Impacts of osteoporosis on quality of life in elderly women

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis, the most common pathological cause of skeletal weakening and the most common metabolic bone disease, is caused by loss of bone mass density (BMD). Fractures due to osteoporosis will worsen life, increase pain, and decrease quality of life. The present study aimed to determine the impact of osteoporosis on quality of life among elderly women. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 275 postmenopausal women (age: 50-70 years) who were referred to the Namazi Hospital (Shiraz, Iran) were included. BMD was measured according to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Women with BMD < -2.5 standard deviation (SD) of the average value in young adults were defined as osteoporosis cases. Women with BMD > 1 SD of the average value were defined as normal cases. Quality of life was measured by Qualeffo-41 Questionnaire and reported on a scale of 100. Data was analyzed in SPSS and P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The mean quality of life score was 25.5 ± 11.7. According to the definition by the WHO, 70.2% of the participants were affected with osteoporosis. Only 22.3% of osteoporotic women and 30.5% of normal subjects had good quality of life. A significant statistical difference was observed between osteoporotic and normal postmenopausal women in social activities. Overweight and low education were predictors of poor quality of life in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The imposed financial burden and complications of osteoporosis can affect the patients’ quality of life. Health education regarding nutritional behaviors and social activities at adolescence are helpful interventions for decreasing the prevalence of the disease. Since osteoporosis has a gradual, outward, and asymptomatic trend, more attention needs to be paid to preventive and screening programs

Bispiraloconulus serbicus Schlagintweit, Bucur & Sudar, 2019 (arborescentni Bentoski foraminifer) i Torremiroella hispanica Brun & Canérot,1979 iz gornjobaremskog sedimentnog basena Kopet-Dag (SI Iran) i njihove paleobiogeografske revizije

During micropaleontological investigations on the Lower Cretaceous successions of the Tirgan Formation in Kopet-Dagh sedimentary basin, some new achievements are yielded. In this regards, the first occurrence of Bispiraloconulus serbicus Schlagintweit, Bucur & Sudar in close association with Torremiroella hispanica Brun & Canérot is reported for the first time from the Upper Barremian of Kopet-Dagh sedimentary basin (NE Iran). The biostratigraphic investigations were carried out on a 197.5 m thick Gelian stratigraphic succession cropping out along the Tirgan Formation located 35 km southwest of Shirvan town. This study reviews the palaeogeographical distribution and age of Bispiraloconulus serbicus Schlagintweit, Bucur& Sudar and Torremiroella hispanica Brun & Canérot along the northern Tethyan margins and extends its palaeobiogeographical existence.Mikropaleontološka istraživanja donjokredne sukcesije formacije Tirgan u Kopet-Dag sedimentacionom basenu (SI Iran) su pružila nove podatke. S tim u vezi, prvi put je u sedimentima Gornjeg Barema dokumentovan Bispiraloconulus serbicus Schlagintweit, Bucur& Sudar u asocijaciji sa Torremiroella hispanica Brun & Canérot. Biostratigrafska istraživanja su obavljena na stratigrafskom profilu Gelian (Formacija Tirgan) ukupne debljine 197,5 m koji je otkriven 35 km jugozapadno od grada Shirvan. U radu je data revizija paleogeografskog rasprostranjenja i starosti foraminifera Bispiraloconulus serbicus Schlagintweit, Bucur & Sudar i Torremiroella hispanica Brun & Canérot duž severnogo boda Tetisa

The Prevalence of Mental Health Problems and the Associated Familial Factors in Adolescents in the South of Iran

Background Mental health problems are common among adolescents. Proper screening and rehabilitation could improve adolescents’ function at the present time and in the future. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the associated familial factors among high school students. Materials and Methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 630 high school students (315 boys and 315 girls) aged 13-17 years in Jahrom, Iran. The participants were selected using random cluster sampling. The data were collected using the self-report version of strength and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), and were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software, version 16.0. Results: The results showed that 22.38% of the students had total difficulty (14.9% of boys, and 29.8% of girls). The highest prevalence was related to peer relationship problems (23%) followed by conduct problems (18.1%), hyperactivity (11.1%), pro-social behaviors (6.3%), and emotional problems (5.7%). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender (odds ratio [OR]: 2.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.68-3.66) increased the odds; while grade 9 (OR=0.52, 95% CI: 0.32-0.83), and number of siblings (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.78-0.99) decreased the odds of mental health problems (

Duration of delayed diagnosis in HIV/AIDS patients in Iran: a CD4 depletion model analysis

ObjectiveDelayed diagnosis of HIV can lead to an inappropriate response to antiretroviral therapy (ART), rapid progression of the disease, and death. It can also carry harmful effects on public health due to the increment of transmission. This study aimed to estimate the duration of delayed diagnosis (DDD) in HIV patients in Iran.MethodsThis hybrid cross-sectional cohort study was conducted on the national HIV surveillance system database (HSSD). Linear mixed effect models with random intercept, random slope, and both were used to estimate the parameters required for the CD4 depletion model to determine the best-fitted model for DDD, stratified by the route of transmission, gender, and age group.ResultsThe DDD was estimated in 11,373 patients including 4,762 (41.87%) injection drug users (IDUs), 512 (4.5%) men who had sexual contact with men (MSM), 3,762 (33.08%) patients with heterosexual contacts, and 2,337 (20.55%) patients who were infected through other routes of HIV transmission. The total mean DDD was 8.41 ± 5.97 years. The mean DDD was 7.24 ± 0.08 and 9.43 ± 6.83 years in male and female IDUs, respectively. In the heterosexual contact group, DDD was obtained as 8.60 ± 6.43 years in male patients and 9.49 ± 7.17 years in female patients. It was also estimated as 9.37 ± 7.30 years in the MSM group. Furthermore, patients infected through other transmission routes were found with a DDD of 7.90 ± 6.74 years for male patients and a DDD of 7.87 ± 5.87 years for female patients.ConclusionA simple CD4 depletion model analysis is represented, which incorporates a pre-estimation step to determine the best-fitted linear mixed model for calculating the parameters required for the CD4 depletion model. Considering such a noticeably high HIV diagnostic delay, especially in older adults, MSM, and heterosexual contact groups, regular periodic screening is required to reduce the DDD

Impacts of osteoporosis on quality of life in elderly women

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis, the most common pathological cause of skeletal weakening and the most common metabolic bone disease, is caused by loss of bone mass density (BMD). Fractures due to osteoporosis will worsen life, increase pain, and decrease quality of life. The present study aimed to determine the impact of osteoporosis on quality of life among elderly women. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 275 postmenopausal women (age: 50-70 years) who were referred to the Namazi Hospital (Shiraz, Iran) were included. BMD was measured according to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Women with BMD 1 SD of the average value were defined as normal cases. Quality of life was measured by Qualeffo-41 Questionnaire and reported on a scale of 100. Data was analyzed in SPSS and P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The mean quality of life score was 25.5 ± 11.7. According to the definition by the WHO, 70.2% of the participants were affected with osteoporosis. Only 22.3% of osteoporotic women and 30.5% of normal subjects had good quality of life. A significant statistical difference was observed between osteoporotic and normal postmenopausal women in social activities. Overweight and low education were predictors of poor quality of life in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The imposed financial burden and complications of osteoporosis can affect the patients’ quality of life. Health education regarding nutritional behaviors and social activities at adolescence are helpful interventions for decreasing the prevalence of the disease. Since osteoporosis has a gradual, outward, and asymptomatic trend, more attention needs to be paid to preventive and screening programs

An Epidemiological Survey of the Suicide Incidence Trends in the Southwest Iran: 2004-2009

Background: Elimination of suicide attempts is impossible, but they can be reduced dramatically by an organized planning. The present study aimed to survey the suicide trends in Fars province (Iran), during 2004-2009 to better understand the prevalence and status of suicide. Methods: This survey was a cross-sectional study. The demographic data were collected from the civil status registry between 2004 and 2009. Suicide and suicide attempt data were collected of three sources including the affiliated hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, mortality data of Vice Chancellery of Health in Fars province and data from forensic medicine. Then, they were analyzed by Excel and SPSS. Chi-square and regression analyses were used for data analysis. Results: During the study, 10671 people attempted suicide, of which 5697 (53%) were women and 4974 (47%) were men. Among them, 1047 people (9.8%) died, of which 363 (34%) were women and 679 (64%) were men. There was a significant relationship between gender and fatal suicide. The mean suicide attempt for both genders was 53 per 100,000 and 49, 57 for men and women, respectively. The trends in the incidence of Suicidal attempts were decreasing. Conclusion: Without implementing effective preventive measures, the health care system in Iran will face a further burden of fatal suicides among young people. Therefore; enhancing the primary health care and specialized mental health services for those with unsuccessful suicide attempts can effectively reduce the burden of suicide

Early Liver and Kidney Dysfunction Associated with Occupational Exposure to Sub-Threshold Limit Value Levels of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylenes in Unleaded Petrol

Background: Unleaded petrol contains significant amounts of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX). Toxic responses following occupational exposure to unleaded petrol have been evaluated only in limited studies. The main purpose of this study was to ascertain whether (or not) exposure to unleaded petrol, under normal working conditions, is associated with any hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic response. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 200 employees of Shiraz petrol stations with current exposure to unleaded petrol, as well as 200 unexposed employees, were investigated. Atmospheric concentrations of BTX were measured using standard methods. Additionally, urine and fasting blood samples were taken from individuals for urinalysis and routine biochemical tests of kidney and liver function. Results: The geometric means of airborne concentrations of BTX were found to be 0.8 mg m−3, 1.4 mg m−3, and 2.8 mg m−3, respectively. Additionally, means of direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea and plasma creatinine were significantly higher in exposed individuals than in unexposed employees. Conversely, serum albumin, total protein, and serum concentrations of calcium and sodium were significantly lower in petrol station workers than in their unexposed counterparts. Conclusion: The average exposure of petrol station workers to BTX did not exceed the current threshold limit values (TLVs) for these chemicals. However, evidence of subtle, subclinical and prepathologic early liver and kidney dysfunction was evident in exposed individuals