[Adolescent's perspectives on the factors that influence caries development: a qualitative study]

Oral and dental diseases limit an individual's activities at the school, work place and home, leading to a loss of millions of work and school hours all over the world. The period of adolescence is critical as regards shaping of healthy behaviors related to oral and dental diseases. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe school pupils' viewpoints on factors influencing development of dental caries. A qualitative study with a content analysis approach was conducted to collect the perspectives of 18 Iranian students in 8 guidance schools selected by purposive sampling. Structured and semi-structured interviews were held to collect data. An informed consent was obtained and the interviews were recorded and transcribed. The data was analyzed through an inductive approach of content analysis. In order to support the validity and rigor of the data, different criteria such as acceptability, confirmability and transferability were utilized. Data analysis could identify four major factors influencing dental caries development: "family interactions in dental health", "role of school in caring for teeth", "role of dentists in caring for teeth" and "effect of education in caring for teeth". The factors influencing caring for teeth and mouth had a greater significance. The students' experiences, as observed in this study, can help in developing mutual trust between students and dentists, delivering better services in schools by relevant organizations, and designing more effective oral health interventions, with due consideration of vital role of the parents

[Vulnerability of a military hospital against earthquake in Tehran based on personnel view and non-structural components]

The hospital personnel and staff preparedness and their knowledge about hazards, disasters and also disaster management are effective in disaster management during an earthquake. The present study aims to study the vulnerability of a military hospital against earthquake in Tehran. In this descriptive field study, questionnaire [with 18 open questions] was distributed among 30 staff of hospital. Then, the answers were studied and analyzed definitely. Non-structural components were evaluated with the checklist. About 83% of respondents have declared that there is no warning system in hospital in time of disaster. About 50% of staff have announced that the hospital has a protective system. 70% of respondents have believed some items are necessary such as: learning how to deal quickly; how to retrofit non-structural components; and how to cooperate with relief workers dealing with disaster. Most of respondents thought that there should be a resistant room or parking outside the hospital as a temporary housing. Unexpected disasters headquarter and disaster management organizational chart are considered as strength points and lack of some structural and nonstructural standards are as the weak points in the mentioned hospital. There are some other weak and strength points in hospital despite having committee of unexpected disasters and disaster management organizational chart. Although, there are some opportunities outside the hospital, many external threats may increase the hospital problems in time of disasters

[Stages of inter-dental cleaning behavior change and its relationship with the processes of change among pre-university students in Yazd]

Teeth and mouth diseases encompass about 5-10% of the total health care costs. Transtheoretical Model [TTM] explains when individuals will adopt changes in their behaviors, how they change their behaviors, and which factors affect the changes in their behaviors. Processes of change is an important component of the model which include covert and overt activities that people use to progress through the stages. The purpose of this study was to determine the stages of change of inter-dental cleaning behavior and its relationship with the process of changes based on TTM in Yazd, Iran. This analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 361 students from 8 pre-university schools who were selected via cluster sampling. Appropriate standard instrument were used to measure the stages of inter-dental cleaning behavior, and the process of change questionnaire was developed by the researchers. The reliability and validity of questionnaires were examined and approved using expert panel and cronbach's coefficient. Data were analyzed with SPSS software and using ANOVA and Binary Logistic Regression tests. 49% of students were in pre-contemplation stage, 5.3% in contemplation, 24.1% in preparation, 6.8% in action and 12.5% were in maintenance stage. The subjects earned 73.98% scores of cognitive processes of change, 63.59% scores of behavioral processes of change and 59.77% of scores of total processes of change. According to binary logistic regression analysis, In order to transfer from pre-action stages to action stages, the students used consciousness raising [Odd Ratio=1.061] and Self-liberation [Odd Ratio=1.155], and social liberation [Odd Ratio=1.204]. Majority of students was in pre-contemplation stage and most of them used cognitive processes of change to move from primary to final stages. So, interventional strategies which include programs with the aim of increasing cognitive process of change may be useful for transferring the students from primary stages of inter-dental cleaning behaviors to final stages

Genetic doping and health damages

Use of genetic doping or gene transfer technology will be the newest and the lethal method of doping in future and have some unpleasant consequences for sports, athletes, and outcomes of competitions. The World Anti-Doping Agency [WADA] defines genetic doping as "the non-therapeutic use of genes, genetic elements, and/or cells that have the capacity to enhance athletic performance". The purpose of this review is to consider genetic doping, health damages and risks of new genes if delivered in athletes. This review, which is carried out by reviewing relevant publications, is primarily based on the journals available in GOOGLE, ELSEVIER, PUBMED in fields of genetic technology, and health using a combination of keywords [e.g., genetic doping, genes, exercise, performance, athletes] until July 2010. There are several genes related to sport performance and if they are used, they will have health risks and sever damages such as cancer, autoimmunization, and heart attack

[ response of some immune and inflammatory markers of cardiovascular disease in prepubertal overweight boys to a single intense duration of exercise session]

The purpose of this study was to determine the response of some immune and inflammatory markers of cardiovascular disease to a single, short intense duration of exercise, in prepubertal overweight boys exercise. To do this, 13 students 11-14 years-old were selected randomly from among voluntary subjects. In the preliminary session VO2max [26.9 +/- 4.9 ml/kg/min], weight [77.07 +/- 17.33 kg], height [1.65 +/- 0.08], fat percent [31.7 +/- 5.6 percent], body composition, BMI [28.9 +/- 3.5 kg/m2], skeletal age [12.4 +/- 0.9 years] with X-ray, pubertal age with Tanner-stage [T3, T4] was measured and determined familiar illness was done four day before experimental session. In the experimental session, firstly, pre-exercise blood sample collected in fasted state, and then every subject on the ergometer cycle started cycling with 65-70% VO2max for 40 min, post 5 min warming, with 5 min cool down at the end of the program. Immediately post-exercise and recovery blood samples were drawn for measurement by a cell counter employing Isotone Soluble technique, while for hs-CRP and IL_6, we used the immunometric assay Eliza kit. Data were analyzed using the analysis of variance with repeated measures [R-ANOVA] test. The results showed there was a significant relation between different blood samplings. The post hoc [LSD] test that showed neutrophils count and hs-CRP and IL-6 levels one hour after exercise statistically was more than pre-exercise [p=0.001, 0.01, 0.01, respectively] also lymphocyte, monocytes, neutrophils counts and IL-6 level immediately post-exercise [p=0.05, 0.01, 0.004, 0.01, respectively]. Exercise may initiate the response of inflammatory and immune factors in prepubertal obese boys, and increase levels of these factors. This study indicates that a single intense bout of exercise with 65-70% Vo2max can increase subgroups of with blood cells, C-reactive protein and IL-6 in immature obese and overweight children, intense exercise can be activate immune and inflammatory system and increase levels of some of the cited factors

Health-related physical fitness and normative data in healthy women, Tehran, Iran

The purpose of this study was to determine the age-related loss of health-related physical fitness and normative data in healthy population women aged 20-60 years old of Tehran, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 1000 healthy women aged 20-60 years old were randomly selected from northern, southern, eastern, western and center regions of Tehran. Cardiovascular fitness was determined by Ros and Jakson protocol. Body composition were measured using Jackson and Poolak procedure, flexibility was determined by sit and reach test, muscular strength with a standard dynamometer and muscular endurance were measured with Sit-ups test in one minutes. Cardiovascular fitness [vo[2max]], body composition, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance remained unchanged in the 20 and 30 year old age groups. Around of 40 years old, cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance began to gradually decline but body composition increased and flexibility unchanged. Data for Vo2max and the other variables in 4-yr groups provide "normative" results. Result indicated age- related declined in Vo2max [0.43 ml/kg/min [x] yr [-1]], muscular strength [0.004 kg/weight [x] yr [-1]] and endurance [0.63 repetition [x]yr [-1]], and increased in body fat [0.43% [x]yr [-1]] in 30-60 year. One-way ANOVA test showed that all variables significantly differed [P<0.001] among decades except sit and rich test [P<0.059] between the second and third decades. V[o2max] had a significant relationship [P<0.01] with Age, BMI, body fat percent and muscular strength and endurance. Iranian women have a greater decline in cardiovascular fitness; muscular strength and endurance. The results of this study can be used as reference material for clinical studies in different age groups

[Stages of change of inter-dental cleaning behavior based on trans-theoretical model among pre-university students in Yazd, Iran]

Orodental diseases have harmful outcomes in children and adults and encompass 5-10% of the total cost of health care. Trans-theoretical model predicts change and time of behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine stages of inter-dental cleaning behavior based on trans-theoretical model in male and female students in Yazd, Iran. This cross-sectional study included 361 pre-university students from 8 schools by cluster sampling method. Data were collected and recorded in a valid and reliable questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics, self-efficacy questions, and decisional balance [perceived advantages and perceived obstacles] and stages of change in inter-dental cleaning behavior. The data were analyzed by using SPSS software. 54.8% of the subjects were female and 45.2% male with a mean age of 17.35 +/- .55 years.%50 of students [n=179] were in pre-contemplation, 5.3% [n=19] in contemplation, 24.1% [n=87] in preparation, 8.6% [n=31] in action and 12.5% [n=5] in maintenance stages of inter-dental cleaning behavior. There was a positive significant relationship among stages of change with self-efficacy [r=0.33] and perceived benefits [r=0.19] also existed negative significant relation between stages of change and perceived barriers [r= -0.19]. Constructs of the model were statically significant predictors of stages of change and accounted for 0.15% of the variation, so that self efficacy was the most important predictor [beta=0.212]. In this study, most students were in pre contemplation stage. They will be probably exposed to dental caries in the future. Trans-theoretical model can be used to determine strategies for every stage of change of teeth-mouth self-care behavior and also for educational interventions and programs