Synthesis and comparison of three photocatalysts for degrading tramadol as an analgesic and widely used drug in water samples.

Tramadol is an analgesic drug that is mainly excreted in the urine. The entry of Tramadol into water samples causes their biological contamination. Therefore, three catalysts such as bismuth ferrite, cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite, and a magnetized Keggin type of polyoxometalate (α-Fe2O3@phosphotungstic acid), were synthesized as photocatalysts to degrade Tramadol in water samples. The morphology and properties of the prepared photocatalysts were evaluated using several techniques. Effects of several factors, including tramadol concentration, pH, hydrogen peroxide concentration, and photocatalyst amount, were studied and optimized by a design experiment procedure based on Box-Behnken design for reducing the number of experiments and cost and investigating the interactions between factors in the photocatalytic degradation process of Tramadol. These factors were optimized for each prepared photocatalyst individually. Under the optimum conditions, the percentages of tramadol degradation and kinetics of the degradation process were evaluated in the presence of each photocatalyst. The tramadol degradation percentages using bismuth ferrite, cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite, and α-Fe2O3 @phosphotungstic acid were 81.10% for 120 min, 90.63% for 80 min, and 91.32% for 80 min, respectively. The rate constants of tramadol degradation were 0.0145, 0.0329, and 0.0312 min-1 for bismuth ferrite, cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite, and α-Fe2O3 @phosphotungstic acid, respectively. The results indicated the highest percentage of tramadol degradation and rate of the degradation process were obtained using α-Fe2O3 @phosphotungstic acid and cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite, respectively.

Highly sensitive voltammetric determination of NADH based on N-CQDs decorated SnO2/ionic liquid/carbon paste electrode.

A highly sensitive and selective modified electrode was successfully developed for the monitoring of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) in the presence of folic acid. In this regard, a carbon paste electrode (CPE) was functionalized by the nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots/tin oxide (N-CQDs/SnO2) nanocomposite and 1-butyl-2,3-dimethyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C4DMIM][PF6]) ionic liquid (IL). The structure and surface morphology of the nanocomposite were characterized by various methods, including field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The modified electrode displayed powerful and long-lasting electron mediating activity, with well-separated NADH and folic acid oxidation peaks. The sensing response of the developed [C4DMIM][PF6]/N-CQDs/SnO2/CPE platform was evaluated by determining NADH via the voltammetric technique under the optimized operating conditions. The current peaks of the square wave voltammograms of NADH and folic acid increased linearly with enhancing its concentrations within the ranges of 0.003-275µM NADH and 0.4-380µM folic acid. The detection limits for NADH and folic acid were obtained at 0.8 nM and 0.1µM, respectively. Interference species such as glucose, urea, tryptophan, glycine, methionine, and vitamin B12had no influence on the ability of the fabricated modified electrode to detect the target species. The low detection limit, high sensitivity, excellent selectivity, superior stability, and cost-effectiveness made it suitable for the quantification of NADH in the real biological samples with the recovery percent values in the range of 97.5%-103%.

Beyond a traumatic loss: The experiences of mourning alone after parental death during COVID-19 pandemic.

Millions of adolescents around the world lost their loved ones due to the COVID-19 pandemic; at the same time, health protocols in many countries do not allow mourners to practice their familiar rituals around death and dying. This study explored the experience of 15 Iranian adolescents who had lost their parent(s) during the pandemic through a phenomenological approach. Two main themes including distress in a shattered life and crisis in crisis were extracted from the interviews. Findings highlight the importance of immediate and alternative ways of support for adolescents who lost their parents during the pandemic.

Death and Dying in a Digitalized World.

The impact of digitalization on the topic of death and dying seems to be accelerated in recent years. This study aimed to explore the online ways people used to overcome grief and used the COVID-19 restrictions as an example. Thirty-two bereaved participants were interviewed and the data were analyzed using the constructive grounded theory method. Three main themes were extracted from the data: 1) an online way to remember; 2) digitalization of social support, and 3) continuing the bonds. Findings highlighted the important and inevitable role of the digital world in the grief process when there is a restriction in holding usual ceremonies.

Psychometric evaluation of a questionnaire for measuring factors related to mental health of women in an earthquake.

The current study was performed with the aim of the psychometric evaluation of a questionnaire for measuring factors related to women's mental health in an earthquake. This descriptive instrumental study was carried out on a population of 378 women with an earthquake experience in Kerman Province, Iran, in 2017-2018. The formal validity, content validity, criterion validity, factor analysis, and reliability of the questionnaire were measured using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Moreover, descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to report data. In the content validity stage, 34out of 85 items of the questionnaire were eliminated. In the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) stage, 2 items out of the remaining 51 items were removed due to weak factor loading and 49 items were defined in 6 factors. The convergent and divergent validities of the questionnaire were confirmed in relation to the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) (r = -0.23; P = .030) and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) (r = 0.32;P = .001). Using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, the reliability of the questionnaire was obtained to be 0.91. The reliability and validity of the study questionnaire were at an appropriate level, and thus, it can be used to perform extensive surveys among women who have experienced earthquake.

Positive Psychology Interventions for Patients With Heart Disease: A Preliminary Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Positive psychologic characteristics have been linked to superior cardiac outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Accordingly, in this exploratory study, we assessed positive psychology interventions in patients who had recently undergone a procedure to treat cardiovascular disease. METHOD: Participants were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 different 6-week face-to-face interventions or a wait-list control condition. We assessed intervention feasibility and compared changes in psychologic outcome measures postintervention (7wk) and at follow-up (15wk) between intervention and control participants. Across the interventions, 74% of assigned sessions were completed. RESULTS: When comparing outcomes between interventions and control participants (N = 55 total), there were no between-group differences post-intervention, but at follow-up intervention participants had greater improvements in happiness (ß = 14.43, 95% CI: 8.66-20.2, p < 0.001), depression (ß = -3.87, 95% CI: -7.72 to 0.02, p = 0.049), and hope (ß = 7.12, 95% CI: 1.25-13.00, p =0.017), with moderate-large effect sizes. Efficacy of the 3 interventions was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies are needed to identify an optimal positive psychology intervention for cardiac patients.

Effects of Positive Psychology Interventions on Risk Biomarkers in Coronary Patients: A Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Pilot Trial.

BACKGROUND: Among cardiac patients, positive psychologic factors are consistently linked with superior clinical outcomes and improvement in key markers of inflammation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning. Further, positive psychology interventions (PPI) have effectively increased psychologic well-being in a wide variety of populations. However, there has been minimal study of PPIs in cardiac patients, and no prior study has evaluated their effect on key prognostic biomarkers of cardiac outcome. Accordingly, we investigated the effect of 3 distinct PPIs on risk biomarkers in cardiac patients. METHODS: In an exploratory trial, 69 patients with recent coronary artery bypass graft surgery or percutaneous intervention were randomized to (1) one of three 6-week in-person PPIs (based on the work of Seligman, Lyubomirsky, or Fordyce) or (2) a wait-list control group. Risk biomarkers were assessed at baseline, postintervention (7 weeks), and at 15-week follow-up. Between-group differences in change from baseline biomarker levels were examined via random effects models. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, participants randomized to the Seligman (B = -2.06; p = 0.02) and Fordyce PPI (B = -1.54; p = 0.04) had significantly lower high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels at 7 weeks. Further, the Lyubomirsky PPI (B = -245.86; p = 0.04) was associated with a significantly lower cortisol awakening response at 7 weeks when compared with control participants. There were no other significant between-group differences. CONCLUSION: Despite being an exploratory pilot study with multiple between-group comparisons, this initial trial offers the first suggestion that PPIs might be effective in reducing risk biomarkers in high-risk cardiac patients.

Effect of neurofeedback training on depression and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Depression and fatigue are common symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and are the primary determinants of impaired quality of life in this demyelinating neurological disease. Untreated depression is associated with suicidal ideation, impaired cognitive function and poor adherence to immunomodulatory treatment. For these reasons, systematic screening and management of depressive symptoms and fatigue is recommended for all patients with MS. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of neurofeedback in treating depression and fatigue in persons with MS. We conducted a randomized trial with 24 MS patients with primary fatigue and depression. Participants were randomized into two groups: neurofeedback training group (16 sessions of NFB) or treatment as usual. Participants were evaluated at 3 time points (baseline, end of the treatment, and 2-month follow-up) using the Fatigue Severity Scale and Depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale as outcome measures. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine differences between the groups. NFB significantly reduced symptoms of depression and fatigue in patients with MS patients, compared to treatment as usual (p < .05), and these effects were maintained the 2-month follow-up (p < .05).

Spouse's coping strategies mediate the relationship between women's coping strategies and their psychological health among infertile couples.

Social problems and suffering from the treatment process for infertile couples, especially for women, require the couples to cope with them to balance the infertility crisis. According to the close interactions of the couples with each other, the objective of the present study was to explore a theoretical framework for the relationships between women's coping strategies, spouses' coping strategies, and women's psychological health in infertile couples who were candidates for assisted reproductive technology (ART). This cross-sectional study was carried out on 212 couples undergoing ART. The couples' coping strategies were evaluated using a validated self-report questionnaire. The women's psychological health was assessed using a 21-item stress, anxiety, and depression scale (DASS-21). Statistical analysis was performed using the plug-in application PROCESS macro for SPSS. The direct effect of the women's self-blame and self-focused rumination strategies (p < .0001), and the indirect effect of the women's self-blame on stress and depression by mediating spouses' self-blame and self-focused rumination strategies, was significant. The indirect effect of the women's self-focused rumination on the anxiety and depression levels by mediating spouses' self-blame strategy was significant. The women's self-blame and self-focused rumination strategies had a negative effect on the women's psychological health who were undergoing ART. This negative effect was mediated by the spouse's coping strategies.

Development and evaluation of couple-based coping strategies with infertility: a protocol for a mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Different coping strategies have been associated with various effects on infertile couples' mental health. Considering the close interaction between couples, the present study aims to develop coping strategies for infertile couples using a couple-based approach. METHODS: The present mixed-methods study will be conducted in three phases. In order to develop coping strategies, a qualitative study will be conducted in the first phase, during which semi-structured interviews will be implemented with infertile couples in order to collect data related to their lived experiences in using coping strategies. These data will be inductively analyzed using qualitative content analysis and interpretative phenomenological analysis. In the second phase, using the Delphi method, an initial draft of coping strategies will be designed using a couple-based approach based on the data obtained from the qualitative study and the related literature review. In the third phase, the designed couple-based strategies will be provided to two groups of infertile couples as a randomized field superiority trial study. The couples' levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and adjustment will be evaluated using validated questionnaires before and 3 months after the intervention. DISCUSSION: Couple-based coping strategies encourage couples to become aware of each other's feelings while interacting and choose a strategy based on such feelings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20191014045102N1 . Registered on 19 October 2021. PROTOCOL VERSION: Current protocol: version 1 (22 May 2022).

Evaluation of quality of life therapy for parents of children with obsessive-compulsive disorders in Iran.

Previous research has provided evidence on the effectiveness of CBT in the symptomatic improvement of children with obsessive-compulsive disorders. There is also increasing recognition of the importance of involving parents and families in treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of such an intervention that promoted family strengths [(quality of life therapy (QoLT)] for mothers of children with obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). The sample consisted of 40 children with OCD and their mothers, who had been referred to clinics in Esfahan city in Iran. Mothers were randomly allocated to an experimental (QoLT) and waiting list control group. Mothers participated in eight QoLT group sessions over 4 weeks. QoLT incorporated CBT techniques in managing OCD symptoms. Measures were completed pre- and post-intervention by both groups. Children completed the Yale-Brown obsession compulsion scale for Children, the Revised children's manifest anxiety scale, and the brief multidimensional student's life satisfaction scale; mothers completed the quality of life inventory (QoLI). QoLT was associated with decrease in OCD and anxiety symptoms and increase in children's satisfaction in the global, family and environment domains, as well as with increased QoLI scores in their mothers. Parenting interventions like QoLT can complement individual modalities such as CBT in the presence of family-related difficulties. This can be particularly applicable in countries and settings with limited resources and high stigma of child mental health problems.

Prioritization of factors related to mental health of women during an earthquake: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: According to the fact that women account for the highest rate of victims of mental health loss during disasters, prioritization of their requirements is of remarkable significance. Therefore, the present study was carried out with the aim to prioritize factors related to women's mental health during an earthquake. METHODS: This study was conducted using the Delphi method in 2017. Participants consisted of experts including psychologists, counselors and psychiatrists, social medicine specialists, and psychiatric-mental health nurses with experience in service and disaster awareness, especially earthquake. They were selected using purposive and snowball sampling methods. The Delphi method was used in 2 rounds with 21 components and the final attendance of 19 participants and the collective agreement of 75%. RESULTS: Of the 21 factors related to women's mental health during the earthquake, the following components were, respectively, preferred by the participants: psychological well-being training, group relationships and support of women in emergency situations, fair treatment in the provision of rights and services to women, crisis awareness and management of behavior and difficult conditions, and social security during disasters with the total mean standard deviation (SD) of 13.4 (2.4), 13.0 (2.4), 12.7 (2.5), 12.5 (2.4), and 12.3 (2.2), respectively. CONCLUSION: Training in the field of psychology and disasters, and social and cultural factors were prioritized among factors related to women's mental health during an earthquake. Therefore, the results of this study can be applied by the planners and executives of mental health, women and disasters, and the women's community itself.

Reliability and validity of the Oxford Happiness Inventory among university students in Iran.

The aim of the present study was to examine the internal reliability, content validity, construct validity, and concurrent validity of the Persian translation/Farsi version of the Oxford Happiness Inventory. The Oxford Happiness Inventory and Fordyce Happiness Inventory were completed by a sample of 727 Iranian university students. Findings confirmed the internal reliability, construct, and concurrent validity of the Oxford Happiness Inventory. Thus, it can be recommended for use as a trait-measure of happiness among Iranian samples.

The mental health needs of women in natural disasters: A qualitative study with a preventive approach.

CONTEXT: Considering the importance of psychological issues during disasters and the key role of women in the family and society, a preventive approach toward mental health improvement in women is of great importance. AIMS: This study aimed to identify the mental health needs of women in natural disasters through a preventive approach. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The present qualitative study was conducted through content analysis method and semi-structured interviews with 40 specialists and seven women who had experienced natural disasters. The study participants were selected through snowball and purposive sampling. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A heterogeneous sample was selected. To ensure the reliability and verifiability of data, the texts of the interviews were approved by each interviewee. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Thematic analysis was used to report findings. RESULTS: In this study, two themes, seven main categories, and 21 subcategories and secondary codes were extracted. The themes were internal physical (biological) and external environmental (social, political and legal measures, cultural and spiritual measures, psychology, and lifestyle) factors. CONCLUSIONS: The dimensions related to the mental health of women are multifactorial and beyond only psychological variables. The improvement of the mental health of women can be achieved through aggregation of perspectives in different organizational, governmental, and political areas in collaboration within the society with a healthy gender perspective free of discrimination, inequality, and injustice.

Job burnout and its relation with personality traits among the midwives working in Isfahan, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Health-related professionals are at high risk of job burnout which will in turn lead to effects on health services provision. The present study was conducted to define job burnout and its association with personal characteristics among the midwives working in Isfahan, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive correlational study was performed on 193 midwives working in health centers and hospitals in Isfahan. The participants were selected through cluster random sampling. The data was collected by a researcher-made personal characteristics questionnaire as well as Maslach Burnout Inventory. The data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical tests in SPSS. FINDINGS: In the present study, the highest frequencies of job burnout dimensions were for the low levels of emotional exhaustion (58%) and depersonalization (65.8%), and high levels of personal performance (58%). There was a significant inverse association between age and depersonalization (p = 0.02). However, no significant relations were found between job burnout dimensions and variables of marital status, number of children, level of education, and residential status. CONCLUSIONS: Although the results of this research showed a low prevalence of job burnout among midwives, the stressful nature of midwifery as a profession necessitates educational intervent.

Impulsivity, substance abuse, and family/friends history of suicide attempts in university students with and without suicidal ideation.

OBJECTIVE: Impulsivity appears to play an important role in suicidal behavior. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the impulsivity, substance abuse, and family/friends history of suicide attempt between suicide-ideated and non suicide-ideated university students. METHODS: The research population consisted of all the students of the University of Isfahan in the academic year of 2009-2010. Three hundred and forty students (136 boys and 204 girls) were selected randomly through cluster sampling, of whom 53 participants were suicide-ideated and the rest were non suicide-ideated. The instruments used in this study were the 11(th) version of Barratt Impulsivity Scale, Suicide Ideation Questionnaire, and the demographic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of variance were used to examine hypothesis. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between suicide ideated and non-suicide ideated subjects in impulsivity (F=3.83, p< 0.001). Accordingly, significant differences were observed between two groups in attentional (F=8.12, p< 0.005), motor (F=7.67, p< 0.006), and non-planning (F=4.60, p< 0.033) impulsiveness. The results showed a higher incidence of substance abuse, and family/friends suicide attempt among suicide-ideated compared with non suicide-ideated students. CONCLUSION: A higher level of impulsivity is probably related to various indices of suicidal behavior. Substance abuse is probably associated with suicidal behavior and this association may involve an interaction with impulsivity. This study provides an initial evidence of familial linkages of suicide ideation and suggests that the loss of an important person in life would be an important predictor of suicide ideation in university students.