The pathological use of the internet-conceptualized as 'internet addiction'-might be crucial in initiating and increasing sleep disturbances in the community. While inconsistent evidence is reported regarding the association of internet addiction and sleep disturbances, the severity of this association remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to increase our understanding of the relationship between internet addiction and sleep disturbances. A systematic review was conducted through Scopus, PubMed Central, ProQuest, ISI Web of Knowledge, and EMBASE using keywords related to internet addiction and sleep problems. Observational studies (cohort, case-control or cross-sectional studies) focusing on association between internet addiction and sleep disturbances including sleep problems and sleep duration were selected. A meta-analysis using random-effect model was conducted to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for experiencing sleep problems and standardized mean differences (SMDs) for sleep duration. Eligible studies (N=23) included 35,684 participants. The overall pooled OR of having sleep problems if addicted to the internet was 2.20 (95% CI: 1.77-2.74). Additionally, the overall pooled SMDs for sleep duration for the IA group compared to normal internet users was-0.24 (95% CI:-0.38,-0.10). Results of the meta-analysis revealed a significant OR for sleep problems and a significant reduced sleep duration among individuals addicted to the internet.

Several factors including demographic, reproductive, lifestyle, psychological and social factors can affect incidence and severity of primary dysmenorrhea. This study aimed to systematically review the psychological risk factors associated with primary dysmenorrhea. Embase, ISI web of knowledge, ProQuest, Science Direct, Scopus and PubMed central were searched using keywords related to risk factors and primary dysmenorrhea. Observational studies, published in English after 2000, focusing solely on psychological factors affecting primary dysmenorrhea were included. The search process retrieved 11,928 potential related articles. Thirty three articles met inclusion criteria and were assessed for final synthesis. The STROBE checklist was used to quality assessment of studies. Results of study showed that few studies had investigated relationship between dysmenorrhea and most psychological disorders. Most studies have investigated the relationship between dysmenorrhea and depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol abuse and somatic disorders. So, further studies are needed to investigate relation between most psychological disorders with primary dysmenorrhea. Significant relationship between some mental health components such as depression, anxiety and stress with primary dysmenorrhea shows the importance of psychological assessment before the choice of therapeutic methods. Also, the feasibility of designing and evaluating the effectiveness of the use of psychotherapy interventions for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea as alternative therapies can be considered.

Background: The incidence and severity of primary dysmenorrhea are influenced by various factors. The aim of the present study was to review nutritional factors influencing primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: Academic databases including Web of Science, EMBASE, Scopus, and PubMed (including Medline) were searched using keywords of nutrition, diet, and primary dysmenorrhea. In this study, observational studies that were published in English from 1990 to April 2018, which focused on nutritional factors affecting primary dysmenorrhea, were selected. The evaluation of studies was performed using a modified STROBE checklist with 10 items. Results: Out of 5,814 retrieved studies, 38 articles met inclusion criteria and were included for final data synthesis. The increased consumption of fruits and vegetables as the sources of vitamins and minerals, as well as fish and milk and dairy products have positive associations with less menstrual pain. Inconsistent results were reported on the consumption of other nutritional groups. Studies showed negative associations of meal skipping and following diet to lose weight with severity of dysmenorrhea. Conclusion: A few studies showed inconclusive findings due to methodological heterogeneities for assessing nutritional habits and different methods of measuring dysmenorrhea pain. Therefore, further analysis and future interventional studies with stronger methodologies are required.

Background. Vulvovaginal candidiasis caused by Candida species is a prevalent fungal infection among women. It is believed that the pathogenesis of Candida species is linked with the production of biofilm which is considered a virulence factor for this organism. The aim of this study was molecular identification, antifungal susceptibility, biomass quantification of biofilm, and detection of virulence markers of Candida species. Methods. We investigated the molecular identification of 70 vaginal isolates of Candida species, antifungal resistance to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole according to CLSI M27-A3 and M27-S4, biofilm formation, and frequency analysis of biofilm-related ALS1, ALS3, and HWP1 genes. Results. Our findings showed that the most common yeast isolated from vaginal discharge was C. albicans (67%), followed by the non-Candida albicans species (33%). All C. albicans complex isolates were confirmed as C. albicans by HWP-PCR, and all isolates of the C. glabrata complex were revealed to be C. glabrata sensu stricto using the multiplex PCR method. FLC resistance was observed in 23.4% of C. albicans and 7.7% of C. glabrata. The resistance rate to ITC was found in 10.6% of C. albicans. The frequency of ALS1, ALS3, and HWP1 genes among Candida species was 67.1%, 80%, and 81.4%, respectively. Biofilm formation was observed in 54.3% of Candida species, and the highest frequency detected as a virulence factor was for the ALS3 gene (97.3%) in biofilm-forming species. Discussion. Our results showed the importance of molecular epidemiology studies, investigating antifungal susceptibility profiles, and understanding the role of biofilm-related virulence markers in the pathogenesis of Candida strains.

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Purpose Dams require high-volume of construction materials and operations over the life cycle. This paper aims to select a proper type of dam structure that can significantly contribute to the sustainability of dam projects. Design/methodology/approach This research proposes a complementary fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission assessment method for the alternate dam structure types to assist decision-makers in selecting sustainable choices. Related equations are developed for two common earthen and rock-fill dam structures types in Iran. These equations are then successfully applied to two real dam project cases where the significance of the achieved results are assessed and discussed. Findings The achieved results of the case studies demonstrate a high deviation of up to 41.3% in CO2 emissions comparing alternate dam structure scenarios of earthen and rock-fill dam structures. This high deviation represents an important potential for CO2 emission reduction considering the high volume of the emission in large dam projects. Originality/value The life cycle emission assessment of the alternate dam structures, proposed in this research as a novel complementary factor, can be used in the decision-making process of dam projects. The results in this research identify high potential sustainability improvement of dam projects as a result of the proposed method.

Objective Developmental and behavioral problems are the most prevalent problem in pediatrics after infection and trauma. These problems can be affected by numerous factors. A range of factors is involved in behavior and development problems. Developmental problems have a massive impact on children's health and eventually have broader scale effect on society. Because of the necessity for more and different follow-ups in children with developmental disorders in the early years of lifetime, determination of effective factors is essential in any society. Therefore, the current study was conducted with a purpose to determine the relationship between gender and developmental status in children. Materials & Methods This is a descriptive design study, performed in 12-month-old children (n=250) who were referred to health services centers affiliated to Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Sampling was performed using a multistage method. The data gathering tool included information form and Age and Stages Questionnaire for measuring developmental status. Once parental consent was obtained, the developmental status of the children was measured in five areas, i.e., motor (gross and fine motor skills), problem-solving, personal-social skills and communication. Age and Stages Questionnaire consists of 19 questionnaires at the age of 4-60 -month old with the aim of separating inactive children from further developmental studies of healthy children. Completion of the questionnaire takes 10 to 15 minutes, and it takes about one minute to score. The validity and reliability of the Age and Stages Questionnaire have been reported in various previous studies. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 18. In this study, statistical analyses were performed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Logistic regression model was used to determine the relationship between gender and developmental status. A P value of ˂0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The prevalence of developmental delay was 22.4 % (CI 95%: 17-28) in children and the highest prevalence was in the area of communication (8%; CI 95%: 5-11) and the lowest was in the area of problem-solving (2%; CI 95%; 0-4). 39 boys (69.6%) were in the group of developmental delay, and 102 boys (52.6%) were in normal developmental group. To check the status of development difference between groups were used chisquare test showed a significant difference between the two groups. Therefore, developmental delay is significantly higher in boys (P=0.02). By importing the variable studied in the logistic regression model, the male gender variable (P=0.055, OR=0.52) had a significant relationship with a developmental delay of children. Children with suspected developmental disorders in evolution children with normal development, chance of developmental delay in boys 0.52 times more than girls. The other variables (age, education, and occupation of parents, previous history of abortion, type of delivery, parity, spacing between births, weight and head cir...

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