The effect of the emotional intelligence education programme on quality of life in haemodialysis patients

Author's accepted version (post-print).Available from 18/10/2018.acceptedVersio

The Association between Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Liver Enzymes (Aspartate and Alanine Transaminases) in Tehran, Iran

BACKGROUND: Intake of fiber and antioxidants and following hypocaloric diets has beneficial effects on reduction of the liver enzymes. Fruits and vegetables are low in calorie and rich in fiber and antioxidants. There are few studies about special dietary effects on liver function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between fruit and vegetables intake and liver function enzymes.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 265 Tehrani healthy adults. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed by a 147-items semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Serum glucose, lipids, liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)), hs-Crp and body composition were measured in a fasting state.RESULTS: The mean age (± SD) of the participants was 35 ± 8.78. In the higher quartiles of vegetable intake, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) serum and total cholesterol (TC) levels were lower after adjusting for confounders (p = 0.03 and 0.02 respectively). Individuals in the upper quartile of vegetable intake were less likely to have elevated ALT (OR=0.21; 95% CI =0.08-0.49) and AST (OR=0.33; 95% CI =0.15-0.75) levels before adjusting for confounders. After controlling for potential confounders, only the association between vegetable intake and ALT level remained significant (OR=0.32; 95% CI =0.12-0.90). Liver enzymes had no significant relationship with the quartiles of fruit intake. In the higher quartiles of fruit intake, the visceral fat rating was lower after adjustment (p = 0.04) but not in the higher vegetable intake (p = 0.50).CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that vegetable intake is reversely associated with LDL, TC and ALT level in Tehrani healthy adults, whereas fruit intake is only associated with lower visceral fat rating.KEYWORDS: AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), fruit, vegetables, Anthropometric status, Biochemical teste

Subcutaneous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration for subacute traumatic spinal cord injuries, report of neurological and functional outcomes: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVEGranulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a major cytokine that has already been clinically verified for chronic traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCIs). In this study, the authors set out to determine the safety and efficacy of G-CSF administration for neurological and functional improvement in subacute, incomplete TSCI.METHODSThis phase II/III, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel randomized clinical trial was performed in 60 eligible patients (30 treatment, 30 placebo). Patients with incomplete subacute TSCIs with American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grades B, C, and D were enrolled. Patients were assessed using the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) scale, Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM-III) and International Association of Neurorestoratology Spinal Cord Injury Functional Rating Scale (IANR-SCIFRS), just before intervention and at 1, 3, and 6 months, after 7 daily subcutaneous administrations of 300 μg/day of G-CSF in the treatment group and placebo in the control group.RESULTSAmong 60 participants, 28 patients (93.3%) in the G-CSF group and 26 patients (86.6%) in the placebo group completed the study protocol. After 6 months of follow-up, the AIS grade remained unchanged in the placebo group, while in the G-CSF group 5 patients (45.5%) improved from AIS grade B to C, 5 (45.5%) improved from AIS grade C to grade D, and 1 patient (16.7%) improved from AIS grade D to E. The mean ± SEM change in ISNCSCI motor score in the G-CSF group was 14.9 ± 2.6 points, which was significantly greater than in the placebo group (1.4 ± 0.34 points, p < 0.001). The mean ± SEM light-touch and pinprick sensory scores improved by 8.8 ± 1.9 and 10.7 ± 2.6 points in the G-CSF group, while those in the placebo group improved by 2.5 ± 0.60 and 1.2 ± 0.40 points, (p = 0.005 and 0.002, respectively). Evaluation of functional improvement according to the IANR-SCIFRS instrument revealed significantly more functional improvement in the G-CSF group (10.3 ± 1.3 points than in the placebo group (3.0 ± 0.81 points; p < 0.001). A significant difference was also observed between the 2 groups as measured by the SCIM-III instrument (29.6 ± 4.1 vs 10.3 ± 2.2, p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSIncomplete subacute TSCI is associated with significant motor, sensory, and functional improvement after administration of G-CSF.Clinical trial registration no.: IRCT201407177441N3 (www.irct.ir

Health-related quality of life and medication adherence in elderly patients with epilepsy

Objective. Considering the high prevalence of epilepsy in the elderly and the importance of maximising their quality of life (QoL), this study aimed to investigate the relationship between medication adherence and QoL, and the mediating effects of medication adherence on the association between serum antiepileptic drug (AED) level and seizure severity with QoL in elderly epileptics. Methods. In a longitudinal study, 766 elderly patients with epilepsy who were prescribed a minimum of one antiepileptic drug were selected by convenience sampling method. A Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) questionnaire was completed at the baseline. Seizure severity and QoL were assessed after six months using the Liverpool Seizure Severity Scale (LSSS) and the QoL in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31) questionnaires respectively. Serum level of AED was also measured at six-month follow-up. Results. Medication adherence was significantly correlated with both seizure severity (β = –0.33, p &lt; 0.0001) and serum AED level (β = 0.29, p &lt; 0.0001) after adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. Neither QoL nor its sub-classes were correlated with seizure severity. In addition, a significant correlation was not observed between serum AED level and QoL. However, medication adherence was significantly correlated with QoL (β = 0.30, p &lt; 0.0001). The mediating effects of medication adherence on the association between serum AED level (Z = 3.39, p &lt; 0.001) and seizure severity (Z = –3.47, p &lt; 0.001) with QoL were supported by the Sobel test. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that medication adherence has a beneficial impact on QoL in elderly epileptics. Therefore, adherence to treatment should be monitored to improve their QoL

Effect of an Ergonomics Educational Program on Musculoskeletal Disorders in Nursing Staff Working in the Operating Room: A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

publishedVersio

The association of appetite and hormones (leptin, ghrelin, and Insulin) with resting metabolic rate in overweight/ obese women: a case–control study

OBJECTIVE: Low resting metabolic rate (RMR), as a risk factor for weight gain and obesity, can be influenced by many factors. Empirical research has confirmed the role of appetite and related hormones in obesity and energy intake. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between appetite and related hormones in overweight or obese Iranian women with normal and hypo RMR. METHODS: This case–control study was conducted on 42 Iranian adult women (21 cases, and 21 controls), aged 18–48 years. An impedance body analyzer was used to obtain the body composition and an indirect calorimeter was used to assess the RMR. The Flint questionnaire was used to assess appetite, dietary intake, and physical activity were assessed by FFQ and IPAQ questionnaires respectively, and ELISA kits were used to assess leptin, ghrelin, and insulin hormones. RESULTS: The results of the study demonstrated a negative association between ghrelin hormone level (β = -0.34, 95%CI = -61.70,-3.86, P-value = 0.027) and RMR, and a positive association between insulin hormone level (β = 0.48, 95%CI = 9.38–34.35, P-value = 0.001) and RMR. Also, results of the appetite questionnaire showed that, in general, both appetite (β = 0.32, 95%CI = -0.10–2.99 P-value = 0.044) and hunger variable (β = 0.30, 95%CI = 0.04–5.87, P-value = 0.047) have a positive association with RMR. There was no significant association between leptin levels and RMR. CONCLUSION: It is evident that appetite and related hormones have a potential role in promoting a normal RMR

Association of vitamin D-binding protein and vitamin D3 with insulin and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) in overweight and obese females

Objective: Equivocal association the contribution of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and the well-accepted role of vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) on bioavailability of 25(OH)D or its independent roles, has led to possible association of the VDBP in glucose metabolism. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationships among 25(OH)D, VDBP, glucose/insulin metabolism and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR). Blood samples were collected from 236 obese and overweight women. VDBP and 25(OH)D levels, and biochemical parameters were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). An impedance fat analyzer was utilized to acquire the body composition. Results: Using the multivariate linear regression, a reverse relationship was observed between VDBP and (HOMA-IR), such that women with higher VDBP displayed lower insulin resistance. The relationship was independent of age, body mass index, standardized energy intake and physical activity (p = 0.00). No significant relationship between 25(OH)D levels, FBS, body composition or insulin resistance were observed (p > 0.2). Current study observed that higher level of VDBP may be associated with lower levels of insulin and HOMA-IR, thus the evaluation of VDBP in diverse population groups seems to have significant clinical value in evaluating the prevalence of DM or early stage of glucose intolerance

Effective Factors of the Healthy Nutritional Behavior Based on the Application of Social Cognitive Theory among 13-15-Year-Old Students

Background: There is a rapid spurt in non-communicable diseases because of some significant changes in nutrition patterns around the globe. Controlling the main risk factors, namely lack of physical activity and smoking, might decrease more than 50% of the deaths and disabilities caused by these factors. This study aimed to investigate the effective factors of healthy food behavior based on the application cognitive social theory to 13 to 15-year- old students. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 330 students aged 13–15 years, in Zarrin- Dasht County, Fars Province, south of Iran who were randomly selected from public schools assigned to the study in 2016. The data gathering tools were demographic questionnaire, a researcher-made questionnaire of social cognitive theory (outcome expectations, outcome values, self-efficacy, social support, and self-regulation), and another questionnaire on nutritional behavior. Questionnaires were completed by students. For analyzing data, the SPSS-22 software, multiple regression, and correlation tests were used.   Results: 330 students aged 13–15 years with seventh, eighth and ninth educational grade participated in this study. Among different constructs of social cognitive theory, outcome expectations (P=0.001), social support (P=0.005), and self-regulation (P=0.001), have made significant contribution to the explanation of the variance of appropriate nutritional behavior among the students. In total, these variables account for approximately 63% of the variance of nutritional behaviors. Conclusion According to the results of this study outcome expectations, social support, and self-regulation might be effective in designing educational interventions to achieve healthy food behavior in students

The effect of psychosocial factors and patients’ perception of tuberculosis treatment non-adherence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: Although there are several studies reported on factors affecting tuberculosis (TB) treatment non-adherence, there is information gap on psychosocial and patients’ perceptions aspects. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of psychosocial factors and patients’ perceptions on TB treatment non-adherence in Ethiopia.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa from May to December, 2014. Thirty one health facilities were randomly selected and 698 TB patients, who had been on treatment, were enrolled consecutively using patient registration number. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics, knowledge, psychological distress, alcohol use, tobacco smoking and six HBM domains. Treatment adherence level was the main outcome variable, and it measured using visual analog scale. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 was used for data analysis.Results: Non-adherence level within last one month prior to the study was 19.5%. After controlling for all potential confounding variables, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) status (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.79, 95% Confidence interval (CI) (1.09 -2.95)), alcohol use (AOR = 2.11, 95% CI (1.33-3.37)), economic status (AOR = 0.53, 95% CI (0.33-0.82)), perceived barriers (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI (1.10-1.47)) and psychological distress (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI (1.47-2.29)) were independently associated with TB treatment non-adherence.Conclusion: ART status, economic status, alcohol use, perceived barrier and psychological distress are the major areas that need to be targeted with health promotion intervention to enhance TB treatment adherence.Keywords: Treatment Non-adherence, Determinants of treatment non-adherence, Health Belief Model, Tuberculosi