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.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, with a high economic burden on health care systems. Since gender and residency can affect people’s lifestyle and health behaviors, this study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of T2DM and its determinants by gender and residency. A secondary analysis study was conducted on the survey data of the IraPEN (Iran’s Package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease) pilot program conducted in 2017 in Naghadeh County, Iran. Data of 3,691 participants aged 30–70 years from rural and urban areas of the County were included into data analysis process. Sociodemographic factors, anthropometric measurements, and cardiovascular risk factors related to T2DM were assessed. The overall prevalence of T2DM within the population was 13.8%, which was significantly higher among women (15.5%) than men (11.8%), and non-significantly higher in urban (14.5%) areas than rural (12.3%) areas. In both genders, age (male: OR 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03; P = 0.012; female: OR 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02–1.04; P<0.001), blood pressure (male: OR 1.77, 95% CI: 1.13–2.79; P = 0.013; female: OR 2.86, 95% CI: 2.12–3.85; P<0.001), and blood triglycerides (male: OR 1.46, 95% CI: 1.01–2.11; P = 0.04; female: OR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.02–1.77; P = 0.035) had a significant relationship with the chance of developing T2DM. Among women, a significant relationship was found between abdominal obesity (OR 1.68, 95% CI: 1.17–2.40; P = 0.004) and the chance of developing T2DM. Age (rural: OR 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04; P<0.001; urban: OR 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04; P<0.001), blood pressure (rural: OR 3.14, 95% CI: 2.0–4.93; P<0.001; urban: OR 2.23, 95% CI: 1.66–3; P<0.001), and abdominal obesity (rural: OR 2.34, 95% CI: 1.41–3.87; P = 0.001; urban: OR 1.46, 95% CI: 1.06–2.01; P = 0.019), in both rural and urban areas, blood cholesterol (OR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.07–2.37; P = 0.02) in rural areas, and blood triglycerides (OR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.16–1.98; P = 0.002) in urban areas were significant predictors of T2DM. Given the higher prevalence of T2DM among females, risk reduction strategies at the community level should be more targeted at women. The higher prevalence of T2DM risk factors among the urban population is a wake-up call for policymakers to pay more attention to the consequences of unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles within urban communities. Future actions should be focused on appropriate timely action plans for the prevention and control of T2DM from early years of life.

Background: Oxidative stress plays an essential role in bone health among postmenopausal women. This study aimed to compare the oxidative stress biomarkers among postmenopausal women aged 50–65 years with normal bone mineral density, osteopenia, and osteoporosis.Methods: In this observational study, 120 women with normal bone mineral density, 82 with osteopenia, and 86 with osteoporosis were selected based on the densitometry data obtained from the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method. The serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured using biochemical methods. A binary logistic regression model adjusted for confounders was used to estimate the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. The P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: There were significant differences between the three groups in age, menopausal age, body mass index, and education (P<0.05). According to the binary logistic regression model, higher SOD activity and serum TAC levels were associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.991; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.986 to 0.996; and aOR, 0.373; 95% CI, 0.141 to 0.986, respectively). MDA was a significant risk factor for osteopenia in postmenopausal women (aOR, 1.702; 95% CI, 1.125 to 2.576).Conclusion: Higher SOD activity and serum TAC levels in the studied postmenopausal women were associated with a significantly lower risk of osteoporosis. Moreover, the risk of osteopenia increased significantly with higher serum MDA levels.

Improper use and disposal of medications pose substantial risks to both public health and the environment. Although medication take-back programs are recognized as effective solutions to address these concerns, public awareness remains low, and such programs are currently unavailable in Iran. The study, conducted between February and May 2024, used a validated 40-item questionnaire to assess the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of households regarding the disposal of unused and expired medications. The study revealed moderate knowledge levels (median = 58.82, interquartile range [IQR] = 88.2) and relatively positive attitudes (median = 85.71, IQR = 51.7) among participants. However, a notable discrepancy was observed between positive attitudes and actual practice, with 51.1% of households reporting disposal of unused medications in household waste. A weak negative correlation was found between older age and knowledge score (r = -0.129, p = 0.001), and a very weak negative correlation was observed between older age and attitude score (r = -0.078, p = 0.049). Higher knowledge scores were observed among participants with middle monthly incomes, those with post-secondary education (including Secondary education and students), and those living in three-member households. More positive attitudes were associated with Post-secondary education and households consisting of three or four members. To improve medication disposal practices, public health interventions should focus on raising awareness about the environmental and health risks of improper disposal and promoting proper disposal methods. This includes organizing community medication collection events and advocating for the establishment of nationwide medication take-back programs. The negative correlation between age and knowledge suggests that these interventions should specifically target older adults and individuals with lower levels of education.