Exploring the Psychometric Properties of the Farsi Version of Quality of Life Kindl Questionnaire for 4-7 Year-Old Children in Iran

How to Cite This Article: Rojhani Shirazi M, Tonekaboni SH, Azargashb E, Derakhshannia M, Aghdasta E. Exploring the Psychometric Properties of The Farsi Version of Quality of Life Kindl Questionnaire for 4-7 Year-Old Children in Iran. Iran J Child Neurol. Spring 2016; 10(2):42-52.AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to translate and validate the psychometric properties of the Quality of Life Kindl questionnaire.Materials & MethodsParents of 4-7 yr-old healthy and ill children referred to Mofid Children Hospital in Tehran in 2013, Iran were sampled randomly in two groups each of which 130 people. After translation, the questionnaie’s validity and reliability was evaluated and was confirmed for face and content validity. Questionnaire was also completed by two (one healthy and one ill) groups for which inclusion criteria included consent of the parents, age of the children being beween 4 and 7 yr, and presence of the child in a nursery school, kindergarten, school or any class at least for one month. Exclusion criteria were inability of the parents in answering the questions accurately. Inclusion criterion for the ill group was having chronic cardiac, neurologic, hematologic, or respiratory diseases, lasting longer than 3 months for which they were followed up in outpatient clinic in the hospital. The reliability of questionnaire was measured by the Cronbach’s alpha.Data were analyzed using factor analysis, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney and Chi-square test.ResultsThe reliability was 0.85 and 0.81 in healthy and ill groups, respectively. The results of factor analysis showed that each of eight subscales of questionnaire had acceptable construct validity. Only two of 52 questions of the questionnaire did not have proper correlation coefficient.ConclusionQuality of Life Kindl Questionnaire is a valid and reliable test for assessing healthy and ill children in Iran. References1. The WHOQOL Group. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL). Development and psychometric properties. Soc Sci Med 1998; 46:1569-1585.2. Gandek B, Sinclair SJ, Kosinski M, Ware JE Jr. Psychometric evaluation of the SF-36 health survey in Medicare managed care. Health Care Financ Rev 2004; 25(4):5-25.3. DeSalvo KB, Bloser N, Reynolds K, He J, Muntner P. J. Mortality prediction with a single general self-rated health question. A meta-analysis. Gen Intern Med 2006; 21(3):267-75.4. Conolly MA, & Johnson JA. Measuring quality of life in paediatric patients. Pharmacoeconomics 1999; 16,605–25.5. Eiser C, Morse R. The measurement of quality of life in children: past and future perspectives. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2001; 22,248 –56.6. Ravens-Sieberer U, Bullinger M. Manual KINDL-R 2000; Hamburg, Germany. 7. Ravens-Sieberer U. Quality of Life Kindl Questionnaire. Available at: http://kindl.org/cms/information. 8. Spilker B. Quality of Life and Pharmacoeconomics in Clinical Trials. Philadelphia, Lippincott-Raven; 1996.9. Lovas K, Kalo Z, McKenna SP, Whalley D, Péntek M, Genti G. Establishing a standard for patient-completed instrument adaptations in Eastern Europe: Experience with the Nottingham Health Profile in Hungary. Health Policy 2003; 63(1):49–61.10. Bullinger M, von Mackensen S, Kirchberger I. KINDL –Ein Fragebogen zur Erfassung der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität von Kindern. Sonderdruck Zeitschrift für Gesundheitspsychologie 1994; 1:64-77.11. Asano M, Sugiura T, Miura K, Torii S, Ishiguro A. Reliability and validity of the self-report Quality of Life Questionnaire for Japanese School-age Children with Asthma (JSCA-QOL v.3). Allergy Int 2006; 55(1):59-65.12. Yaghmaei, F. Designing and measuring the psychometric properties of “Quality of Life scale for the Children suffering from Asthma”. Journal of Shahid Beheshti School of Nursing & Midwifery 2009; 20(68):32-36. 13. El Miedany, YM, Youssef SS, El Gaafary M. Cross cultural adaptation and validation of the Arabic version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire for measuring functional status in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2003; 21(3):387–393

Evaluating a new verbal working memory-balance program: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial study on Iranian children with dyslexia

Abstract: Background: It is important to improve verbal Working Memory (WM) in reading disability, as it is a key factor in learning. There are commercial verbal WM training programs, which have some short-term effects only on the verbal WM capacity, not reading. However, because of some weaknesses in current verbal WM training programs, researchers suggested designing and developing newly structured programs that particularly target educational functions such as reading skills. In the current double-blind randomized clinical trial study, we designed a new Verbal Working Memory-Balance (VWM-B) program which was carried out using a portable robotic device. The short-term effects of the VWM-B program, on verbal WM capacity, reading skills, and postural control were investigated in Iranian children with developmental dyslexia. Results: The effectiveness of the VWM-B program was compared with the VWM-program as a traditional verbal WM training. In comparison with VWM-program, the participants who received training by the VWM-B program showed superior performance on verbal WM capacity, reading skills, and postural control after a short-term intervention. Conclusions: We proposed that the automatized postural control resulting from VWM-B training had a positive impact on improving verbal WM capacity and reading ability. Based on the critical role of the cerebellum in automatizing skills, our findings support the cerebellar deficit theory in dyslexia. Trial registration: This trial was (retrospectively) registered on 8 February 2018 with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20171219037953N1)

Desmoplastic Fibroblastoma in Maxillary Alveolar Bone Mimicking An Odontogenic Lesion: A Novel Case Report with Review of Literature

Desmoplastic fibroblastoma (Collagenous fibroma) is a rare benign soft tissue tumor that disseminates widely and can be intramuscular or subcutaneously. There are seven reported cases in the oral cavity so far. We reported a novel case of collagenous fibroma that has been found in the anterior part of maxilla in a 58-year-old woman as an intraosseous radiolucent lesion that has been discovered during routine radiography. Histopathologically, spindle and stellate-shaped fibroblasts in a collagen-rich stroma as well as binucleated and multinucleated fibroblasts with prominent nucleoli were seen. Desmoplastic fibroblastoma could be found in jaw bones and excision of the lesion is curative, and no aggressive growth has been reported

Comparison of various functionally graded femoral prostheses by finite element analysis

This study is focused on finite element analysis of a model comprising femur into which a femoral component of a total hip replacement was implanted. The considered prosthesis is fabricated from a functionally graded material (FGM) comprising a layer of a titanium alloy bonded to a layer of hydroxyapatite. The elastic modulus of the FGM was adjusted in the radial, longitudinal, and longitudinal-radial directions by altering the volume fraction gradient exponent. Four cases were studied, involving two different methods of anchoring the prosthesis to the spongy bone and two cases of applied loading. The results revealed that the FG prostheses provoked more SED to the bone. The FG prostheses carried less stress, while more stress was induced to the bone and cement. Meanwhile, less shear interface stress was stimulated to the prosthesis-bone interface in the noncemented FG prostheses. The cement-bone interface carried more stress compared to the prosthesis-cement interface. Stair climbing induced more harmful effects to the implanted femur components compared to the normal walking by causing more stress. Therefore, stress shielding, developed stresses, and interface stresses in the THR components could be adjusted through the controlling stiffness of the FG prosthesis by managing volume fraction gradient exponent

Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, and Lead in Children’s Products in Iran

Background: Non-standard creativity tools and entertainment products may contain heavy metals. Children are more sensitive than adults to this potentially toxic chemicals. This study aimed at investigating harmful elements in children’s products in Iran. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, Iranian samples (13 play dough samples, 6 finger paint, and 1 face paint sample) and 10 imported samples were investigated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package (version 19). Results: The results of this study showed that the lead content of 2 samples of play dough (76%), 10 samples of finger paint (100%) and 3 samples of face paint (100%) was higher than the permissible limits set by the Iranian National Standards Organization. Lead and cadmium contents of 100% of the samples of play dough, along with the face and finger paints exceeded the permissible limits set by the European Union. Conclusion: Research on prolonged exposure to harmful elements and comprehensive risk characterization for toys is recommended

Induced third-degree burn in rat: healing by Melilotus officinalis extract as medicinal plant

Introduction: burn wounds are common happenings which cause many people have irreversible defects and to be death around the world every year.  In this study, we evaluated the effects of Melilotus officinalis and Alpha ointment in the healing of burn wounds and compare their findings with silver sulfadiazine (SSD).Methods: Seventy-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups, and similar burn ulcers were produced on the back of rats. The first group of rats received no treatment, base gel was used topically to group II, in groups III-V, Alpha, SSD and Melilotus officinalis preparations were applied, respectively. Wound healing, contraction and histopathological examination were evaluated at the end of 7, 14, and 21 days.Results: Alpha ointment was equally effective as Melilotus officinalis gel, while its efficacy was better compared to SSD for all parameters of wound healing on days 7, 14 and 21. Alpha and Melilotus officinalis preparations as less expensive medications which significantly improve the quality of wound healing and scar formation and also are more appropriate treatment choices than SSD.Conclusion: Alpha and Melilotus officinalis are recommended as alternative to SSD, especially in patients with low economical backgrounds or in those who show adverse reactions to SSD.</p

Detection of tetracycline resistance genes, aminoglycoside modifying enzymes, and coagulase gene typing of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus in the Southwest of Iran

Objective(s): The aim of the present study was to determine the aminoglycoside modifying enzymes (AMEs) encoded genes, tetracycline resistance genes, and the coa based typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolates in the Southwest of Iran. Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates was carried out by agar disk diffusion methods. Two sets of multiplex PCR mixture were used for detection of AME genes and tet genes.  All of the isolates were typed with the coagulase gene typing method. Of the 121 isolates, 29.75% and 47.93% were resistant to at least one aminoglycosides and tetracyclines, respectively. Results: The aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'') was the most frequent gene (97.22%), and aph (3')-IIIa and ant (4')-Ia genes were detected in 61.11% and 11.11% of aminoglycoside resistant isolates, respectively. The tetK and tetM genes were detected in 82.75% and 56.9% of tetracycline resistant isolates, respectively. Overall 31.4% of isolates were MRSA. Totally 17 distinct coa gene RFLP patterns, numbered C1 to C17, were observed.  The C5 was the most frequent coa type with 31 isolates. Conclusion: The aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'') and aph (3')-IIIa genes were the most important genes contributing to aminoglycosides resistance, while resistance to tetracyclines was mediated by tetK and tetM genes. Interestingly all S. aureus with C5 as the most prevalent coa-type were resistant to at least one of the aminoglycoside antibiotics and tetracycline simultaneously. Moreover, 30 out of 31 isolates with this coa type were MRSA, indicating the importance of the C5 coa-type in MRSA strains and also in isolates that were resistant to aminoglycosides and tetracycline

Fast free of acrylamide clearing tissue (FACT) for clearing, immunolabelling and three-dimensional imaging of partridge tissues

Fast free of acrylamide clearing tissue (FACT) is a modified sodium dodecyl sulfate-based clearing protocol for the chemical clearing of lipids that completely preserves fluorescent signals in the cleared tissues. The FACT protocol was optimized to image translucent immunostained brain and non-nervous tissues. For this purpose adult male Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) was used as a model. After clearing the tissues, 1 or 2 mm-thickness sections of tissues were immunolabeled. The paraventricular nucleus in the hypothalamus (2-mm section) was cleared with FACT, and then was stained with gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) antibody and Hoechst. Simultaneously, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of cryosectioned brain (30 μm) was done by GnIH-antibody. The FACT protocol and staining of cell nuclei of nine other tissues were done by a z-stack motorized fluorescent microscope. GnIH-immunoreactive neurons were found by FACT and IHC during the breeding season in male partridges. Deep imaging of the kidney, duodenum, jejunum, lung, pancreas, esophagus, skeletal muscle, trachea, and testis were also done. The FACT protocol can be used for the three-dimensional imaging of various tissues and immunostained evaluation of protein markers

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability