BACKGROUND: Globally, 30% of female over 50 years old have osteoporosis. This disease is one of the major causes of disability and death in the elderly. This research was aimed to determine the prevalence of primary osteoporosis and low bone density based on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women and its sociodemographic, obstetric, and life style risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was performed by simple random sampling on 850 postmenopausal women aged 50–65 years covered by all health centers, from August 2018 to April 2019, in Tabriz-Iran. Four hundred and forty-five eligible women underwent densitometry using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Socio-individual, obstetric-medical, international physical activity questionnaires-short form, and anthropometric questionnaires were completed. Data analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics including multivariate logistic regression in SPSS 21 software. RESULTS: The prevalence of primary osteoporosis based on lumbar vertebra T-score, femoral neck T-score, and total was 23.4%, 3.4%, and 24.5%, respectively, and the prevalence of primary osteopenia based on lumbar vertebra T-score, femur neck T-score, and total was 42%, 35.5%, and 43.6%, respectively. The present study showed that the odds of osteoporosis increased by increment of age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.30), but it decreased by increasing menopausal age (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.85–1.01), body mass index (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78–0.97), arm circumference (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.74–0.95), and education level (P = 0.028). It was higher in unmarried women (OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 0.99–7.08) and those with nonpersonal housing (OR: 4.02; 95% CI: 1.24–13.07). CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of primary osteoporosis and low bone mass in postmenopausal women, health education is necessary for preventing modifiable risk factors and reducing the complications of this disease.

BACKGROUND: Medical students face a variety of challenges during their years of medical education that can affect their quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to investigate the association of QOL with physical activity (PA), depression, and demographic characteristics, as well as to determine its predictors among medical students in different stages of education. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 186 medical students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in different educational stages including basic sciences, physiopathology, externship, and internship using stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire, International PA Questionnaire, World Health Organization QOL Questionnaire, and Beck depression inventory-2. Data analysis was performed using SPSS/Ver 23 through descriptive and analytic statistics including one-way analysis of variance, independent t -test, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient, and multivariate linear regression model. RESULTS: There were significant differences in total score of QOL among students in different stages ( P < 0.05). There were indirect significant correlations between total score of QOL (β [confidence interval 95%]:−0.85 [−1.11–−0.59]) and its all subdomains with Beck depression score but direct significant correlations with total PA ( P < 0.05) except for social relationship. Educational stage, employment status, family income, inhabitant, moderate PA, and depression were the predictors of QOL and altogether explained 63% of its variance. CONCLUSIONS: To pay attention to the predictors of QOL, life among medical students seems necessary for increasing their QOL to provide high-quality care for people with disabilities as well as for the whole community.

Aims of the Study. Reducing estrogen levels due to menopause activates oxidative and inflammatory processes, which causes symptoms of menopause, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction. As a suggestion, potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents such as curcumin and vitamin E could be used as an effective alternative treatment due to parsimony, suitable access, and fewer side effects. Therefore, the present study was conducted to find out whether supplementation with curcumin and vitamin E affects inflammatory-oxidative stress biomarkers and primary symptoms of menopause in healthy postmenopausal women. Methods Used to Conduct the Study. The present study is a triple-blind parallel randomized controlled trial. Eighty-four eligible postmenopausal women aged 40 to 60 years old were randomly assigned into three groups using block randomization with an allocation ratio of 1 : 1 : 1. The curcumin group received one capsule containing 500 mg curcumin twice a day, the vitamin E group received one 500 mg capsule of vitamin E twice a day, and the placebo group took two placebo capsules containing 500 mg of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) daily for eight weeks. Demographic and anthropometric characteristics, dietary intake, and early symptoms of menopause were collected at baseline. Serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Intervention safety and satisfaction with the intervention were also evaluated. Results of the Study. Eighty-one participants completed the trial and were finally analyzed. There were no statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics and dietary intake of participants (except for vitamin C intake, ) between the groups at baseline. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) score of total menopause symptoms, depression, anxiety, psychological, vasomotor, and physical domains significantly decreased within all groups ( ). Between-group analyses indicated that decreasing the mean score of anxiety in the vitamin E group was significantly more than in the placebo group ( ). The mean (SD) serum levels of MDA and hs-CRP significantly decreased only in the curcumin group ( and , respectively). Serum levels of TAC significantly increased in curcumin and vitamin E groups ( and , respectively). Conclusions Drawn from the Study and Clinical Implications. Curcumin could improve the oxidative stress (MDA and TAC) and inflammatory (hs-CRP) biomarkers. Vitamin E may also improve the antioxidant status by increasing the TAC levels. The alleviation of anxiety in the vitamin E group was more than in the placebo group. Clinical Trial Registration. The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (https://irct.ir/IRCT20131009014957N6).

INTRODUCTION: Since routine counseling does not suffice to resolve the sexual problems at postpartum period, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of counseling based on the Ex-PLISSIT model on sexual function and marital satisfaction of postpartum women. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled clinical trial that was conducted on 68 postpartum women (within 3–6 months after childbirth) who obtained a score <28 on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The participants were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. Participants in the intervention group received counseling based on the Ex-PLISSIT model and those in the control group received the routine postpartum care. The required data were collected using a demographics form, the FSFI, and the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale. The primary outcomes were the mean function and martial satisfaction score of participants 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of sexual function at baseline ( P = 0.381), but it was significantly higher in the intervention group than control group after intervention (the adjusted MD: 4.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.18–5.29, P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in marital satisfaction before the intervention ( P = 0.433), but it increased significantly in the intervention group in comparison to control after intervention (adjusted MD: 23.17, 95% CI: 15.10–31.24, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggested that sexual counseling based on the Ex-PLISSIT model can improve the sexual function and increase marital satisfaction of postpartum women.