Correlates and pattern of physical activity among urban and suburban Iranian adults: a population-based study

Background

Considering the important role of physical activity in prevention of chronic disease, the aims of the present study were investigating the socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants and also pattern of the physical activity in urban and suburban Iranian adults.

Method

A sample of 2135 adults from suburban and urban areas of East Azerbaijan, Iran, participated in the present study. The Persian form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire was completed for evaluation of the physical activity level. The demographic characteristics including age, gender, educational level, marriage status, and residential area were recorded and BMI was calculated. The determinants of physical activity level were assessed using logistic regression.

Results

Of the study population, 28.47% were inactive, 27.96% were minimally active, and 43.55% had health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA). Residents of suburban areas (P < 0.001) and normal-weight adults (P < 0.001) were significantly more likely to participate in a high intense physical activity. Compared with men, women had significantly lower odds of being physically active [odds ratio (OR) 0.57; 95% CI 0.46–0.71]. In comparison with residents of urban areas, residents of suburban areas (OR 2.68; 95% CI 2.18–3.30) significantly had higher odds of being physically active. In women, most of the total MET-min/week occurred through walking (36.35%) and moderate intensity physical activities (53.86%). However, in men, the proportion of all domains of physical activity in men was almost equal.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it was illustrated that physical inactivity was more prevalent among obese individuals, women, and urban residents. These findings have important implications for developing physical activity promotion programs considering the individual differences.

     

MTA pulpotomy of human permanent molars with irreversible pulpitis

The histological success of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) pulpotomy for treatment of irreversible pulpitis in human teeth as an alternative treatment was investigated in this study. Fourteen molars which had to be extracted were selected from patients 16–28 years old. The selection criteria include carious pulp exposure with a history of lingering pain. After isolation, caries removal and pulp exposure, MTA was used in pulpotomy treatment. Patients were evaluated for pain after 24 h. Two patients were lost from this study. Twelve teeth were extracted after 2 months and were assessed histologically. Recall examinations confirmed that none of the patients experienced pain after pulpotomy. Histological observation revealed that all samples had dentin bridge formation completely and that the pulps were vital and free of inflammation. Although the results favour the use of MTA as a pulpotomy material, more studies with larger samples and a longer recall period are suggested to justify the use of MTA for treatment of irreversible pulpitis in human permanent teeth.     

Defective T-cell Proliferation and IL-2 Production in a Subgroup of Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall characterized by innate and adaptive immune responses to a variety of microbial and self-antigens. Given the crucial role of adaptive immunity in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, this study was performed to investigate the proliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and interleukin (IL)-2 production in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study, 25 patients with chronic stable CAD and 25 healthy individuals were investigated. The PBMCs were separated and stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). MTT assay was performed to measure cell viability and proliferation. IL-2 concentrations in cell culture supernatants were determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. PHA-stimulated cells revealed a significantly increased optical density (OD) in both groups of patients (p=0.004) and controls (p<0.001). However, the patient group showed a significantly lower Stimulation index (SI) (p=0.001). Upon in vitro stimulation with PHA, IL-2 levels were significantly increased in both groups of patients and controls (p<0.001). However, IL-2 concentrations were significantly lower in the patient group (p=0.018). Six patients showed defective IL-2 production, whereas similar finding was not observed in the normal control subjects (p=0.022). PBMCs from patients with coronary artery disease showed defective PHA-induced mitogenesis and IL-2 production. Considering the autoimmune nature of atherosclerosis, decreased IL-2 production may potentially enhance the atherogenic process, leading to spontaneous activation of autoreactive T lymphocytes.     

Customer quality and type 2 diabetes from the patients' perspective: a cross-sectional study

Background: Quality in health care can be seen as having three principal dimensions: service, technical and customer quality. This study aimed to measure Customer Quality in relation to self-management of Type 2 diabetes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 577 Type 2 diabetes people was carried out in Australia. The 13-item Patient Activation Measure was used to evaluate Customer Quality based on self-reported knowledge, skills and confidence in four stages of self-management. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 13.0. Results: All participants achieved scores at the level of stage 1, but ten percent did not achieve score levels consistent with stage 2 and a further 16% did not reach the actual action stage. Seventy-four percent reported capacity for taking action for self-management and 38% reported the highest Customer Quality score and ability to change the action by changing health and environment. Participants with a higher education attainment, better diabetes control status and those who maintain continuity of care reported a higher Customer Quality score, reflecting higher capacity for self-management. Conclusion: Specific capacity building programs for health care providers and people with Type 2 diabetes are needed to increase their knowledge and skills; and improve their confidence to self-management, to achieve improved quality of delivered care and better health outcomes.     

Projection-based bolus detection for computed tomographic angiography

Computed tomographic (CT) angiography is important for imaging studies on cardiovascular structures, peripheral vessels, and solid organs. In practice, a CT angiography scan is triggered by the bolus arrival at a prespecified anatomical location, which is determined using CT fluoroscopy. In this article, we propose a projection-based method adapted from the Grangeat formula to detect the bolus arrival. Then, we evaluate our new method in numerical and animal studies. Our results indicate that this method allows significantly better temporal resolution and is computationally more efficient, as compared with the image-based methods.