Relationship between sociodemographics, dietary intake, and physical activity with gestational weight gain among pregnant women in Rafsanjan City, Iran.

Gestational weight gain (GWG) is a determinant of health and nutrition of mothers and offspring. However, many factors associated with GWG are not completely understood. The present study assessed the relationship between sociodemographics, dietary intake, and physical activity with GWG in 308 Iranian pregnant women attending government healthcare centres in Rafsanjan city, Iran. Women gained an average of 12.87±3.57 kg during pregnancy while 54% did not gain weight within the Institute of Medicine (IOM)-recommended range. Univariate logistic models showed that gestaional weight gain was related to age, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), energy intake, and sitting time. Cumulative logit model showed positive relationship between age (p=0.0137) and pre-pregnancy BMI (p<0.0001) with GWG. All pregnant women should be counselled on achieving the reccomended GWG to prevent adverse maternal and prenatal outcomes. Pre-pregnancy and gestational nutritional status and physical activity should be emphasized in antenatal care.

Socioeconomic status and intake of energy and sodium are associated with calcium intake among pregnant women in Rafsanjan city, Iran.

AIM: Calcium intake in developing countries is lower than that in developed countries. In Iran, inadequate calcium intake in the general population, especially among women, is a public health concern. This cross-sectional study examined the correlation between sociodemographic, obstetrical and lifestyle factors with calcium intake among pregnant women in Rafsanjan city, southeast Iran. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sample of 308 healthy pregnant women aged 18-35 years from seven urban health-care centers participated in the study. All women were measured for height and weight and interviewed for demographic and socioeconomic, obstetrical, lifestyle and dietary intake information while pre-pregnancy weight was obtained from prenatal record. Stepwise multiple regression was used to assess factors associated with calcium intake. RESULTS: The mean daily calcium intake of women was 968.51±363.05mg/day and only 46.4% of the pregnant women met the dietary reference intakes of 1000 mg for calcium. Milk and milk products showed the greatest contribution to calcium intake (75.11%). Energy-adjusted calcium intake was positively associated with years of schooling (P<0.01), calorie (P<0.01) and energy-adjusted sodium (P<0.01) intakes. CONCLUSION: This information would be useful in planning and developing appropriate strategies to improve calcium intake in pregnant women. Efforts to increase calcium intake in pregnant women should focus on promoting nutrient-dense food and making these foods available and accessible, particularly to socioeconomically deprived women.

Correlation Between Serum Homocysteine Levels and Carotid Intima-media Thickening in Hemodialysis Patients.

NTRODUCTION: Hyperhomocysteinemia is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in ESKD patients. Homocysteine, as an inflammatory factor, and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) could predict atherosclerosis in hemodialysis-treated ESKD patients. In this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate serum homocysteine level and its relationship with internal carotid intima thickness in ESKD patients undergoing routine hemodialysis. METHODS: This study comprised 56 ESKD patients, older than 40 years, undergoing hemodialysis for at least 1 year. All participants were taking Nephrovit for at least 6 months. The study participants were patients who underwent ultrasonography for CIMT determination and laboratory test Results. There was no statistically significant relationship between the mean homocysteine level and hypertension, diabetes mellitus, duration of dialysis, and body mass index (BMI). Among the study participants, the results also showed that the mean value of CMIT homocysteine and C-reactive protein (CRP) were 0.89 millimeters, 30.44 (mcmol/L), and 35.60 mg/L; respectively. Despite hypertension, there was a significant difference between the mean values of CMIT in patients with diabetes mellitus and those who had been on dialysis for a longer period (more than 3 years). Also, the mean value of CMIT was significantly higher in obese patients than those with normal BMI. None of the other variables including homocysteine serum level, C-reactive protein (CRP), and CMIT showed a significant correlation. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that there is no relationship between serum homocysteine level and carotid intima-media thickness in hemodialysis patients.  DOI: 10.52547/ijkd.7424.

The effect of oral probiotics on CD4 count in patients with HIV infection undergoing treatment with ART who have had an immunological failure.

INTRODUCTION: Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in appropriate colonies, can delay the destruction of the immune system and contribute to the maintenance of immunity in HIV patients. Probiotics play an important role in stimulating natural killer T cells, strengthening the functional gut barrier, and reducing systemic inflammation. METHODS: This study was a randomized double-blind clinical trial involving 30 patients treated with antiretroviral therapy who had experienced immunological failure despite HIV viral suppression. Patients were divided into two equal groups of 15, group (B) received two probiotic capsules daily with a colony count of 109 CFU per capsule containing seven strains, after 3 months they were examined for CD4+ counts by flow cytometry, and after a 1-month washout period the participants who had received probiotics were switched to placebo, and the participants who had received placebo were given probiotics for 3 months, and they were examined for CD4+ counts 7 months after the start of the study. RESULTS: In the first group (A), administration of the placebo resulted in a decrease in CD4 count in the first 3 months (from 202.21 to 181.79, p value < .001), which may be due to the natural history of the disease. After probiotics administration, CD4 count increased significantly (from 181.79 to 243.86, p value < .001). Overall, after 7 months of study, there was a significant increase in the mean CD count from 202.21 to 243.86 (p value < .001). In the second group (B), the administration of probiotics in the first 3 months of the study resulted in a significant increase in the mean CD4 count (from 126.45 to 175.73, p value < .001). Termination of treatment with probiotics resulted in a significant decrease (from 175.73 to 138.9, p value < .001) but overall the CD4 count at the end of the study was significantly higher than at baseline (p value < .001).

Correlation of peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness with visual outcomes after decompression surgery in subclinical and clinical thyroid-related compressive optic neuropathy.

PURPOSE: To assess the correlation of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (PRNFL) thickness with visual recovery in compressive optic neuropathy (CON) in patients with thyroid eye disease (TED). METHODS: Twenty-three eyes of 13 consecutive patients with TED-related CON were prospectively recruited. Assessment of PRNFL by means of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), visual field (VF) parameters, color vision, and visual acuity in logMAR were compared before and 6 months after decompression surgery in the operated eye for each patient, which in ten cases included both eyes. Decompression surgery was performed as medial and inferior wall decompression sparing the orbital strut by the same surgeon. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between the preoperative PRNFL average thickness and postoperative improvement in visual acuity among all patients (P = 0.048). This correlation was found to be significant in clinically non-edematous optic neuropathy cases (P = 0.023) but not in edematous optic neuropathy (P = 0.23). There was significant correlation between PRNFL thickness and improvement of postoperative mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) parameters in VF studies and in color vision scores (P = 0.005, P = 0.02, P = 0.01, respectively). Average PRNFL thickness and quadrantal PRNFL were all significantly reduced after decompression surgery in all of the cases (P = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: PRNFL thickness measured by SD-OCT is correlated with visual recovery after decompression surgery in TED-related CON. In eyes with severe VF defect (MD worse than -10 dB), the ones with higher preoperative PRNFL thicknesses (>65 µm) had more improvement in MD compared with those with thin PRNFL measures (<60 µm).

Ethnographic Exploration of Empowerment to Improve Elderly Residents' Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND: Evidence underscores that empowerment is central to improve the elderly residents' quality of life. In truth, empowerment is a process through which individuals gain better control over their life. The aim of this study was to explore how perceived empowerment influence on the quality of life among elderly Malay residents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A focus ethnographic approach was employed in a Malaysian residential home between May 2011 and January 2012. Data were gathered from participant observations, field notes, in-depth interviews, and exploring related documents. RESULTS: The analysis of the data gathered in the current study resulted in the development of three themes - social life and its requirements, caregivers' skills empowerment, and listening and supporting. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the study provide new insights that are useful in charting new guideline for care providers and policy makers to improve the elderly residents' quality of life.