Journal of Knowledge & Health in Basic Medical Sciences
Year:2012 | Volume:7 | Issue:1|Papers Count:11

Introduction: As a result of the natural metabolism in cells, free radicals and reactive species of oxygen are continuously produced and increase under physical and psychological stress conditions. Oxidative stress is a condition in which the reactive oxygen species production exceeds the antioxidant system capacity to neutralize these peroxidants. In these situations, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids are damaged. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of acute resistance exercise (RE) on 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), marker of DNA oxidation.Methods: In this quasi-experimental research, nine resistances trained (RT) and nine untrained (UT) men were randomly selected. All subjects performed a RE protocol including 4 sets of the bench press, leg press, sited bar shoulder press, arm curls and lat pull down exercises using high intensity (80% of 1RM). Blood draws occurred before and immediately after exercise and urine samples were collected before, immediately after, 3h after and 24 h after resistance exercise for the measurement of plasma lactate and urinary 8-OHdG excretion.Results: Urinary 8-OHdG concentrations were significantly lower at post and 24h post exercise in RT compared with UT (P<0.05). The concentration of 8-OHdG was significantly elevated post, 3h post and 24h post exercise in UT as compared with pre exercise status (P<0.05). However, 8-OHdG was significantly elevated 24h post exercise in RT as compared with pre exercise status (P<0.05).Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that oxidative DNA damage was lower in bodybuilding athletes compared to the untrained. This may be due to regular resistance training status in athletes and it is possible that antioxidant capacity is improved in athletes due to performing regular resistance training.

Introduction: Osteoporosis is one of the most common metabolic bone diseases. The prevalence of osteoporosis in spine and femur bones of Iranian women is estimated to be 48.6%. The present survey aimed at investigating the effectiveness of an educational osteoporosis prevention programs in improving the awareness of employed women in shahroud.Methods: In this quasi experimental study, a group of 180 employed women having high school diploma or higher levels of education were chosen randomly from a list provided by the women’s affair office. Data were collected through a valid and reliable questionnaire.After the pre-test, the participants were given a set of educational instructions through pamphlets, posters, lectures and slide shows by a gynecologist, a pathologist and an internist on the same day. The post-test was administered after 5 weeks to examine the effectiveness of the instructions. SPSS was use to analyze the results through paired t-test and Mc-Nemar test.Results: The findings indicated a significant difference between the groups' awareness prior to and after the program regarding the diseases and drugs which cause osteoporosis, preventive medicines, preventive factors, avoidable predisposing factors and, unavoidable predisposing factors (P<0.001).Conclusion: With regard to the low awareness of employed women of osteoporosis prior to the educational program, it seems essential to enhance the awareness of women to prevent this disease, to maintain health, to enhance quality of life and to maintain independence in the elderly age.

Introduction: Adolescence is one of the most critical periods in human growth during which nutrition plays an effective role. The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status of adolescent middle school girls in Shahroud.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 418 middle school girls were selected via a two stage cluster sampling method in 2009. The data were collected through interview and measurement of anthropometric values (BMI). Data collection instruments included a demographic data questionnaire, interview, and 24 hour recall and food frequency. Anthropometric values (BMI) were computed and compared with CDC2000 standards.Results: Comparison of BMI with standard values showed that 12.9%, 12.7% and 1.7% of participants were under and overweight and obese respectively. Moreover, it disclosed that BMI had a significant relationship with family size. The results also showed that 35.4% of participants consumed milk 2-3 times a week and 71.8% of them had between-meals- snack at school and almost half of the students (56.8%) had breakfast. Calcium intake was notably less than standard values.Conclusion: The results showed that there was malnutrition among the participants, so surveillance and providing nutritional services for the members of this age group proved to be necessary.

Introduction: Medication errors are considered as fatal and critical complications of treatment. Thousands of medication errors committed by medical and paramedical staff are being reported, annually. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of continuous education on nurses’ knowledge and skill of drug dosage calculation.Methods: This study was an educational random trial with pre-post tests, before and after the educational intervention. Solomon four group design was used in this research. Subjects of the study (n=100) were randomly assigned according to official registration number, from all nurses (n=220) who replied to formal announcement in the University’s website and written notice attached on the boards in clinical settings. Educational intervention was planned according to subjects’ educational needs in regards to drug dosage calculation in workshop format.Results: The results of this study indicated that the scores in each sub-tests including injectable drugs (P=0.001), soluble drugs (P<0.000), drug dosage concentration (P<0.000) and infusion solutions (P=0.007) significantly increased after educational intervention. The results indicated that there were significant differences in subjects’ scores in the four groups (P<0.000). The results showed that a significant difference existed between the scores obtained by the main group of nurses and other groups.Conclusion: Findings of this study confirm the effectiveness of educational intervention in improving nurses’ knowledge and skill in drug dosage calculation and they show that the participant nurses were in profound need for continuous education in regards to injectable drug dosage calculation. This finding is in line with most other research projects all over the world which indicate the necessity of educational interventions to meet nurses’ educational needs.

Introduction: Food is one of the basic needs of man the provision is intertwined with food security. No doubt, household's economic status has important effects on food security. Household structure may influence household's economic status and subsequently the food security of the family. This study aimed at determining the role of household age structure on household's food security.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 2500 households selected from Qaresoo region in Khoy, a city in the northwest of Iran. Household food security status was measured by a validated short questionnaire including six questions. Chi-square and logistic regression were used for data analysis using SPSS software.Results: Out of 2439 households, 991 (40.4%) were defined as food secure and the remaining 1448 (59.6%) were food insecure. There was a significant relationship between age structure of family and household food security status. Moreover, with a greater family size, the chances of food insecurity also increased. There was however no significant association between household food insecurity and the number of children (under five) and the number of elderly individuals at home Conclusion: Our findings indicate that food insecurity is prevalent in the northwest of Iran. Traditional residence of the newly-formed families beside the parents in the rural areas, and proper nutritional education programs especially for households with young children, can help to reduce the risk of food insecurity in the community.

Introduction: Recently adiponectin has appeared to be a modulator of lipid metabolism. But its response to physical activity is not clear yet. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of type of exercise on lipid profiles and adiponectin in sedentary men.Methods: In this quasi-experimental research a sample of thirty male subjects were randomly assigned into 3 groups of aerobic exercise (AE), (AE: 60-70% of their maximal oxygen consumption (Vo2max) for 30 min), resistance exercise (RE), (3 sets of 10 repetitions at 70% of 1 repetition maximum) and concurrent exercise (CE), (AE for 20 min and RE for 2 sets) and lipid profiles and adiponectin were measured before and 24 h after an exercise.Results: Type of exercise performed influenced the short-term lipid response, but did not influence adiponectin. The Total Cholesterol and HDL-C concentrations were significantly reduced 24 h after exercise in the RE group compared to baseline values. In addition, the change in LDL-C followed a similar trend. However, it did not reach significance for LDL-C concentration. Mode of exercise did not influence the short-term TG response. However, when all groups’ data were combined, a significant reduction in TG was observed (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results suggest that short-term adiponectin response was independent of the type of exercise, but RE in comparison to AE and CE had more effective favorable changes in serum lipid profiles.

Introduction: Calcium (Ca) is one of the important nutrients during pregnancy. Ca and vitamin D deficiency have irreparable effects on fetal bone growth and development and on the health of pregnant women. This study investigated the effect of serum Ca and vitamin D metabolite and some of its influencing factors on pregnant women and their neonates in Shahroud.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 284 pregnant women who referred to Fatimiyeh Hospital in Shahroud. In this study, in addition to collecting demographic data, samples of maternal and cord blood were taken, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D, Ca and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistical tests and correlation tests. The level of significance for all tests was 0.05.Results: The mean (±standard deviation) age of women was 26.62±5.32 years. Ca deficiency was observed in 33.5% of mothers and in 25% of neonates. There was a significant relationship between maternal Ca level and neonate cord blood Ca (P>0.001, r=0.25). There were no significant relationships between maternal Ca level and mother’s age (P=0.69), birth weight (P=0.67), the number of pregnancy (P=0.35) and serum levels of vitamin D (P=0.23).Conclusion: With regard to the high prevalence of Ca and vitamin D deficiency which was found in this study, and the detrimental effects this might have on the health of mothers and neonates, we suggest, in addition to using Ca and vitamin D supplements by pregnant women, appropriate health training also be provided to mothers to promote suitable nutrition and encourage greater exposure to sunlight.

Introduction: Ovary cancer is one of the commonest cancers among the women. With regard to role of cyclooxygnase (COX) enzyme and production of prostaglandin type E2 in causing tumor damages in ovary cancer, application of compounds to inhibit cyclooxygnase can be effective in preventing ovary cancer. Thus, the present study was carried out to evaluate flunixin as nonselective inhibitor of Cyclooxygenase enzymes in developing ovary cancer in female Wistar rats.Methods: In this experimental research, forty eight female Wistar rats, assigned into six groups, were used. To induce cancer, 7, 12 Dimethyl Benza Anthracene was directly injected into ovary. Control groups included a negative control group (no injection), a DMBA injection control group and a positive control group (DMBA+Saline injection). Ten days after administrating DMBA to the tumor, three doses (0.5, 1, 1.5 mg) of flunixin meglumine were injected into the three case groups every third day. The comparison between groups was made by using one-way ANOVA.Results: The mean weight of tumors significantly decreased in drug receiving groups, compared to positive control and DMBA control groups. The mean weight of ovary in the three groups receiving flunixin did not show any significant difference, compared with the negative control (natural) group (P>0.05).Conclusion: This study confirms the positive effect of the flunixin in treating the ovary cancer. The microscopic slices of ovary tissues in the experimental (drug receiving) groups indicate that cancerous cells are decreasing so that the cells tend to gain their own normal order again.