•Data obtained from eight clinical trials which conducted on 552 participants.•Administration of artichoke and artichoke products has not effect on SBP and DBP.•However, artichoke supplementation ...significantly reduce SBP and DBP in hypertensive patients.•In addition, artichoke supplementation for 12 weeks led to a significantly decreased DBP.
Clinical trials considering the effects of artichoke supplementation on blood pressure have yielded different and contradictory outcomes. Thus, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess effects of artichoke administration on blood pressure.
Related studies were detected by searching the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase and Scopus databases up to 15 March 2020. Weighted Mean Differences (WMD) were pooled using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity, sensitivity analyses, and publication bias were evaluated using standard methods.
Pooled analysis of eight randomized controlled trials revealed that artichoke supplementation did not have an effect on systolic blood pressure (SBP), (WMD: -0.77 mmHg, 95 % CI: −2.76 to 1.22) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (WMD: −0.11 mmHg, 95 % CI: −1.72 to 1.50) when compared to the placebo group. However, subgroup analyses based on health status suggested that artichoke administration among hypertensive patients may significantly reduce SBP (WMD: −3.19 mmHg, 95 % CI: −3.32 to −3.06) and DBP (WMD: −2.33 mmHg, 95 % CI: −2.23 to −2.43), but no such reduction was found in NAFLD patients. Furthermore, our results indicated that artichoke supplementation for 12 weeks led to a significantly decreased DBP (WMD: -2.33 mmHg, 95 % CI: −2.43 to −2.23), but 8 weeks of intervention did not (WMD: 0.80 mmHg, 95 % CI: −1.06 to 2.66).
Artichoke supplementation may potentially lead to SBP and DBP reduction in hypertensive patients. In addition, artichoke supplementation for 12 weeks may significantly improve DBP.
•Data obtained from 10 clinical trials which conducted on 588 participants.•Administration of artichoke and artichoke products has not effect on weight and BMI.•Supplementation of artichoke has ...effect on waist circumference.•However, artichoke supplementation in hypertensive patients significantly reduces the weight.
Studies on the efficacy of artichoke administration on anthropometric indices gave different outcomes. Hence, a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis were accomplished to understand the effects of artichoke administration on anthropometric indices.
Related clinical trials were found by searching in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and Scopus databases up to 29 February 2020. Weighted Mean Differences (WMD) were analyzed using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity, publication bias and sensitivity analysis were assessed for anthropometric indices.
Pooled analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggested that the artichoke administration has effect on waist circumference (WMD: -1.11 cm, 95 % CI: -2.08 to - 0.14), as opposed to the other anthropometric indices including weight (WMD: -0.62 kg, 95 % CI: -1.86 to 0.61) or BMI (WMD: -0.12, 95 % CI: -0.43 to 0.20). However, the analysis of the subgroups according to the health status showed that artichoke supplementation in hypertensive patients significantly reduced weight (WMD: -2.34 kg, 95 % CI: -3.11 to -1.57) but not the other indicators (WMD: -0.06 kg, 95 % CI: 0.78 to 0.67).
The artichoke supplementation has effect on the waist circumference, but not on the other anthropometric indices. For establishment of more accurate conclusion more studies with longer administration duration are need to be done.
This study presents a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) supplementation and liver function biomarkers. ...Pertinent studies were identified using Scopus, ISI Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane library databases up to August 2020. Mean differences were pooled using a random-effects model. Pooling 7 RCTs together showed that C. vulgaris supplementation led to a significant reduction of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (weighted mean difference WMD, -9.15 U/L; 95% confidence interval CI, -16.09, -2.21), but not alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels compared to the placebo consumption. Subgroup-analysis indicated that C. vulgaris supplementation had more effect on AST decreasing among non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients (WMD, -16.42 U/L; 95% CI, -29.75, -3.09) than others. Furthermore, subgroup analysis based on kind of supplementation showed that C. vulgaris supplementation significantly decreased ALT levels (WMD, -4.65 U/L; 95% CI, -8.88, -0.42) compared with the placebo, but not metformin consumption. It seems that C. vulgaris supplementation mainly affects AST levels rather than ALT and ALP levels, however, as mentioned the effect of C. vulgaris on those enzymes might be context-dependent. Therefore, further investigations with a large number of patients as well as on different disorders are necessary and can provide more definitive evidence.
This study presents a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on
(
) supplementation and liver function biomarkers. Pertinent studies were identified ...using Scopus, ISI Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane library databases up to August 2020. Mean differences were pooled using a random-effects model. Pooling 7 RCTs together showed that
supplementation led to a significant reduction of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (weighted mean difference WMD, -9.15 U/L; 95% confidence interval CI, -16.09, -2.21), but not alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels compared to the placebo consumption. Subgroup-analysis indicated that
supplementation had more effect on AST decreasing among non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients (WMD, -16.42 U/L; 95% CI, -29.75, -3.09) than others. Furthermore, subgroup analysis based on kind of compression showed that
supplementation significantly decreased ALT levels (WMD, -4.65 U/L; 95% CI, -8.88, -0.42) compared with the placebo, but not metformin consumption. It seems that
supplementation mainly affects AST levels rather than ALT and ALP levels, however, as mentioned the effect of
on those enzymes might be context-dependent. Therefore, further investigations with a large number of patients as well as on different disorders are necessary and can provide more definitive evidence.
There is a general consensus among climate scientists about the rise in global temperature due to an increase in the anthropogenic greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere. This will undoubtedly ...change the pattern of evapotranspiration (ET) due to an increase in CO2 concentration of the air with the resultant deerease in the stomata opening. Predication of the wheat plant ET was achieved by entering the minimum and maximum air temperature, precipitation and daily radiation for the 1983-2012 period into the downscaled LARS-WG software and its incorporation into the HadCM3 general circulation model under the A1B, A2 and B1 climate change scenarios for the 2011-2040 , 2041-2070, and 2071-2100 periods. Results of the general circulation model for Bojnourd area indicates that the temperature will increase in all months of the year up to 2100 year. There will also be an increase in precipitation, in December, January, February and March, and its decreases in April, May, August and September. The generated temperature and precipitation date were fed into the SSM-WHEAT as an application for making changing planting date for simulation of wheat growth. Results indicated that the change in the mean maximum and minimum temperature and also that of precipitation reduced rate-fed wheat's ET up to the year 2100. On the contrary, the ET of the late-planted irrigation wheat will be increased and it would be decreased in rainfed farming.
Education and training about emergency cases are necessary for different medical groups such as midwives. Teaching puerperal sepsis is important for midwives. The teaching method is one of the ...challenges of the educational system in universities. This study was conducted to compare lecture and concept map methods on the level of learning and satisfaction in puerperal sepsis education of midwifery students.
This semi-experimental study was conducted in 2022 at Ardabil Nursing and Midwifery School on 50 midwifery students. Students randomly were placed in lecture and concept map teaching groups. To collect data, a 23-question satisfaction questionnaire and a 15-question test taken from the WHO books on the management of puerperal sepsis were used to check students' knowledge and learning. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and independent and paired t-test SPSS software.
The average learning score of the students after teaching in the concept map group was 10.28 ± 1.90 and the lecture group 9.20 ± 1.70, the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.04). The average satisfaction score in the concept map group was 107.92 ± 4.46 and in the lecture group 105.68 ± 6.84, this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.03).
The teaching of puerperal sepsis with the concept map method had a greater effect on the learning and satisfaction of midwifery students. Therefore, it is recommended to use this educational method.
Abstract
Exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) news pandemic is inevitable. This study aimed to explore the association between exposure to COVID-19 news on social media and feeling of ...anxiety, fear, and potential opportunities for behavioral change among Iranians. A telephone-based survey was carried out in 2020. Adults aged 18 years and above were randomly selected. A self-designed questionnaire was administered to collect information on demographic variables and questions to address exposure to news and psychological and behavioral responses regarding COVID-19. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between anxiety, fear, behavioral responses, and independent variables, including exposure to news. In all, 1563 adults participated in the study. The mean age of respondents was 39.17 ± 13.5 years. Almost 55% of participants reported moderate to high-level anxiety, while fear of being affected by COVID-19 was reported 54.1%. Overall 88% reported that they had changed their behaviors to some extent. Exposure to the COVID-19 news on social media was the most influencing variable on anxiety (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.62–3.04; P < 0.0001), fear (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.49–2.56; P < 0.0001), and change in health behaviors (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.28–3.19; P = 0.003) in the regression model. The fear of being infected by the COVID19 was associated with the female gender and some socioeconomic characteristics. Although exposure to the COVID-19 news on social media seemed to be associated with excess anxiety and fear, it also, to some extent, had positively changed people’s health behaviors towards preventive measures.
Abstract
Background
In order to increase HPV vaccination, it is necessary to identify the factors influencing vaccination behavior among different cultures and the young adult populations. To ...evaluate the factors influencing HPV vaccine uptake behaviors, valid, reliable, and culture-compatible scales are required. This study was conducted with the aim of designing and psychometric assessment of the scale of factors influencing HPV vaccine uptake behaviors in Young Adults (FI(HPV)VUBYA) in Iran.
Methods
The present study was carried out in a mixed-method in two steps: (a) Generating items using a qualitative study and literature review and (b) Reducing items by psychometric assessment of the designed scale. The initial set of items (N = 80) was prepared based on a qualitative study and literature review. A total of 400 young adults participated in online data collection from November 2019 to February 2020. The validity (face, content, and construct) and reliability (internal consistency and stability) of the scale were evaluated.
Results
The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed that the scale has 7 factors, explaining 57.84% of the total extracted variance. There was also a knowledge factor that EFA did not analyze, but its validity and reliability were evaluated with 7 other factors. The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed a good model fit. Convergent and divergent validity of the scale was accepted for all factors. Good reliability was also reported for the scale.
Conclusion
FI(HPV)VUBYA 8-factor scale has good validity and reliability among young Iranian adults. Due to its appropriate psychometric properties, this scale can be used on this population in future studies.
In this study, we hypothesized that with educational intervention, the effect of attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control and its subscales would be related to behavioral intention ...increases. Also, the effect of attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control are indirectly increased through the intention of behavior on the health behaviors of women with low-risk HPV (WLRH). A single-group intervention was conducted on 80 WLRH. The participants were selected using a stratified random sampling, and a researcher-made questionnaire was used. In order to be able to study the relationships between variables, the structural equation model (SEM) was used. SEM results showed that in pretest, the indirect effect of the total TPB score (β = 0.19, p = 0.005), attitude (β = 0.23, p < 0.001), subjective norms (β = 0.22, p < 0.001) and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.22, p < 0.001) on health behavior through the mediation of behavioral intentions was in posttest with intervention, the indirect effect of the total TPB score (β = 0.51, p < 0.001), attitude (β = 0.25, p < 0.001), subjective norms (β = 0.27, p < 0.001) and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.24, p < 0.001) on health behavior through the mediation of behavioral intentions increased. The results of this study indicated that, in posttest, total TPB score on health behavioral without a mediator and with a mediator was significant. Also, subjective norms are significant factors in increasing health behavior in WLRH through the mediation of behavioral intentions.
Personal and environmental factors can affect smoking behavior. Understanding the relationships between personal and environmental factors with smoking behavior can provide valuable insights into ...creating smoking prevention interventions in students. The purpose of the current study was to explore the relationship between demographics, smoking behavior, personal and environmental factors
This cross-sectional study was performed on 300 male high school students in Tehran using multi-stage sampling. The researcher-made questionnaire was used in two sections, including demographic, personal factors, environmental factors, and smoking behavior. The structural equation modeling (SEM) was also used to examine the relationships between variables.
SEM results showed that the direct path of environmental factors on smoking behavior (β = - 0.42, P < .05) and the direct path of personal factors on smoking behavior (β = - 0.11, P < .01) were significant.
The results of this study showed that among the questions of personal and environmental factors, "smoking reduces the ability to work and do the physical activity" and "access to smoking" had the most significant effect on forming personal and environmental factors, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that these two questions also affected smoking behavior.
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