National, regional, and global prevalence of cigarette smoking among women/females in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND@#This systematic and meta-analysis review aimed to provide an updated estimate of the prevalence of ever and current cigarette smoking in women, in geographic areas worldwide, and demonstrate a trend of the prevalence of smoking over time by using a cumulative meta-analysis.@*METHODS@#Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published on the prevalence of ever and current cigarette smoking in women. We searched PubMed, Web of Science (ISI), Scopus, and Ovid from January 2010 to April 2020. The reference lists of the studies included in this review were also screened. Data were reviewed and extracted independently by two authors. A random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of ever and current cigarette smoking in women. Sources of heterogeneity among the studies were determined using subgroup analysis and meta-regression.@*RESULTS@#The pooled prevalence of ever and current cigarette smoking in women was 28% and 17%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of ever cigarette smoking in adolescent girls/students of the school, adult women, pregnant women, and women with the disease was 23%, 27%, 32%, and 38%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of ever cigarette smoking in the continents of Oceania, Asia, Europe, America, and Africa was 36%, 14%, 38%, 31%, and 32%, respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The prevalence of cigarette smoking among women is very high, which is significant in all subgroups of adolescents, adults, and pregnant women. Therefore, it is necessary to design and implement appropriate educational programs for them, especially in schools, to reduce the side effects and prevalence of smoking among women.

Waist Circumference and Spirometric Measurements in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the waist circumference of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), had an impact on lung function. METHODS: There were 180 patients with COPD recruited into this prospective cross-sectional study. The age, weight, body mass index and waist circumference (WC) were measured. Spirometry parameters including forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), were measured and FEV1/FVC calculated. RESULTS: The mean FEV1/FVC in both normal weight and overweight patients, did not statistically significantly correlate with WC. The COPD assessment test, positively correlated with WC ( p = 0.031). A positive correlation with body mass index ( p < 0.001), smoking ( p = 0.027), and global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease score ( p = 0.009), were observed to positively associate with WC. WC, age, C-reactive protein, duration of disease, and gender (male), were observed to be statistically significant risk factors for the severity of COPD. CONCLUSION: WC was not observed to impact upon lung function in this study but it was a predictive factor for COPD severity in patients.

effect of educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior on degree of optimism among male high school students

Background: When people maintain positive attitudes during life, their beliefs orientation will be highly beneficial to their health. In other words, those who have optimistic expectations report better physical health which is the result of their better psychological compatibility. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of educational intervention based on Theory of Planned Behavior [TPB] on Shirazi male high school students' degree of optimism

Methods: This educational randomized controlled trial was conducted on 240 male high school students in Shiraz. The research sample was selected through multi-stage random sampling. In this study, a demographic information form was used to gather the students' demographic characteristics. Besides, a positive thinking researcher-made questionnaire was designed based on TPB. Moreover, the life orientation test [optimism scale] developed by Scheier and Carver was used to evaluate the participants' degree of optimism. After all, the data were analyzed in SPSS statistical software [v. 19] using descriptive and inferential methods. Significance level was set at 0.05 in all the tests

Results: Compared to the control group, all the constructs of TPB increased in the intervention group after the training [P<0.001]. Moreover, Pearson correlation indicated a significant relationship between the constructs, and the highest correlation was among attitude, perceived behavioral control, and intention

Conclusion: According to the research findings, all the constructs of TPB played a key role in increasing the students' positive think. Thus, educational intervention based on TPB has a positive effect on increasing the students' positive think

[Students' perspectives in Tehran university of medical sciences about factors affecting smoking hookah]

Smoking hookah is recognized as a growing health problem in Iran and many countries in the world and its harmful outcomes on human health have attracted attention of medical community. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting on hookah smoking in male students who are living in dormitories of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2011. This study was a descriptive analytical. The questionnaire was developed and its validity and reliability was assessed. Then, 162 male students living in dormitories at Tehran University of Medical Sciences were selected in multi-stage sampling and questionnaires were filled out by them. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software and the Chi-Square and Independent sample T tests. The results showed that 29% of subjects had history of smoking hookah. The main factors affecting the use of hookah from subjects point of view, were filling leisure time, cost-effectiveness, anxiety reduction, refreshment and easy access to the hookah. Designing multi-dimensional activities for filling leisure time of college students who living in dormitories [such as promote sports activities], teaching of problem-solving methods for reducing anxiety and fatigue and learning skills to say "NO" against request of friends for smoking hookah, can lead to reduced smoking hookah in this group

Plasma and serum electrolyte levels correlation in the pediatric ICU

Patients in the intensive care unit [ICU] are susceptible to develop electrolyte imbalance resulting in increased mortality rate. Electrolyte measurements especially for sodium and potassium are frequently required in critically ill patients. The purpose of the present study was to compare sodium and potassium concentrations between serum from venous blood and plasma from arterial blood in order to decrease the number of needle punctures required in children admitted to the ICU. Thirty-five patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit [PICU] were enrolled in this study; hypotensive patients were excluded. Two cc venous and 1cc arterial blood samples were taken for serum and plasma measurement of sodium and potassium. Venous samples were analyzed within 15 minutes in the hospital laboratory and arterial samples were immediately auto-analyzed in the PICU for sodium and potassium concentrations. Mean serum concentrations of sodium [NaV=137.1 +/- 5.5] and potassium [KV=4.1 +/- 0.7] were higher than plasma concentrations of sodium [NaA=133.1 +/- 11.1] and potassium [KV =3.1 +/- 0.7]; [p<0.02 and p<0.001 respectively]. Linear regression showed NaV= 106+0.23 Na A for sodium; [p=0.005], and KV= 1.96+0.69 KA; [p<0.001] for potassium. Serum concentrations of sodium and potassium were higher than their plasma levels and could be calculated using the plasma sample and the formula given above

[Efficacy of acupuncture in control of primary dysmenorrhea related pain in 15-30 years old women at the gynecology clinic of Bouali Hospital between 2007 and 2008]

Dysmenorrhoea is the most common gynaecological disorder among adolescents. Acupuncture is a treatment that has been shown to be effective for pain relief in a variety of conditions. We evaluated the effect of acupuncture in control of primary dysmenorrhea related pain. In a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial study, 100 patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomized to acupuncture [9 sessions over 3 months] or control group [placebo acupuncture]. All subjects were allowed to receive usual medical care. Pain was rated on a Numerical Pain Score [0-10] at three months. Patients' data were analyzed by t- test using SPSS software. This study showed significant effectiveness of acupuncture in control of primary dysmenorrhea pain after 3 months [p<0.0001]. No complications or side effects were reported due to acupuncture. Acupuncture was associated with relief of pain in patients with primary dysmenorrheal, and it is a safe and effective method in reduction of primary dysmenorrhea related pain

Study of the new human molehydatiform alkaline phosphatase

Alkaline Phosphatase [EC: 3.1.3.1] is synthesized by kidney, liver, bone, Intestine and placenta. This enzyme is a glycoprotein and dimmer 4 Zn+2 and Mn+2 in each dimmer. It hydrolyzes mono ester phosphate to organic compound and phosphate_in alkaline medium. The purpose of this research is to compare this enzyme with placental alkaline phosphatase. Human Molehydatiform was purified by folds of precipitation of bybutanol, acetone, Amoniumm sulphate, Sephadex G200, affinity chromatography and preparative electrophoresis. Human Molehydatiform was purified 611.8 times. We obtained specific activity, optimum temperature and optimum Ph equaling to 611.8 U/mg, 40 centigrade degrees and 10.4 respectively. Purified Human Molehydatiform Alkalie phosphatase is different from Human placental Alkaline phosphatase due to optimum pH and optimum temperature