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BACKGROUND: Vision plays an important role in supporting efficient locomotion. The present study aimed to measure the physiological cost index (PCI) and some kinematic parameters of preferred walking and jogging in blind and sighted students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among blind (n=18) and sighted (n=27) students aged 8-16 years. The following parameters were measured during a standard test procedure: step length (meter), cadence (steps/min), mean speed (meter/min), and the PCI of preferred walking (PCIW) and jogging (PCIJ) over a distance of 100 meters. RESULTS: Univariate linear regression analysis revealed that the weight of an individual as well as the test duration were significant predictors of heart rate (HR) and PCI. Overall, the PCI (beats/meter) of sighted (PCIW=0.22±0.08 and PCIJ=0.24±0.07) and blind students (PCIW=0.27±0.07 and PCIJ=0.31±0.08) were significantly different (all P≤0.05). In addition, the speed of preferred walking (PW) in sighted students was significantly higher than that of the blind students (67±8 versus 62.8±9 m/min; all P≤0.05), while this difference was insignificant in jogging mode (105±9 versus 102±11 m/min). CONCLUSION: Although the blind students were familiar with the ambient environment and the walking route, they demonstrated a different pattern of PW and jogging modes with respect to kinematic parameters. We also demonstrated that the blind students spent more energy (i.e., PCI) to achieve a lower or equal gait kinematics compared to the sighted students.

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Aim of the study: Suicide is a worldwide major public health problem. This study was carried out in Khuzestan province for the examination of the epidemiology of suicide. Material and methods: This is a descriptive-cross-sectional study on epidemiology of suicide in 23 township of Khuzestan provinces, during 2011 to 2014. Data were collected from records in Mental Health Units in Khuzestan Province which has located in South West of Iran. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-22 software. Results: from 11180 recorded suicides, about 60% were female and about 40% were male. The cumulative incidence of suicide attempts was estimated 339/100,000.The highest suicide rate was from the city of Masjed Soleiman with an annual average incidence of 327/100,000 cases of suicide. Most common method of suicide was drug abuse (279/100,000) and most common method of Completed Suicides was hanging (7/100,000). The most important motivation of the suicide was related to Familial discords by 72/100,000 of suicide attempts and 4/100,000 cases of suicide deaths and the highest incidence occurred among the people in the age range of 24-18 years. The suicide attempts and suicide deaths increased over studied years. Conclusions: According to the results, the most common suicide method was drug abuse and the family discord was the most motivated suicide. Moreover, highest incidence of suicide was among the age group of 18-24 years. Educational programs should be provided in fields of problem solving skills and crisis management in relation to life problems. Also facilitating access to specialized psychological and psychiatric services, and appropriate intervention plans is essential.

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BACKGROUND: Over 100 million women worldwide are using oral contraceptives pills (OCP) and mood changes were being as the primary reason for OCP discontinuation. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and predicting factors of mood changes in oral contraceptive pills users. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 500 women aged 15-49 years old using low dose (LD) pills attending family planning centers in Ahwaz, Iran. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire including items on demographic, self-efficacy and mood change. Both univarate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between reported mood change and the independent variables. RESULTS: In all 406 women reported that they did experience OCP side effects. Of these, 37.7% of women (n =153) reported mood changes due to OCP use. The results of multiple logistic regression revealed that place of living (OR =2.57, 95% CI = 1.06-6.20, p =0.03), not receiving information on OCP side effects (OR =1.80, 95% CI = 1.15-2.80, p =0.009), and lower self-efficacy (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.80-0.94, p =0.001) were significant predictors of mood changes. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study indicated that the prevalence of reported mood changes due to OCP use among Iranian women appeared to be consistent with other studies. In addition the findings showed that receiving information on OCP side effects from health care workers and self-efficacy were important predicting factors for mood changes. Indeed implementing educational programs and improving self-efficacy among women are recommended.

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AIMS: It was decided to investigate the effect of noise pollution on the body weight, genital organ weights, and also on sperm parameters. SETTING AND DESIGN: It is a prospective study designed in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total 20 adult male wistar rats were used in this study. All rats were divided into 2 equal groups (n = 10): (1) control group and (2) experimental group. Animals of the experimental group were exposed to noise for 50 days with an intensity of 90-120 db and frequency of 300 - 350 Hz for 12 hours daily. After 50 days, at first, body weights of all animals were recorded, and then they were killed. The right epididymides were removed and also, sperm concentration and motility were determined. Each organ was weighed separately on an electronic balance. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data are reported as mean ± SD and percentage. The statistical significance of difference between the control and experimental groups was determined by the unpaired t-test. RESULTS: The weights of the testes, epididymes, seminal vesicle, ventral prostate were found to be significantly decreased in rats exposed to noise pollution when compared with the weights of the same organs obtained from control group (P < 0.05). There was a statistical difference of P < 0.05 between the 2 groups in terms of sperm concentration. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that noise pollution has the bad effects on sperm concentration and motility; therefore, it is supposed that homes and places of working must be build far away of noisy of factories and other places with noise.