Background: Increasing parental knowledge on dental health is crucial as it has a direct influence on their children's oral health and behavior related to oral care. While most parents exhibit positive attitudes towards preventive dental healthcare, there exists a level of uncertainty regarding several facets of oral care such as fluoride usage, sugar consumption, and more. Consequently, oral health education initiatives should explicitly emphasize various elements encompassing oral health. Objectives: The aim of the present research was to assess the impact of an educational leaflet on parents’ knowledge and performance regarding children’s dental health with a particular emphasis on fluoride. Methods: In this educational experimental study, parents of 124 children were assigned randomly to either a leaflet group (n=61) which received an educational pamphlet, or a control group (n=63) without any pamphlet. All participants were asked to complete a valid and reliable researcher-developed questionnaire both before the distribution of the pamphlet and one month after. The questionnaire consisted of four domains of demographic information, knowledge questions, performance questions and self-assessment questions. The results were analyzed using SPSS 21 via t-test and General linear regression model. Results: The participants' age ranged from 25 to 47 years. By the conclusion of our study, there was a significant improvement in knowledge scores for both groups (p<0.001), with the intervention group showing a more prominent increase compared to the control group (p<0.001) but there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding performance change. There was a statistically significant decrease in the self-assessment scores for both groups (p<0.001), but there was no significant difference between the intervention and control group (p=0.151). Conclusion: The use of the educational leaflet demonstrates effectiveness as a tool for oral health education.
Background: Posterior scleritis is a potentially vision threatening condition which is often underdiagnosed due to varied clinical presentation, several non-infectious inflammatory diseases can cause this disorder, although infectious diseases should be ruled out. Case presentation: A 56 years-old-female with acute unilateral decreased vision in right eye and positive history for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was referred, based on ophthalmic examination the diagnosis of posterior scleritis was considered. The only positive inflammatory marker was found is high serum titer of Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (Anti-CCP). Conclusion: This is the first case of posterior scleritis with only positive Anti-CCP. Elevated serum Anti-CCP titer may be considered as risk factor for inflammatory scleritis in patient with RA.
Background: Honaine desalination plant produces 200,000 m3/day of drinking water, and applies a reverse osmosis process with sand/anthracite filters for pre-treatment. Objective: This study aim to explore the quality of treated water (TW) and to address any potential health risks. Methods: Samples of TW were collected daily, three times during the same period, for one month to investigate the physico-chemical characteristics of desalination. They were analyzed for calcium, magnesium, pH, alkalinity, TDS, free-chlorine, hardness, nitrite and sulfate. Results: After comparing the standards set by WHO and Algeria, the results showed that the TW of Honaine plant had low-mineral content, with a noticeable deficiency of calcium (21.22 ± 0.6 mg L-1) magnesium (1.74 ± 0.26 mg L-1), and sulfate (0.02 ± 0.01 mg L-1). The levels of chlorine (0.53 ± 0.08 mg L-1) and nitrites (0.003 ± 0.00 mgL-1) were lower than what the guidelines prescribe. The alkalinity and hardness of the water categorized it as being moderately hard. As for the taste, the TDS value (289.24 ± 26.86 mgL-1) suggests that the TW is excellent but the presence of chlorine negatively influences its palatability. The values of alkalinity value (63.73 ± 1.05 mgL-1) and pH (8.42 ± 0.021) of TW remain in line with recommendations. The hardness value (60.32 ± 0.73 mgL-1) shows that TW is moderately hard and softer than standards. Conclusion: Our findings showed that desalinated TW reflected significant low-mineral content of many healthy elements.
Background: Rapid ICT advancements have affected all aspects of life, and healthcare is no exception. Given the significance of E-Health literacy in the current century and its effect on society and the healthcare system, it seems necessary for patients to have adequate health literacy. However, the lack of essential health literacy leads to the low self-management of diseases. Objective: This study aimed to investigate E-Health literacy and factors affecting it in patients admitted to a University hospital in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Imam Khomeini University Hospital of Urmia, Iran, in 2019. Data were collected using the Persian version of the E-Health Literacy Questionnaire filled by patients. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Personal and demographic variables were also collected, and their correlation with E-Health literacy was investigated. The Independent-samples t-test and ANOVA were used to compare different groups. Results: In this study, 200 patients (103 males and 97 females) (t/f = 41.916), (p=0.000) participated. The mean score of E-Health literacy in patients under study was 25.51 (standard deviation=5.098) which was low and unsatisfactory. Findings suggest that over half of participants were unable to identify and evaluate the quality of online health resources and over half of participants in this study trust online information although they fail to differentiate high quality resources from low quality ones. Conclusion: Identifying and assessing E-Health literacy of patients is an effective step in improving their health literacy. Findings suggest that these patients need to improve and develop their knowledge of E-Health.
Background: Neonates with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) might be prostaglandin dependent and cannot be discharged from the hospital except after complete correction or palliation. Palliation could be achieved by modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt (BTS), ductal stenting, or right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) stenting. Objective: The objective of this study was to present our experience of palliating neonates with severe TOF who require augmentation of the pulmonary blood flow by RVOT stenting. Methods: This study was conducted on a series of patients who had RVOT stenting in PSCC-Qassim, Saudi Arabia, from August 2016 till December 2019. Cases that had RVOT stenting are included. The patient's clinical data, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and follow-up data were recorded. Data were analyzed using The Microsoft Excel data analysis tool. Results: During the study period, four consecutive patients with a diagnosis of TOF with significant cyanosis underwent RVOT stenting. The mean age and weight were 2.8±1.7 days and 2.9±0.1 kg respectively. All were on prostaglandin infusion before the intervention. The mean saturation before and after RVOT stenting was 63% (±11%) and 82% (±4%) respectively (p = 0.018). One patient required RVOT stent dilatation after 4 months. All patients are alive and had complete TOF repair at a median age of 6.5 months (range 6 to 12 months). The median follow-up period is 13 months. The median branch PAs diameter and Z-score before RVOT stenting and immediately before complete TOF repair were 2.8 mm (Z score: -2.5) and 5.5 mm (Z score: -0.5 to -1.16) respectively (p = 0.001). Conclusion: RVOT stenting is a reasonable alternative palliation for patients with severe TOF. The technique of stent deployment in the RVOT is challenging and requires pre-intervention planning and discussion. Using soft catheters, coronary wires, and the premounted coronary stents facilitate crossing of the RVOT and pulmonary valve and then stent deploymen
