The results of the present study show a higher rate of candidal colonization in patients with psoriasis in comparison with controls and a reduction in humoral immune responses in patients.

Self Care Behaviors (SCB) is one of the most important challenges in controlling readmission and improving the elderly patients outcomes. The aims of this study were to describe the SCB among elderly with heart failure and to assess relationships between SCB, demographic characteristics, age-related characteristics and clinical characteristics. In this cross sectional study, 184 elderly (age 60) with heart failure were selected with convenience sampling from 4 teaching hospitals. To assess SCB, the European Heart Failure Self Care Behavior Scale was used. Its validity and reliability were confirmed (CVI = 0.97 and α = 0.74). Data was collected from patients' medical record and by interviews. The highest percentage of behaviors not performing properly (score > 2), were related to self reported exercise (96.2%), receiving a flu shot (89.7%) and weight monitoring (80.5%), respectively. There was significant relationship between SCB and cognitive impairment (p < 0.001), serum sodium level (p < 0.001), charlson co-morbidity Index (p = 0.001), ejection fraction (p = 0.002), visual impairment (p = 0.002), sleep disorders (p = 0.003), poly-pharmacy (p = 0.004), hearing impairment (p = 0.012) and systolic blood pressure (p = 0.049). Significant relationship between SCB and age-related characteristics suggests the need to design both supportive and preventive programs among elderly with heart failure.

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Objectives Stroke is the main health problem of the elderly in the world. The disease may create a spiritual crisis in the person. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between prayer and spiritual health of elderly patients with cerebrovascular accidents (CVA). Methods & Materials In this correlational study, 142 patients with CVA were investigated in the Neurology Department of Bou Ali Sina Hospital in Sari City, Iran. Data collection was done by Ellison and Paloutzian spiritual health questionnaire and Meraviglia prayer questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20 with descriptive parameters (mean and standard deviation) and Pearson correlation coefficient, t-test and 1-way ANOVA. Results Of 142 patients, 64 (45.1%) were men and 78(54.9%) were women. The mean age of the elderly was 72.97±7.67 years with the range of 60-95 years. The mean of total prayer scores was 181.62±25.50 and the highest score of prayer was related to prayer frequency with the mean of 96.47±22.3. The mean of total spiritual health scores was high (102.28±18.89), too. The relationship between prayer and spiritual health was direct and significant (P<0.001, r=0.602). There was significant relationship between age and spiritual health, too (P<0.001, r=0.607). There was no significant relationship between spiritual health and education level, job, and the marital status. Conclusion Religious practice and prayer can be a powerful resource for coping with stressful situations and psycho-social support in patients with stroke.

Introduction: Simultaneous exposure to noise and dust may have detrimental health effects. This study was conducted to determine the effect of exposure to noise and dust on oxidative stress. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 82 employees of two livestock and poultry feed factories in Golestan Province, Iran, were selected as the exposed group and 82 office workers were selected as the control group. Occupational noise and dust exposure were measured using a dosimeter, sampling pump, and vinyl chloride filter. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in blood samples. T-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results: The levels of MDA and SOD in the exposed group were significantly higher and lower than the control group ( p < 0.001), respectively. The results showed the subgroup with both over the threshold dust and noise exposure had the highest MDA levels. The SOD level among those exposed to noise more than the recommended level, in the subgroup with more dust exposure, was significantly less than the subgroup with low noise exposure ( p = 0.017). Conclusion: Noise and dust exposure probably increase the level of oxidative stress by increasing the level of lipid peroxidation (MDA) and reducing the level of antioxidant enzymes (SOD).