Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Screening program... more Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Screening programs are the most common prevention methods. Perceived social support and fear are two important factors affecting women's participation in breast cancer screening. This study aimed to determine the relationship between fear of BC and perceived social support among women in Torbat Heydarieh, northeast of Iran. Methods: This study is an online cross-sectional survey that was conducted on 352 women in Torbat Heydarieh city of Northeast Iran, from October 26th, 2021 to December 26th, 2022. Along with collecting sociodemographic characteristics, the Breast Cancer Fear Scale (BCFS), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were electronically administered to participants. Data were analyzed through SPSS software version 25, using independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression models. The statistical significance level was set at P<0.05. Results: The mean score for the BCFS was 20.67±1.03 which was in the moderate range for the total score of 40. Assessment of perceived social support indicated a moderate level of perceived support for all dimensions. Also, a significant correlation was found between the women's BCFS scores and perceived social support (r=-0.29, P<0.001). Conclusion: We found that there was a negative statistically significant correlation between the BCF and social support. Therefore, this study suggests that healthcare providers pay attention to these factors. Moreover, further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of BCF due to low social support.
Research shows that herbal spices, including seeds of Elettaria cardamomum, may exert beneficial ... more Research shows that herbal spices, including seeds of Elettaria cardamomum, may exert beneficial effects on unhealthy metabolic status. This study is a systematic review of the effect of green cardamom in patients with metabolic syndrome and its related disorders. PubMed/Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify the relevant randomized clinical trials. The data were pooled using the random‐effects model, and weighted mean difference (WMD) was considered as summary effect size. Of 625 clinical trials, eight reports with 595 patients (299 in intervention group and 296 in control group) were included. The findings indicated that green cardamom significantly decreased diastolic blood pressure (WMD: −0.91 mmHg, 95%CI; −1.19, −0.62), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (WMD: −1.21 mg/L, 95%CI; −2.18, −0.24), interleukin 6 levels (WMD: −2.41 ng/L, 95%CI; −4.35, −0.47). However, cardamom supplementation did not significantly affect systolic blood pressure. This meta‐analysis demonstrated that green cardamom could improve blood pressure control and exert antiinflammatory effects which could help patients with unhealthy metabolic profile better manage their health. Importantly, there were few eligible randomized trials with quite a low number of participants. Further prospective studies on larger sample sizes and longer duration of supplementation are warranted for its widespread use.
International journal of high risk behaviors and addiction, Jun 11, 2022
Background: Adolescence is one of the most important and challenging stages in life. psychologica... more Background: Adolescence is one of the most important and challenging stages in life. psychological, cognitive and emotional changes during this period can expose adolescents to high risk behaviors. Objectives: The current study examined the effectiveness of resilience training on emotional intelligence (EI) and assessed gender differences in this regard among adolescents living in the outskirts of Shiraz, Iran. Methods: This pre-post study included 191 students and used an intervention consisting of nine resilience-training sessions. The evaluated outcomes were EI and its 15 components. The paired-samples and independent-samples t-tests were used to analyze the data. Results: Out of 191 students, 88 (46.1%) were boys. Before and after the intervention, the mean EI score for boys was 312.52 ± 37.79 and 327.31 ± 37.75, while for girls, it was 310.74 ± 30.05 and 312.20 ± 29.51, respectively. Following the intervention, the scores of boys in problem-solving (P = 0.007), happiness (P = 0.001), emotional self-awareness (P = 0.044), optimism (P = 0.029), self-regard (P = 0.046), impulse control (P = 0.013), and social responsibility (P = 0.042), as well as the total score of EI (P = 0.005), increased significantly. However, only the optimism score (P = 0.004) rose significantly in girls post-intervention. In addition, there were significant differences in the mean of problem-solving (P = 0.006), happiness (P = 0.001), impulse control (P = 0.042), and the total score (P = 0.035) between boys and girls, before and after the intervention. Conclusions: Resilience training may help moderate high-risk behaviors among adolescents living on the outskirts of Iran's major cities, particularly boys. Based on the gender differences in EI components, it was suggested that female adolescents required significantly more attention. Nonetheless, gender differences in EI components were contentious, and it was concluded that a variety of factors, including the socio-cultural context, may be involved.
International Journal of Biomathematics, Oct 31, 2017
Ebola virus (EBOV) is the causative agent of a severe hemorrhagic fever disease associated with h... more Ebola virus (EBOV) is the causative agent of a severe hemorrhagic fever disease associated with high mortality rates in humans. This virus has five strains of which Zaire Ebola virus (ZEBOV) is the first and most important strain. It can be transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. The genome of EBOV codes one non-structural and seven structural proteins consisting of two forms of glycoprotein (GP): soluble glycoprotein (sGP) and GP (spike). In this paper, we attempted to characterize and predict physicochemical properties, B-cell epitopes, mutation sites, phosphorylation sites, glycosylation sites, and different protein structures of EBOV GP to provide comprehensive data about changes of this GP during a 40-years course (1976–2015). GP sequences were obtained from NCBI gene bank from 1976–2015. Expasy’sProtParam, PROTSCALE, immuneepitope, Bepipred, BcePred, ABCpred, VaxiJen, DISPHOS, NetPhos, and numerous programs were used to predict and analyze all sequences. More variety of mutations were found in 2015 sequences and mutations were related to huge changes in B-cell epitopes, phosphorylation and glycosylation sites. In addition, our results determined different sites of disulfide bonds and an important mutation related to IgE epitope as well as four potent B-cell epitopes (380–387, 318–338, 405–438 and 434–475). In this study, we suggested the effect of mutations on GP properties, six positions for disulfide bonds and four phosphorylation sites for protein kinase C enzyme. Selected sequences were shown different sites for O-link and N-link glycosylation. A mutation that changed GP to an allergen protein and has a significant role in vaccine designing as well as four potent B-cell epitopes in GP protein were found.
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of services provided in Voluntary Counseling... more Background: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of services provided in Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers from the perspective of clients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) in Shiraz, Iran, in 2019. The data were collected using a SERVQUAL questionnaire. Results: The mean scores of expected and perceived service qualities were 4.81 (95% CI: 4.741-4.864) and 3.96 (95% CI: 3.901-4.019) in male subjects and 4.85 (95% CI: 4.80-4.89) and 4.09 (95% CI: 4.01-4.135) in female subjects, respectively. There was a significant difference between the expectations and perceptions of clients in all dimensions of service quality in VCT centers. The gaps in the dimensions of responsiveness and empathy were greater than all other dimensions. Conclusions: Due to the high dissatisfaction of PLWH with the quality of services in the responsiveness, accessibility, and empathy dimensions, priority should be given to these dimensions in any improvement effort. The low education level of this group should be taken into account for any educational programs to be successful.
Introduction: Understanding clients' perspectives on quality improvement programs is essential to... more Introduction: Understanding clients' perspectives on quality improvement programs is essential to achieve the goals of health services. Determining client satisfaction could help decision makers to implement programs fit to their needs as perceived by service providers and clients. This study aimed to assess the level of satisfaction among women attending health centers regarding the services received in governmental health facilities in Shiraz, southern Iran. Method: This cross-sectional study was performed in 24 urban health centers. Using systematic random sampling method, 8 clinics were assigned to each group. Then questionnaires were distributed among 240 married women in 15-49 year-old age group who had referred to selected clinics for receiving some services. For data analysis, SPSS version 15 software and Chi-square statistical procedure were used to evaluate clients' satisfaction. Results: Data showed that 101 out of 240 respondents were completely satisfied with the personnel as well as the health center. Furthermore, satisfaction was found to be the highest among clients of those centers ranked as middle class socioeconomic status, while no significant difference was found between centers based on their socioeconomic status. Conclusion: The results of the present study would enable policy-makers to effectively improve the quality of health care, keeping a balance between providers' and patients' perspectives on the quality of health care.
The local retail food environment around schools can have an important role in encouraging childr... more The local retail food environment around schools can have an important role in encouraging children to low-quality food choices; and may act as a potential risk factor in their diet. Thus, evaluating the food environment is essential for adopting policies and programs that support healthy nutrition in children. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and nutritional characteristics of packaged processed/ultra-processed food and beverage products with child-oriented marketing attributes in food stores around primary schools in Tehran, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 239 food stores located within a 500-meter buffer around 64 primary schools in Tehran province. The presence of marketing strategies directed at children and nutrition information from traffic light labels of packaged foods available in these stores were extracted. Data were analyzed overall and separately for the subset of foods placed on front shelves at the entrance of stores. Among 445 discrete food products marketed to children via their packaging, 198 (44.49%) were placed on shelves in front of the stores entrance. Potato chips and bulky cereals group had the highest energy density (507.15 ± 44.05 Kcal/100gr). Due to the color code of traffic light labels, 100% of fruit juices had high levels of sugar. Of potato chips and bulky cereals, 89.38% were assigned a red color traffic light for total fat levels. Moreover, 62.50% of processed fruit and vegetables contained high levels of salt. The level of trans-fatty acids were not high in any of the food products. The high amount of sugar, salt, and fat in a remarkable proportion of food products marketed to children can be considered a risk factor for children’s health. Initiation and implementation of appropriate policies to control the food environment around schools in Iran is recommended.
Background Infertility has recently become a salient but neglected global issue. Policies to addr... more Background Infertility has recently become a salient but neglected global issue. Policies to address the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are vital, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Hence, the aim of this study was to compare the national infertility policies in the selected countries (LMICs comparing with high-income) to determine gaps or to con rm desirable policies in the given health systems. Methods This study has executed a comparative policy analysis of infertility services using the universal health coverage framework (nancial protection, population coverage, and service features) in three scopes (prevention, treatment, and supportive care). Seven countries that had infertility programs in their health sectors were selected. Results The results showed that nancial protection was good in high and middle-income countries, but in a low income, and in one high-income country was poor. The ndings also showed that health systems in the same countries had no infertility services for men. Preventive and supportive care services were neglected in LMICs by governments. Discussion The ndings indicate that income is not the only factor that ful lls universal health coverage for infertility care services. Perhaps to achieve equity in infertility care services, it should be seen as a universal human right to accomplish the right to have a child and to have a life with physical and mental health for all men and women.
Background: Chronic patients need regular follow-ups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these regular... more Background: Chronic patients need regular follow-ups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these regular visits can be affected. The delay of chronic patients and its contributing factors in their periodic visits during the COVID-19 pandemic are examined here. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2021, in Fars, Iran. Two hundred and eighty-six households with at least one chronic patient were recruited. Then, several trained questioners called the studied households and asked about the studied variables. The dependent variable was the number of delays in regular visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results were analyzed through Poisson regression by SPSS Statistics version 22 and GraphPad Prism software version 9. A significance level of 0.05 was considered for this study. Results: Out of 286 households 113 (73.4%) fathers, 138 (70.1%) mothers, and 17 (58.6%) children in the households reported delayed referral. In fathers, referring to the health center was significantly associated with a decrease in the number of delays (P=0.033). The higher age of the householder (P=0.005), the higher number of children (P=0.043), and having a family physician (P=0.007) in the mothers' group, also the number of children in households (P=0.001) in the children group were significantly associated with increasing the number of delays. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic not only creates direct harmful effects but also adversely affects people in danger of chronic diseases. Delays in follow-ups are taken into account as a major challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue is not limited to rural or urban residency.
Introduction. Not only does Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) threaten the complications associa... more Introduction. Not only does Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) threaten the complications associated with immunodeficiency, but also does it cause a set of chronic conditions that may lead to serious problems in these patients. Hypercoagulable state and other hematologic manifestations are reported as leading factors in various clinical problems like deep vein thrombosis in People Living with HIV (PLHIV). The present study aimed to investigate whether there is any correlation between proteins S and C levels (the thrombophilic conditions in HIV seropositive cases) and hematological factors, biochemical markers, CD4 count, HIV viral load, anti-retroviral therapy, Hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) confection, drug use, infectious diseases, and demographic characteristics. Materials and methods. Protein S and C levels in 100 PLHIV were measured. Coagulation tests, CD4 count, HIV viral load, biochemical and hematological factors, and infectious tests were measured in these cases to...
Background: Considering contradictory reports about the impact of dietary pattern on CD4 cell cou... more Background: Considering contradictory reports about the impact of dietary pattern on CD4 cell count in previous studies and the potential importance of diet on the immune system, this study aimed to assess the association between dietary patterns and CD4 count among HIV-infected patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV-infected patients aged 18–60 who registered in the referral Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center of Shiraz, Iran. The principal component analysis identified nutritional patterns and factors. The association between the score of the dietary patterns and CD4 count was considered in two categories of CD4 more/less than 500 and using backward logistic regression after adjusting for confounders. Results: A total of 226 participants were included in the analysis. CD4 was significantly lower in males ( p < 0.001). Participants with illegal drug use ( p < 0.001), HCV ( p = 0.001), and HBV ( p < 0.001) had lower serum CD4. Four extract...
Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has claimed the lives of millions of people during... more Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has claimed the lives of millions of people during the past decades. While several antiretroviral drugs like Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs) have been introduced to control HIV, Transmitted Drug Resistance (TDR) in HIV genome caused failure in treatment. This study aimed to investigate TDR and natural occurring mutations (NOPs) in HIV integrase gene in Iranian HIV patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, blood samples of 30 HIV-positive patients who had never taken integrase inhibitors were considered for CD4 T cell count, RT real-time PCR, and, Nested PCR. The sequencing results were analyzed by CLC sequence viewer software and Stanford University HIV Drug Resistance Database. Results: In all samples, nine NOPs with a high prevalence were found; however, we did not find any drug resistance mutations, except for a mutation in one sample, which showed a low resistance level. Subtype A1 was dominant in all samples. ...
Background With the unprecedented pace of modernization, risky sexual behaviors have become more ... more Background With the unprecedented pace of modernization, risky sexual behaviors have become more frequent in developing countries, such as Iran. We aimed to assess the prevalence of informal sexual relationship (ISR) and factors associated with having ISR in young adult in Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 414 young adult smartphone users in Iran, in 2019. Data was collected through an online questionnaire (including: ISR, socio-demographic variables, their use of social network, religious beliefs, personality, and loneliness). Logistic regression model was used to determine factors related to ISR. Results A total of 152 (36.7%; 95% CI 32.1–45.6) participants reported having ISR. Finding an opposite-sex friend through a mobile app (OR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.34, 5.01), being currently sexually active (OR = 2.39, 95% CI 1.26, 4.56), higher scores of extroverted personality (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.01, 1.27), and closer relationship with parents (OR = 3.17, 95% CI 2.25, 8...
Background One major factor causing food insecurity is believed to be poverty. Approximately 20 m... more Background One major factor causing food insecurity is believed to be poverty. Approximately 20 million Iranians live in slums with a vulnerable socioeconomic context. The outbreak of COVID-19, on top of the economic sanctions against Iran, has increased this vulnerability and made its inhabitants prone to food insecurity. The current study investigates food insecurity and its associated socioeconomic factors among slum residents of Shiraz, southwest Iran. Methods Random cluster sampling was used to select the participants in this cross-sectional study. The heads of the households completed the validated Household Food Insecurity Access Scale questionnaire to assess food insecurity. Univariate analysis was utilized to calculate the unadjusted associations between the study variables. Moreover, a multiple logistic regression model was employed to determine the adjusted association of each independent variable with the food insecurity risk. Results Among the 1227 households, the preva...
Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Screening program... more Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Screening programs are the most common prevention methods. Perceived social support and fear are two important factors affecting women's participation in breast cancer screening. This study aimed to determine the relationship between fear of BC and perceived social support among women in Torbat Heydarieh, northeast of Iran. Methods: This study is an online cross-sectional survey that was conducted on 352 women in Torbat Heydarieh city of Northeast Iran, from October 26th, 2021 to December 26th, 2022. Along with collecting sociodemographic characteristics, the Breast Cancer Fear Scale (BCFS), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were electronically administered to participants. Data were analyzed through SPSS software version 25, using independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression models. The statistical significance level was set at P<0.05. Results: The mean score for the BCFS was 20.67±1.03 which was in the moderate range for the total score of 40. Assessment of perceived social support indicated a moderate level of perceived support for all dimensions. Also, a significant correlation was found between the women's BCFS scores and perceived social support (r=-0.29, P<0.001). Conclusion: We found that there was a negative statistically significant correlation between the BCF and social support. Therefore, this study suggests that healthcare providers pay attention to these factors. Moreover, further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of BCF due to low social support.
Research shows that herbal spices, including seeds of Elettaria cardamomum, may exert beneficial ... more Research shows that herbal spices, including seeds of Elettaria cardamomum, may exert beneficial effects on unhealthy metabolic status. This study is a systematic review of the effect of green cardamom in patients with metabolic syndrome and its related disorders. PubMed/Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify the relevant randomized clinical trials. The data were pooled using the random‐effects model, and weighted mean difference (WMD) was considered as summary effect size. Of 625 clinical trials, eight reports with 595 patients (299 in intervention group and 296 in control group) were included. The findings indicated that green cardamom significantly decreased diastolic blood pressure (WMD: −0.91 mmHg, 95%CI; −1.19, −0.62), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (WMD: −1.21 mg/L, 95%CI; −2.18, −0.24), interleukin 6 levels (WMD: −2.41 ng/L, 95%CI; −4.35, −0.47). However, cardamom supplementation did not significantly affect systolic blood pressure. This meta‐analysis demonstrated that green cardamom could improve blood pressure control and exert antiinflammatory effects which could help patients with unhealthy metabolic profile better manage their health. Importantly, there were few eligible randomized trials with quite a low number of participants. Further prospective studies on larger sample sizes and longer duration of supplementation are warranted for its widespread use.
International journal of high risk behaviors and addiction, Jun 11, 2022
Background: Adolescence is one of the most important and challenging stages in life. psychologica... more Background: Adolescence is one of the most important and challenging stages in life. psychological, cognitive and emotional changes during this period can expose adolescents to high risk behaviors. Objectives: The current study examined the effectiveness of resilience training on emotional intelligence (EI) and assessed gender differences in this regard among adolescents living in the outskirts of Shiraz, Iran. Methods: This pre-post study included 191 students and used an intervention consisting of nine resilience-training sessions. The evaluated outcomes were EI and its 15 components. The paired-samples and independent-samples t-tests were used to analyze the data. Results: Out of 191 students, 88 (46.1%) were boys. Before and after the intervention, the mean EI score for boys was 312.52 ± 37.79 and 327.31 ± 37.75, while for girls, it was 310.74 ± 30.05 and 312.20 ± 29.51, respectively. Following the intervention, the scores of boys in problem-solving (P = 0.007), happiness (P = 0.001), emotional self-awareness (P = 0.044), optimism (P = 0.029), self-regard (P = 0.046), impulse control (P = 0.013), and social responsibility (P = 0.042), as well as the total score of EI (P = 0.005), increased significantly. However, only the optimism score (P = 0.004) rose significantly in girls post-intervention. In addition, there were significant differences in the mean of problem-solving (P = 0.006), happiness (P = 0.001), impulse control (P = 0.042), and the total score (P = 0.035) between boys and girls, before and after the intervention. Conclusions: Resilience training may help moderate high-risk behaviors among adolescents living on the outskirts of Iran's major cities, particularly boys. Based on the gender differences in EI components, it was suggested that female adolescents required significantly more attention. Nonetheless, gender differences in EI components were contentious, and it was concluded that a variety of factors, including the socio-cultural context, may be involved.
International Journal of Biomathematics, Oct 31, 2017
Ebola virus (EBOV) is the causative agent of a severe hemorrhagic fever disease associated with h... more Ebola virus (EBOV) is the causative agent of a severe hemorrhagic fever disease associated with high mortality rates in humans. This virus has five strains of which Zaire Ebola virus (ZEBOV) is the first and most important strain. It can be transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. The genome of EBOV codes one non-structural and seven structural proteins consisting of two forms of glycoprotein (GP): soluble glycoprotein (sGP) and GP (spike). In this paper, we attempted to characterize and predict physicochemical properties, B-cell epitopes, mutation sites, phosphorylation sites, glycosylation sites, and different protein structures of EBOV GP to provide comprehensive data about changes of this GP during a 40-years course (1976–2015). GP sequences were obtained from NCBI gene bank from 1976–2015. Expasy’sProtParam, PROTSCALE, immuneepitope, Bepipred, BcePred, ABCpred, VaxiJen, DISPHOS, NetPhos, and numerous programs were used to predict and analyze all sequences. More variety of mutations were found in 2015 sequences and mutations were related to huge changes in B-cell epitopes, phosphorylation and glycosylation sites. In addition, our results determined different sites of disulfide bonds and an important mutation related to IgE epitope as well as four potent B-cell epitopes (380–387, 318–338, 405–438 and 434–475). In this study, we suggested the effect of mutations on GP properties, six positions for disulfide bonds and four phosphorylation sites for protein kinase C enzyme. Selected sequences were shown different sites for O-link and N-link glycosylation. A mutation that changed GP to an allergen protein and has a significant role in vaccine designing as well as four potent B-cell epitopes in GP protein were found.
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of services provided in Voluntary Counseling... more Background: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of services provided in Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers from the perspective of clients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) in Shiraz, Iran, in 2019. The data were collected using a SERVQUAL questionnaire. Results: The mean scores of expected and perceived service qualities were 4.81 (95% CI: 4.741-4.864) and 3.96 (95% CI: 3.901-4.019) in male subjects and 4.85 (95% CI: 4.80-4.89) and 4.09 (95% CI: 4.01-4.135) in female subjects, respectively. There was a significant difference between the expectations and perceptions of clients in all dimensions of service quality in VCT centers. The gaps in the dimensions of responsiveness and empathy were greater than all other dimensions. Conclusions: Due to the high dissatisfaction of PLWH with the quality of services in the responsiveness, accessibility, and empathy dimensions, priority should be given to these dimensions in any improvement effort. The low education level of this group should be taken into account for any educational programs to be successful.
Introduction: Understanding clients' perspectives on quality improvement programs is essential to... more Introduction: Understanding clients' perspectives on quality improvement programs is essential to achieve the goals of health services. Determining client satisfaction could help decision makers to implement programs fit to their needs as perceived by service providers and clients. This study aimed to assess the level of satisfaction among women attending health centers regarding the services received in governmental health facilities in Shiraz, southern Iran. Method: This cross-sectional study was performed in 24 urban health centers. Using systematic random sampling method, 8 clinics were assigned to each group. Then questionnaires were distributed among 240 married women in 15-49 year-old age group who had referred to selected clinics for receiving some services. For data analysis, SPSS version 15 software and Chi-square statistical procedure were used to evaluate clients' satisfaction. Results: Data showed that 101 out of 240 respondents were completely satisfied with the personnel as well as the health center. Furthermore, satisfaction was found to be the highest among clients of those centers ranked as middle class socioeconomic status, while no significant difference was found between centers based on their socioeconomic status. Conclusion: The results of the present study would enable policy-makers to effectively improve the quality of health care, keeping a balance between providers' and patients' perspectives on the quality of health care.
The local retail food environment around schools can have an important role in encouraging childr... more The local retail food environment around schools can have an important role in encouraging children to low-quality food choices; and may act as a potential risk factor in their diet. Thus, evaluating the food environment is essential for adopting policies and programs that support healthy nutrition in children. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and nutritional characteristics of packaged processed/ultra-processed food and beverage products with child-oriented marketing attributes in food stores around primary schools in Tehran, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 239 food stores located within a 500-meter buffer around 64 primary schools in Tehran province. The presence of marketing strategies directed at children and nutrition information from traffic light labels of packaged foods available in these stores were extracted. Data were analyzed overall and separately for the subset of foods placed on front shelves at the entrance of stores. Among 445 discrete food products marketed to children via their packaging, 198 (44.49%) were placed on shelves in front of the stores entrance. Potato chips and bulky cereals group had the highest energy density (507.15 ± 44.05 Kcal/100gr). Due to the color code of traffic light labels, 100% of fruit juices had high levels of sugar. Of potato chips and bulky cereals, 89.38% were assigned a red color traffic light for total fat levels. Moreover, 62.50% of processed fruit and vegetables contained high levels of salt. The level of trans-fatty acids were not high in any of the food products. The high amount of sugar, salt, and fat in a remarkable proportion of food products marketed to children can be considered a risk factor for children’s health. Initiation and implementation of appropriate policies to control the food environment around schools in Iran is recommended.
Background Infertility has recently become a salient but neglected global issue. Policies to addr... more Background Infertility has recently become a salient but neglected global issue. Policies to address the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are vital, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Hence, the aim of this study was to compare the national infertility policies in the selected countries (LMICs comparing with high-income) to determine gaps or to con rm desirable policies in the given health systems. Methods This study has executed a comparative policy analysis of infertility services using the universal health coverage framework (nancial protection, population coverage, and service features) in three scopes (prevention, treatment, and supportive care). Seven countries that had infertility programs in their health sectors were selected. Results The results showed that nancial protection was good in high and middle-income countries, but in a low income, and in one high-income country was poor. The ndings also showed that health systems in the same countries had no infertility services for men. Preventive and supportive care services were neglected in LMICs by governments. Discussion The ndings indicate that income is not the only factor that ful lls universal health coverage for infertility care services. Perhaps to achieve equity in infertility care services, it should be seen as a universal human right to accomplish the right to have a child and to have a life with physical and mental health for all men and women.
Background: Chronic patients need regular follow-ups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these regular... more Background: Chronic patients need regular follow-ups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these regular visits can be affected. The delay of chronic patients and its contributing factors in their periodic visits during the COVID-19 pandemic are examined here. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2021, in Fars, Iran. Two hundred and eighty-six households with at least one chronic patient were recruited. Then, several trained questioners called the studied households and asked about the studied variables. The dependent variable was the number of delays in regular visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results were analyzed through Poisson regression by SPSS Statistics version 22 and GraphPad Prism software version 9. A significance level of 0.05 was considered for this study. Results: Out of 286 households 113 (73.4%) fathers, 138 (70.1%) mothers, and 17 (58.6%) children in the households reported delayed referral. In fathers, referring to the health center was significantly associated with a decrease in the number of delays (P=0.033). The higher age of the householder (P=0.005), the higher number of children (P=0.043), and having a family physician (P=0.007) in the mothers' group, also the number of children in households (P=0.001) in the children group were significantly associated with increasing the number of delays. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic not only creates direct harmful effects but also adversely affects people in danger of chronic diseases. Delays in follow-ups are taken into account as a major challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue is not limited to rural or urban residency.
Introduction. Not only does Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) threaten the complications associa... more Introduction. Not only does Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) threaten the complications associated with immunodeficiency, but also does it cause a set of chronic conditions that may lead to serious problems in these patients. Hypercoagulable state and other hematologic manifestations are reported as leading factors in various clinical problems like deep vein thrombosis in People Living with HIV (PLHIV). The present study aimed to investigate whether there is any correlation between proteins S and C levels (the thrombophilic conditions in HIV seropositive cases) and hematological factors, biochemical markers, CD4 count, HIV viral load, anti-retroviral therapy, Hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) confection, drug use, infectious diseases, and demographic characteristics. Materials and methods. Protein S and C levels in 100 PLHIV were measured. Coagulation tests, CD4 count, HIV viral load, biochemical and hematological factors, and infectious tests were measured in these cases to...
Background: Considering contradictory reports about the impact of dietary pattern on CD4 cell cou... more Background: Considering contradictory reports about the impact of dietary pattern on CD4 cell count in previous studies and the potential importance of diet on the immune system, this study aimed to assess the association between dietary patterns and CD4 count among HIV-infected patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV-infected patients aged 18–60 who registered in the referral Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center of Shiraz, Iran. The principal component analysis identified nutritional patterns and factors. The association between the score of the dietary patterns and CD4 count was considered in two categories of CD4 more/less than 500 and using backward logistic regression after adjusting for confounders. Results: A total of 226 participants were included in the analysis. CD4 was significantly lower in males ( p < 0.001). Participants with illegal drug use ( p < 0.001), HCV ( p = 0.001), and HBV ( p < 0.001) had lower serum CD4. Four extract...
Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has claimed the lives of millions of people during... more Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has claimed the lives of millions of people during the past decades. While several antiretroviral drugs like Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs) have been introduced to control HIV, Transmitted Drug Resistance (TDR) in HIV genome caused failure in treatment. This study aimed to investigate TDR and natural occurring mutations (NOPs) in HIV integrase gene in Iranian HIV patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, blood samples of 30 HIV-positive patients who had never taken integrase inhibitors were considered for CD4 T cell count, RT real-time PCR, and, Nested PCR. The sequencing results were analyzed by CLC sequence viewer software and Stanford University HIV Drug Resistance Database. Results: In all samples, nine NOPs with a high prevalence were found; however, we did not find any drug resistance mutations, except for a mutation in one sample, which showed a low resistance level. Subtype A1 was dominant in all samples. ...
Background With the unprecedented pace of modernization, risky sexual behaviors have become more ... more Background With the unprecedented pace of modernization, risky sexual behaviors have become more frequent in developing countries, such as Iran. We aimed to assess the prevalence of informal sexual relationship (ISR) and factors associated with having ISR in young adult in Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 414 young adult smartphone users in Iran, in 2019. Data was collected through an online questionnaire (including: ISR, socio-demographic variables, their use of social network, religious beliefs, personality, and loneliness). Logistic regression model was used to determine factors related to ISR. Results A total of 152 (36.7%; 95% CI 32.1–45.6) participants reported having ISR. Finding an opposite-sex friend through a mobile app (OR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.34, 5.01), being currently sexually active (OR = 2.39, 95% CI 1.26, 4.56), higher scores of extroverted personality (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.01, 1.27), and closer relationship with parents (OR = 3.17, 95% CI 2.25, 8...
Background One major factor causing food insecurity is believed to be poverty. Approximately 20 m... more Background One major factor causing food insecurity is believed to be poverty. Approximately 20 million Iranians live in slums with a vulnerable socioeconomic context. The outbreak of COVID-19, on top of the economic sanctions against Iran, has increased this vulnerability and made its inhabitants prone to food insecurity. The current study investigates food insecurity and its associated socioeconomic factors among slum residents of Shiraz, southwest Iran. Methods Random cluster sampling was used to select the participants in this cross-sectional study. The heads of the households completed the validated Household Food Insecurity Access Scale questionnaire to assess food insecurity. Univariate analysis was utilized to calculate the unadjusted associations between the study variables. Moreover, a multiple logistic regression model was employed to determine the adjusted association of each independent variable with the food insecurity risk. Results Among the 1227 households, the preva...
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Papers by Hassan Joulaei