Gender barriers to health promotion in middle-aged Iranian women.

This study explores the perceived socio-cultural factors that might be barriers to health-promoting behaviour in middle-aged women in the city of Yazd in Iran. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the barriers to a healthy lifestyle in middle-aged women. Interviews with women aged 40-60 were audio-taped, transcribed and analysed using content analysis. The interviews focused on socio-cultural factors and five main themes emerged: (a) giving higher priority to non-health-related needs; (b) the dominance of the husband's will in the family; (c) preference of children's needs to own needs; (d) having to fulfil multiple responsibilities; and (e) low access to community resources for health promotion. The multiple responsibilities of family and work, patriarchal societal attitudes and lack of exercise facilities are barriers to health in middle-aged Iranian women.

The expression of cytoskeletal proteins in kidney specimens of children with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Several studies have evaluated cytoskeletal proteins as prognostic factors for some types of nephrotic syndrome. However, studies concerning children with FSGS are scarce. This study was done to evaluate the glomerular, tubular, and interstitial expression of vimentin, desmin, and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in kidney specimens of children with FSGS. Clinical and histologic data of 31 children with FSGS were reviewed. Thirty one formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded kidney biopsy sections (3 µm) were selected for immunohistochemical staining. Double immunohistochemistry using a microwave-based two-color staining was applied. The mean age at onset in male and female was 56.3 ± 41.4 and 78.0 ± 60.4 months, respectively. The duration of follow-up was 46.3 ± 56.5 months. Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy were reported in 42% and 54% of the patients, respectively. The latest evaluated mean blood pressure was significantly correlated with the expression of both vimentin and α-SMA in the interstitium (P < 0.05). However, we were not able to demonstrate any cytoskeletal protein expression as an independent predictor for renal survival. Further studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up periods are warranted to investigate the prognostic values of other histopathologic features in pediatrics with FSGS.

Pattern of complementary and alternative medicine use in urban population.

BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence and patterns of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use in urban population in Isfahan. METHODS: In a crossâ€"sectional study through two-stage sampling methods, 870 individuals were selected from Isfahan Province, center of Iran. We selected 20 clusters randomly and chose one household from each cluster by chance then 24 households were included consequently. Subsequently a resident of each household aged 18 years or older was selected randomly. We assessed the rate of use, types of alternative medicine, and conditional disease during recent two years. RESULTS: The overall use of at least one method of complementary and alternative medicine was 62.5%. The most common problems were as follows: digestive problem, obesity and hyperlipidemia, as well as anxiety and depression. Herbal medicine and bless therapy were the most common methods that people chose. CONCLUSION: Regarding to high prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use, more attention to complementary and alternative medicine is mandate for physicians and health system managers. Health authorities' supervision and training of traditional practitioner is important not only for its economic impact and postponement of seeking treatment, but also for its untoward side-effects either alone or in combination with orthodox medicines.