Development of highly porous polylactic acid-based monoliths containing sol-gel-derived 45S5 Bioglass®

It has been shown that highly porous composite scaffolds consisting of biodegradable polymeric matrices and well-dispersed bioactive glass nanoparticles have a great potential for creating the ideal scaffold for tissue engineering purposes. In spite of this, the scaffold with ideal morphology, degradation rate and mechanical properties has not yet been developed. In the first stage of this study, the most bioactive glass composition, 45S5 Bioglass® (45% SiO2, 24.5% CaO, 24.5% Na2O and 6% P2O5 (wt.%)), was synthesized by a straightforward, nitrate-free sol-gel method. This route allowed for the production of a fully amorphous product with an appropriately high specific surface area (11.75 m2/g), which is expected to have an excellent bioactivity for bone regeneration applications. In the second stage, a fundamental study was performed on the PLA – dichloromethane (solvent) – hexane (nonsolvent) ternary system which was essential for the subsequent production of porous PLA monoliths from this system. The ternary phase diagram of this system was experimentally developed at room conditions in order to identify the liquid-liquid phase separated region. The phase separation kinetics were also studied using turbidity measurements, showing that a small increase in PLA content can significantly increase the phase separation rate of the system. The third stage of this study involved the fabrication of PLA foams using a solvent-based foaming process: nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS), which is a template-free and a very versatile technique. For this purpose, systems from the liquid-liquid phase separated region were selected and allowed to phase separate at various temperatures and then gel. Shrinkage of the gels during drying was monitored in order to identify compositions with minimum shrinkage and highest porosity. This method was able to produce semi-crystalline PLA foams with high specific surface area (up to 54.14 m2/g), high porosity (up to 90.8%) and compressive modulus ranging from 1.8 to 57 MPa. Crystallization during phase separation and the phase separation mechanisms were explained and discussed for various compositions and conditions. Depending on the ternary composition and the phase separation standing temperature, mesoporous and combined meso/macroporous morphologies were produced. The latter morphology is very promising for bone scaffold applications since the macropores are vital for vascularization and bone ingrowth whereas the mesopores are expected to enhance cell attachment onto the structure. In the last stage of this study, the sol-gel-derived 45S5 Bioglass® was surface modified with a silane coupling agent (methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane) in order to improve its interfacial compatibility with PLA. This process effectively increased the stability of the glass particles in PLA solutions. It also diminished the agglomeration of glass particles. Surface modified glass particles (2 wt.%) were subsequently incorporated into the NIPS foaming process to produce composite foams. It was shown that the particle incorporation route (via solvent or nonsolvent) had the greatest impact on morphology, porosity and crystallinity of the resulting foams. An incorporation of 2 wt.% of particles via nonsolvent significantly decreased the porosity and crystallinity of the PLA matrix. The incorporation of particles via solvent increased the average size of the macropores and made them more homogeneous in terms of size. It also slightly increased the porosity of the foams whereas no impact on the crystallinity of their PLA matrices was observed. SEM examination revealed that the surface modified particles were incorporated within the open mesoporous structure of the foams where they can simultaneously be in contact with the physiological fluids

Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors and the Relationship between Knowledge Level and Preventive Behaviors for Cardiovascular Diseases among Women in Kerman

Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors and the Relationship between Knowledge Level and Preventive Behaviors for Cardiovascular Diseases among Women in Kerman Rezabeigi Davarani Esmat1, Iranpour Abedin2, Khanjani Narges3, Mohseni Mohabbat4*, Nazari Robati Fatemeh1 Received: 29. 06. 2016 Revised: 17. 08. 2016 Accepted: 23. 08. 2016 Abstract Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the main causes of mortality and disability in the world. Many risk factors are involved in cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, smoking, diabetes, inadequate physical activity, unhealthy diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiovascular diseases risk factors and the relationship between knowledge level and preventive behaviors for cardiovascular diseases among women in Kerman. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 400 women in Kerman. Participants were selected using multistage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire and a questionnaire about cardiovascular disease risk factors, knowledge, nutritional behavior, and physical activity. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, Spearman, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test by SPSS 21. Results: The average age of women was 42.11±1.40 years. Daily stress (71.75%) and inadequate physical activity (62.75%) were the most common risk factors among the participants. There was a significant positive relationship between knowledge and nutritional behavior (P<0.0001) and physical activity (P=0.001). The mean score of knowledge in women who had tested their blood sugar, cholesterol, weight, and blood pressure over the past six months was significantly high. Conclusion: The results showed that there is a relationship between knowledge level and preventive behaviors for cardiovascular diseases; therefore, increasing knowledge level through appropriate interventions may effectively prevent cardiovascular diseases. Key¬words: Knowledge, Preventive Behavior, Risk Factors, Cardiovascular Diseases, Women. ¬Citation: Rezabeigi Davarani E, Iranpour A, Khanjani N, Mohseni M, Nazari Robati F. Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors and the Relationship between Knowledge Level and Preventive Behaviors among Women in Kerman. Journal of Health Based Research 2016; 2(2): 119-132. 1. MSc, Health Services Management Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. 2. Assistant Professor, Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran 3. Associate Professor, Research Center for Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. 4. Assistant Professor, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran *Correspondence: School of Public Health, Campus of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Haft Baghe Alavi Highway. Tel: 03431325098 Fax: 03431325094 Email: [email protected]

The Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes and Factors Affecting it in a Health Care Center

Introduction: Since late diagnosis of diabetes or missing it during pregnancy can leave severe maternal and fetal complications, and on the other hand information on the prevalence and risk factors of diabetes in pregnancy in Iran is limited, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of gestational diabetes in Shahdad/ Kerman/ Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was performed on 160 post partum women who had prenatal care files in health care center of Shahdad city from 2014 to2015. Subjects were selected through census sampling and their information was extracted from their files. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 16 and using t-test, chi-square, Fisher's exact test and logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the studied women was 12.5 percent. Gestational diabetes showed significant relationships with history of stillbirth (P=0.04), family history of diabetes (P<0.0001) and body mass index (0.003). In studying pregnancy outcomes, no relationship was found between the type of delivery and GDM (P=0.6), but the weight was significantly higher in infants of diabetic mothers (P=0.01). Conclusion: The prevalence of gestational diabetes is high in the region of Shahdad/ Kerman and history of stillbirth has the highest correlation with GDM. Therefore, screening of gestational diabetes and its risk factors in this community seems necessary. Key¬words: Gestational diabetes, Prevalence, Risk factors, Pregnant women ¬Citation: Nazari Robati F, Khanjani N, Tabasi Nezhad N, Rezabeigi Davarani E, Mohseni M. The Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes and Factors Affecting it in a Health Care Center. Journal of Health Based Research 2016; 2(4): 307-317

Epidemiologic Study of Tuberculosis in Kerman City during 2011 – 2015

Background: Tuberculosis is one of the most important infectious diseases causing numerous social and economic problems. Understanding the epidemiology of tuberculosis and its related indices is one of the most important strategies for the prevention of this disease and accelerating the process of achieving sustainable development goals. Methods: In this cross-sectional and descriptive-analytic study, data were collected by a researcher-made check list and using the recorded data in the Tuberculosis surveillance system during 2011 to 2015. Data analysis was done through SPSS20 and using descriptive statistics, frequency distribution and Chi-square test. Results: A total number of 674 cases were studied of which, 87% were pulmonary and the rest were extra-pulmonary. The disease showed a decreasing trend during the years of study. The incidence rate of drug-resistant tuberculosis was about 10 per ten thousand. Approximately, 4% of patients had recurrent disease during the years of study. In pulmonary tuberculosis, the risk of recurrence and resistance was significantly higher compared to extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (P= 0.001). From all patients, about 4% had previous treatment for TB and 2.5% were HIV-positive. Conclusion: Indicators of tuberculosis in the city of Kerman in comparison with the indicators set by the World Health Organization were acceptable; however, due to the geographical location of Kerman that its closeness to eastern borders a stronger surveillance system is required

Educational Needs of Couples Attending in Pre-marriage Counseling classes in Health Center of Kerman

Introduction:The first step in any educational programs is determining the educational needs of the target group. Providing adequate information to couples helps them to start their marital life based on a correct basis. The aim of this study was to determine the pre-marriage educational needs of couples who are about to get marry. Methods:This descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was performed on 250 couples attending in Pre-marriage counseling classes. Available sampling was used in this study. Data were collected by a questionnaire including demographic variables and 47 questions in 7 areas including family planning, congenital diseases, common cancers in men and women, sexual relationships, relationship with spouse and family, and Islamic and legal issues. Data were analyzed using analytical statistics Chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, and correlation coefficientthrough SPSS 21. Results:The results show a significant relationshipbetween the need for training and education in women and men (P<0.0001). There was a significant relationship between age and educational needin the field of congenital diseases, in females (P=0.002) and males (P=0.01). The most important educational needs were sexual relationship and relationship with spouse and family. Conclusion:It seems thatcomprehensive information on sexual issues and relationship with spouse and family should be also added to educational content in order to help young couples to have healthier marital life. Key¬words:Educational Need, Pre-marriage Counseling, Couples, Health Center Citation:RezabeigiDavarani E, Khanjani N, Iranpour A, Mohseni M, NajarMansoori S.Educational Needs of Couples Attending in Pre-marriage Counseling classes in Health Center of Kerman. Journal of Health Based Research 2016; 2(1): 79-80

Investigating the effectiveness of protection motivation theory in predicting behaviors relating to natural disasters, in the households of southern Iran

BackgroundDisasters can lead to large human casualties, destruction of property and economic and environmental resources. The purpose of the present study was to answer the question whether the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) is effective in predicting behaviors related to the harmful effects of natural disasters in the households of southern Iran.Materials and methodsThis quantitative and cross-sectional study was conducted on 528 households in Jiroft city. Sampling was done by combined method (the combination of cluster, simple random, proportional and systematic random sampling). A total of 528 households were included. The tools for collecting data were demographic information and a researcher-made questionnaire related to PMT constructs and preventive behaviors from the harmful effects of natural disasters. Data was analyzed using SPSS v21 software, and the necessary analyzes (descriptive tests, chi-square, one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation test) were performed at a significance level of 0.05. Using Amos v 21 software, the predictors of safety behaviors were determined using path analysis.ResultsThe results showed 51.7% lived in the city and 62.1% of residential buildings were of brick without markings. There is a significant difference between preventive behaviors and direct exposure to disasters (p &lt; 0.001), education (p = 0.004), monthly income (p = 0.004) and source of information (p = 0.040). There was also a significant correlation between preventive behaviors and the number of vulnerable family members (p = 0.001, r = 0.160). The adjusted model of the path analysis test showed that protection motivation (β = 0.547), fear (β = 0.147) and perceived vulnerability (β = 0.135) had the greatest role among the constructs of the protection motivation theory.ConclusionAccording to the results of the study, it is suggested that health planners design and implement educational interventions based on the structures of the mentioned model to increase the preparedness of households against natural disasters

Factors affecting blood donation intervals and patterns of return based on a sample in southern Iran : a follow-up design

OBJECTIVE : The main goal of blood transfusion centers is to recruit and retain more qualified blood donors. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the return of volunteer blood donors. MATERIAL AND METHODS : A cohort study was conducted on all blood donors who donated blood for the first time, from March 21, 2013, to March 20, 2014. They were followed up for five years (up to March 20, 2018). Demographic characteristics, type of blood donation and time interval between two blood donations were recorded as recurrent events. Data were then analyzed using Logit Model for Multinomial Responses and Cox's shared frailty model. RESULTS : Of the 2010 blood donors, 33.7% as the repeated donor and 16.2% as the regular donor had regular donations. The frequency of blood donation was in the range of 1 to 20 with a mean of 4.54±3.29. There was a significant reverse relationship between the number of donations and the time interval between two donations. The variables of gender, marital status and occupation had a significant effect on the blood donation of the repeated and regular donors. Genders, age at the time of the first donation, marital status and occupation had a significant effect on the intervals between blood donations. CONCLUSION : Most of blood supply of Iran is provided by men and first-time donors. Since the decision to donate and keep donating blood involves many complex issues applied programs are require to convert women and first-time donors into regular donors.http://www.romj.org/Statistic

Resilience and anxiety in nurses in a hospital in Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

The lack of any definitive treatment or prevention of COVID-19 disease has created a lot of stress and anxiety in societies. This study aimed to evaluate the resilience and anxiety of COVID-19 in nurses of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Jiroft and their relationship with demographic variables from April to August 2020. The present study is descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional. To select the statistical sample, the census method was used so that 80 nurses working in different wards of the hospital were selected and included in the study. The resilience measurement tool is the Connor-Davidson Resilience Questionnaire (CD-RIS). COVID-19 anxiety was assessed using a comprehensive national questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics Chi-square, Independent two-sample parametric t-test, and ANOVA through SPSS 20. The level of COVID-19 anxiety in nurses was moderate (19.3±11.64) and the rate of resilience was low (36.7±16.65). There is a statistically significant difference between resilience in nurses and age (p = 0.003). There was no statistically significant relationship between the rate of resilience in nurses and gender (p = 0.13), the unit of service (p = 0.87), marital status (p = 0.98), work experience (p = 0.06), and the level of education (p = 0.63). There was no statistically significant relationship between anxiety in nurses and age (p = 0.53), gender (p = 0.59), the unit of work (p = 0.48), marital status (p = 0.90), work experience (p = 0.40), and level of education (p = 0.60). The results of multivariate analysis showed that, work experience, and place of work have a statistically significant relationship with resilience and anxiety of COVID-19 in nurses, respectively (p <0.05).The level of COVID-19 anxiety in nurses is moderate and the rate of resilience is high. Given the current high-risk situation, it is important to identify nurses prone to psychological disorders to maintain and improve their mental health with appropriate strategies and techniques