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This study aim was to determine whether a structured age-appropriate playing programme with involvement of parents could promote healthy motor skills in preschool children. In this two group randomization pre-posttest quasi-experimental study, 160 children 3-5 years-old with their mothers were selected and equally allocated in two groups. For intervention group, four theoretical and 20 practical sessions in five groups of 6-8 participants, consisting of mothers and children of the same age, was conducted. After intervention, the gross and fine motor skills of intervention group were promoted (p < 0.05). The study results provide positive evidence about creating opportunities to practice of age-appropriate play in childhood, especially with parental engagement and support, on motor development.

School violence and bullying are considered a serious concern worldwide. Evidence shows that applying the Health Promoting Schools (HPS) framework could be effective in reducing school bullying. While there have been significant efforts to evaluate school-based anti-bullying interventions in the world, the implementation process and the effectiveness of this framework in reducing bullying in schools have not been previously evaluated in Iran. This mixed methods study was carried out using simultaneously a cross-sectional (900 students, 104, teachers/school executive staff, and 563 parents) and qualitative study (24 policy makers and teachers/school executive staff) to examine the implementation and effect of counseling and mental health services component of the Iranian Health Promoting School (IHPS) in 2017-2018. Results revealed that there were weaknesses in the implementation of all six elements of anti-bullying programs. A lack of any clean policy toward school violence and bullying, lack of priority set by local decision makers and principals of schools, logistical problems with providing training and supplying counseling resources, limited funding, and presence of competing issues and problems facing the schools were identified as barriers to implement violence and bullying prevention programs in schools. Results also showed that there were no significant differences between non-IHPS and IHPS in students' bullying behaviors (p = 0.228) and scores of leadership, the school environment, capacity, partnership, services and support, and evidence (p > 0.05). It is essential to revise the content and how to implement anti-bullying programs in schools.

Objective(s): Our study aimed to formulate a niosomal system for enhancing tannic acid's antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against vancomycin-intermediate staphylococcus aureus (VISA). Materials and Methods: Niosomal tannic acid was formulated by the thin-film hydration technique, which their physicochemical attributes, including drug loading, particle size, zeta potential, morphology, encapsulation efficiency (EE%), polydispersity index (PDI), release profile, were evaluated. To investigate the cell viability of the prepared niosomes, the cytotoxicity effect was analyzed against the human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cell line. Finally, the antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of niosomal formulation were examined against VISA strains and compared tothe free drug. Results: Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the niosomal formulation incorporated tannic acid was homogeneous, spherical, and identical in size (151.9 nm). EE% and surface charge of the synthesized niosomes were 68.90% and -60 mV, respectively. The tannic acid-encapsulated niosomes showed a significant antibacterial potential in comparison with the free drug. Furthermore, niosomal tannic acid reduced the biofilm formation ability in all VISA strains and efficiently eradicated the formed bacterial biofilms at the same concentrations of the free drug. Conclusion: Niosomes, as vesicular-based nanoparticles, are known to be potent drug delivery vehicles due to numerous features such as non-toxicity, small size, sustained-release profile, and protection from pharmaceutical degradation. Niosomes have a high capacity to deliver wide range of antimicrobial agents, including natural compounds, which could be presented as a novel approach against bacterial infections, particularly VISA strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this research was to prepare some Fe3O4@SiO2@Chitosan (CS) magnetic nanocomposites coupled with nisin, and vancomycin to evaluate their antibacterial efficacy under both in vitro and in vivo against the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus. aureus (MRSA). Methods: In this survey, the Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were constructed as a core and covered the surface of MNPs via crosslinking CS by glutaraldehyde as a shell, then functionalized with vancomycin and nisin to enhance the inhibitory effects of nanoparticles (NPs). X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques were then used to describe the nanostructures. Results: Based on the XRD, and FE-SEM findings, the average size of the modified magnetic nanomaterials were estimated to be around 22–35 nm, and 34–47 nm, respectively. The vancomycin was conjugated in three polymer-drug ratios; 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1, with the percentages of 45.52%, 35.68%, and 24.4%, respectively. The polymer/drug ratio of 1:1 exhibited the slowest release rate of vancomycin from the Fe3O4@SiO2@CS-VANCO nanocomposites during 24 h, which was selected to examine their antimicrobial effects under in vivo conditions. The nisin was grafted onto the nanocomposites at around 73.2–87.2%. All the compounds resulted in a marked reduction in the bacterial burden (P-value < 0.05). Conclusion: The vancomycin-functionalized nanocomposites exhibited to be more efficient in eradicating the bacterial cells both in vitro and in vivo. These findings introduce a novel bacteriocin–metallic nanocomposite that can suppress the normal bacterial function on demand for the treatment of MRSA skin infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the status of antiphospholipid antibodies (APL) in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection. Methods: This case-control study was conducted at Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences from 2020 to 2022. Participants were divided into two groups; COVID-19 (n=35 recovered cases) and non-COVID-19 (n=34). The study assessed anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) including IgM, IgG, and antibodies against ß2-glycoprotein (anti-B2GPI). Additionally, the lupus anticoagulant (LAC) test was conducted on patients not using anticoagulant medications. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed for ACA and anti-B2GPI testing, while the LAC test was conducted using a fully automated coagulometer. Results: The mean LAC among participants was 33.8 ± 7.53s for females and 36.39 ± 5.54s for males. Results of antibody tests indicated that ACA IgM was positive in 2 out of 33 cases, with none in the non-recovered COVID-19 and COVID-19 patients (P value = 0.15). Furthermore, the LAC test showed positive results in 5 and 2 patients in the case and control groups, respectively (P value = 0.26). Correlation analyses of LAC with other antibodies revealed no significant associations for non-COVID-19 patients, while a significant association was observed between LAC and ß2GPI IgG and ACA IgG (r = 0.52; P <0.001 and r = 0.51; P <0.001, respectively). Negative correlations were found between LAC and ACA IgM and hospitalization in the case group (r = -0.22 and r = -0.04, respectively). For the control group, negative correlations were observed between LAC and ß2GPI IgM, ACA IgG, and ACA IgM (r = -0.25, r = -0.03, and r = -0.03, respectively). Additionally, Anti-ß2GPI IgG and anti-ß2GPI IgM tests were positive in both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups (two positives in total) (P value = 0.98 vs P value = 0.31). Conclusion: We recommend routine testing for aPL antibodies in recovered COVID-19 patients to assess their normal condition. Our findings suggest that APS antibodies in COVID-19 patients can serve as a negative prognostic indicator, guiding decisions on the need for intensive care based on antibody levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]