Modifying attitude and intention toward regular physical activity using protection motivation theory: a randomized controlled trial

We were guided by the Protection Motivation Theory to test the motivational interviewing effects on attitude and intention of obese and overweight women to do regular physical activity. In a randomized controlled trial, we selected using convenience sampling 60 overweight and obese women attending health centres. The women were allocated to 2 groups of 30 receiving a standard weight-control programme or motivational interviewing. All constructs of the theory [perceived susceptibility, severity, self-efficacy and response efficacy] and all anthropometric characteristics [except body mass index] were significantly different between the groups at 3 study times. The strongest predictors of intention to do regular physical exercise were perceived response efficacy and attitude at 2- and 6-months follow-up. We showed that targeting motivational interviewing with an emphasis on Protection Motivation Theory constructs appeared to be beneficial for designing and developing appropriate intervention to improve physical activity status among women with overweight and obesity

Ecological characteristics of sand flies in Golestan province, Iran [2011]

Leishmaniasis is one of the main Zoonotic Vector-Born disease which is transmitted by sand flies to human and animals. This study was carried out to determine the ecological characteristics of sand flies in Golestan province, North of Iran. In this descriptive study, 3 villages in Aliabad Katul district in north of Iran were selected according to rural geography distribution and positive detected samples of human infection during 2010-02. Sand flies were collected by sticky traps. Three places were sampled in each village and in indoor and outdoor places 10 traps were installed. Sand flies were collected and their species was determined. Totally 299 sand flies [160 from indoors and 139 from outdoors] were collected and consequently, 7 species of sandflies were identified including 4 species of phlebotomus genus and 3 species of Sergentomiya genus Ph.papatasi [55%] and S.sintoni [51%] were predominant species in indoor resting places and outdoor places, respectively. Sand flies seasonal activity extended from mid May through early October. Sand flies had one peak of activity in early August. Among the detected species, S.hodgsoni reported for first time from Golestan province. Ph.papatasi was recognized as predominant species in Aliabad Katul district, Golestan provincein northern Iran

[Effect of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on anxiety and depression hemodialysis patients in Kashan, Iran]

Hemodialysis as a treatment manner in chronic renal failure is a stressful process and has several various psycho-cognitive and social complications. The present study evaluated effect of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on anxiety and depression in hemodialysis patients. This research was a clinical trial study. Samples were young adults who were 18-45 years old. The Participants were divided into two groups [case and control]. The Beck depression and anxiety inventories were used as a measure of psychological symptoms at pretest and posttest and Cognitive-behavioral group therapy as intervention was done at week12. Data Were analyzed with SPSS-16 and t-test, chi square. A p<0.05 was considered significant. In this study, there was not a significant difference in the demographic characteristics between the two groups. Before of intervention, mean Anxiety score of the experimental group was 25.72 +/- 5.87, and in the case group it was 25.22 +/- 7.56 as well as mean Depression score in the two groups was 35.44 +/- 14.97, 33.11 +/- 9.2 respectively. The difference of the two groups in anxiety and depression scores was not significant. After the intervention, the mean anxiety score of experimental group was 15.94 +/- 6.23, and in the case group it was 28.05 +/- 10.04 [p<0.05]. Mean of depression score in the experimental group was 22.27 +/- 13.32, and in the case group it was 33.94 +/- 9.46 [p<0.01]. This research showed that group therapy [cognitive-behavioral] decreased depression and anxiety remarkably in dialysis patients. Therefore, it is suggested that in addition to the prescription of medication, psychological interventions be done for such patients

effect of a single session eccentric resistance exercise on some blood coagulation factors of inactive male students

Coagulation system activation in response to physical activity is already to some extent determined and known, but the effect of eccentric contraction exercise on its activation is not specified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a single session eccentric resistance exercise on some coagulation factors of inactive males. Twelve male students volunteered to participate in this study and were divided randomly to experimental and control groups. Experimental group performed a controlled return movement from elbow flexion exercise as eccentric contraction. Blood sampling was implemented 30 min before, and immediately after exercise test; it was also done 2 and 24 h after the exercise test. Statistical analysis revealed that plasma fibrinogen elevated significantly over 24 h after test [pre: 2.56 +/- 0.23 and 24h post: 2.84 +/- 0.24]. Prothrombin time did not change significantly but significant decrease was found over 24 h after test for activated partial thromboplastin time [pre: 43.05 +/- 3.33 and 24h post: 26.65 +/- 0.61]. Platelet counts and its indices did not change significantly. Eccentric exercise as defined in our research somehow caused a blood coagulation increase and this activation is probably accomplished through intrinsic pathways and not extrinsic ones. It showed a decrease in activated partial thromboplastin time, without any change in prothrombin time. Insignificant changes in plasma fibrinogen, platelet and its morphologic indices could be related to both inclusion of low volume of muscles and eccentric type of contraction

Evaluation of possible interactive factors with thyrotropin level in screening program of congenital hypothyroidism in Ahvaz

Accuracy and efficiency in screening program for congenital hypothyroidism [CH] in each geographical area requires regional studies and updating protocols. This study performed to assess factors possibly interactive with the result of screening test for CH in Ahvaz. During 19 months [Nov 2006-May 2008] all newborns in Ahvaz enrolled in screening by heel prick sampling for TSH then were referred for confirmation if it was >/= 5mIU/L. In next step, second assays considered as hypothyroid if TSH remained >/= 10 mlU/L. The factors were studied including: age, history of hypothyroidism in mother, sex, birth weight [BW], birth number, feeding, parental consanguinity, TSH levels and duration of normalization of TSH. In totally of 35655 neonates were screened. 1162 cases [55.8%M, 44.2% F with p<0.001] recalled [3.25%]. Our study showed sex difference that was not significant in confirmed CH [82] cases [52.4% M,47.6% F with P=0.6], and also for TSH levels in both suspicious and confirmed individuals [P=0.55 and p=0.49 respectively]. The 90% of registered suspicious neonates were healthy, ad consequently discharged without treatment. Our study was shown hypothyroid neonates [3.7 +/- 1.8 kg] had no correlation with TSH [P=0.6 and p=0.3]. Also there were no correlation between TSH levels and the above-mentioned studied factors. If TSH level was high in screening test a longer time was needed for its normalization [P=0.03]. This study showed that suspicious and hypothyroid dominancy was mainly in boys with no relation to TSH. This suggests that healthy newborns suspicious to CH with elevated TSH need to be followed longer without treatment

[Evaluation of touchdown nested PCR to circumvent spurious priming and increase specificity during HIV and GBV-C gene amplification]

Primer-Template hybridization temperature is one of the important parameters in Nested PCR optimization. Unlike instant temperature for sequence amplification in routine PCR process, Touchdown PCR is a modified form of standard PCR that employs a range of annealing temperature. This study intended to develop a Touchdown Nested PCR in order to circumvent spurious priming and enhancing specify during gene amplification. This is an experimental study conducted at Tarbiat Modarres University of Tehran during 2008-2009. Study samples were collected from Digestive Diseases Research Centre at Shariati Hospital and HIV research center-Imam Khomeini Hospital. After extracting the nucleic acid, primer designing for HIV and GBV-C and c-DNA synthesis; Nested PCR was performed on negative and positive samples using standard and touchdown protocols. The intended band was observed in all positive samples. No band was observed in any human and viral negative control samples. After electrophoresis of PCR products, non specific band were seen in HIV and GBV-C samples during standard PCR. Using the touchdown protocol, undesirable bands were omitted or significantly decreased. In the present study, despite the formation of uncalled bands in standard reaction; using the touchdown method led to omission of non-specific bands without any significant effect on the final products. As for its simplicity, cost and time saving, it seems that using this method is a rational and economical way for fast optimization of PCR reactions

Detection and prevalence of polyoma virus BK among Iranian kidney transplant patients by a novel nested-PCR

BK virus is an increasingly recognized pathogen in transplant recipient patients associated with nephropathy and emerged as a cause of allograft failure linked to immunosuppressive regimens in renal transplant recipients. This study develops a sensitive PCR method to detect the viremia and viruria as well as the incidence of BK virus infection in renal transplant recipients. A nested PCR method was developed and a total of 45 paired serum and urine samples from renal transplant recipient patients were collected and tested with the developed assay. The threshold of the developed detection assay was 10 copies/ul of BKV DNA in samples. Our results also indicated that about 40% of the urine and 26.7% of serum samples were positive for BKV in renal transplant patients in this study. This Nested-PCR method was found a specific, sensitive and simple procedure for detection of viruria and viremia of BK virus in renal transplant recipients

[ study of physical and chemical factors affecting breeding places of anopheles in Iranshahr]

Malaria is one of the most important health problems in many countries as well as Iran, especially in southern Iran. Considering the role of Anopheles in transmission chain of the disease, this study aims at determining effective physical and chemical factors in breeding places of Anopheles' larve in Iranshahr. 68 samples including 63 from breeding places of larve and five samples from ponds with no larve were collected from different regions of Iranshahr as control group. Each sample of the study contained one from those of water and the other from larve group which were collected scientifically. Experiments conducted on water sample included PH, electrical conductivity, Nitrate, Nitrite, Sulphate, Chloride, Calcium, rigidity, salinity, darkness, and Phosphate. In this study 8 out of 13 species of Anopheles which had already been reported in the region were collected. The results obtained indicate that there is significant difference between mean physical and chemical factors of control group samples and samples. Collected from breeding places of larve. The range of variables such as electrical conductivity, total rigidity, Calcium, Chloride, Sulphate. Nitrate in breeding places without larve is more than 2 and xometimes 20 times while in regard with darkness and phosphates it is the reverse. Components such as Phosphate, electrical conductivity, and Calciumin larve life of anopheles were of great influence as the most important carrier of Malaria in the region. The results showed that large quantities of the above agents can play inhibiting role for any kind of Aanophelines species. Whereas existence of nitrite in large quantities in water was one of the few components that plays positive role in mosquitoes life