Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue by Fe/ZnO/SiO 2

The photocatalytic activity of Fe/ZnO/SiO2 catalysts under visible-light irradiation for the degradation of methylene blue was evaluated. The effect of pH, illumination time, amount of catalyst loaded, and initial dye concentration on the degradation efficiency of methylene blue was investigated. The results reveal that the optimum photocatalytic oxidation conditions of methylene blue are as follows: pH=4 and illumination time is 30 min, the amount of catalyst loading is 0.075 g/L and 50 ppm methylene blue dye concentration. Under these conditions, the removal efficiency of methylene blue was 100%

Comparison of the CBA-H and SF-36 for the screening of the psychological and behavioural variables in chronic dialysis patients

The aim of the study was to perform an analysis of the emotional reactions, perception of stressful life and behavioural changes related to Haemodialysis (HD) in order to identify those variables that can improve lifestyle and the adherence to treatment. Some psycho- metric assessment, such as the Cognitive Behavioural Assessment, Hospital Form, (CBA- H) and the Health Survey (SF-36), which provides two indexes: the Physical Component Score (PCS) and the Mental Component Score (MCS), are suitable to assess a patient’s psychological and behavioural style and their health-related quality of life. The study involved 37 Italian out-patients with end-stage renal disease under HD therapy. We calcu- lated the Spearman correlation between variables of CBA-H, SF-36, age and time on HD. We also performed a multivariate linear regression using the CBA-H variables as predictors and PCS and MCS as dependent variables. From the CBA-H, 95% of participants self- reported psychological characteristics comparable to Type A personality, which identifies an anxious, hyperactive and hostile subject. Physical limitations were found to be directly pro- portional to the time on dialysis (rs = -0.42). The condition of perceived stress worsens the state of mental health (rs = -0.68) and general health perception (rs = -0.44). The condition of vital exhaustion correlates both the PCS and the MCS (p<0.01) with possible outcomes of physical and mental illness. The psychological wellbeing of a dialyzed patient could be due to the combination of several factors, including life parameters, the positive perception of psychosocial outcomes, and the perceived quality of life. A multidisciplinary team (neurolo- gists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and nurses) is essential to plan effective psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions to improve a mind-body integration

The Effect of Massage With and Without Aromatic Oil on Delirium After Open-Heart Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: The current study aimed to determine the effect of massage with and without aromatic oil on the delirium of patients hospitalized in the cardiac intensive care unit. Methods: This study was a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Using a convenience method, 150 patients were selected and assigned into 3 groups: control, massage with aroma, and massage without aroma using the minimization method. Only routine care was provided for the control group. Brown massage with 4 rose oil in the base of sweet almond oil was given to the massage group with aroma 1 day after the surgery. The same steps and massage techniques with sweet almond oil were performed for the massage group without aroma. The incidence and severity of delirium were evaluated at the end of each day using the Neelon and Champagne Confusion Scale. Results: Delirium scores were not significantly different among the 3 groups on the first, second, and third days (P > .05). Also, the incidence of delirium significantly decreased in all 3 groups from day 1 to day 3. Conclusion: The results of this study could not prove the beneficial effects of massage with and without aroma on delirium incidence. Further studies are suggested to determine the best intervention to reduce delirium in patients undergoing coronary artery surgery. © 202

Comparative effect of mother�s hug and massage on neonatal pain behaviors caused by blood sampling: A randomized clinical trial

Background: The early experience of pain can lead to complications such as tachycardia, tachypnea and increased metabolic needs of the body, thereby exacerbation of the behavioral and physiological responses to pain in neonates. The current study aimed to compare the effect of a mother�s hug and massage on pain behaviors during and after blood sampling in neonates. Method: This study was a randomized clinical trial. A total of 135 healthy full-term neonates were selected by convenience sampling method. Samples were randomly assigned to a mother�s hug group, massage group or control group. In all three groups, the behavioral responses of the neonate were measured and recorded before, immediately and 5 min after blood sampling by Neonatal Infant Pain Scale. Heart rate, respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation were recorded with pulse oximetry, and the crying period was measured from start to silence using a stopwatch. Results: The results showed that after 5 min, the pain and heart rate in the mother�s hug group decreased significantly compared to the massage and control groups (p 0.05). The duration of crying in the mother�s hug group had more reduction than that of the massage and control groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The placement of the baby in the mother�s hug during painful procedures is recommended due to the reduction of pain, the improvement of physiological symptoms and the promotion of neonatal health. © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved

General health and self-efficacy for health practices of pregnant women: is it important for motherhood?

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between general health and self-efficacy for health practices of pregnant women. Subjects and methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a two-stage cluster-sampling method was applied and 300 pregnant women were selected from 15 health centers affiliated with a large medical university in the southeast of Iran. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and the Self Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale (SRAHPS). Results: The pregnant women�s total mean score for the GHQ-28 was 28.65 ± 10.92, which showed slight general health disorders. The total mean score of participants� self-efficacy for health practices was moderate (54.47 ± 18.40). A significant relationship was observed between general health and self-efficacy for health practices (r = � 0.35, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Pregnant women had slight general health disorders and moderate self-efficacy for health practices. According to the findings, increasing general health status of pregnant women improved their self-efficacy for health practices. Therefore, general health-promoting interventions are recommended to improve self-efficacy for health practices of pregnant women. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Getting out or remaining in the cage of inauthentic self: The meaning of existential challenges in patients' with cancer

Context: Cancer as a life-threatening disease develops a range of existential challenges in persons. These challenges cause the patients to encounter some existential questions and tensions. This study method focuses on a person's experience about them.Aims: The aim of this study is to illuminate the meaning of existential challenges in patients with cancer in Iran.Subjects and Methods: A> hermeneutic phenomenological approach, influenced by the philosophy of Ricoeur, was used to analyze the experiences of 10 Iranian patients with cancer. Data analysis was based on three stages of simple and fast understanding, structural analysis, and comprehensive understanding.Results: The present study showed that existential challenges in patients with cancer can be considered as getting out or remaining in the cage of inauthentic self. This theme consists of two subthemes “Being exposed to the light of awareness that revealed the cage of inauthentic self” and “The tension between getting out of the cage or remaining.” First, being exposed to the light of awareness revealed the cage of inauthentic self which subjectively refers to the emergence of existential questions, the past, the fear of future, and the collapse of physical body identity. Second, the tension between getting out of the cage or still staying which is characterized by anger, denial, sense of loneliness, and depression.Conclusions: According to the results of this qualitative study, it is possible to form discussion groups with peers or have self-reflective practice teaching groups to reflect patients' questions and existential challenges. In this way, participants can express themselves, share their experiences, challenges, learn, and find the answers

Study of T-cell subsets, B and NK cells in Iranian patients with Behcet&apos;s disease by monoclonal antibodies

Behcet disease (BD) is a systemic inflammatory disease of the unknown etiology. There is however, some evidence to suggest that immunological abnormalities are important in its pathogenesis, furthermore several T-cell abnormalities which may be quite relevant to autoimmune origin of the disease have been described. We report here our study of T-cell subsets, B and NK cells in 68 patients with BD in comparison to 30 normal controls, by monoclonal antibodies against CD3 (pan T-cell), CD4 (Helper) CD8 (Suppressor/cytotoxic), CD22 (B-cell) and CD16 (NK-cell) markers. The results show the increase (P=0.008) of T (CD3), T (CD4) (P&amp;lt;0.000001) and decrease of T (CD8) (P&amp;lt;0.000001) and reduction in ratio of CD4/CD8 cells (P&amp;lt;0.000001), but any alteration in B and NK cells number were not seen. In patients with BD 69.8% negative PPD test and above results suggests that the cellular immunity in these patients is anergic, which may be an important etiological factor