Chemical composition and antifungal effects of three species of Satureja (S. hortensis, S. spicigera, and S. khuzistanica) essential oils on the main pathogens of strawberry fruit

Due to an increasing risk of chemical contamination upon the application of synthetic fungicides to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables, essential oils are gaining increasing attentions. In this research, besides chemical analysis of the essential oils of three Satureja species (S. hortensis, S. spicigera, and S. khuzistanica) by GC-MS, their fungicidal and/or fungistatic effects on postharvest pathogens of strawberry were investigated. Essential oils were extracted by means of hydro-distillation and afterwards GC/MS analysis was performed to identify their components. Carvacrol, γ-terpinene and p-cymene were detected as the repeating main constituents of the spices, while thymol and carvacrol methyl ether were found as major components only in S. spicigera oil. In vitro results showed that at the maximum concentration, the essential oils did not possess fungicidal effects on Aspergillus niger but they exhibited fungicidal activities against Penicillium digitatum, Botrytis cinerea and Rhizopus stolonifer. However, S. khuzistanica was the strongest oil in fungicidal activity. S. hortensis oil was more effective than S. spicigera against B. cinerea whereas S. spicigera oil showed stronger fungicidal activity against R. stolonifer. In conclusion, essential oils isolated from three savory species could be suitable for applications in the food industry to control molds and improve the safety of fruits and vegetables. © 2015 Elsevier B.V

The relation between the quality of life and restless legs syndrome in patients undergoing hemodialysisis dialysis centers in ChaharMahal and Bakhtiari, 2011

Aims: The chronic renal failure and the subsequent hemodialysis and its consequent problems such as restless legs syndrome affect the individual’s quality of life through the changes they cause in his life style and health status. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between the quality of life and restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive –analytical study, 171patients who were undergoing to hemodialysis at hospitals of ChaharMahal and Bakhtiariprovenanceselected via census sampling. The subjectsdivided into two groups; one suffering from the restless legs syndrome and the other without syndrome. Data was collected using WHO-QOL BREF quality of life questionnaire andrestless legs syndromequestionnaire, then it was analyzed by the software SPSS 15 and independent statistical t-test. Findings: The findings revealed that 98(57.3%) out of 171 hemodialysispatients, who were studied, suffered from restless legs syndrome and 73(%42.7) subjects were without syndrome. The average age in the group suffering the syndrome was 59.27± 16.86 and in the group without syndrome was 55.20±17.95.However thedifferencebetween the average age in both groups was not statistically significant (p= 0.131).The average quality of life in the group suffering the syndrome was 32.82±8.53and in the group without the syndrome was 39± 14.57. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: regarding the result of the study, the average quality of life in hemodialysispatients is low. Patients suffering from restless legs syndrome also have lower quality of life. Therefore it is recommended that the quality of life of these patients be improved through taking appropriate measures and presenting requisite interferences

Strengths and Weaknesses of Clinical Education from the Viewpoints of Nursing and Midwifery Students in Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

Background and Objectives: The viewpoints of students as basic elements of education, can improve the process of education. Thus this study was designed to detect the Strengths and weaknesses of clinical education from the viewpoints of nursing and midwifery students. Methods: In this cross–sectional study, 150 senior nursing and midwifery students in Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences were asked about the strengths and weaknesses of clinical education using a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three sections including demographic characteristics, and the strengths and weaknesses of clinical education which was prepared based on five areas of the aims and educational programs, contact to students, educational environment, supervision and evaluation. Data analysis was done using t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficients and the value of p<0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The most important strengths points of clinical education included: considering the prerequisite of clinical education (79.7%), clarifying the students tasks (72.5%), on-time presence of trainers (88.7%) and trainees (84.2%), providing opportunities of patient care for students (68.5%), good relationship between educational supervisor and the students (56.5%), students' library use in hospital (62.5%) and taking practical exams at the end of each clinical education (58.5%). failing to ask students' views in planning the training program (84.9%), lack of congruence between the educational aims and personnel expectations (74.6%), stressful conditions for students (76.8%), lack of student support by personnel (85.5%), failing to use teaching aids (91.2%) and lack of supervising in clinical education (69%), were among the most important weaknesses of clinical education. Conclusion: with respect to educational aims and programs and educators, majority of students stated the strengths points more than the weaknesses, while in cases of communication with students, clinical environment, supervision and evaluation, the conditions were not much desirable and the weak points were more than the strong points

Assessment of performance indicators in Hospitals University of Medical Sciences based on the standards of the Ministry of Health

Background and amis: One of the main issues in hospitals, to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of hospital beds are how to exploit it . For this indicator, the introduction of performance indicators are computed and compared with standards of health care services can be paid for hospital assessment activities and capabilities. This study compares the performance standards of medical care Chahar Mahal Va Bakhtiari province's health ministry. Methods: This study is descriptive and analytical and trend study in which data were collected from 498 pcs form 2006 till 2012 has been studied. Results: The tables and charts in this review suggest that the bed occupancy index in comparison with the standard country between 2008 and 2009 unfavorable and 2006. 2007 years, 2010 and 2011 in moderate country. Average index hospitalization days in the period, compared with a national standard was satisfactory (less than 3.5 preferred), three performance indicators examined in this study Turnover is the optimal value of this index in the standard state (less than 2 day), which is desirable in the years 2006 and 2007 years, average 2008 and 2009 years were 2010 and 2011 unfavorable. Conclusions Conclusion The performance indicators of hospitals toward optimal health standards have been average

The Impact of Education, Based on the BASNEF Model, on Maternal Attitudes toward Child Abuse in Shahrekord Health Centers, 2012

Background As childhood is considered to be the infrastructure for growth and progress, experiencing misconduct may leave behind a heritage of imbalance and unrest which may be manifested in any situation in some form of mental disorder (neurotic attack). This problem leads to physical and mental disorder in children and inflicts heavy social and economic damages to the society. This research aims at evaluating the impact of education, based on BASNEF model, on maternal attitude towards child abuse. Methods The current research is based on an interventional study on 95 mothers referred to the Shahrekord health center. They were randomly selected and divided into two groups of test and control, and education was conducted in four sessions based on structures of BASNEF model. Finally their obtained information was analyzed using paired t-test, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney and Chi-square statistical tests. Results The mean score in beliefs was 77.73±7.27, attitudes 87.01±8.1, subjective norms 85.55±8.4 and enabling factors 82.77±10.64 in the test group. There was a significant difference in the average marks of the structures of the BASNEF model (beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, and enabling factors) between the control and intervention groups after the training process Conclusion Model-based training has a positive effect on improving attitudes; therefore, instead of traditional methods, applying a planned training program is suggested so that its effects can be reliable

Study of Photocatalytic Behavior of Photochemical Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles with In-V Synthesized by Sol-Gel and Hydrothermal Methods

Indium- vanadium doped with different molar percent (0.05-1%) was prepared by photochemical reduction method on pure TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized by sol –gel and hydrothermal process. XRD, FT-IR, TEM, SEM and EDX analysis were done for characterized nanoparticles and methyl orange (MO) was used as an environmental pollutant to verify photocatalytic effect of synthesized particles under visible and UV lamps. Result of tests was showed that In-V doping restrain from crystal growth, that only hydrothermal TiO2 particles with binary doped 0.2% molar of In-V can improve photocatalytic activity compared to solgel nanoparticles. Pure TiO2 prepared by hydrothermal and sol-gel processes were calcined at 300,400,450,550 ºC for 3h and 500º C for 2h, respectively. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/3528

Impact of Health Literacy, Self-efficacy, and Outcome Expectations on Adherence to Self-care Behaviors in Iranians with Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetic patients with higher health literacy (HL) may feel more confident in their ability to perform self-care behaviors and may have strong beliefs that diabetes-related behaviors will lead to specific outcomes. Our study aimed to document the relationships between HL, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and diabetes self-care of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Iran. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study of 187 patients with T2DM. Participants completed the Functional Communicative and Critical Health Literacy scale, the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, the Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale, Outcome Expectations Questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire. RESULTS: Participants who received diabetes education (t = 5.79, p<0.001) and were married (F = 3.04, p<0.050) had better diabetes self-care behavior. There was a significant positive correlation between self-care behaviors and communicative HL (r = 0.455, p<0.010), critical HL (r = 0.297, p<0.010), self-efficacy (r = 0.512, p<0.010) and outcome expectations (r = 0.387, p<0.010). Diabetes education and marital status accounted for 16.9% of the variance in diabetes self-care. Self-efficacy, outcome expectations, communicative, and critical HL explained 28.0%, 1.5%, 3.7%, and 1.4% of the variance, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the potential impact of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, communicative, and critical HL should be considered in the education program for patients with diabetes. We found self-efficacy to be the most important predictor of diabetes self-care. Therefore, the use of self-efficacy theory when designing patient education interventions could enhance diabetes self-care. It is essential that health care providers assess patient's HL levels to tailor health-related information specific to a domain of HL. This would fully inform patients and promote empowerment rather than simple compliance

Pelvic floor dysfunction and polycystic ovary syndrome

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (PFMD) in patients with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); to test PFMD in women with different PCOS phenotypes. Methods: This was a case-control study of 202 women who were recruited in an infertility clinic in Hormozgan, Iran: PCOS (n=103) and control groups who were healthy women whose husbands were diagnosed with male infertility (n=99). According to the presence or absence of menstrual dysfunction (M), hyperandrogenism (HA) and polycystic ovaries on ultrasonoghraphy (PCO), patients with PCOS were divided into three phenotypes: HA+PCO, M+PCO and M+HA+PCO. PFMD was assessed by the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20. Results: The reported PFMD symptoms were higher in PCOS (P=0.05) than the non-PCOS group. The mean PFDI score in the HA+M+PCO was higher compared to other phenotypes, although the difference did not reach significance level (P>0.05). The mean LH level was higher in HA+M+PCO than the two other phenotypes. There was a significant positive correlation between LH level and PFDI score (P<0.04). Conclusion: The findings suggest that a high level of LH may cause PFMD. Further studies are needed to determine the precise role of LH levels and potential treatment options in women with PCOS and PFMD. Keywords: polycystic ovary syndrome, pelvic floor distress inventory, pelvic floor muscle dysfunctio

Environmental performance assessment of the transport sector in the european union

The European Union (EU) has been promoting diverse initiatives towards sustainable development and environment protection. One of these initiatives is the reduction of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 60% below their 1990 level, by 2050. As the transport sector is responsible for more than 22% of those emissions some strategies need to be taken towards a more sustainable mobility, as the ones proposed in 2011 White Paper on transport. Under this context, this study aims to evaluate the environmental performance of the transport sector in the 28 EU countries towards these goals, from 2015 to 2017. The transport environmental performance is measured through the composite indicator derived from the Benefit of the Doubt (BoD) model. The country transport environmental performance is assessed through the aggregation of multiple sub-indicators using the composite indicator derived from the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. The results indicate that the EU countries slightly improved their transport environmental performance, on average 2.8%. The areas where the inefficient countries need more improvement were also identified: reducing the GHG emissions from fossil fuels, increasing the share of transport energy from renewable sources and improving the public transport share of the total passenger transport.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Utilizing a health-promotion model to predict self-care adherence in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty in Bushehr, Iran

Background: Self-care refers to the conscious actions and behaviors that patients engage in to maintain and promote their own health and to the decisions that they make about managing signs or symptoms. Despite the importance of self-care in improving the health status of patients with cardiovascular disease, such as those undergoing angioplasty, these patients do not implement self-care optimally. This study aimed to identify factors affecting self-care behaviors in cardiac patients undergoing angioplasty based on a health-promotion model. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 cardiovascular patients undergoing angioplasty referred to the Bushehr Health Center. Health-promotion-model constructs and self-care behaviors were assessed by a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 22 using multiple linear regression analyses. Results: Stepwise regression revealed that three variables – perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, and social support – were significant predictors of self-care behaviors among patients undergoing angioplasty. These factors accounted for 43.1% (R2 =0.431) of variance in self-care. Among the health-promotion-model constructs, self-efficacy (β =0.237, P<0.001) was the strongest predictor of self-care behaviors, followed by perceived barriers (β =-0.195, P<0.001) and perceived social support (β =0.13, P<0.001). Perceived benefits did not significantly predict self-care behaviors. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it is suggested that designing and implementing training programs to improve self-efficacy and perceived social support of cardiovascular patients and also decreasing barriers to self-care may improve self-care behaviors among patients undergoing angioplasty