Armaghane Danesh
Year:2012 | Volume:17 | Issue:4 (70)|Papers Count:13

Background & Aim: Postpartum period is one of the vital stages in the women’s life which influences their quality of life. Instruction can influence their quality of life in this period. This study aimed to determine the effect of education on health-promoting behaviors at the postpartum period on the quality of life of primiparous women.Methods: The present controlled randomized trail study was carried out on 52 primiparous women who were randomly allocated into two groups (experimental and control). Instruction was presented for the experimental group for six weeks after childbirth. Quality of life of women between the two groups was compared by using Specific Postnatal Quality of life questionnaire at the first and sixth weeks. Data were analyzed by Chi-square and Independent T-test.Results: Results showed a significant difference between the mean score of quality of life pre-and post-intervention between the two groups (P<0.001), but this difference in the experimental group was more compared to the control group. Also, this difference in the 5 dimensions of quality of life (feeling about herself, baby, spouse, sexual activity, and health) in the experimental group was more compared to the control group (P<0.001).Conclusion: The results indicated that health promoting can be effective in improving quality of life of primiparous women. Therefore, health care providers should focus on this important issue.

Background & Aim: considering the use of Beberis vulgaris in traditional medicine as a blood sugar depressant, in this study, the effect of Beberis vulgaris extracts were investigated on the level of insulin secretion from islets isolated of langerhans in male mice.Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 90 adult male mice, NMARI strains; weighing 20-25 g. Pancreatic islets from normal mice were isolated by collagenase digestion method. Then the aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extract of Beberis vulgaris at 0.05, 0.1, and 1 mg/ml concentrations and glyburide at 1 and 10 mM concentrations were applied on islets isolated in three different concentration of glucose solution (2.8, 5.6 and 16.7 mM). Insulin secretion from handpicked islets were evaluated in the static incubation system. The level of Insulin secretion was measured by the ELISA insulin kit. Data were analyzed with variance analysis.Results: Insulin secretion was significantly increased at 16.7 mM glucose concentration in comparison with 2.8 and 5.6 mM glucose concentration (p<0.05). Incubation of pancreatic islets isolated at 2.8 and 5.6 mM glucose concentration and low concentrations of extract (0.05 and 0.1mg/ml) significantly increased the insulin secretion (p<0.05). Glyburide at 10 mM concentration was more effective than aqueous and hydro alcoholic extract of Beberis vulgaris at 16.7 mM glucose.Conclusion: The present study supported the anti-diabetic effect of Beberis vulgaris extracts in vitro with low glucose concentration and it suggests that one of the anti diabetic mechanisms of this plant is via pancreatic islets.

Background & Aim: Athletes believe that energy drinks can be used to enhance their performance during training and competition. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of acute ingestion of a sport drink on endurance performance in student athletes.Methods: Ten healthy and trained young male athletes students were selected by systematic randomly sampling and after consuming Sport Drinks (experimental group) or placebo (control group) exercised on a treadmill at the intensity of 81.8% heart rate max (%70 VO2 max) until exhaustion. Subjects received 6 ml.kg-1 body weight of Sport Drink or placebo, 40 minutes before starting of exercise bout, and they received 2 ml.kg-1 body weight of Sport Drink or placebo every 15 minutes during each exercise. To evaluate the results, independent T-test was used.Results: Results showed no significant difference between Sport Drink and placebo trials in the total work time to exhaustion, heart rate or RPE (p>0.05). However plasma glucose concentrations were significantly higher in sport drink group compared with the placebo group (p<0.05).Conclusion: It can be concluded that the ingredient in the this sport drink did not provide any advantages to running endurance performance.

Background & Aim: With increase of living in towns, level of stress will also increase. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between green space and mental health.Methods: This cross-relational study was carried out in Tehran in 2011. The sample consisted of two groups of 30 men. One group was resident in green space but the second group was resident in apartments for a period of at least ten years. Also, they were matched for age, educational status, and other criteria considered in this research. We studied mental health by using SCL-90-R questionnaire. For data analysis, one-way ANOVA was used.Results: The results indicated that there is a significant difference at P≤0.05 between green space and apartment residents in paranoia and neuroticism. But there was no significant difference between two groups in other mental health components.Conclusion: Living in green environments for a long period promotes mental health. So, results of this study highlighted the importance of living in green environment for improving of mental health components.

Background & Aim: The preserving embryos, the risk of multiple pregnancies, the existence of factors in stimulated uterine cycle, are important forces in perfecting embryo cryopreservation. The aim of current study was to assess Survival, Fertilization and Developmental Rates (SRs, FRs, DRs) of the mouse oocytes and embryos using cryotop and low concentrated cryoprotectants solutions.Methods: Mouse C57BL/6 oocytes and embryos were collected. Oocytes SRs, FRs, DRs were recorded after cryotop-vitrification/ warming. As well as comparing fresh oocytes and embryos, the data obtained from experimental groups (exp.) applying 1.25, 1.0, and 0.75 Molar (M) CPAs were analyzed in comparison to those of exp. adopting 1.5 M CPAs (largely-used concentration of EthylenGlycol (EG) and Dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO)).Results: The data of oocytes exposed to 1.25 M CPAs were in consistency with those exposed to 1.5 M and control group in terms of SR, FR and DR. As fewer concentrations were applied, the more decreased SRs, FRs and DRs were obtained from other experimental groups. The results of embryos were exposed to 1.25 M and 1.0 M was close to those vitrified with 1.5 M and fresh embryos. The results of 0.75 M concentrated CPAs solutions were significantly lower than those of control, 1.5 M and 1.0 M treated groups.Conclusion: CPAs limited reduction to 1.25 M and 1.0 M instead of using 1.5 M, for oocyte and embryo cryotop-vitrification procedure may be a slight adjustment.

Background & aim: Pruritus is a complication of coetaneous and internal disease such as chronic renal failure, and has a large impact on quality of life and sleep in Hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of sleep disruption caused by increasing blood flow rate during hemodialysis uremic pruritus.Methods: In the present single blind clinical trial study, 50 hemodialysis patients were chosen by consecutive method and were divided into two groups, namely intervention and comparison. Itching and sleep disturbance were measured by a questionnaire before and two and four weeks after the study. Blood flow rate of intervention group was increased in two steps (first 2 weeks 25 mil/min and next 4 weeks 50 mil/min) whilethe comparison group received routine treatment. The collected data was analyzed by Fisher exact test, T-test, and Mann-Whitney test.Results: Pruritus severity decreased 20% between the two sessions of hemodialysis (at home) in intervention group, but no change was observed in the control group. The difference between the two groups regarding the severity of pruritus after two and four weeks was significant (P=0.04, P=0.02). Sleep disturbance associated with uremic pruritus after four weeks indicated the significant difference between both groups (P=0.002).Conclusion: increasing blood flow rate improves sleep disturbance in hemodialysis patients.

Background & aim: With regard to the psychological problems of HIV infection, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of spirituality with a sense of pain and quality of life in patients with HIV/ AIDS.Methods: This descriptive-correlation study was conducted on 43 patients with AIDS in Sistan & Baluchestan province which were selected via available sampling method. Spirituality was measured using the Spirituality Questionnaire, feeling of suffering using the Scale of Experience, and Perception of Suffering and quality of life using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire. Data was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and Stepwise regression.Results: There was a significant positive relationship between spirituality and quality of life and significant negative relationship between spirituality and feeling of suffering (p<0.05).There was a significant negative relationship between spirituality and psychological suffering (p<0.05). Component of self-awareness is the best predictor of physical and psychological health and also social relationships of the quality of life. In addition, component of selfawareness is the best predictor of physical and psychological suffering, and components of self-awareness and spiritual needs, respectively, are best predictors of spiritual and existential suffering.Conclusion: Reinforcing the spiritual and religious attitude in patients with HIV/AIDS through spiritual and religion instruction may increase the social-mental health and reduce the feeling of suffering and improve quality of life of the patients.

Background & aim: Increase of metabolism and production of free radicals during physical activity may lead to several diseases by creating the oxidative stress in the body. The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidative stress index and total antioxidant capacity among athletic and non athletic females.Methods: Subjects of this descriptive-analytical study were 15 healthy female athletes playing handball who regularly had at least 3 training sessions per week, from 6 months before the study, and 15 healthy non athelete females who in the same period had not participated in regular physical activities. The subjects were of 18-25 years of age. Levels of oxidative stress index were determined by malondialdehyde (MDA) method. The FRAP (Ferric Reducing antioxidant power) method was used to determine the levels of serum total antioxidant capacity. Statistical analyisis of data was performed in both descriptive and inferential statistics. Data were analyzed by using t-test at P£0.05.Results: The results showed that malondialdehyde (MDA) oxidative stress index of handball's athletic girls is significantly (P<0.01) lower than the non athletes and total antioxidant capacity of the athletes is higher than non athletes, despite the fact that this difference was not significant.Conclusion: The results indicated that continuous and regular exercise can reduce oxidative stress and provide a more healthy life for the female athletes.

Background & Aim: Since people have different coping styles, the purpose of the present research was to compare the relationship between family communication patterns and self-concept with coping styles among male and female students of Eram Higher Education Institution in Shiraz.Methods: In the present correlation study conducted in 2011 at Eram Higher Education Institution in Shiraz, 229 participants (91 males & 119 females) were selected by simple random sampling method. Data was collected by using the revised version of family communication patterns questionnaire (RFCP), Koerner & Fitz patrik (2002), Beck's Self-concept Test (CST) (1990) and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) Endler & Parker (1990). Data was analyzed using correlation matrix & independent t-test analysis.Results: According to the result, there was significant correlation between family communication patterns and self-concept with coping styles among male and female students. In the female group, task oriented coping and avoidance oriented coping with conversation orientation and emotion oriented coping with conforming orientation showed positive significant correlation. In male group avoidance orientation coping with conversation orientation and emotion oriented coping with conforming orientation showed positive significant correlation. Also, related to self concept variable, results showed female students task oriented coping and avoidance oriented coping had significant correlation with the self concept variable, but the male students avoidance oriented coping had significant correlation with the self concept variable (P<0.05). Also, the result showed significant difference between two male and female students, in emotion oriented coping, so the female group, emotion oriented coping with (51.48) was more than the orientation within the male group with (48.18), (p<0.05).Conclusion: Family communication patterns and the concept are effective on coping styles.Therefore, strategies to improve teaching and learning factors in the family, especially for young people is essential.

Background & aim: Anti microbial properties of Thyme extract and essence various microbes have been tested and approved. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial properties of the essence of this plant in heated and minced beef.Methods: At first, property effect of this plant essence on Escherichia coli bacteria was tested in Muller Hinton media by well-assay method. After the assurance of this property, the essence of this plant was tested on heated and minced beef. Beef was minced and heated by autoclave set and then cooled and inoculated by Escherichia coli bacteria. Sampling and dilution of these dishes were done and tested in blood agar media for 12 days, once every two days. The gathered data was analyzed by using the SPSS software.Results: it was observed that thyme daenensis essence had preservative effect on Escherichia coli bacteria and decreased the multiplicity of these bacteria compared to the control group.Moreover, the Nisin sodium chloride showed no synergist property on preservative effect of thymus daenensis essence.Conclusion: the thymus daenensis could decrease the multiplicity of Escherichia coli bacteria on minced beef.