Effects of soy on body composition: a 12-week randomized controlled trial among Iranian elderly women with metabolic syndrome

To examine the effects of soy [in the form of textured soy protein [TSP] and soy-nut] on body composition in elderly women with metabolic syndrome [MetS]. A 12-week randomized clinical trial was conducted on 75 women between 60-70 years of age with MetS in rural health clinics around Babol, Iran in 2009. The participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups of soy-nut [35g/d], TSP [35g/d] and control. Body fat, lean mass and anthropometric indicators were measured before and after intervention, too. Participants were classified as overweight and showing android fat distribution. After 12 weeks of intervention, both soy-nut and TSP groups showed an increase of non-significant in lean mass [0.9 and 0.7 kg], hip circumference [0.45 and 0.28 cm], triceps skinfold [TSF] thickness [0.87 and 0.67mm] and reduction in BMI [-0.15 and -0.33], waist circumference [-0.83 and -1.2] and body fat [-1.5% and -1.7%]. Significant increase in the mean change of TSF and lean mass was observed in the users of soy-nut compared to the control group [P<0.01, P<0.05]. 12-week intervention of soy had a mild favorable effect on body composition in elderly women with MetS

Autologous bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy in patients with Buerger's disease

Patients suffering from Thrornboangiitis Obliterans [TAO] or Buerger's disease have endothelial cell dysfunction and the severity of the disease lies in the need for amputation in more than a quarter of all sufferers. The aim of present study was to determine whether granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilized autologous bone-marrow derived mononuclear cells transplantation improves endothelial dysfunction in these patients. Circulating mononuclear cells containing endothelial progenitor cells were obtained from patients following bone-marrow mobilization with granulocyte colony stimulating factor. Mononuclear cells and CD34+ cells were enumerated prior to intramuscular injection into the affected limbs. In this pilot study, autologous bone-marrow derived mononuclear cell therapy collected from peripheral blood following granulocytes colony stimulating factor [G-CSF] mobilization was effective, safe and resulted in sustained clinical results for patients with severe peripheral occlusive arterial diseases

Genital infection by Trichomonas Vaginalis in women referring to Babol health centers: prevalence and risk factors

There is little information about the prevalence and risk markers of Trichomonas Vaginalis [TV] in Islamic Republic of Iran. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of TV and to examine the factors associated with this infection. A sample of 550 sexually active women aged less than 45 years living in Babol were enrolled using systematic sampling technique. They were interviewed using a questionnaire, and all the subjects underwent pelvic examination and a discharge ectocervix sample was collected for the diagnosis of TV using wet smear. The prevalence of TV was 4%, there being a significant association between TV and the sociodemographic variables such as the husband's education, and woman's age [20-30 years]. The behavioral markers significantly associated with the infection were, not using condom, having ever heard of lack of information about STD/HIV [Sexual Transmitted Disease], and protected last sexual contact in that month and cigarette smoking by husbands. The signs significantly associated with the infection were vaginal discharge, mucopurulent cervicitis, and redness of vulvovaginal. Syndromic diagnosis revealed a moderate sensitivity of 55% and poor positive predictive value for infection. The prevalence of positive TV is low in the studied women. Therefore, a net diagnosis using laboratory tests is necessary before the initiation of treatment

Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women attending health centres in Babol: prevalence and risk factors

We determined the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection and risk factors for infection among 550 sexually active women < 45 years attending gynaecology clinics in Babol, Islamic Republic of Iran. The women were interviewed about sociodemographic and behavioural variables associated with the infection and underwent pelvic examination and blood tests. The prevalence of C. trachomatis was 11.6%. There was a significant association between C. trachomatis infection and income, husband's education and woman's age [< 25 years], and also drug addiction of husband, non-use of condoms and not having heard of sexually transmitted infections. The only clinical signs significantly associated with infection were cervical friability and mucopurulent cervicitis.

prevalence of gonococcal infection in non pregnant women

There is little information about the prevalence and risk factors for Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Iran. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of gonococcal infection in women in Babol, North of Iran. Five hundred- fifty married women, who were younger than 45 years, were assessed of aspects of hidden and obvious gonococcal infection. A sample of endocervix was obtained for gram stain and culture for gonorrhoeae in chocolate agar medium. Socio-demographic, behavioral and clinical variables also were recorded. The mean age of these women was 32.3 +/- 6.6 yr old [range 17 to 45 yr]. The prevalence of TV. gonorrhoeae [NG], Chlamydia trachomatis, and Trichomonas vaginalis was 0.2%, 11.6%, and 4%, respectively. The case of NG was asymptomatic and did not have any risk factors for this infection. The results of this study show that the prevalence of this infection in this region is relatively low

[Assessment of the reasons for avoiding screening mammography among nurese and midwives affiliated to health and treatment centers in Mazandaran province]

Breast cancer is a fatal disease that in morbidity and mortality of hundreds of thousands of women worldwide yearly. Early detection of the illness can decrease its mortality and morbidity. Mammography is the most sensitive and safest existing method for early detect of this disease. While trying to introduce mammography screening as the best tool against breast cancer, This study aims at assessing the reasons for avoiding this test among the presonnel affiliated to health and teratment centers is Mazandaran. This study is a cross-sectional study perfomed on 62 nurces and midvives over 40 years of age working in health and treatment centers in Babol, Amol, Babolsar and Ghaemsha. The instrument was a standard questionnaire, containing 66 questions designed in three parts by the following titles: knowledge, ideas on health components [e.g.susceptibility and severity of illness, benefits and barriers perceived], and motivating factors, moderate and poor llevel of knowledge also low and moderate perception of first three components of HBM and high moderate perception of the last component were considered as reasons for avoiding screening mammography. 68% of the samples were nurses with a mean of age of 44.3 years. 79% of them had bachelor degree. About knowledge, the results showed that 68% of the studied population did not have any good knowledge. The most false answers were allocated to mammography [definition of mammography, accuracy and the quality of its performance]. The finding about HBM showed that more than 55% of the samples had no high perception of susceptibility and also 60% about severity of the disease. Also 63% of the samples had no good perception of the benefits of screening mammography but 75% felt high barriers for performing it. The most important motivating factors were "detection of breast mass" and "doctor's recommendation ". This investigation showed a significant positive relation between the perception of susceptibility and severity of the illness and benefits of screening mammography and also the level of knowledge with the tendency to do it. Also a significant negative relation was between barriers perceived with the tendency to do mammography. The findings showed that more than of half of the samples did not have good perceotion of susceptibility an severity of the illness and benefits of screening mammography but mentioned high barriers for doing it. Therefore the following are suggested: 1] Encourage the doctors to refer the women to mammography centers 2] Educate the women and improv the knowledge of the health and treatment personnel about screening mammography 3] offer mammographyito with high quality