The association between leisure-time physical activity and blood pressure changes from adolescence to young adulthood: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

The effectiveness of long-term leisure time physical activity (LTPA) on blood pressure (BP) changes is still under debate. Since adolescence lifestyle behaviors shape the adulthood health profile, this study aimed to investigate the sex-specific impact of LTPA on BP changes from adolescence to young adulthood. This longitudinal study uses the data of 1412 adolescents (52% females) aged 12-18 years through a median follow-up of 12.2 years in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) framework. LTPA was calculated using the reliable and valid Iranian version of the modified activity scale (MAQ), and BP was measured at least twice by trained physicians. The linear mixed model was used to examine the study variables, considering individual and intrapersonal differences during the study. The majority of participants consistently demonstrated insufficient LTPA throughout the follow-up assessments, ranging from 54.7 to 67.1% for males and 77.7-83.4% for females. Despite a declining trend in LTPA (ß = - 2.77 for males and ß = - 1.43 for females), an increasing trend was noticeable in SBP, DBP, and BMI (ß = 1.38, ß = 1.81, ß = 0.97 for males, and ß = 0.10, ß = 0.20, ß = 0.97 for females, respectively). The unadjusted model revealed a significant trend in all variables for both sexes, except for female BP (P = 0.45 for SBP and P = 0.83 for DBP). Using the adjusted model, no significant association was observed between LTPA and changes in BP over time in both sexes. Our study indicates no association between LTPA and BP changes from adolescence to young adulthood. Insufficient LTPA levels, particularly among Iranian females, are likely the primary factor. Further research is crucial to identify appropriate LTPA levels to promote cardiovascular health and implement targeted interventions to achieve optimal LTPA levels in the Iranian population.

Improving community readiness among Iranian local communities to prevent childhood obesity.

BACKGROUND: Community Readiness Intervention for Tackling Childhood Obesity (CRITCO) is a theory-based intervention being developed to improve the readiness of an Iranian urban population to engage in childhood obesity prevention programs. This study aimed to explore changes in readiness of intervention and control local communities from diverse socio-economic areas of Tehran. METHODS: This study was a seven-month quasi-experimental intervention implemented in four intervention communities and compared with four controls. Aligned strategies and action plans were developed around the six dimensions of community readiness. The Food and Nutrition Committee was established in each intervention community to make collaborative efforts among different sectors and assess the fidelity of the intervention. The pre-and post- readiness change was explored through interviews with 46 community key informants. RESULTS: The total readiness of intervention sites increased by 0.48 units (p < 0.001) and shifted to the next higher level, from preplanning to the preparation stage. At the same time, the readiness of control communities decreased by 0.39 units (p < 0.001), although their readiness stage remained unchanged, reflecting the fourth stage. Also, a sex-dependent CR change was observed, such that the girls' schools showed a more remarkable improvement in interventions and less decline in controls. The readiness stages of interventions significantly improved for four dimensions related to community efforts, knowledge of the efforts, knowledge of childhood obesity issue, and leadership. Furthermore, the readiness of control communities significantly decreased on three of six dimensions related to community effort, knowledge of efforts, and resources. CONCLUSIONS: The CRITCO successfully improved the readiness of intervention sites for addressing childhood obesity. It is hoped that the present study can be a spark for developing readiness-based childhood obesity prevention programs in Middle Eastern and other developing countries. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The CRITCO intervention was registered at Iran Registry for Clinical Trials ( http://irct.ir ; IRCT20191006044997N1) on 11/11/2019.

Effect of Modafinil on functional connectivity in healthy young people using resting-state fMRI data.

BACKGROUND: Examining the differences in the Functional Connectivity (FC) network while using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) between two groups can expand the understanding of neural processes and help diagnose and prevent neurological progression disorders. The present study evaluated the Modafinil effect on the FC of brain Regions of Interest (ROI) among healthy young individuals between the Modafinil and placebo groups. METHOD: The data used in this study were downloaded from the open fMRI site and analyzed after preprocessing. Data included brain scan images of 26 healthy young men with no history of neurological disorders. These people are divided into two groups of drugs and a placebo. The drug group was given 100 mg of Modafinil, and the placebo group was assigned the same dose. Data were analyzed using a longitudinal variance component model. RESULT: After taking the drug and placebo by the two groups, the study of the difference between FC in the drug and placebo group and the baseline effect showed a statistically significant difference in one pair of ROIs. Also, in examining the difference between FC in the drug and placebo groups of the longitudinal trend, there was a statistically significant difference between 5 pairs of ROIs. CONCLUSION: After taking Modafinil and placebo, it was observed that FC in most areas in the drug group increased compared to the placebo group, indicating Modafinil has cognitive enhancement properties and has a role in visual, auditory, memory learning, and self-awareness functions and enhances these functions.

The trend analysis of neurological disorders as major causes of death and disability according to human development, 1990-2019.

This study aims to assess the trends in the incidence rate of neurological disorders in developed and developing countries worldwide during 1990-2019. The age-standardized incidence rate (per 100000 persons) of neurological disorders was the primary outcome, extracted from the Global Burden of Disease database for 189 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. Using the Human Development Index (HDI), countries were classified into developed (HDI ≥ 0.7) and developing (HDI < 0.7) groups. Longitudinal analysis was performed using the Latent Growth Model (LGM) to assess the change in the incidence rate of neurological disorders over time in these groups. In developed countries, the most increasing rate is related to depressive disorders, with a rising rate of 40.15 in 100000 every five years (p = 0.001). Alzheimer's and dementia, Parkinson and multiple sclerosis are in the next rank, with increasing rates of 8.77, 1.24, and .02, respectively (all p < 0.001). Over time, the significant decreasing trend has been determined related to conducting disorder, attention-deficit and hyperactivity, meningitis, anxiety, and eating disorders, with the rates of - 13.92, - 4.96, - 2.7, - 1.6, and - 1.44, respectively (all p < 0.05). In developing countries, meningitis, conduct disorder, attention-deficit and hyperactivity, stroke, and autism spectrum showed a significant decreasing trend over time, with rates of - 15.45, - 5.84, - 2.56, - 1.86, and - 1.07, respectively (all p < 0.05). Headache disorder has the most increasing rate of 79.5, following depressive (rate 35.32), substance use (rate 14.99), anxiety (rate 7.18), and eating (rate 3.4) disorders. Also, Alzheimer's and dementia, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Parkinson's, brain and central nervous system cancer, and multiple sclerosis are in the next rank and had significant increasing trends (all p < 0.05). Given the high economic and social burden of neurological disorders, the rate of these diseases in most countries does not seem to have dropped remarkably. The heterogeneous incidence rate in some world countries seems to be due to underestimating and gaps in epidemiological information. It is necessary to provide exact registry systems for health policies, especially in developing countries.