The Efficacy of Phonological Processing Treatments on Stuttering Severity in Persian Pre-school Children

AbstractObjectives: Correct phonological encoding is crucial to fluent speech production. Phonological working memory and phonological awareness are important phonological processes that affect phonological encoding. Studies have shown weakness in phonological encoding in people who stutter. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of phonological processing on stuttering severity of Persian pre-school children.Method: Six children who stutter participated in a 13-session treatment protocol. The treatment protocol of the phonological processing included nonword repetition in the phonological working memory and phonological awareness therapy. Stuttering severity measurement was performed pre- and post-treatment.Results: Stuttering severity score was compared in pre- and post-treatment, and in the follow-up phase; that showed stuttering severity was reduced in children who stutter. Moreover, severity rating, reported by parents during treatment, showed a reduction in stuttering severity. Conclusion: The poor performance of phonological awareness and phonological working memory in phonological processing affect stuttering severity. The outcomes of this study showed that treatment of sub-systems of phonological processing can play a role in reducing stuttering severity.

Sodium and Potassium Intake of Urban Dwellers: Nothing Changed in Yazd, Iran

To assess the daily salt intake of people aged 20-74 years based on the 24-hour urinary sodium excretion in urban population of Yazd, a population-based cross-sectional study was conducted. This is a substudy of Yazd Healthy Heart Project in Iran. From 2004 to 2005, two thousand people of the urban population of Yazd city, aged 20-74 years, were enrolled in the main study. Overall, 219 volunteer participants of 20-70 years were enrolled in this substudy. Sample frame was the household numbers according to the database of Yazd City Health Services. Calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and creatinine were measured in the urine samples collected from the participants over a 24-hour period. Sodium content in urine over 24 hours was 171.7\ub182.9 mmol/day in males and 127.8\ub156.1 mmol/day in females (p<0.0001) while potassium content was 49.4\ub123.2 mmol/day in males and 41.5\ub125.1 mmol/day in females (p=0.2). Estimated average daily salt (NaCl) intake was 10.0\ub14.8 g/day in males and 7.5\ub13.3 g/day in females (p<0.0001). Only one participant had the ideal Na/K ratio of less than one. Na/K ratios greater than one and less than two were seen in 11.3% (n=24), and a ratio equal to or greater than 2 was observed in 82.3% (n=118) of the participants. The average Na/K ratio was 3.69\ub11.58. Unlike many developed countries where sodium intake declined over the past few decades, the daily sodium intake in Yazd is high, and daily potassium intake is low. This is similar to what was observed four decades ago in an area not far from Yazd. Efforts must be directed towards health promotion interventions to increase public awareness to reduce sodium intake and increase potassium intake

Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) programme: study protocol and design of musculoskeletal system and cognitive function (stage II).

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Musculoskeletal disorders and cognitive diseases are prevalent, and they are significant determinants of morbidity and mortality in older adults. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal and cognitive diseases and their risk factors and also to assess their associations during future follow-ups. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) programme is a population-based prospective cohort study being conducted in Bushehr, a southern province of Iran. A total of 3000 older people aged ≥60 years participated in the first stage from which 2772 were eligible to participate in the second stage, which started after 2.5 years. Data including demographic status, lifestyle factors, general healthandmedical history, and mentalandfunctional health are collected through a questionnaire. Anthropometric measures, performance testsandmuscle strength, blood pressure and and body composition measurements are done. A total 25 cc venous blood is taken, and sera are stored at -80°C for possible future analyses. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Science as well as the Research Ethics Committee of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences. A written informed consent was signed by all the participants. The study findings will show the prevalence of musculoskeletal disease, cognitive impairment and their risk factors in an elderly population. The participants will be followed during the study to measure the occurrence outcomes.This study will also have the potential to inform the development of beneficial interventions to improve the management of musculoskeletal and cognitive impairment in Iran and other countries in the Middle East.Our findings will be disseminated via scientific publication as well as presentation to stakeholders, including the patients, clinicians, the public and policymakers, via appropriate avenue