The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation in the Relationship Between Sexual Mindfulness and Relational Quality in a Sample of Iranian Women.

Mindfulness during sex has shown many positive relational and sexual outcomes. However, little is known about the ways in which sexual mindfulness works to improve an individual's experience. This study investigated the mediating role of emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between sexual mindfulness and relational quality in a sample of Iranian women. Using a multi-stage cluster sampling method, we examined data from 265 women aged 19 to 50 years (M = 31.76, SD = 8.47). Results showed a significant positive relationship between relational quality and sexual mindfulness (p < .001, ß = .13), sexual mindfulness and reappraisal strategy (p < .001, ß = .65), and relational quality and reappraisal strategy (p < .001, ß = .78). The reduction of the path coefficient in the full mediation model compared to the direct model indicating a partial mediation role of the reappraisal strategy was confirmed in relation to sexual mindfulness and relational quality. These findings may help identify one path, emotion regulation, through which sexual mindfulness works. This study provides psychologists and counselors evidence that both sexual mindfulness and emotion regulation are positive skills that likely improve the quality of their clients' relationships.

The Topical Formulation of Whey Protein for the Prevention of Pressure Ulcers in Critically Ill Patients: A Novel Intervention in a Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: High prevalence of pressure ulcers (PUs) and their complications are important dilemmas in the intensive care unit (ICU). Therefore this study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of topical whey protein formulation in preventing PUs in patients admitted to the ICU. Materials and Methods: In this randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial under registration number [IRCTdeted for blinded article], 80 eligible ICU patients were randomly allocated to receive topical ointment of whey protein or placebo on the sacrum with a diameter of 15 cm twice daily for seven days, in addition to the routine care. The mean risk score for developing PUs was calculated at baseline using the Braden tool, and the PUSH score was used to assess PUs on days 4, 7, and 14. Patients' related demographic and clinical variables were also collected using a medical record for more evaluation. Results: Our results showed that demographic characteristics and the Braden scores' baseline mean were not significantly different between groups (P > 0.05). The repeated measures ANOVA test revealed that the mean scores of PUs at various times were markedly lower in the whey protein than in the placebo group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This intervention can be routinely added as effective, safe, inexpensive, and accessible care to reduce the incidence of PUs for patients at risk of developing this injury.

The variability of phenolic constituents and antioxidant properties among wild populations of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam.

In this study, phenolic derivatives and antioxidant activities of fourteen Ziziphora clinopodioides populations, as well as LC-MS/MS analysis of three specific flavonoids were evaluated. Generally, high contents of phenolic derivatives were found in shoot extracts compared to roots. LC-MS/MS, a powerful analytical technique, was employed for the identification and quantify the individual flavonoids in Z. clinopodioides populations' extracts, in a quantity order of quercetin > rutin > apigenin. Scavenging activity by DPPH and FRAP was performed, and accordingly, in the shoot, the highest values for the DDPH were 4.61 ± 0.4 and 7.59 ± 0.26 µg ml- 1 in populations 1 and 13, respectively, and for the FRAP were 328.61 ± 5.54 and 292.84 ± 2.85 mg g DW- 1, in populations 6 and 1 respectively. Multivariate analysis results of the principal component analysis indicated the amount of polyphenols to be useful indicators in differentiating the geographical localities which explain 92.7% of the total variance. According to the results of hierarchical cluster analysis, the studied populations could be separated into two groups in that the contents of phenolic derivatives and antioxidant activities of different plant parts. Both shoot and root samples were well discriminated with the orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (R2X: 0.861; Q2: 0.47) model. The validity of the model was confirmed by using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and permutation tests. Such data make an important addition to our current knowledge of Ziziphora chemistry and are decisive in the identification of germplasms with a homogeneous phytochemical profile, high chemical content and bioactivity. The present results could also be helpful for the potential application of Z. clinopodioides in different kinds of industries as natural antioxidants. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01283-y.

ICP-OES assessment of trace and toxic elements in Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. from Iran by chemometric approaches.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of some essential and toxic elements (including Ca, K, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Co, Mo, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Cd) in Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. (endemic Iranian herb) from 14 different regions by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry) method followed by multivariate statistical analyses. The analytical performances were assessed as the limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision, and accuracy. Multivariate analysis (CA, PCA and HCA) showed the elemental distribution in the roots were higher than the shoots and significant element was Ca between regions. Three principal components (PCs) explained 77.94% of the total variance. They were as follows: PC1 with Cu, Zn, K, Cr, Ni, and Mn; PC2 with Na, Ca, Pb, and Fe; and PC3 with Mg. Hierarchical cluster analysis indicated four groups of Z. clinopodioides samples from the 14 regions based on their trace and toxic element levels. These chemometric approaches with multivariate analysis enable researchers to understand and quantify the relationship between the variables in a data set, and the analysis considers more than one factor. The concentrations of Cu, Na, Mn, Zn, and Pb in most Z. clinopodioides samples were below the WHO (world health organization) limit for herbal medicines (10, 51,340, 200, 50, and 10 µg g-1 respectively), while Fe and Ca levels were higher than allowed (15 and 614 µg g-1 respectively). However, the WHO limit for Mg, K, Co, and Mo in medicinal plants has not yet been determined. The results of this study confirmed that different parts of Z. clinopodioides can be used as an important source for human nutrition due to its essential mineral elements.

Global Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment and Blindness in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To determine the global prevalence and common causes of visual impairment (VI) and blindness in children. Methods: In this meta-analysis, a structured search strategy was applied to search electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, as well as the list of references in the selected articles to identify all population-based cross-sectional studies that concerned the prevalence of VI and blindness in populations under 20 years of age up to January 2018, regardless of the publication date and language, gender, region of residence, or race. VI was reported based on presenting visual acuity (PVA), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of equal to 20/60 or worse in the better eye. Blindness was reported as visual acuity worse than 20/400 in the better eye. Results: In the present study, 5711 articles were identified, and the final analyses were done on 80 articles including 769,720 people from twenty-eight different countries. The prevalence of VI based on UCVA was 7.26% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.34%-10.19%), PVA was 3.82% (95% CI: 2.06%-5.57%), BCVA was 1.67% (95% CI 0.97%-2.37%), and blindness was 0.17% (95% CI: 0.13%-0.21%). Refractive errors were the most common cause of VI in the subjects of selected articles (77.20% [95% CI: 73.40%-81.00%]). The prevalence of amblyopia was 7.60% (95% CI: 05.60%-09.10%) and congenital cataract was 0.60% (95% CI: 0.3%-0.9%). Conclusion: Despite differences in the definition of VI and blindness, based on PVA, 3.82%, and based on BCVA, 1.67% of the examined samples suffer from VI.

Perceived stress, self-compassion and job burnout in nurses: the moderating role of self-compassion.

BACKGROUND: Job burnout is more prevalent among nurses than other medical team members and may have adverse effects on the mental and physical health of both nurses and their patients. AIMS: To evaluate the associations between job burnout as a dependent variable with perceived stress and self-compassion as independent variables, and test the buffering role of self-compassion in the link between perceived stress and job burnout in nurses. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with a convenience sampling method. A total of 150 nurses from four hospitals in Tehran, Iran participated in this study and completed three questionnaires, namely the Perceived Stress Scale, the Self-Compassion Scale and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. RESULTS: Partial least square-structural equation modelling showed greater levels of perceived stress associated with greater levels of job burnout (ß = 0.795, p < 0.001), and greater levels of self-compassion associated with lower levels of job burnout (ß = -0.512, p < 0.001) in nurses. The results of the interaction-moderation analysis showed that self-compassion diminished the effect of perceived stress on job burnout in nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study not only showed a significant association between perceived stress and job burnout in nurses, but also increased our understanding about the buffering role of self-compassion in the link between perceived stress and job burnout in nurses.

Self-compassion moderates the perceived stress and self-care behaviors link in women with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Women with breast cancer are exposed to various stressors, and self-care behaviors play an important role in their recovery. However, very few studies have investigated self-care behaviors specifically for women with breast cancer. The current study examined the relationship between perceived stress and self-care behaviors, and explored whether self-compassion moderated this relationship. METHODS: A sample of 210 women with breast cancer aged 27 to 60 years old from three hospitals in Tehran, Iran completed online self-report questionnaires of self-care behaviors, self-compassion, and perceived stress. RESULTS: Data analyses with structural equation modeling showed that perceived stress (ß = -.37, P < .01) and self-compassion (ß = .38, P < .01) were significant predictors of self-care behaviors. The interaction-moderation analysis showed that self-compassion acted as a moderator between perceived stress and self-care behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The findings enhance our understanding about the protective role of self-compassion in the relationship between perceived stress and self-care behaviors in women with breast cancer.

Intrasubject Repeatability and Interdevice Agreement of Anterior Chamber Depth Measurements by Orbscan and Pentacam in Different Grades of Keratoconus.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the repeatability of anterior chamber depth (ACD) measurements by Orbscan and Pentacam imaging devices in different grades of keratoconus. METHODS: One examiner performed 3 consecutive ACD measurements with both devices on 74 eyes of 42 keratoconus patient. Repeatability was assessed using intrasession test-retest variability. Within-subject SD was determined for repeatability, and the coefficient of variation was calculated for each measurement. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was also determined to assess the variance of repeated data. RESULTS: Overall, the three ACD measurements were not significantly different either with Pentacam or Orbscan. The ICC index values were greater than 90% with both devices, and it significantly reduced at higher grades of keratoconus with Pentacam. Interdevice differences were statistically significant. The interdevice agreement with ACD measurements was 0.981, and the agreement was lower at higher grades of keratoconus. The 95% limits of agreement between the 2 devices for ACD was from -0.19 to 0.04. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate acceptable repeatability for ACD measurements with both Orbscan and Pentacam in keratoconus patients. The progression of keratoconus has no significant effect on repeatability results of these devices. The good agreement between them allows their interchangeable use.

Corneal thickness measurements with Scheimpflug and slit scanning imaging techniques in keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To determine the repeatability of corneal thickness measurements with Scheimpflug (Pentacam) and slit scanning (Orbscan) imaging techniques in different grades of keratoconus. METHODS: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional research. Imaging with Orbscan and Pentacam was performed on patients with different grades of keratoconus. With each device, 3 measurements were taken at 10 min intervals. Repeatability indices in different grades of keratoconus were calculated for each device. RESULTS: Seventy-four eyes of 42 keratoconus patients were enrolled. Repeatability index (RI) of central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements in keratoconus grade 1, 2, and 3, were 12.8, 9.9, and 24.2 with Pentacam, and 23.6, 26.3, and 59.3 with Orbscan, respectively. For the thinnest point, these figures were 9.6, 8.0, and 35.7 with Pentacam and 19.5, 16.6, and 26.8 with Orbscan, respectively. The 95% limit of agreement (LOA) between Pentacam and Orbscan in measuring CCT and thinnest point in grade 1 were -25.5-47.7 mic and -33.3-32.8 mic, respectively. These results for grade 2 were -9.8-50.6 mic and -26.2-43.7 mic, respectively. In grade 3, 95% LoA were -20-64.6 mic and -31.4-60.5 mic, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that although repeated measurements of the CCT with Orbscan and Pentacam are strongly correlated, repeatability values of CCT measurements significantly decrease at more advanced grades of keratoconus. In all keratoconus grades, repeatability of CCT measurements was better with Pentacam than Orbscan. These findings indicate that corneal thickness readings have less validity in patients with advanced keratoconus.