h. alavi majd

The production of functional foods to prevent and manage diet-related chronic diseases is rising worldwide, including in Iran. It is essential to understand factors affecting the acceptance of functional foods. The present study was conducted to design a valid reliable questionnaire for assessing determinants of functional dairy product consumption and preferences in adults in Tehran, the capital city of Iran.

This study was a mixed-method (qualitative and quantitative) study. The questionnaire items were derived from the qualitative study results mixed with items obtained from the literature. Then, psychometric characteristics of the instrument, including content validity, face validity, internal consistency, and stability, were assessed. Cronbach's alpha, intra-class correlation coefficient, and kappa were assessed using SPSS Software v.21.

The primary question pool included 52 questions, which decreased to 33 after assessing the content validity index and ratio. The instrument's overall scale content validity index was 0.96. The internal consistency reliability of the attitude scale was calculated as 0.87. The kappa coefficient values for familiarity/unfamiliarity with functional dairy products and their consumption/non-consumption ranged 0.61–1. Intraclass correlation coefficient values ranged 0.69–1 for the frequency of functional dairy consumption, 0.73–0.86 for the degree of importance of product characteristics in affecting consumer choices, and 0.83–0.92 for the consumer views for the information on functional dairy products. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the attitude towards these products was 0.92, indicating the high test-retest reliability of the instrument.

The questionnaire designed in this study was a valid reliable instrument that could assess various factors affecting the consumption of functional dairy products and consumer preferences concerning these products.

Abstract

Performance appraisal is an essential process in health care organizations to ensure that the quality of care goal is met. The aim of this study was to determine the most important dimensions of performance appraisal from the perspective of nursing researchers.

In this review study، the published articles from 2002–2012 were assessed. In order to achieve related evidences، electronic search was done in both English and Persian language by using the key words; appraisal، nurse، assessment، evaluation in the following databases: Magiran، SID، IranMedex، PubMed، Science Direct، InterScienc، Ovid، ProQuest and Google.

Search results in multiple sites covering 10 Persian articles on nurses’ performance appraisal in the last 10 years in Iran. There was not found any related article in English language. 5 studies (50%)، mainly considered the following topics: relationship between performance appraisal and variables such as job satisfaction، job motivation، job rotation and managers’ education. 5 (50%) of the studies were conducted in Tehran، 2 of them (20%) were quasi experimental and 8 studies were quantitative study.

Performance appraisal is associated with job satisfaction، motivation and identification of nurses’ training needs. Objectives in appraisal، appropriate implementation and training can play a significant role in the success of this system.

Meta-analysis is the statistical analysis of a combination of independent studies which follow the same purposes. Presence of outlier and influencing samples may affect on the validity of a meta-ana-lysis. The present study was performed to investigate the presence of outlier and influence samples in a meta-analysis that evaluates the effect of Albendazole on the treatment of patients with hookworm.

The information of 15 clinical trial articles each containing of treatment and placebo groups، were evalua-ted. In this articles the effect of albendazole as a single oral dose (400 mg) for the treatment of hookworms were compared with placebo. Articles had been published between the years of 1983 to 2012. For each of the studies، the total number of participants، number of patients and impr-oved patients were recorded. Relative risk and its variance were calculated for each study and then the items were again extracted through the meta-analysis of the entire studies. To identify the outlier and influence regions، the residual methods including standardized deleted residuals، cooks distance dffits value and ratios of generalized variances were used and their charts were plotted. The R and STATA softwares were used for statistical analysis. Discussion &

Meta-Analysis showed that the estimated relative risk is equal to 1. 74 with confidence intervals 1. 61 and 1. 89. All applied statistical methods showed that of the studies، 2 researches were identified as outlier and were assigned on the charts

Systemic inflammation is thought to have a central role in diabetic long-term complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin D either with or without extra calcium on certain inflammatory biomarkers in the subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

This was a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial conducted over 12 wk in 90 T2D subjects aged 30–60 yr from both sexes. Subjects were randomly allocated to one of three groups to receive two 250-ml bottles a day of plain Persian yogurt drink or doogh (PD, containing 150 mg calcium and no detectable vitamin D3/250 ml), vitamin D-fortified doogh (DD, containing 500 IU vitamin D3 and 150 mg calcium/250 ml), or calcium + vitamin D3-fortified doogh (CDD, containing 500 IU vitamin D3 and 250 mg calcium/250 ml). The changes in inflammatory markers were evaluated.

Compared to the baseline values, highly sensitive C-reactive protein, IL-1β, IL-6, fibrinogen, and retinol binding protein-4 concentrations significantly decreased in both the DD and CDD groups. Although the decrement in highly sensitive C-reactive protein and fibrinogen was more in CDD compared to DD (−4.0 ± 8.5 vs. −1.3 ± 2.8 mg/liter, and −0.40 ± 0.74 and −0.20 ± 0.52 mg/liter, respectively), the differences were not significant. There was a significant increase in serum adiponectin in both the DD and CDD groups (51.3 ± 65.3 vs. 57.1 ± 33.8 μg/liter P < 0.05). Mean adiponectin changes in CDD were significantly higher than in PD (P = 0.021).

Daily intake of vitamin D-fortified doogh improved inflammatory markers in T2D subjects, and extra calcium conferred additional benefit only for the antiinflammatory adipokine, i.e. adiponectin.

Considering the social and cultural characteristics of Iranian adolescents, none of the quantitative instruments designed so far to assess their health needs is quite appropriate. The purpose of this study was to design a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess the health needs of Iranian adolescent females.

Both qualitative and quantitative approaches to instrument development were adopted in this study conducted in the District of Sari in the north of Iran. Sampling was objective-based, with an attempt to have female adolescent sample as varied as possible. In the qualitative phase, a content analysis approach was used to explore the concept of health needs as seen by female adolescents. Data were collected using 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) with the presence 6-10 adolescents 12-18 years old in each FGD, as well as 11 semi-structured interviews, each one involving 11 well-informed individuals. In the quantitative phase, the psychometric properties, including content validity, face validity, construct validity, concurrent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability, were determined.

Five themes were identified in the qualitative phase of study, including psycho-emotional health, social health, physical health, and educational needs, as well as spiritual beliefs. The mean scale-level content validity index (S-CVI) was found to be 0.92. The factor structure of the instrument was identified by doing a Principal Component Analysis. Five factors were extracted with a total variance account of 45.37%. The reliability and consistency of the instrument were established with the Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.90) for the entire scale and test-retest reliability with a 2 week-interval Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC=0.984, p<0.001).There was a concurrent correlation between the instrument and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL TM 4.0) (r=0.66, p<0.001).

The instrument developed in this study is a valid, reliable and culturally appropriate instrument for assessment of health needs of Iranian adolescent females.

Quality of care is a dimension of quality of services and Clients’ satisfaction is an outcome of quality. However, clients’ satisfaction is sometimes translated as quality of care. The aim of this study was aimed to identify a correlation between quality of care and client's satisfaction in family planning units of healthcare centers affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences & Health Services.

In this descriptive study, 200 Clients referring to family planning units of 11 healthcare centers took part in the study with a multistage sampling method. Data were collected with a checklist to assess quality of care and a questionnaire to identify client's satisfaction in 2 parts: structure and family planning services scored by a Likert scale. Content and face validities of the questionnaire were checked and its reliability was calculated by Cronbach’s α (r=0.94) and inter-rater methods (r=0.91). Data were analyzed with SPSS 16.

56.73±10.96 percent of the services had conformity with standards; therefore, its quality was considered as moderate. The lowest and highest percents were related to education (35.43±16.14) and history taking (77.83±28.46) respectively. Client's satisfaction was considered good (83.75±13.89). No significant correlation was found between quality of care and satisfaction.

With respect to the results, factors other than the quality of care can influence on client's satisfaction. Therefore, all aspects should be assessed and, according to the problems found, appropriate interventions may be planned and implemented.

Metabolic Syndrome (Mets) is a common phenotype, which is affected on 32% of Iranian population. It is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Low HDL-C is the most frequent phenotype in this disease.

In this study in order to find some chromosomal region in related to the HDL-C in families with metabolic syndrome, twelve microsatellite markers were investigated in 91 families and done the Haseman-Elston Regression methods (oHE, sHE, rHE, W2, W3, tHE). Finally, the results of these methods are compared. For analysis of the data, these softwares were used: power.HE (in R), Excel, PowerMarker, SPSS, S.A.G.E.

In results of 4 methods, from these 7 methods, genetic linkage of HDL-C is significant with D11S1998 marker (p<0.05).

Other studies also show this result.These results can help me in future studies in Iranian population. Results show in which theoretical power of these methods is better, the empirical significance become less and this is an evidence for accepting significant linkage between D11S1998 marker and location of HDL-C gene.

Microarray DNA technology has paved the way for investigators to expressed thousands of genes in a short time. Analysis of this big amount of raw data includes normalization, clustering and classification. The present study surveys the application of clustering technique in microarray DNA analysis.

We analyzed data of Van’t Veer et al study dealing with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in breast cancer. It was consisted of 18 patients with BRCA1 and 2 patients with BRCA2 mutation. Gene expression data were clustered using hierarchical and non-hierarchical approach. Then different clustering approaches were compared according to the actual classification with R software.

Hierarchical clustering showed a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 100% in detecting BRCA1 gene. These figures were 89% and 100% for non-hierarchical clustering, respectively, indicating a satisfactory performance for both approaches. All clustering approaches classified sample No. 95 in BRCA2 group, however, clinical manifestations put her in BRCA1 group.

With respect to satisfactory coincidence between clustering and actual classification results, clustering approach could be applied for cases when actual classification is missing.

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM), occurs in 2-25% of pregnant women. Traditionally, clinical and laboratory tests utilized for the diagnosis of PROM are fraught with both false positive and false negative results caused by various factors that result in an equivocal or delayed diagnosis. The absence of a non-invasive 'gold standard' for the diagnosis of PROM has led to the search for alternative biochemical markers. This research has been conducted to compare the diagnostic power of qualitative and quantitative HCG of cervicovaginal washings for the diagnosis of PROM.s

This Diagnostic-Experimental study was undertaken with cervico-vaginal samples collected from singleton pregnancies between 14-41 weeks of gestation. Totally 86 pregnant women referred to Vali-Asr Hospital, Zanjan, in 2006, were enrolled in this study. Subjects were divided in two groups: 43 subjects with confirmed PROM (amniotic fluid pooling (+), nitrazine paper test (+), and fern test (+)), and 43 women in the control group (amniotic fluid pooling (-), nitrazine paper test (–), and fern test (-)). Washings were then collected from the posterior vaginal fornix with the use of 5 ml of sterile saline irrigation and aspiration techniques. We measured HCG levels with the ELISA test.

The median HCG levels were 250.60 (mIU/mL) and 6.2 (mIU/mL) in PROM and control group respectively. With, 22 (mIU/mL) set as a cutoff value on the receiving operating characteristic curve, (ROC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 95.3, 97.7, 97.6, 95.5 and 96%, respectively.

Quantitative HCG measurement of cervico-vaginal washings was an accurate test for the diagnosis of PROM in our study.

Gestational diabetes is defined as carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Approximately 4% of pregnancies are affected by diabetes mellitus, 90% of which represent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Detection of GDM permits the identification of women who are at risk for development of type 2 diabetes mellitus later in life. Appropriate treatment may reduce the risk of fetal and neonatal complications. One of the risk factors identified recently is "irregular menstruation". Several studies have reported the relationship between irregular menstruation and insulin resistance. The aim of this case-control study was determination of relationship between irregular menstruation and gestational diabetes.

Pregnant women who were referred to prenatal clinics affiliated to Endocrinology and Metabolism centers of Shariati and Taleghani hospitals, and Iran Endocrinology and Metabolism institute, were studied. Mothers were interviewed by trained members of the study team and relevant information recorded on a structured questionairre. Sampling was performed by convenience method. Case group including 60 women with gestational diabetes and control group comprising of 60 women without gestational diabetes were matched for age, parity, BMI, family history of diabetes, history of still-birth, or delivery of a previous malformed newborn. Demographic characteristics, history of irregular menstruation and its etiology were compared between the two groups. We excluded subjects with history of fetal macrosomia (weight>4500 g), pre-pregnancy diabetes, diabetes in previous pregnancy, smoking before or during pregnancy, recurrent abortion and preterm delivery.

Demographic characteristics and etiology of irregularity were similar between cases and controls. Irregular cycles were more prevalent in the case group, (36.7% vs. 15.0 %, P=0.007, Odds Ratio=3.28, CI=95%, 1.40-7.90 ).

A history of irregular menstrual cycles was a significant independent predictor of gestational diabetes mellitus. If selective screening is implemented for gestational diabetes mellitus, such history should be considered in the decision of whom to test.

Intensive care unit is one of the most stressful wards for patients and it is estimated that 30 to70 percent of patients experience severe physiologic stress during admission. Some of the physiologic responses to stress include increase in metabolic rate with consequent increase in body temperature, increase in cardiac output and contraction power and subsequently increase in blood pressure, heart rate and sodium accumulation, bronchodilation and increase in respiration rate. Control of homodynamic condition and vital signs is an essential and important practice in intensive care units for stabilizing physiologic indicators. Massage is one of the methods that can be used for this purpose. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of foot massage on physiologic indicators including pulse, respiration rate, mean arterial pressure, temperature and arterial blood oxygen saturation.

46 patients with brain stroke who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Tajrish Shohada hospital were studied.The validity of information record form was determined with content validity and the validity of instruments was established using valid marks. The reliability of instruments was assessed with test-re-test after calibration. Information was collected on second, third and fourth days after ICU admission at 4 to 6 pm. For this purpose, the physiologic indicators were controlled and after 10 minute, the patients underwent 5-minute foot stroke massage and then at 10 and 30-minute intervals, physiologic indicators were controlled again. Data was analyzed by ANOVA statistical method.

Findings showed that pulse rate, respiratory rate and mean arterial blood pressure significantly decreased after 5 minute foot massage (p< 0.001) and the value of these indicators 10 minutes after foot massage was less than the values 10 minute before massage. Also, arterial oxygen conc. 10 minute after foot massage was more than the conc.10 minutes before massage and values at 30 minutes after foot massage were more than the values10 minutes before and 10 minutes after foot massage (p<0.001), Decrease in temperature on third and fourth days of ICU admission 10 minutes and 30 minutes after foot massage as compared to 10 minutes before massage was significant, but alterations were little and clinically, we can say that body temperature did not alter and approximately remind constant. Data analysis also showed that alterations in values of physiologic indicators during the three days of manipulation were the same and there was no difference between the alterations on different days (p<0.001).

In general, parasympathetic activity after foot massages results in alteration of body physiologic responses. Decrease in heart rate, mean arterial pressure and respiratory rate along with increase in arterial oxygen concentration showed that patients were less anxious and more relaxed.