Biodiversity study of endophytic fungi associated with two Quercus species in Iran

Aim of study: In this study, frequency and diversity of fungal endophyte communities inhabiting twigs and branches of apparently healthy Q. macranthera and Q. brantii in East Azerbaijan and Lorestan provinces of Iran is presented.Area of study: East Azerbaijan and Lorestan provinces in Iran.Materials and methods: Culturable fungal endophytes were recovered from wood tissues using routine technique for isolation of fungal endophytes. The identity of fungal isolates were determined based on morphological characteristics and sequences data of ITS-rDNA region and Beta-tubulin gene. Frequency and diversity among fungal communities were analyzed using chi-square test and biodiversity indices.Main results: The highest frequency and diversity was detected for fungal endophyte community recovered from Q. macranthera and East Azerbaijan province. The assemblage of endophytic fungi characterized in this study in healthy tissues of oak trees indicates that some of the fungi are possible latent pathogens such as Biscogniauxia mediterranea with 18.28% frequency followed by Alternaria alternata and Trichothecium roseum respectively. Two fungal taxa of Pyronema domesticum and Valsa persoonii are reported for the first time in Iran. Overall, the results of this study show that the plant species and growth location influence frequency and diversity of culturable fungal endophytic communities of Quercus in Iran.Keywords: Quercus macranthera, Quercus brantii, Fungal endophytes, Molecular identification.Abbreviations used: CBS (Centraal Bureau voor Schimmelcultures); CCTU (Culture Collection of University of Tabriz); GTR (General Time Reversible); HKY (Hasegawa Kishino Yano); ITS-rDNA (Internal Transcribed Space); km (kilometer) ; PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar); TUB (Tubulin)

The effect of the health belief model-based education & improvement of consumption of fruits and vegetables: An interventional study

Background and Aims: Cardiovascular diseases are noncontiguous diseases which are caused by various factors. Considering the importance of nutrition education especially consumption of fruits and vegetables; This study was performed to determine the effect of health education based on health belief model on the improvement of consumption of fruits and vegetables aiming at preventing cardiovascular disease among high school girls in Shahr-e-kord city.Materials and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental intervention study. The research population was 120 students that were randomly divided into different groups, experimental (60 person) and controls (60 person). The tools for data collecting were questionnaire health belief model based and FFQ questionnaire. The HBM questionnaire was completed 3 times, (before, Immediately and 2 months after education) and FFQ questionnaire was completed 2 times, (before and 2 months after education) by students. After pre-test, 6 educational session classes in experimental group were performed. Finally data collected and analyzed by SPSS16 computer software (T- test, repeated measure ANOVA).Results: The two groups had no significant difference in terms of demographic variables. There was no significant differences observed in two groups before the intervention between the scores of different structures of this model (P>0/05). There was significant differences observed after the intervention between experimental and control groups in the levels of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived efficacy and performance (p<0.001).Conclusion: According to the results, intervention has positive impact on the improvement of consumption of fruits and vegetables among students.Key words: Education, Health belief model, Heart Diseases, Consumption of fruits, Vegetable

تأثير آموزش مبتني بر الگوي اعتقاد بهداشتي و ارتقاي مصرف ميوه و سبزيجات به منظور پيشگيري از بيمار يهاي قلبي- عروقي: يك مطالعه مداخله اى

Background and Aims: Cardiovascular diseases are noncontiguous diseases which are caused by various factors. Considering the importance of nutrition education especially consumption of fruits and vegetables; This study was performed to determine the effect of health education based on health belief model on the improvement of consumption of fruits and vegetables aiming at preventing cardiovascular disease among high school girls in Shahr-e-kord city.Materials and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental intervention study. The research population was 120 students that were randomly divided into different groups, experimental (60 person) and controls (60 person). The tools for data collecting were questionnaire health belief model based and FFQ questionnaire. The HBM questionnaire was completed 3 times, (before, Immediately and 2 months after education) and FFQ questionnaire was completed 2 times, (before and 2 months after education) by students. After pre-test, 6 educational session classes in experimental group were performed. Finally data collected and analyzed by SPSS16 computer software (T- test, repeated measure ANOVA).Results: The two groups had no significant difference in terms of demographic variables. There was no significant differences observed in two groups before the intervention between the scores of different structures of this model (P>0/05). There was significant differences observed after the intervention between experimental and control groups in the levels of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived efficacy and performance (p<0.001).Conclusion: According to the results, intervention has positive impact on the improvement of consumption of fruits and vegetables among students.زمينه و هدف: بيماري هاي قلبي- عروقي، بيماري هاي غير واگير هستند كه توسط عوامل متعدد ايجاد مي شوند. نظر به اهميت آموزشبه منظور ارتقاي رفتارهاي تغذيه اي پيشگيري کننده از بيماري هاي قلبي- عروقي به ويژه مصرف ميوه و سبزيجات، اين پژوهش باهدف تعيين تأثير برنامه آموزشي مبتني بر الگوي اعتقاد بهداشتي بر ارتقاي مصرف ميوه و سبزيجات به منظور پيشگيري از بيماري هايقلبي – عروقي انجام شد. مواد و روش ها: پژوهش حاضر یک مطالعه نیمه تجربی اس. این مطالعه روی120 دانش آموز دختر دبیرستانی که به صورت تصادفی در2 گروه آزمون(60نفر) و شاهد(60نفر) قرار گرفتند انجام شد. ابزار جمع آوری اطلاعات پرسشنامه مبتنی بر الگوی اعتثقاد بهداشتی در سه زمان قبل تکمیل گردید. یافته ها: دو گروه ازنظر متغیرهای دموگرافیک تفاوت معنی داری با هم نداشتند. قبل از مداخله تفاوت معنی داری بین میانگین نمرات سازه های مختلف این الگو در دو گروه مشاهده نشد. بعد از مداخله تفاوت معنی داری در میانگین نمرات آگاهی، حساسیت درک شده، شدت درک شده، منافع درک شده و موانع درک شده و عملکرد بین دو گروه آزمون و شاهد مشاهده شد. نتيجه گيري: با توجه به يافته هاي پژوهش چنين استنباط مي شود كه مداخله حاضر تأثير مثبتي روي افزايش مصرف ميوه و سبزيجاتدانش آموزان داشته است

Predictive role of personality types and religious orientation in the self-management of patients with cancer

BACKGROUND: Personality types and religious orientation are important in the self-management of patients with cancer. The present study was performed with the aim to investigate the predictive role of personality types and religious orientation in the self-management of patients with cancer.METHODS: The statistical population of the study included all patients with cancer in Tehran, Iran. Aria and Toos hospitals, as well as two private offices were selected as the places willing to cooperate in the implementation of the questionnaires. From among the patients referred to these centers, 200 people were selected by the convenience sampling method. The questionnaires used in this study included three questionnaires of religious orientation, personality questionnaire, and the self-management scale introduced in the following. In this study, the data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software.RESULTS: The relationship between the predictor variables and self-management was significant (P < 0.050). Neuroticism, extraversion, agreeability, conscientiousness, internal religious orientation, and external religious orientation were significantly correlated (P < 0.050). Internal religious orientation and external religious orientation can change self-management (P < 0.050).CONCLUSION: Accordingly, it can be concluded that there was a relationship between the personality types and religious orientation with the self-management of people with cancer

Safety evaluation of Phytovagex, a pessary formulation of Nigella sativa, on pregnant rats

Objective: The possible toxicity of drugs in pregnancy should be tested before their use in pregnant patients. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the safety of phytovagex, a pessary formulation of Nigella sativa (N. sativa), which is already in clinical use for vaginal fungal infection. Materials and Methods: The pregnant rats were treated intravaginal with physiological saline (vehicle) or phytovagex pessary in the first half of their pregnancy (days 1 to 10 of gestation). Duration of pregnancy and health parameters of the newborns were recorded after parturition. Also, cytotoxicity of N. sativa hydroalcoholic extract was tested against ovary Cho cells.  Results: The phytovagex had no significant effect on the duration of pregnancy, number of newborns, weight of neonates, and percent of stillbirth. No deformity or general behavioral abnormality was observed in neonates monitored for 30 days after birth. N. sativa extract had no significant effect on the viability of ovary cells at the concentrations of 12.5-200 µg/mL. Conclusion: Results of this animal study showed that phytovagex has no overall effect on the duration of pregnancy and health parameters of the newborns. Also, its active agent, N. sativa, does not induce any cytotoxic effect on ovary cells

Efficacy of Infloanza Vaccine in Elderly Rsidents of Kahrizak Charity Nursing Home

Objectives: Influenza disease considered to be more sever and complicated in old age persons, because immune response diminish in this group. This disease is one of the main causes of mortality in elder people. The prevalence of influenza disease in elderly are living in nursing home is more in compare if they dwell in community. We studied the effect of influenza vaccine on the incidence and numbers of episodes of influenza like illness (ILI) and cost of cares in old population residing in Kahrizak Charity Foundation, during nine months period from December of 2004 Through September 2005. Methods & Materials: This Cohort study was executed in the Kahrizak Charity Foundation, which is located in southwest of Tehran. Outcomes of residents whom were administrated influenza vaccine (n=389) and control subjects whom weren't administrated influenza vaccine (n=557), monitored clinically for onset of ILI and its relative drugs, radiology and laboratory costs. Range of participant's ages were 60-105 years. Results: For intervention group one dose of inactivated, subunit trivalent influenza vaccine was administered. During December 2004 to September 2005, 10.9% of participants caught ILL There were statistically significant lower percents of ILI (7.2% in vaccinated group and 13.4% in unvaccinated control group). Lower of drugs, laboratory and total costs in vaccinated group in compare to unvaccinated group (Consequently 1174±4918, 48500±119362 and 90690±119962 in vaccinated group versus.2521±8710, 179494±408479 and 183015±43634 in unvaccinated control group. There wasn't significant difference in deaths between vaccinated group and unvaccinated control group (65 case in vaccinated group and 66 case in unvaccinated group and Odds ratio=1.04). No serious adverse reactions to vaccination were recorded. Thus, influenza vaccination is safe and effective in this population and should become a part of the routine care of old persons who are dwelling in nursing homes. Conclusion: This study implicates clinical efficacy and cost- benefit of influenza vaccination in nursing home residents in Iran. Annual influenza vaccination of old people requires the attention of all nursing home attendants, physicians, and public health organizations

The Relationship between Health Literacy and Adherence to Medication Regimen in the Elderly with Asthma in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran

Background & Objective: Adherence to medication regimen in the elderly is of particular importance for improving medical care. By definition, the term health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others. Therefore, the general purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between health literacy and adherence to medication regimen in the elderly with asthma in the pulmonary clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. Materials & Methods: The present study is a descriptive-analytical research and correlation type. A total of 240 people over 60 years old with asthma referred to the pulmonary clinic of the hospital and were selected by available sampling method. To collect data, TOFHLA adult health literacy tool, MMAS-8 medication adherence questionnaire, demographic information questionnaire and AMT test were used to determine the cognitive status of the elderly. Data were analyzed by independent-samples t-test and Pearson correlation method using SPSS 21 software. Results: Based on data analysis, there was a statistically significant and direct relationship between health literacy and adherence to medication regimen (r = 0.155, p <0.016). Conclusion: According to study findings, as the health literacy increased, adherence to medication regimen increased as well

The Effect of Health - Nutrition Education on Health Promotion in Resident Elderly in KAHRIZAK in TEHRAN

Objectives: Aging is natural course of life which accompanied by changes of metabolism. The exchanges susceptible elderly to malnutrition in researched was do in this back ground about 3-13% of aged population involved to malnutrition that this rate increased to 30-60% in initialized elderly. In this study, we assessed the effects of medical care staff's education on nutritional situation of elderly livid in KAHRIZAK charity Foundation in TEHRAN during 4 months. Methods & Material: 192 elderlies which lived in KCF and equal or older than 65 satisfied in including to this study randomly. (50 males and 142 females) although for inclusion they had not involved to an staged liver and renal disease and had not history of surgery during one months before initiated of study. We checked HB, HCT, LDL, HDL, FBS, CRP, ALB, although assessed MNA, MMSE, ADL, Norton sore before and after educational intervention. Educational workshop operated for medical and nursing staffs of KCF during 3 days. Clinical and Para clinical assessments did 4 months, again, after that, and collected data entered to EXEL and analyzed by SPSS soft wares. Results: Before educational intervention 35.9% of elderly had very sever or severe malnutrition that after intervention decreased to 18.3% mean of ALB, HB, HCT, LDL, F.B.S increased after intervention and significant (p<0/05). Nutritional situation correlated to age, mouth and swallowing disorders, poly pharmacy, cognitive condition, ADL score in eating and Norton scores significant. Conclusion: Base of this findings is concluded medical and nursing staffs nursing homes has significant effects on decrease of moderate and severe malnutrition in elderly. Education in this instated have to continues and not cross over like this study for significant Paraclinical improvements of nutritional indicators