Neuropsychological function in relation to dysmenorrhea in adolescents

Objective: Hormonal variations during the menstrual cycle may affect emotional regulation. We aimed to investigate the association between dysmenorrhea (the severe abdominal pain and cramps associated with menstruation) and cognitive abilities, emotional function and sleep patterns in adolescent girls. Moreover, we evaluated the frequency of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in our population and then divided them into 4 groups: subjects with only PMS; subjects with only dysmenorrhea; individuals with both PMS and dysmenorrhea and normal subjects. Study design: In this cross sectional study, 897 adolescent girls who had entered menarche were recruited. Of these, 35.9% had only dysmenorrhea, 14.9% had only PMS, 32.7% had both PMS and dysmenorrhea while 16.5% had no PMS and/or dysmenorrhea (Normal). We assessed the tests for cognitive, emotional function and sleep patterns were compared for these groups. Results: Individuals in the dysmenorrhea group had significantly higher depression, aggression, insomnia, daytime sleepiness and sleep apnea scores compared to normal controls and the PMS group, but did not have significantly different cognitive ability (P value < 0.05). These differences were strongly correlated to pain intensity (P < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between those with only PMS and control subjects with regard to cognitive ability, emotional function and sleep pattern tests. Conclusions: Dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent among adolescents and appears to be associated with depressive mood, a tendency to aggressive behavior and sleep disorders among adolescent girls. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Effect of Foot Reflexology and Gentle Stretching Exercises on Pain Intensity in Patients after Spine Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The side effects of long-term use and high doses of drugs have increased the use of complementary therapies for the reduction of pain.Aim: The present study aimed to compare the effect of foot reflexology and gentle stretching exercises on pain intensity in patients after spine surgery.Method: This clinical trial study was performed on 90 patients undergoing spinal surgery referring to hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups: foot reflexology, gentle stretching exercises, and control. In intervention groups, apart from the routine procedures, foot reflexology or gentle stretching exercises were performed daily from the first day after surgery until discharge, and also three times a week for six weeks after discharge. In the control group, only routine care was performed.Results: The mean age of the samples was 43.35±11.15 years. In within-group comparison, the mean pain intensity was significantly decreased at the end of the sixth week after surgery in all three groups (P<0.001). The mean of pain intensity in the reflexology group was lower than that in the stretching exercise group on the second day after surgery, discharge time, as well as the first and sixth weeks after discharge (P<0.001). Nonetheless, there was no significant difference between the stretching exercise group and the control group (P<0.05).Implications for Practice: Foot reflexology effectively reduces the pain intensity of patients after spinal surgery. Therefore, it is recommended to be performed by patients or their caregivers to reduce pain after spinal surgery

Anemia is associated with cognitive impairment in adolescent girls: a cross-sectional survey

Anemia is associated with impairment in oxygen transport, affecting an individual’s physical and mental wellbeing, and work performance. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of anemia and its possible association with serum antibody titers to Hsp27 (as an indicator of cellular stress), cognitive function, measures of emotion, sleep patterns in adolescent girls. A total of 940 adolescent girls were assessed to evaluate neuropsychological function with validated questionnaires. A complete blood count was determined as part of the assessment of hematological parameters. Serum anti-Hsp27 was measured for each subject. Among the total of 940 participants, 99 girls (10.5%) were anemic [hemoglobin <12(g/dl)]. Serum anti-HSP27 was significantly higher in anemic compared to healthy girls (p<0.05). There was no significant differences in depression, aggression, insomnia, daytime sleepiness and sleep apnea score between two groups. However, the total cognitive abilities score was significantly lower in the anemic girls (76.8±2.1 versus 85.7±2.5, p = 0.002). Logistic regression analysis showed that anemic girls were 1.73 times more likely than non-anemic girls to have cognitive impairment (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-2.78; P = 0.025). Anemia was associated with elevated levels of anti-HSP27 and supports the hypothesis that cellular stress may be associated with anemia. Anemia was adversely associated with an assessment of cognitive abilities and was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in this grou

Passive smoking is associated with cognitive and emotional impairment in adolescent girls

It is well established that smoking is associated with impaired mental health and sleep problems. However, the possible effects of passive smoking on cognitive and emotional characteristics have not previously been evaluated in adolescents. We investigated the association between passive smoking and cognitive and emotional function, and sleep patterns in 940 adolescent girls. The girls were divided into 2 groups [305 exposed subjects and 635 non-exposed subjects (the controls)]. The passive smokers had a significantly lower cognitive function and higher depression, aggression, and insomnia scores compared to the control group (P <0.05). No significant difference was detected with respect to day-time sleepiness and sleep apnea. Logistic regression analyses showed that the passive smokers were more likely than the controls to have cognitive impairments, depressive mood, aggressive behavior and insomnia. Adolescent passive smokers had significant differences in their cognitive abilities and emotional function

High-dose vitamin D supplementation is associated with an improvement in several cardio-metabolic risk factors in adolescent girls: a nine-week follow up study

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent and important global health problem. Because of its role in growth and development, vitamin D status is likely to be particularly important in adolescent girls. Here we explored the effects of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods: We have examined the effects of vitamin D supplementation on cardio-metabolic risk factors in 988 healthy adolescent girls in Iran. Fasting blood samples and anthropometric measurements were obtained at baseline and after supplementation with high dose vitamin D. All individuals took a capsule of 50000 IU vitamin D/ week for nine weeks. The study was completed by 940 participants. Results: the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 90% at baseline, reducing to16.3% after vitamin D supplementation. Vitamin supplementation was associated with a significant increase in serum levels of 25 (OH) vitamin D and calcium. There were significant reductions in diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, waist circumference, and serum fasting blood glucose, total- and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol after the nine-week period on vitamin D treatment, but no significant effects were observed on body mass index, systolic blood pressure, or serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride. Conclusion: vitamin D supplementation had beneficial effects on cardio-metabolic profile in adolescent girls

High dose vitamin D supplementation can improve menstrual problems, dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome in adolescents

Vitamin D has a crucial role in female reproduction, possibly through its effects on calcium homeostasis, cyclic sex steroid hormone fluctuations, or neurotransmitter function. We have assessed the effects of vitamin D supplementation on dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in adolescents. In this study, 897 adolescent girls living in Mashhad and Sabzevar, Iran, received 9 high-dose vitamin D supplements (as 50000 IU/ week of cholecalciferol) and were followed up over 9 weeks. We evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on individuals in 4 categories: those with only PMS; individuals with only dysmenorrhea; subjects with both PMS and dysmenorrhea and normal subjects. The prevalence of PMS after the intervention fell from 14.9% to 4.8% (P<0.001). Similar results were also found for the prevalence of subjects with dysmenorrhea (35.9% reduced to 32.4%), and in subjects with both PMS and dysmenorrhea (32.7% reduced 25.7%). Vitamin D supplementation was associated with a reduction in the incidence of several symptoms of PMS such as backache and tendency to cry easily as well decrement in pain severity of dysmenorrhea (P<0.05). High dose vitamin D supplementation can reduced the prevalence of PMS and dysmenorrhea as well has positive effects on the physical and psychological symptoms of PMS

A variant in CYP2R1 predicts circulating vitamin D levels after supplementation with high-dose of vitamin D in healthy adolescent girls

Aim The determinants of serum vitamin D seems to be the environmental factors (dietary and supplementary intake and exposure to ultraviolet light) and genetic factors. We aimed to study the relationship between a vitamin D‐associated genetic polymorphism and serum 25(OH)D concentrations in healthy adolescent girls in Iran, and its effects on a high‐dose supplement of vitamin D. Material and method A total of 616 healthy adolescent girls with mean age 15 received 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 weekly over 9 weeks. Serum vitamin D levels and other metabolic factors were measured at baseline and after the intervention. The genotyping of the CYP2R1 variant (rs10741657) was performed by TaqMan genotyping assays. Results Regardless of the genetic background, at baseline, 87% of adolescent girls were vitamin D deficient (serum 25(OH)D level < 50 nmol/l). High‐dose supplementation with VitD reduced the proportion of girls who were deficient substantially to about 24%. The genetic analysis revealed that although at baseline there was not a gene‐vitamin D association ( p trend = 0.1), the response to supplementation appeared to be modulated by this variant ( p trend < 0.001). However, other anthropometric and biochemical measures were not affected by this intervention, over this short period. Serum 25(OH)D was increased in all participants although the carriers of the minor A allele seemed to be better responders so that the percentages of the change serum vitamin D in the holder of AA and AG genotypes were 539.4 ± 443.1 and 443.7 ± 384.6, respectively, compared with those with common GG genotype (363.3 ± 354.0). Our regression analysis revealed that the probability of an increase in serum 25(OH)D in a participant with AA genotype was 2.5‐fold greater than those with a GG genotype (OR = 2.5 (1.4–4.4); p value = 0.002). Conclusion Based on our findings, it appears that the rs10741657 variant of the CYP2R1 gene modulates the response to high‐dose of vitamin D supplementation

A genetic variant in the cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily R member 1 determines response to vitamin D supplementation

Background Globally, about 1 billion people have inadequate levels of serum vitamin D and it is prevalent in all ethnicities and age groups. Few foods naturally contain sufficient vitamin D; therefore, most people get their requirements through supplementation. Hence vitamin D status is affected by genetic and environmental determinants including season of measurement, diet habitual, health status, body mass index and concurrent medication. Further studies are necessary to understand how genetic variation influences vitamin D metabolism. We aimed to explore the association between a potential vitamin D-related polymorphism (the rs10766197 polymorphism in the CYP2R1 gene) with the response to supplementation of vitamin D in 253 healthy Iranian girls. Material and method A total of 253 healthy subjects received 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 weekly for 9 weeks. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations and metabolic profiles were measured at baseline and after 9 weeks of supplementation. The genotypes of the CYP2R1 variant (rs10766197) were identified using TaqMan genotyping assays. Results Serum 25(OH)D during the supplementation, increased in all individuals. Subjects with a AA major genotype at this locus had higher vitamin D concentrations after intervention (Changes (%) 448.4% ± 425% in AA vs 382.7% ± 301% in GG). This genetic variant modulated the response to supplementation (p < 0.001 and p-value SNP = 0.05). Regression analysis showed that the probability of affecting serum 25(OH)D, in individuals who had homozygous major allele GG was two-fold higher than carriers of the uncommon allele A (OR = 2.1 (1–4.2); p = 0.03). Interestingly, the Hs-CRP was reduced in AA carries while was elevated in individuals with GG and AG genotypes, after high-dose vitamin D supplementation. Conclusion Changes in serum vitamin D and metabolic profile following high dose supplementation with vitamin D were associated with CYP2R1 polymorphism. Although carriers of the common G allele showed a greater response in the serum vitamin D

Investigating the Relationship between Components of Pender’s Health Promotion Model and Self-care Behaviors among Patients with Smear-positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Background: Tuberculosis is among the top ten causes of mortality across the world and is highly prevalent in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi, Iran. The adoption of healthy behaviors by patients can prevent the transmission of this disease to other individuals. The Health Promotion Model is one of the models used in the field of behavior change in this regard. Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the components of Pender’s Health Promotion Model and self-care behaviors among the smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Mashhad. Method: This correlational study was conducted on 144 smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients, selected from 45 healthcare centers of Mashhad in 2015 using purposive sampling method. The research instruments included Self-Care Behavior Questionnaire, Components of Pender’s Health Promotion Model, and Behavior Observation Checklist. The data were analyzed using Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient through the SPSS software version 16. Results: According to the results of the study, the mean age of the patients was 51.9±21.1 years. The results also showed that the mean of self-care total score was equal to 63.7±7.3. Additionally, the Spearman’s rank-order correlation indicated that self-care behavior was significantly correlated with prior related behavior (P=0.006), perceived barriers (