6 research outputs found
Natural Arsenic Pollution and Hydrochemistry of Drinking Water of an Urban Part of Iran
No full textNatural contamination of surface and groundwater resources with arsenic is a worldwide problem. The present study aimed to investigate and report on the quality of drinking water resources with special focus on arsenic presence in an urban part of Iran. Arsenic concentrations were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). In both surface and groundwater samples, arsenic concentrations ranged from 6 - 61 µg/L with an average value of 39 ± 20 µg/L. Concentration of arsenic, which was up to six times greater than guideline values (10 µg/L) indicates the presence of arsenic bearing materials in the geological structure of the region. It was found that the quality of treated surface water produced by the water treatment facility was good in respect to arsenic (9 µg/L) and solid content (EC = µs/cm). However, in drinking water samples of wells, total solids (mean EC = 1580 ± 150 µs/cm), total hardness (mean = 479 + 94 mg/L as CaCO3) and arsenic (mean = 42 + 16 µg/L) were significantly higher. Correspondingly, there was a significant correlation between arsenic concentration and EC, Na+, K+ and Cl- values. The type of water in most of groundwater samples (70%) was determined as HCO3-Na+. Considering the population of the city and probable health effects due to exposure to arsenic through drinking water, comprehensive measures as well as application of arsenic removal processes in water treatment facilities and replacement of contaminated wells with safe wells are required
Effects of High Performance Inulin Supplementation on Glycemic Control and Antioxidant Status in Women with Type 2 Diabetes
Get PDFBackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of high performance inulin supplementation on blood glycemic control and antioxidant status in women with type 2 diabetes.MethodsIn a randomized, triple-blind controlled trial, 49 females (fiber intake <30 g/day, 25<body mass index <35 kg/m2) with type 2 diabetes were recruited from the Iran Diabetes Society and from endocrinology and metabolism clinics associated with the Tabriz University of Medical Science. The participants were divided into one of two groups in which the participants either received 10 g/day of inulin (intervention, n=24) or maltodextrin (control, n=25) for 2 months. Fasting blood samples were obtained and both glycemic control and antioxidant status were determined at baseline and at the end of the study.ResultsAt the end of the study period, there were significant decreases in fasting plasma glucose (8.47%), glycosylated hemoglobin (10.43%), and malondialdehyde (37.21%) levels and significant increases in total antioxidant capacity (18.82%) and superoxide dismutase activity (4.36%) in the inulin group when compared to the maltodextrin group (P<0.05). Changes in fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and catalase activity were not significant in the inulin group when compared with the maltodextrin group. Glutathione peroxidase activity remained unchanged in both groups.ConclusionInulin supplementation may improve some glycemic and antioxidant indices and decrease malondialdehyde levels in women with type 2 diabetes. Further investigations are needed in order to confirm the positive effects that inulin may have on the glycemic and antioxidant indices of patients with type 2 diabetes
Effect of Alpha-lipoic Acid Supplementation on Serum Lipid Profile in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis
No full textBackground and Objectives: Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is considered as a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory functions. Moreover, a number of studies have revealed its lipid lowering properties. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effect of ALA on serum lipids in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who have high mortality rate mainly due to accelerated atherosclerosis.
Materials and Methods: In the present study a total of 70 RA patients were randomly assigned into two groups (1:1) to receive either ALA (1200 mg/day) or placebo for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were obtained before and after the intervention to analyze serum lipid profile including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) was assessed at baseline and final. Between-group comparisons were done using Student’s t-test and ANCOVA at baseline and after 8 weeks, respectively. Paired t-test was used for within-group comparisons. Sign test and Mann-Whitney’s test were used for intra- and inter-group comparisons of qualitative variables, respectively. P<0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: Finally, 65 RA patients completed the trial. No statistically significant differences were observed in serum lipid levels within and between the groups before and after the study. There were no significant intra- and inter-group differences in physical activity levels at the beginning and in the end of the study.
Conclusions: In the present study, serum lipid profile was not significantly affected by ALA intervention. However, ALA supplementation aiming at prevention or treatment of dyslipidemia in RA patients should be further investigated.
Keywords: Lipoic acid, Supplementation, Rheumatoid arthritis, Women, Lipid profil
Validity and reliability of the persian practice environment scale of nursing work index
No full textBackground: The practice environment pivotal role in patients and nurses better outcomes is evident. Practice Environment Scale of Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) is widely utilized to assess nursing work environments. The present study was conducted to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of PES-NWI. Materials and Methods: The instrument was translated and its psychometrics were investigated by content, construct validity (factor analysis), and homogeneity (internal consistency and intraclass correlation) on a sample of 350 nurses at educational hospitals in East Azerbaijan, Iran. Results: The 30 items loaded onto 4 factors explained 34.95–50.06% of the variance. The items across the factors differed slightly from those reported by the original author of the PES-NWI. Cronbach's alpha and Pearson coefficient for the entire instrument and also for extracted factors was 0.70–0.96. Conclusions: The Persian version of PES-NWI has an appropriate level of validity and reliability in the Iranian setting for nurses. The subscale of Nursing Foundations for quality care needs modification
The Relationship between Physical Activity during Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood in Primiparous Women
No full textBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Physical activity might reduce postpartum depressive symptoms and improve temperament. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum mood in primiparous women.
METHODS: This cohort study was conducted in 165 primiparous women aged 18-35 years referring to the healthcare centers in Tehran, Iran, during 2013-2014. The participants were chosen through stratified random sampling and divided into two groups of low physical activity (n=68) and moderate or high physical activity (n=97). Both groups completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) during weeks 28 and 34 and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) at the end of the sixth postpartum week. For each sub-scale, the minimum and maximum possible scores of this scale are 0 and 21, respectively.
FINDINGS: Mean total scores of stress, anxiety, and depression of the low physical activity group were 9.85±5.74, 5.61±5.11, and 6.23±5.77, respectively, while for the moderate or high physical activity group they were 9.88±5.84, 5.72±5.03, and 6.51±5.70, respectively. In addition, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of mean total score of stress (p=0.969), anxiety (p=0.585), and depression (p=0.396) at the end of the sixth postpartum week. Moreover, no statistically significant relationship was observed between the level of physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum mood.
CONCLUSION: According to our results, physical activity during pregnancy is not associated with postpartum stress, anxiety, and depression
