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Background and purpose: Petrochemical industries and refineries are regarded as important emission sources of inorganic and organic pollutants. The aim of this study was to survey TVOCs and BTEX in the air of South Pars Special Economic Energy Zone in 2014.

Materials and methods: In a cross-sectional study sampling and analysis was done by NIOSH 1501 method. The study was carried out in 336 activated carbon tubes and personal sampling pump in 6 sampling stations during one year. The compounds were extracted by solvent carbon disulfide and analyzed using Gas Chromatography- Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). Data analysis was performed in SPSS Ver.18 applying Kruskal-Wallis, Fligner test and ANOVA.

Results: The mean concentrations of TVOCs and TBTEX were 229.34 and 31.23 µg/m³ in cold season and 212.19 and 29.89 µg/m³ in warm season, respectively. The mean concentrations of Benzene in all stations were 11.72 µg/m³ which were higher than the threshold levels recommended by Iranian Clean Air Act and US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The ANOVA results showed a significant difference between the concentration of pollutants and hour, month and sampling stations (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between the concentration of pollutants and seasons (P>0.05).

Conclusion: The concentrations of measured pollutants in cold season were higher than those in warm season. High concentrations of Benzene in cold and warm seasons were used to identify areas of high exposure risk.

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Background and purpose: Brucellosis is a systemic infection caused by gram-negative coccobacilli and facultative intracellular bacteria of the genus Brucella. Interleukin-17 is one of the important cytokines that plays a role in controlling host immune response in patients with brucellosis. The aim of this study was to investigate polymorphism of the genes encoding IL-17 in patients with brucellosis compared to healthy subjects.
Materials and methods: This case-control study included 86 patients with brucellosis who were selected based on clinical symptoms, serology, culture and PCR results. The control group composed of 86 healthy people. The polymorphism gene encoding Interleukin-17 was evaluated in both groups by PCR-RELP method.
Results: Current study showed that the frequencies of AA [OR=0.047 (95%CI: 0.01-0.12)] and GG [OR=337.20 (95%CI: 20.49-5541.39] were significant at position -1998 (G/A) in both cases and controls [P-values (AA) and (GG) = 0.001]. But, the frequency of AA genotypes in the control group was greater than the frequency of GG genotype in patients. The odds ratio for catching brucellosis in people who have genotype GG was 41 times higher than those who have genotype AA.
Conclusion: Findings showed that, AA and AG genotypes at -1998 (A/G) position are more important. So, the risk of brucellosis in people with GG genotype at position -1998 was higher than that in people with AA genotype. In other words, people with AA genotype are more protected against brucellosis at this position.

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Background and purpose: Anxiety is a common disorder in patients which has a major role in social function, resumption of work, daily activity, and quality of life. This research aimed at investigating the level of anxiety in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 96 patients aged 35-70 years old at Mazandaran Heart Center, Sari, Iran. The patients were selected via purposive sampling. Anxiety assessment was performed by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 55.92±7.65, and the mean scores for state and trait anxiety were 54.84±5.54 and 53.21±5.06, respectively. There was a significant difference between males and females in the level of state-anxiety (53.72±5.1, 55.96±5.7, respectively, p= 0.05). We found a significant association between state anxiety and age (p= 0.02). State and trait anxiety were significantly different in patients with various job status (employed [55±8.67], housewife [56.29±5.5], and self-employed [53.34±4.69]) (p=0.041).
Conclusion: In current study, patients undergoing cardiac artery bypass surgery experienced a moderate level of anxiety but patients of lower age, women, and employed patients reported higher levels of anxiety. Therefore, more attention should be paid to these groups.
 

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Background and purpose: Breastfeeding self-efficacy is the feeling of confidence of the mother to experience exclusive breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of talks and motivational interviews on breastfeeding self-efficacy in primiparous women.
Materials and methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 210 primeval pregnant women attending Torbat Heydarieh health centers, Iran 2017-2018. Random block method was used and the subjects were assigned into three groups (n=70 per group), including those participating in motivational interviews, attending the talk session, and controls. Motivational interview was carried out in five sessions (two hr) and three telephone follow ups were made. The talk group were given a two- hour talk about breastfeeding and received relevant trainings, while the control group only received routine care. The groups were evaluated for breastfeeding self-efficacy at two, four, and six months after childbirth. Data were analyzed applying Chi-square and ANOVA.
Results: Demographic variables were not significantly different between the groups (p>0.05). Six months after childbirth, the mean scores for breastfeeding self-efficacy were 63.97±0.89, 50.02±0.91, and 41.77±0.95 in the group participating in motivational interviews, the talk group, and controls, respectively. The score revealed significant differences between the three groups in breastfeeding self-efficacy (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Motivational interview was found to be more effective in enhancing breastfeeding self-efficacy, therefore, it is suggested as an effective and inexpensive method, especially in primiparus women.
 
(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT IRCT2014122220394N1)
 

 

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Background and purpose: Puberty is one of the most critical stages in the life of every girl in adolescence. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of peer education on girls' knowledge and practice about puberty.
Materials and methods: In this semi-experimental study, 10 eighth-grade classes were selected from ten high schools in Shahroud, Iran 2018, using multi-stage sampling. Random assignment of schools to two groups of control and intervention was done. A total of 217 students enrolled in this research. Demographic characteristics were recorded and students completed a researcher-made questionnaire on puberty before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. The intervention group received peer education on puberty by trained individuals for one month. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The alpha level of 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in the mean scores for knowledge and practice before the intervention (P= 0.17). The mean scores of knowledge and practice in intervention group were 28.18±3.85 and 121.59±10.32 immediately after the intervention, and 31.91±3.69 and 130.37±8.07 one month after the intervention, respectively which were significantly higher than those of the control group (P= 0.001).
Conclusion: Collaborative nature of peer education makes it an appropriate choice for educating puberty issues to adolescents.
 
(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20180209038675N1)
 

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 Background and purpose: There are many studies on the health effects of dietary advice and physical activity in pregnancy while only a few reported the effects of simultaneous administration of motivational interviewing, dietary advice, and physical activity on neonatal outcome in pregnant women with metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study was designed to examine the effects of these interventions on fetal-neonatal outcome in pregnant women with MetS.
Materials and methods: A randomized, single‑blind, controlled clinical trial was performed in 120 pregnant women with metabolic syndrome at 15- 20 weeks of gestation in two hospitals in Babol, north of Iran, 2018. The participants were allocated into two groups (n= 60 per group) using blocking randomization and were followed up until the end of pregnancy. Fetal-neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups from week 32 of pregnancy. The interventional program included one motivational interview, two nutrition consultation sessions, and three sessions of physical activity (per week).  The control group received routine care. Demographic and fertility characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical and pregnancy outcomes were recorded. Data analysis was done applying independent t test, ANOVA, and logistic regression.
Results: The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome was found to be significantly lower in intervention group (3.7%) compared with the control group (14.5%) at the end of the pregnancy (P=0.01).
Conclusion: Dietary recommendations, motivational interviewing, and physical activity in pregnant women with MetS during prenatal care can be used as safe and practical interventions to prevent respiratory distress syndrome.

(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT2017042333070N1)
 

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Correction to: Effect of Motivational Interviewing, Dietary Advice, and Physical Activity on Fetal-Neonatal Outcome in Pregnant Women with Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Farideh Mohsenzadeh-ledari¹,
 Zahra Motaghi²,
 Ziba Taghizadeh³,
 Afsaneh Keramat⁴,
 Ali Najafi⁵,
Mahmood Moosazadeh⁶,
Shahla Yazdani<sup>7

1</sup> Assistant Professor, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
² Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
³ Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
⁴ Professor, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
⁵ Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
⁶ Associate Professor, Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
⁷ Assistant Professor, Department of Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran


Corresponding Author: Farideh Mohsenzadeh-ledari - Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.  (E-mail: mohsenzadh2008@gmail.com)




In the article published in volume 32, issue 214, 2022, the correspondence address of
Farideh Mohsenzadeh-ledari was published incorrectly, which is now corrected.