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In recent decades, the interest in having an ideal body in men has caused a pathological tendency to be muscular, followed by a tendency to use anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs). This study was designed to evaluate the mediating role of muscle dysmorphia in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and body image-related cognitive fusion with the tendency to use AAS in male athletes. Out of the total number of men referring to fitness clubs in Isfahan, Iran, 474 men were evaluated using a multistage random cluster sampling method. The questionnaires used in this research included the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory, Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire—Body Image, Young Schema Questionnaire—Short Form, and Prototype Willingness Model Questionnaire. The results demonstrated that the relationship of AAS use with body image-related cognitive fusion and the three maladaptive schemas with the mediation of muscle dysmorphia is significant. The present study provides significant implications in the discussion of prevention and treatment of AAS addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hospitals play a vital role in disaster management and their function must be maintained during crises. Isfahan province is susceptible to major crises and disasters at any time of the year. The study aimed to investigate the hospital safety index (HSI) in hospitals in Isfahan province. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using the HSI questionnaire of the world health organization. The safety of all 55 hospitals in Isfahan province was evaluated with the Persian version of the questionnaire from 2017 to 2022. In this study, all hospitals were evaluated by a group of experts from the emergency operations center (EOC) of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, and the checklists were completed with the cooperation of the hospital disaster committee, visiting the hospitals, and interviewing the personnel. Results: The safety level of hospitals has improved from 2017 to 2022 so in 2022, 38 hospitals (69.09%) had a high safety level, and 17 hospitals (30.91%) had a medium safety level. This increase in safety has happened in all three components of safety (functional, non-structural, and structural safety). There was no significant difference in the overall hospital safety score between academic-educational, non-academic governmental, social security and military, and private and charity hospitals (P<0.05). Conclusion: Although the safety in the hospitals of Isfahan province has improved due to the continuous disaster prevention and preparedness activities, hospitals still need to improve to achieve higher levels of safety. The HSI shows how well a hospital can maintain its organization and performance during disasters. This index will be useful for decision-making and policy-making to prioritize administrative and civil interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Wound healing can be impaired by diabetes and aging, leading to delays, scarring, or infections. There is a need for improved treatments to expedite wound healing. Complementary and alternative medicine often utilizes natural remedies for disease management. Royal jelly (RJ), a natural bee product, is a food supplement known for its beneficial biomedical properties. CCL2 exhibits angiogenic properties and has been observed to promote tissue regeneration. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) plays a critical role in tissue repair by preventing apoptosis and tissue damage caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. This study investigates the application of Royal Jelly to accelerate skin wound healing through modulation of GPx activity and CCL2 expression. Materials & Methods: Thirty mice were divided into six groups. Royal jelly treatment (2.5, 10, and 40 mg/kg) was administered orally. Following the treatment period, GPx activity was measured in blood samples, and the transcription level of the CCL2 gene was assessed in healing wound tissue samples using real-time PCR. Evaluation of epithelial tissue formation and the presence of inflammatory and fibroblastic cells was conducted in prepared wound tissue sections. Results: Analysis of wound diameter revealed that oral administration of RJ (10 and 40 mg/kg) significantly accelerated wound healing (P=0.0198). Moreover, GPx activity in the royal jelly groups (2.5, 10, and 40 mg/kg) was significantly lower (43.8, 68.6, and 31.1, respectively) compared to the PC group (P=0.0001). Additionally, CCL2 mRNA levels in the royal jelly groups (2.5, 10, and 40 mg/kg) were significantly higher (1.9, 6.6, and 15.2 times, respectively) than in the PC group (P<0.05). Administration of 40 mg/kg of royal jelly significantly increased fibroblast cells in tissue sections. Conclusion: Royal jelly, as a complementary food drug, facilitates wound healing by promoting the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts, regulating ROS production, and stimulating CCL2 gene transcription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reliable and valid measurement tools with strong psychometric properties are crucial in the evaluation of individuals experiencing trauma-related distress in both clinical and research contexts. Thus, this study investigated the psychometric properties of the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) in Iranian and German samples. Methods: A cross-sectional collaboration was conducted between Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran and Philipp University of Marburg in Germany. The study involved a total of 1196 participants, with 364 participants from Iran and 832 participants from Germany. The participants were selected from the general population as well as individuals with mood/anxiety disorders from 2017 until 2018. The questionnaires used in this study included the Demographic Checklist, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ; Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2002), Screening for Somatoform Disorders-7 (SOMS-7; Rief & Hiller, 2003), and PDS (Foa et al., 1997). Factor analysis, correlations calculation, and diagnostic analysis of the data were conducted using SPSS software and R (4.3.1). Results: Factor analysis of the PDS did not reveal a factor structure similar to previous research. Convergent validity was demonstrated by significant correlations between PDS scores and related measures. Diagnostic validity was established as the PDS effectively discriminated between individuals with mood/anxiety disorders and healthy participants. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy (all of them > 0.6 except for Iranian women = 0.39) revealed how accurately the test categorizes individuals in both populations. In the Iranian sample, AUC was around 70% accuracy in differentiation. The German sample's AUC of approximately 80% diagnostic capability between healthy and affected groups. The cutoff scores of men and women were 24 and 27 in the Iranian population, and 9 and 8 in the German population, respectively. Strong internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach's alpha > 0.91) were observed for both Persian and German versions of the PDS, confirming their reliability. Conclusion: The study underscores the robust psychometric attributes of the Persian and German versions of the PDS, endorsing their reliability, validity, and diagnostic potential. Variations in factor structures across cultural groups emphasize the need for culturally-sensitive psychometric assessments. The PDS emerges as a valuable cross-cultural tool for diagnosing and assessing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with implications for clinical practice and research in diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]