Prevalence of menopausal symptoms among rural women in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND: Menopause is a physiological process in women's life causing a variety of vasomotor, psychological, physical, and sexual symptoms. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of menopausal symptoms among rural women in Bangladesh.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st January to 31st December 2018 on 384 postmenopausal women aged 40-70 years and selected by convenience sampling in the rural areas of Faridpur District in Bangladesh. We used the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) for measuring the prevalence of menopausal symptoms. SPSS software was used for data analysis.RESULTS: The mean age of menopause was 47.13 ± 4.30 years. Out of 384 postmenopausal women, the most common symptoms in the vasomotor domain were ‘sweating’ (98.2%) and ‘hot flushes’ (94.5%). In the psychological domain, the most common symptoms were ‘accomplishing less than I used to’ (99.7%) and ‘experiencing poor memory’ (98.2%). In the physical domain, the most common symptoms were ‘decreases in physical strength’ (100%), ‘feeling lack of energy’ (100%), ‘changes in appearance, texture, or tone of skin’ (100%), ‘decreased stamina’ (99.7%), ‘dry skin’ (99.7%), and ‘feeling tired or worn out’ (97.1%). Out of 60.9% married menopausal women, the most common symptoms in the sexual domain were ‘change in sexual desire’ (58.6%) and ‘avoiding intimacy’ (58.3%).CONCLUSION: Many of the menopausal symptoms were frequent except ‘increased facial hair’, ‘weight gain’, and ‘willing to be alone’, which were present in 2 (0.5%), 119 (31.0%), and 122 (31.8%) women, respectively

Addiction prevention based on character strengths: A narrative review

BACKGROUND: As a chronic psychological and social disorder, addiction has caused concern in many societies. Many researches are needed to explain the factors affecting addiction to provide better knowledge and offer treatment strategies for its prevention. Character strengths, as one of the new theories related to positive psychology, can play a vital role in explaining addiction; therefore, the present study is aimed to investigate addiction prevention based on the character strengths.METHODS: This narrative review study used the keywords of “character strengths”, “addiction”, “drug use”, “drug abuse”, and “addiction tendency”, which were used in Persian and English databases.RESULTS: Character strengths as positive human characteristics reduced the vulnerability of people to addiction by improving individual and interpersonal strengths in different areas of life.CONCLUSION: The results of the present study have important implications for rehabilitators and addiction counselors in addiction prevention and empowerment of recovered addicts; therefore, paying attention to character strengths in mental and social health programs based on different levels of prevention could be of a great effectiveness

The effectiveness of forgiveness skill training on sexual satisfaction, aggression, and marital conflict in women

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the forgiveness skill training on sexual satisfaction, aggression, and marital conflict in women.METHODS: This was a semi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test design, in which 30 women were selected by the convenience sampling method from the consultation centers in Tehran, Iran, in 2017 and were divided into the case and control groups (each consisting of 15 individuals) randomly. The experimental group participated in the forgiveness skill training in 8 sessions (two sessions weekly; each lasting for 60 minutes), while the control group was in the waiting list. The Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire, Aggression Questionnaire, and Marital Conflict Questionnaire were used to assess the participants and the data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS software.RESULTS: The results showed that the case and control groups had a significant difference, at least in one of the sexual relations, aggression, and marital conflict variables (P < 0.0500).CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that the forgiveness skill training led to the improvement of sexual satisfaction, reducing aggression, and marital conflict in women

Comparison of the effectiveness of mindfulness and homeopathy on sleep and chronic pain in patients with diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) can affect many aspects of life. Numerous psychological interventions have been applied to control this disease. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness and homeopathy on sleep and chronic pain in patients with DM in Tehran, Iran.METHODS: The method of study was quasi-experimental with a control group with pretest and posttest stages. The statistical population of the study consisted of all patients with DM referred to the Iranian Diabetes Society (IDS) in Tehran in 2016. Patients with DM with sleep and chronic pain disorders were selected for this study. Among the individuals, 45 people were randomly selected and placed in 3 groups (homeopathy n = 15), mindfulness (n = 15), and control group (n = 15). The two experimental groups (homeopathy and mindfulness) underwent the interventions of homeopathy and mindfulness, respectively, while the control group was in the wait list. All three groups filled out the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) at the baseline and follow-up steps. The data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS software (version 22, IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA).RESULTS: The results showed that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBRS) and homeopathy could improve chronic pain and sleep disorders in the experimental groups (P < 0.05), however the mindfulness-based treatment was better than homeopathy for reduction of chronic pain and improvement of sleep disorders (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Mindfulness and homeopathy are effective in the reduction of chronic pain and sleep disorders in patients with DM, with mindfulness being more effective than homeopathy. This alternative medicine could improve pain and sleep effectively in patients with DM

Efficacy of emotion regulation techniques in hopelessness, worry, and anxiety in chronic infertile women: A short report

BACKGROUND: Infertility, as an important stressful factor, is involved in development of mood disorders. In this regard, this study assessed the effect of emotion regulation techniques on hopelessness, worry, and anxiety symptoms in chronic infertility in women.METHODS: This was a semi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design and control group. Statistical population consisted of infertile women who referred to gynecology clinics in Tehran, Iran, in 2017. All individuals fulfilled the anxiety and depression questionnaires and then, 30 women were selected randomly in two experimental and control groups, 15 persons in each group. Emotion regulation techniques were implemented on experimental group once a week, but the control group was on the waiting list. Both groups fulfilled the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) in baseline and the end of the intervention. The results were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and SPSS software.RESULTS: Emotion regulation techniques led to reduction of worry (F(1,30) = 8.29, P < 0.05, d = 0.71), hopelessness (F(1,30) = 6.32, P < 0.01, d = 0.57), and anxiety (F(1,30) = 8.69, P < 0.05, d = 0.39) in infertile women.CONCLUSION: Considering the effectiveness of emotion regulation techniques in reduction of anxiety, hopelessness, and worry in infertile women, these techniques could be applied for improvement of mood in infertile women

Boosting the immune system with functional compounds during the Covid-19 pandemic: A Review

BACKGROUND: More than 1 year has passed since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nutrition and its role in boosting the immune system have been a hot topic during the previous year in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. An effective medicine for COVID-19 has not been introduced and public vaccination has not gained an acceptable speed in the world; therefore, preventive measures, protocols adherence, and a robust immune system are crucial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of food in boosting the immune system during the Covid-19 pandemic.METHODS: In this scoping review, we searched and collected data related to food and its role in strengthening the immune system and COVID-19 in 4 leading databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of sciences, and ScienceDirect. Findings were analyzed and combined using thematic analysis.RESULTS: People with weak immune systems have been more affected by the coronavirus. Vitamins D, A, and E, zinc, selenium, copper, prebiotics, probiotics, lactoferrin, and omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to minimize SARS-CoV-2 viral load and shorten hospital stay. The dietary sources that can provide such functional compounds and boost the immune system are fish, milk and cheese, eggs, meat, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds, liver, and vegetable oils.CONCLUSION: Due to the high demand for and limited availability of successful vaccines around the world, developing and low-income countries should be cautious about personal health problems and use food supplements to improve the immune system until public vaccination can be made available

Predictive factors related to surgical decision-making in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is more common in neonates. This study aimed to determine the predictive factors in the decision-making about surgery in neonates with NEC.METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was performed in Ali Asghar Children's Hospital in Tehran, Iran. All neonates hospitalized due to NEC from 2018 to 2020 were enrolled in this study. We compared the study variables such as demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiography, and sonography variables in neonates who underwent surgery with neonates without surgery. Statistical analysis was conducted by SPSS and R software.RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding age at hospitalization, sex, gestational age, and birth weight (P > 0.05). Comparison of laboratory, clinical, and radiography findings showed that there were significant statistical differences in terms of C-reactive protein (CRP), prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), sodium (Na), procalcitonin (PCT), skin discoloration of the abdominal wall, presence of portal venous gas (PVG), pneumoperitoneum, ascites, and fixed intestinal loop between two groups (P < 0.05). The results also showed that presence of skin discoloration of the abdominal wall, high level of CRP, PVG, pneumoperitoneum, ascites, and fixed intestinal loop were predictive factors for the decision of surgery.CONCLUSION: The abdominal color change, high level of CRP, PVG, pneumoperitoneum, ascites, and fixed intestinal loop are predictive factors for the decision of surgery in neonates with NEC

The relationship of sexual dysfunction disorders syndrome and body image with mental health in women

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction (SD) and body image are interrelated and could affect mental health. This study aims to examine the relationship between SD and body image with mental health in women.METHODS: This was a correlational study and statistical population was all married women at age of 25-50 who referred to gynecology centers in Tehran, Iran, in Mar 2015. 150 women who referred to gynecological clinics in two regions of 4 and 8 in Tehran, were chosen using convenience sampling method. They filled 12-Item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Sexual Function Questionnaire (SFQ), and Body Image Scale (BIS). Data were analyzed by using Pearson correlation and regression through SPSS software.RESULTS: The relationship between SD disorders syndrome and negative body image with mental health was statistically significant (P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: Negative self-image could have a negative effect on SD syndrome and it could predict poor mental health in women

A case-control study on comparing resilience, quality of life, and perceived support in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a chronic endocrine disorder characterized by impaired glucose metabolism. Diabetic foot, retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy are diabetes-related outcomes that can affect resilience, quality of life (QOL), and perceived support. This study was conducted to compare resilience, QOL, and perceived support in patients with type 2 diabetes.METHODS: This study was a correlational study conducted in the form of a case-control design and was carried out in Tehran, Iran. For this purpose, 80 patients including 40 women and 40 men were selected based on purposeful sampling method during summer 2018. Three questionnaires of Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Family Quality of Life Questionnaire (FQOL), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were completed by the participants during a period of time. Data were analyzed by independent t-test and multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS software.RESULTS: The difference between the mean scores of men and women in the resilience variable was significant and higher in women (P < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of men and women in the variables of quality of family life and perceived support and it was higher in women (P < 0.01 for all).CONCLUSION: The relationship between resilience, QOL, and perceived support variables with demographic indices is important and can be clinically relevant in planning appropriate interventions in patients with diabetes

Explaining the structural relationship between mindfulness and binge eating in obese people: The mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between mindfulness and binge eating in obese individuals.METHODS: This research was performed as correlation research and statistical population included obese and overweight men and women in spring, summer, and autumn 2018 in Karaj City, Iran, 414 of whom were selected by purposive sampling method and participated in the study. Data were collected by calculating participants' body mass index (BMI), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), Binge Eating Scale (BES), and structural equation modeling (SEM) and then analyzed using Amos software.RESULTS: The model has an acceptable fit with the collected data [χ2/degree of freedom (df) = 3.80, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.929, goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.910, adjusted GFI (AGFI) = 0.871, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.082]. Examination of the path coefficients showed that emotion regulation strategies mediated the relationship between mindfulness and binge eating.CONCLUSION: Mindfulness affects binge eating in obese people through the mediating role of emotional regulation strategies