Effect of Aerobic Training with Blood Flow Restricting on Static Balance, Lower Extremity Strength, and Thigh Hypertrophy in Females with Multiple Sclerosis

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurological, progressive and debilitating disease in young adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 8-week aerobic training with restricted blood flow on static balance, thigh strength, and thigh hypertrophy in females with MS. Methods: 19 females with MS disease (age= 56.11±7.43 years and BMI= 22.78±1.78 kg.m-2) were selected and divided randomly into four groups: aerobic training (A), blood flow restriction (BFR), combination aerobic training and blood flow restriction (COM), and control group (C). Before and after 8 weeks of aerobic training (45 min aerobic training with 50- 60% HRmax) and restricted blood flow; the balance, thigh strength and hypertrophy were measured. Paired sample t-test, two-way repeated measure ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test were used to analyze statistical data (p≤0.05). Results: The results showed significant difference between groups in balance (p= 0.02), thigh strength (p= 0.001), and hypertrophy (p= 0.04). Post hoc test showed a significant difference between the COM and C groups (p = 0.003) and COM and BFR groups (p = 0.03); but the COM group didn’t have better balance scores than the A (p=0.37) and BFR (p=0.15) groups. Also in thigh strength there was a significant difference between the COM and A group (p = 0.008) and between the COM and C group (p = 0.001); but the COM group didn’t have better thigh strength than BFR (p=0.08) group. Also there was a significant difference between COM and C group in hypertrophy (p = 0.02). Conclusion: According to the results aerobic training with blood flow restriction leads to increased balance, strength and thigh hypertrophy in MS patients so this approach can be taken instead of traditional aerobic training to decrease disability in MS patients

Principles of Nutritional Training and Counseling for Patients in Group Training Sessions Based on Behavioral Change Theory

The advance in educational sciences has demonstrated the effective role of behavioral theories in changing individuals' knowledge, attitude, and habits. Therefore, in order to have efficient and effective training about nutrition especially in group education sessions, applying curriculum development principles in determining educational content is inevitable The problems and obstacles in having effective nutrition education in units dealing with nutrition education especially in group sessions includes: lack of effective models and strategies for nutrition education, relying only on routine diets and providing different and unreliable information by different members of the treatment team for the patients. These problems motivated us to present this article in order to attain three general objectives. First, introducing general principles for education and group counseling in order to enhance the efficacy of nutrition education second, investigating factors affecting the quality of nutrition education through pointing to some important subjects and the third, providing a clear description for some behavioral attitudes and their related learning activities which are effective in nutrition education. This work explains that achieving educational objectives for making proper changes in patients' behavior is due to development and designing an appropriate educational model and guide. In such model, the structure of educational sessions, the procedure for nutrition education, the educational content, the educational strategies, and learning activities are based on curriculum development principles in which related behavioral elements have been considered

Microbial Contamination of Tray, Light Handle, and Dental Chair Handles before and after Disinfection with Deconex : Microbial Contamination before and after Disinfection with Deconex

Objectives Surfaces commonly touched during dental procedures can serve as a reservoir of microorganisms and lead to cross-infection. The aim of the present study was to assess the microbial contamination of tray, light handle and dental chair handles before and after disinfection with Deconex (Solarsept). Methods Samples were randomly collected from the tray, light handle and dental chair handles of active dental units in the Periodontics, Prosthodontics and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Departments of Dental School of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The samples were collected at two time points before and after daily surface disinfection with Deconex. The collected samples were sent to a microbiology laboratory to determine the type and number of microorganisms. Data were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed rank test (α=0.05). Results Based on the culture results and according to microscopic examination and Gram staining, the highest level of bacterial contamination before disinfection with Deconex (Solarsept) was found on dental units of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department (handles and tray), with Gram-positive Bacillus spp. Fixed and removable prosthodontics departments did not have any bacterial contamination. Overall, a reduction in bacterial load was detected after Deconex decontamination (P=0.05). Conclusion Spraying and wiping of dental unit components with Deconex at the end of working hours decreased the bacterial growth, and this effect remained until the next working day