Journal of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences

Artificial Intelligence Tools in Research: Challenges and Imperatives

Samaneh Khavidaki — Tue, 26 May 2026 07:50:28 +0000

Abstract: Although generative AI has fundamentally transformed both scientific research and academic publishing, its integration introduces significant challenges and concerns. To effectively manage these emerging complications, it is necessary to establish unified standardization for policies and guidelines across scientific publishers, professional organizations, and relevant institutions at the macro level, while simultaneously prioritizing the enhancing AI literacy among researchers at the individual level.

Effective Interventions for Reducing Suicidal Ideation in Iranian Nurses: A Systematic Review

Hadi Yousefi, Fariba Asadi Noghabi, Saeed Salari, Ali Rezvani — Tue, 26 May 2026 07:54:57 +0000

Introduction: Nurses face an elevated risk of suicidal ideation due to occupational stress, emotional burnout, difficulties in emotion regulation, and insufficient organizational support. The aim of this study was to systematically review factors associated with suicidal ideation among Iranian nurses and to identify potential preventive strategies.

Methods: This systematic review included all published studies between 2016 and January 2026 (up to Dey 1404) that were indexed in SID, Magiran, IranDoc, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria were: studies conducted on Iranian nurses, related to suicide/suicidal ideation, published in Persian or English, and with full text available. Studies were excluded if they were not specific to Iranian nurses, fell outside the designed time frame, were published in other languages, consisted of letters or case reports, or studies without full text. Two researchers independently performed the search process, removed duplicate records, and finally selected nine high-quality studies for inclusion in the final analysis.

Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation among Iranian nurses ranged from 22% to 27.56%, with active suicidal preparation reported up to 9.94%. Higher rates were observed during crisis situations (COVID-19 pandemic, earthquakes) and in high-risk wards (ICU, emergency departments). Significant risk factors included: emotion regulation difficulties, experiential avoidance, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, job burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and lack of organizational support. Effective interventions were limited and included health-promoting lifestyle education programs and compassion-focused therapy.

Conclusion: Suicidal ideation among Iranian nurses is a serious and multidimensional issue that requires urgent organizational and psychological interventions. Regular screening, training in emotion regulation and resilience skills, strengthening organizational support, and reducing workload are strongly recommended. Conducting randomized controlled trials to evaluate culturally adapted interventions is essential to protect nurses’ mental health and improve patient care quality.

Ethical Challenges of Research in the Intensive Care Unit

Tue, 26 May 2026 08:01:56 +0000

Introduction: Ethics in research represents a critical dimension of professional ethics. In critical environments like the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the critical nature of patients and environmental tensions exacerbate the ethical challenges of research (such as moral conflict and distress), demanding strict adherence to principles. This review study was conducted to investigate the ethical challenges of research in intensive care nursing.

Methods: This study was conducted as a systematic review. Persian-language articles were searched using the keywords such as ethics in research, moral distress, ethical conflict, moral challenge, moral sensitivity, and intensive care unit along with their equivalents in national databases, including MagIran, SID, and Civilica. In addition, international databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar were searched using keywords including ethics in research, moral challenge, moral sensitivity, moral distress, ethical decision making, and ethical dilemma.

Results: The results of research challenges in the special care department showed 3 main general categories (human dignity, implementation process, individual characteristics of the researcher). Challenges related to human dignity included 2 sub-categories (obtaining moral satisfaction, independence in decision-making), challenges related to the implementation process from 2 sub-categories (contradiction with the principle of usefulness, challenges of lack of samples), and challenges related to researcher characteristics from 2 sub-categories (challenges related to the researcher's spirit, time-consuming research process).

Conclusion: Considering the ethical challenges present in intensive care settings, these issues can be mitigated through adherence to guidelines provided by bioethics committees, as well as by holding training workshops and increasing researchers' awareness of ethical principles.

Evaluation of Anticancer Potential and Bioactive Compounds in Three Medicinal Species of the Genus Ruta: A Review Study

Kosar Karimian, Homa Mollaei, Maryam Naseroleslami — Tue, 26 May 2026 08:08:32 +0000

Introduction: Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide and in Iran. Common treatment approaches such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery often have limited effectiveness and may lead to substantial adverse effects. Therefore, medicinal plants have gained increasing interest due to their lower toxicity and high therapeutic potential, especially in cases where cancer cells become resistant to conventional treatments. One of the notable medicinal plant genera is Ruta, from the Rutaceae family, which includes species such as Ruta graveolens, Ruta chalepensis, and Ruta montana.

Methods: This study was conducted as a systematic review. Relevant articles were searched using keywords such as Rutaceae, Ruta graveolens, Ruta montana, cancer, metastasis, and apoptosis within the PubMed and Google Scholar databases from 2003 to 2024. The inclusion criteria consisted of studies related to the anticancer effects and bioactive compounds of the three species. In total, 51 articles met the inclusion criteria, while 29 were excluded due to lack of relevant or failure to meet the required standards.

Results: The reviewed findings show that various Ruta species contain secondary metabolites, particularly flavonoids, which possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-stimulating, and apoptosis-inducing properties in cancer cells. These plants have demonstrated inhibitory effects on cancer cell proliferation and metastasis in different experimental models.

Conclusion: Ruta species may function as effective complementary agents when used alongside conventional cancer therapies. This article provides valuable insights for future experimental and clinical research on the therapeutic potential of these plants in cancer treatment.

Comparison of the Frequency of Ground Reaction Forces and Free Torque During Walking in Athletes with Hamstring Dysfunction with Lumbosacral Pain and Healthy Individuals

Farhad Rezazadeh , Shirin Aali , Parinaz Fahimi — Tue, 26 May 2026 08:13:50 +0000

Introduction: Chronic non-specific low back pain and hamstring injuries are among the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders experienced by athletes. When these two conditions occur together, they can considerably alter movement patterns and reduce functional stability. Such coexisting conditions can impair intersegmental coordination between the trunk and lower limbs, influencing load distribution and neuromuscular control. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency-domain parameters of Ground Reaction Forces (GRF) and Free Moment (FM) between athletes suffering from these disorders and healthy counterparts.

Methods: This observational, cross-sectional comparative study included 38 male athletes, comprising 19 injured participants and 19 healthy controls. Participants were selected through purposive and convenience sampling. Eligibility criteria for injured group included the presence on non-specific low back pain persisting for more than three months and hamstring injury occurring within the previous five months, confirmed through physiotherapeutic examination. Ground reaction forces and free moment data were captured using a force plate system and converted to the frequency domain through Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT). Four indices—frequency containing 99.5% of signal power, median frequency, bandwidth, and number of essential harmonics—were calculated. Statistical analysis employed independent t-tests with a significance level of 0.05.

Results: The findings revealed significant differences between groups in the anterior–posterior direction for the frequency containing 99.5% of signal power (p=0.015) and the number of essential harmonics (p=0.001). Additionally, the median frequency of the free moment signal was notably higher in the injured group (p=0.015). No statistically significant differences were observed for the remaining directions or parameters.

Conclusion: Elevated frequency-related indices in the anterior–posterior axis and free torque among injured athletes suggest compensatory neuromuscular adaptations, trunk–pelvic instability, and altered motor control. Frequency-domain analysis provides a sensitive biomechanical indicator for detecting such dysfunctions and should be integrated into rehabilitation strategies aimed at pelvic and trunk stabilization.

Effect of Six Weeks of Continuous and High-Intensity Interval Training on miR-132, miR-134 Levels and Stroke Volume, in Male Rats: A Stroke Model

Mohammad Baqer Azizi, Rasoul Rezaei, Mohsen Salesi, Javad Nemati — Tue, 26 May 2026 08:27:56 +0000

Introduction: Sports science specialists have not yet reached a definitive or universal exercise guideline for stroke prevention and treatment. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of six weeks of continuous and high-intensity interval training on miR-132 and miR-134 levels, stroke volume, and neurological deficits in male rats, a stroke model.

Methods: Twenty-four eight-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=6 per group): sham, HIIT, MICT, and control. The HIIT (2×6 min, 85-90% VO2 max activity and 2×5 min, 65% VO2 max rest) and MICT (65% VO2 max) were performed five sessions per week for four weeks. At the end of the intervention, hippocampal, cortical, and striatum tissues were measured to measure the expression levels of miR-132 and miR-134 using Real-Time PCR. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test (p<0.05) with SPSS version 16.

Results: Both training modalities significantly increased miR-132 expression in the hippocampus (p<0.05); however, HIIT also produced this effect in the cortex and the striatum compared with MICT (p<0.05). HIIT significantly increased miR-134 expression in the cortex and significantly decreased its expression in the striatum (p<0.05). In addition, there was a significant difference in the variables of stroke volume and neurological deficit between both the HIIT and MICT training groups and the control group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Performing exercise activities throughout life can have a positive effect on different parts of the brain and help the patient after a stroke. Therefore, it can be concluded that regular exercise may help to minimize both the acute and chronic complications of stroke.

Self-Assessment of Clinical Research Knowledge and Practical Ability among Medical Students at Tehran Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, 2023

Shayan Arabi, Parisa Shojaei — Tue, 26 May 2026 08:38:11 +0000

Introduction: Medical research has a key role in enhancing the ability of medical students to analyze and understand clinical and research data. Identifying factors influencing students' participation in research and the barriers they face can contribute to improving the quality of medical education. This study aimed to examine medical students' perspectives on the need for research skills training، data interpretation، and the impact of various factors on their participation in medical research.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 590 medical students at Islamic Azad University، Tehran Medical Sciences Branch، in 2023. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of demographic information along with items assessing attitudes toward research skills، barriers to participation in research، and the influence of educational opportunities. Data analysis was performed using chi-square tests، independent t-tests، and correlation analysis.

Results: The findings revealed that over 80% of students considered training in research skills and data interpretation to be important. Financial constraints، long working hours، and family limitations were reported as major barriers to participation in research. Additionally، significant differences were observed in the selection of research fields based on gender (p<0.05).

Conclusion: This study highlights that medical students are interested in participating in research activities; however, they face several obstacles, particularly financial and time-related challenges. Enhancing research training and providing financial support could improve their participation.

Investigation of the Relationship between Childhood Trauma with Perfectionism and Cognitive Distortions in People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Mitra Rezaei, Reza Bidaki — Tue, 26 May 2026 08:41:07 +0000

Introduction: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling psychiatric disorder that can have a profoundly negative impact on an individual's life. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma, perfectionism, and cognitive distortions in individuals with OCD in 2023.

Methods: A total of 200 individuals diagnosed with OCD, confirmed by Neuropsychiatry Fellowship at the psychiatric clinic of Taft County and Imam Ali (AS) specialized and super-specialized clinic of Yazd City, were recruited using convenience sampling. Participants met DSM-5 criteria and completed the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Ahvaz Perfectionism Scale, and a cognitive distortions questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using STATA 14 software.

Results: In this study, the correlation between childhood trauma and perfectionism was found to decrease in individuals with obsessions related to thoughts, contamination, and cleanliness. However, the correlation between childhood trauma and perfectionism was not significant in individuals with obsessions related to checking, order, and arrangement (p=0). Furthermore, the association between trauma scores and cognitive distortion scores was significant and inverse in individuals with obsessions related to thoughts, contamination, cleanliness, washing, and religiosity (p<0), meaning that individuals with these obsessions exhibited more cognitive distortions. This association was not significant in individuals with obsessions related to washing, religiosity, checking, and order (p=0).

Conclusion: Childhood trauma likely affects perfectionism and cognitive distortions in individuals with OCD. Therefore, it is recommended that mental health professionals specializing in OCD treatment consider the role of childhood trauma in perfectionism and cognitive distortions among individuals with OCD.

Evaluation of Self-Efficacy in Final-Year Dental Students of Yazd Concerning Root Canal Therapy in 2025

Fatemeh Ayatollahi, Mehdi Tabrizizadeh, Zahra Rafieian, Nima Shamsi — Tue, 26 May 2026 08:50:11 +0000

Introduction: Root canal treatment is considered one of the most challenging procedures in dentistry, and dental students are expected to acquire sufficient skills to perform it after graduation. However, many students experience a lack of confidence and stress when faced with this procedure. This study designed to evaluate the self-efficacy of final-year dental students at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Yazd regarding root canal treatments.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 74 final-year dental students who had successfully completed both theoretical and practical endodontic courses. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 16. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: demographic information, students' experience, assessment of confidence levels in different stages of root canal treatment, and students' suggestions for improving education.

Results: The mean self-efficacy score among the students was 37.47 out of 60, indicating a moderate level of confidence. The highest confidence levels were observed in initial stages such as diagnosing teeth requiring root canal treatment and taking radiographs, while the lowest confidence was reported in more complex stages such as rubber dam placement and managing treatment complications. A significant difference was found between students’ confidence levels and their academic semester and their practical and theoretical course scores (P = 0.05). However, no statistical differences were observed based on gender or admission type (P>05).

Conclusion: The findings indicate that dental students' confidence in performing endodontic treatments, particularly the more complex stages, needs improvement. It is recommended to enhance students' self-confidence and skills by increasing training hours, using modern equipment, and providing more hands-on practice.