The Associations between Bone Mineral Density and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Postmenopausal Women / 가정의학회지

Background@#Oxidative stress plays an essential role in bone health among postmenopausal women. This study aimed to compare the oxidative stress biomarkers among postmenopausal women aged 50–65 years with normal bone mineral density, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. @*Methods@#In this observational study, 120 women with normal bone mineral density, 82 with osteopenia, and 86 with osteoporosis were selected based on the densitometry data obtained from the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method. The serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured using biochemical methods. A binary logistic regression model adjusted for confounders was used to estimate the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. The P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. @*Results@#There were significant differences between the three groups in age, menopausal age, body mass index, and education (P<0.05). According to the binary logistic regression model, higher SOD activity and serum TAC levels were associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.991; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.986 to 0.996; and aOR, 0.373; 95% CI, 0.141 to 0.986, respectively). MDA was a significant risk factor for osteopenia in postmenopausal women (aOR, 1.702; 95% CI, 1.125 to 2.576). @*Conclusion@#Higher SOD activity and serum TAC levels in the studied postmenopausal women were associated with a significantly lower risk of osteoporosis. Moreover, the risk of osteopenia increased significantly with higher serum MDA levels.

Practice of Iranian adolescent girls regarding puberty and menstrual hygiene and its predictors, 2013

Adolescence is a unique period in life cycle. During this period, adolescents face with many behavioural challenges. This study aimed to determine adolescent girls' practice regarding puberty and menstrual hygiene, as well as its relationship with socio-demographic characteristics. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1017 female students who were studying at second and third grade of secondary schools in Tabriz, 2013. Samples were selected randomly. Questionnaires used in the study were the practice and socio-demographic questionnaires. General linear model was used to determine predictors of practice. Mean [SD] of practice score in adolescent girls was 64.2 [12.1] from attainable score of 0-100. More than half of students [56.7%] had moderate practice. According to adjusted general liner model, variables of being in second class, having a father with elementary education or illiterate, living in undesirable economic status, having peer groups and friends as main source of information, having insufficient information about puberty had negative relationships with practice score. While, there was a positive relationship between age at menarche and practice score [P<0.05]. The findings show that the practice of adolescents about puberty and menstrual hygiene is moderate. Thus, it is necessary to educate the girls about puberty and menstrual hygiene to enable them to have a healthy reproductive life in future

Effects of cinnamon on perineal pain and healing of episiotomy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Analgesic and wound-healing effects of cinnamon, a widely used spice, have been shown in laboratory rats. However, we found no human studies in this area.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this study was to assess the effect of cinnamon on perineal pain and healing of episiotomy incision.</p><p><b>DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS</b>In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 144 postpartum women were allocated into two groups, using stratified block randomization, 1 h after completion of episiotomy repair. They received cinnamon or placebo ointment, 2 mL every 12 h for 10 d.</p><p><b>MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES</b>Perineal pain and wound healing were assessed using visual analogue scale (0-10) and Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, Approximation scale (0-15), respectively. General linear model was used to compare the groups on the outcomes adjusted for baseline values and stratified factors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Follow-up rate was 100% up to the 8 h time point in both groups, and 86% (62 of 72) in the cinnamon group and 85% (61 of 72) in the placebo group at day 10-11 after delivery. Pain score in the cinnamon group was significantly lower than that in the placebo group at (4±1) h (adjusted difference: -0.6, 95% confidence interval: -1.0 to -0.2) and (8±1) h (-0.9, -1.4 to -0.3) after intervention, and on the 10-11th day after delivery (-1.4, -2.0 to -0.7). Also the cinnamon group showed significantly more improvement than the control group in healing score at (8±1) h (-0.2, -0.4 to -0.04) and the 10-11th day after delivery (-1.6, -2.0 to -1.1).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cinnamon can be used for reducing perineal pain and improving healing of episiotomy incision.</p>

Facilitators and inhibitors of health promoting behaviors: the experience of Iranian women of reproductive age

There is scant information on the facilitators and inhibitors of health promoting behaviors among reproductive aged Iranian women. This study aims to explore the experience of factors influencing health promoting behaviors among Iranian women of reproductive age from a qualitative perspective. This study was performed in Tehran in 2011, over about 8 months. Qualitative methods, specifically in depth interviews, were used to gather data on 15 women of reproductive age. Data continued to be collected until introduction of new information ceased. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by conventional content analysis. The reported factors were categorized into four main groups and 12 subgroups: [1] personal barriers [lack of time, school or work duties, lack of preparation or motivation, physical disability]; [2] socio environmental barriers [family responsibilities, environmental pressures, high costs and financial pressures]; [3] personal facilitators [personal interest and motivation, experience of disease]; and [4] socio environmental facilitators [family and social support networks, encouraging and motivating environment, media, and public education]. In these women's experience, factors influencing health promoting behaviors were either facilitators or inhibitors; most were inhibitors. The findings of this study show that, in addition to personal factors, the pursuit of health promoting behaviors is affected by socio environmental factors. These results will be useful in designing interventions and plans for women's health promotion that focus on the improvement of their environment and the modification of social factors

Prevalence of water pipe use and its correlates in Iranian women of reproductive age in Tehran: a population-based study

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of water pipe smoking and its associated sociodemographic factors among Iranian women of reproductive age in Tehran. This was a population-based cross-sectional study of 1,359 Iranian women aged 15-49 years. The multistage random cluster technique was used to obtain the sample. Questionnaire-based interviews with questions relating to water pipe smoking and sociodemographic variables were used to collect the data. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationships between the dependent variable [water pipe smoking] and the independent variables [sociodemographic characteristics]. The prevalence of water pipe smoking was 6.3% among Iranian women. Water pipe smoking was more likely in the age range of 15-24 years [odds ratio [OR] = 4.8, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 2.7-8.6] compared to the age range of 35 years or older, in women with a university education [OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.3-3.0] compared to women with a high-school diploma or lower, and in women with an average crowding index score [OR = 4.7, 95% CI = 2.1-10.6] compared to women living in small families. The findings of this study show that Iranian women with a university education and the younger age group [15-24 years] were at most risk of water pipe smoking. The findings of this study about associated factors may contribute to the development of efficient health promotion programmes for the prevention and cessation of water pipe smoking