Caspian Journal of Health Research
Volume:9 Issue: 1, Jan 2024

Vitamin D is a basic nutrient and plays a very crucial role in preventing various diseases, so it is known as an indicator of health and survival.

 This study was conducted to determine the serum level of vitamin D in women receiving vitamin supplementation in Persian Guilan cohort study (PGCS). 

In this analytic cross-sectional study that was conducted on PERSIAN Guilan cohort, 614 subjects from 5633 women aged 35 to 70 years old who were taking vitamin D supplements were selected through census method. Required data were collected in two sections of demographic and social characteristics and serum measurement 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 at three levels of deficient (<10), insufficient (10-20) and sufficient (>20 ng/ml). Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The mean age of people was 50.3±8.7 years, of which 5.2 % of the subjects had vitamin D deficiency, 29.5% had insufficient serum level and 65.4% subjects with sufficient serum levels. Based on the results, there was a significant relationship between employment status, place of residence and housing area with vitamin D level (P<0.05), and non-employed persons (P=0.044), living in the city (P=0.002) and a residential house with a higher area (P=0.014) had higher levels of vitamin D. There was no significant association between serum vitamin D levels with age, body mass index, marital status, alcohol consumption, level of education and how to take vitamin D supplementation.

In the present study, about one third of vitamin consumers did not have a sufficient serum level despite taking the supplement, so it is expected that the country's health system, health officials, and policymakers pay attention to the education program of optimum consumption as well as appropriate prescription of vitamin D supplement.

People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) may experience adverse consequences due to difficulty understanding and interacting with others.

This study was conducted to compare the theory of mind, emotion recognition, and social cognition in teenagers with GAD and healthy controls.

This case-control study was conducted on 60 patients with GAD and 60 sample of teenagers without GAD in Tehran, during 2022-2023.  The GAD was diagnosed based on DSM-IV_TR criteria. The data collection tools included theory of mind scale (TOM), social cognition questionnaire and Ekman 60-Faces Test (EK-60F). One-way analysis of variance and post hoc test were performed to analyze the data using SPSS version 27 with a two-tailed 5% level of significance. 

The results observed significant differences in the mean values of all variables in four groups of females with and without generalized anxiety disorder, and males with and without generalized anxiety disorder. Comparing the means of study groups, it can be observed that females have higher mean values for their study variables compared to males (P<0.05).

  The findings indicated that teenagers with generalized anxiety disorder were more prone to experiencing difficulties in theory of mind, emotional perception, and social cognition, particularly among females, compared to their counterparts without the disorder.  During adolescence, it is vital to possess the skills of emotional management and the absence of anxiety to establish relationships, nurture meaningful friendships, and actively participate in social interactions.

Hypertension one of the main risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and premature death worldwide. Researches indicate different cognitive activities and executive functions in cardiovascular and hypertension patients compared to non-afflicted people.

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on executive functions in patients with hypertension.

The present study was a randomized clinical trial based on the pre-test, post-test, follow-up design. The statistical population consisted of all the people with hypertension who referred to Heshmat Heart Hospital in Rasht city, Iran, in 2021. Thirty-four qualified volunteers were included in the study by purposive sampling method and randomly assigned to two groups of MBSR and control. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (computer version) were the instrument employed in this research; and MBSR sessions were held for 2 months (8 sessions, one 120-minute session each week). The research data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test.

In the pre-test design, there wasn't a difference in the completed categories and perseverative errors, between the MBSR group (2±0.485 and 30.06±6.60) and the control group (2.06±0.659 and 29.88±9.4. In the post-test design, a significant difference in the completed categories and perseverative errors was found between the MBSR group (3.29±0.848 and 20.94±5.71) and the control group (2.18±0.636 and 29.94±8.70); which implies the MBSR group outperformed the control group in Improving executive functions of patients with hypertension. Finally, at the follow-up, all changes were still stable.

MBSR was effective on executive functions of patients with hypertension. Therefore, it is suggested that the mentioned intervention be used in medical centres to improve the cognitive activities of patients with hypertension, so that its positive results include the condition of these patients.

People with HIV/AIDS face numerous challenges, including the effect of the disease on their personal relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and healthcare professionals.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate social interactions among patients with HIV/AIDS in Iran. Materials &

This qualitative content analysis study was conducted on 12 patients with HIV/AIDS referring to the Behavioral Disease Counseling Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran and the Behavioral Disease Counseling Center in Rasht City in 2018. Semi-structured, face-to-face, and audio-recorded interviews were used to collect data. Purposive sampling with maximum variation was used to select participants. The duration of the interview was between 40 to 75 min. MAXQDA software, version 10 was used for data organization and management, and conventional content analysis was used for data analysis.

From the analysis of interviews with 12 individuals with HIV/AIDS (7 men and 5 women), 51 codes were extracted in three categories: Disease disclosure (disclosure to important people in life, disclosure to public and health services, and dealing with the challenges of disclosure), social support (impairment in interpersonal relationships and relationships with peers), and acceptance (social acceptance and acceptance by health care providers).

Despite significant progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and education, the stigma caused by this disease remains high and has a negative impact on the interpersonal relationships of people living with HIV/AIDS with their families, relatives, friends, colleagues, and healthcare providers.

Thyroid disorders, particularly hypothyroidism, can affect the movement of the digestive system. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between hypothyroidism and constipation.

In this cross-sectional study that was conducted on the PERSIAN Guilan Cohort Study (PGCS), all individuals between the ages of 35 and 70 years, irrespective of gender, were included. The questionnaires were completed using dedicated online software that included demographic data, clinical characteristics, and nutritional information. Hypothyroidism was defined based on taking levothyroxine medicine as stated by the patient and diagnosis of chronic constipation was based on self-report. Individuals were divided into two groups based on their constipation status and compared with respect to the desired variables. The relationship between hypothyroidism and constipation was examined using logistic regression analysis. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

The prevalence of hypothyroidism and constipation were 5.1% and 4.4% respectively, and both were more common in women than in men. In unadjusted model, there was no significant association between hypothyroidism and constipation (OR=1.28, 95% CI: 0.88–1.87, P=0.201). Similar result was obtained in fully adjusted model (OR=1.03, 95% CI: 0.70–1.53, P=0.875).

There was no significant association between hypothyroidism and constipation in this study. Since nutrition and the type of fruits and vegetables and the type of substances consumed have an effective role in eliminating constipation, we recommend that these items be considered in future studies.

Dengue fever virus is a mosquito-borne virus that poses a significant public health threat worldwide. Dengue virus is primarily transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes, which develop in small man-made containers in urban environments. Climate change and urbanization have contributed to the spread of the Aedes mosquitoes, increasing the risk of dengue virus transmission in densely populated areas. Increasing the transmission of virus by Aedes mosquitoes increases the dengue infection. Additionally, factors such as poor sanitation, low community immunity levels, inadequate waste management and a lack of access to healthcare can also impact the establishment and spread of dengue fever. Globalization, international travel and tourism can introduce the virus to new regions and contribute to its establishment. These factors create ideal conditions for the Aedes mosquitoes to develop and for the dengue virus to establish and spread, posing a significant public health challenge.

Patients with maxillofacial problems face a higher risk of developing oral health issues, which can worsen their existing condition and overall health. Therefore, providing tailored oral health education is essential to help these patients overcome challenges and maintain good oral hygiene. Educating patients about the connection between oral health and systemic conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes can motivate them to prioritize their oral hygiene and prevent potential complications.

Customizing educational programs to individual needs and offering practical advice, including brushing techniques and recommended products, can help patients with maxillofacial problems overcome challenges in maintaining good oral hygiene.

By improving oral health education, patients with maxillofacial problems can experience reduced risk of oral health complications, improved overall health, enhanced quality of life, and empowerment in managing their oral health. Enhancing oral health education for patients with maxillofacial problems can lead to better oral health outcomes, improved overall health, increased comfort, and a higher quality of life. Specialized educational programs, tailored resources, and effective communication between healthcare providers and patients are crucial in achieving these positive outcomes.