Developing Communication Skills and Social Adjustment in Deaf Students: The Effect of Role-Playing Activities

Background: Deafness can impact a student’s life in various ways, including social adjustment, and negatively affect their flexibility. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of teaching role-playing methods on positive and negative affect and social adjustment in deaf students.Methods: The present study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design. The target population comprised all deaf students between the ages of 14 and 18 enrolled in exceptional high schools in Ahvaz, Iran, during the 2023 academic year. Thirty participants were recruited through a convenience sampling method, and assigned to either the experimental or control group using random allocation (n=15 per group). The students completed the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) and the Bell Adjustment Inventory (BAI) at the pretest and posttest (two and a half months later). The experimental group received role-playing training in ten 90-minute sessions. The data were analyzed using the ANCOVA test.Results: The role-playing training group showed a statistically significant increase in positive affect from pretest (11.27±1.84) to posttest (18.60±2.11) (P=0.001). In contrast, the control group did not show a significant change in positive affect scores (10.32±1.06 at pretest; 11.14±1.66 at posttest). The role-playing training group exhibited a significant decrease in negative affect scores from pretest (22.27±3.08) to posttest (15.60±2.96) (P=0.001). The control group did not show a statistically significant change in negative affect (20.32±3.12 at pretest; 21.71±2.95 at posttest). The role-playing training group showed a statistically significant increase in social adjustment from pretest (11.27±1.84) to posttest (18.60±2.11) (P=0.001). The role-playing training group showed a statistically significant increase in social adjustment from pretest (40.87±5.21 at pretest; 53.15±7.00 at posttest; P=0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in the change of negative affect, positive affect, and social adjustment scores (P=0.001).Conclusion: Role-playing training can be an effective intervention for improving the emotional well-being and social adjustment of deaf students. The observed reduction in negative affect and improvement in positive affect suggest that interventions focusing on role-playing methods can effectively address emotional challenges faced by deaf students

Metabolic effects of fasting in adolescents with diabetes type 1

Type I diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disease in adolescents. According to statistics, 12,243 diabetic Muslims fast in thirteen Islamic countries, 43% of whom have type I diabetes. This longitudinal study was conducted on volunteer adolescents with type I diabetes aged 13-18 years for 15 days using the census method. Three days before Ramadan and during the last three days of the study period, changes in the insulin dose, HbA1C, lipid profile, and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated. Among 10 volunteer patients, eight individuals could complete Ramadan fasting. Blood glucose analysis indicated a significant difference between the reported blood glucose levels (

The Effectiveness of the Unified Transdiagnostic Treatment Protocol on the Social Skills of Students with Anxiety Disorders and the Self-Efficacy of their Mothers

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment on the social skills of students with anxiety disorders and the self-efficacy of their mothers. This study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and a control group with one-month and three-month follow-up, which was practical in purpose. The statistical population included all female students aged 8 to 10 years in the academic year 2020-2021 in Tehran and their mothers. Using the available sampling method, 30 anxious schoolgirls were identified and randomly divided into two groups (15 in the control group and 15 in the experimental group). The instrument used in this study was Gresham and Elliott’s Social Skills Questionnaire (SSRS), Spence Children’s Anxiety Questionnaire (SCAS), Teacher Report Form (TRF), and Dumka Patents Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSAM), which were completed by the students and mothers before and after the intervention, and after the follow-ups. Then, the experimental group participated in the intervention for 15 sessions of 60 minutes each. Finally, data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 24) and ANOVA with repeated measures. The results showed that the unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment had a significant effect on improving social skills, reducing children's behavior problems, and increasing mothers’ self-efficacy. It appears that the unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment can be used as a means to improve students’ social skills and their mothers’ self-efficacy

Development of a Combined Experimental-Computational Framework to Study Human Knee Biomechanics

Despite decades of clinical, experimental, and computational research on knee joints, the lack of understanding of ligaments\u27 contribution in knee biomechanics has hindered efforts to accurately predict the effects of diseases, injuries, and the long-term effectiveness of reconstruction surgeries. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the biomechanical contributions of knee ligaments is essential for developing successful rehabilitation and surgical planning after injury. Contemporary, a growing number of studies have been conducted using cadaveric knees to quantify ligament contributions to normal and pathological knee biomechanics. In these studies, the anatomic variability in patient populations is present in cadaveric specimens, making study findings more applicable. However, studying the effects of injuries and surgical interventions on cadaveric specimens can result in irreparable tissue damage, requiring the use of new specimens, which is expensive and time-consuming. Alternatively, computational modeling has been used to parametrically analyze knee ligaments and evaluate their responses to various pathologies and treatments. However, these models are difficult to develop fully validate. Even after a model has been developed, the predictions based on that model may not be applicable to all subjects. Recent studies have focused on combining cadaveric experiment-based results with subject-specific multibody or finite element models. In these studies, experimental results are used as a basis for post-hoc tuning of computational models. While this approach may allow models to reproduce the system-level response of the joint, inaccuracies in how the ligaments are modelled may be buried amongst the other simplifications in the model. It is possible that these simplifications lead to unrealistic forces and inconsistent results. The purpose of this thesis was to develop a combined experimental-computational technique for characterizing the biomechanical contributions of knee ligaments to normal and pathological joint biomechanics. In this approach, a computer simulation of soft tissues (virtual ligaments) was developed to mimic the force-length behavior of ligamentous structures. The designed virtual ligaments were used to stabilize knee joints on a joint motion simulator. Using virtual ligaments on knee joints bridged the gap between experimental and computational approaches, which can predict experimental data while parametrically simulating ligament repair and injury

Development of A Language Skills Promotion Package Based on Cognitive Rehabilitation and Determining its Effectiveness on the Expressive Language Performance of Children with Specific Language Impairment

Background and Objectives: Language is one of the most important components of growth in children. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a language skills improvement package based on cognitive rehabilitation and determine its effectiveness on the expressive language performance of children with specific language impairment (SLI). Materials and Methods: The method of the current research was of mixed exploratory type. The statistical population in the qualitative section were scientific articles and the opinions of university professors and experts. In the qualitative phase, data were collected through deductive thematic analysis, and then a set of interventions was developed over 12 sessions, and its content validity was confirmed. The quantitative part of the research was a clinical trial, and its statistical population included all children aged 5-7 years with a specific language disorder who were referred to private speech therapy clinics in Borujerd, Iran, among which 30 children with an average age of 6.31 ± 0.92 were selected by purposive sampling method and randomly replaced in two experimental and control groups. The instruments used in this study were the fourth version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, a semi-structured clinical interview, and the Newcomer and Hammill language development test. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 24) with analysis of variance with repeated measurements. Results: Based on the obtained results, there was a significant difference between the mean expressive language scores in the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages (P<0.01). Conclusion: In general, it can be said that the language skills promotion package based on cognitive rehabilitation is effective in improving the expressive language of children with SLI, and therefore, this package can be used as an intervention method to improve the expressive language of children with SLI

Development of a Multimedia Training Program with Neuropsychological Approach and Evaluation of its Effectiveness in Social Skills of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Introduction: Neurodevelopmental disorders are group of neuropsychiatric disorders that occur in childhood and cause disruption in the growth and development of the brain or central nervous system in children. According to research results, children with neurodevelopmental disorders are weak in physical, cognitive, emotional, and social skills. This study aimed to develop a multimedia educational program with a neuropsychological approach and evaluate its effectiveness in the social skills of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Material & Methods: In this study, initially, a multimedia educational program with neuropsychological approach was designed, and the content validity of the tool was confirmed by experts. The statistical population of this study included male students aged 7-11 years old with neurodevelopmental disorder in Tehran, Iran. Using the purposefully convenience sampling method, and after administering Stanford-Binet Test of Intelligence (Fifth Edition), 100 children with neurodevelopmental disorder and natural IQ level and above were selected and randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was subjected to 90-min 24 multimedia educational sessions with neuropsychological approach. On the other hand, the control group received no intervention. They were then followed-up after one month and a half. The required data were collected using Social Skills Rating System (Gresham and Elliot, 1999) as pre-test, post-test, and the follow-up. Findings: The results of repeated measurement MANCOVA showed the effectiveness of the multimedia educational program with neuropsychological approach in the improvement of social skills of children with neurodevelopmental disorder (P˂0.01; Effect Size 0.35). Furthermore, it was shown that the effect of this program with neuropsychological approach on the social skills of children with neurodevelopmental disorder was constant even after one month and a half. Discussion & Conclusion: A multimedia educational program with neuropsychological approach can be used to increase and strengthen the social skills of children with neurodevelopmental disorders

The effect of training emotional self-regulation strategies on social competence, academic performance and behavioral problems of students with learning disabilities with comorbidity of attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder

Background: Research has shown that emotional self-regulation training has been effective in increasing emotional health, social competence, academic performance and behavioral problems in children with learning disabilities, comorbidity, and attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. But there is a research gap in the application of these trainings in the research community. Aims: The effect of training emotional self-regulation strategies on social competence, academic performance and behavioral problems of students with learning disabilities with comorbidity of attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder. Methods: The present research method is quasi-experimental pretest, posttest design with two groups experiment. The statistical population included all students in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades of state centers for learning disabilities in District 4 Education of Tehran in the academic year of 1398-1399. 30 students were selected as the sample by available sampling method and randomly divided into experimental group and group of control (15 people in each group). Research instruments include: Connerss Child behavior Degree Scale- Teacher Form (1990), Zhou & Jei Scale (2012), Learning Disability Assessment Scale - Second Edition McCarney & Arthaud (2007), Experience-Based Child Behavior Checklist Achenbach & Rescola (2001) 8 sessions 60-Minute Emotion Regulation Training Program (Allen, 2009). Data analysis using univariate analysis of variance and by spss.24 software was performed Results: Barkley's parenting education program had an effect on social competence (p<0.0001) and behavioral problems (p<0.001) and emotion self-regulatory strategies on academic performance (p<0.001). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, it can be said that emotional self-regulation is effective on social competence, academic performance and behavioral problems of students with learning disabilities with comorbidity of attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder

Impact of combined alpha-lipoic acid and mitoquinone supplementation on myocardial infarction in aged rats: Heart performance and molecular mechanisms

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of combined alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and mitoquinone (Mito Q) supplementation on cardiac function and the underlying mechanisms in aged rats with myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: The aged rats underwent left anterior descending artery (LADA) occlusion for 30 min, followed by reperfusion for 24 h. ALA (100 mg/kg, gavage) and Mito Q (10 mg/kg, IP) were administered daily for two weeks before ischemia. Cardiac function, inflammatory, and apoptotic markers were evaluated 24 h after ischemia. Results: The results of this study indicated that the administration of the combination of ALA and Mito Q significantly improved cardiac function. This improvement was linked to a reduction in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P < 0.001) and apoptotic markers (Bax, caspase-3, and Cyt-c), as well as a decrease in the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The study revealed that combined intervention synergistically mitigated cardiac dysfunction by suppressing inflammatory and apoptotic pathways in aged rats with MI. Further research is needed to validate the potential of ALA and Mito Q as therapeutic options for elderly people at risk of heart attacks

Synergistic Effects of Ad-Libitum Low-Dose Fructose Drinking and Low-Dose Streptozotocin Treatment in Wistar Rats: A Mild Model of Type 2 Diabetes

To develop a convenient animal model of T2D by pretreatment with low-dose 10% w/v fructose (FRC) solution followed by the injection of low doses of streptozotocin (STZ) in Wistar rats. For this 8-week experimental study; rats were first fed a standard chow ad-libitum diet and either tap water (n=40) or 10% w/v FRC solution (n=40) for 4 weeks. Next, rats in each category were randomly allocated to 4 subgroups (n=10 each) of low-dose STZ (25,35, and 45 mg/kg). The final mean fasting blood sugar (FBG) of FRC+STZ45 (197±55.87 mg/dl) were significantly higher than that of the STZ45 (P=0.015) and FRC (P=0.019) groups. FRC+STZ45 showed the highest insulin resistance demonstrated by insulin tolerance test [area under the curve (AUC) of insulin tolerance test; P<0.05]. AUC was not significantly different between the STZ45 and non-STZ groups and between FRC and non-FRC fed groups. Furthermore, FBG levels did not differ between FRC and non-FRC groups. Body weight measurement showed that the FRC+STZ45 group had the lowest body weight compared to all other groups. Our data provide the evidence that FRC and STZ45 synergistically could induce hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in Wistar rats. Here we presented a feasible model for initial forms of T2D by employing pretreatment with low-dose FRC solution and treatment with low-dose STZ

A challenging transseptal mitral valve in valve case report: Success and safety

Key Clinical Message Transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) is considered a less‐invasive approach than open‐heart surgery, favored in high‐risk patients elected for valve replacement. Although seemingly suitable, this procedure is highly operator‐dependent. Abstract Transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) is an alternative in high‐risk patients. We reported a 72‐year‐old patient with mitral bioprosthesis degeneration successfully receiving TMVI. The procedure has lower morbidity and mortality rate than the surgical approach but can be accompanied by several complications, especially when conducted by an inexperienced operator