Kourosh Zarea

In most countries, nurses are the largest group of health-care professionals that provide direct and indirect care to patients in a variety of health settings. The quality of care is strongly linked to their performance, and shortages of nursing staff cause suffering and diminished patient care. In 2008, it was estimated that there were 90 026 nurses in Iran, but health-care facilities need approximately 220 000 nurses in order to deliver optimal nursing care. This review article provides a detailed description of the nursing shortage and related factors in Iran. It is hoped that this will inform both Iranian and international policy-makers and administrators about the current situation in this country.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder which is characterized by elevated blood sugar levels. It is a non-communicable disease and currently, a major disease of concern in terms of public health. AIM: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of diabetic retinopathy amongst the diabetic patients of Saudi Arabia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus visiting to Ministry of Health hospitals were incorporated in this study. Self administered questionnaires were used to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of diabetic retinopathy amongst the diabetic patients. The data collected was entered in a pre-designed proforma and analysed using SPSS version 20.0. RESULTS: This study incorporated 439 diabetic individuals out of which 251 (57.17%) were male patients and 188 (42.82%) were females. Majority of the diabetic patients (75.62%) were aware that diabetes can cause eye disorders, 73.80% of patients replied that diabetic individuals should go for regular eye check-ups and 65.10% of patients were aware that they should visit an ophthalmologist in the event of eye problem. Out of 439 diabetic 302 patients (68.79%) were aware that timely treatment can prevent or delay damage of eyes in diabetic patients and about 95% of all the participants went for regular ocular examinations. CONCLUSION: Majority of the diabetes patients were aware that diabetes can cause eye disease and it is necessary for the diabetic individuals to consult the ophthalmologist for the prevention of the same.

Nowadays one of the main agents morbidity and mortality, in worldwide, is exposure to air pollution. Based on reported health organization, air pollution is the second most important factor in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and chronic diseases. The main source which has been found to exert harmful effects on human are particle matter (PM), Ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfide dioxide (SO2), metals, and polyaromantic hydrocarbon (PAHs). The purpose of this review was the epidemiological literature on the health endpoint of exposure to air pollutants has on cardiovascular diseases (HACD) and respiratory diseases (HARD). About 1125 papers were retrieved according to various databases: Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Springer, PubMed, and BMJ. Eighty papers based on abstract and article text were filtered. In the end after sieving, we selected 35 papers. The literature signs a notable undesirable effect from PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, metals, and PAHs emissions on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Results showed that air pollution has a significant contribution in the number of related cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and deaths. The survey requires the need to enact and enforce permissible PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, metals, and PAHs levels/standards for decrease in the health endpoint on human by relevant environmental authorities both at federal and state levels.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy is one of the most prevalent complications of diabetes mellitus. The development and progression of such complications are responsible for much of the morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Semmes-Weinstein monofilament ten gram in 3, 4, eight and ten points in the screening of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: In a descriptive correlational design, 150 patients with diabetes mellitus were selected using convenience sampling. All patients were evaluated for sensory neuropathy using ten gram Semmes-Weinstein Monofilaments and questionnaire on neuropathy symptoms. In the next phase, nerve conduction velocity was examined. The most common subjective symptoms were paresthesia of both feet, pain in feet, burning sensation in the extremities and numbness in the extremities. RESULTS: The results showed that the sensitivity of Monofilament in three and four points were 35.9 to 53.8 present and 38.5 to 51.3 percent respectively. Specificity of Monofilament the same points, were 73.9 to 84.7 and 73 to 87.4 percent respectively. Monofilament sensitivity at eight and ten points were 38.5 to 61.5 and 64.1 to 30.8 percent respectively. Also, specificity of the same points were 77.5 to 95.5 and 64 to 89.2 percent respectively. It was revealed that the difference sensitivity and specificity of Monofilament in three and four points with sensitivity and specificity in eight and ten point is not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that Semmes-Weinstein monofilament can easily use as a simple and inexpensive device for screening. Since increasing the number of points it was not significantly difference. Therefore, we suggest that screening for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, especially in large populations to avoid wasting time on Monofilament application, areas like three or four points eight and ten points could be used.