Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction and Related Risk Factors in Men with Multiple Sclerosis in Iran: A Multicenter Study.

INTRODUCTION: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common complaint in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of SD and its related risk factors in men with MS in Iran. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 320 men who had been diagnosed with MS according to the McDonald revised criteria were recruited from January to June 2019, from the north, south, east, west, and central parts of Iran. Patients were assessed using the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), The Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire-(MSISQ 19), Sexual Quality of Life-Men (SQOL-M), and Standard General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). RESULTS: Sexual dysfunction, defined as total IIEF score ≤ 45 was present in 114 patients (35.6%). The results of univariate logistic regression showed that there were significant direct relations between age (OR 1.050, 95% CI 1.02-1.08), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.24-1.7), duration of MS (OR 1.005, 95% CI 1.002-1.009), MSISQ-19 (OR 1.103, 95% CI 1.078-1.128), GHQ (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03-1.06), SQOL-M (OR 0.930, 95% CI 0.914-0.947), smoking (OR 1.941, 95% CI 1.181-3.188), non-MS chronic disease (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.20-3.04), having a main sexual partner (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.32-4.94), and significant inverse relations between exercise (OR 0.584, 95% CI 0.364-0.936) and regular sexual activity (OR 0.241, 95% CI 0.15-0.40), with the prevalence of SD. The results of multiple logistic regression indicated that the age, MSISQ-19, and SQOL-M were the only independent predictive factors for SD in these patients. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of SD in men with MS in Iran is relatively high. These patients should be screened, diagnosed, and treated for SD and influencing factors.

Air pollution and hospital admissions due to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in Ahvaz, Iran.

There are limited studies on the relation between short-term exposure to air pollutants and the risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The aim of this study was to determine the relation between the concentration of these pollutants and the risk of hospital admissions due to DVT in Ahvaz, which is one of the world's highly polluted cities. Daily data on pollutants including O3, NO, NO2, SO2, CO, PM10, and PM2.5and DVT hospital admissions were collected from2008until 2018. Quasi-Poisson regression combined with linear distributed lag models; adjusted for trend, seasonality, temperature, relative humidity, weekdays, and holidays were used to assess the relation between the daily average of air pollutants and hospital admission for DVT. The results showed that there was a significant increase in hospital admissions due to DVT in the total, men, women, and elderly populations in relation to NO and NO2. There was also a significant increase in DVT hospital admissions in the male and ≤60 years populations related to PM10; and among the female and ≤60 years old populations, related to PM2.5. Finally, the results showed that there were significant positive associations between SO2 and CO exposure and the incidence of DVT hospital admissions among men and women, respectively. The results of this study show the possible effect of short-term exposure to air pollution on the risk of DVT. Further studies are required to investigate whether direct interventions through industry and government policy may alter the impact of specific pollutants in order to alter the incidence of DVT and other identified health complications.

The Effect of Spiritual Self-care Training on the Quality of Life of Mothers of Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The present study was carried out with the aim of determining the effect of spiritual self-care training on the quality of life of mothers of preterm infants. This trial was carried out on 60 mothers with premature infants. Mothers were randomly divided into two intervention and control groups. Training for increasing awareness about the condition of the infants was carried out in both groups. In the intervention group, spiritual self-care training was also done. Data were completed in both groups before, immediately after, and two weeks after the intervention by using the standard WHO quality of life questionnaire. Data were analysed using statistical tests, including ANOVA and Repeated Measures. The results showed that the average quality of life of mothers under study was significantly different at different points of measurement in the intervention group (first, second, and third time-points) (P = 0.016). An increase was observed in the intervention group at the second time-point compared to the first time-point (84.2-88.4, P < 0.001) and in the third time-point compared to the first time-point, (87.9), which was also statistically significant (P < 0.001). According to the results of post hoc tests, there was a decrease in quality of life in the control group at the second time-point compared to the first time-point and the average score of mothers decreased from 82.9 to 75.3, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Spiritual self-care training can increase the quality of life and can be used as a form of holistic nursing care for mothers with premature infants in neonatal intensive care units.

The effect of storytelling on anxiety and behavioral disorders in children undergoing surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: One of the most frightening procedures for children is surgery. This study aimed to assess the effect of animated illustrated stories on anxiety and behavioral disorders in children after surgery. METHODS: In this randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT), 60 children between 4 and 8 years who went through adenotonsillectomy were divided into two groups based on random numbers. In the intervention group, animated illustrated books were read for the children by the researcher, for 30 mins, on the night before surgery. Child's anxiety was measured using the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) and Behavioral Disorder questionnaire (a researcher-made tool) before and 10 days after the book reading. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: The results showed that mean scores of physiological anxiety (P-value<0.001), social concerns/concentration (P-value=0.012), and total anxiety (P-value<0.001), except worry/oversensitivity (P-value=0.140), statistically significantly decreased in the intervention group after book reading, but mean total anxiety and its three dimensions did not show statistically significant differences before and after treatment in the control group (P-value>0.05). Mean scores of the Behavioral Disorder questionnaire significantly decreased in the intervention group after book reading (P-value=0.001), but significantly increased in the control group (P-value<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results showed that reading animated illustrated books could be effective in reducing anxiety and behavioral disorders in children after surgery. It seems that these books could be a new and creative way to distract children and can be used as supportive care.

Air pollution and hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases in Ahvaz, Iran.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between air pollution and cardiovascular hospital admissions in Ahwaz, Iran. Daily information about cardiovascular hospital admissions (based on the ICD-10) and data on air pollutants during 2008-2018 were inquired. A quasi-Poisson regression combined with linear distributed lag models; adjusted for trend, seasonality, temperature, relative humidity, weekdays and holidays was used to assess the relation between hospital admission for cardiovascular diseases and the average daily air pollution. The results of this study showed a significant increase in cardiovascular hospital admissions in the total population and women's population in relation to O3. There was a significant increase in hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases in the whole population as well as gender and age groups associated with NO2 and NO. A significant increase was found in hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases in relation to CO in the 65-74-year-old population. Finally, the results of this study showed that there was a significant increase in hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease associated with SO2. The main results of the present study confirm the deleterious short term impact of air pollution on cardiovascular morbidity in Ahvaz city. This evidence empasizes the need to implement policies for reducing air pollution.