Introduction: It is well known that there is a strong linkage between obesity, systemic low-grade inflammation, and oxidative stress in the pediatric population. Possible strategies that might control obesity and its relevant problems in this crucial group are of utmost importance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of curcumin supplements on inflammation, oxidative stress, and chemerin levels in adolescent girls.Methods: Totally, 60 overweight and obese adolescent girls were randomly assigned to either placebo or intervention group in a randomized placebocontrolled parallel trial design. Adolescents consumed one 500-mg curcumin or placebo per day along with a slight weight loss diet for 10 weeks. High-sensitive Creactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), chemerin levels, and anthropometric measurements were assessed at the beginning and end of the trial.Results: Curcumin supplementation had a significant effect on IL-6 levels and oxidative stress markers including TAC and MDA in crude model. After controlling the effects of confounders, curcumin supplementation had a substantial effect on inflammation (hs-CRP and IL-6) and oxidative stress (TAC) marker of adolescents.Discussion: Ten weeks of curcumin supplementation had beneficial effects on inflammation and oxidative stress markers among postpubescent overweight and obese girl adolescents.

Based on the antiinflammatory properties of garlic, current study was conducted to evaluate the garlic supplement effects on serum levels of some inflammatory biomarkers, clinical symptoms, and fatigue in women with active rheumatoid arthritis. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial study, 70 women with RA were randomly divided into two groups: The intervention group was supplemented with 1,000 mg of garlic, and the control group received placebo for 8 weeks. At baseline and at the end of the study, clinical symptoms, fatigue, serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were determined. After intervention, serum levels of CRP (p = .018) and TNF-a (p < .001) decreased significantly in the garlic group as compared with the placebo group. Also, pain intensity, tender joint count, disease activity score (DAS-28), and fatigue were significantly decreased in the intervention group compared with the control group (p < .001; for all). Swollen joint count was significantly decreased in the garlic group (p < .001), but not in the placebo group (p = .123). No significant changes were observed for ESR. Garlic supplementation by improving inflammatory mediators and clinical symptoms can be considered as a potential adjunct treatment in patients with RA. However, further studies with larger duration are needed.

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Background and Objectives:There is no evidence of long-term studies of seasonal variations in stroke in Iran. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the seasonal and monthly variation of 28-day mortality in Isfahan, Iran.Methods:From 2003 to 2013, In a Hospital-based retrospective study which was conducted by Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center(ICRC), 24186 cases with first-ever stroke were recruited. Multinomial logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for seasonal and monthly 28-day mortality for stroke in general and three subtypes of stroke including intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), ischemic (IS) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).Results:In this study, unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios of seasonal 28-day mortality of stroke was highest in the winter and lowest in the summer. Although, differences were not statistically significant. For total and IS stroke, the unadjusted 28-day mortality ratio (UMR) was significant in February (1.19, 95% CI 1.00 -1.42, P= 0.04) as compared to March. Whereas after adjusted, for total stroke, 28-day mortality was significantly lowest in May (0.746, 95% CI 0.575-0.97, p=0.029), June (0.777, 95% CI 0.60-0.99, p=0.49) and July (0.771, 95% CI 0.59-0.99 p=0.049) as compared to March. The AMR between months were not significant in SAH and IS.Conclusion:Our findings demonstrate clear obvious monthly variation of 28-day mortality of stroke and its subtypes in Isfahan but no seasonal variations were observed.

Background:Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may lead to an increase in the plasma concentration of homocysteine. There is limited information, especially from Iran, regarding the risk in patients who are treated with levetiracetam as a new type of AED. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of levetiracetam on plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate levels in adult patients with epilepsy.Methods:We conducted a case-control study and enrolled adult patients with epilepsy who had received monotherapy with levetiracetam for at least 6 months at some time prior to the study. homocysteine serum, vitamin B12, and folate were measured, and folate and vitamin B12 intake was determined by the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).Results:Thirty-three patients on levetiracetam and 35 control subjects aged between 18 and 60 years were enrolled. No statistically significant differences in the means of the serum markers of vitamin B12, FA, and homocysteine levels were found between the two groups. In the first model, i.e., the crude model, no significant differences were observed in the serum concentrations of homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate. In the second model, education was considered, and body mass index and folate intake was controlled with no significant difference being observed in the mean homocysteine serum level.Conclusions:Treatment with levetiracetam in patients with epilepsy has no effect on the serum levels concentrations of homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate. This medication is suggested for patients who use AEDs on a long-term basis and at high dosages.

Background:The medical and nonmedical care of patients is the necessary skills in nursing profession. That it needs proper knowledge and attitude. Hence, it is important to promote nurses’ knowledge and attitude by education based on need assessment. This study aimed to define the efficacy of a medical and nonmedical intervention educational workshop on nurses’ knowledge and attitude until 3 months after holding the workshop in psychiatric wards of educational hospitals in Isfahan.Materials and Methods:This is a quasi-experimental study. The study population comprised all nurses working in psychiatric wards of Nour and Farabi Hospitals (64) in Isfahan in 2012. An educational workshop was held through educational sessions in the form of lectures and group discussion in two above-mentioned hospitals. Nurses’ level of knowledge and attitude were investigated by a researcher made questionnaire before, immediately after and 3 months after intervention. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical tests of repeated measure ANOVA and Bonferroni.Results:A significant increase was observed in mean scores of nurses’ knowledge immediately after and 3 months after education compared to before education (P < 0.001). Also, the mean of attitude score in 3 phases have significant different (P < 0.009). Nurses have the high satisfaction (86.3%) of need assessment based education workshop. Moreover, it is effective in the science information revival of nurses.Conclusion:Educational sessions notably affected the promotion of nurses’ knowledge and attitude. With regard to nurses’ satisfaction with the workshop which was held, designing and organizing educational workshops based on constant needs assessment is suggested for the promotion of nursing cares.

Background:COPD is a chronic and plenty disease and one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in the world with restrict available medical treatments. The objective of this study was to assess whether psycho-educational plans (self management and behavior modification) administered in primary care have beneficial effects on symptoms of patients with COPD.Material and methods:The study was a prospective, unblinded, randomized controlled trial of usual care vs. usual care plus structured education on the use of 8 sessions of “self management and behavior modification” group education: a simple educational package on life style modification and assumption of special behaviors in different situation of disease. The study was conducted in 2 educational hospitals (Khorshid & Alzahra) in Isfahan, Iran. Participants were 40 patients with COPD randomized into control or intervention groups. The primary outcome measure was change in severity of COPD symptoms that measured with Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ). The data were analyzed with spss software and statistic examination called Ancova-Reapted measure and Mancova-Reapted measure.Results:Self management and behavior modification education were associated with significant higher decrease in mean score of CCQ in symptom, functional state and mental state domains but had no effect on change in mean score of CCQ-Total.Conclusions:Mean score of CCQ in symptom, functional state and mental state domains was lower in the intervention group but there was no difference in mean score of CCQ-Total due to “self-management and behavior modification” plans.