Knowledge of Mothers in Management of Diarrhea in Under-Five Children, in Kashan, Iran

Background: Diarrhea has been considered as a major cause of mortality in children aged less than five years old. Most of these deaths are due to dehydration and mis management or delayed management of the disease. Most of the diarrhea episodes are treated in the home by mothers. Therefore the mothers’ knowledge in management of diarrhea is likely related to its mortality and morbidity. Objectives: This study designed to evaluate the knowledge of the mothers with children under five years old about diarrhea and its management and to identify the relation of the knowledge content with some demographic characteristics. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 430 mothers who had at least one child aged below five years old were selected by cluster sampling. The mothers were asked to complete the 22 items questionnaire designed to evaluate their knowledge of diarrhea. Some demographic characteristics such as age, number of children, education of the mother and her spouse and the source of knowledge also were recorded. Subsequently, the data analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test. Results: Most of the mothers were 25-30 years old (43.8%). Slightly more than half (55.6%) had just one child. The health center, educational programs and the personal reading were the main sources of the knowledge about the treatment (43.7%). Twenty eight point eight percent of the mothers had a good knowledge in diarrhea diagnosis and its treatment, while the 46.5% had medium and 24.7% suffered low knowledge. The knowledge of the mothers had significant relationship with the age of the mother, education of the father, number of children, occupation of the mother, and the source of the knowledge. Conclusions: The mothers studied in this research had inadequate knowledge about diagnosis and treatment of diarrhea. The educational programs must be an essential part of the health centers programs

Stochastic ϕ4−\phi^4-Theory in the Strong Coupling Limit

The stochastic $\phi^4$-theory in $d-$dimensions dynamically develops domain wall structures within which the order parameter is not continuous. We develop a statistical theory for the $\phi^4$-theory driven with a random forcing which is white in time and Gaussian-correlated in space. A master equation is derived for the probability density function (PDF) of the order parameter, when the forcing correlation length is much smaller than the system size, but much larger than the typical width of the domain walls. Moreover, exact expressions for the one-point PDF and all the moments $$ are given. We then investigate the intermittency issue in the strong coupling limit, and derive the tail of the PDF of the increments $\phi(x_2) - \phi(x_1)$. The scaling laws for the structure functions of the increments are obtained through numerical simulations. It is shown that the moments of field increments defined by, $C_b=$, behave as $|x_1-x_2|^{\xi_b}$, where $\xi_b=b$ for $b\leq 1$, and $\xi_b=1$ for $b\geq1$Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures. to appear in Nuclear. Phys.

Exact Analysis of Level-Crossing Statistics for (d+1)-Dimensional Fluctuating Surfaces

We carry out an exact analysis of the average frequency $\nu_{\alpha x_i}^+$ in the direction $x_i$ of positive-slope crossing of a given level $\alpha$ such that, $h({\bf x},t)-\bar{h}=\alpha$, of growing surfaces in spatial dimension $d$. Here, $h({\bf x},t)$ is the surface height at time $t$, and $\bar{h}$ is its mean value. We analyze the problem when the surface growth dynamics is governed by the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) equation without surface tension, in the time regime prior to appearance of cusp singularities (sharp valleys), as well as in the random deposition (RD) model. The total number $N^+$ of such level-crossings with positive slope in all the directions is then shown to scale with time as $t^{d/2}$ for both the KPZ equation and the RD model.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figure

Prevalence and determinants of diabetes and prediabetes in southwestern Iran: the Khuzestan comprehensive health study (KCHS)

Background: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is postulated to have the highest increase in the prevalence of diabetes by 2030; however, studies on the epidemiology of diabetes are rather limited across the region, including in Iran. Methods: This study was conducted between 2016 and 2018 among Iranian adults aged 20 to 65 years residing in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran. Diabetes was defined as the fasting blood glucose (FBG) level of 126 mg/dl or higher, and/or taking antidiabetic medications, and/or self-declared diabetes. Prediabetes was defined as FBG 100 to 125 mg/dl. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine the association of multiple risk factors that attained significance on the outcome. Results: Overall, 30,498 participants were recruited; the mean (±SD) age was 41.6 (±11.9) years. The prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes were 30.8 and 15.3, respectively. We found a similar prevalence of diabetes in both sexes, although it was higher among illiterates, urban residents, married people, and smokers. Participants aged 50�65 and those with Body Mass Index (BMI) 30 kg/m2 or higher were more likely to be affected by diabetes RR: 20.5 (18.1,23.3) and 3.2 (3.0,3.6). Hypertension RR: 5.1 (4.7,5.5), waist circumference (WC) equal or more than 90 cm RR: 3.6 (3.3,3.9), and family history RR: 2.3 (2.2,2.5) were also significantly associated with diabetes. For prediabetes, the main risk factors were age 50 to 65 years RR: 2.6 (2.4,2.8), BMI 30 kg/m2 or higher RR: 1.9 (1.8,2.0), hypertension and WC of 90 cm or higher RR: 1.7 (1.6,1.8). The adjusted relative risks for all variables were higher in females than males, with the exception of family history for both conditions and waist circumference for prediabetes. Conclusions: Prediabetes and diabetes are prevalent in southwestern Iran. The major determinants are older age, obesity, and the presence of hypertension. Further interventions are required to escalate diabetes prevention and diagnosis in high-risk areas across Iran. © 2021, The Author(s)

2020 Update of the quality indicators for acute myocardial infarction : a position paper of the Association for Acute Cardiovascular Care : the study group for quality indicators from the ACVC and the NSTE-ACS guideline group

Aims Quality indicators (QIs) are tools to improve the delivery of evidence-base medicine. In 2017, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Association for Acute Cardiovascular Care (ACVC) developed a set of QIs for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which have been evaluated at national and international levels and across different populations. However, an update of these QIs is needed in light of the accumulated experience and the changes in the supporting evidence. Methods and results The ESC methodology for the QI development was used to update the 2017 ACVC QIs. We identified key domains of AMI care, conducted a literature review, developed a list of candidate QIs, and used a modified Delphi method to select the final set of indicators. The same seven domains of AMI care identified by the 2017 Study Group were retained for this update. For each domain, main and secondary QIs were developed reflecting the essential and complementary aspects of care, respectively. Overall, 26 QIs are proposed in this document, compared to 20 in the 2017 set. New QIs are proposed in this document (e.g. the centre use of high-sensitivity troponin), some were retained or modified (e.g. the in-hospital risk assessment), and others were retired in accordance with the changes in evidence [e.g. the proportion of patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) treated with fondaparinux] and the feasibility assessments (e.g. the proportion of patients with NSTEMI whom risk assessment is performed using the GRACE and CRUSADE risk scores). Conclusion Updated QIs for the management of AMI were developed according to contemporary knowledge and accumulated experience. These QIs may be applied to evaluate and improve the quality of AMI care

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

The solitary solutions of nonlinear Klein-Gordon field with minimal length

The existence of a minimal length is predicted by theories of quantum gravity and it is generally accepted that this minimal length should be of the order of the Planck length and hence can be observed in high energy phenomenon. We study the implications of the presence of the minimal length on the Klein-Gordon filed with ϕ4 self-interaction. Considering the process of spontaneous symmetry breaking, the potential also includes the ϕ3 term. The consequent field equation is a fourth-order differential equation and is considered to have solitary solutions. The sech method is applied and the normalized solutions are obtained in closed forms and the energy spectrum of the solitary fields is determined. The modification parameter of the theory is estimated by the width and the energy of the obtained solitary fields

Effect of Water Deficit Stress and Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid on Antioxidants Enzymes Activity in Leaves of Thymus Daenensis Subsp. Lancifolius

In order to study the effects of water deficit stress and foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) on the activity of five antioxidant enzymes (catalase - CAT; EC 1.11.1.6, ascorbate peroxidase - APX; EC 1.11.1.11, glutathione reductase - GR; EC 1.6.4.2, peroxidase - POD; EC 1.11.1.7 and polyphenol oxidase - PPO; 1.14.18.1) of Thymus daenensis (subsp. lancifolius), an experiment was conducted in factorial based on completely randomized design with three replicates, during 2013. Drought treated seedlings showed elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROSs), with a concomitant increase in the activities of the enzymes CAT, APX, GR, POD and PPO, compared to controls. Under medium water deficit, APX and PPO activities significantly increased by higher SA concentration (2 mM), but under control and sever water deficit conditions, there was no significant difference between 1 mM and 2 mM concentrations regarding APX and PPO activity. Under all levels of available water, increase in SA concentration from 0.1 mM to1 mM induced significant increase in GR activity. The maximum amount of GR (under medium water deficit condition) achieved from 1mM of SA. While the maximum amounts of APX, PPO (under medium water deficit condition), CAT and POD (under sever water deficit condition) achieved from 2 mM of SA. In total, our results suggest that application of SA (as a trigger of signal cascade) could be advantageous against water deficit stress, and could protect thyme plants in mentioned conditions

Effect of water deficit stress and foliar application of salicylic acid on antioxidants enzymes activity in leaves of Thymus daenensis subsp. Lancifolius

In order to study the effects of water deficit stress and foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) on the activity of five antioxidant enzymes (catalase - CAT; EC 1.11.1.6, ascorbate peroxidase - APX; EC 1.11.1.11, glutathione reductase - GR; EC 1.6.4.2, peroxidase - POD; EC 1.11.1.7 and polyphenol oxidase - PPO; 1.14.18.1) of Thymus daenensis (subsp. lancifolius), an experiment was conducted in factorial based on completely randomized design with three replicates, during 2013. Drought treated seedlings showed elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROSs), with a concomitant increase in the activities of the enzymes CAT, APX, GR, POD and PPO, compared to controls. Under medium water deficit, APX and PPO activities significantly increased by higher SA concentration (2 mM), but under control and sever water deficit conditions, there was no significant difference between 1 mM and 2 mM concentrations regarding APX and PPO activity. Under all levels of available water, increase in SA concentration from 0.1 mM to1 mM induced significant increase in GR activity. The maximum amount of GR (under medium water deficit condition) achieved from 1mM of SA. While the maximum amounts of APX, PPO (under medium water deficit condition), CAT and POD (under sever water deficit condition) achieved from 2 mM of SA. In total, our results suggest that application of SA (as a trigger of signal cascade) could be advantageous against water deficit stress, and could protect thyme plants in mentioned conditions