Background: The present research conducted with aim to determine the health-promoting behaviors (HPBs) of public of Isfahan, and study the associations of HPBs with demographic characteristics. Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted on 369 people without heart disease living in Isfahan, HPBs were assessed using a questionnaire which consists of two parts: personal information and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II). Data were analyzed by t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Results: The mean score for overall HPLP-II (158.30 ± 19.38) indicated the acceptable level of performing HPBs in Isfahan. Physical activity got the lowest score (16.36 ± 5.13), and the highest score was for interpersonal relations (53.16 ± 5.59). There were significant differences on physical activity and interpersonal relation dimensions between males and females (P < 0.05). The mean score of physical activity was highest in single participants (P < 0.05). Mean score of physical activity for people with college education was greater than others (P < 0.05). Overall HPLP-II and its domains mean scores for people that received education about prevention of cardiovascular disease were greater than others (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Results showed HPBs in people of Isfahan society is acceptable but physical activity is in the worst condition. The role of physical activity in preventing and controlling cardiovascular disease is well established. Therefore, it seems that providing information about physical activity can lead to an improvement of health-promoting lifestyle.

Background: Pneumonia is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections among bedridden patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Colonization of mouth and pharynx by pathogenic bacteria and their aspiration into the lower respiratory tract is an important step in pathogenesis of hospital-acquired pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of chlorhexidine and potassium permanganate mouthwashes in preventing incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized patients in the ICU. Methods: This study is a clinical trial, conducted on 150 patients on ventilator in ICU. Patients were divided into three groups: Chlorhexidine group, potassium permanganate group, and control group. Mouthwashing three times a day, each time 5 min for 1 week by sterile gas with 10 cc solution of chlorhexidine, potassium permanganate, or placebo, was performed. Finally, pneumonia incidence was recorded, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 20. Results: In the present study, 28 cases of pneumonia among 150 patients on ventilator were investigated. There were 15 (30%), 6 (12%), and 7 (14%) incidences of pneumonia in control, chlorhexidine, and permanganate group, respectively. Pneumonia incidence in these groups differed significantly (P = 0.041). Conclusions: The use of common mouthwashes, especially chlorhexidine solution, for washing oropharynx of ICU patients, can decrease pneumonia incidence, especially in patients under ventilation. Thus, washing and sterilizing mouth of patients with mouthwashes is recommended due to the high risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia in these patients.

Background: Rosa damascena (R.D) is an aromatic plant with numerous therapeutic effects including cardiovascular effect. The mechanism cardiovascular effect of R.D is unclear and suggested mediated through renin–angiotensin system (RAS). Therefore, in this study, the role of hydroalcoholic extract of R.D on acute hypertension induced by AngII was evaluated. Methods: After anesthesia, femoral artery and vein of rats were cannulated for recording cardiovascular responses and drug injection, respectively. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) were recorded continuously by power lab software. Rats were divided into saline, AngII (50 ng/kg), AngII + Losartan (10 mg/kg), and three groups of R.D extract (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg). Losartan and AngII were administered intravenously and the other ones intraperitoneal. In the R.D groups, 30 min after injection of the extract, AngII was injected and the maximum changes in SBP, MAP, and HR were calculated and compared to that in control and AngII groups. Results: Results show that AngII significantly increased SBP, MAP, and decreased HR than the control group which was blocked by losartan. SBP and MAP in R.D + AngII groups were significantly lower than AngII alone (P < 0.05 –P < 0.001). Only MAP in higher dose (1000 mg/kg) was significantly lower than low dose (250 mg/kg; P < 0.05). Two higher doses also significantly decreased bradycardia induced by AngII (P < 0. 01). Conclusions: The preventive effect of hydroalcoholic extract of R.D on cardiovascular parameters maybe is mediated by suppression of AngII activity.

Background: Health literacy has been considered as a predictor of starting, maintaining, and stop smoking. However, such relations have not been well documented in previous texts. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between health literacy and changes in the behavior of smoking in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this correlational descriptive study, a total of 297 employees of Tabriz health centers were examined. To collect data, a demographic-social questionnaire, Iranian Health Literacy Questionnaire, and DiClemente's behavior change questionnaire were used. Besides, SPSS 13 software (significance level = 0.05) was employed to analyze the data. Results: The average health literacy rate of participants was 70, and most respondents had adequate health literacy. Nearly 41.1% were in the precontemplation phase which is one of the stages of behavior change. There was a positive and significant statistical relation between behavior change variable with all health literacy areas (except the scope of understanding) and total health literacy score (P = 0.011 and r = 0.147). The results of ordinal regression analysis demonstrated that there is a significant positive relationship between the score of health literacy and behavioral change (b = 0.019, 95% confidence interval = (0.010–0.029), P < 0.001). Conclusions: Improving the level of health literacy can lead to change people's behavior in relation to tobacco consumption. However, due to the lack of relevant texts, there is a need for further studies in this field.

Background: The study investigated the effects of isokinetic versus isotonic training among adolescent state-level weightlifters in terms of total leukocytes, total lymphocytes, and its subsets following 24 sessions of training program and a month following training program cessation. Methods: Nineteen adolescent state-level weightlifters were assigned into isokinetic or isotonic groups. All participants were recruited from a pool of weightlifters with standardized training program provided by their coach. Series of immunological tests were carried out before the commencement, immediately upon the completion, and a month after the cessation of the additional training program to evaluate total leukocytes and lymphocytes count. Results: The results revealed a significant time and group interaction and main effects of time on mean total leukocytes (P < 0.05). Mean total leukocytes count at posttest decreased in both groups. In isotonic group, it was further decreased following 1 month of training cessation (P < 0.05) but not in the isokinetic group. However, the decrement was not high and the values were in the normal range. No significant time and group interaction was observed in total lymphocytes and its subsets count. Conclusions: Eight weeks of isokinetic and isotonic additional training with emphasis on shoulder joint only affect mean total leukocytes count in state-level adolescent weightlifters.

Background: The growth, learning, and contribution to active life in the communities are better in well-nourished children, and various factors influence infants' feeding. In this study, we assessed whether household socioeconomic status (SES) affects infants' length-for-age, weight-for-age (indicators of health and nutritional status) and breastfeeding (BF) (a necessity for optimal growth and health) status. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 150 households with infants of 1–1.5 years old were interviewed on these variables: family size, dwelling ownership, duration of BF, exclusive BF (EBF) for 6 months, parents' age, parents' ethnicity, birth order, delivery type, and parents' education. Weight and length at 4 and 12 months were obtained from centers' records. To determine SES, we assessed total years of parents' education and household asset ownership by an index of nine owned assets. Results: The average of 4-month length in the low SES group was significantly lower than the two others (P < 0.05). In middle socioeconomic group, duration of BF was significantly higher (19.5 ± 7.3 months vs. 18.0 ± 8.0 months in low and 17.5 ± 7.9 months in high SES groups) (P < 0.05). Comparing illiterate mothers, university degree holders and university students were 73% less likely to not having EBF. Moreover, those with middle SES showed to be about 40% less likely to not having EBF. Conclusions: Nutritional status, duration of BF, and EBF might be determined by household SES and maternal education. Therefore, these findings can be used to decide how to focus on appropriate target groups in family education planning to improve children's development to its most possible.

Background: Zinc deficiency is common in developing countries and increases the risk for several infectious diseases. Low serum zinc levels have been reported in children with dengue virus infection (DVI). This study aimed to assess the effects of zinc supplementation on DVI outcomes. Methods: A double-blinded, randomized trial was conducted in 50 children with dengue fever (DF)/dengue hemorrhagic fever admitted to the pediatric unit of MSMC Srinakharinwirot University Hospital, Thailand, between January 2016 and April 2017. Bis-glycinate zinc or placebo was orally administered three times a day for 5 days or until defervescence. The primary outcome was to evaluate the DVI defervescence phase; the secondary outcome was to assess hospitalization length and presence of severe DVI and zinc deficiency. Results: The mean time of defervescence was 29.2 ± 24.0 h in the supplementation group and 38.1 ± 31.5 h in the placebo group (P = 0.270). Meantime of hospital staying was 62.5 ± 23.8 h in the supplementation group and 84.7 ± 34.0 h in placebo group with the mean difference of hospital staying between groups of 22.2 h (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.5–38.5 h; P = 0.010). Overall prevalence of zinc deficiency was 46%. Serum zinc levels increased from baseline to the end of the study. the mean gain was 26.4 μg/dL (95% CI: 13.6–39.1 μg/dL) in the supplementation group and 14.4 μg/dL (95% CI: 7.4–21.3 μg/dL) in placebo group. No signs of severe DVI were observed in both groups. Zinc supplementation was well tolerated. Conclusions: Overcoming zinc deficiency among Thai children may reduce DF duration and limit the hospitalization, in addition to other advantages that normal serum zinc levels have on overall children health.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is known as the most common hormonal disorder in women at reproductive age. Recent studies have revealed a high prevalence of sleep disorders in PCOS, suggesting that it is an amendable factor for these patients; however, the sleep was not considered in their treatment plan. According to the Iranian traditional medicine (ITM), sleep is an important item in the lifestyle modification of all diseases. The aim of this study is to determine the importance of sleep hygiene in PCOS from the view of ITM and Modern Medicine. In this study, some keywords about “sleep and PCOS” were searched in medical databases and some ITM books. Lifestyle modification is one of the first steps in treatment of patients with PCOS in which the emphasis will be mainly on exercise and diet. Despite proof of the high prevalence of sleep disorders in these patients, modification of sleep is not considered in their lifestyle. ITM as a holistic medicine emphasizes on lifestyle modification under the title of “Settah-e-Zaruria” (In Persian), the six essential schemes for the prevention and treatment of all diseases. Management of sleep is one of these schemes. There are many advices about sleep hygiene in both ITM and modern medicine. It seems that lifestyle modification should be expanded in PCOS patients to include more options, and sleep hygiene should be considered in their lifestyle alongside food and exercise.

Background: An appropriate snack for patients with diabetes mellitus should be considered to help them in their treatment due to their hard administrative diet. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dark chocolate on inflammatory markers, serum adiponectin, and certain biochemical factors in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: This study was a randomized parallel clinical trial. Thirty grams of 84% dark chocolate, along with therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLCs) guidelines, were administrated to patients with T2D. Control group received only TLC guidelines. The intervention period was 8 weeks. Twenty-one subjects in dark chocolate and 23 subjects in control group completed the study. Fasting blood samples were collected before and after the intervention period and inflammatory markers, biochemical factors, and adiponectin levels were assessed. Results: Fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1C, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels declined significantly in the dark chocolate group and this decrease was significant between the intervention and control groups. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and high sensitive C-reactive protein were significantly decreased in the dark chocolate group. Adiponectin levels were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: In this study subjects who received dark chocolate along with TLC guidelines had lower levels of inflammatory markers such as hs-CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6, compared with the subjects who were devoid of dark chocolate and followed only the TLC guidelines. Other studies should be conducted to evaluate the most effective and administrative dosage of dark chocolate as a snack along with the common treatment of diabetes.

Objective: Several factors lead to memory loss, the most important of which is brain aging that is caused mostly by neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The need of finding preventive treatments of memory impairment in elderly encouraged authors to assess the effect of Acorus calamus on memory loss, anxiety, and antioxidant indices on neuroinflammation rat models. Materials and Methods: Different fractions of A. calamus were prepared. The subject rats were grouped in 11 groups of 10 each. In the nine treated groups, the extract gavage began 1 week before intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and continued for 2 weeks after the last injection of LPS. Behavioral tests, including passive avoidance and elevated plus-maze (EPM) tests, were run on days 24, 25, and 26 and the subjects were sacrificed on the day after the last behavioral test, and their hippocampus was isolated to measure the oxidative stress markers. Results: Assessment of oxidative stress markers in hippocampus samples revealed that the amounts of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant activity) in the groups that received different fractions were less than their equivalent figures in LPS-control group, and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in treatment groups were less than MDA level in LPS-control group. Moreover, the treatment groups with different fractions of A. calamus revealed better performance compared to LPS-control group in shuttle-box test. In EPM test, the groups with different fractions revealed lower stress level in comparison with LPS-control group. The best performance in memory test and the lowest level of stress in EPM was observed in the group with aqueous fraction at 600 mg/kg dose, and the least figures of oxidative stress markers were of the group with aqueous fraction at 600 mg/kg dose. Conclusion: The oral administration of different fractions of A. calamus, especially aqueous fraction, prevented from memory deficits and stress through controlling oxidative stress and inflammation processes.