Prevalence of Use of Anabolic Steroids by Bodybuilders Using Three Methods in a City of Iran

Background: The prevalence of substance use among bodybuilding athletes has been poorly studied in Iran. This study was conducted to examine the prevalence of drug use, especially anabolic steroids, among bodybuilding athletes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the first half of 2013 among body building athletes referring to gyms located in Kerman, Iran. Five gyms were selected randomly and 380 athletes were invited to complete a self-administered anonymous questionnaire, consecutively. The questionnaire included two parts; baseline characteristics and substance related questions. The prevalence of anabolic steroids was estimated based on three methods; self-report, projective question, and crosswise model. Findings: We enrolled 298 male athletes in the final analysis. Mean ± SD age of subjects was 25.9 ± 8.4. The most frequent recent (past 30 days) drug use was waterpipe smoking (45%). The second most frequently used drug was alcohol (26.5%, recent use). Based on self-reports, the prevalence of lifetime anabolic steroid use was calculated to be 24.5%. The corresponding figure based on crosswise method was obtained to be 56.8%. Participants believed that a median of 40% of athletes had used anabolic steroids in their lifetime. The prevalence of anabolic steroid was higher in single and less educated individuals (P < 0.05). The main reason for using anabolic steroids was to increase muscle size. Conclusion: The prevalence of drug use, especially tobacco, alcohol, and anabolic steroids, was high among bodybuilding athletes. We could not rely on self-reports to examine anabolic steroid use. Keywords: Substance abuse, Anabolic steroids, Athletes, Ira

Swimming Exercise Training Attenuates the Lung Inflammatory Response and Injury Induced by Exposing to Waterpipe Tobacco Smoke

Background: The use of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) is on the rise throughout the world, especiallyamong young people and even athletes. There is a belief among consumers that exercise prevents the harmfuleffects of hookah smoke on the body. We examined this belief by evaluation of lung injury following toconcurrent WTS and swimming endurance training in male Wistar rats.Methods: Animals were randomly divided to sedentary control (CTL) group, exercise training group(Ex group), sedentary WTS (S) group, and exercise plus WTS (S + Ex) group.Findings: 8 weeks of WTS was associated with significant increase in serum level of cotinine, lung damage,reduction in alveolar number AN/SA (mm2) and increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level of lung tissue.Combination of exercise with WTS significantly decreased these negative effects; however, it could not fullyprotect the lung from smoking damage. Waterpipe smoking (WPS) also significantly increased the proinflammatory cytokines of lung tissue such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (P < 0.001), interleukin 1beta (IL-1β) (P < 0.010), and IL-6 (P < 0.050) in comparison with CTL group. Exercise training to somedegree reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased the level of IL-10 as an antiinflammatory IL and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in animals exposed to WTS.Conclusion: It is suggested that combination of mild to moderate exercise with WTS may attenuate thehookah smoking-induced lung damage. This effect partly is mediated through balancing of pro/antiinflammatory and redox system

Attitude of Kerman medical sciences students on mental diseases

Introduction: Nowadays، in spite of the scientific advances in diagnosis and treatment of mental diseases، provision of psychological and psychiatric services to public often are encountering to some difficulties because negative and stereotypic approaches. Hence، determination of attitude on mental disorders is very important and modifying the attitudes is one of the main aims in this domain. Objective: This study was performed to determination of the attitude of Kerman medical sciences students about mental diseases in 2009. Method: In this cross–sectional descriptive study، 3400 students in Kerman university of medical sciences were participated through census route. For data collecting، questionnaire of evaluating the attitude toward mental diseases was used. This questionnaire consists of two parts: demographic variables and questions about attitude on mental diseases. For evaluating the reliability of questions، alpha -Chronbach was calculated and high coefficient was obtained (0/691). Data analysis was done by using the factor analysis method of questions in which all questions in one factor (by considering the indexes of kmo. bartlett) were added. The Data were analyzed by ANOVA and T-tests. Results: The results showed that most students had a positive and realistic attitude toward the mental patients. there was a significant difference between the attitude with the demographic variables such as age، sex، marital status and academic discipline. On the other hand، medicine and nursing groups had the more positive attitude other than majors (p<0/001). Also، there was negative relationship between age and attitude (p<0/29). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study and by considering the attitude score of all medical sciences students، especially medicine and nursing groups who are often dealing with mental patients. Hence، medical students are playing an important role in mental health centers and their attitude toward these people will affect the attitude of people in the society، therefore learning the clinical courses in all majors relevant to the medical sciences not only plays an important role in the students but also in the society. Keywords: Attitude, Mental Diseases, Medical Sciences Student

Drug Use among Residents of Juvenile Correctional Center in Kerman, Iran, and its Relationship with Personality Dimensions and Self-concept

Background: Identifying the status of substance misuse and its psychosocial correlates among residents of juvenile correctional centers, as a high risk group, could potentially illuminate the roadmap to prevention of drug use in this group. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 93 individuals aged 13 to 18 were enrolled. A self-administered questionnaire was completed and dropped in a sealed box. It consisted of 4 parts of Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale, NEO Personality Inventory, drug use questions, and demographic variables. All questionnaires were well adapted in the Persian language. MANOVA was used to compare the subscale scores between the drug users and nonusers. Findings: All respondents were male and 40% were illiterate. More than 40% had drug dependent fathers. Use of cigarette, opium, and alcohol in the previous 30 days was reported by 31.9, 52.2, and 15.9% of respondents, respectively. In this population, the score of 3 of the 5 personality factors (i.e., neuroticism, extraversion, and openness) were higher than in the general population (P < 0.001). More than 88% of subjects had negative self-concept. Both the scores of personality and self-concept showed no significant difference based on the status of drug use. Conclusion: Prevalence of lifetime and last-month drug use was found to be high. Regarding the profiles of personality and self-concept, more comprehensive evidence-based interventions are needed for improvement of their mental health

Does Exercise Deprivation Increase the Tendency Towards Morphine Dependence in Rats?

Background: Exercise deprivation has been concluded to have some negative effects on psychological well-being. This study was conducted to find out whether exercise deprivation may lead to morphine dependence in rats. Methods: Forty male Wistar rats weighing 162 ± 9 g were housed in clear plastic cages in groups of two under standard laboratory conditions. The study had two phases. In phase I, the animals were randomly divided into exercised (E) and unexercised (UE) groups (n = 20 each) and treadmill running was performed based on a standard protocol for three weeks. At the end of the training period, plasma β-endorphin levels were determined in four rats from each group. In phase II, the animals were provided with two bottles, one containing tap water and the other 25 mg/l morphine sulfate in tap water for a total of 12 weeks. At the end of this phase naloxone was injected intraperitoneally to precipitate morphine withdrawal Findings: There was no significant difference between UE and E groups in morphine consumption (mg/kg/wk) [group: F(1,14) = 0.2, P = 0.690; time: F(11,154) =18.72, P < 0.001; interaction: F(11,154) = 1.27 , P = 0.245]. No statistically significant difference between the two groups of animals was seen regarding withdrawal signs. Conclusion: The study showed that discontinuation of exercise does not increase the tendency of morphine dependence in rats. Keywords: Exercise dependence, Substance dependence, Oral morphine self-administration, Rat

Estimation of the Cost of Smoking-Attributable Diseases (Five Selected Diseases): A Case in Kerman City, Iran, 2014

Background: Cigarette seems to be the least valuable of addictive drugs. It is easily accessible to the public, and its harmful personal and social effects have attracted less attention. Therefore, the present research was carried out with the aim of presenting cost estimations of smoking-related diseases in smokers who aged 35 or higher in Kerman City, Iran, in 2014.Methods: Using the prevalence approach, the direct and indirect costs of smoking-attributable diseases including lung cancer, gastric cancer, myocardial infarction, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were estimated. The initial data were obtained from the information in documents of medical document units as well as the 2014 income statements of teaching hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman City.Findings: In this research, total economic costs of diseases attributed to smoking were estimated to be 50 million dollars in 2014 in Kerman City, and calculations suggest that this figure accounts for 0.02% of Iran’s gross domestic product (GDP). Total direct cost of diseases caused by smoking in Kerman City adds up to 17 million dollars, whereas the estimated indirect cost of diseases caused by smoking is 33 million dollars. The yearly per capita cost of any of the selected five diseases is 270 dollars.Conclusion: Smoking places a high economic burden on health system and society as a whole. Therefore, stronger intervention measures against smoking should be taken without delay to reduce the health and financial losses caused by smoking

Effects of Endurance Exercise Training on Cardiac Dysfunction Induced by Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking

Background: There is an increasing popularity of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) in youth and even inathletes worldwide. Despite the existence of evidence of the harmful effects of hookah smoke on varioussystems of the body, especially the cardiovascular system, its simultaneous effect with exercise training hasnot been well studied. We assessed the effects of WTS exposure with/without swimming exercise on bloodpressure (BP), and heart histology and mechanical performance in male Wistar rats.Methods: The animals were divided into 4 groups of sedentary control (CTL), waterpipe tobacco smoking (S),mild endurance swimming exercise training (Ex), and waterpipe smoking plus exercise (S + Ex). Theduration of WTS and exercise was 8 weeks.Findings: BP and heart rate (HR) did not show a significant difference among the groups. WTS increased theTNF-α level of the heart (P < 0.05 vs. CTL) and cardiac tissue lesions (P < 0.05 vs. CTL), and reduced +dP/dtmax, -dp/dt max, and heart contractility indices (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, and P < 0.05, respectively, vs. CTL andEx groups). It also increased the Tau index (P < 0.05 vs. CTL; P < 0.01 vs. Ex groups) of the left ventricle.However, the combination of exercise and WTS reduced the TNF-α level, improved the heart activity ofsuperoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase enzymes, and prevented the negative effects of smoking on heartfunction and morphology.Conclusion: Mild exercise prevents WTS-induced left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction partly viaimprovement of antioxidants and attenuation of pro-inflammatory cytokines

Evaluation of the Ratio of Human Resources to the Amount of Services Provided in Hospitals of Kerman Province

Background & Objectives: The combination and distribution of human resources is one of the major factors affecting the quality, quantity, cost, and speed of provision of health services. Today, one of the most important problems of human health systems is the inappropriate distribution of human resources. The aim of this study was to investigate the ratio of human resources to the amount of services provided in hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted during March 2015 to February 2016, to review the occupational categories of nursing staff, midwife, patient carrier, and unit secretary in 10 teaching and non-teaching hospitals in Kerman province using three methods of Workload Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN), systematic approach, and bed occupancy rate (BOR). Data were collected using a form contains job descriptions, the quantity of services provided per year by the occupational categories studied, the standard of activity time, the work time available to the hospital staff, and bed occupancy rate in the units studied.. Results: The systematic approach showed the highest need for human resources, and then, the bed occupancy ratio and WISN respectively showed the highest need, which however, depended on the hospital unit. So that, in calculating the required number of nurses in the intensive care and burn units, the index proposed by the Ministry of Health in bed occupancy rate was higher than the WISN, and the index obtained in the emergency department, was higher than the WISN. Conclusion: It is suggested to replace traditional methods with modern human resources estimation systems, as WISN. Also, it is recommended to measure the time and activities of hospital units to determine the ratio of staff to bed for each hospital. Key¬words: Teaching hospital, Non-teaching hospital, Human resources, Nursing staff Citation: Yazdanpanah M, Jafarzadeh S, Nakhaee N, Kamyabi A, Amiresmaili MR. Evaluation of the Ratio of Human Resources to the Amount of Services Provided in Hospitals of Kerman Province. Journal of Health Based Research 2018; 4(1): 95-108. [In Persian

Development and validation of heat wave hazard adaptation tool: a study protocol

INTRODUCTION: Global warming, climate change, temperature fluctuations, and increasing concern about their possible impacts on health have drawn the attention of scholars and academia around the world. Previous studies suggested heat waves can increase mortality and diseases, the demand for ambulances, hospitalization rates, and severe consequences, especially in vulnerable groups. The most effective measures can be taken by effective planning and providing practical solutions in the mitigation and preparedness stage to prevent and mitigate the effects of disasters. Given the absence of a tool to determine the level of adaptation in the world, this study aimed to identify the strategies to adapt to heat waves and develop a tool to measure the level of adaptation to heat waves. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This exploratory sequential mixed methods (qualitative-quantitative) study was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, a qualitative study was carried out by conducting interviews with people affected by heat waves. The interview data were used to identify the themes related to adaptation to heat waves and the strategies to adapt to heat waves. In the second phase, a systematic review study was conducted to identify the strategies to adapt to heat waves in the world. Afterward, the data from the qualitative phase and systematic review were used to develop the items in the heatwave adaptation tool. Finally, in the third phase (the quantitative study), the psychometric properties of the developed tool were assessed using face validity, content validity, construct validity, and reliability indexes. CONCLUSIONS: The developed tool can measure the level of adaptation behaviors of people against heat waves in different communities. Thus, an awareness of less adaptable and more vulnerable communities can contribute to conducting some mitigation and preparedness interventions in these communities

Assessment of systemic effects of ginger on salivation in patients with post-radiotherapy xerostomia

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Our aim was to assess the clinical efficacy of ginger capsule (Zintoma herbal capsule) in the relief of symptoms in patients with post-radiotherapy xerostomia. METHODS: This study was a randomized double-blind, parallel clinical trial of ginger usage in patients with post-radiotherapy xerostomia. Sixty-one subjects were selected from patients with xerostomia of Imam Khomeini Cancer Institute, Tehran, Iran. Subject-based dry mouth scores derived from 100 mm visual analogue scales (VAS) were recorded at baseline. Patients also completed a questionnaire on the first visit regarding the symptoms of xerostomia. The patients received ginger capsule (30 persons) or placebo (31 persons) three times daily over a 2-weeks period. At the end of day 14, dry mouth scores derived from VAS were recorded again and patients responded to the additional variables regarding dry mouth symptoms and quality of life issues. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Data were analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: The mean treatment effect on day 14 was 33.7 ± 20.9 mm in the ginger group and 23.6 ± 17.3 mm in the placebo group. The analysis indicated marginally significant improvement of xerostomia with ginger prescription (P = 0.057). At the end of intervention there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding improvement of quality of life or dry mouth symptoms. CONCLUSION: It seems that ginger could be helpful in the treatment of xerostomia. Since ginger is considered a safe herbal medicine with only few and insignificant adverse/side effects further studies in larger group of patients are recommended to provide the effect of ginger on different complaints of xerostomia. KEYWORDS: Ginger, Radiation, Xerostomi