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Regularity in Breakfast and Snacks Intake and Its Relationship with Weight Status in Elementary School Students: A Cross Sectional Study
No full textBackground: Childhood weight status is one of the important predictors of health status later in life. Some previous studies have postulated a relationship between the pattern of breakfast intake and weight status, but this relationship has not yet been clearly confirmed. This study aimed to assess the status of regularity in intake of breakfast and snacks and its relationship with weight status in elementary school students. Method: This study was done with a descriptive-analytic design. 362 children (Males: 192, Females: 170 child) were selected from elementary schools of Urmia by the use of stratified cluster sampling. A dietary 24-hour recall form was used for the assessment of intakes. Data about breakfast, snacks, height, weight, and waist circumferences were collected. Children's Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ-C) was used to assess the participants' physical activity level. Data were analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS software. Results: Mean student age, weight and BMI were 10.57 +/- 1.17 years, 37.44 +/- 11.30 kg and 18.4 +/- 3.39, respectively. 53.2 of girls had a regular breakfast and 55 regular snack intake. Among the boys, 46.8 had regular breakfast and 45 regular snack intake. Results showed a significant relationship between BMI and snacks consumption (p = 0.02). There was a significant relationship between the frequency of irregular breakfast intake and weight (P=0.01), but the relationship was not significant for the body mass index (P = 0.11). 58.1 of the students in the irregular breakfast group and 64.4 of those in the irregular snacks group were lean. Conclusions: Regular intake of snacks was correlated with higher weight status and maintaining desirable BMI. Irregular breakfast intake was related to lower weight. Most students with irregular breakfast and snack intake were underweight and thin
Effect of alcohol consumption on breast cancer: probabilistic bias analysis for adjustment of exposure misclassification bias and confounders
No full textPurposeThis study was conducted to evaluate the effect of alcohol consumption on breast cancer, adjusting for alcohol consumption misclassification bias and confounders.MethodsThis was a case-control study of 932 women with breast cancer and 1000 healthy control. Using probabilistic bias analysis method, the association between alcohol consumption and breast cancer was adjusted for the misclassification bias of alcohol consumption as well as a minimally sufficient set of adjustment of confounders derived from a causal directed acyclic graph. Population attributable fraction was estimated using the Miettinen's Formula.ResultsBased on the conventional logistic regression model, the odds ratio estimate between alcohol consumption and breast cancer was 1.05 (95 CI: 0.57, 1.91). However, the adjusted estimates of odds ratio based on the probabilistic bias analysis ranged from 1.82 to 2.29 for non-differential and from 1.93 to 5.67 for differential misclassification. Population attributable fraction ranged from 1.51 to 2.57 using non-differential bias analysis and 1.54-3.56 based on differential bias analysis.ConclusionA marked measurement error was in self-reported alcohol consumption so after correcting misclassification bias, no evidence against independence between alcohol consumption and breast cancer changed to a substantial positive association
Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) in the Treatment of Varicose Veins: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
No full textVaricose veins are a common disorder for which different treatments with varied efficacy have been introduced so far. In this study, we review the results of previous studies to evaluate the efficacy of ClosureFast endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating varicose veins. The present study was performed based on the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) protocols, and the results were reported based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guideline. Searches were conducted in all authentic online databases, and the retrieved papers were conducted until March 2021 using Mesh keywords. Study data with the necessary quality to enter the meta-analysis were extracted. Data were analyzed using comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA) software version 2. The cutoff level for significance was determined at 0.05. In total, 36 studies with sample size 7404 procedures were included. Radiofrequency ablation success, recurrence, and recanalization rates in the treatment of varicose veins were estimated to be 95, 7, and 3 respectively. The most common complications were bruising 13, induration 11.6, edema 8, ecchymosis 7.4, and numbness 6.3. This study showed that the radiofrequency ablation method is a high-performance method with few and often transient complications, and the risk of significant complications in using this method to treat varicose veins is low. More studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this method compared to other treatments
Combined treatment of high-intensity interval training with neural stem cell generation on contusive model of spinal cord injury in rats
No full textIntroductionSpinal cord injury (SCI) leads to inflammation, axonal degeneration, and gliosis. A combined treatment of exercise and neural stem cells (NSC) has been proposed to improve neural repair. This study evaluated a combined treatment of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with NSC generation from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) on a contusive model of SCI in rats. Materials and MethodsIn vitro, rat ADSCs were isolated from the perinephric regions of Sprague-Dawley rats using enzymatic digestion. The ADSCs were transdifferentiated into neurospheres using B27, EGF, and bFGF. After production of NSC, they were labeled using green fluorescent protein (GFP). For the in vivo study, rats were divided into eight groups: control group, sham operation group, sham operation + HIIT group, sham operation + NSC group, SCI group, SCI + HIIT group, SCI + NSC group, and SCI/HIIT/NSC group. Laminectomy was carried out at the T12 level using the impactor system. HIIT was performed three times per week. To assess behavioral function, the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor test and H-reflex was carried out once a week for 12 weeks. We examined glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), S100 beta, and NF200 expression. ResultsNSC transplantation, HIIT and combined therapy with NSC transplantation, and the HIIT protocol improved locomotor function with decreased maximum H to maximum M reflexes (H/M ratio) and increased the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan score. ConclusionCombined therapy in contused rats using the HIIT protocol and neurosphere-derived NSC transplantation improves functional and histological outcomes
Investigating factors affecting the prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression among citizens of Karaj city: A population-based cross-sectional study
No full textBackground & aim: Stress, anxiety, and depression are among the major public health problems worldwide. These problems, which may lead to more challenges, continue to grow. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the main factors affecting the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among citizens of Karaj. Materials & methods: A total of 920 people participated in the study. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), consisting of 21 items, was used for the assessment of the studied problems. Single and multiple regressions were used for the data analysis. In addition, all statistical analysis was done by Stata version 12 at the 0.05significance level. Results: We found that the prevalence rate of depression, anxiety, and stress was 4.79, 13.28, and 15.13, respectively. Education level was significantly associated with stress (b: 1.21; p < 0.001), anxiety (b: 2.03; p < 0.001), and depression (b: 0.48; p: 0.039). The association of the female gender with stress (b: 2.05; p < 0.001) and anxiety (b: 1.01; p: 0.002) was also confirmed. The association of being divorced or widowed with stress (b: 1.84; p: 0.005), anxiety (b: 1.21; p: 0.001), and depression (b: 1.85; p: 0.003) was approved. There was also a significant association between family size and stress (b: 0.39; p: 0.041). Gender and economic status were known as the most effective factors in the incidence of the studied problems. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of depression, stress, and anxiety in Karaj should be taken into consideration. Therefore, the preventive and therapeutic measures need to be considered for reducing the effects of the risk factors
Interferon-Induced Transmembrane Protein 3 rs34481144 C/T Genotype and Clinical Parameters Related to Progression of COVID-19
No full textRecent research has associated the interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 gene (IFITM3) with the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), although the findings are contradictory. This study aimed to determine the relationship between IFITM3 gene rs34481144 polymorphism and clinical parameters with COVID-19 mortality. The tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction assay was used to analyze IFITM3 rs34481144 polymorphism in 1,149 deceased and 1,342 recovered patients. The clinical parameters were extracted from the patients' medical records. In this study, the frequency of IFITM3 rs34481144 CT genotypes (OR 1.47, 95 CI 1.23-1.76, P<0.0001) in both sexes was significantly higher in deceased patients than in recovered patients. Moreover, IFITM3 rs34481144 TT genotypes (OR 3.38, 95 CI 1.05-10.87, P<0.0001) in women were significantly associated with COVID-19 mortality. The multivariable logistic regression model results indicated that mean age (P<0.001), alkaline phosphatase (P=0.005), alanine aminotransferase (P<0.001), low-density lipoprotein (P<0.001), high-density lipoprotein (P<0.001), fasting blood glucose (P=0.010), creatinine (P<0.001), uric acid (P<0.001), C-reactive protein (P=0.004), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (P<0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P<0.001), and real-time PCR Ct values (P<0.001) were linked with increased COVID-19 death rates. In conclusion, IFITM3 rs34481144 gene polymorphism was linked to the mortality of COVID-19, with the rs34481144-T allele being especially important for mortality. Further studies are needed to confirm the results of this study
An Expert Overview on Therapies in Non-Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia: Classical to Cutting Edge in Treatment
No full textThe thalassemia issue is a growing worldwide health concern that anticipates the number of patients suffering from the disease will soon increase significantly. Patients with b-thalassemia intermedia (b-TI) manifest mild to intermediate levels of anemia, which is a reason for it to be clinically located between thalassemia minor and b-thalassemia major (b-TM). Notably, the determination of the actual rate of b-TI is more complicated than b-TM. The leading cause of this illness could be partial repression of b-globin protein production; accordingly, the rate of b-globin gene repression is different in patients, and the gene repression intensity creates a different clinical status. This review article provides an overview of functional mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages of the classic to latest new treatments for this group of patients, depending on the disease severity divided into the typical management strategies for patients with b-TI such as fetal hemoglobin (Hb) induction, splenectomy, bone marrow transplantation (BMT), transfusion therapy, and herbal and chemical iron chelators. Recently, novel erythropoiesis-stimulating agents have been added. Novel strategies are subclassified into molecular and cellular interventions. Genome editing is one of the efficient molecular therapies for improving hemoglobinopathies, especially b-TI. It encompasses high-fidelity DNA repair (HDR), base and prime editing, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 procedure, nucleasefree strategies, and epigenetic modulation. In cellular interventions, we mentioned the approach pattern to improve erythropoiesis impairments in translational models and patients with b-TI that involve activin II receptor traps, Janus-associated kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitors, and iron metabolism regulation
The relationship between the intake of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products with hypertension: findings from the STEPS study
No full textBackgroundThe current research aimed to evaluate the relationship between fruit, vegetable (FV), and dairy consumption with the odds of developing hypertension based on nationwide Stepwise approach to surveillance (STEPS) data in Iran.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was accomplished by the research center of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Tehran. In total, 29,378 individuals' data were analyzed. Participants were classified into normal, elevated BP, stage I, and stage II hypertension according to systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) examinations. Based on the STEPS questionnaire, the consumption of FVs and dairy products was evaluated. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to assess the relationship between the consumption of FVs and dairy products with hypertension.ResultsThe findings revealed that only fruit consumption (& GE; 2 servings/day) was negatively related to stage I hypertension (odds ratio (OR) = 0.81; 95 confidence interval (CI): 0.69-0.95) in two servings per day and OR = 0.81; 95 CI: 0.68-0.96 in > two servings per day) in the adjusted model. There was no significant relationship between consuming vegetables and dairy products with elevated BP and hypertension.ConclusionOur study showed that increasing fruit consumption was related to reducing hypertension odds. Regarding the consumption of dairy products and vegetables, no significant relationship was found with the odds of hypertension. More studies, especially cohorts, are needed to evaluate the impacts of FV and dairy products on the risk of hypertension
Development and Psychometric Properties of Decision-Making Scale for Emergency Hospital Evacuation in Disasters
No full textBackground: The evidence shows that the need for emergency evacuation in hospitals has arisen. Designing an emergency evacuation decision making tool increases the confidence of hospital managers in the decision made. Therefore, this study was aimed at the development, and the psychometric properties, of the decision-making scale for emergency hospital evacuation in disasters.Methods: This study was done in 2 phases of qualitative study and literature review and designing and psychometric properties of the instrument. After development of the primary item pool, the psychometric properties of the questionnaire were evaluated. In this regard, face and content validity, internal consistency (Alpha's Cronbach), reliability (ICC), and stability were assessed.Results: In the validity stage of the instrument, 4 items were removed. Also, 4 items were modified and 2 items were merged. The number of items was thus decreased to 64. After CVI calculation, 5 items were removed, 4 items were modified, and 2 items were merged. As a result of this, the number of items decreased to 58 items. The scale has good reliability and stability.Conclusion: It seems that the instrument could be useful in decision-making for emergency hospital evacuation in disasters
A model to analyze human and organizational factors contributing to pandemic risk assessment in manufacturing industries: FBN-HFACS modelling
No full textThis study presents a holistic model based on Fuzzy Bayesian Network-Human Factor Analysis and Classification System (FBN-HFACS) to analyze contributing factors in the pandemic, Covid 19, risk management under uncertainty. The model contains three main phases include employing a) HFACS to systematically identify influencing factors based on validation using content validity indicators, b) Fuzzy Set Theory to obtain the prior probability distribution of contributing factors in pandemic risk and address the epistemic uncertainty and subjectivity, and finally, c) Bayesian network to develop causality model of the risk, probabilistic inferences and handle parameter and model uncertainties. The Ratio of Variation (RoV), as BN-driven importance measures, is utilized to conduct sensitivity analysis and explore the most critical factors that yield effective safety countermeasures. The model is tested to investigate four large manufacturing industries in South Khorasan (Iran). It provided a deep understanding of influencing human and organizational factors and captured dependencies among those factors, while quantitative finding paves a way to efficiently make risk-based decisions to deal with the pandemic risks under uncertainty