Musa Kazim Hospital in Isfahan, Iran and compare the findings with the samples collected from the skin of healthy adults with standard collection bacteria. Methods: Agicoat nanosilver dressing was used as the antibacterial agent. The antibacterial effects of the silver nanoparticle solution and silver crystalline nanofibers were assessed using the well diffusion method. In addition, the macrodilution method was applied to determine the MIC and MBC of the silver crystalline nanofibers. Results: No significant difference was observed in the growth inhibition zone of the silver nanoparticle solution and crystalline nanofibers. Comparison of the effects of silver crystalline nanofibers on wound infection bacteria and healthy skin bacteria (MBC=0.128 mg/ml) were similar although the effects were more significant than the effects of tetracycline. Moreover, the standard bacterial strains were more sensitive to the nanofibers (MBC= 0.032). The antibacterial properties of the silver crystalline nanofibers reduced after the washing process (10 times; P < 0.001). Conclusion: According to the results, the silver crystalline nanofibers had significant antibacterial properties on burn wound infection bacteria.

72-78

Authors: Milad Tavassoli, Abdollah Jamshidi, Fahimeh Movafagh, Asma Afshari *

Background: Yersinia enterocolitica (Y. enterocolitica) has a wide range of clinical, animal, food, and water sources. Most studies have indicated that food is the most common source of this organism. The present study aimed to evaluate the virulent genes of Y. enterocolitica isolated from dairy products in Iran. Methods: The virulence of Y. enterocolitica biotypes was investigated, which was isolated from 38 cheese and 33 raw milk samples in the northeast of Iran. In total, six virulence-related genes were evaluated, including ail, inv, yadA, myfA, ystA, and ystB in 1A, 1B, and 5 Y. enterocolitica biotypes. Results: In the isolates of the 1A biotype, ystB was the most frequent gene (86.95% and 38.46% in cheese and raw milk, respectively). In the 1B biotype, the most frequently isolated gene was yadA (92.30% and 66.66% in cheese and raw milk, respectively). In all the isolates, the least frequently isolated gene was ail, followed by myfA. Conclusion: According to the results, the presence of virulence genes in the Y. enterocolitica strains isolated from dairy products suggested that these strains could pose significant risk to public health if dispersed in susceptible human population.

86-93

Authors: Mahzad Hosseini, Abdollah Jamshidi *, Mojtaba Raeisi, Mohammad Azizzadeh

Background: The study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antimicrobial effects, and antioxidant properties of clove and lemon verbena essential oils (EOs). Methods: The chemical composition of the EOs was identified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). In addition, the antibacterial effects of EOs against seven important foodborne bacteria were assessed using the disk-diffusion, agar well-diffusion, and broth microdilution assays. Evaluation of the antioxidant properties of the EOs was carried out using DPPH, β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching, and reducing power assay. Results: All the tested bacteria demonstrated susceptibility to EOs, with the highest susceptibility observed in Bacillus cereus to the clove EO in the agar disk-diffusion test. Moreover, Shigella dysenteriae was identified as the most sensitive bacterium to the lemon verbena EO. Salmonella typhimurium was the most resistant bacterium to both EOs. In the agar well-diffusion test, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and S. typhimurium had the lowest sensitivity to the clove and lemon verbena EOs, respectively. Although both EOs exhibited significant antioxidant capacity, the lemon verbena EO showed higher antioxidant activity in all the tests, with the exception of β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching test. Conclusion: Clove and lemon verbena EOs could be regarded as potential sources of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents in food processing.

1-8

Authors: Mustafa Solgimoghaddam, Younes Khosravi *, Hossein Asakereh, Mehdi Doostkamian

Background: The present study aimed to validate the thermal regions in Iran with an emphasis on the identification of the climatic cycles during the recent half-century. Methods: Data on daily temperature were extracted for 383 synoptic stations of Iran Meteorological Organization. For the zoning of the temperatures of Iran, multivariate statistical techniques (cluster analysis and discriminant analysis) were applied. In addition, the verification of the areas that were identified by cluster analysis and discriminant analysis was performed using the silhouette analysis. Results: Discriminant analysis and silhouette analysis could properly identify the thermal regions in Iran, and this claim was confirmed with 2% error. Moreover, the spectral analysis of the thermal regions indicated that the temperature of Iran in the first and second regions had a medium-term cycle or an occasional short-term cycle, while fluctuations were observed in the third and fourth regions, as well as 2-5-year short-term cycles. Conclusion: According to the results, the temperature of Iran was affected by several factors in some regions with variable patterns, so that diverse short-term, long-term, and medium-term cycles were dominant in the thermal regions in Iran.

15-20

Authors: Mahnoosh Parsaeimehr *, Maryam Khazaei, Ashkan Jebellijavan, Hamid Staji

Background: Identification of the dominant lactic acid bacteria involved in the production of traditional cheese in Semnan could be the initiative to protect national genetic resources and produce industrial cheese with desirable texture and organoleptic characteristics similar to traditional cheeses. The present study aimed to determine the biochemical, physiological, and phenotypic properties of the dominant strains of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from the traditional cheese in Semnan, Iran using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Methods: In total, 14 cheese samples were randomly collected from the northern countryside of Semnan, Iran. The isolated gram-positive and catalase-negative colonies were analyzed in terms of morphology, culture, physiology, biochemical properties, and carbohydrate fermentation pattern. Following that, the LAB isolates were identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, and a phylogenetic tree was drawn for the bacterial strains. Results: In this study, 105 isolates were determined, 58 of which (55.24%) belonged to the genus Lactobacilli, and 47 isolates (44.76%) belonged to the genus Enterococci. According to the biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequencing, the identified dominant Lactobacillus species included L. plantarum (53.6%), L. paracasei (32.7%), and L. casei (13.7%). In addition, most of the Enterococcus species were E. faecium (74.47%) and E. durans (25.53%). Conclusion: According to the results, exploring the microbiological diversity of traditional cheese could contribute to the selection of proper bacterial strains for the manufacturing of products with consistent quality and original taste on an industrial scale.

26-31

Authors: Ali Ahmadi *, Fatemeh Salehi

Background: Health literacy promotion is considered to be an important goal in the healthcare strategic planning of every country. The present study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the health literacy questionnaire (HLQ) in the participants of Shahrekord cohort study, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 respondents who were selected via systematic, random sampling from the participants of Shahrekord cohort study. The content and construct validity of HLQ were determined, and the internal consistency of the questionnaire was evaluated using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 21. Results: The internal consistency and test-retest reliability (ICC) of the factors were higher than 0.7. The construct validity of HLQ was investigated using exploratory factor analysis, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test (0.89), and Bartlett’s test (6908.425) (P ≤ 0.001) with VARIMAX rotation. Conclusion: According to the results, HLQ is a reliable and valid scale for the investigation of health literacy in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran. Since health literacy instruments should be revised regularly, further studies are recommended in order to evaluate health literacy using the HLQ to identify its possible deficiencies.

36-43

Authors: Maryam Mazaheri, Nastaran Keshavarz Mohammadi *, Hamid Soori, Ali Ramezankhani, Toraj Kordealivand

Background: Road traffic accidents are considered to be a leading cause of injuries across the world. Human factors have been reported to play a key role in road traffic accidents. The present study aimed to explore the approaches to the reduction of human errors and motorcycle accidents. Methods: A participatory multistage intervention was designed and implemented through team participation. In addition, campaign interventions were implemented on the urban and high school levels on 148 students who owned motorcycles. The campaign encompassed seven strategies on the urban level and eight strategies on the school level in 2015. Results: Compared to the same period in the past year, the rate of motorcycle accidents reduced from 56.91 to 47.32 (9.59%) and 65.34 to 51.77 (13.57%) in the one-month and three-month interventions, respectively. In addition, the human factors involved in motorcycle accidents (e.g., knowledge of students) improved significantly, while no significant differences were observed in the factors of attitude and behavior. Conclusion: According to the results, the cooperation of all the stakeholders of motorcycles accidents in the design and implementation of evidence-based interventions could significantly reduce the rate of motorcycles accidents on an urban level.