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Aim: Level of physical activity as key determinant of healthy lifestyle is less than what is required in individuals particularly women. Applying theories of behavioral change about complex behaviors such as physical activity leads to identify effective factors and their relations. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of exercise behavior based on developed Theory of Planned Behavior with planning constructs in military personnel’s wives. Methods: We performed this cross-sectional study on 150 military personnel’s spouses residing in organizational houses, in Tehran, Iran in 2013. The participants were randomly selected with multi-stage cluster sampling. The validity and reliability of developed scale were evaluated before conducting the path analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS.16 and LISREL8.8. Finding: The developed model predicted 48, 11, 12 and 35 percent of the variance in intention, action planning, coping planning and behavior, respectively. Subjective norms (Beta=0.35, p<0.01) and perceived behavioral control (Beta=0.28, p<0.01) were the predictors of intention. Determinants of behavior included action planning (Beta=0.40, p<0.01), coping planning (Beta=0.39, p<0.01), intention (Beta=0.23, p<0.01) and subjective norms (Beta=0.08, p<0.01). Instrumental and affective attitude had no significant path coefficient to dependent variables. The path of perceived behavioral control to behavior was non-significant. The developed theory fitted to data better than the original theory. Conclusion: This research demonstrated relative weights and relationships of Theory of Planned Behavior constructs with action and coping planning in physical activity behavior of military staffs' spouses. It is essential to consider these effective factors in designing of health education programs.

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Background: Exercise behavior is associated with decreased risks of mortality resulted from all causes. While people suffer from inactivity, doing stretching exercise as an important daily activity increases joints and muscles full range of motion and flexibility. This study aimed to assess the status of tension exercise behavior among Iranian office workers based on Trans-Theoretical Model (TTM).
Methods and Materials: In this cross sectional study, 420 office workers were selected randomly. The A self-reported questionnaire based on TTM and tension exercise behavior were used to collect data through self-reporting and analyzed by SPSS software version 16.
Results: Totally 420 office workers withmean age 37.12 ± 8.031 years were assessed. The results found that 11.7 % of the participants (N = 49) were in pre-contemplation stage, 32.9% (N = 138) in contemplation, 10 % (N = 42) in preparation stage, 24.5% (N = 103) in action stage and % 21 of participants (N = 88) were in maintenance stage. There were significant relationship between stages of TTM and tension exercise behavior.
Conclusions: This study indicated that about the majority of office workers were in contemplation and pre-contemplation stag regarding tension exercise. Therefore, designing proper educational intervention is strongly recommended

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Aim: Physical inactivity, as the leading risk factor for death, is more common among women than men. Despite the effective role of extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with planning to promote exercise behavior, there is no Iranian standard scale in this regard. This research evaluated psychometric characteristics of the expanded TPB-based questionnaire regarding to the physical activity of military staff’s spouses in Tehran. Methods: Content, face, construct validity and reliability (internal consistency and stability) of this scale was assessed. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 women, who were living in organizational houses, in Tehran, Iran in 2014, in order to do exploratory factor analysis (EFA).The participants were chosen with multi-stage cluster random sampling. EFA was performed applying the principal component analysis and Varimax rotation. Data were analyzed using SPSS. v16. Findings: Content validity index, content validity ratio and impact score of the extended TPB scale were 0.8-0.97, 0.78-0.98 and 4.5-4.8, respectively. An eight-factor structure was extracted as a result of the EFA and accounted for 76.33% of the variance. The calculated KMO was 0.72 and the Bartlett’s test of sphericity was significant (P<0.001). Eight constructs consisted of behavior, affective attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, coping planning, instrumental attitude, intention and action planning. Cronbach’s alpha value (0.83-0.97) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (0.63-0.91) demonstrated satisfying reliability for the subscales. Conclusion: Validity and reliability of the first developed TPB-directed scale with planning about women's exercise perceptions and behavior in Iran was appraised and approved in this study. This instrument can be utilized by other health researchers.

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Aim: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between chronic mechanical low back pain and work-related risky behaviors of nurses at hospitals in Tehran.
Methods: In order to determine the relationship between chronic mechanical low back pain and work-related risky behaviors of nurses, a cross-sectional was conducted among nurses in general hospitals in Tehran- Iran from April 17, 2014 to July 16, 2014. Five hundred eligible nurses, who were working in the different wards of under study hospitals, were included in this study. A researcher- designed 50 - item questionnaire was used to collect data. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (alpha=0.91), and test-retest evaluation (ICC=0.94) of the scale confirmed reliability of the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS.v16 through descriptive and analytic tests.  P-value < 0.05 was considered significant in both analyses. Findings: In total, five hundred nurses with mean age of 37.71+ 6.75 years took part in the study. 168 nurses (33.6%) were male and 332 nurses were (64.4%) female. The majority of nurses who were working more than 15 years (75%) were suffering from low back pain. Low back pain was more prevalent among female nurses (68%) compared to male nurses (32%). Most participants believed that excessive physical tension and hard work at their worksite were the causes of their chronic low back pain. There were no significant differences between two genders in this regard (P>0.5). In contrast with men, the majority of females (N= 222, 66.8%) believed that psychological tensions at work have been the reasons for their chronic low back pain.
Conclusion: Iranian nurses believed that work – related physical and psychosocial factors could result in low back pain.

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Background: Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD) is one of most prevalent health problems among individuals with limited physical activity. This study aimed to assess this problem among office workers in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. Methods and Material: Totally, 42 eligible office workers from three health centers related to ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences(SBUMS) between May, 2016-September, 2016 were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Of all these individuals, 420 office workers (response rate 99.2%) were satisfied to participate in this study. In Standard Nordic questionnaire were used to collect data. Collected data were entered into SPSS 16 and analyzed through descriptive and analytical tests. Results: Totally, 420 office workers with a mean age of37.1 ± 8.03 were examined in this study.The most prevalent WMSPD waslower back pain (N = 56, 13.3%) followed by neck pain (N = 46, 11.0%), wrist pain (N = 43, 10.2%), hip pain (N = 6, 1.4%) and pain in heel of foot (N = 17, 4%). The variables such as age (χ² = 24.99: P = 0.003); gender (χ² = 0.544; P = 0.028); employment status (χ² = 9.837: P = 0.007); duration of pain (χ² = 1.55l P = 0.001) and duration of treatment (χ² = 1.006; P=0.001) were significantly related to WMSD. Conclusions: Since the WMSD are prevalent among office workers of SBUMS, designing proper interventional studies are recommended. However, doing more researches to confirm the results of this study is guaranteed.

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Aim: Insufficient physical activity in women exposes them to problems such as overweight, diabetes, depression and cardiovascular diseases on top. In between, employees have minimum physical activity due to type of their job. The goal of this study was determining psychological factors effective on the physical activity of women working in University of Tehran based on the theory of planned behavior. Methods: The research population included female office workers from the University of Tehran, who were selected through a call at this university in 2014 for this descriptive analytical cross-sectional study. For data gathering, a questionnaire was used with acceptable validity and reliability including demographic information and constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as well as International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS21. The statistical bivariate correlation test and stepwise regression test were employed at the significance level of 0.05. Findings: In this study, behavioral intention had a positive and significant relation with perceived behavioral control (P=0.000) and attitude (P=0.042). Also behavioral intention had a positive and significant relation with physical activity (P=0.000). Stepwise regression analysis was used to evaluate important factors effective on prediction of behavior and intention; it determined 40% of intention variance (R2= 0.408). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that constructs such as attitude and perceived behavioral control can be effective on the behavioral intention and physical behavior of female employees; therefore, these factors must be seriously considered in educational planning for this group of the society.

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Research subject: The presence of heavy metal ions in surface and underground water, followed by their infiltration into drinking water at high concentrations, poses irreparable risks to human health and the environment. In this context, solid-phase extraction (SPE) has recently been recognized as a routine and practical method for removing heavy metals from water and wastewater samples. Consequently, the development of selective adsorbents for application in the SPE method is of significant importance in environmental studies.
Research Approach: In the present study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) molecules were functionalized onto Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ core-shell nanoparticles using cyanuric chloride and triethoxysilyl propylamine compounds. The synthesized nanoparticles were then employed as an effective adsorbent for the removal of Pb²⁺ ions from aqueous solutions. The structural characteristics, morphology, and particle size were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the key operational parameters affecting adsorption performance were evaluated to optimize the adsorption capacity for the effective removal of heavy metal contaminants.
 

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Background and objective: VEP is a powerful method to study visual system via evaluating evoked potentials. Technologic and instrumental restrictions may be the reason of having studies on optical modulation and induction such as color, spatial frequency and contrast. Developments of computer software and hardware may lead to an increase in the flexibility of pattern designs. Material and methods: Visual psychophysical principles of color, spatial frequency and contrast was used to design patterns. Using the Delphi 5 package. Recording system and pattern reversing were synchronized by a software and some hardware components including an A/D, monostable and an extension Board. A trigger signal from a VEP system was used to change optical properties of patterns according to a definite algorithm. Results and conclusion: All of the optical parameters such as color, spatial frequency and contrast that have influence on visual evoked potentials can be changed independently or in an interactive manner by means of user friendly multiple windows and logical methods. Therefore, optical modulation and induction are made possible by this system. Temporal, spatial and contrast modulation can be carried out independently or dependently with a trigger signal from a VEP system. Dynamic interaction of optical parameters shows new horizons on VEP studies.

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Objective: In this study, a SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR assay for quantification of HIV-1 viral RNA was developed. Materials and Methods: This assay was performed based on amplification of the pol region of HIV-1 and product analysis by an ABI 7500 system. We quantified HIV-1 viral load in 26 seropositive patients by this system and the data were subsequently compared with results obtained with a reference technique represented by COBAS AMPLICOR HIV-1 Monitor test. Results: The results demonstrated that this technique could detecte up to 500 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml of plasma. The linearity of this approach was conserved over a wide range of HIV-1 copy numbers (5×102-5×109). Since no positive signal was observed in seronegative volunteers, the specificity of the test was calculated as 100%. Comparison of the results with those obtained by the reference quantification method, revealed a significant correlation between the results (R2= 0.95). Conclusion: On the basis of the most recent recorded cases for HIV-1 infection and AIDS in Iran, the prevalence of this disease is rising rapidly and the situation has been called to be alarming by national health representatives. Determination of HIV-1 viral load in plasma has been considered as the most effective single prediction tool of clinical outcome. Indeed, the development and stabilization of HIV-1 RNA assays have given physicians a unique tool for monitoring HIV-1 patients treated with antiviral drugs. In this study, we have developed a SYBR-Green Real Time RT-PCR assay for quantitative analysis of HIV-1 in infected patients. Since a synthetic RNA standard was used in this assay, the upper limit of detection was detected to be higher than the standard test (5×10 9 versus 7.5×10 5). This can be important in patients with acute high viral load infections. Reproducibility was assessed by Intra assay and Inter assay analysis. Coefficient of variations Ct, in reproducibility tests for Intra assay and Inter assay variability were less than

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Aims: How people react to stressful and painful situations, such as suffering from a chronic disease like multiple sclerosis, is influenced by various factors, one of which is self-compassion. Self-compassion has a psychological nature and significant efficiency in the care and treatment of chronic patients. Existing tools have not paid attention to the characteristics of people suffering from chronic diseases such as MS in using self-compassion for managing the disease. Therefore, the present study aimed to design a questionnaire to measure self-compassion in patients with MS.
Instrument & Methods: The present study is methodological research that was conducted in qualitative and quantitative parts. The items were designed based on the qualitative part of the study and review of texts. The validation characteristics of the questionnaire were performed using face validity, content, and structure. The reliability was assessed by internal consistency and stability methods.
Findings: In the qualitative phase, 78 initial items were extracted. After calculating the item impact score index with values higher than 1.5, content validity ratio higher than 0.51, and content validity index higher than 0.79, 73 items were selected. Confirmatory and then exploratory factor analysis was performed. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was 0.813, and the stability of the questionnaire was 0.778.
Conclusion: Self-compassion scale in patients with MS is a valid and reliable tool in Iranian society. Since Neff theory was used as a guiding framework in this study, the tool can also be used for non-Iranian patients to understand their perception and experiences.
 

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Aims: Failure to comply with the treatment plan is a challenge and a problem to control chronic diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the continuity self-preservation model on compliance with the care-treatment regimen in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental clinical trial study was performed on 80 patients with type 2 diabetes (intervention and control groups) admitted to a hospital in Zahedan, Iran, from 2020 to 2021. Questionnaires and blood samples were used as data-gathering methods. The intervention program was designed and implemented based on the self-preservation continuity model. The dependent variables were then assessed during a four-stage period. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in SPSS 9 software to analyze the data.
Findings: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in the two groups. However, there was a significant difference in the mean scores of compliance with treatment, quality of life, health belief, and mean glycosylated hemoglobin after the intervention between the two groups (p=0.001).
Conclusion: The self-preservation continuity model is effective in metabolic control and compliance with the treatment of diabetic patients.

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Aims: Caring for patients during the Covid-19 pandemic exposes nurses to both physical and emotional challenges. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the professional quality of life and caring behaviors in nurses working during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Instruments & Methods: This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted in 2022. The study population was all nurses working in selected hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences. 124 nurses working during the Covid-19 epidemic by using convenience method were selected. Data collected using the demographic and occupational information form, Stumm's professional quality of life questionnaire, and Wolf's caring behaviors of nurses’ questionnaire. All questionnaires were completed by self-report method. Data were analyzed by Spearman's correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and linear regression tests using SPSS 22 software.
Findings: The overall mean score of caring behaviors was 82.06±7.76, and the overall mean score of professional quality of life was 106.18±18.31. There was a significant and direct correlation between the professional quality of life and caring behaviors of nurses working in the Covid-19 epidemic (r=0.435; p<0.001). The linear regression method also showed a significant and direct linear relationship between the two variables.
Conclusion: The professional quality of life is significantly and directly correlated with caring behaviors in nurses working during the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, improving the professional quality of life of employees can be effective in providing better and more quality care.
 

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Aims: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a specially designed educational intervention on the rate of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnant women.
Materials & Methods: This two-arm parallel randomized clinical trial was conducted in 2020 in Khoy, West Azerbaijan, Iran. The study population included all pregnant women diagnosed with IDA. IDA was determined through laboratory tests. A total of 200 participants were selected using a simple random method. Using the quadruple block allocation method, participants were divided into two groups: an intervention group (n=100) and a control group (n=100). The control group received standard care. The intervention group participated in a program consisting of four 45-to-55-minute training sessions over four weeks. Each session included lectures, educational videos, question-and-answer segments, small group discussions, and individual counseling. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests with SPSS version 16.
Findings: The age, education, employment status, health status, and gestational age of participants in both groups were similar (p>0.05). Additionally, the results of the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests indicated that the designed program significantly affected the reduction of IDA among participants, particularly among those with diabetes (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The designed educational intervention is effective in reducing IDA among pregnant women.

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Objective: The theraputic exercise is regarded as one of the most important theraputic interventions in the chronic low back pain patients. Stabilization exercise is among the most significant practical ones in these patients. The study of the effects of these exercises on the variability of trunk muscles postural strategies and the ability in normalizing these strategies are among the uncertainties that have remained unknown up to the present time. The purpose of this research is the study of the effect of stabilization exercises on the variability of postural control strategies in these patients. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on 21 (14 males, 7 females) recurrent non-specific low back pain patients. The electromyographic activity of Deltoid, Transverse Abdominis/Internal Oblique, External Oblique and Erector Spinae muscles of each person was recorded in 75 rapid arm flexion with maximum acceleration. Then, 14 individuals were placed in the experimental group and 7 in the control group randomly.The experimental group performed isolated abdominal hollowing and bracing exercises using pressure biofeedback with the supervision of a physiotherapist in different positions including supine, sitting on a chair, standing still and standing with rapid arm raises with maximum acceleration once a day, for 20 sessions. The variables studied in this research were evaluated in both experimental and control groups after the training sessions. The standard deviation of the trunk muscles onset latencies relative to deltoid muscle was statistically analyzed by a dependent t-test in both groups. Results: The results revealed that performing the stabilization exercises increases the variability of the timing of anticipatory postural adjustments in TrA/IO in the experimental group (P=.037), while there were no significant changes in the variability of EO (P=.0346) and ES (P=.673) muscles in these patients. The variability of the timing of the anticipatory postural adjustment in TrA/IO (P=.199), EO (P=.702) and ES (P=.465) muscles did not show any significant changes in the control group. Conclusion: The study of the results showed that the reduction in the variability of postural control system in recurrent non-specific low back pain patients as a factor that causes the continuity of back pain can be improved by goal-directed stabilization exercises.

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Objective: Considering the various evidences due to effects of trace elements on the outcome of pregnancy, we decided to assess the effect of these elements levels in maternal and cord serum on low birth weight. Materials and Methods: An Analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 344 pregnant women in labour and their neonates in Maryam, Akbarabadi and Vali-e-Asr hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Iron, zinc, copper, magnesium and calcium concentrations in cord and mother serum were measured. Collected data were analyzed by spss13 software, using Chi- square and Logistic regression tests with significant level p< 0/05. Results: The characteristics of studied subjects were: Mean age: 27.02±5.3 years, pregnancy duration: 38.9±1.3 weeks, number of low birth weight neonates: 13(3.8%). Prevalence of trace elements deficiencies in mothers were: zinc: 26.7%, copper: 53.5%, magnesium: 72.4%, Iron: .6%, calcium: 49.4%, and in neonates were: zinc: 3.5%, copper: 41.6%, magnesium: 67.4%, Iron: 3.2% and calcium: 2.3%. In Chi- square test, a significant negative relationship between maternal calcium deficiency and low birth weight (p=.011) was found and logistic regression analysis showed a significant negative relationship between maternal calcium serum and low birth weight (odd: 0.27, %95CI: 0.09- 0.77). Conclusion: Delivering low birth weight neonates were more common in mothers with calcium deficiency and other elements did not show any significant relationships with low birth weight. It is possible to find different results about the effect of these minerals on pregnancy outcome with more samples and in different settings. It is recommended to perform more research on effects of trace elements on neonatal and maternal pregnancy outcomes to help prevent mother and fetus mortality and morbidity.

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Objective: Survey of the influence of HLA-DRB1, -DQB1 alleles, genotypes and haplotypes on age at onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in an Iranian population Materials and Methods: 105 Iranian T1D patients of different ethnic group and 100 ethnically, age and sex matched individuals were selected from Tehran's hospitals and HLA-DRB, -DQB typing was performed. According to the age at onset of T1D, the patients were divided into 4 groups (1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 years). The frequency of susceptible and protective alleles, genotypes and haplotypes was calculated in each group. The data were evaluated by using fisher's exact test. Odds Ratio or relative Risk was measured for all samples. Results: The results illustrated that the frequency of the HLA-DRB1*0401 allele decreased with increasing age, whereas the frequency of the HLA-DQB1*0201 allele increased with increasing age. The HLA-DRB1*0301 and HLA-DQB1*0302 alleles demonstrated the highest frequency in the 6-11 and 1-5 years age at onset group, respectively. HLA-DRB1*0401-DQB1*0302 haplotype had the most frequency among the 1-5 years age at onset group (p: 2×10-7, OR: 69.919) and the frequency of HLA-DRB1*0301-DQB1*0201 haplotype was the highest in the 6-11 years age at onset group among others (p: 2×10-6, OR: 6.243). Conclusion: The current study indicated that HLA-DRB1, -DQB1 alleles, genotypes and haplotypes are associated with age at onset of type1 Diabetes in Iranian T1D patients. The individuals carrying alleles that are associated with younger age at onset should take care under preventive treatment.

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In this study, using design of experiments, the effect of hybrid graphenenanosheets and nano clay and compatibilizer maleic anhydride -grafted -polypropylene (PP-g-MA) on the impact strength polypropylene-based nanocomposites were investigated. Design of experiments and analysis of experimental data with Minitab 16 software and response surface methodology were carried out. Making nanocomposites, based on the melt mixing was performed. Statistical models provided by response surface methodology good agreement with experimental results and with respect to the values of R-sq and R-sq (adj) have a good reputation. Statistical analysis showed that increasing the percentage of nanoparticles, impact strength decreases. Compounds morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was performed. Micrographes showed better dispersion of the particles in lower percentages. Thermal analysis using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the presence of graphene have little effect on the melting temperature of the sample being tested, but Tc of nanocomposites compared with pure PP, has increased about 4 percent. Also Thecrystallinity was reduced by adding graphene. In the non-graphenenanocomposites, the clay did not affect the melting temperature,but the crystallinityand crystallization temperature increased 10.73 % and 2.23 % respectively compared with pure PP that showed nucleation effect of nano clay.