Analysis of Training Needs of Mothers on Exclusive Breastfeeding; a Study in Health Care Centers

BackgroundBreastfeeding is a natural way to provide nutrients required for proper growth and development of infants. In view of that, it is of great importance to enhance the knowledge of mothers on exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months after birth and the time of starting complementary feeding. This study aimed to assess the training needs of mothers on exclusive breastfeeding, was conducted in the city of Qom, Iran.Materials and MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 292 mothers who had children aged 6 to 12 months old. The subjects were selected via multistage sampling method. Using a researcher made questionnaire, the required data was collected via face-to-face interviews. The collected data were analyzed via descriptive and analytical tests. The significance level was set at 0.05ResultsOf all, 42.5% (n=124) of the children were exclusively breastfed. The mean of knowledge of mothers on exclusive breastfeeding was 10.3±1.5 (of a total score of 12), their mean of maternal attitudes was 38.7±3.3 (of a total score of 44), and their mean score of performance was 6.5±1.8 (of a total score of 9). There was a significant and direct relationship between maternal education level and their knowledge and attitude scores (

EFFECT OF SOY LECITHIN ON SERUM LIPID PARAMETERS OF HYPERLIPIDEMIC POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN REFERRING TO SHAHID FAGHIHEE HOSPITAL OF SHIRAZ UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

Abstract &nbsp;&nbsp; BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Hyperlipidemia, as one of the main causes of CVD, has been diagnosed in nearly one third of Iranian middle aged women. Menopause manifests wide range of physiologic changes in women, most important of which is hyperlipidemia. Appropriate nutritional interventions can prevent or postpone some cardiovascular events in postmenopausal women. This randomized double blind clinical trial aimed to examine the effect of soy lecithin on serum lipid parameters of hyperlipidemic postmenopausal women. &nbsp;&nbsp; METHOD AND MATERIALS: Sixty free living postmenopausal women, aged 50-60 years, with mild to moderate hyperlipidemia entered the study. Subjects were randomly assigned in one of three treatments: yogurt; or: yogurt with 16g soy lecithin granules; or: yogurt with 10g sunflower oil, containing equal amount of linoleic acid and energy as the administered lecithin. Strawberry syrup was added to ensure blindness. To assess the effects of confounding factors, BMI and waist circumference were measured. Intake of some dietary factors (energy, macronutrients, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol, calcium and fiber) were assessed using 24 hr-food recall and 3-day food record questionnaires. Changes in physical activity level were assessed by seven day-physical activity recall questionnaire. Serum lipid parameters (TC, Non-HDL.C, LDL.C, HDL.C and TG) were measured twice at baseline and 4 weeks of treatment. &nbsp;&nbsp; RESULTS: There was no significant difference between treatment groups, but a significant decrease was found within the intervention group (lecithin) in the average level of TC (252.33 &plusmn; 24.02 vs. 255.22 &plusmn; 24.82 mg/dl and P = 0.02), LDL.C/HDL.C (3.99 &plusmn; 0.50 vs. 4.17 &plusmn; 0.56 mg/dl and P = 0.001) and Non.HDL.C (211.94 &plusmn; 23.94 vs. 216.00 &plusmn; 23.73 mg/dl and P = 0.005) and accompanying significant increase in serum HDL.C level (40.39 &plusmn; 5.21 vs. 39.22 &plusmn; 5.58 mg/dl and P = 0.04). Likewise, no significant change was found in serum lipid profile within the control group І (sunflower oil). Decreasing LDL.C/HDL.C level (4.18 &plusmn; 0.40 vs. 4.24 &plusmn; 0.43 mg/dl and P = 0.03) was the only significant change in serum lipid profile of control group ІІ (yogurt).&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; CONCLUSION: Soy lecithin treatment had no significant hypocholesterolemic effect on serum lipid profile, in a way that we can not claim any independent effect for lecithin's linoleic acid content. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Keywords: soy lecithin, hyperlipidemic, menopause, linoleic acid, lipid profile. &nbsp;</p

A meta‐analysis of the effect of probiotic administration on age‐related sarcopenia

Abstract Global increase in the prevalence of age‐related diseases, such as sarcopenia, highlights the need of recognizing agents that improve muscle health; however, the evidence synthesis on the impact of probiotic administration on sarcopenia is scarce. To summarize and evaluate findings regarding the effect of supplementation with probiotics on sarcopenia, this meta‐analysis was conducted. Using databases, including PubMed, SCOPUS, ISI–Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, interventional studies were included if they investigate the effect of probiotic administration on at least one of the components of sarcopenia up to 6 October 2022. Risk of bias evaluation was conducted using the Cochrane quality assessment tool. The random‐effects model which takes between‐study variations into account was used to obtain the overall effect sizes. The STATA version 14.0 was used for statistical analyses. Overall, 17 studies were included. There was high certainty of evidence that probiotic supplementation has a beneficial effect on muscle mass (kg) (WMD: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.05, 1.05; I2: 0.0%, p = .995), and muscle function (WMD: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.23; I2: 65.6%, p = .05). Moreover, administration of probiotics for more than 12 weeks significantly increased muscle strength (WMD: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.88, 1.44; I2: 0.0%, p = .77). However, probiotic supplementation had no effect on anthropometric indices, including body mass index. Probiotic supplementation could improve muscle mass and muscle function in adults more than 55 years old. The beneficial effect of probiotics on muscle strength could appear after 12 weeks of supplementation

Effect of disease duration on personality type in multiple sclerosis patients and healthy individual

Background: Multiple sclerosis may have profound emotional consequences. The relation between psychological and physical factors could lead patients toward unforeseen disease. This study focuses on multiple sclerosis (MS) disease duration on personality type A and B in relation to individuals' behaviors. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Isfahan Alzahra hospital in 2013. Three hundred MS patients and 100 healthy individuals were determined. The distributed questionnaires related to MS patients and considering the descriptive statistics such as demographic variables. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 18) based on Chi-square test and independent T-test. Results: Disease duration varied between 1 to 38 years: 30% (1-4 years), 38% (5-10 years), 20% (10-20 years), and 12% (more than 20 years). Significant relationship was observed between disease duration and tendency to type A (higher stress). This relation was positive and significant in Relapsing Remitting MS patients; but negative correlation was seen in Secondary Progressive MS patients. These patients tended to type B (lower stress) when disease duration increased. Conclusions: Individuals with disease duration of one year and less than one year tend to type A personality, while patients with increment of disease duration have tendency to type B

Healthcare Disparities and Outcomes of Cancer Patients in a Community Setting from a COVID-19 Epicenter

There have been numerous studies demonstrating how cancer patients are at an increased risk of mortality. Within New York City, our community hospital emerged as an epicenter of the first wave of the pandemic in the spring of 2020 and serves a unique population that is predominately uninsured, of a lower income, and racially/ethnically diverse. In this single institution retrospective study, the authors seek to investigate COVID-19 diagnosis, severity and mortality in patients with an active cancer diagnosis. Demographic, clinical characteristics, treatment, SARS-CoV-2 laboratory results, and outcomes were evaluated. In our community hospital during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, patients with active cancer diagnosis appear to be at increased risk for mortality (30%) and severe events (50%) due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the general population. A higher proportion of active cancer patients with Medicaid insurance, Hispanic ethnicity, other race, and male sex had complications and death from COVID-19 infection. The pandemic has highlighted the health inequities that exist in vulnerable patient populations and underserved communities such as ours