[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

Birth weight and risk of childhood acute leukaemia

Studies of risk factors for acute leukaemia are inconclusive. This case-control study was done In West Azerbaijan province, Islamic Republic of Iran, to determine the relationship between birth weight and acute leukaemia in children aged under 15 years. For every patient 2 age- and sex-matched controls were selected from hospital and community populations. Of 130 cases diagnosed over the period 2003-2009/108 [83.1%] had lymphoblastic and 22 [16.9%] myloblastic type. Significantly more of them were male than female [55.4% versus 44.6%]. In a multivariate logistic regression model variables significantly associated with acute leukaemia were: birth weight [OR = 2.25], birth order [OR = 2.25], birth place [OR= 7.93], history of chickenpox [OR - 0.46] and mothers' education [OR = 3.23]. The risk of acute leukaemia increased significantly with increasmg birth weight in the total group and among girls, but not among boy

Diversity of caprine and ovine Pasteurella multocida isolates based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing

In this study, to increase information about the relationship between caprine and ovine isolates of Pasteurella multocida, 16S rRNA gene sequencing of 9 goats [5] and sheep [4] isolates were investigated. Also, capsular type and toxA gene presentation was studied in this paper. All isolates, except one, belong to capsular type A, and toxA+ strain distributed among strains were isolated from both species. Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed the role of goat as a reservoir for P. multocida to sheep independent of toxA genes transmission

Cytoplasmic expression of recombinant interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 proteins results in hydrogen peroxide accumulation and reduction in catalase activity in escherichia coil

The Reactive oxygen species [ROS] is induced in the cells following various stresses but the effect of recombinant protein expression on ROS generation has not been studied yet. In this study, H2O2 concentration and catalase activity variations and their correlation with cell growth following cytoplasmic expression of human interleukin-2 [hIL-2] and mouse interleukin-4 [mIL-4] in Escherichia coli were investigated. Additionally, the effect of recombinant protein expression under different conditions was compared to the effect of foreign DNA introduction on these factors. Plasmids pEThIL-2 and pETmIL-4 were used for expression of human interleukin-2 [hIL-2] and mouse interleukin-4 [mIL-4] inside the cytoplasm of the cells. Having confirmed protein expression using SDS-PAGE analysis and ELISA assay, H2O2 concentration and catalase activity were measured at various ODs. Empty vector introduction increased significantly H2O2 concentration of the cells. However, H2O2 concentration in hIL-2 and mIL-4 expressing cells was significantly higher than its concentration in empty vector transformed cells. Catalase activity was reduced in foreign DNA introduced cells. It was more lowered following expression of recombinant proteins. Results of this study revealed the relationship between foreign DNA introduction and protein expression with H2O2 elevation and catalase activity reduction. There was also correlation between H2O2 elevation and reduction in catalase activity with the cell growth depression

Hashimoto's encephalopathy [a review article]

Hashimoto's encephalopathy [HE] known as Steroid Responsive Encephalopathy associated with Autoimmune Thyroditis [SREAT] is a rare nervous system disease. HE was originally described by Brain, et. al. in 1966, however its cause still remains unknown after about 40 years. Autoimmune vasculitis of CNS, brain edema, and anti-thyroid antibodies are considered some of the etiologies for HE. It is certain that HE is an autoimmune disease and not a thyroid system disease. HE patients may or may not have goiter. Some of the most common neurological manifestations of HE include: Confusion with altered consciousness, seizures, myoloclonus, and cognitive problems. Presence of high titers of anti-thyroid antibodies in blood serum and CSF of HE patients is considered the most common laboratory test for diagnosis of HE. EEG abnormalities such as diffuse slowing and atypical tri-phasic brain waves are the most common findings in about HE patients. Brain CT-Scan is normal in majority of HE patients. Global or local hypo perfusion may be seen in SPECT scanning of the brain. MRI findings are abnormal in about 40% of HE patients. Patients with sub acute or acute onset of confusion, seizure, myoloclonus, stroke-like episodes and amnesia whose laboratory serum and CSF tests indicate presence of high titers of anti- thyroid antibodies should be considered for having HE. Vascular myelopathies, CJD, HSP, Myelinoclastic disease like PML, SSPE, ADE, MS and DNL are some of the differential diagnosis of HE. Adrenal corticosteroids are the first line treatment for HE. Recurrent or steroid resistant HE cases may be treated by addition of other immunosuppressant drugs such as Azathioprine, Cyclophosphamide, or Methotrexate to the 1st line therapy

Prevalence of anti-CMV antibodies in blood donors in Urmia

Infection with cytomegalovirus [CMV] is very common. Contamiated persons can transmit the virus to normal recipients through blood donation. While infection with CMV in normal immunocompetent persons usually has no adverse outcomes, transmission of the virus to immunocompromised patients can lead to serious morbidity and mortality. So we designed a study to determine the prevalence rate of anti-CMV antibodies among the blood donors of Urmia Blood Transfusion Center. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, the prevalence rate of anti-CMV antibodies [IgM, IgG] was estimated by ELISA method in serum samples obtained from 180 healthy blood donors in various age and sex groups of Urmia. According to the findings, all [100%] of the sera studied were positive for IgG irrespective of the age and sex of donors while only five persons [2.8%] had anti-CMV IgM at detectable levels. There were four males and one female, all living at urban regions with the age range of 20 to 50 years. The high rate of positive test results among blood donors indicated that nearly all of donated blood units have an infectious nature at least for immunocompromised patients. The findings of this study clearly show that it is time for all blood donations to be screened for CMV infectivity at least for immunocompromised group of recipients such as the patients with malignant diseases receiving chemotherapy and recipients of allograft organs. This group of patients should at least benefit from protective measures in blood transfusion including the use of leukocyte filters which is at the time being limited to thalassemic patients in our country

[Therapeutic effects of paromomycin sulfate in combination with grntamicine sulfate films on cutaneous leishmaniosis in Balb/c mice]

Leishmaniosis is a complex disease, with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestation affects over 12 million people globally. Cutaneous leishmaniosis is still an important public health problem in many parts of the world, especially the Middle East. In spite of various forms of local treatment none is generally suitable for all forms of the disease in all. In this reseal-cli, therapeutic effects of paromomycin sulfate in combination with gentamicine sulfate films on cutaneous leishmaniosis in Balb/c mice has been studied. According to data and experiments available in Iran and some endemic countries about treatment of the disease by paromomycin, a new physical form of the drug was designed [drug film] and parasiticidal effects were evaluated in mice model. The base of the fi111is, ethyl cellulose and HPMC [hydroxy propyl Methyl Cellulose] contained paromomyein 15% and gentamicine 0.5%. In this regard female Balb/c mice were infected with 2X l0-6 L. major promastigotes [MRHO/IR/75/ER]. The mice were divided in three groups, of ten mice each. The placebo and test groups were received prepared placebo and drug films respectively. The remaining group, control received no treatment. The results indicated that utilization of this physical form of the drug in a mentioned period of time caused significant cure effects in the test group, so that 80% of Balb/c mice were cured at the end of the treatment period and there was no sign of cure in placebo and control groups. In general and because of good characters of the drug films and related results in animals, it is possible to use the new form of the drug in a human trial