---

  Abstract

  Background and Aim: Available evidence shows that religious attitudes have noticeable effects on all aspects of human life. During the last decades, empirical examining of happiness has increased by sociologists and psychologists. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between religious attitude and happiness in medical students in Shiraz university of medical sciences.

  Materials and Methods: The research is a cross-sectional descriptive study which was done in 2008-2010. Our subjects were selected randomly. The data were collected through Khodayarifard religious attitude scale and Oxford happiness inventory. The sample consisted of 271 medical students (164 males and 107 females). The obtained data were analyzed via Pearson correlation and t-test (for independent groups) .

  Results: The mean age of students was 20.4 years and the standard deviation was 3. The mean score of happiness, religious attitude in males and females was 47.54, 46.77 and 96.83, 103.16, respectively. There was a significant relationship between happiness and religious attitude (P = 0.0001, r=0.256), age and happiness (P = 0.004, r=-0.241), age and religious attitude (P = 0.018, r=-0.198).

  Conclusion: The results shows that in addition to the significant relationship between religious attitude and happiness, the relationship between age and religious attitude and happiness is significant, too.

---

Abstract Background and Aim: Cement dust is one of the workplace harmful chemicals. There is a disagreement about respiratory effects of cement. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the respiratory effects of exposure to cement dust. Materials and Methods: The subjects consisted of 148 male workers (94 workers with current exposure to cement dust and 54 healthy unexposed employees as a referent group). Respiratory symptom questionnaires, as suggested by the American Thoracic Society, were administered to them. Determination of exposure was carried out by personal dust monitoring. Furthermore, the subjects underwent lung function tests by a spirometer. The data were analyzed applying t test and chi-square test. Results: The mean values of respirable and dust concentrations were estimated to be 7.70± 1.2 and 67.4± 5.4 mg/m3. Significant decrements in the parameters of pulmonary function were noted (p<0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that a strong association exists between exposure to cement dust and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and functional impairments of the lungs.

---

Aims: Salivary Immunoglobulin A is the most important part of immune system in upper respiratory tract. The findings of the studies regarding hormonal and immune changes, especially mucosal immune system, are highly contradictory and different. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of intense exercise in the morning and evening on the concentration of salivary cortisol and Immunoglobulin A, in young swimmers.

Methods: This study is a quasi- experimental design conducting in 2010-11 academic years. The population of the study included 120 young boy swimmers, studying in a guidance school in Gonabad city, of which 20 were selected using random convenient sampling method. The subjects performed the selected exercise in two times, one on 11 in the morning and the other after 16 days. Saliva samples were taken before and immediately after the intensive exercise. The data were analyzed using SPSS 14 software by paired T-test.

 Results: A significant decrease of Immunoglobulin A was observed in the morning exercise. Likewise, a significant decrease in cortisol was seen in the evening exercise. The amount of swimmers’ salivary Immunoglobulin A and cortisol had a significant decrease after the exercise compared with before it (p=0.0001). Moreover, their amount in the evening turn had a significant decrease compared to the morning turn (p=0.0001).

Conclusion: intense exercise decreases the salivary Immunoglobulin A and cortisol levels in the morning and evening that may affect the incident of respiratory tract infections.

---

Aims: Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent childhood neurological disorders. As the primary caregivers, the mothers of epileptic children undergo different psychological pressures. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of empowerment on the self-efficacy of the mothers of the epileptic children, concerning psychological adaptation, gaining support, and receiving information. 

Materials & Methods: In the controlled two-group random clinical trial with pretest and posttest steps, 100 mothers of epileptic children hospitalized in the Neurology Ward of Ghaem Hospital of Mashhad were studied in 2014. The subjects, selected via convenience sampling method, were randomly divided into two groups including experimental (n=50) and control (n=50) groups. Data was collected using the caregiver’s self-efficacy questionnaire. Only experimental group received the empowerment program, and no intervention was conducted in control group. The mothers’ self-efficacy was measured before and after the intervention in both groups. Data was analyzed by SPSS 11.5 software using independent T, paired T, Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and covariance tests. 

Findings: The mean scores of self-efficacy, including psychological adjustment, gain a support, and receiving information, were not significantly different between the groups before the intervention (p>0.05). Nevertheless, the groups were significantly different after the intervention (p<0.001). In addition, the mean score after the intervention in experimental group was significantly higher than the score in the same group before the intervention (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The empowerment program enhances the self-efficacy of the mothers of the epileptic children in psychological adjustment, gain a support, and receiving information.

---

Aims Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common dementias, which is initially characterized by synaptic damage and subsequently accompanied by neuronal loss and cognitive impairments, such as anxiety and depression. Urolithins are natural phenolic compounds found abundantly in the human diet and are catabolized from the hydrolysis of ellagitannins by the gut microbiota. They possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and have been found to be effective in brain disorders, particularly memory dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Urolithin A and B administration on learning and memory impairments as well as anxiety-like behaviors in adult male rat models of Alzheimer’s disease.
Materials & Methods In this experimental study, 70 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 10 groups of seven, including the healthy control group, the Sham group: received streptozotocin solvent (ascorbic acid 0.1% in saline) as intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection and urolithins solvent (DMSO) as intraperitoneal (IP) injection, Positive control group: received streptozotocin as ICV injection and memantine as IP injection, Negative control group: received streptozotocin as ICV injection, Treatment groups 1 to 6: received streptozotocin as ICV injection and urolithin A and urolithin B as IP injection for 14 days. After the treatment period, the learning and memory of the rats were measured by the passive avoidance test, and the elevated plus maze test measured anxiety-like behaviors.
Findings The results of statistical analysis using one-way variance test (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc test, performed in R software, showed that in the passive avoidance test, streptozotocin caused a significant impairment in learning and memory in the negative control group (P<0.01), while the treatment with urolithin A and B significantly improved memory performance, much better than the standard treatment (memantine) (P<0.05). Furthermore, the results of the elevated plus maze test also indicated a significant increase in anxiety-like behaviors in the negative control group compared to the control group (P<0.001), while the treatment with urolithin A and B significantly reduced these behaviors (P<0.01).
Conclusion The results of this study indicated that urolithin A and B, probably due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, protected the brain against the effects of streptozotocin injection, and consequently, improved learning and memory performance and reduced anxiety-like behaviors.