The Effectiveness of Prenatal Intervention on Pain and Anxiety during the Process of Childbirth‑Northern Iran: Clinical Trial Study

Background: Due to the painful nature of childbirth and its maternal and neonatal complications, the woman needs support in this phase of their life. Increased knowledge and skills during pregnancy prepares pregnant mothers for labor and leads to promoted health. Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of “prenatal education” on the process of childbirth. Subjects and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 195 pregnant women, that is, control group (N = 132) and case group (N = 63) attending health centers in Amol‑Iran from 20 weeks of gestation age during 2012. Case group members attended in “prenatal education” class and the control group only received routine care. Data were collected through demographic questionnaire, standard hospital anxiety questionnaire, and a checklist related to childbirth information, and intensity of pain based on visual analogue scale and McGill scales. The data were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software using t‑test and Chi‑square test. Results: The result of this study showed that the parent with a high level of education was more interested to participant in prenatal classes. The anxiety level in case group (who received education) was 14.47 (4.69) and in control group it was 16 (4.86), (P < 0.001) the pain intensity in case group was 85.68 (1.85) and in control group was 90.99 (14.72) (P = 0.03), intervention on labor such episiotomy was 39 %66.1 (39/63) in case group and 80 %72.8 (80/132) in control group (P = 0.01) and cesarean section was 13 %17.1 (13/63) in case group and 58 %32.2 (58/132) in control group (P = 0.01). Conclusions: According to findings of this study, the prenatal education and psychological support are beneficial for mothers during pregnancy and labor. Therefore, it is recommended for educating all the pregnant women.Keywords: Delivery, Obstetric, Pregnancy training classes, Prenatal care, Prenatal educatio

A bio-tribocorrosion comparison between additively manufactured and forged Ti6Al4V parts

Ti6Al4V has been used widely as a biomedical alloy and is increasingly manufactured by additive manufacturing due to customized shapes. As implant material, it is frequently exposed to both friction and corrosive environments. This study investigates the effect of the fabrication process (laser powder bed fusion and forging) on the tribocorrosion behavior of Ti6Al4V in various environments including diluted hydrochloric acid to simulate the acidic environment in a crevice (HCl), phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.3) with 10 g/L bovine serum albumin (PBS+BSA), and PBS+BSA with 30 mM H2O2. While the presence of BSA hindered the repassivation (reforming of the protective passive surface oxide), the presence of H2O2 accelerated it. HCl resulted in a localized tribocorrosion process. The highest plastic deformation rate was found in the PBS+BSA solution followed by HCl and PBS+BSA+H2O2. In addition, AM parts presented a higher microhardness and smaller grain sizes compared to forged materials. There was no influence of the manufacturing process on the coefficient of friction (COF) in HCl and PBS+BSA solutions, however, a significantly higher COF was found for forged samples in PBS+BSA+H2O2 than AM samples. Tribocorrosion was more extensive for forged than AM Ti6Al4V in all solutions

Study of relationship between women's satisfaction with prenatal care service and the characteristics of the pregnant women and the services in referring women to health clinics related to medical universities in Tehran City, 2005

This study used a descriptive correlational design. The population studied consisted of Iranian women living in the western region of Tehran, Iran, who had delivered their infants and they had come to Health clinics 6 weeks after delivery for receiving postnatal care. This study included women who had received prenatal care, had no complications during pregnancy, carried their pregnancies to term, and were considered to have had normal and complicated deliveries in Tehran. The samples were selected by multi stage sampling. The sample size was determined as 530 women and responded to the questionnaire. Question items consisted of women's satisfaction with prenatal care services, the demographics characteristics of the pregnant women, and the characteristics of prenatal care. The researchers collected data using an interview method between 23july and 14 November, 2005. Results: The women were satisfied with the prenatal care services. The women were more satisfied with accessibility, received information, communication, quality of Services. There was a statistically significant negative association between the waiting time for prenatal care visits and health situation during pregnancy. There was a statistically significant positive association between the number of prenatal visits and women's satisfaction with prenatal care services. Conclusion: A satisfaction measurement scale of prenatal care would be helpful as an interview from that could identify the satisfaction scale and rate the scale's importance in the health-care provider's office, hospital, during a home visitation, or a primary health-care center, private clinic or maternity and child health center. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2007

Health promotion behaviors and quality of life among elderly in West area in Tehran-Iran 2006: A cross-sectional survey

As individuals live longer, health promotion behaviors become even more important, particularly with regard to maintaining functional independence and improving quality of life (QoL).The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between health promotion behaviors and QoL in west area in Tehran-Iran. This study was a descriptive-correlational study to explore the relationship between health promotion behaviors and QoL among elderly in west area in Tehran-Iran. A convenience sample of 410 community residents who were over 60 years old and cognitively intact were selected from 6 regions in west of Teran. Participants who consented to participate in the study were interviewed by trained interviewers with a structured questionnaire. The results of the study showed that there were statistically significant differences in QoL of the elderly related to exercise, Low salt& fat diet, drinking milk, consumption of dairy and meat, consumption fresh vegetables and fruits, Health check-up, BP check-up (p<.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that Economic status, Perceived health status, hypertension, cancer, mental disorder, visual disorder, number of chronic illnesses, exercise, low fat diet, consumption fresh vegetables and fruits, ADLs were statistically significant predictors of QoL. R2 for this whole regression model was .416, indicating that approximately 41.6 of the variance in QoL was accounted for by the linear combination of these variables. Nurses should enhance the QoL in elderly persons by facilitating health promotion behaviors through formal nursing interventions which will maintain and increase a healthy and active life. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2007

Comparison of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection in Children with Different Grades of Vesicoureteral Reflux

Background and Objective: Urinary reflux is the most common urological abnormality in children. About half of the children with urinary infection have urinary reflux at the same time. Considering the importance of urinary reflux in children and contradictory results reported regarding the relationship between different grades of vesicoureteral reflux and recurrent urinary tract infection, this study was conducted with the aim of comparing recurrent urinary tract infection in children with different grades of vesicoureteral reflux. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 children with pyelonephritis and vesicoureteral reflux who refered to Amirkola Children's Hospital in 2011-2019. Reflux grades were determined by voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) or direct radionuclide cystography (DRNC). Children were followed up for 2 years and in case of clinical symptoms with positive urine culture, they were considered as recurrent urinary tract infection. Findings: Of the 150 children studied, 126 (84%) were girls and 24 (16%) were boys with a mean age of 27.17±11.53 months. 95 people (63.3%) had once, 37 people (24.7%) twice, 8 people (5.3%) three times, and 10 people (6.7%) four times experience of recurrent urinary tract infection. The odds ratio of recurrent urinary tract infection was more than two times higher in children with grade 3 and 4 reflux involvement than in children with grade 1 and 2 reflux (OR=3.20, 95% CI=1.05-9.75, p=0.041). However, there was no significant difference in recurrent urinary tract infection in children based on age at diagnosis, gender, and whether the reflux was unilateral or bilateral. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that children with moderate and severe involvement of vesicoureteral reflux experience higher recurrent urinary tract infection compared to mild involvement

Comparison of pulmonary function test in school - Age children in clean and polluted air in Tehran, Iran

Background: Children seem to be more susceptible to deleterious effects of air pollution related to respiratory functional parameters as compared to adults and thus quite perceptively assessment of these pathological changes among children is necessary. The present study aimed to assess the effects of air pollution on respiratory functional parameters among primary school children in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was performed on 102 children aged less than 12 years studying at a primary school in Tehran in 2015. At two time points with healthy and unhealthy air conditions (December 2015 and May 2016), all eligible children were evaluated with respect to respiratory functional parameters (FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FVC, PEF, FEF25-75) using a spirometer. Results: There were significant differences in respiratory some parameters including FEV1 (P = 0.013) and PEF (P = 0.003) between the two times of respiratory assessment, no difference was found in some others such as FVC, FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75. Conclusions: Air pollution can be harmful for respiratory functional status in children by reducing FEV1 and PEF parameters. © 2018, Iranian Journal of Pediatrics

The association of low complement with disease activity in systemic sclerosis: a prospective cohort study

Background: In some rheumatic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), low serum complement ('hypocomplementaemia') is a feature of active disease. However, the role of hypocomplementaemia in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is unknown. We sought to determine the frequency, clinical associations and relationship to disease activity of hypocomplementaemia in SSc. Methods: The study included 1140 patients fulfilling the 2013 American College of Rheumatology criteria for SSc. Demographic, serological and clinical data, obtained prospectively through annual review, were analysed using univariable methods. Linear and logistic regression, together with generalised estimating equations, were used to determine the independent correlates of hypocomplementaemia ever, and at each visit, respectively. Results: At least one episode of hypocomplementaemia (low C3 and/or low C4) occurred in 24.1 % of patients over 1893 visits; these patients were more likely to be seropositive for anti-ribonucleoprotein (OR = 3.8, p = 0.002), anti-Ro (OR = 2.2, p = 0.002), anti-Smith (OR = 6.3, p = 0.035) and anti-phospholipid antibodies (OR = 1.4, p = 0.021) and were more likely to display features of overlap connective tissue disease, in particular polymyositis (OR = 16.0, p = 0.012). However, no association was found between hypocomplementaemia and either the European Scleroderma Study Group disease activity score or any of its component variables (including erythrocyte sedimentation rate) in univariate analysis. Among patients with SSc overlap disease features, those who were hypocomplementaemic were more likely to have digital ulcers (OR = 1.6, p = 0.034), tendon friction rubs (OR = 2.4, p = 0.037), forced vital capacity <80 % predicted (OR = 2.9, p = 0.008) and lower body mass index (BMI) (OR for BMI = 0.9, p < 0.0005) at that visit, all of which are features associated with SSc disease activity and/or severity. Conclusions: While hypocomplementaemia is not associated with disease activity in patients with non-overlap SSc, it is associated with some features of increased SSc disease activity in patients with overlap disease features.James Esposito, Zoe Brown, Wendy Stevens, Joanne Sahhar, Candice Rabusa, Jane Zochling, Janet Roddy, Jennifer Walker, Susanna M. Proudman, and Mandana Nikpo

Foliar application of sodium molybdate enhanced nitrogen uptake and translocation in soybean plants by improving nodulation process under salt stress

Soil salinity with different harmful effects on plant growth and productivity is one of the main reasons in diminishing biological nitrogen fixation and nitrogen assimilation in legume plants. Molybdate has a key role on nitrogen metabolism of plants and can be has a beneficial effect on it. Thus, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of sodium molybdate spraying (0.2 and 0.4% solutions in water) on nodulation, nitrogen uptake and translocation in soybean plants under different levels of salt stress (0, 5 and 10 dS m-1 NaCl, respectively). Salinity reduced the nodulation, root and shoot growth and special flavonoids content in roots, which are have a key role in nodulation includes, daidzein, genistein, coumestrol and glycitein, also diminished nitrogenase, glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), glutamine oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT) and nitrate reductase (NR) activities in nodes, nitrogen content of nodes, roots and leaves, nitrogen uptake and translocation by soybean plants. Under salt stress and nonsaline condition, sodium molybdate treatments improved the nodulation by increasing flavonoids content of roots, also these treatments enhanced the plant growth and nitrogenase, GS, GDH, GOGAT and NR activities of nodes. Furthermore, nitrogen content of nodes, roots and leaves, nitrogen uptake and translocation by soybean plants improved by sodium molybdate applications. Both of the sodium molybdate doses, exposed the similar effects on improving nodulation and nitrogen metabolism of soybean

Epidemiology and disease characteristics of systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension: results from a real-life screening programme

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the leading cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Annual screening with echocardiogram (ECHO) is recommended. We present the methodological aspects of a PAH screening programme in a large Australian SSc cohort, the epidemiology of SSc-PAH in this cohort, and an evaluation of factors influencing physician adherence to PAH screening guidelines.Patient characteristics and results of PAH screening were determined in all patients enrolled in a SSc longitudinal cohort study. Adherence to PAH screening guidelines was assessed by a survey of Australian rheumatologists. Summary statistics, chi-square tests, univariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine the associations of risk factors with PAH.Among 1636 patients with SSc, 194 (11.9%) had PAH proven by right-heart catheter. Of these, 160 were detected by screening. The annual incidence of PAH was 1.4%. Patients with PAH diagnosed on subsequent screens, compared with patients in whom PAH was diagnosed on first screen, were more likely to have diffuse SSc (p = 0.03), be in a better World Health Organisation (WHO) Functional Class at PAH diagnosis (p = 0.01) and have less advanced PAH evidenced by higher mean six-minute walk distance (p = 0.03), lower mean pulmonary arterial pressure (p = 0.009), lower mean pulmonary vascular resistance (p = 0.006) and fewer non-trivial pericardial effusions (p = 0.03). Adherence to annual PAH screening using an ECHO-based algorithm was poor among Australian rheumatologists, with less than half screening their patients with SSc of more than ten years disease duration.PAH is a common complication of SSc. Physician adherence to PAH screening recommendations remains poor. Identifying modifiable barriers to screening may improve adherence and ultimately patient outcomes.Kathleen Morrisroe, Wendy Stevens, Joanne Sahhar, Candice Rabusa, Mandana Nikpour, Susanna Proudman and the Australian Scleroderma Interest Group (ASIG

Cardiac arrhythmias and conduction defects in systemic sclerosis

Signs and symptoms of arrhythmias or conduction defects are frequently reported in patients with SSc. These rhythm disorders may have several origins (i.e. related to primary heart involvement, pericardial disease, valvular regurgitation or pulmonary arterial hypertension) and may negatively affect the overall prognosis of these patients. It is therefore important to identify patients at high risk for cardiac arrhythmias with a complete cardiological evaluation and to identify the underlying heart disease, including SSc-related myocardial involvement. In addition, some therapeutic options in SSc patients may differ from those recommended in other population