Proper consumption of sugary drinks and its association with adolescent girls' knowledge and skill

Background: Changes in the nutritional behaviors from consumption of traditional nutriments to intakes of high energy, concerned in powering the increasing problem in adolescents and children's obesity. The current study intended to evaluate Proper consumption of sugary drinks and its association with adolescent girls' knowledge and skill in Shahr-e-kord city, Iran. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out on girl's students in Shahr-e-kord city. Using random sampling method and based on sampling size formula, a total of 308 of the girls students were randomly selected from the schools and were registered into the study. Then they received a research-made questionnaire containing questions about the knowledge, skill and Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 18.0 by ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean age of the participating adolescent girls was 13.86 ± 1.3 years old. The mean score for knowledge was 36.53 ± 21.87 and the mean score for the skill of preparing and consumption of sugar free drinks was 35.77 ± 24.67. The average amount of daily consumption of sugary drinks among studied adolescent girls was 2.95 glasses. There was a direct significant association between students' knowledge and skill (P = 0.002, r = 0.182), There was also a significant reverse association between adolescents' skill (P = 0. 006 r = -0.228) and knowledge (P = 0. 05 r = -0.322) with consumption of sugary drinks. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, to increase the consumption of valuable foods and improving adolescents' nutritional habits, more attention should be paid to the health education and promotion and by using effective relevant patterns and theories

The Relationship of Perceptions, Self-efficacy, and Junk Food Consumption With Demographic Variables in Female Students in Shahrekord

Background and aims: Inappropriate or imbalanced consumption of foods may lead to several health problems, especially among adolescents, the complications of which will remain for several years. This study aimed to investigate perceptions, self-efficacy, and the status of junk food consumption and their relationship with demographic variables in female high school students in Shahrekord using Health Belief Model (HBM). Methods: This is a descriptive- analytic study conducted in academic year 2016-2017. Three hundred twenty-three adolescent girls (second grade high school students of Shahrekord) were selected through cluster sampling method. A standard questionnaire, according to the structures of health belief model (perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy) and a checklist for assessment of junk food consumption was used to collect data. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 16 and descriptive as well as analytic tests. Results: The mean age of the participants was 16.03 ± 1.24 years old. The mean scores of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy in proper consumption of junk foods were 55.66 ± 20.95; the mean frequency of junk food consumption among the students was reported to be 6.17 ± 3.18 times. There was a significantly inverse associations among perceived self-efficacy, severity, and benefit and junk food consumption. The mean frequency of junk food consumption in the schools under investigation was 6.67 ± 3.62 times. Conclusion: Considering the consumption of relatively high amounts of junk foods, the students’ low levels of knowledge and perception and the effect of peer groups, it is necessary to promote students’ nutritional knowledge, change adolescents’ diet, and pay more attention to packaging of healthy foods and making them more attractive

Clinical and Radiographic Alterations in Bilateral Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head Following Laser Acupuncture: A Case Report

Introduction: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is an increasingly common cause of musculoskeletal disability with unknown etiology. Traumatic and non-traumatic factors can be effective in its occurrence. About 50% of cases are bilateral. The underlying treatment is prosthetic replacement surgical procedure.Case Presentation: We report a case of bilateral AVN of femoral heads who was a candidate for prosthetic replacement surgery but improved significantly, using laser acupuncture. The patient was a 55-year-old woman with a diagnosis of bilateral osteonecrosis of the femoral head for five years. As the patient declined the surgical option, laser acupuncture was started for pain control. Regarding the signs of bilateral femoral head recovery (according to the MRI scan criteria), a total of 3 courses of laser acupuncture (each course was 20 sessions) with 2 months intervals was performed. Ten acupuncture points: Li4, Li11, St36, SP6, LIV3, GB4, GB5, GB6, GB13, GB14, GB20, GB30, GB31, GB34, were irradiated bilaterally using red 650 nm laser, 100 mW, 1505 Hz frequency, duty cycle 50 3 J/point and near infrared 810 nm laser, 100 mW, 1705 Hz frequency, duty cycle 50 3 J/point, for 2 minutes. The patient received 3 laser therapy courses. During the first-course, laser therapy was done every other day to reduce pain. For the second and third courses, according to pain decrease, therapy was done every week.Results: The results of the MRI scans and x-ray studies show progressive regeneration of the right femoral head from VI to B II and of the left from V to C II (based on the standard table of Pennsylvania).Conclusion: It seems that this procedure may be mentioned in future research projects, especially in cases with high risks of surgery

The relationship between functional health literacy and health promoting behaviors among older adults

Background: Health literacy is a measure of individual’s ability to read, comprehend, and act on medical instructions. Older adults are one of the most important at risk groups affected by the impact of inadequate health literacy. Health promoting behaviors in older adults have potential impact on their health and quality of life and reduce the costs incurred to health care. Given the paucity of information health literacy and health promoting behavior, the purpose of this study was to examine health literacy level in older adults and the relationship between health literacy and health promoting behaviors. Materials and Method: A cross‑sectional survey of 354 older adults was conducted in Isfahan. The method of sampling was clustering. Health literacy was measured using the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA). Data were collected via home interviewing. Health promoting behaviors were measured based on self‑reported smoking status, exercise, and consumption of fruit and vegetables. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one‑way ANOVA and χ2 tests under SPSS 18 software. Results: The sample group averaged 67 ± 6.97 years in age. Approximately 79.6% of adults were found to have inadequate health literacy. They tended to be older, have fewer years of schooling, lower household income, and being female Individuals with inadequate health literacy were more likely to report limitations in activity and lower consumption of fruit and vegetables (P < 0.001). No significant association was found between health literacy and smoking status. Conclusion: Considering high prevalence of inadequate health literacy among older adults, and its inverse relationship with some health promoting behaviors. Simple educational materials and effective interventions for low health literacy people can improve health promotion in society and mitigate the adverse health effects of low health literac

Magnetically Directed Two-Dimensional Crystallization of OmpF Membrane Proteins in Block Copolymers

Two-dimensional (2D) alignment and crystallization of membrane proteins (MPs) is increasingly important in characterizing their three-dimensional (3D) structure, in designing pharmacological agents, and in leveraging MPs for biomimetic devices. Large, highly ordered MP 2D crystals in block copolymer (BCP) matrices are challenging to fabricate, but a facile and scalable technique for aligning and crystallizing MPs in thin-film geometries would rapidly translate into applications. This work introduces a novel method to grow larger and potentially better ordered 2D crystals by performing the crystallization process in the presence of a strong magnetic field. We demonstrate the efficacy of this approach using a \u3b2-barrel MP, outer membrane protein F (OmpF), in short-chain polybutadiene-poly(ethylene oxide) (PB-PEO) membranes. Crystals grown in a magnetic field were up to 5 times larger than conventionally grown crystals, and a signal-to-noise (SNR) analysis of diffraction peaks in Fourier transforms of specimens imaged by negative-stain electron microscopy (EM) and cryo-EM showed twice as many high-SNR diffraction peaks, indicating that the magnetic field also improves crystal order

The Relationship of Perceptions, Self-efficacy, and Junk Food Consumption With Demographic Variables in Female Students in Shahrekord

Background and aims: Inappropriate or imbalanced consumption of foods may lead to several health problems, especially among adolescents, the complications of which will remain for several years. This study aimed to investigate perceptions, self-efficacy, and the status of junk food consumption and their relationship with demographic variables in female high school students in Shahrekord using Health Belief Model (HBM). Methods: This is a descriptive- analytic study conducted in academic year 2016-2017. Three hundred twenty-three adolescent girls (second grade high school students of Shahrekord) were selected through cluster sampling method. A standard questionnaire, according to the structures of health belief model (perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy) and a checklist for assessment of junk food consumption was used to collect data. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 16 and descriptive as well as analytic tests. Results: The mean age of the participants was 16.03 ± 1.24 years old. The mean scores of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy in proper consumption of junk foods were 55.66 ± 20.95; the mean frequency of junk food consumption among the students was reported to be 6.17 ± 3.18 times. There was a significantly inverse associations among perceived self-efficacy, severity, and benefit and junk food consumption. The mean frequency of junk food consumption in the schools under investigation was 6.67 ± 3.62 times. Conclusion: Considering the consumption of relatively high amounts of junk foods, the students’ low levels of knowledge and perception and the effect of peer groups, it is necessary to promote students’ nutritional knowledge, change adolescents’ diet, and pay more attention to packaging of healthy foods and making them more attractiv

Health literacy, awareness and self-efficacy among cardiovascular patients visiting medical centers of Shahr-e Kord

Introduction: Considering the importance of self-efficacy and since inadequate health literacy can be a serious barrier to the participation and ultimately affect the health of patients. The present research aimed to study the health literacy of cardiovascular patients and its relationship with awareness and self-efficacy. Methods: This research was a descriptive and cross-sectional study which was conducted on 138 cardiovascular patients visiting medical centers of Shahr-e Kord in 2016. The participants were selected using simple random sampling. To assess the health literacy of the participants, TOFHLA was used. The self-efficacy standard questionnaire was applied to measure the self-efficacy of participants. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests in SPSS-18. Participation in the present study was voluntary. Results: The mean age of participants was equal to 48.59±19.05. Based on the results, 64, 13 and 61 patients had an inadequate, marginal, and adequate level of health literacy, respectively. The mean score of awareness was 68.14±21.68 and the mean score of self-efficacy was obtained 37.90±32.65. There is a direct and significant relationship between awareness, self-efficacy, and health literacy (p=0.000), and awareness is a suitable predictor of health literacy. Conclusion: it is necessary to measure the health literacy and the relevant skills in patients before providing information to them in medical centers. Then, commensurate with their level of information, training programs should be planned to empower patients and increase their self-efficacy, so that they can achieve correct health information

Steering with light: indexable photomotility in liquid crystalline polymers

Harnessing light to achieve manipulation and motility in meso and mm-scale systems offers the ability to remotely trigger actuation without requiring on-board power. Central to achieving macroscopic photomotility is the generation of asymmetric interaction between the light-responsive actuator and a substrate. Here, we demonstrate a facile route for achieving indexable, stepped translation of structures fabricated from azobenzene-functionalize liquid crystalline polymers (ALCP). The symmetry breaking in the dynamics of coiling (during irradiation) and uncoiling (when the light is turned off) as a function of the director orientation in splayed ALCP strips leads to asymmetric reaction forces in the interaction with a surface. The broken symmetry leads to directional translation of the center of mass in discrete steps for each on/off cycle of irradiation. Creating composite structures offers a route for hard-coding the trajectories of motility across a range of trajectories that are either rectilinear or curvilinear. Expanding this approach can offer a framework for achieving steerable light-powered microrobots that can translate on arbitrary surface topographies

Barriers related to fecal occult blood test for colorectal cancer screening in moderate risk individuals

Introduction and Objective: Colorectal cancer is one of the most important and most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Through secondary prevention of this cancer, effective proactive measures would be taken to treat and to prevent the incidence of the disease. The fecal occult blood test(FOBT) has priority over other methods and is recommended for adults above 50 years. This study was carried out to assess perceived barriers related to participating in colorectal cancer screening programs among average risk population, based on health belief model. Materials and Methods: A cross‑sectional survey of 196 individuals of more than 50 years was conducted in Isfahan. The target group consisted of people going to laboratories for doing FOBT test(n = 98), and those who refrained from going to laboratories (n = 98). The questionnaire was used based on barrier assessment question associated with performing fecal occult blood test. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics methods. Results: The mean score of perceived barriers in the first group was 40.9 and in other group was 56.54, with significant difference statistically (P < 0.001). Lack of information, fear of cancer diagnosis, lack of recommendation by doctors, and not setting the priority of time for doing the test were some of barriers reported by the nongoing group. Discussion and Conclusion: According to this study, it seems that there is an urgent need to more information to be provided for the public about colorectal cancer and its prevention through screening, as important step to increase the rate of early detection and curb the mortality rate, costs, and improve community health outcome