Association Between Health-Promoting Behaviors and Reproductive Health Needs in Women Experiencing Domestic Violence.

Violence against women is considered as one of the most serious social problems in all the societies. It is common that the abused women experience physical, psychological, and health problems, as well as reproductive health issues. Domestic violence affects women's health behaviors and ability to seek any form of health care. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between health-promoting behaviors and reproductive health needs in women experienced domestic violence. This cross-sectional study was conducted from May 5 to September 21, 2021, on 380 abused women. Cluster sampling was performed in health centers of Karaj. Data were collected using demographic survey questions, Domestic Violence Survey, Reproductive Health Needs of Domestic Violated Women scale, and health-promoting behaviors questionnaire. The mean (standard deviation) scores for reproductive health needs and health-promoting behaviors were 158.88 (20.24) and 131.08 (20.53), respectively. Psychological violence had the highest (69.5%) prevalence among all types and 37.6% of women reported severe violence. The results of Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test indicated that all dimensions of the reproductive health needs of abused women (men's participation, self-care, support and health services, and sexual and marital relationships) positively and significantly related to the total score and various dimensions of health-promoting behaviors (interpersonal relationship, health responsibility, physical activity, spiritual growth, nutrition, and stress management). The dimensions of health-promoting behaviors together can explain 21.6% of the changes in reproductive health needs based on linear regression. Violence is a global public concern and paying attention to the various health dimensions in abused women is an important aspect of the health policies. Developing health-promoting behaviors in abused women improves their reproductive health state and society as a whole.

Formulation of Aflatoxins B1 & B2 reduction in corn by low level gamma irradiation.

Corn is one of the main food items for humans and animals. Contamination of corn with aflatoxin during harvest, storage, and transport is one of the human problems. Different methods for removing and inactivating aflatoxin in corn have been introduced so far. In this research, using the gamma radiation caused by radioactive granite, the reduction of corn aflatoxin was investigated with practical and simulation methods. In a practical method by simulation result, the aflatoxin reduction as a function of time and granite gamma radiation dose in corn were calculated. The simulation was done with the Mont Carlo N-Particle X version (MCNPX) code that based on the Monte Carlo method. Results show that the relationship between the percentage of aflatoxin reduction and the irradiation time (t (day)) is 0.017 × t. Due to the low-level gamma dose of granite, the percentage of protein, fat, and vitamins in corn does not change with granite irradiation. Therefore, the results show that the use of low granite gamma radiation to reduce aflatoxin can improve physicochemical properties, reduce aflatoxin levels and increase the antioxidant properties of corn, which has ultimately reduced the risk of developing cancer caused by aflatoxin.

Anthropometric data of an elderly Iranian population provides insights for system design.

BACKGROUND: Anthropometric data should be considered for each major population age category, specifically because of the dimension changes occurring during ageing. In elderly subjects, the physical activities and their capabilities become limited. Therefore anthropometric reference data for equipment and system designs is necessary. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to collect data for the body dimensions of an elderly Iranian population and evaluate the related gender and age correlations. METHODS: Nineteen body dimensions were manually measured on a sample size of 317 subjects (167 male and 150 female) from four provinces of Iran. A pilot preliminary test for assessing test-retest reliability on ten body dimensions using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC2 :1)  was performed. Descriptive statistics were reported based on gender and independent samples t-tests to compare the anthropometric dimensions of both genders and age. RESULTS: Results indicated higher dimensions in males, except for hip-breadth (p = 0.87). In all subjects, increasing age corresponded with: decreased standing shoulder height, eye height, and elbow height; and with sitting height and sitting knee height; while hip-breadth increased. Reliability was acceptable (ICC2.1 >0.88). In the elderly, as with adult subjects, there are significant gender differences in body dimensions, and this should be considered in equipment and system design. Furthermore, this study demonstrated both genders differences and the consequences of aging. CONCLUSIONS: From this pilot data, product designers can consider the anthropometric characteristics for elderly Iranian subjects for equipment and system design.

Pity: a qualitative study on Iranian women with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Women with breast cancer (BC) are commonly confronted with others' pity. However, there is limited information about pity in Iranian women with BC. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions, reactions, coping strategies, and consequences of pity among Iranian women with BC. METHODS: This qualitative study was carried out from March 2016 till October 2017. A purposive sample of 36 women with BC was selected with maximum variation from three health care centers in Alborz Province, Iran. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed using a conventional content-analysis approach. RESULTS: Our findings indicated that Iranian women with BC experienced received pity and perceived unusual attention from others as due to certain reasons. Others' pity caused negative emotional reactions in them. They used self-protection strategies against others' pity. The consequences of self-protection against pity were normalizing the patient's flow of life and/or social isolation. CONCLUSION: Pity is a serious psychosocial challenge in Iranian women with BC, with negative effects on quality of life. Therefore, pity should be considered in counseling and psychosocial screening of patients.

Reconstruction of feminine identity: the strategies of women with breast cancer to cope with body image altered.

Background: Body image altered is the most important psychosocial concern associated with breast cancer. Yet, there is a paucity of information regarding strategies for coping with this problem. This study aimed to explore Iranian breast cancer women's strategies for coping with body image altered. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in 2016-2017. A purposive sample of 36 women with breast cancer was selected with maximum variation from three health care centers in Alborz Province, Iran. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analyzed by performing conventional qualitative content analysis. Results: The main theme of the study was "reconstruction of feminine identity" with the six main categories of physical appearance improvement, active information seeking, self-care for managing limits, psychological self-empowerment, maintaining maternal role, and maintaining wife role. Conclusion: Iranian breast cancer women's strategies for coping with body image altered are multidimensional and are mainly based on personal resources. Breast cancer women use these strategies to reconstruction of their feminine identity. Health policy-makers can use the findings of the present study to develop interventions and programs for improving breast cancer women's body image care.

Evaluation of urinary enzymes in newborns treated with gentamicin.

OBJECTIVES: In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of study on early diagnosis of kidney injury through sensitive and specific biomarkers. We examined the practical applicability of the urinary levels of NAG (N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase), AP (alkaline phosphatase), and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) as renal dysfunction screening biomarkers in full and pre-term newborns treated with gentamicin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen pre-term and fifteen full-term newborns who received gentamicin for suspected infections were enrolled. Serum and urine specimens were obtained before the zero days and after gentamicin infusion on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th days of treatment. RESULTS: In full-term newborns a significant increase in urinary NAG, LDH, AP after 5 days of gentamicin administration compared with control group was noted (P<0.05, P<0.001 and P<0.01; respectively). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that urinary enzymes may be useful in full-term newborns as a non-invasive method for evaluation of tubular function.

Sexual dysfunction in males with systolic heart failure and associated factors.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve or maintain the adequate erection for intercourse. Heart failure is a major risk factor for erectile dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with erectile dysfunction in systolic heart failure. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study 100 male patients with systolic heart failure were selected using convenience sampling method. IIEF-5 questionnaire (the International Index of Erectile Function, 5-item version), MLHFQ (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire) and CES-D (Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) were used to obtain data. RESULTS: Mean score of erectile dysfunction was 14.02 ± 6.26 and 80% of heart failure patient had erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction was significantly associated with age (P < 0.001), education (P = 0.019), occupation (P = 0.002), hemoglobin level (P = 0.003), left ventricular ejection fraction (P = 0.030), cholesterol level (P = 0.001), renal dysfunction (P = 0.009), use of digoxin (P = 0.014), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (P < 0.001), beta blocker (P = 0.001), diuretics (P = 0.035), depression (P < 0.001) and quality of life (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) was common in systolic heart failure and was associated with age, medical conditions, co morbidities, drugs for treatment and psychological disorders. In heart failure patients erectile dysfunction had negative impact on quality of life.