Showing 5 results for Makvandi
Volume 6, Issue 1 (winter 2021)
Abstract
Aim: Concerning the high prevalence of chronic pain and the remarkable role of psychological empowerment in chronic pain management, identifying factors influencing psychological empowerment in chronic pain management is of high importance. Hence, the current study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of using psychological empowerment in chronic pain management from health care providers and patients’ viewpoints.
Method and Materials: The grounded theory approach was applied using semi-structured interviews and observation of participants as the main methods for data collection. Fifteen members of the health care providers had a greater relationship with the psychotic dimensions of chronic pain management and 6 patients with chronic pain participated with purposive and theoretical sampling methods in Ahvaz city. Sampling was continued until data saturation and data analysis were performed concurrently with data gathering based on Corbin and Strauss’s proposed method. Data validity was confirmed via Lincoln and Guba’s approach.
Findings: Two themes of “emotional dysregulation” and “negative attitude towards pain”, were identified as barriers to psychological empowerment. Emotional dysregulation consisted of two subsets of the emotional synergy of pain and the inefficiency of symptomatic therapies. Negative
attitudes toward pain also consisted of subsets of false assumptions about pain and lack of self- efficacy. Two themes of “pain acceptance” and “finding the meaning of pain” were also identified as facilitators of psychological empowerment. In this regard, the content of pain acceptance consisted of subcategories of increasing awareness, reality acceptance, and a positive attitude toward pain. Two subcategories of values and pain love also created pain meaning themes.
Conclusion: To evaluate and properly manage chronic pain, consideration of the psychological dimensions of the pain, including barriers and facilitators of the psychological empowerment process, can be beneficial in designing a comprehensive care program to improve chronic management
Volume 10, Issue 4 (Fall 2024)
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in early 2020. The spectrum of clinical symptoms of COVID-19 patients, including asymptomatic and symptomatic cases, includes dry cough, fatigue, fever, shortness of breath, and gastrointestinal symptoms. However, increased immune inflammatory responses to stimuli could result in overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, immunopathological complications, and death in patients with COVID-19. Given the anti-inflammatory effects of naproxen, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of naproxen on IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TGF-β in COVID-19 patients.
Materials & Methods: Serum levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TGF-β were determined by a commercial ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) kit before and after naproxen treatment.
Findings: According to the results, serum levels of IFN-γ and TGF-β cytokines significantly decreased in patients after treatment with naproxen. In addition, naproxen treatment was effective in reducing the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in patients with COVID-19; however, it did not significantly change the serum level of TNF-α.
Conclusion: Overall, the findings demonstrated the effectiveness of naproxen on regulating the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in COVID-19 patients.
Volume 11, Issue 3 (Summer 2023)
Abstract
Aims: The consumption of fruits and vegetables has a protective effect on cardiovascular disease and its associated risk factors. The present study aimed to assess the effect of educational intervention on fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as its effect on blood lipid parameters, in government employees.
Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in two offices in Qaem Shahr. The data collection tool included a 31-item questionnaire on the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption and a laboratory test to measure blood lipid parameters. The Chi-square test, t-test, paired sample t-test, and ANCOVA were used for data analysis.
Findings: The study groups significantly differed in mean fruit and vegetable consumption after the six-month intervention (p<0.001). The mean total cholesterol (p<0.001) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C; p=0.005) levels were significantly different between the groups after the intervention. The mean difference of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels showed a significant relationship with the study groups and the interaction of gender and group (p<0.001). The mean difference of total cholesterol (p=0.008) and LDL-C had a significant relationship with the study groups (p=0.03).
Conclusion: Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is only effective in improving the levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C, but not in lowering triglyceride and HDL-C levels. Therefore, influencing factors, such as the duration of fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as the time required to monitor their effect on these parameters, should be more closely examined.
Volume 11, Issue 3 (Summer 2023)
Abstract
Aims: Individuals with substance use disorder often struggle with chronic and recurrent episodes, experiencing a lack of control over their behaviors and significant disruptions in motivation. This study investigated the relationship between anxious attachment, family well-being, and addiction susceptibility among university students with the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation.
Instrument & Methods: This study utilized structural equation modeling, a widely recognized multivariate correlation method, to examine the relationship between various factors in the context of addiction susceptibility. The target population for this study comprised students from the Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz. Through convenience sampling, a sample of 300 students was selected. All participants completed the Potential Addiction Scale, Experience in Close Relationships Scale, Family-of-Origin Scale, and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Scale. The collected data underwent statistical analysis using SEM, revealing a well-fitted model.
Findings: Anxious attachment and family health significantly influenced participants' inclination toward addiction (p<0.001). These effects were directly and indirectly observed, mediated by cognitive emotion regulation (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Reducing addiction tendencies in young individuals can be achieved through training families and university students on cultivating secure attachment styles, employing adaptive cognitive regulation strategies, and promoting overall family health.
Volume 13, Issue 54 (8-2015)
Abstract
In this research, the effect of kombucha on physicochemical (pH, acidity, syneresis, viscosity, vitamin C and ethanol) and overall acceptability of yogurt samples were measured during 21 days of storage at 8ºC. Thus the amounts of 5, 10 and 15 %(V/V) of concentrate of kombucha layer grown up on black tea, with yoghurt starter, were inoculated to the milk containing 2.2 % fat. Meanwhile, the yogurt starter was applied for producing control sample. Fermentation in all samples was stopped when the pH reached 4.6. The results showed that during the storage, decrease of pH and increase of acidity were minor (p<0.01), and with raising the kombucha concentration, these changes were significantly less than control sample (p<0.01); syneresis in all samples (the same as control) increased while viscosity decreased (p<0.01) and increasing of kombucha concentration was caused increase of syneresis and decrease of viscosity (p<0.01); vitamin C decreased and ethanol increased very little (p<0.01) and as the kombucha concentration increased, the quantities of vitamin C and ethanol increased (p<0.01). Raising the kombucha concentration caused reduction of overall acceptability score in samples (p<0.01); and during storage, this score decreased (p<0.01) a little in comparison with that in control sample. After production and during storage, the best physicochemical and sensory properties was observed in sample containing yogurt starter and 5% kombucha concentrate.
