International Journal of Preventive Medicine
Year:2018 | Volume:9 | Issue:-|Papers Count:10

Data from epidemiological and experimental studies have shown that diet and eating patterns have a major role in the pathogenesis of many age‑ associated diseases. Since 1935, calorie restriction (CR) has been identified as one of the most effective nongenetic dietary interventions that can increase lifespan. It involves reducing calorie intake by about 20%– 40% below ad libitum, without malnutrition. Restricting food intake has been observed to increase lifespan and prevent many age‑ associated diseases in rats, mice, and many other species. Understanding the metabolic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms involved in the anti‑ aging effects of CR can help us to find dietary interventions that can mimic its effects. Recently, different studies have shown that intermittent fasting, protein restriction, and an epigenetic diet can have similar effects to those of CR. These approaches were selected because it has been indicated that they act through a similar molecular pathway and also, are safe and effective in delaying or preventing diseases. In this review, we focus on the mechanistic pathway involved in CR. Then, we review the mimicking interventions through the mechanistic approach. For this purpose, we reviewed both animal and human articles, mainly available through the PubMed online database. We then selected the most relevant full texts which are summarized in this article.

Background: Dementia as a major cognitive neurological disorder is defined as impairment in one or more cognitive territories compared with the former level of performance. This disorder disrupts patient’ s independence, and the patient would need others aid in order of doing daily and complex activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Rosa damascena extract in the improvement of cognitive function in patients with dementia. Methods: This study is a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on 40 patients older than 55 years with dementia referred to Specialized Elderly Patients Clinic in 2015– 2016. Patients were divided randomly into two groups (control and intervention). The intervention group used donepezil and R. damascena capsules, and in control group, placebo capsule instead of R. damascena added on donepezil. Four test was filled three times at the study initiation, after month one and also after month three: Mini– Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Addenbrooke’ s Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R) were used for cognition evaluation, for depression assessment, Geriatric Depression Scale was administered, and checklist of memory and behavioral disorders were filled. Results: The results showed add-on donepezil and R. damascena versus placebo improved cognitive impairment based on MMSE with P = 0. 002, ACE-R with total P = 0. 001, depression (P = 0. 012), behavioral disorders (P < 0. 001), and daily activity (P < 0. 001). Conclusions: The R. damascena extract affected cognitive impairment of dementia patients significantly and also have significant effects on improving depression and behavioral problems.

Background: The present study describes the burden of occupational diseases in Iran based on the results of the Global Burden of Disease study conducted in 2010 (GBD 2010). This study aimed to determine the burden of occupational diseases in Iran based on the results of GBD 2010. It is a cross‑ sectional study. Methods: Disability‑ adjusted life years (DALYs) of occupational diseases were calculated based on the prevalence rates obtained through model estimation, as well as GBD 2010 disability weights and mortality rates obtained from different data registry systems of Iran. Causal association criteria application to select risk outcome pairs, estimation of exposure to each risk factor in the population, estimation of etiological effect size, selection of a counterfactual exposure distribution, risk assessment, and identification of burden attributable to each risk factor were the main conducted statistical steps. Results: There was an increasing trend of DALYs (710. 08/100, 000 people in 1990 and 833. 00/100, 000 people in 2005) followed by a slight decrease (833. 00/100, 000 in 2005– 784. 55/100, 000 people in 2010). A total of 50. 4% and 36% of total DALYs per 100, 000 people were due to the adverse effects of musculoskeletal disorders and work‑ related injuries, respectively. Conclusions: Musculoskeletal disorders and work‑ related injuries are the most important adverse consequences of work‑ related risks that require urgent interventions to be controlled. Male workers (15– 25 years and over 60) with the highest DALYs and mortality rates need more training programs, safety regulations, and higher level of protection support. In spite the decreasing trend of occupational disease related DALYs and death rates in Iran in recent years, a long‑ term effort is required to maintain the currently decreasing trend.

Background: Dental health is one of the most important health burdens of children health. The association between dental health and endocarditis has been already demonstrated, but there is controversy about different frequency of dental caries, periodontitis, and saliva microorganism in comparison to healthy population and children with congenital heart diseases (CHDs). In this study, we evaluated these differences. Methods: Seventy‑ six healthy children and 68 CHD patients were enrolled in the present case– control study. Dental decay, periodontitis, oral microorganisms, serum calcium, phosphorus, and frequency of carbohydrate and protein consumption of all participants were evaluated by standards method. Results: CHD patients experienced more periodontitis, but the difference was not significant (0. 12 vs. 0. 09, P = 0. 2). In healthy children, the mean saliva colony counts of Streptococcus mutans were more significant (50639 ± 3324 vs. 35285 ± 27226, P = 0. 03), which was diminished by adjusting the carbohydrate consumption. The mean colony count of Lactobacilli in children with CHD was nonsignificant higher than healthy children (P = 0. 3). Conclusions: Pediatric patients with CHD experience insignificantly higher dental decay, periodontitis, and saliva Lactobacilli colony counts. The frequency of decayed tooth and gingival diseases in healthy children is high, and hence, more dental care attention in our health system is needed for healthy children.

Background: Undernutrition is common and has been recognized as a public health problem in Bangladesh. It has devastating effects on any population as it increases morbidity children and reduces the quality of life of all affected. The study was done with the objective to assess the undernutrition and morbidity profile in children who have completed exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: This was a descriptive cross‑ sectional study, which was carried out among children aged 6– 12 completed months attending a tertiary level hospital in Bangladesh. A total of 251 children were selected through convenient sampling from January to December 2015. Nutritional assessment was done in terms of underweight, stunting, and wasting. Results: One hundred and forty‑ three (57. 0%) were boys while 108 (43. 0%) were girls. The prevalence of undernutrition (Z‑ score ≤ − 2) was observed in 11. 2%, 16. 3%, and 12. 0% based on stunting, underweight, and wasting. Among 251 children, 16. 7% were not suffering any diseases, whereas majorities (69. 7%) were suffering from single disease and 13. 5% were suffering from multiple diseases. Cough and fever (55. 0%), pneumonia (18. 3%), measles (9. 9%), and diarrhea (8. 3%) were the most common cause of infectious morbidity observed in children. Conclusions: The prevalence of undernutrition was high in the study population, and it continues to be a public health burden because of its major effect on morbidity and impairment of intellectual and physical development in long‑ term. Increasing the practice of exclusive breastfeeding, the introduction of timely complementary feeding, and standard case management of morbidities would be beneficial to combat the problem of undernutrition.

Background: Despite major public health efforts in addressing the burden of disease caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), rates among young adults continue to rise in Canada. The purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors associated with acquiring STIs among postsecondary students in Canada. Methods: A secondary analysis of the American College Health Association‑ National College Health Assessment II‑ C Spring 2016 survey data (n = 43, 780) was conducted. Sexually active participants (n = 28, 831) were examined for their demographics, sexual behavior, alcohol and marijuana use, testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and human papillomavirus vaccination history. These factors were analyzed to help identify their possible association with acquiring an STI using logistic regression and multivariate modeling. Results: Among the study participants, 3. 88% had an STI, with the highest rates observed among females and individuals aged 21– 24 years old. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that participants who engaged in anal intercourse within the past 30 days (odds ratio [OR] = 1. 634; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1. 343– 1. 988), had four or more sexual partners in the last 12 months (OR = 4. 223; 95% CI, 3. 595– 4. 962), used marijuana within the past 30 days (OR = 1. 641; 95% CI, 1. 387– 1. 941), and had ever been tested for HIV (OR = 3. 008; 95% CI, 2. 607– 3. 471) had greater odds of acquiring an STI. Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight certain high‑ risk behaviors that are strongly associated with acquiring an STI among postsecondary students. Thus, efforts to design and deliver relevant educational programming and health promotion initiatives for this particular population are of utmost importance.

Resilience has received increased attention among both practitioners and scholars in recent years. Child resilience has received notable attention in disaster risk reduction (DRR) during the creation of the Sendai Framework 2015– 2030 to improve child protection in the event of disasters. As resilience is a subjective concept with a variety of definitions, this study evaluates its different factors and determinates in the existing research to clarify the path for the near future and objective research. A systematic literature review was conducted by searching and selecting the peer‑ reviewed papers published in four main international electronic databases including PubMed, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, and PsycINFO to answer the research question: “ What are the criteria, factors or indicators for child resilience in the context of a natural disaster? ” The process was based on PRISMA guidelines. In total, 28 papers out of 1838 were selected and evaluated using thematic analysis. The results are shown in two separate tables: one descriptive and the other analytical. Two main themes and five subthemes for criteria for child resilience in a disaster have been found. The factors found cover the following areas: mental health, spiritual health, physical, social behavior, and ecological, and as well as environmental. The majority of the included studies mentioned the scattered criteria about children resilience without any organized category. Although this concept is multifactorial, additional research is needed to develop this study and also observe other kinds of disasters such as human‑ made disasters.

Background: Today, using cellular phone and its harmful effects in human life is growing. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the global system for mobile communication (GSM) 900 MHz cellular phone radiofrequency waves on growth, morphology, and proliferation rate of mesenchymal stem cells and Michigan Cancer Foundation (MCF-7) cells within the specific distance and intensity. Methods: MCF‑ 7 and human adipose‑ derived stem cells (HADSCs) were exposed to GSM cellular phones 900 MHz frequency with intensity of 354. 6 μ W/cm2 during different exposure times 6, 21, 51, and 101 min/day with an interval of 10 min for each subsequent radiation exposure for 3 and 5 days at 10 and 20 cm distances from antenna. 3‑ (4, 5‑ dimethythiazol‑ 2‑ yl)‑ 2, 5‑ diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and trypan blue test were used to determine the growth of cells and cell viability, respectively. Statistical analyses were carried out using three‑ way ANOVA. Differences were significant when P < 0. 05. Results: The proliferation rates of both MCF‑ 7 and HADSCs cells in all exposure groups were significantly lower than controls (P < 0. 05). There was a significant effect on the percentage of cell survival with increase the period of time from 3 to 5 days for MCF‑ 7 (P < 0. 01) and HADSCs (P = 0. 02), respectively. Variations in distance had no significant effect on the percentage of cell survival (P = 0. 35) on MCF‑ 7 (P = 0. 02) and HADSCs (P = 0. 09) cells, respectively. Conclusions: The results showed that radiation of GSM 900 MHz cellular phone may be reduced cell viability and proliferation rates of both cells. It is recommended to reduce exposure time, increase distance from antenna, and reserve the use of cell phones for shorter conversations to prevent its biological and harmful effects. Further studies with other intensities and frequencies on different cells are recommended.

Background: Reference citation analysis and reference publication year can help to demonstrate the historical context of a research field. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the most important historical publications regarding depression prevention. Methods: This was a bibliometric study carried out using reference publication year spectroscopy (RPYS) method. Data gathering was carried out using Thomson Reuters Web of Science in the period of 2007– 2016. A total of 17, 043 records were retrieved which were uploaded as full record and cited references in plain text format. Then modified data were analyzed using RPYS. exe software. Results: Distribution of cited references in the area of depression prevention based on publication year revealed nine peaks in the twentieth century in years 1921, 1935, 1944, 1977, 1983, 1990, 1994, 1999, and 2000. Moreover, our analysis showed that some peaks occurred in the 21st century in years 2001– 2005. Conclusions: Researchers have investigated depression prevention with physiological, epidemiological, biological as well as physical approaches. Furthermore, created criteria for measuring depression in different target societies have played an important and vital role in depression prevention.

Catheter‑ associated‑ urinary tract infections (CA‑ UTIs) account for over 80% of all intensive care patients treated with an indwelling urinary tract catheter during their hospital stay. [1‑ 3] CA‑ UTIs occurs at a rate of 3%– 10% per day of catheterization and the incidence approaches 100% within the 30 hospital days. CA‑ UTIs in critically ill patients can lead to bacteremia which is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among hospitalized patients and it can be avoided using appropriate preventive measures. [4‑ 7] Sterile catheter insertion, maintenance of a closed drainage system, and aseptic technique for urine collection must be used. Other risks include prolonged catheterization and improper catheter insertion, as well as catheter care and prevention of backflow. Health‑ care providers should attempt to eliminate these risk factors associated with CA‑ UTIs...