Shahroud Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2024 | Volume:10 | Issue:4|Papers Count:8

Background: This study aimed to investigate the discrete and combined effects of 8 weeks of endurance training and curcumin supplementation on the levels of inflammatory markers and pulmonary function in obese girls with a history of coronavirus infection. Methods: This research was conducted by semi-experimental method and clinical trial in the form of pre-test and post-test. 40 obese women were selected randomly and allocated into 4 groups: exercise+curcumin supplement (Curcu+Exe), exercise+placebo (Exe), curcumin supplement (Curcu), and control (Control). The subjects in exercise groups participated in an eight-week aerobic exercise program. The subjects of the supplement groups took three to four capsules every day. The level of blood serum inflammatory indicators was measured using the ELISA kit. The pulmonary function indices were evaluated using a spirometer. Results: The results of the present study showed that eight weeks of progressive endurance training along with curcumin supplementation in obese girls with a history of corona infection, led to a decrease in inflammatory indicators (IL-6 and TNF-a) and improved pulmonary function indicators in the experimental groups. Conclusions: Curcumin supplementation along with progressive endurance exercises can lead to the improvement of inflammatory conditions and pulmonary function in obese girls with a history of corona disease. Therefore, these people can improve their body composition and general health through the combination of endurance activity and curcumin supplementation.

Background: High-impact disasters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, often lead to increased symptoms of grief disorders among those who have lost loved ones. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of spiritual therapy and group grief counseling in managing the mourning process during the COVID-19 period. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design, using a pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up approach with both control and experimental groups. The research population consisted of individuals in Tehran who experienced the loss of a family member due to COVID-19 between July and September 2020. A total of 37 participants were selected through convenience sampling. The intervention consisted of six sessions of group grief counseling and eight sessions of spiritual therapy facilitated by a clinical psychologist. Sessions were held twice a week in a group setting at one of the study’s clinics. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis H test, repeated measures ANCOVA, and Bonferroni post hoc test, with a significance level of 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27 and JASP version 18.1.0. Results: The findings of this study revealed a significant difference (Pvalue<0.001) in the Between-Subjects Effects for the "Feeling Guilty" variable across both groups. Similarly, significant effects were observed in the Between-Subjects analysis for the components of "Trying to Justify and Get Along," "Feeling Left Out," and "Shame" (Pvalue<0.001). However, for the components "Physical Reactions" and "Judging Someone or Others," a significant interaction effect between time and group was found (Pvalue<0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that both spiritual therapy and group grief counseling are effective in alleviating grief-related symptoms. However, spiritual therapy uniquely enhances the well-being of individuals grieving during the COVID-19 period by reducing feelings of guilt and providing a sense of justification through a connection to a higher power. Therefore, it is recommended that spiritual therapy, alongside psychotherapy, be considered for those mourning a loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Studies show that prisoners have a higher prevalence of mental disorders than the general population. Paying attention to factors affecting the mental health of prisoners, including religiosity and personality traits, is very important to reduce recidivism. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental health, personality traits, and religiosity in prisoners of Fars province. Methods: The study was correlational research conducted on all new prisoners in Shiraz. With Inclusion criteria have a willingness to participate in the survey, to have spent at least 48 hours in prison, and to have good mental health. Exclusion criteria included the presence of a mental disability, psychological problems, or being on medication . Demographic information, mental health, personality, and religiosity were assessed through face-to-face interviews, and relationships between variables were analyzed using structural equation modeling with SPSS 26 and AMOS 24. Results: Neuroticism through religiosity was associated with reduced depression, Somatic symptoms, social dysfunction, and anxiety. However, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness through religiosity are associated with increased depression, somatic symptoms, social dysfunction, and anxiety. Conclusions: personality traits indirectly impact mental health through religiosity, which plays a significant mediating role in these associations. Further research can examine how personality traits and religious beliefs work together to influence mental well-being.

Background: The basis of the largest source of human radiation exposure is ionizing radiation used in medical and clinical sciences. This study aimed to investigate the radiation dose in common fluoroscopy methods in adult patients referred to Namazi Hospital in Shiraz in 2018. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 600 adult patients (18 years and older) who were referred to Namazi Hospital in Shiraz for fluoroscopy. Data were collected using a checklist prepared from patient records, including demographic information of patients including age, gender, height, weight, and BMI, and information related to fluoroscopy including type of fluoroscopy, duration of fluoroscopy, and dose of fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy-related data were extracted from the PACS system or manually based on the final report of each patient's file. Data were analyzed using SPSS18 software and independent t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean age of the patients was 48.56 ± 15.59 years (18-90 years). 36.5% were male and 63.5% were female. The mean BMI was 24.85 ± 4.87 (13.43-67.20). The most commonly used fluoroscopy method was B. SW (43.7%), followed by DEFECO (23.5%), and the least used method was RCG in only 10 patients (1.7%). The mean time of fluoroscopy was 2.08 ± 1.51 (0.1-9.60 minutes). The mean dose received in all fluoroscopy methods was 1650.42. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the dose of fluoroscopy and the duration of fluoroscopy (r=0.0403. P-value<0.001) and BMI (r=0.249, P-value<0.001), and the age of the patients had no significant relationship with the dose received in fluoroscopy (r=0.075, P-value=0.066). The difference in the mean duration of fluoroscopy based on different fluoroscopy methods was statistically significant (P-value<0.001). The difference in the mean dose of fluoroscopy based on different fluoroscopy methods was statistically significant (P-value<0.001). Conclusions: In general, the results of the study showed that most fluoroscopy was performed with the barium swallow method. With increasing fluoroscopy duration and BMI, the dose received by the patient increased significantly, and the highest dose received was observed in the barium enema method and the longest fluoroscopy time was observed in the UGI method, but further and better investigation is still needed to identify the influencing factors.

Background: Heart attack is the main cause of mortality in the elderly. Although the beneficial role of exercise and medicinal plants on heart health has been reported, the simultaneous effect of these factors on micromolecular pathways in heart tissue is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks aerobic training (AT) with Citrus Aurantium (CA) on miR-1 and miR-22 in left ventricle of elderly female rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 35 female Sprague-Dawley rats (age 14-18 months and weight of 270-320 g) were randomly divided into (1) control (C), (2) sham (normal saline/Sh) (3) CA, (4) AT and (5) AT+CA groups. The AT groups performed aerobic training for eight weeks, three sessions per week each lasting 25-41 minutes at a speed of 20-27 meters per minute. The CA groups received 300 mg/kg CA intra-peritoneally. One-way analysis of variance with Tukey's post-hoc tests was used for statistical data analysis (Pvalue≤0.05). Results: miR-1 and miR-22 levels in AT and AT+CA groups were significantly higher than in C and CA groups (P-value=0.001). miR-1 levels in AT+CA group were significantly lower than AT group (P-value=0.005) and miR-22 levels in AT group were significantly lower than AT+CA group (P-value=0.001). Conclusions: Aerobic training seems to be an effective factor on the improvement of miRs involved in left ventricular hypertrophy; nevertheless, Citrus Aurantium has no significant effect, or even modulates the effect of training.

Background: WHO estimated that approximately 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability. There are important gaps in knowledge about the Sexual and reproductive rights of this population. This study aimed to review the sexual and reproductive rights of disabled women. Methods: Electronic searching of Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, SID, and Google Scholar was performed up to Nov 2024, using Sexual rights, reproductive rights, reproductive health, Sexual health, disability, Handicap, and disabled persons as keywords. Inclusion criteria consist of both English and Persian-published reports in the field of disabled women’s reproductive and Sexual rights. In the long run, 38 documents met the inclusion criteria. Results: The CRPD Committee mandates state parties to protect persons with disabilities from violence, exploitation, and abuse and, ensure the right of people with disabilities to the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination, including in the area of sexual and reproductive health. Conclusions: Findings from the study speak to the need to protect and realize the SRH rights of persons with disabilities.

Background: Mental illness is the primary reason for disability among young individuals, making up a significant portion of the worldwide health issues experienced by teenagers, and can have lasting effects. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the theory of choice for parents with psychiatric disorders and its effect on their children's self-concept and self-efficacy. Methods: This research was a semi-experimental study using a pre-test-post-test design involving two experimental groups and one control group. The study population comprised all parents with psychiatric disorders who were diagnosed and were part of the Aheba Mental Illness Rehabilitation Center, totaling around 1000 in Tehran, Iran, 2024. Thirty parents with psychiatric disorders were randomly selected through a convenience sampling process and subsequently assigned to either an experimental group (n=15) or a control group (n=15). The experimental group participated in an eight-week structured choice theory, including reality therapy by Glaser, with one 90-minute session per week. The control group received no intervention. Data collection was facilitated using Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90R), The Self-Efficacy Scale (SES), and The Beck’s Self-Concept Test (BST). The inferential statistical method of multivariate analysis of variance was used for data analysis, with SPSS version 20 software being employed. Results: The findings suggest that the theory of choice training allows for a significant increase in self-efficacy and self-concept among children of parents with psychiatric disorders in the experimental group (Pvalue<0.05). Conclusions: Because the theory of choice training within a group supports internal control of people, the increasing internal control is causing increasing accountability, and therefore the increase in self-efficacy and self-concept. Therefore, group theory of choice training can be useful and applicable as a psychological therapeutic intervention for increasing self-efficacy as well as self-concept in children.

Background: Aggression is undoubtedly influenced by genetics. In this study, the primary goal was to explore how brain waves can predict aggressive behavior in adults. Methods: The research is a correlation study that investigates aggression by analyzing biological, neurological, and behavioral markers. The study involved a sample of 100 individuals in Tehran, ranging in age from 18 to 22, who were purposefully chosen between 2022 and 2023. The method used to collect data in this study involved using A genome-wide association study (GWA study, or GWAS), quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), and the Spielberger State-Trait Anger Inventory (SWAS) Form 2. The data was examined through descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and regression analysis utilizing the SPSS 26 software. Results: The study found a strong link between genetic predisposition for anger reactions and moods. Genetic predisposition for anger reactions also showed a connection to environmental factors influencing angry moods. Angry reactions predicted 12% of changes in angry moods. However, no significant correlation was found between alpha waves in the brain and angry responses or moods. Similarly, there was no significant correlation between biomarkers, delta waves, and alpha waves in different brain regions. Lastly, a positive relationship was observed between genetic predisposition for angry reactions and beta waves in specific brain regions. Conclusions: The findings suggest that biological and neurological markers can be valuable for predicting adult aggressive behaviors. Utilizing comprehensive prediction models that take these markers into account can help identify and support individuals at risk of aggression. This research can also guide the development of educational and therapeutic programs to reduce aggression and support mental well-being.