Comparing Perceived Social Support and Perceived Stress in Healthy Pregnant Women and Pregnant Women with Preeclampsia

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a prevalent side effect of pregnancy. Different studies have reported different results about the relationship between mental stress and blood pressure disorders. In addition, social support is highly important to help women who experience risky pregnancy in adapting to the stressors they experience. This study aimed to compare perceived social support and perceived stress in women with and without preeclampsia.METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fifty pregnant women definitely diagnosed with preeclampsia and 50 healthy pregnant women visiting public hospitals including Hazrat Masoumeh, Motazedi,and Imam Reza in Kermanshah-Iran took part in a descriptiveanalytical study from June 2017 to January 2018. Data gathering tools included demographics questionnaire, social support appraisals scale and perceived stress scale. The collected data was analyzed with SPSS (v.20) using independent t-test.RESULTS: The mean score of perceived social support in the preeclampsia and non-preeclampsia groups were 69.88±7.3 and 76.80±7.6 respectively (P<0.01). The mean score of perceived stress in the preeclampsia and non-preeclampsia groups were 35.6±8.7 and 26.01±5.56 respectively (P<0.01). This means that compared with healthy women, women with preeclampsia perceived more stress and less social support.CONCLUSION: In comparison with healthy pregnant women, women with preeclampsia perceived more stress and less social support. Healthcare providers should recommended to pay more attention to improving social support and attenuating stress inpregnant women

Clinical approach for the classification of congenital uterine malformations

A more objective, accurate and non-invasive estimation of uterine morphology is nowadays feasible based on the use of modern imaging techniques. The validity of the current classification systems in effective categorization of the female genital malformations has been already challenged. A new clinical approach for the classification of uterine anomalies is proposed. Deviation from normal uterine anatomy is the basic characteristic used in analogy to the American Fertility Society classification. The embryological origin of the anomalies is used as a secondary parameter. Uterine anomalies are classified into the following classes: 0, normal uterus; I, dysmorphic uterus; II, septate uterus (absorption defect); III, dysfused uterus (fusion defect); IV, unilateral formed uterus (formation defect); V, aplastic or dysplastic uterus (formation defect); VI, for still unclassified cases. A subdivision of these main classes to further anatomical varieties with clinical significance is also presented. The new proposal has been designed taking into account the experience gained from the use of the currently available classification systems and intending to be as simple as possible, clear enough and accurate as well as open for further development. This proposal could be used as a starting point for a working group of experts in the field

Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in Soils and Selected Crops in Zanjan Urban and Industrial Regions

Introduction: Heavy metals are types of elements naturally present in soil or enter into soil as a result of human activities. The most important route of exposure to heavy metals is daily intake of food. Crops grown in contaminated soil (due to mining activities, industrial operations and agriculture) may contain high concentrations of heavy metals. Also closeness to cities and industrial centers can have a great influence on the accumulation of heavy metals to agricultural products grown in the region. The study aimed to determine the concentration of heavy metals in soil and agricultural products around urban and industrial areas of Zanjan province (North West of Iran) and consumption hazard probability. Materials and Methods: Soil (75 samples of soil from a depth of 0 to 10 cm) and plant (101 samples) samples, in the summer 2011, were randomly taken from industrial areas as follow: tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum M), wheat seed (Triticum vulgare), barley seeds (Hordeum vulgare), alfalfa shoots (Medicago sativa L.), potato tubers (Solanumtuberosum L.), apple fruit, vegetables and fruits such as Dill (Aniethum graveolens L.), leek (Allium porrum L.), Gardencress (Barbara verna L.) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Plant samples were then washed with distilled water, oven dried for48 hours at a temperature of 70 ´C until constant weight was attained and then they digested using 2 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) and nitric acid digestion in 5 M. Concentrations of heavy metals in the soil and crops were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. DTPA extraction of metals by Lindsay and Norvell (1978) method and sequential extraction method by Tessier et al. (1979) were performed. Statistical analysis was accomplished using the software SPSS 16.0 and the comparison of mean values was done using the Duncan test at the 5% level of significance. Results and Discussion: The magnitude of variations for total copper was from 11.5 to 352.5 (average 52.4), zinc was from 96.3 to 1353.8 (average 264.8), lead was between 40.0 and 470.0 (average 105.7), nickel ranged from 12.8 to 77.0 (average 46.7) and chromium varied from 10.0 to 49.5 (average 21.7) mg kg-1. DTPA extracted heavy metals for copper varied from 1.50 to 21.23, averaging 4.47, zinc from 0.57 to 76.50 averaging 23.15, lead from 2.43 to 63.38 averaging 16.81 and nickel from 0.28 to 2.32 averaging 1.20 mg kg-1. Chemical changes in the different fractions were as follows: Cu (residual > bounded to organic matter > bounded to Fe-Mn oxides > bounded to carbonate > exchangeable fraction), Zn and Ni (residual > bounded to Fe-Mn oxides > bounded to carbonate > bounded to organic matter > exchangeable fraction,) and Pb (residual > bounded to Fe-Mn oxides > bounded to organic matter > bounded to carbonate > exchangeable fraction). The concentration of heavy metals in plant parts were high with respect to studied location. The highest amounts of Zn (Gardencress), Pb (Dill), Cu (Leek), Ni (Basil) and Cr (Basil), respectively were found to be 150.25, 41.25, 23.13, 6.46 and 3.47 mg kg-1 and the minimum amounts of the metals studied were found in fruits, wheat and barley grains. The total amount of metals in plants were as follow (Zn >> Pb > Cu > Ni > Cr). Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of metals in plants were as Zn=Cu > Pb >> Cr > Ni. Hazard probability (HQ) in cancerous diseases for each element (except Pb) in both children and adults was less than unit. HQ content of Pb was much higher than the unit and for children and adults 9.07 and 6.94, respectively showing high contribution of Pb contamination of crops that threatens the consumer health in that location. The total amount of risk (THQ) in children was higher than that in adults. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study indicate that an urgent attention is required for consumer products related to public health, especially vegetables grown in the studied regions. Toxic effects of heavy metals have many deleterious effects which are more pronounced over time. With conventional monitoring of food quality produced in farms and presented in markets, excessive accumulation of heavy metals entering in to the human food chain can be prevented. Also, we can change the risk potential of heavy metals in the region by growing vegetables which accumulate heavy metals. Keywords: Agriculture products, Biological risk, Heavy metals, Soil, Zanjan provinc

Relationships between some soil physical and chemical properties with magnetic properties in different soil moisture regimes in Golestan province

Introduction: Soil moisture regime refers to the presence or absence either of ground water or of water held at a tension of less than 1500 kPa in the soil or in specific horizons during periods of the year. It is the most important factor in soil formation, soil evolution and fertility affecting on crop production and management. Also, it widely is practical in soil classification and soil mapping. The soil moisture regime depends on the soil properties, climatic and weather conditions, characteristics of natural plant formations and, in cultivated soils, is affected by the characteristics of crops grown, as well as the cultivation practices. Determination of soil moisture regime within a landscape scale requires high information and data about moisture balance of soil profile during some years according to Soil Survey Manual (2010). This approach is very expensive, labor, time and cost consuming. Therefore, achievement to an alternative approach is seems essential to overcome these problems. The main hypothesis of this study was to use capability of magnetic susceptibility as a cheap and rapid technique could determine the soil moisture regimes. Magnetic properties of soils reflect the impacts of soil mineral composition, particularly the quantity of ferrimagnetic minerals such as maghemite and magnetite. Magnetic susceptibility measurements can serve a variety of applications including the changes in soil forming processes and ecological services, understanding of lithological effects, insight of sedimentation processes and soil drainage. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in an area located between 36°46َ 10˝ and 37° 2’ 28˝ N latitudes, and 54° 29’ 31˝ and 55° 12’ 47˝ E longitudes in Golestan province, northern Iran. In the study region mean annual temperature varies from 12.4 to 19.4 °C. The average annual rainfall and evapotranspiration varies from 230 mm and 2335 mm in Inchebrun district (Aridic regime), to 732 mm and 846 mm in Touskstan uplands (Udic regime), respectively. this study was conducted in four soil moisture regimes (Aridic, Xeric, Udic and Aquic), for exploring the relationships between soil properties and magnetic measures. In each regimes, 25 soil profiles were drug, described and soil samples were collected from each of soil horizons. Soil samples were air-dried and sieved using a 2 mm sieve. The dithionite-citrate bicarbonate (DCB) method was used to measure Fed and acid ammonium oxalate for Feo. In this study, a set of environmental magnetic parameters including magnetic susceptibility at low frequency (χlf), saturation isothermal remnant magnetization (SIRM), isothermal remnant magnetization (IRM100 mT) were measured. Magnetic susceptibility (χ) was measured at low frequency (0.47 kHz; χlf) and high frequency (4.7 kHz; χhf) using a Bartington MS2 dual frequency sensor using approximately 20 g of soil held in a four-dram clear plastic vial (2.3 cm diameter). Frequency dependent susceptibility (χfd) was determined by the difference between the high and low frequency measurements as a percentage of χ at low frequency. IRM was measured at the field of 100 mT generated in a Molspin pulse magnetizer (IRM100mT) and at the back field of 100mT (IRM−100mT). The IRM acquired in the maximum field of 1000 mT was measured and defined as the saturation isothermal remnant magnetization (SIRM) of the soil sample. Results and Discussion: The results showed that moisture regime induced significant differences for soil physical and chemical properties. Diversities in genetic soil horizons and soil development degree have been increased from Aridic to Udic soil moisture regime. The results also indicated that selected properties including magnetic measures and physical and chemical properties were significantly different in four soil moisture regimes. With increasing rainfall and reducing temperature from aridic to udic soil moisture regime, soil organic matter was increased. Otherwise, in arid environment Gypsic, Calcic and Salic horizons were observed in the near of soil surface. Fed and Fed-Feo were the highest in udic and the lowest in udic soil moisture regime, respectively. Moreover, higher soil development because of climate effect leaded to higher amount of pedogenic ferromagnetic minerals, as well as the highest were observed in the Udic regime. Otherwise, in Aquic moisture regime, the lowest value of magnetic susceptibility was obtained because of dissolution of ferromagnetic minerals (magnetite and maghemite) under supersaturating condition. In overall, close relationships were observed between soil physical and chemical properties and magnetic measures in various soil moisture regimes

Agroecological Zoning of Wheat in the Borujen Watershed: Rianfed and Irrigated Wheat Cropping System Evaluation

Abstract Agroecological zoning is multidisciplinary model that could be applied to create spatial database, due to evaluation and agricultural land use planning. This study was performed in order to evaluate the wheat cropping system with agroecological zoning methodology in the Borujen watershed. Therefore the long term daily climatic database was made from 18 synoptic and climatic stations that covered whole of study area. Potential evapotranspiration was calculated using ET Calculator software base on Penman-Montith method. The WOFOST model showed acceptable performance during validation for predicting yield and development stages of wheat cultivars under potential and water limited conditions. Wheat yield production was simulated for all stations, and then the outputs of model were interred to ArcGIS software setting. The output data of model was interpolated using Spline function for yield estimation overall study area. Results showed, mean potential yield of wheat was varied 6.2 to 6.9 t ha-1 overall study area, so that the central and northern east basins are more suitability for yield production in potential mod. Mean water limited yield of wheat was varied 2.4 to 3.7 t ha-1 overall study area, so that the eastern south basins (Imam Qeis basin) are more suitable for wheat in rainfed or water limited conditions.The results of yield gap analysis in different wheat cropping systems performed on four different agro-ecological zones, include of Zone1: yield gaps = 4.2-6.2 Mg/ha, Zone 2: yield gaps = 3-3.6 Mg/ha, Zone 3: yield gaps < 2.4 Mg/ha, and Zone 4 is unsuitable area. Analysis of water balance pattern in the study area showed that, the main factors that affected on yield gap are rainfall distribution and low temperature during moisture growing period. This study demonstrates that WOFOST model has the good capability for wheat yield simulation in potential and water limited conditions and can be used as suitable approach to analyze the cropping systems at regional scales

Clinical assessment of language development in children at age 3 years that were born preterm Avaliação da evolução dos aspectos linguísticos em crianças que nasceram prematuras aos 3 anos de idade

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of gestational age and birth weight on language development and neurodevelopmental outcome at age 3 years in children born preterm. METHOD: Cross sectional study including 69 children followed in our developmental outpatient clinic. Patients were consecutively included at the time of the 3 years of age appointment and stratified for birth weight (<1500 grams and between 1500-2500 grams). All patients were assessed for receptive and expressive language , Denver II and Bayley II tests and clinical neurological examination. For analysis patients were divided in two groups normal language acquisition (NLA) and delay in language acquisition (DLA). RESULTS: NLA children had higher scores on mental and psychomotor (p=<0.01, p=0.012) indexes of Bayley II. Newborns with less than 1500 grams had lower scores on all Bayley scale at age 36 months (p=0.002, p=0.007 and p<0.001). Multivariate analysis suggests an association between gestational age (p=0.032), abnormal behavior (p<0.001) and delay in language acquisition. Denver test at 12 and 24 months of age was a good predictor of delayed receptive and expressive language at three years of age (p=<0.01 and p=<0.01). CONCLUSION: Children born prematurely with low birth weight had an increased risk of language acquisition delay, and those had also lower cognitive and behavior scores when compared to NLA.<br>OBJETIVO: Avaliar influência da idade gestacional (IG) e peso ao nascimento na aquisição da linguagem e neurodesenvolvimento em crianças de 3 anos que nasceram prematuras. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal incluindo 69 crianças acompanhadas no Ambulatório de Seguimento Neonatal. Pacientes incluídos tinham 3 anos e foram estratificados por peso ao nascimento (>1500 gramas e entre 1500-2500 gramas). Todos foram avaliados com relação ao neurodesenvolvimento incluindo avaliação neurológica clínica, Denver II, Bayley II e avaliação da linguagem. Para a analise dividimos em dois grupos com e sem alteração na aquisição de linguagem. RESULTADOS: Crianças com DAL apresentam melhores índices nos escores de desenvolvimento no Bayley II (p=<0.01 e p=0.012). Crianças que nasceram com peso >1500 gramas tiveram escores menores no Bayley II na idade de 36 m (p=0.002, p=0.007 e p<0.001). Análise multivariada sugere uma associação da IG (p=0,032) e alteração comportamental (p=0,001) com atraso na aquisição da linguagem. Denver II alterado tanto aos 12 m quanto aos 24 m, correlaciona-se com significância estatística a atraso na aquisição de linguagem receptiva e expressiva aos 3 anos de idade (p=<0.01 e p=<0.01). CONCLUSÃO: Crianças nascidas prematuras e com baixo peso ao nascimento, apresentam maior risco de ter um atraso no desenvolvimento da linguagem. Sendo que as crianças que tem atraso no desenvolvimento de linguagem apresentaram um desempenho cognitivo e psicomotor inferior ao das com desenvolvimento normal