[Effect of educational intervention based on self-efficacy on preventive behaviors of overweight and obesity among secondary-school female students in Mashhad]

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are risk factors for development of chronic diseases. Self-efficacy beliefs are direct predictors of a wide range of health behaviors. This study aimed to determine the effects of an educational intervention based on self-efficacy on the preventive behaviors of overweight and obesity among secondary-school female students in Mashhad, Iran

Materials and Methods: For this research, a quasi-experimental study, with a before and after design was used for which 70 secondary school female students were selected by the step sampling method and randomly assigned to two groups [35 cases and 35 controls].The data was collected using the weight efficacy lifestyle questionnaire [WEL]. Educational programs were implemented for the experiment group and results were evaluated after the intervention by SPSS software

Results: Before the intervention, the two groups did not differ significantly in terms of average scores of self-efficacy structures for control of eating behaviors in situations, associated with positive or negative emotions, availability of food, social pressure and physical discomfort [P>0.05]. After the intervention, however average scores in all situations were significantly increased in the experimental group [P>0.001]. Average scores in all situations in the control group were not significant after the intervention [P>0.05]

Conclusion: An educational intervention training based on lifestyle self-efficacy models could efficiently improve adolescents' self-efficacy in situations related to positive or negative emotions, availability of food, social pressure and physical pain, emphasizing the benefitial effects of implementing a self-efficacy strategy in an educational intervention program to promote nutritional behavior in adolescents

Simultaneous pattern visual evoked potential and pattern electroretinogram in strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia

Amblyopia is a relatively common condition in which visual acuity through an eye is subnormal despite no overt pathology. Pattern visual evoked potential [PVEP] can detect any defect from optic nerve to occipital cortex and pattern electroretinogram [PERG] can detect retinal defects specially the ganglion layers. This study was performed to evaluate the cortical and retinal activity in strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia. PVEP and PERG were recorded simultaneously in 40 amblyopes [20 strabismics and 20 anisometropics] and 20 normal control subjects. Normal subjects were age and sex matched with patients. The P100 latency in PVEP was increased in both groups of patients but the P100 amplitude was reduced only in anisometropic group. In PERG, the amplitude of P50 was reduced in all patients with no significant change in latency. Beside reduced PVEP responses in strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia, the activity of retina reduced too. It is likely that retinal impulses can affect the development of visual system

Fear of being at risk of acquiring HIV, willingness to care, and discrimination in care and treatment of AIDS patients among nurses

Exposure to infectious blood and body fluids increase risk of occupationally acquired HIV among nurses. Discrimination in care and treatment of AIDS patient is one of the challenging ethical issues in nursing. The aim of this study was to determine fear of being at risk of acquiring HIV, willingness to care, and discrimination in care and treatment of AIDS patients among nurses. In this descriptive -cross sectional study, 165 nurses of internal and infectious wards from four selected hospitals of Tehran and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences participated. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaires. The instruments used included [demographic data form], [risk perception scale], [willingness to care for people living with HIV/AIDS]questionnaire, and [discrimination against AIDS] questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 14, t-test, and pearson correlation. Out of 165 nurses, 36.4% had sever fear of being at risk of acquiring HIV, 81.8% were evaluated to be neutral in willingness to care of AIDS patients, and 54.5% agreed with moderately discrimination practice against AIDS patients. There was a significant correlation between fear of being at risk of acquiring HIV with discrimination in care and treatment of AIDS patients [p=0. 003] and willingness to care [p= 0.007]. It seems that education efforts about universal precautions, ethical issues, and patient rights should be made in order to reduce fear of being at risk of acquiring HIV, decrease discrimination in care and treatment of AIDS patients and increase willingness to care

[Nurse's perspective about discrimination in nursing care of patients with AIDS]

Discriminatory practices toward patients with AIDS is an important challenge in the context of ethical care and patient's rights. Experience of discrimination has negative impacts on the psychological well being of patient's and all aspects of AIDS prevention, follow-up care and treatment. The aim of this study was to identify nurse's perspective on discrimination in nursing care of patients with AIDS and its related factors. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of nurses working in internal and infectious wards. The setting was hospitals affiliated with Tehran and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences .the sample was recruited by census and 165 nurses were selected. Data was collected using self administered questionnaires. The instruments used included: discrimination against AIDS questionnaire, HIV knowledge questionnaire, AIDS Attitude Scale and Risk Perception scale. Data was analyzed by SPSS-PC using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson coefficient correlation. Response rate was 91.6% of all study sample, 54.5% agreed with present moderately discriminatory practices toward these patients. Nurse's perspective on discriminatory practices was significantly associated with their knowledge of AIDS transmission [p=0.005], avoidance attitudes toward people with AIDS [p=0.044], and fear of occupational exposure to AIDS [p=0.003].There was a significant difference between mean score of nurses perspective on discrimination with their sex [p=0.033], ward [0.036], and their educational level [p=0.048]. It seems that patients with AIDS in Tehran hospitals are treated with discrimination. Reducing discriminatory practices toward these patients would be possible by increasing nurse's knowledge about universal precautions, ethical issues and patient's rights

[ invitro comparative study of marginal adaptation of two retrograde materials [Gray MTA and Portland cement] by SEM]

Total seal in the root apex for healing of periodontium is an important goal of endodontic surgery that is obtained by application of various kinds of retrograde materials. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare marginal adaptation of two retrograde materials [Gray MTA and Portland cement], using SEM. In this invitro study, 50 extracted single-rooted human teeth with mature apices, without decay, absorption or root fracture were selected. The canals were instrumented by rotary system and filled with gutta-percha and then 3 mm of the root-end was resected. Then a cavity was prepared at the root-end with 3 mm depth and 1 mm width. Next, the teeth were divided into two groups of 25 teeth each. Each group was filled with one of the retrograde materials [Gray MTA or Portland cement]. After that, the teeth were resected longitudinally to create buccal and lingual sections. Finally, the gap was determined and recorded in millimeter in two dimensions. The data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test and Fisher's Exact test. The mean gap in Gray MTA and Portland cement were 211.6micron and 326.3 micron, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in marginal adaptation between Gray MTA and Portland cement

Determining rectal dose through cervical cancer radiotherapy by 9 MV photon beam using TLD and XR type T GAFCHROMIC[R] Film

The goals of the present research were to investigate the rectal dose during four chosen techniques of cervical cancer radiotherapy and to examine how accurately the treatment planning represents dose measurements, and it's practicality for routine use as well as, to determine the homogeneity of dose in tumor volume. The study was carried out using a Nepton 10-PC unit and a Rando phantom. The equipments which were used for dose determination were a Radiochromic densitometer with GAFCHROMIC[R] film [XR type T], and a thermo-luminescent dosimeter [TLD] reader system with TLD chips for rectal and target volume dose determination. Several techniques of external beam radiation therapy such as two-field [AP-PA], three-field and four-field with equal tumor dose and with equal applied dose were planned. The maximum dose received by rectum was caused by two-field technique. The results of two dosimetry types were compared with each other as well as with the treatment planning, however, no statistically significant difference was observed between them [p > 0.05]. In three-field, four -field with equal tumor dose and four-field with equal applied dose, rectal dose was lower, respectively 26.17%, 33.75% and 16.47%, than tumor dose. This study showed that dosimetry using TLD and film during radiotherapy could have a useful role as a predictor of choosing appropriate technique for preventing future rectal complications. Dose limitation to the rectum could possibly be achieved by using three-field and four-field techniques with equal tumor dose while maintaining a high dose to the tumor

Comparison of rectal dose in different techniques of prostate cancer external-beam radiotherapy based on TLD and XR type T GAFCHROMIC[R] film dosimetry

Radiotherapy of prostate carcinoma often results in high doses to surrounding structures, such as the rectum and bladder. Therefore, these organs should be closely monitored. The aim of this study is to evaluate the dose received by the target volume and rectum to compare two different methods of dose measurement with each other and to check the homogeneity of dose in the tumor volume. The dose distribution throughout a planned target volume and the rectum [OaR] in a phantom exposed to 9 MV photon beam, similar to treatment conditions were studied. Several techniques of external beam radiation therapy such as two-, three- and four-field have been planned. Dosimetry was performed using GAFCHROMIC film and TLD-100 chips. The rectal and cancer volume measured doses in treatment were similar to the prescribed doses. The results of two dosimetry types were compared with each other as well as with treatment planning. Rectal dose in three- and four-field [equal tumor dose and equal applied dose] techniques were respectively 23.15, 28.87 and 15.22% lower than the tumor dose. There was not a statistically significant difference between received and prescribed doses. So, this study showed that the Gafchromic film dosimetry can be used for fast dosimetric evaluations

[Evaluation of relationship between length and width of natural maxillary central and lateral incisors, and some measurable parameters of the face]

With improvements in dentistry, esthetics in complete dentures has become more significant. Tooth selection has an important role in esthetics and success rate of complete denture, among which anterior teeth play a more important part. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between length and width of natural maxillary central and lateral incisors, and some measurable parameters of the face. In this descriptive study, 100 men were selected and some parameters such as length and width of right central and lateral incisor of maxilla, arc distance between the distal surface of the canines [ARCD], interalar width [IAW], vertical dimension of occlusion [VDO], and vertical dimension of rest position [VDR] were measured. For detection of the relationship between parameters of face and length and width of teeth, pearson correlation and linear regression were used. The ratio of mean central and lateral incisor lengths to mean VDO were 0.16 and 0.14 respectively. The ratio of mean central and lateral widths to mean ARCD were 0.14 and 0.10 respectively. These ratios make up to be 0.28 for both side centrals and 0.48 for centrals and laterals. By use of measurements in this study and other methods, we can determine the length and width of anterior teeth in complete dentures

[ quality and quantity assessment of marital satisfaction in addicted people and their husbands or wives who came to the addiction treatment clinic]

Addiction is an ominous social process that affects badly on quality of addicts' lives and their families. The factors that lead to unsatisfaction of addicts's spouses in addition to the factors that define quantity and quality of satisfaction should be known because the knowledge lead to formation of positive senses and motivations for giving up opium derivates. Thus, we decided to define the amount of satisfaction and it's correlation with age, sex, education, kind of opium derivates, duration of addiction, etc, in addicted ones and their spouses. Among addicts referred to renouncement clinics of Mashhad in 2004-2005, 146 subjects consist of addicted ones and their spouses agreed to fill the questionnaire which has been confirmed by a group of specialists. We decided to assess the correlation between marital satisfaction and age, sex, education, kind and duration of addiction in addicts and their spouses. For definition the questionnaire reliability we used alpha- Cronbach. Satisfaction quantities were classified by using Z. score. Among 146 subjects in three groups [90 addicted husbands and nonaddicted wives in group 1, 26 nonaddicted husbands and addicted wives in group 2, 30 addicted husbands and wives in group 3] marital satisfaction level was moderate. There was not significant difference between the marital satisfaction of husbands who were addicted and their wives who were nonaddicted, mostly [p=0.76]. Correlation between marital satisfaction of addicts and their ages [p-0.012], kinds of opium derivates [p= 0.045], and their educations [p=0.029] were meaningful. Marital satisfaction of addicts and their spouses were assessed moderately that is contrary to the destructive effects of addiction on the basis of family. Thus, there must be the personal or manneral causes leading to this finding. Cooperation of addicted people and their partners for treatment of addiction based upon health programs specially, when this manner leads to renouncement and a happy, fortunate and without opium life is probable cause of getting moderate level of marital satisfaction in them