نشریه دانشور پزشکی
پیاپی 97 (اسفند 1390)

Health literacy is “The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions”, that is an important element in woman’s ability to engage in health promotion and prevention activities both for herself and her children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the health literacy level of pregnant women in urban health centers of Shahid Beheshti Medical University. In a cross-sectional study (a descriptive-analytical one), 240 pregnant women who received prenatal care from health centers were investigated using the test of Functional Health Literacy for adults. The mean age of the sample was 27.7 years (SD=5.1) and the mean age of education was 10.6 years (SD=3.3; range: 1-22). In addition, 30% of participants had low, 24.6% had marginal and 45.4% had adequate health literacy. Health literacy was significantly different by the location of the health centers (x2=24.47, df=6, p<0.001), age (x2=21.86, df=8, p<0.005), and education (x2=90.16, df=8, p<0.001). Based on the multiple regression, health literacy was significantly associated with level of education (t=9.41, p<0.001), age (t=2.56, p<0.011), and employment (t=2.01, p<0.045). This study showed that limited functional health literacy is a widespread problem in pregnant women. Low health literacy may impair a patient’s understanding of health messages and advices, so health providers should use effective educational methods for people who have limited reading and writing abilities.

Based on both laboratory animal and human society studies, inequality in food intake and social instability has adverse effects on individuals and community health. However, it is not known whether social instability, food deprivation and food inequality affect neuronal death and premature aging in young animals. To address this question, the effect of food deprivation, food intake inequality with or without unstable social status was evaluated and histopathological changes in hippocampal pyramidal cells and aging process were investigated. Forty eight Newzealand white male rabbits were divided into six groups and different social situations were applied to some groups during eight weeks. After the end of the period of the experiment, lipofuscin accumulation and apoptosis as main markers of aging were studied by long Ziehl Nelseen staining and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay in the hippocampal pyramidal cells, respectively. Serum cortisol level was also measured. The simultaneous application of the mentioned situations (i.e. food deprivation, social inequality and instability) caused a significant change in lipofuscin accumulation in the hippocampal pyramidal cells in comparison with the control group (p<0.005). The results also showed a significant increase in ratio of apoptotic to normal cells in all of the stressed groups compared with control (p<0.05). These findings suggest that food deprivation, inequality in food intake and social instability can enhance the apoptosis rate of hippocampal pyramidal cells through increasing lipofuscin accumulation. Keywords:

Inappropriate changes of lipid profile are associated with obesity and overweight and can increase the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. In this study, 19 male students aged 19-25 years were selected as volunteers. First they were divided into two groups: active fasting (n=9) and passive fasting (n=10). Active fasting group performed 14 sessions of exercise training. Three sessions per week with an intensity of 50 to 75 percent heart rate reserve (HRR) for 45-60 minutes was performed. Blood sampling was done at four stages. Data were analyzed by GLM-Repeated Measures (ANOVA) at a significance level of p<0.05. The effect of fasting with and without physical activity on anthropometric measures was not significantly different, but one-month fasting with physical activity decreased weight, BMI, WHR and percentage body fat (PBF). During the fasting, TG/HDL and TC/HDL ratios decreased in the active group and these values ​​returned to initial levels at the end of fasting. Levels of TG, LDL and TG/HDL in fasting group without exercise slightly increased. The effect of fasting, both with and without exercise on resting heart rate, blood pressure, diastolic, systolic, mean arterial and myocardial oxygen cost was not significantly different. One-month fasting with regular physical activity reduces the weight, percent body fat, WHR and BMI and could prevent inappropriate changes of lipid profile and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes shallow breathing, low oxygen, muscular weakness and reduced mobility. The most common symptoms of COPD is shortness of breath and a chronic cough with sputum. Despite the high prevalence of this disease and effective role of physical therapy, there is a noticeable lack of research in this area. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the degree of thoracic kyphosis and diaphragm muscle thickness between females with COPD and healthy women. In this study, 20 women with COPD (stages 2 and 3) and 20 healthy women were examined regarding some biomechanical and physiological parameters. Diaphragm thickness was determined using ultrasound and kyphosis angle was measured by flexible ruler. Kyphosis in healthy subject was less than healthy individuals (p<0.05). The diaphragm muscle thickness was not significantly difference between the two groups. But the diaphragm thickness changes in healthy individuals was about 2 times more than patients with COPD (p<0.05). The resean for lower kyphosis angle in COPD patients could be due to their shape of chest. It also increases the percentage of diaphragm thickness change in healthy individuals (as compared to COPD) that shows their better diaphragm performance. Perhaps, short deep breath and intervals of breathing in patients are the result of this effect. These results can be considered for description of the treatment protocol of physiotherapy in patients with COPD.

The purpose of the present research was to examine the effect of practice type (physical, mental and mixed practices) on static and dynamic balance in elderly women at an age range of 60-75 years with no history of falling. Statistical sample of this research study included 45 none falling elderly women at an age range of 60-75 years that were randomly divided into three experimental groups. In this research, the Sharpened-Romberg test (with eyes open and close) was used to measure the static balance and Timed-get up and Go test was used to measure the dynamic balance. In pre-test phase, the mean of three trials of dynamic and static balance tests performance was recorded for all participants. All participants were practiced in 6 sessions according to defined protocol, then, they were participated in post-test that was similar to pre-test. The data were analyzed by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc test at a significant level of p<0.05. The obtained findings showed that regarding performance (mental, physical and mixed), a significant difference exists between the static (with eyes open and close) and dynamic balance in post-test. Result of Bonferroni post hoc showed that mixed group has a significant difference versus the other groups (p<0.05) and subjects in the former group had a better performance than other groups. Furthermore, the performance of physical practice group was better than mental practice group (p<0.05). According to the results of the present research, it could be concluded that for improvement of static and dynamic balance in elder women, practice method in specific programs is recommended.

Curcumin exhibits antidiabetic and antioxidant effect and memory augmenting property. This study was done to evaluate the effect of its chronic administration on the learning and memory of diabetic rats. In this experimental study, Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups, i.e. control, curcumin-treated control (50 mg/kg), diabetic, and curcumin-treated diabetic groups (10 and 50 mg/kg). Curcumin was administered 7 days after streptozotocin injection for 5 weeks. For evaluation of learning and memory, passive avoidance and Y-maze tests were used. Level of malondialdehyde in hippocampus was also measured. STL significantly decreased in diabetic (p<0.01) and low-dose curcumin-treated diabetic (p<0.05) groups and this parameter was significantly higher in diabetic group receiving high-dose curcumin as compared to diabetics (p<0.05). Meanwhile, alternation percentage was significantly lower in diabetic group relative to control (p<0.05) and high-dose-treated diabetic group showed a significant increase in comparison with diabetic group (p<0.05). Meanwhile, high-dose curcumin significantly reduced level of MDA in diabetic group (p<0.05). Chronic treatment with curcumin at a dose of 50 mg/kg could enhance the capability of consolidation and recall in diabetic animals and could improve short-term spatial memory in diabetic animals.

Maternal obesity has been associated with pregnancy outcome. Dietary pattern and food consumption may play an important role in overweight and obese individuals. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between dietary habits and obesity in women at reproductive aged in Kermanshah. In this research study, 154 overweight and obese women (BMI>25 kg/m2) were recruited using convenient sampling method. FFQ and dietary habit questionnaires were used for dietary data collection. Body composition was assessed using bioelectric impedance (Plusavis 333) and data was analysed by SPSS16. The mean age, weight and BMI were 37.8+7.4 years, 76.8+9.9 kg and 31.6+3.7 kg/m2, respectively. In addition, 27% of participants had WHR and percentage of body fat (PBF) more than maximum cut-offs for women (0.85 and 40%, respectively). The results showed that 76.6% of subjects had non-healthy eating dietary habits. There was significant relationship between the amount of food consumption and BMI and PBF (p<0.05). Our findings suggest that changing food consumption patterns, coupled with decreasing physical activity, directly contribute to overweight and obesity. Nutrition awareness and education campaigns, combined with exercise, seem to be most promising to combat the obesity pandemic in developing countries.

Reduction of the anabolic to catabolic hormones plays an important role in muscle loss and strength reduction in post-menopausal women. The ratio of testosterone to cortisol concentration (T:C) is used as indicative of the stress level imposed by the exercise. Increases in this ratio are responsible for hypertrophy and strength gain. The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of a resistance exercise session and an endurance exercise session on T:C ratio in post-menopausal women. In this cross- sectional research study, 10 elderly women (age=­54.3±3.74 years, BMI= 24.88±2.07 kg.m-2) participated in three protocols: 1) resistance protocol (1 session, 3 sets of 10 repetitions of eight exercises with %80 1RM), 2) endurance protocol (45 minutes of cycling at %60-70 Vo2Peak) and 3) rest protocol (control groups). Blood samples were taken before, immediately after and 15 minutes after the end of every protocol. Finally, the serum levels of testosterone and cortisol were measured and data was analyzed using GLM-repeated measures ANOVA at a significance level of p<0.05. Resistance group showed a significant increase in T:C ratio within the groups (p<0.05) but variations in T:C level were not significant between the groups. The difference of T:C levels were not significant within and between the groups in endurance exercise group. The results showed that a single bout of resistance exercise and a single bout of endurance exercise do not acutely influence T:C ratio in post-menopausal women.

Ghrelin and leptin are two hormones involved in the regulation of energy balance and obesity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a course of aerobic training on serum levels of ghrelin and leptin in the middle-aged men. Materials and Twenty middle-aged volunteered males were randomly divided into experimental (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. Aerobic training protocol consisted of 3 sessions per week for 10 weeks. Each training session was a slow running trial with intensity of 65 to 75 percent of maximal heart rate for a period of 10 minutes. To follow the principle of overload, half-a-minute was added to each session, so that, at the last session the running time reached to 25 minutes. Before and after the training period, blood sampling was performed. Data were analyzed using independent t-test. There was no significant difference in serum levels of ghrelin and leptin between control and experimental groups (p<0.05). However, aerobic training significantly reduced body mass index, body weight, waist to hip ratio, and body fat percent and significantly increased the lean body weight and maximum oxygen uptake. It can be deduced that 10-week aerobic training has no beneficial effect on serum levels of ghrelin and leptin in the middle-aged men. However, to achieve more conclusive results, further investigation is warranted.