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Objective Nowadays, organizations and institutions evaluate their performance to ensure that they are taking the right steps towards their goals and missions. In this regard, universities and research institutes assess their success in achieving their goals by analyzing their scientific outputs and productions. This study aims to investigate the scientific productions and collaborations of the authors affiliated with the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWRS) in Scopus database in comparison with five medical universities. Materials & Methods This study, using scientometric techniques, was conducted on June 5, 2021. The information about scientific productions of the USWRS and other five universities of Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences were identified were extracted from the Scopus database and then converted into scalable format in Sci2 software. The output was then plotted in VOSviewer software. Results The mean number of authors for the USWRS in each article was 9, and the highest scientific collaborations was with the authors from United States, United Kingdom and Sweden. The authors for the USWRS also had a significant co-authorship with each other. According to the national ranking, this university was ranked 23 lower than Hamedan University of Medical Sciences and Golestan University of Medical Sciences. In terms of the number of published papers, it was in the second place after Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. The level of international cooperation of this university was more than other compared universities. Conclusion It seems that the USWRS's scientific policy has been successful in increasing the scientific productions. More efforts should be made in this university to establish scientific collaborations with other universities at the national and international levels for encouraging authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Nosocomial infection is a health problem in all countries. Considering the role of midwives in controlling nosocomial infection, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of an educational intervention based on model on preventive behaviors of nosocomial infection by Babol hospitals midwives was done. Methods & Materials The present study was a quasi-experimental study with intervention and control group. The interventions were performed in three 40-minute sessions in the Shahid Yahya Nejad Hospital in April and May 2017. The data collection tool was a structure Health Belief Model based(Awareness, structure Health Belief Model and behavior) on a questionnaire completed Its validity and reliability were assessed two months before and one month after Midwives who met the inclusion criteria education. Data were collected and analyzed by SPSS software v. 24 by Anova, T-test and ANCO one-way Covariance tests. Ethical Considerations This research paper has been approved by the ethics committee IR.IAU.TMU. REC.1398.068 and informed consent will be taken from the participants in the study the information will remain confidential. Results Before the intervention, the two groups did not differ significantly in terms of, mean scores of different model structures. After intervention, there was a significant difference in the mean and standard deviation of the effect of education on knowledge score (1.0±0.3), perceived sensitivity (2.8±1.5), perceived severity (3.6±1.7) Perceived barriers (-6.4±1.3), perceived benefits (5.1±4), self-efficacy (4.6 ± 2.6) and behavior( 3.1±1.1) was seen in the intervention group (P>0.05). Conclusion By increasing the scores obtained from the structures Especially self-efficacy and reduction of perceived barriers, designing and implementing an educational program based on model in midwives can increase their performance regarding the prevention of nosocomial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Alcoholism & Drug Addiction / Alkoholizm i Narkomania is the property of Termedia Publishing House and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective Postoperative rehabilitation protocols, such as immobilization and non-weight-bearing periods during the acute phase after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery vary depending on the surgeon or the institution and lack clear standardization. Weight bearing (WB) after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is critical. This study compares the results of WB immediately after surgery and partial WB with a brace after ACLR. Materials & Methods In this randomized clinical trial, the block random sampling method was used to select 84 patients who were divided into two groups. Group 1 was allowed to have full WB after surgery and Group 2 was asked to use braces after surgery, and they were divided into partial WB for one month and then full WB. Meanwhile, demographic information was recorded. The Lachman test, anterior knee pain, and kneeling pain before and one month after the surgery were also recorded. Knee function was evaluated using the international knee documentation committee, knee injury and osteoarthritis out-come score, and Lysholm scales before surgery and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software, version 20, and the Fisher exact test, the chi-square test, the Friedman test, and repeated measures analysis of variance. Results Most of the patients were men under 30 years of age. There was no statistically significant difference in the demographic information of the patients in the two groups. Kneeling pain, anterior knee pain, and the Lachman test did not differ between the two groups one month after the surgery. There was no difference between the two groups in the scores using the international knee documentation committee, knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score, and Lysholm score in the 6-month follow-up. All the examined indicators in each group improved over time. Conclusion WB immediately after surgery compared to partial WB at 1, 3, and 6 months after ACLR do not differ; therefore, patients can bear full weight if they tolerate it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Auditory processing disorder (APD) tests, based on the deviation of results from standard benchmarks, can distinguish children suspected of having APD. Some of these tests directly relate to the ability to discriminate sound pitch, while others may be indirectly affected. Accordingly, this study investigates the impact of pitch discrimination-based rehabilitation on diagnostic indices of APD tests. Materials & Methods In this study, we selected 19 children suspected of APD who were identified based on tests of pitch pattern, dichotic digits, and monaural selective auditory attention as the intervention group. These children received pitch discrimination-based training, for about three months, two to three sessions a week, each session up to 1 h. After completing the rehabilitation phases, diagnostic tests were administered again. We also selected 26 children with similar diagnostic criteria for APD as the control group. No intervention was applied to this group, and after a comparable period to the intervention group, diagnostic tests were re-administered. The results before and after the interventions were compared within the intervention group and with the 26 children in the control group. Results The rehabilitation showed significant improvements in the pitch pattern and monaural selective auditory attention tests. In the monaural selective auditory attention test, significant improvements were observed in both ears (P=0.001). In the pitch pattern test, effective improvements were also observed for both ears (P=0.001). The effects were such that nearly 37% of children suspected of APD, based on the diagnostic criteria used in the study, no longer met the criteria for this disorder. Hence, if the same tests are re-administered to them, these children will be diagnosed as having no auditory processing disorder. Conclusion Discrimination-based rehabilitation impacts the results of APD tests. Accordingly, some children who are classified as suspected auditory processing disorder with such tests, are removed from this subgroup after the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Patient-centered care is the cornerstone of the healthcare system’s priorities. Attaining this goal necessitates a comprehensive understanding of patients’ encounters within the healthcare system to identify areas for quality improvement. To achieve this, healthcare providers and regulators require dependable, cost-effective, and user-friendly tools to assess and report the quality of patients’ healthcare experiences as part of ongoing service quality audits. The Waterloo Wilfrid Laurier University rehabilitation patient experience instrument (WatLX) is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring patients’ experiences in outpatient rehabilitation services. Accordingly, this study explores the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the WatLX in Persian-speaking people receiving outpatient rehabilitation services. Materials & Methods In this descriptive methodological study, we enrolled 115 adults aged 18 and above, possessing a suitable cognitive level, who had undergone at least one program of musculoskeletal, neurological, stroke, speech, and language rehabilitation services on an outpatient basis. The research targeted 10 centers and clinics specializing in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, strategically selected across five geographical areas of Tehran (North, South, East, West, and Center) in the year 2023, utilizing an available sampling method. The participants were asked to complete the following three questionnaires: WatLX, abbreviated mental test, and the Medrisk instrument for measuring patient satisfaction with physical therapy care. Additionally, participants’ background information was collected. The Persian-translated questionnaire was examined for face and content validity using the Lavashe method. The convergent validity was established through comparison with the Medrisk questionnaire. The Cronbach α value was computed to evaluate the internal consistency, while the test re-test reliability involved 39 subjects completing the questionnaire again 15 days after the initial test, with calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS software, version 23. Results The questionnaire underwent rigorous scrutiny for content validity by experts in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, rehabilitation management, and statistics. The results revealed strong internal consistency (Cronbach α=0.802), high test re-test reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.974), and satisfactory convergent validity, demonstrated by the significant Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.503 with the Medrisk questionnaire. Conclusion The Persian version of the WatLX tool exhibits commendable psychometric properties, making it a reliable instrument for assessing the experiences of Persian-speaking Iranian patients in outpatient rehabilitation services. Its robustness suggests its applicability in both clinical settings and future research studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are one of dentists’ most common occupational health problems. Human error is considered one of the critical factors of medical error. Musculoskeletal abnormality due to inappropriate work postures and mental workload are two important causes of human error in dental operations. Hence, this study investigates dentists’ mental workload and the incidence of skeletal-muscular disorders. Materials & Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Shahid Shukri Dental Hospital in 2021. The sampling was done via the targeted sampling method and 42 individuals were included in the study. The NASA task load index and the Nordic questionnaire were used to collect the data. Data analysis was done using the SPSS software, version 26, at the significance level of 0.05. Results The average percentage of disorders were as follows: Neck area=30.1%, left shoulder=11.76%, right shoulder=13.74%, right elbow=9.23%, left elbow=6.56%, right wrist=28%, left-hand wrist=25.06%, upper back area=20.1%, waist=13.8%, hip and thigh=17.1%, knee=26% and ankle=23.46%. Age and work experience had a significant relationship with the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (P<0.05). The effort component with a Mean±SD of 74.95±22.16 received the highest score and discouragement with a Mean±SD of 49.92±26 got the lowest score compared to other components. The central sterilization department, with a mean of 67.41±24.86, exhibited a higher mental workload than other departments. In contrast, the admission department, with a mean of 50.72±26.59, reported a lower mental workload than other cases. Conclusion Musculoskeletal disorders are related to workload and work capacity. Creating suitable working conditions, providing more training programs to employees, and strengthening their mental workload capacity can help prevent occupational injuries in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Autism is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. It causes problems in social cognition, communication, and understanding of self and others’ feelings, and has a negative effect on the quality of a person’s life. The present study determines the effectiveness of the Cogniplus cognitive training program on the social cognition (theory of mind (ToM) of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Materials & Methods In a semi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test design, and a control group with a two-month follow-up, 65 children (44 male and 21 female) from 6 to 11 years old with ASD were selected based on the convenience sampling method from individuals referred to one of autism rehabilitation centers in Shahr-e-Ray City, Iran. They were assessed by the autism spectrum screening questionnaire (ASSQ). Overall, 50 children (33 male and 17 female) with a score of 19 and above on the autism spectrum screening questionnaire were diagnosed with high-functioning autism. They entered into the study according to the inclusion criteria as follows: having speech ability, the absence of motor or intellectual disability, and visual and hearing impairments. Meanwhile, they were matched based on their age. They were randomly and equally assigned to two experimental and control groups. The parents completed the ToM test. The experimental group participated individually in 20 sessions (twice a week, 30 min per session), in the Cogniplus cognitive training program, but the control group only received mainstream services (occupational therapy, speech therapy, art therapy, and music therapy). The parents completed the ToM test in the last session and two months follow-up. The data were analyzed by the correlation analysis, analysis of regression, and generalized estimating equations in the SPSS software, version 27. Results The results of generalized estimating equations analysis showed that the Cogniplus cognitive training program improved social cognition (total, first level, and second level of ToM). Meanwhile, the β coefficient showed that 2.9, 3.08, and 0.96 of the variations, respectively, in the ToM levels as the first, the second, and the total, in children with ASD who received Cogniplus cognitive training program. Also, the variations lasted after a two-month follow-up. Conclusion Considering the positive effect of the Cogniplus cognitive training program on social cognition, the use of the Cogniplus cognitive training program can solve the need for therapists who have new cognitive insight into training. Also, the implementation of such programs can help to improve the social cognition of children with autism disorder with high functioning in real-life situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Health & Society is the property of Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa Periodicojs and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common disorder among children. The architectural design of the treatment environment can be effective in the quality of rehabilitation for these children. On the other hand, considering that an important part of treatment for children with ASD is to meet their sensory needs, there is a need for intervention and adaptation to the environment (sensory regime). The study aims to investigate the effect of the interior architecture of rehabilitation centers on the outcome of occupational therapy for children with ASD. Materials & Methods This is an observational cross-sectional study on 50 children with ASD aged 3-14 years, who were assigned into two groups of treatment in standard and non-standard environments, according to interior architectural factors. They were assessed before and after occupational therapy. To rank the physical space of rehabilitation centers, a researcher-made questionnaire was used with 30 criteria measuring natural light intensity, light quality (natural or artificial), visibility and view of the inside of the building, noise and visual pollution, and color of the walls. The criteria were based on the opinions of 32 occupational therapists and parents of 50 ASD children. The sensory profile 2 was used to measure sensory processing patterns (sensation seeking, sensation avoiding, sensory sensitivity, and sensory registration) of children with ASD. The paired t-test was used for within-group comparison, and the independent t-test was used for between-group comparison. Results Both standard and non-standard treatment environments were effective in improving all four patterns of sensory processing (P=0.04). However, the rehabilitation center with standard design had a more significant positive effect on all four sensory processing patterns, including sensation seeking (P=0.001), sensation avoiding (P=0.001), sensory sensitivity (P=0.01), and sensory registration (P=0.001) compared to the non-standard environment. Conclusion The interior architecture of rehabilitation centers has a significant positive effect on the sensory processing patterns of children with ASD, which can affect the quality of rehabilitation services. Therefore, it is recommended to optimize the interior architecture of rehabilitation centers for ASD children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective In recent years, the infant development and assessment programs have received attention by the health system of Iran. In this regard, the training of examiners for performing the Bayley tests has become one of the needs of the health system. This study aims to design and evaluate the validity and reliability of the Bayley-III examiner clinical performance scale. Materials & Methods In this study, participants were Bayley-III test examiners from medical universities in Iran, who were selected using a purposive sampling method. First, in focused group discussion sessions with 10 Bayley-III test experts, the items of instrument were formulated. Then, to evaluate the face validity, the questionnaire was sent to a panel of expert consisting of 8 Bayley-III experts and examiners and they were asked to rate the items from 1 to 5 in terms of importance. The items with an impact score of less than 1.5 were deleted, and other items were revised, if needed. To evaluate content validity, the questionnaire was sent to 10 Bayley-III test experts, and then the content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) were measured. The items with CVR <0.6 and CVI <0.7 were deleted. The reliability of the instrument was assessed by calculating the inter-rater reliability, test re-test reliability, and internal consistency. Quantitative data analysis was done in SPSS software, version 22. Results The instrument with 66 items, including 32 items for the cognitive domain, 22 items for the language domain (13 for receptive and 9 for expressive components), 12 items for the motor domain (9 for fine and 3 for gross motor skills), and 14 items for the general section, was assessed in stability and reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the test re-test reliability was obtained 0.83 for the specific section and 0.86 for the general section. The ICC for the inter-rater reliability was 0.80 (95% CI: 58-82). The highest correlation value was related to the cognitive scale (0.88), and the lowest value was for the gross motor skill subscale (0.76). The kappa coefficient for the inter-rater reliability of the general section was above 0.7. The kappa coefficient for the specific section ranged from 1 to 0.35. The Cronbach’s α for the internal consistency of the general section was 0.76. Conclusion The designed questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate the clinical performance of Bayley-III test examiners in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Stuttering is one of the speech disorders that appears in childhood. Many studies emphasize early interventions for its treatment. Circumstances such as a lack of therapists and the COVID-19 pandemic have limited the access to face-to-face therapy. Studies show some problems with this type of treatment. A detailed understanding of these problems in a cultural context can help increase the quality of providing telepractice. This study was conducted to discover the telepractice treatment of stuttering in preschool children. Materials & Methods This qualitative study was conducted in Iran from November 2020 to February 2022 using the grounded theory method. In this study, in-depth, free, and individual interviews were conducted with 9 therapists and 5 parents of children who stutter. The data were analyzed using the Corbin and Strauss method, version 2015. Results After analyzing the data of this study, 6 main categories, 17 subcategories, and 63 primary categories were extracted. The main categories include “hesitation in choosing telepractice”, “characteristics of family and clients”, “technology and the knowledge to apply it”, “therapist skills for telepractice”, “payment system for telepractice fees”, and “efficiency of telepractice”. Conclusion In this study, “efficiency of telepractice” was chosen as the central concept that all participants were concerned about in some way. According to this model, “hesitation in choosing telepractice”, “characteristics of family and clients”, and “technology and the knowledge to apply it” as the context have effects on the processes that are taking place in relation to the telepractice in preschool children who stutter. These processes include “therapist skills for telepractice” and “ payment system for telepractice fees”. In the end, all these things increase the efficiency of telepractice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Swallowing disorder or dysphagia is one of the most common problems in old age and after brain vascular lesions. This problem has received a lot of attention in studies. However, Pain on swallowing (known as odynophagia) has been less discussed in the literature. The present study aimed to investigate the existence of pain on swallowing, its characteristics, the possible intervention, and the effects of this pain on the quality of life of affected people. Materials & Methods The present study adopted a qualitative approach. After purposeful sampling, we interviewed 11 speech therapists in the field of swallowing disorders (5 males) and 15 patients with dysphagia. All the interviews were transcribed and underwent content analysis using the Graneheim and Lundman method. Finally, the main themes, subcategories, semantic units, and examples related to each were obtained. Results Out of 15 interviewed patients, only 6 reported pain on swallowing. In comparison, all 11 therapists in the field of swallowing disorders confirmed the presence of pain on swallowing. Seven main themes were obtained based on these interviews: The temporal pattern, duration, location, stimulating/provoking factors, type, intensity, and onset time. Each of these themes had its subcategories and items. All patients and therapists reported the negative impact of pain on swallowing on the quality of life. There was an agreement between therapists and patients to manage pain on swallowing. Conclusion This study showed that pain on swallowing is probably one of the characteristics of a swallowing disorder, and professionals must consider pain on swallowing during the clinical examination. Future studies can focus on different dimensions of pain on swallowing and develop proper evaluation scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Alcoholism & Drug Addiction / Alkoholizm i Narkomania is the property of Termedia Publishing House and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective Osteoarthritis is one of the most common knee joint diseases. It is a multifactorial, inflammatory, and destructive disorder of the joint that involves the synovial tissues and joint cartilage and causes permanent pain, functional limitations, and a decrease in patients' quality of life (QoL). In advanced cases of the disease, total knee arthroplasty is performed to reduce pain and improve the function of the patients. The presence of pain after this surgery is a major concern that reduces the QoL of these people. One of the causes of pain after surgery is extra-articular pain and involvement of the musculoskeletal system, the most common cause of which is pain caused by active trigger points. Dry needling is one way to deactivate trigger points. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dry needling on the pain intensity and function of patients with active trigger points in the muscles around the knee after total knee arthroplasty. Materials & Methods This research was a before-and-after clinical trial study. In this study, 49 patients aged 55 to 80 years, with at least 3 months past their total knee arthroplasty and still having pain, were included by an orthopedic specialist after reviewing the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After the first researcher considered the inclusion and exclusion criteria and the presence of active trigger points in the muscles around the knee, including the quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocsoleus, 27 patients were qualified. The amount of pain in these patients before, one week, and one month, after dry needling was measured and compared based on the linear visual analog scale. Also, the performance of the patients was assessed based on the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score questionnaire. This study aimed to investigate the short-term effects of dry needling on pain intensity and function of patients with active trigger points in the muscles around the knee after total knee arthroplasty. Results The results of this study show a significant difference (P<0.001) between the amount of pain before dry needling (57.2±8.9) and one week after dry needling (10.8±33.6). Also, there is a significant (P<0.006) difference between the performance of patients before dry needling (47.5±11.9) and one week after dry needling (42.3±10.6). No significant difference was observed regarding pain and performance between one week and one month after dry needling. Conclusion Performing one dry needling session on the active trigger points of the muscles around the knee after total knee arthroplasty reduces pain and improves patients' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Rehabilitation is the property of Negah Institute for Social Research & Scientific Communication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders affecting balance. It is also a risk factor for falling in older people. People with a history of falling, whether being injured or not, acquire a fear of potential falling, so they limit their functional activities, leading to decreased mobility, muscle weakness, and increased risk of falling in the future. Evaluating the relationship between balance and fear of falling in these patients can detect the disability mechanisms and falling and also help find more effective therapeutic methods for these patients. Some previous studies evaluated the stability of patients by clinical methods in static situations and related it to fear of falling. However, the walking stability of patients was not assessed by laboratory-based systems in previous studies. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate dynamic (during walking and based on the center of mass sways) and static stability (based on the center of pressure sways) and their relationship with falling risk in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Materials & Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. A group of 15 subjects with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis with a Mean±SD age of 50±3.22 years and 15 normal subjects with comparable age, height, and weight participated in this study. The subjects' standing stability was evaluated using a Kistler force plate based on mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) displacements of the center of pressure. Also, the dynamic stability of the subjects was evaluated during walking and based on the center of massbase of support relationship in AP and ML directions. Kinematic data were collected using a motion analysis system with 7 high-speed cameras and a Kistler force plate. To model the body segments, the output of Qualisys track manager software was exported to Visual 3D software. Fear of falling was assessed by the native version of the fall efficacy scale (FES-I). The normal distribution of data was checked by the Shapiro-Wilk test. The independent samples t-test was used to compare the stability of patients and normal subjects. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationships between static and dynamic stability parameters and fear of falling in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Results Patients with knee osteoarthritis had less stability during standing and walking than healthy subjects (P<0.05). Moreover, based on the results of this study, there was a linear relationship between the center of body pressure (COP) excursions in the AP direction and the fear of falling scale. Still, it was not significant (r=0.416, P=0.123), and there was no correlation between the other COP parameters with FES (r=0, P>0.05). The correlations between mean center of mass (COM) excursion in AP and ML directions and FES were 0.309 and -0.123, respectively; however, these correlations were also not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion Based on the results of this study, there is no significant relationship between static and dynamic stability of the patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis (based on COP-COM variables) and the fall efficiency scale. So, it seems that to improve these patients' functional abilities, and the therapists must focus on the other parameters that affect the falling, such as reducing pain, improving proprioception, and enhancing muscle strength. It is suggested that future studies include a more varied age range of elderly people and evaluate all contributing factors in falling of patients with knee osteoarthritis (such as pain, proprioception, vision, and muscle strength) and also evaluate the stability of patients with both laboratory-based and clinical tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Schizophrenia is the most debilitating psychiatric disorder with the highest psychiatric ward admission rate. Drug therapy is the first line of treatment. However, it does not result in appropriate therapeutic responses in many patients, and they experience emotional regulation difficulties and psychosis symptoms after initial symptom resolution. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is currently an adjuvant treatment besides drug therapy to target the persistent symptoms of psychosis. The present study aims to determine the effectiveness of CBT on the positive and negative symptoms and emotional regulation of those suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Materials & Methods The research design was single-subject and of the AB type (baseline and intervention) with a follow-up phase. Besides the routine therapy sessions, CBT sessions were held for the study participants. They were patients admitted to Razi Educational and Therapeutic and Research Psychiatric Center in Tehran City, Iran, who were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Thirty patients were selected with convenience sampling, and 5 were randomly placed in the CBT group. They were evaluated with the scales of positive and negative symptoms of Kay, Fiszbein, and Opler (1986) and difficulties in emotional regulation by Gratz and Roemer (2004) in the baseline, intervention, and follow-up phases. The treatment sessions were planned based on the CBT protocol developed by Laura Smith, Paula Nathan, Uta juniper, Patrick Kingsep, and Louella Lim (2003). Non-overlap of all pairs (NAP), percentage of non-overlapping data (PND), percentage of all nonoverlapping data (PAND), percentage of data points exceeding the median (PEM), Cohen's d effect size, and improvement percentages were used to analyze the data, and visual graphs were used for data presentation. Results The outcomes showed that in the intervention phase, compared to the baseline phase, the effect sizes of the positive and negative symptoms in the first to fifth participants were 1.6, 3.1, 3.2, 1.9, and 2.4, respectively. Only the effect sizes of the second and third participants were large. The effect sizes of the emotional regulation factor in the first to fifth participants were 2.8, 1.2, 1.1, 2.2, and 1.9, respectively. The effect size of the second participant was large, and the rest were average. The findings of this study showed that during the post-therapy and follow-up stages, while patients who had received CBT still experienced positive and negative symptoms of psychosis and difficulties in emotional regulation; these symptoms decreased in comparison with the baseline phase. Furthermore, their improvement percentages were not significant. Conclusion Data analysis showed that although CBT is effective in reducing positive and negative psychotic symptoms and improving the emotional regulation of patients, the data obtained from Cohen's d effect size and recovery indices showed that the results are not clinically significant. In other words, although the patients who received CBT showed a slight improvement in psychotic symptoms and difficulty in emotional regulation, they could not maintain the therapeutic gains in the follow-up phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the anxiety disorders caused by a specific event, which can be catastrophic events (natural disasters, war, imprisonment in a forced labor camp) or everyday adversities (death of relatives, divorce, carrying bags). Since patients who have recovered from COVID-19 are exposed to such events, this research was conducted to determine the prevalence of PTSD in this group. Materials & Methods This study was cross-sectional. The statistical population included all patients who recovered from COVID-19 between November 2021 and February 2022 in Hamedan City, Iran; based on Krejcie and Morgan's sample size table, 185 patients were selected by simple random sampling method. The research tool was the demographic questionnaire and the Mississippi posttraumatic stress disorder questionnaire (Mississippi PTSD); the data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results The results showed that the Mean±SD score of PTSD was 80.37±17.37 in the subjects who recovered from COVID-19. The relationship between the demographic variables of gender (P=0.01), education (P=0.039), occupation (P=0.24), marriage (P=0.62), age (P=0.048), weight (P=0.047), height (P=0.023) with PTSD were reported. Conclusion The results showed that 76.2% of people who recovered from COVID-19 were exposed to PTSD with moderate and high severity; therefore, techniques to reduce anxiety from the coronavirus are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Guilan University of Medical Sciences is the property of Journal of Guilan University of Medical Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective The effectiveness of the Tipton chair on the thoracic and lumbar spine of students was evaluated in the straight upright position and careful study postures. Materials & Methods This study was performed on 30 students (20 women and 10 men) who had no history of musculoskeletal disorders. Evaluation of changes in the angles of the thoracic and lumbar spinal was performed using an electrogoniometer on the normal and Tipton chair in the two postures of straight upright and careful study. The participants were evaluated in each posture on each chair for five minutes. Considering the resting time and questionnaire completion, the study took 30 minutes for each person. The data recorded by the electrogoniometer were analyzed through repeated measures statistical test and data of the system usability scale (SUS) questionnaire by the paired t-test in SPSS software, version 25. Results The mean range of changes in the angles of the thoracic spine in the sagittal plane showed that the variable of chair type was not significant (P=0.072), but the variable of posture was (P=0.013). Also, regarding the mean range of change in thoracic lateral flexion, the interaction of chair and posture (P=0.048) and the chair variable with (P=0.003) had a significant difference. This difference was about a 28% reduction in the mean range of changes in the lateral flexion of the thoracic spine in the upright posture and a 10% reduction in the careful study posture in the Tipton chair compared to the normal chair. While the posture variable had no significant difference (P=0.705). Also, the mean range of changes in lumbar flexion extension showed that the chair variable (P=0.003) had a significant difference. This significant difference was about a 16% reduction in the mean range of changes in the flexion extension of the lumbar spine in the upright posture and a 43% reduction in the careful study posture in the Tipton chair compared to the normal chair. While the variable of posture (P=0.162) did not have significant differences. The study's results on lateral lumbar flexion also showed that both variables of chair and posture had a significant difference (P=0.009). The mean range of changes in lumbar lateral flexion angles in both upright and careful posture in the Tipton chair was reduced by 28% compared to the normal chair. Analysis of SUS questionnaire scores for the Tipton and normal chairs showed a significant difference between these two chairs (P=0.000). In addition, the average scores of the SUS questionnaire were 78.6 for the Tipton chair and 65.9 for the normal chair, which shows an increase of 19%. Conclusion The results of the present study showed that the Tipton chair could reduce the average range of body angles in the thoracic and lumbar spine. Also, the study results indicated an increase in user satisfaction with the Tipton chair compared to the normal chair, in which the level of satisfaction of women is higher than men. It can be due to the difference in anthropometric dimensions between women and men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The prevention of thumb joints flexion help cure de Quervain tenosynovitis. The thumb, therefore, is being immobilized in the abduction position by splinting. Thumb abduction can be away from the palm (palmar abduction) or from the fingers (radial abduction), which are done in two different planes. To the authors' knowledge, the literature has not specified which kind of thumb abduction has better treatment outcomes and functions. This study aimed to compare the immediate efficacy of palmar abduction and radial abduction splinting on the severity of pain, handgrip, palmar and lateral pinch strength, and hand function in people with de Quervain tenosynovitis. Materials & Methods In this quasi-experimental study, 30 volunteer patients (24 females) with de Quervain tenosynovitis referred to clinical centers were selected via convenience sampling. The participants were randomly assigned to three study groups (without the splint, palmar abduction splint, and radial abduction splint). The splints' height was two-thirds of the elbow. The splints were designed to immobilize the carpometacarpal and metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb but allow the interphalangeal joint to move. One splint immobilizes the thumb in palmar abduction, while another immobilizes the thumb in radial abduction. The outcomes were studied and measured immediately after the intervention and in a single session. The intended outcomes included pain severity, handgrip strength, palmar and lateral pinch strength, and hand function measured with a visual analog scale, hand dynamometers, and the Jebsen-Taylor test, respectively. The repeated measures analysis of variance was performed for statistical analysis using SPSS software, version 16. Results All participants completed all study assessments. The results showed a significant reduction of pain, handgrip strength, lateral and palmar pinch, and hand function after using a thumb splint compared to without the splint condition (P<0.05). The pain severity in gripping objects was lower after using a palmar abduction splint than the radial abduction splint. Also, the strength reduction in taking objects by gripping, lateral pinch, and palmar was lower after using the palmar abduction splint than the radial abduction splint (P<0.05). Still, both splints were not significantly different in slowing the hand function in the Jebsen-Taylor test (P>0.05). Conclusion The positioning of the thumb in palmar abduction with splinting could be more effective for pain reduction and manipulation of objects with the hand and fingers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Enfermagem e Atenção à Saúde (REAS) is the property of Revista de Enfermagem e Atencao a Saude - Reas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Enfermagem e Atenção à Saúde (REAS) is the property of Revista de Enfermagem e Atencao a Saude - Reas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Enfermagem e Atenção à Saúde (REAS) is the property of Revista de Enfermagem e Atencao a Saude - Reas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective Stuttering is a speech disorder that occurs with frequent and abnormal disruptions in speech, such as sound repetition, sound prolongation, and sound or airflow blockage. Despite the many theories, the cause of stuttering has not been entirely determined, and various factors have been proposed for its etiology. According to the vicious circle hypothesis, increased speech disfluency results from hypervigilance to speech. This study aimed to measure the effect of reduced attention on speech through verbal and non-verbal dual tasks among school children with stuttering. Furthermore, the effect of dual tasks on the severity of stuttering was investigated among them. Materials & Methods In this cross-sectional study, the participants included 39 children (5 girls, 12.8%) and (34 boys, 87.2%) aged 8-12 years (10.25±1.35) with developmental stuttering selected via convenience sampling from primary schools in districts four and eight and speech therapy clinics in Tehran, Iran. Dual tasks were designed using the Visual Basic program. During the study, four speech samples were recorded for each participant. The second and third samples were designed as a dual task (addition of verbal or non-verbal tasks), while the first and fourth samples were designed as a single task. The participant's severity of stuttering in each sample was calculated based on the number of stuttered syllables (SS%), and data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software. Given the non-normal distribution of data, the generalized linear model with the Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) and Bonferroni test were used to determine the difference in stuttering severity among speech samples. Results The GEE results showed that the severity of stuttering was different among the four speech samples (P=0.015). The lowest and highest mean stuttering severity among the 39 participants pertained to the non-verbal dual task (14.85) and the single initial task (17.11), respectively. A pairwise comparison of stuttering severity showed that the mean severity in the final single task was significantly lower than in the single initial task (P<0.05). However, mean stuttering severity was not significantly different between verbal and non-verbal tasks (P>0.05). Conclusion The findings showed that stuttering severity reduces when children with stuttering perform dual tasks. In other words, focusing children's attention on verbal and non-verbal tasks while talking reduced their dysfluency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We investigated the combined effect of Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT) and muscle energy technique (MET) on pain, range of motion (ROM), and neck function in people with active trigger points (ATrPs) of the upper trapezius muscle. Materials & Methods Fifty-four participants with ATrPs of the upper trapezius muscle were randomly divided into three groups. Group A (n=18) received only MET, group B (n=18) received only RSWT, and group C (n=18) received both RSWT and RSWT. Pain intensity using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), neck function using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire, and lateralflexion range of movement (LF ROM) were measured before and after the intervention. The participants were treated for three sessions in one week with at least two days of rest between sessions. Results All three intervention groups showed pain reduction (P<0.001), an increase in PPT (P<0.001), counter-lateral flexion (CLF) (P<0.001), and also improvement in neck function (P<0.001). The combined group showed a more obvious improvement than the other two groups in PPT (P<0.001). There was no difference between the three groups in terms of VAS and NDI scores and CLF (P>0.05). Conclusion The results of this study showed that all three interventions used in the upper trapezius trigger points therapy were effective; however, the combined group showed a significant difference in PPT. Therefore, combined therapy is superior to MET and RSWT alone in improving pressure pain relief in individuals with upper trapezius trigger points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The Lidcombe therapeutic program is one of the treatments for stuttering in preschool children whose effectiveness on improvement in stuttering has been confirmed. Some families have no access to care centers due to different reasons and as such, they are deprived of treatment. Distant treatment would be a proper solution for this issue, in which all people can reach their needed treatment without being concerned over their geographical locations. Because some research has been conducted on telepractice for speech and language disorders in different ways in different countries, regarding the cultural differences that influence the duration of the Lidcombe program as well as its distant implementation, we investigated the extent of the stuttering effect in telepractice program on preschool children in Iran. Materials & Methods In this single-subject study, the Lidcombe program was implemented through live video communication between the therapist in a clinic and the subjects at home for 15 weekly sessions on five 4-6-year-old children, including three boys and two girls. To investigate the progress of the effect, the percentage of stuttered syllables, which were recorded by the therapist as well as the 9-score stuttering severity scale, which was recorded by the parents at home, were employed. During the first base line, which had been considered as three weeks, 21 times the severity rating were recorded, while 3 times the percentage of stuttered syllables were recorded. In the treatment phase, which lasted 15 weekly sessions, 105 and 15 times the score of severity and the percentage of stuttered syllables were recorded respectively. In the second base line, which had been considered as three weeks, 21 and 3 times the score of severity and the percentage of stuttered syllables were recorded respectively. Results To analyze the data of this study, Z-index and diagram plotting were used. The investigation of the stuttering severity scores and the percentage of stuttered syllables before and after the treatment suggest diminished severity and percentage of the stuttered syllables in children. After 15 sessions, two subjects approached the final criteria of the first phase of the Lidcombe program (scores with intensities one and two); however, they did not achieve the criteria. Other subjects did not achieve the final criteria in the first phase either, in spite of the diminished severity and percentage of stuttering. Conclusion The results obtained from this research suggest the effects of the Lidcombe telepractice program on the reduction of stuttering in the subjects. The results of this study showed that after 15 treatment sessions, the other subjects did not manage to achieve the final criteria of the first phase of this program. The outcome of this research indicates a positive effect of the Lidcombe telepractice program on the reduction of stuttering severity in the subjects. Nevertheless, they did not manage to approach the final criteria in the first phase of this program after joining 15 sessions. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the presentation of the Lidcombe telepractice program can be effective in reducing the severity of stuttering. However, more sessions may be required in this type of treatment, compared to the in-person one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Intellectual disability is a common neurodevelopmental disorder. Working memory deficit can affect children. One of the effective methods in the field of learning is playing games and the application of play therapy techniques. In this method, children are allowed to practice useful social behaviors and experience new thoughts and feelings in a safe environment with supportive relationships. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Adlerian play therapy on the working memory of female students aged 7 to 12 years with mild intellectual disability. Materials & Methods Out of 60 female students aged 7 to 12 years with a diagnosis of mild intellectual disability in Fatemeh Zahra Special School in Qom, 28 students met the inclusion criteria. They were divided into the experimental and control groups by 1: 1 random allocation. The experimental group received the Adlerian therapy protocol for ten weeks in three 45-minute sessions (30 sessions) every week. The working memory of both groups was examined in three stages, including pre-test, post-test, and one month later, without receiving any intervention for follow-up, by the fourth version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV). Data analysis was done by Shapiro-Wilk, Friedman, Mann-Whitney, and Bonferroni tests and generalized estimation equation by SPSS software v. 22 at the significance level of 5%. Results Most of the subjects in each group were aged 7 years (first grade) with six people (43%), whereas the lowest frequency was related to the age of 9 years (third grade) with two people (14%) per group. The mean and standard deviation of the working memory subtest in the experimental group increased from 6.28 3.66 in the pre-test to 10.4 86 in the post-test and increased to 12.64 5.25 in the followup stage. However, in the control group, the mean and standard deviation changed from 5.92 3.19 in the pre-test to 5.64 3.17 and 5.85 3.41 in the post-test and follow-up, respectively. In the experimental group, there was a significant difference in the mean score of working memory in all stages of measurement (P< 0.05). In the pre-test stage, there was no significant difference in the mean score of working memory in the experimental and control groups (P>0.05). In the post-test stage, because the P was very close to 0.05, we can ignore it and consider it significant. In the follow-up stage, there was a significant difference in the mean score of working memory in the experimental and control groups (P<0.05). Conclusion It seems that child-centered Adlerian play therapy has a persistent effect on the working memory of students with mild intellectual disabilities. Therefore, Adlerian play therapy can be used in educational planning to enhance the working memory of these students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Down syndrome or trisomy 21 is one of the most common human chromosomal disorders that affect cognitive functions, communication and behavioral skills. At the macro level, various factors can contribute to the Down syndrome prevalence and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the association of health system functions with Down syndrome prevalence and mortality worldwide. Materials & Methods The study was a cross-sectional study conducted based on the secondary analysis of existing data in 2019. Data from 202 countries in six different regions (African Region [AFRO], Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMRO], European Region [EURO], South-East Asia Region [SEARO], Western Pacific Region [WPRO], and Pan American Health Organization [PAHO]) were included in the study. Data were extracted from the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation databases. The adjusted linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between health system-related factors with prevalence of, and death due to Down syndrome as the outcome variables. In the present study, two functions of health financing (domestic general government health expenditure [GGHE-D] per capita in PPP [purchasing power parity] int$, domestic private health expenditure [PHE-D] per capita in PPP int$, external health expenditure [EXT] per capita in PPP int$) and health system resources (nurse and midwifery personnel, generalist medical practitioners [GMP], specialist medical practitioners [SMP], pharmacists, dentists, physiotherapists) were included in the study as independent variables. We used the Stata software version 14 to analyze Results Africa and low-income countries had the highest deaths due to Down syndrome. On the other side, Europe and high-income countries had the highest prevalence of Down syndrome worldwide. According to the available data, Iran had a lower prevalence (29.31 vs 38.44 per 100,000 population) and higher deaths (0.34 vs 0.32 per 100,000 population) compared to high-income countries. The 20-year trend of prevalence of, and deaths due to Down syndrome in Iran has always been lower and higher than high-income countries, respectively. Linear regression analysis showed that GGHE-D per capita (β=0.385, P<0.001) and PHE-D per capita (β=0.354, P=0.02) could predict the prevalence of Down syndrome significantly in the study countries. On the other hand, nurse and midwifery personnel (β=-0.607, P=0.014) and number of SMP (β=0.420, P=0.025) were associated with increased deaths from Down syndrome in the included countries. Conclusion Our findings showed GGHE-D and PHE-D are associated with a higher prevalence of Down syndrome in health systems. On the other hand, health system resources (nurses and SMP) were the main predictors of death due to Down syndrome in the included countries. International organizations and governments need to monitor and improve the equitable access of vulnerable groups to health services in low-income countries. Improving health insurance coverage and equitable distribution of health resources is suggested to reduce deaths due to Down syndrome in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic disease that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain. It primarily affects women and negatively impacts many aspects of a person’s psychological and social life. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive therapy based on mindfulness and compassion therapy on automatic negative thoughts, psychological symptoms, pain intensity, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Methods & Materials This research is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design with two experimental and one control group. The statistical study population consisted of all individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome referred to Mehregan Pain Clinic in Mirdamad (District 3), Seyed Khandan Clinic (District 4), and Taleghani Hospital Pain Clinic (District 1) in Tehran City, Iran. Of them, 30 patients were randomly selected and divided into three groups of experimental 1, experimental 2, and control; each group will include 10 people. The instruments used in this study included the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL BREF), pain intensity questionnaire (PIS), psychological symptoms questionnaire (Anxiety, Stress and Depression [DASS]), and automatic negative thoughts (QNS). Ethical Considerations This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University (Code: IR.IAU.ARAK.REC.1400.005). Results The analysis of covariance showed the effectiveness of both cognitive therapies based on mindfulness and compassion therapy on four variables of pain intensity, psychological symptoms, automatic negative thoughts, and quality of life (P<0.05). Comparing the two intervention methods showed that both therapies had almost the same effect on pain intensity, psychological symptoms, and automatic negative thoughts (P<0.05) but the effectiveness of mindfulness intervention on the quality of life was significantly higher than compassion intervention (P<0.05). Conclusion The results indicate that cognitive therapy based on mindfulness and compassion therapy are suitable for people with fibromyalgia under appropriate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Various research studies have investigated the relationship between anxiety and worry. The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation and mindfulness in the relationship between anxiety and worry. Methods & Materials The present study follows a correlational design study. The research sample included 248 students of Kashan universities in Iran studying in the 2017-2018 academic year. The study data were collected using the generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), Pennsylvania state worry questionnaire (PSWQ), the Persian short form of cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (CERQ-P-short form), and five-factor mindfulness questionnaire (FFMQ). Then, the obtained data were analyzed using the SPSS v. 22 and AMOS v. 22 software. Ethical Considerations The Ethics Committee of Kashan University of Medical Sciences approved the study (Code: IR.KAUMS.REC.1396.36). Results The results showed a significant relationship between generalized anxiety and worry, worry and cognitive emotion regulation, worry and mindfulness, generalized anxiety and cognitive emotion regulation, and anxiety and mindfulness. The results of the structural equation modeling confirmed the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation in the relationship between anxiety and worry. Also, the path coefficient of mindfulness and anxiety was removed from the model because it was not significant. Conclusion Generally, cognitive emotion regulation plays a mediating role in the relationship between anxiety and worry. These findings seem applicable in the individual, family, educational, therapeutic, and interpersonal mental health fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs (17-25 nucleotides) that have been studied in many diseases. miRNAs studies in different cancers have shown that miRNAs may be considered oncogene or tumor suppressor. So far, many studies have shown that miR-17-5p and miR-93-5p are important regulatory molecules in some biological processes, such as cell proliferation, associated with cancer formation. This study aimed to investigate and compare the tissue and plasma expression levels of miR-17-5p and miR-93-5p in patients with ductal carcinoma breast cancer with the normal control group. Methods & Materials The total RNA (including miRNA) was extracted from breast and plasma tissue samples of cancerous and normal samples. The RNA concentration and purity were confirmed using optical absorbance measurements. cDNA was synthesized, and the expression levels of miR-17-5p and miR-93- 5p were assessed semi-quantitatively by SYBR Green-based real-time RT-PCR assay in plasma and breast tissues of ductal carcinoma breast cancer compared with the control normal samples with SNORD47 as internal normalizer. Data were statistically evaluated using GraphPad Prism 8.0.2. Ethical Considerations This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the institute (IRAN 52d/4922, 6.10.2016). All study individuals signed a consent form to use their clinical samples and personal data under the physician’s supervision. Results The expression level of miR-17-5p showed significantly higher expression in tissues and plasma of the cancer group compared with the control group (P<0.0001). It was also significantly associated with tumor stage and lymph node, and ER (estrogen receptor) and PR (progesterone receptor) status (P<0.0001). While decreased expression of miR-93-5p in plasma and tumor tissues was shown to be significantly associated with tumor stage and lymph node involvement (P<0.0001). Conclusion The data revealed that high expression of miR-17-5p and low expression of miR-93-5p in both plasma and breast tumor might be associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. However, miR17-5p, due to the greater change in expression and ease of plasma detection, may serve as a possible non-invasive biomarker for breast cancer’s poor prognosis. Further follow-up studies are required to confirm this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim In modern life, emotional and social problems have taken the highest rank among mental illnesses. The present study aimed to provide a causal model for predicting children’s psychosocial problems based on parenting styles with an emphasis on the mediating role of social support. Methods & Materials The present research was a cross-sectional analytic study. The study population included parents of children (under 5 years old with behavioral-emotional problems) referred to the comprehensive health centers services in Pardis City, Iran, in 2020. Of whom, 230 people were selected by convenience sampling method. Measurement tools included parenting styles, social support, and socioemotional problems questionnaires. Structural equation modeling with SmartPLS software was used to analyze the data. Ethical Considerations This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University (Code: 99527). Results The Mean±SD age of mothers was 32.87±7.87 years. Also, 60% of children were boys, and 40% were girls, with an Mean±SD age of 4.12±0.78 years. The Mean±SD scores of socioemotional problems, parenting styles, and social support were found to be 40.16±4.73, 152.23±18.10, and 34.66±6.49, respectively. The results of structural equation modeling showed that parenting styles had a significant role in predicting children’s socioemotional problems through social support mediation (P<0.05). Also, the fitting branches of the model showed the proper fit of the model through the composite reliability and the Cronbach alpha calculation. Conclusion The results of the present study emphasize the critical role of early childhood life and the need to focus on support facilities for mother-child couples at this age. Accordingly, providing psychological and supportive interventions for mothers with high stress can result in parental adjustment and mental health and, subsequently, the child’s normal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Menopause is a period in a woman’s life that can be physically damaging. However, its effect on bone mineral density is still debatable. This study investigated the relationship between serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase indices with lumbar bone mineral density in active and inactive postmenopausal women. Methods & Materials The number of subjects was 55 active postmenopausal women and 60 inactive postmenopausal women aged 45 to 85 years. Serum indices of calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase and anthropometric of the subjects were measured. The Pearson correlation coefficient test was used to analyze the research data. SPSS software v. 26 was used to analyze the data. Ethical Considerations This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Allameh Tabataba’i University with code IR.ATU.REC.1399.038. Results The results showed a significant correlation between serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (P=0.021), calcium (P=0.019), and phosphorus (P=0.011) with lumbar bone mineral density in active postmenopausal women and also between body mass index with lumbar bone mineral density in both groups of active (P=0.014) and inactive (P=0.038) postmenopausal women. No significant relationship was found between other indicators. Conclusion According to the results of the present study, being active may have had beneficial effects on bone metabolism and has led to a better state of bone mineral density. It may also help to use these blood and anthropometric variables in identifying people at risk for osteoporosis in adulthood and old age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Moral stress happens when a person makes a moral decision but cannot accomplish it, mainly due to internal and external organizational limitations. Problem-solving skills training as one of the principles of stress management may be effective in controlling nurses’ moral stress. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of problem-solving skills training on the moral stress of novice nurses. Methods & Materials This study was a clinical trial performed on 70 novice nurses working in Shohaday Khorramabad Hospital, Khorramabad City, Iran. The samples were selected by convenience sampling and randomly divided into intervention (n=36) and control (n=35) groups. The study data were collected by demographic questionnaire and Corley’s moral distress scale. Before the intervention, participants of both groups completed those questionnaires. Then for the intervention group, a problem-solving skills workshop was held in six 2-hour sessions. After training, the Corley moral distress scale was completed again by participants of both groups. Finally, the data were analyzed by the Chi-square test, paired, and independent t tests in SPSS software v. 16. Ethical Considerations This study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences with the ethical code IR.ARAKMU.REC.1395.449. Informed consent was taken from all participants, and they were assured of keeping their information confidential. ResultsIn this study, most participants were around 25 years old. Also, 98.5% had Bachler’s degrees, and 1.5% had Master’s degrees. The study results showed that the mean of moral distress in the intervention was significantly different from before the intervention (P<0.05). Conclusion This study showed that applying problem-solving skills has a significant effect in decreasing the moral distress of novice nurses in the clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aims to translate and cross-culturally adapt the University of California at Los Angles Activity Scale (UCLA) to Iranian samples and evaluate the reliability and validity of the Persian UCLA in candidates for knee replacement surgery. Materials & Methods In this cross-sectional study, cross-cultural adaptation was performed according to the international quality of life assessment protocol in three stages: standard forward translation, translation synthesis, and backward translation. The Persian UCLA, tegner activity scale (TAS), short-form health survey (SF-36) and international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) were completed by 103 participants (candidates for knee replacement surgery). The Persian UCLA questionnaire was re-completed by 66 participants in the retest session with an interval of 3-7 days. An intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate test-retest reliability. The standard error of measurement (SEM) was used to determine smallest detectable change (SDC) in scores. To evaluate convergent validity of the Persian UCLA, its correlation with TAS, SF-36, and IPAQ was assessed using Spearman's correlation test. The ceiling and floor effects were also calculated. Results In the Persian version, no special changes were made and no problem or ambiguity was reported by the respondents based on a pilot study. The type of activities mentioned in the original version was not changed either and none of the participants had difficulty understanding the items. The Mean±SD of UCLA scores were 2.98±1.37 in the test phase and 2.89±1.32 in the retest phase. Psychometric tests results showed acceptable test-retest reliability of the Persian UCLA (ICC=0.96, 95% CI=0.93-0.97). Given an SDC score of 0.50 at 95% confidence interval, it can be said that if the UCLA score be above or less than 0.50, there is an improvement or decline in the activity level of patients. Based on the results of Spearman correlation test, the Persian UCLA showed a strong correlation with TAS (rs=0.71, P<0.001), a moderate correlation with IPAQ (rs=0.58, P<0.001) and physical health summary component of SF-36 (rs=0.59, P<0.001), and a weak correlation with the mental health summary component of SF-36 (rs=0.39, P<0.001). The Persian UCLA questionnaire had no ceiling or floor effects. Conclusion The Persian version of the UCLA questionnaire has acceptable reliability and validity for Iranian candidates for knee replacement surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Social isolation is one of the important concerns in the elderly population which can negatively affect their quality of life and health. The present study aims to determine the prevalence of social isolation among older adults aged 60 years and older in Tehran, Iran and find its associated factors. Materials & Methods This is a secondary analysis study on data obtained from a large cross-sectional study conducted on older adults in Tehran in 2020. The Persian version of lubben social network scale (LSNS-6) was used to measure social isolation. The demographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, living arrangements, and number of children), socio-economic status (educational level, employment status, and household income) and health-related information (history of chronic diseases and use of assistive devices) were collected using a checklist. Data were analyzed in SPSS v. 23 software using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The significance level was set at. Results The data were related to 1280 older adults aged 60 years and older (Mean±SD age=70.97±8.07 years). The prevalence of social isolation was 30.8%. The results of chi-square test revealed that living arrangement (P<0.001, X²=46.93), marital status (P<0.001, X²=26.91), household income (P<0.001, X²=67.44), level of education (P<0.05, X²=20.26), employment status (P <0.001, X²=29.21), musculoskeletal problems (P<0.001, X²=15.47), respiratory problems (P<0.05, X²=10.43), vision problems (P<0.05, X²=4.4), hyperlipidemia (P<0.001, X²=13.53), and wearing glasses (P<0.05, X²=3.92) had significant association with social isolation. The regression analysis model could significantly predict social isolation (X²=188.35, P<0.001). The model revealed that being male (P<0.05, OR=1.7), living with spouse (P<0.05, OR=0.4), musculoskeletal disease (P<0.05, OR=1.42), diabetes (P<0.05, OR=1.41), household income (P<0.001, OR=5.82), being unemployed (P<0.001, OR=2.13), having hyperlipidemia (P<0.001, OR=0.58), and living in developed areas (P<0.001, OR=2.02) significantly predicted the social isolation. Conclusion There is a strong association between social isolation and some socio-economic, demographic-health related factors in older adults. Health policymakers and healthcare experts can develop the screening and prevention programs related to the mental and social health of older adults in Tehran, Iran in order to moderate and control these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Progressive visual impairment is one of the problems that threatening the health of patients and has the negative effects on their abilities. This study aimed to explore the health concerns of patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Materials & Methods: A qualitative inductive approach was used. Eleven patients with RP, participated in this study in Iran. Patients were selected through purposeful sampling. Data collection was done through two methods of in-depth semi-structured individual interviews and field notes. Data analysis was performed using approach of conventional content analysis. Results: The categories of "perceived health threat" and "perceived support needs", were extracted. The category of perceived health threat included sub-subcategories of "gradual decline in physical function", "sustained fluctuations in mental health", and "weakening of social capability". "need for socio-economic support", "need for educational support", "need for psychological support", and "need for a personal assistant" were extracted as sub-subcategories of perceived support needs. Conclusion: RP Patients faced with the problem of abilities impairment in various physical, mental, and social dimensions and need for support in society. So, to improve the health of these patients, members of the health group are suggested to develop a context-based wholistic care program through multidisciplinary cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Activities of daily living are activities that are formed in order to take care of the body and are essential for life and well-being and fundamental survival. These activities begin in infancy and are modified at different stages of development. Cultural values, parental expectations, social routines, and the physical environment influence daily activities. Concerns about children's use of time and daily activities are not new, but studies on them are rare. So to have more information and knowledge about children's lives and well-being, we need to have more information about their daily activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the time allocated to daily life activities based on the day of the week, age and gender in healthy children under 5 years in Isfahan. Materials & Methods: In this survey (descriptive-analytical) study in which healthy children under 5 years old in Isfahan were present, from different age groups according to the population of that age group, 240 girls and boys so that the number of girls and boys were equal in the age categories of less than 1 month, 2 to 3 months, 4 to 6 months, 7 to 12 months, 1 to 2 years and 3 to 5 years, were selected by multi-stage, stratified, cluster and convenience sampling. In order to collect research data, demographic questionnaire and time use diary tools were used. Results: The results showed that on weekdays, among the components of daily life activities, the most time with an average of 150.59 minutes per day is devoted to eating (and drinking) and the least time with an average of 0.02% per day is devoted to caring of Personal belongings, while in the last days on average the most time is spent eating (and drinking) and the least time is spent on other daily activities. In different age groups on weekdays, infants 0 to 1 month with an average of 273.35 minutes per day have the most time and children 25-60 months with an average of 154.65 minutes per day have the least time devoted to daily life activities on weekdays. Meanwhile, infants in the age group of 0-1 months on a weekend spent the most time on daily activities and children in the age group of 25-60 months spent the least time on daily activities. Girls and boys spent the most time eating (and drinking) among the activities of daily living on a weekend, while boys and girls spent the least time on other daily activities that are not categorized in this study. There was no significant difference Between the time allocated to daily life activities on weekdays and weekends and between the time allocated by girls and boys under 5 years old living in Isfahan on one day a week to activity of daily livings, both on weekdays and weekends (P>0.05). However, there is a significant difference between the time use of daily life activities in different age groups on weekdays and weekends (P<0.05), and finally, there is a difference between the time allocated to daily life activities on one day of the week and the weekend (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, age groups and days of the week are influential factors on daily activities, but gender has no effect on daily activity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sleep and seizures can affect each other in different ways. Meanwhile, sleep disorders are among the most frequent complaints of patients with epileptic and non-epileptic seizures, with various health outcomes. Objective This study aimed to investigate the psychological symptoms and clinical indicators in patients with/without sleepiness with epileptic/non-epileptic seizures. Methods The present study was a fundamental and descriptive (causal-comparative) research. The study population included all patients with epileptic seizures (temporal and generalized) and non-epileptic psychogenic seizures in Shiraz City, Iran. A total of 68 patients (in two groups with sleepiness and without sleepiness) were selected by the purposive sampling method. The study data were collected using the clinical and demographic inventory, Stanford sleepiness scale, Beck depression and anxiety inventory, perceived stress, mood disorder, bipolar spectrum diagnostic scale, global assessment of the severity of epilepsy, and global assessment of disability-related directly to seizures. The obtained data were analyzed by univariate analysis of covariance, Fisher exact test, and Mann–Whitney U test. Results Analyses showed that patients with seizures who had sleepiness reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress than patients without sleepiness (P<0.05). Also, patients with sleepiness suffer more than their counterparts from the symptoms of bipolar disorder I and II and assess the severity of disease and disability resulting from seizures as worse (P<0.05). Conclusion Sleepiness in patients with epileptic and non-epileptic seizures is associated with increased psychological symptoms and disease severity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The purpose of the present study is thematic analysis and scientific collaborations of research related to COVID-19 vaccine in Iran and the world based on scientific products indexed in Web of Science (WOS). Materials and Methods: The present study is a descriptive-analytical study with a scientometric approach and using the methods of content analysis and techniques of co-word analysis, hierarchical clustering, Strategic graph and social network analysis. The research population is scientific products related to COVID-19 vaccine in the world and in Iran. Data analysis was performed by HistCite, Bibexecl, Gephi and SPSS software; and the data mapping is done by VOS viewer. Results: Between 2019 and 2021, 6005 related studies were retrieved. Unites states is followed by India and China, and the United Kingdom has the most Links. Iran’s rank is 10th with 196 studies. Hierarchical clustering in global research led to the formation of 3 clusters (vaccine development strategy, medical prevention and immunotherapy) and in Iranian research led to the formation of 4 clusters (immunotherapy, diagnosis and treatment cycle, medical prevention and immunology). From scientific collaborations at the country level in world and Iranian studies, 5 clusters were formed, at the level of institutions, 17 and 10 clusters, respectively, and at the level of researchers, 10 and 8 clusters, respectively. Conclusion: Analysis and comparison of world and Iranian studies leads to a better understanding of the prevailing currents, Gaps and discourse in order to increase the quantity and quality of studies, followed by controlling and the eradication of COVID-19 in the shortest possible time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim For decades, using fluoride has been introduced to prevent the development and progression of primary carious lesions. Increased surface microhardness of primary caries is among the essential factors in preventing lesion progression and cavity formation. The present study aimed to compare the microhardness changes of primary caries treated with 3 products, containing fluoride (varnish, toothpaste, & mouthwash) in dental teeth. Methods & Materials In this study, 45 extracted human deciduous molars were used. Using a diamondwinning disc, enamel blocks with a dimension of 1 x 4 x 4 mm were prepared from the buccal surface of the teeth, i.e., healthy and without structural defects; they were mounted in acrylic self-adhesive. Initial microhardness test (Vicker’s test) with a force of 300 gr and Dwell time for 15 seconds was applied on samples. Next, artificial caries with the standard solution were created in all samples and the microhardness of samples was recorded at this stage. The study samples were randomly divided into 3 groups of 15, treated with fluoride varnish, mouthwash, and toothpaste. Then, the microhardness of samples was re-measured. The mean surface microhardness was compared between the study groups by Independent Samples t-test and Bonferroni test. All analyses were performed using SPSS at the significance level of P<0.05. Ethical Considerations This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Arak University of Medical Science (Code: IR.ARAKMU.REC.1397.264). Results Increase in surface microhardness of primary caries in fluoride varnish group was statistically significant; in GC MI paste plus toothpaste and Oral B mouthwash was non-significant. The research samples treated by fluoride varnish had a higher surface microhardness, compared to toothpaste and mouthwash. Conclusion According to the present research results, fluoride varnish was superior to fluoride mouthwash and toothpaste in improving the microhardness of primary dental caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim The concept of resilience has been recently extensively considered concerning sports studies; accordingly, in most qualitative studies, it has been used to explore the attitudes of coaches, athletes, and sports psychologists. In this regard, the present study aimed to determine resilience in athletic students based on dark triad personality and psychological wellbeing. Methods & Materials This was a descriptive and correlational study. The population of the study consisted of all male students of Guilan University of Physical Education in the first semester of the academic year 2019-2020. A sample of 200 individuals was selected by convenience sampling method; then, the required data were collected using Sheard et al.’s (2009) Resilience Scale for Adults, Jonsson and Webster’s Dark Triad Personality Questionnaire, and Ryff’s 18-item Psychological Wellbeing Scale (1989). The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS using Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Ethical Considerations This study was approved by Research Ethics Committee of Guilan University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.GUMS.REC.1398.121). Results The present research results suggested a positive and significant correlation between the resilience of the examined athletic students and narcissism (r=0.495, P<0.001), self-acceptance (r=0.598, P<0.001), purposefulness in life (r=0.556, P<0.001), personal growth (r=0.648, P<0.001), the mastery of the environment (r=0.645, P<0.001), positive correlation with others (r=0.569, P<0.001), and independence (r=0.381, P<0.001). Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between antisocial behavior (r=-0.557, P<0.001) and Machiavelli’s aspect (r=-0.604, P<0.001), and the explored students’ resilience. Additionally, multiple regression analysis data revealed that dark triad personality and psychological wellbeing predict 62% of resilience in the study subjects. Conclusion The current investigation results signified a significant correlation between dark triad personality and psychological wellbeing, and resilience in athletic students. Accordingly, educators and teachers need to pay more attention to the role of psychological wellbeing and different dimensions of athletes’ personalities for promoting the health and performance of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Proliferate potential differentiate into different cell lineages and high self-renewal of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs); thus, they are ideal tools for regenerative medicine. However, a leading problem is an oxidative stress in the target tissue and the apoptosis of transplanted stem cells before tissue repair. The pretreatment of stem cells with antioxidants may make them resistant to oxidative stress. Ginger is the main medicinal plant with antioxidant properties. This study explored the antioxidant effects of ginger extract on bioavailability and oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells and rat bone marrow examined. Methods & Materials In this study, human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells and rat bone marrow were cultured in a DMEM medium with 20% FBS. The explored cells were incubated for 4 and 6 hours for pretreatment with different concentrations of ginger extract (50, 100, 200, & 400 mg/mL); then, they were treated with 200 μM H2O2 for 2 hours. Bioavailability was analyzed by ELISA reader using an MTS kit and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry using an Annexin V-FITC/PI kit into the manufacturer’s protocol at both times. The obtained data were analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using SPSS. Ethical Considerations This study was approved by the Ethics Research Committee of Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University (Code: IR.IAU.SHK.REC.1397.028). Results The MTS results indicated a dose- and time-dependent manner increase in the bioavailability of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal treated stem cells. Ginger extract treatment also dose- and time-dependently decreased the rate of apoptosis in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Conclusion Ginger extract, by reducing the oxidative stress in mesenchymal stem cells, elevates their lifespan in the target tissue, and increases the efficiency of these cells in tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Topical supplements and vitamins have often been used to accelerate the healing of burn wounds. This study investigated the effects of topical application of vitamin C solution on burn wounds. Methods & Materials This research was performed on 30 patients with extensive second-degree burns on one or two organs with similar burns. The study subjects were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received topical application of vitamin C solution in addition to silver sulfadiazine ointment in the burn area; however, only silver sulfadiazine ointment was applied in the burn area in the control group. The wounds were examined and scored on days 1, 3, 7, and 14 using the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS using repeatedmeasures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Ethical Considerations This study was approved by the ethics committee of sabzevar university medical sciences. (Code: IR.MEDSAB.REC.1394.60). Results Eighteen of the 30 examined patients were male and 12 were female. Their Mean±SD age and body mass index were 43.03±11.90 years and 27.82±4.08 kg/m2, respectively. Conclusion The repeated-measures ANOVA data indicated that the study groups were significantly different concerning the final mean scores given to the wounds (P=0.047). In other words, the research groups significantly differed in wound healing; thus, topical application of vitamin C significantly improved wound healing in the study participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Ovarian cancer is among the most common cancers in women worldwide. CA125 is the most frequent biomarker used in the screening for ovarian cancer. CA125 has no high sensitivity and specificity as a screening test in the medical community; however, because of being simple and noninvasive, it is almost always requested for evaluation and ruling out cancer. It plays an important role in the treatment and post-treatment process, the prediction of prognosis, and the relapse of the disease. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between a high level of CA125 tumor marker and ovarian cancer by detecting spesivity, sensivity, positive and negative predictive values. Methods & Materials In this cross-sectional study, all cases undergoing CA125 test in Velayat Hospital in 2017-1028 were evaluated for having ovarian cancer. In addition, the CA125 level was compared between healthy individuals and patients with ovarian cancer. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS. Ethical Considerations The present study was approved by the Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (Ethics Code: IR.QUMS.REC.1396.316). Results In this study, 35.3% of the study participants received a definite diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Generally, CA125 values were negative in 41.8% and positive in.58.2% of the study subjects. The sensitivity of the test was measured as 80.1%, the specivity as 53.6%, the positive predictive value equaled 48.4%, and the negative predictive value was measured as 83%. There was a significant relationship between age and the presence of ovarian cancer, and serum CA125 levels. Conclusion The present study suggested that age and the serum level of CA125 were statistically significant. Finally, CA125 levels were significantly related to ovarian cancer. It provided moderate specivity and specivity as well as low positive predictive value and high negative predictive value as a tumor marker; it is valuable for ruling out of tumor but not appropriate as a screening test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hypertension is an important health problem and one of the most important causes of disability and mortality. Objective This study aims to evaluate the effect of an educational program based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) on self-care behaviors in hypertensive patients. Materials and Methods This is a clinical trial conducted on 180 patients with hypertension referred to health centers in Rasht, Iran in 2014. They were divided into two intervention (n=75) and control (n=75) groups. Data collection tools included a demographic form, the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Food Frequency Questionnaire, and a TPB questionnaire with five constructs including attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and behavioral intention related to hypertension. Collected data were analyzed in SPSS v. 18 software using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Before intervention, two groups were similar in terms of the scores TPB constructs. After intervention, the mean scores of attitude changed from 4.51 to 4.58; mean scores of subjective norms changed from 4.16 to 4.19; mean scores of perceived behavior control changed from 3.64 to 4.23; and mean scores of behavioral intention changed from 3.88 to 4.24. These differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). No difference was observed in the control group. Conclusion An educational program based on TPB can promote the self-care behaviors among hypertensive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aging population is increasing rapidly; therefore, paying attention to the needs of older people is necessary. Sexual satisfaction, which is needed to feel happy, is often neglected in older women. Objective This study aims to evaluate the relationship between sexual satisfaction and mental health in older women. Materials and Methods In this analytical study with a cross-sectional design, 195 married women aged ≥60 years covered by urban and rural health centers of Guilan, Iran were recruited using a cluster sampling method. A demographic form, the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and a Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire were completed by participants and collected data were analyzed in SPSS v. 22 software using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, standard deviation, median), and Mann- Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman correlation tests. Results There was a significant relationship between sexual satisfaction and mental health in older women (P<0.0001). 51.2%, 27.7% and 21.08% of participants had low, moderate and high sexual satisfaction, respectively. Sexual satisfaction was directly related to monthly income (P<0.0001) and women’s and their husbands’ education (P<0.0001 and 0.006) while it was inversely related to physical illness (P=0.030), medication use (P=0.009), age (P<0.0001), number of children (P=0.022), and duration of marriage (P<0.0001). The median score of mental health in participants was 38 (ranging 24-53) and the percentage of participants with mental problems (79.4%) was higher than those without mental problems (20.6%). Conclusion Mental health and sexual satisfaction in older women are directly related to each other; therefore, providing effective and appropriate sexual care programs is recommended for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Providing sexual counseling in cardiac rehabilitation program can improve patients’ sexual satisfaction and performance after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery. Objective This study aims to determine the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on sexual satisfaction of patients after CABG surgery. Materials and Methods This descriptive-analytical study with a cross-sectional design was conducted on 108 patients with CABG surgery referred to cardiac rehabilitation centers in Rasht and Tehran, Iran in 2017- 2018. A demographic form and Larsson’s sexual satisfaction questionnaire were used for data collection before and after 10 sessions of cardiac rehabilitation program. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS v. 18 software using paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, and ANCOVA considering a significance level at P<0.05. Results The mean age of participants was 58.60±6.37 years. Their sexual satisfaction score significantly increased after the intervention and there was a statistically significant difference in sexual satisfaction before and after the intervention (P<0.001). The pre-test and post-test sexual satisfaction scores had no significant relationship with age, gender, years of marriage, duration of heart disease, comorbidities, occupational status, educational level, and economic status (P>0.05). Conclusion It is necessary to pay attention to the sexual satisfaction of patients after CABG surgery to improve their sexual function and quality of life by creating an opportunity for them to participate in postoperative cardiac rehabilitation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]