ABSTRACT
Introduction: Alzheimer's disease [AD] is a chronic condition characterized by gradual decline of mental abilities and behavioral disorders, which decreases the quality of life in elderly people. The aim of this study was to evaluate behaviors that may prevent elderly people from AD in Yazd
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 220 people aged from 60 to 70 years in Yazd. Cluster random sampling method was used for selecting the participants. Data collection instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire that included demographic information and questions on AD preventive behaviors [physical activity, mental activity, nutrition, and social interaction]. The score range of each part and the overall behavior score was from zero to 100. Data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software and application of descriptive and inferential statistical methods
Results: The mean score of preventive behaviors was 44.6. The highest mean score [56.48] was for nutrition while the lowest mean score [32.03] was for mental activity. Only 15 % of the studied elderly consumed fruit regularly in their diet, which was followed by consumption of vegetable, 11.4 % and fish 9.1 %. There was a significant positive correlation between education level and behavior score [p < 0.001]. However, there was no statistically significant gender difference [p > 0.05] in mean scores of the overall behavior and scores of married older adults compared to those of divorced or single, had a statistically significant difference [p = 0.007]
Conclusion: The overall AD preventive behaviors in elderly are undesirable, remarkably as noted in physical and mental domains. The majority of participants did not regularly have fruits, vegetables, and fish in their daily and weekly diets. Numerous socio-demographic factors affect these behaviors. More studies are required to identify barriers of healthy behaviors
ABSTRACT
To evaluate the reliability, validity and feasibility of the Persian version of the Pediatric Quality of Life inventory PedsQL[TM] 4.0 [TM] 4.0 Generic Core Scales in Iranian healthy students ages 7-15 and chronically ill children ages 2-18. We followed the translation methodology proposed by developer to validate Persian version of PedsQL[TM] 4.0TM 4.0 Generic Core Scales for children. Six hundred and sixty children and adolescents and their parents were enrolled. Sample of 160 healthy students were chosen by random cluster method between 4 regions of Isfahan education offices and 60 chronically ill children were recruited from St. Alzahra hospital private clinics. The questionnaires were fulfilled by the participants. The Persian version of PedsQL[TM] 4.0TM 4.0 Generic Core Scales discriminated between healthy and chronically ill children [healthy students mean score was 12.3 better than chronically ill children, P<0.001]. Cronbachs' alpha internal consistency values exceeded 0.7 for children self reports and proxy reports of children 5-7 years old and 13-18 years old. Reliability of proxy reports for 2-4 years old was much lower than 0.7. Although, proxy reports for chronically ill children 8-12 years old was more than 0.7, these reports for healthy children with same age group was slightly lower than 0.7. Constructive, criterion face and content validity were acceptable. In addition, the Persian version of PedsQL[TM] 4.0TM 4.0 Generic Core Scales was feasible and easy to complete. Results showed that Persian version of PedsQL[TM] 4.0[TM] 4.0 Generic Core Scales is valid and acceptable for pediatric health researches. It is necessary to alternate scoring for 2-4 years old questionnaire and to find a way to increase reliability for healthy children aged 8-12 years especially, according to Iranian culture
Subject(s)
Humans , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Surveys and Questionnaires , Translating , Pediatrics/standards , Reproducibility of Results , Chronic Disease , Health SurveysABSTRACT
Because of different values of thyroid volume in different populations, and the effects of different trace element and geographic substances on thyroid volume, we decided to evaluate thyroid volume and its determinants using ultrasound in healthy adults of Isfahan, a centrally located city in Iran, an iodine replete area. In a cross-sectional study, 1500 healthy adults were enrolled by cluster sampling. Serum TSH level and morning urine iodine level were measured. Thyroid exam was performed according to WHO criteria and history of previous or present thyroid disease was taken. If all the mentioned results were normal they were considered clinically normal. One third of these normal subjects referred for thyroid ultrasonography. If ultrasonography of thyroid parenchyma texture was normal, and there was no nodule by sonography [thyroid incidentaloma], thyroid volume was measured using ellipsoid formula [XxYxZx[PI]/6]. Correlation between thyroid volume and age, sex, BMI, TSH level and urinary iodine concentration [UIC] was determined by Pearson correlation coefficient, t-Test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov. Thyroid volume more than 97% of this population was considered as goiter sonographically. Data expressed asonean +/- SD, unless otherwise stated. We finally studied 200 subjects [123 Males, 77 females, average age: 37.27 +/- 11.80 Years]. The overall thyroid volume was 9.53 +/- 3.68 ml. Males thyroid volume [10.73 +/- 3.44 ml] was significantly higher than the females one [7.71 +/- 2.63 ml] [P<0.001]. The thyroid volume ranges were 3-23.9 ml, 3.6-23.9 ml and 3-14.3 ml in all, males and females, respectively. Thyroid volume values more than 97 percentile of this reference range were 10.14 ml, 11.48 ml and 8.37 ml in all, males and females respectively, and were considered goiter sonographically. Thyroid volume had a positive correlation with age [r = 0.163, P = 0.022], but did not have correlation with serum TSH, UIC, and BMI, in both sexes. There was a strong correlation between thyroid volume, and height and body surface area [r = 0.48, P<0.001]. It was documented that thyroid volume is higher in male sex and increases with age, and have a positive correlation with body surface area and height
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Cross-Sectional Studies , Thyroid Function Tests , Iodine/urine , Thyrotropin/blood , Body Mass Index , Body Height , Age Factors , World Health Organization , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
Background: Our previous studies have shown that median and ulnar nerve lesion induced calbindin [CB] immunoreactivity in some injured motoneurons in developing rats. Motoneuron death induced by sciatic nerve transection in neonatal rats has been related to induction of neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase. The present study investigated whether CB expression is related to the death or survival of motoneurons in response to axotomy
Materials and methods: After median and ulnar nerve transection at P2 and P7, NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry was performed on cervical sections to analyze the induction of nitric oxide synthase in motoneurons retrogradely labeled with fast blue and immunostained for CB. NADPH-diaphorase reactivity was not detectable in fast blue [FB] labeled motoneurones after 1 and 2weeks after nerve lesion at P2
Results: following nerve lesion at P7, some FB labeled motoneurons showed enzyme activity 2 weeks after nerve lesion which were not CB immunoreactive
Conclusion: The results indicate the possible role of nitric oxide in nerve regeneration and the role of CB in neuroprotection from cell death or in mechanisms of neurodegeneration
ABSTRACT
Background: Our previous studies have shown that median and ulnar nerve lesion induced calbindin [CB] immunoreactivity in some injured motoneurons in developing rats. Motoneuron death induced by sciatic nerve transection in neonatal rats has been related to induction of neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase. The present study investigated whether CB expression is related to the death or survival of motoneurons in response to axotomy
Materials and Methods: After median and ulnar nerve transection at P2 and P7, NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry was performed on cervical sections to analyze the induction of nitric oxide synthase in motoneurons retrogradely labeled with fast blue and immunostained for CB. NADPH-diaphorase reactivity was not detectable in fast blue [FB] labeled motoneurones after 1 and 2weeks after nerve lesion at P2
Results: following nerve lesion at P7, some FB labeled motoneurons showed enzyme activity 2 weeks after nerve lesion which were not CB immunoreactive
Conclusion: The results indicate the possible role of nitric oxide in nerve regeneration and the role of CB in neuroprotection from cell death or in mechanisms of neurodegeneration