Relationship between social well-being and health related quality of life level among senior retirees of tehran university of medical sciences

Introduction: Senior citizens or the elderly people are a group of people in the society considered as a growing population with special needs in the developed contemporary world. Since they have special needs, it is essential to care about the quality of their life because of the dangers which threaten them. Since the social health of the retirees is decreased as a result of exiting from the workplace and directly affecting their life quality, the researcher has done the present study. Methodology: This paper which is a descriptive- analytic study has been periodically done in the second half of 2013. The participants were 227 senior retirees of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The data have been collected through a reliable and valid questionnaire of life quality related to health (sf-36) and social well-being of KEYES. The data then were analyzed using SPSS.19 and descriptive statistics and paired t-test, one way ANOVA test and Pearson correlation were use as well. Findings: There is a significant linear relation between life quality variable related to the health and social well-being components (P<0.05). There is also a significant correlation between the variables like age, sex, marital status, duration of employment and life quality. Results: Regarding the findings of the study, it seems that the policy makers and planners need to create a kind of active integration and balance in society according to the available devices and facilities, and try to apply a proper information system to eliminate the cultural problems, reinforce the social relations and coherences in order to increase the life quality of senior retires. © 2015, Canadian Center of Science and Education. All rights reserved

Comparison of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on the eradication of helicobacter pylori infection, serum inflammatory factors and total antioxidant capacity

Helicobacter pylori infection, the most common chronic bacterial infection in the world, and an important cause of gastrointestinal disorders, may be involved in the pathogenesis of some extra-gastrointestinal disturbances, as well as an increase in blood levels of certain inflammatory markers. Anti-bacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori and anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids have been studied in several research studies. The purpose of the present study was the comparison of the effects of Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid supplementation on Helicobacter pylori eradication, serum levels of some inflammatory markers and total antioxidant capacity. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 97 Helicobacter pylori positive patients (64 patients in the two intervention groups and 33 in the control group), received 2 grams daily of Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid or Medium Chain Triglyceride oil as placebo, along with conventional tetra-drug Helicobacter pylori eradication regimen, for 12 weeks. Helicobacter pylori eradication test and measurement of concentration of interleukine-6, interleukine-8, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and total antioxidant capacity were performed after the intervention. There was no significant difference in eradication rate of the infection, levels of interleukine-6 and total antioxidant capacity among the three groups, while the levels of interleukine-8 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were statistically different. Eicosapentaenoic Acid or Docosahexaenoic Acid supplementation had no significant differential impact on the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection, and serum levels of interleukine-6 and total antioxidant capacity. However, it had a desirable effect on the levels of interleukine-8 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in Helicobacter pylori positive patients. © 2015 by School of Pharmacy Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services

Do symbiotic and vitamin e supplementation have favorite effects in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the world. Oral administration of symbiotic and Vitamin E has been proposed as an effective treatment in NAFLD patients. This study was carried out to assess the effects of symbiotic and/or Vitamin E supplementation on liver enzymes, leptin, lipid profile, and some parameters of insulin resistance (IR) in NAFLD patients. Materials and Methods: We randomly assigned sixty NAFLD adult patients to receive (1) symbiotic twice daily + Vitamin E-like placebo capsule; (2) 400 IU/d Vitamin E + symbiotic-like placebo; (3) symbiotic twice daily + 400 IU/d Vitamin E; and (4) symbiotic-like placebo + Vitamin E-like placebo for 8 weeks. Results: Symbiotic plus Vitamin E supplementation led to a significant decrease in concentrations of liver transaminase (P � 0.05). Mean difference of apolipoprotein A-1 was more significant in symbiotic group compared to control. However, mean difference of apolipoprotein B100/A-1 was only significant in symbiotic group compared to control. At the end of the study, significant differences in total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were seen between the symbiotic plus Vitamin E and control groups (P < 0.001). Furthermore, intake of symbiotic plus Vitamin E supplements led to a significant decrease in concentrations of triglycerides (TG) after the intervention. Significant differences in leptin, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and insulin levels were seen between the symbiotic plus Vitamin E and control groups at the end of the study (P < 0.001). In contrast, symbiotic and/or Vitamin E supplementation did not affect high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and homeostasis model assessment for IR levels. Conclusion: In our study, symbiotic plus Vitamin E supplementation was the most effective treatment in lowering liver enzymes, leptin, FBS, insulin, TG, TC, and LDL-C among NAFLD patients. © 2016 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences

Effect of Co-Driver on Job Content and Depression of Truck Drivers

Background: Since the presence of a co-driver can be considered as a companion, partner, or friend for a driver through eliminating driver's loneliness, it plays a significant role in health and safety of drivers. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of co-drivers on depression and occupational stress on male truck drivers. Methods: This study was an interventional case-control study. Seventy truck drivers were selected and divided into two groups: case (33 truck drivers with co-drivers) and control (37 truck drivers without co-drivers). Two Goldberg depression inventories (for evaluating driver's depression) and the Karasek job content questionnaire (for evaluating driver's job stress) were used to collect data which were completed by interview. Results: The results showed that job content values for the case group were higher in all dimensions except job nature. The comparison of the percentages showed significant difference between two groups. Depression rate in drivers with co-driver is truly less than depression rate in drivers without co-driver. There was significant positive relationship between dimensions of job content and depression rate. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be claimed that a co-driver decreases stress and loneliness of drivers, as well as increases work performance and job satisfaction, and, in turn, leads to a decrease in job-related depression. © 2018 The Author

Onset of labor in post-term pregnancy by chamomile

Background: Post-term pregnancy is an important factor in perinatal mortality and morbidity. Generally, to reduce perinatal mortality in pregnancy, the delivery isdonebefore adverse perinatal morbidity occurs. Toprevent prolonged pregnancy, labor is induced with chemical drugs and complementary therapies. Due to the side effects and contraindications of chemical medicine, the use of herbs has been investigated in the induction of labor in post-term pregnancy. Objectives: This study was done to identify the effect of chamomile on inducing labor in women with post-term pregnancy of Shahid Akbarabadi hospital in Tehran in 2013. Patients and Methods: This double-blind clinical trial study was performed in Iran on 80 post-term pregnant women with a gestational age of 40 weeks or more, a single pregnancy, 18 - 35 years old, cephalic presentation, an estimated fetal weight of 2500 - 4000 grams, an absence of uterine contraction, a cervical Bishop score of less than 4, the safety of the membrane, and low-risk pregnancy; they were randomly assigned to one of two groups of 40 women. Each of the participants was given a bottle containing 42 capsules (500mgeach) and took 2 capsules every 8 hours. The data were collected through the questionnaire of demographic observational, and examinal characteristics. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, and Fisher�s exact test using SPSS (16/win) were used to determine and compare the effects of drugs on inducing labor in the groups. Results: After a week of using the first dose, the results showed that in 92.5 of the chamomile group and 62.5 in the placebo group, delivery symptoms started after taking the oral capsules, and there were significant statistical differences between the two groups for the onset of labor (P = 0.003) There was a noticeable statistical difference between the two groups regarding the mean interval time to the onset of labor pain after taking the capsules (P = 0.000). Conclusions: In this study,chamomile stimulated labor in post-term pregnancy. With further studies, chamomile, which has no chemical side effects, can be suggested for stimulating labor in post-term pregnancy. � 2016, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Microwave conductivity of a d-wave superconductor disordered by extended impurities: a real-space renormalization group approach

Using a real-space renormalization group (RSRG) technique, we compute the microwave conductivity of a d-wave superconductor disordered by extended impurities. To do this, we invoke a semiclassical approximation which naturally accesses the Andreev bound states localized near each impurity. Tunneling corrections (which are captured using the RSRG) lead to a delocalization of these quasiparticles and an associated contribution to the microwave conductivity.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. 2 figures added to previous versio

Optical Sum Rule anomalies in the High-Tc Cuprates

We provide a brief summary of the observed sum rule anomalies in the high-T$_c$ cuprate materials. A recent issue has been the impact of a non-infinite frequency cutoff in the experiment. In the normal state, the observed anomalously high temperature dependence can be explained as a `cutoff effect'. The anomalous rise in the optical spectral weight below the superconducting transition, however, remains as a solid experimental observation, even with the use of a cutoff frequency.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, very brief review of optical sum rule anomal

Molecular identification and antifungal susceptibility pattern of non-albicans candida species isolated from vulvovaginal candidiasis

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an important health problem caused by Candida spp. The aim of this study was molecular identification, phylogenetic analysis, and evaluation of antifungal susceptibility of nonalbicans Candida isolates from VVC. Methods: Vaginal secretion samples were collected from 550 vaginitis patients at Sayyad Shirazi Medical and Educational Center of Gorgan (Golestan Province, Iran) from May to October 2015. Samples were analyzed using conventional mycological and molecular approaches. Clinical isolates were analyzed with specific PCR using CGL primers, and the internal transcribed spacer region and the D1-D2 domain of the large-subunit rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced. Susceptibility to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and clotrimazole was determined by the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. Results: In total, 35 non-albicans Candida isolates were identified from VVC patients. The isolates included 27 strains of Candida glabrata (77.1), 5 Candida krusei (Pichia kudriavzevii; 14.3), 2 Candida kefyr (Kluyveromyces marxianus; 5.7), and 1 Candida lusitaniae (Clavispora lusitaniae; 2.9). The fungicides itraconazole and amphotericin B were effective against all species. One isolate of C. glabrata showed resistance to fluconazole and clotrimazole, and 26 isolates of C. glabrata indicated dose-dependent susceptibility to fluconazole. C. lusitaniae was susceptible in a dose-dependent manner to fluconazole and resistant to clotrimazole. Conclusions: Non-albicans Candida spp. are common agents of vulvovaginitis, and C. glabrata is the most common species in the tested patients. © 2018, Pasteur Institute of Iran. All rights reserved

Optical Sum Rule in Finite Bands

In a single finite electronic band the total optical spectral weight or optical sum carries information on the interactions involved between the charge carriers as well as on their band structure. It varies with temperature as well as with impurity scattering. The single band optical sum also bears some relationship to the charge carrier kinetic energy and, thus, can potentially provide useful information, particularly on its change as the charge carriers go from normal to superconducting state. Here we review the considerable advances that have recently been made in the context of high $T_c$ oxides, both theoretical and experimental.Comment: Review article accepted for publication in J. Low Temp. Phys. 29 pages, 33 figure

Optimal β-blocker for prevention of atrial fibrillation after on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery: Carvedilol versus metoprolol

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. It has been shown that prophylactic oral β-blocker administration reduces the incidence of post-CABG AF. However, the optimal β-blocker has not been identified. Objective: This study sought to determine whether oral carvedilol (with its unique anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties) is more effective than oral metoprolol for prevention of AF after CABG surgery. Methods: Between April 2006 and December 2006, 120 patients (63 men, mean age 61 ± 9.4 years) who were scheduled to undergo their first on-pump CABG were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomized in a prospective 1:1 manner to receive either oral carvedilol (n = 60) or oral metoprolol (n = 60). The end point of the study was the occurrence of the new-onset AF during the first 5 days aftere CABG. Results: AF occurred in 29 of 120 patients (24.0). The incidence of postoperative AF was 15.0 (9 of 60) in the carvedilol group and 33 (20 of 60) in the metoprolol group (P = .022). The carvedilol group was treated with mean daily dose of 46 ± 9 mg and metoprolol group with mean daily dose of 93 ± 11 mg. There were no differences between the study groups regarding any known preoperative, perioperative, or postoperative characteristics (all values were P >.05). No significant adverse effect was observed in either group. Conclusion: This prospective study suggested that oral carvedilol is more effective than oral metoprolol in the prevention of AF after on-pump CABG. It is well tolerated when started before and continued after the surgery. However, further prospective studies are needed to clarify this issue. © 2007 Heart Rhythm Society