Ghodratollah Shakerinejad

Purpose Toxoplasmosis is a widespread parasitic infection; it affects about 30% of the global population, either through acute toxoplasmosis or its sequels. Our aim was to determine how curcumin affected testicular infection in mice with chronic toxoplasmosis using toxoplasma gondii strain ME49. Methods Forty male BALB/c mice (6–8 weeks old) weighing between 20 and 25 g were randomly divided into four groups. The control group, uninfected animals, received 1 cc of normal saline (vehicle) for 2 weeks. Toxo infection in the Toxo and Toxo + CUR groups continued for 4 weeks. After infection, animals in the Toxo and Toxo + CUR groups were treated orally for 2 weeks with 1 cc of normal saline (vehicle) or curcumin (CUR) (200 mg/kg) respectively [1]. Levels of oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzyme activities and gene expression, sperm parameters, and histopathological changes were measured and evaluated [1]. Levels of oxidative stress indicators, antioxidant enzyme activity and gene expression, sperm parameters and histopathological changes were measured and evaluated. Results Toxoplasma gondii infection decreased the activity and gene expression of testosterone and serum antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and CAT), while elevating FSH and LH levels. Histological alterations, including maturational anomalies, intratubular necrosis, and inflammatory infiltration, were noted in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Curcumin decreased FSH and LH levels while enhancing sperm parameters, histological alterations, and the activity and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and CAT), as well as testosterone levels. Conclusion Curcumin treatment mitigated testicular infection induced by Toxoplasma gondii by enhancing antioxidant enzymes, improving sperm parameters, and decreasing pathological alterations in testicular tissue.

Physical activity in female employees is a healthy behavior and increases strength, endurance, improves flexibility, improves the feeling of vitality and freshness, improves health, and ultimately increases life expectancy. Health messages are one of the most effective ways to engage people and motivate them to perform healthy behaviors. The purpose of this study was to the study of the effectiveness of education based on message framing through mobile phone (whatsapp) on the physical activity of women employees of universities and higher education institutions in Ahvaz city. In this interventional study, 90 of female employees of three universities and higher education institutions of Ahvaz city were selected by random sampling and randomly divided into three groups (30 participants) receiving gain framed messages, receiving loss framed messages and the control group. The tools of data collection were demographic information questionnaire and international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). The participants of the intervention groups received educational messages about physical activity behavior in two different gain and loss framed messages through whatsapp for one month. Data were collected from three groups at the beginning of the study, immediately and two months after the intervention, and were analyzed using SPSS version 26. The results showed that there was a significant increase in the average physical activity score after the intervention in two interventional groups. by comparing the increase of this score, 53% improvement in physical activity is observed in the gain message group and 15% in loss massage group but there was no significant increase in the control group. The results of this study showed that the design and implementation of education programs based on message framing, especially gain framed messages through online education (Whatsapp) can improve and promote physical activity behavior in women employees.

Pregnant women are considered one of the high-risk groups during the COVID-19 pandemic, so paying attention to preventive behaviors among them is highly important. This study aimed to examine the effect of multimedia education based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) in preventing COVID-19 among pregnant women. This quasi-experimental intervention study was conducted on 120 pregnant women referring to Comprehensive Health Services Centers affiliated with East and West health centres of Ahvaz city, Iran, in 2021. Participants were divided into two control (n = 60) and intervention (n = 60) groups. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection. The intervention group was given the required educational content using social networks virtually and multimedia in 12 sessions. Both groups were reinvestigated after two months. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 24, independent t-test and paired t-test tests. The mean age and mean gestational age of participants were estimated at 28 years old and 18 weeks, respectively. Before the educational intervention, there was no significant difference in mean constructs of HBM. In contrast, the mean of all constructs increased significantly in the intervention group after intervention. The greatest change was related to the constructs of self-efficacy and perceived susceptibility, and the lowest change was related to the perceived barriers construct. Our findings suggest multimedia education using the HBM to COVID-19 preventive behaviors among pregnant women can benefit behavior change.

Aims: Unhealthy nutrition is the cause of 35% of death due to cancer. Modification of dietary patterns from childhood and beginning adulthood and having good nutritional behaviors is very important to prevent diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive factors of nutritional behaviors based on the ...

This study examined the effects of a nutrition education programme based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of dietary calcium in female students. In this interventional study, 188 students were placed into intervention (95) and control (93) groups. The intervention group participated in a nutrition education programme. Students in both the groups completed KAP and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at baseline and after two and three months of follow-up respectively. The data were analyzed by independent and paired t-tests. Those who received the intervention were found to have better attitude (p=0.049) and practice (p=0.005) scores compared to the controls. The HBM constructs, including perceived susceptibility (p=0.006), perceived severity (p=0.001), perceived benefits (p=0.002), perceived barriers (p=0.001), and taking health action (p=0.02) scores, were also significantly higher. The findings support the effectiveness of nutrition education based on the HBM in improving the knowledge, attitude, and practice relating to calcium intake among adolescent students.

Background: Over 100 million women worldwide are using oral contraceptives pills (OCP) and mood changes were being as the primary reason for OCP discontinuation. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and predicting factors of mood changes in oral contraceptive pills users. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 500 women aged 15–49 years old using low dose (LD) pills attending family planning centers in Ahwaz, Iran. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire including items on demographic, self-efficacy and mood change. Both univarate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between reported mood change and the independent variables. Results: In all 406 women reported that they did experience OCP side effects. Of these, 37.7% of women (n =153) reported mood changes due to OCP use. The results of multiple logistic regression revealed that place of living (OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.06-6.20, p = 0.03), not receiving information on OCP side effects (OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.15-2.80, p = 0.009), and lower self-efficacy (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.80-0.94, p = 0.001) were significant predictors of mood changes. Conclusion: The findings from this study indicated that the prevalence of reported mood changes due to OCP use among Iranian women appeared to be consistent with other studies. In addition the findings showed that receiving information on OCP side effects from health care workers and self-efficacy were important predicting factors for mood changes. Indeed implementing educational programs and improving self-efficacy among women are recommended.