Causal Effect of Self-esteem on Cigarette Smoking Stages in Adolescents: Coarsened Exact Matching in a Longitudinal Study

Ahmad Khosravi,Asghar Mohammadpoorasl,Kourosh Holakouie-Naieni,Mahmood Mahmoodi,Ali Akbar Pouyan,Mohammad Ali Mansournia 질병관리본부 2016 Osong Public Health and Research Persptectives Vol.7 No.6

Objectives: Identification of the causal impact of self-esteem on smoking stages faces seemingly insurmountable problems in observational data, where self-esteem is not manipulable by the researcher and cannot be assigned randomly. The aim of this study was to find out if weaker self-esteem in adolescence is a risk factor of cigarette smoking in a longitudinal study in Iran. Methods: In this longitudinal study, 4,853 students (14-18 years) completed a self-administered multiple-choice anonym questionnaire. The students were evaluated twice, 12 months apart. Students were matched based on coarsened exact matching on pretreatment variables, including age, gender, smoking stages at the first wave of study, socioeconomic status, general risk-taking behavior, having a smoker in the family, having a smoker friend, attitude toward smoking, and self-injury, to ensure statistically equivalent comparison groups. Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg 10-item questionnaire and were classified using a latent class analysis. After matching, the effect of self-esteem was evaluated using a multinomial logistic model. Results: In the causal fitted model, for adolescents with weaker self-esteem relative to those with stronger self-esteem, the relative risk for experimenters and regular smokers relative to nonsmokers would be expected to increase by a factor of 2.2 (1.9-2.6) and 2.0 (1.5-2.6), respectively. Conclusion: Using a causal approach, our study indicates that low self-esteem is consistently associated with progression in cigarette smoking stages.

Pre-hypertension and the risk of diabetes mellitus incidence using a marginal structural model in an Iranian prospective cohort study

Ahmad Khosravi,Akbar Fotouhi 한국역학회 2018 Epidemiology and Health Vol.40 No.-

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-hypertension and its sub-classification on the development of diabetes. METHODS: In this cohort study, 2,941 people 40 to 64 years old without hypertension or diabetes were followed from 2009 through 2014. According to the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC)-7 criteria, we classified participants into normal and pre-hypertension groups. The effect of pre-hypertension on the 5-year incidence rate of diabetes was studied using inverse probability of treatment weighting. We modeled the exposure and censored cases given confounding factors such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking, economic status, and education. RESULTS: The 5-year incidence rate of diabetes among people with pre-hypertension and those with normal blood pressure (BP) was 12.7 and 9.7%, respectively. The risk ratio (RR) for people with pre-hypertension was estimated to be 1.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90 to 1.41). The RRs among people with normal BP and high-normal BP, according to the JNC-6 criteria, compared to those with optimal BP were 0.96 (95% CI, 0.73 to 1.25) and 1.31 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.72), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that participants who had higher levels of BP (high-normal compared to optimal BP) had a higher risk of diabetes development. With regard to the quantitative nature of BP, using the specifically distinguishing of stage 1 hypertension or high-normal BP may be a more meaningful categorization for diabetes risk assessment than the JNC-7 classification.

Healthy and Unhealthy Dietary Patterns Are Related to Depression: A Case-Control Study

Maryam Khosravi,Gity Sotoudeh,Reza Majdzadeh,Somayeh Nejati,Samaneh Darabi,Firoozeh Raisi,Ahmad Esmaillzadeh,Maryam Sorayani 대한신경정신의학회 2015 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.12 No.4

ObjectiveaaMajor depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability around the world. The relationship between depression and dietary patterns has been reported in a few studies but with controversial results. This study aimed to investigate this relationship in an Iranian population. MethodsaaIn our study, 330 depressed patients (cases) and healthy people (controls) (1:2) were individually matched according to age, sex and area of residence. New cases of depression were recruited from two psychiatric clinics in Tehran. Interviewers went to each patient’s residential area, and invited qualified individuals to participate in the study as controls. Food intake over the past year was collected using a validated semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were determined by the principal components method. Binary logistic regression was used to test the effect of dietary patterns on depression. ResultsaaWe identified two major dietary patterns by using factor analysis: the healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns. We categorized the scores of these patterns to quartiles. After adjusting for non-depression drug use, job, marital status, children number, and body mass index, the relations of depression and quartiles of two dietary patterns are significant (p=0.04 & p=0.01, respectively). Compared with participants in the lowest quartile, those in the highest quartile had significantly lower odds ratio (OR) for depression in healthy dietary pattern, and higher OR for depression in unhealthy dietary pattern. ConclusionaaThis study indicates that healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns may be associated with the risk of depression. The results can be used for developing interventions that aim to promote healthy eating for the prevention of depression.

Application of ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles coated onto montmorillonite in the presence of H2O2 for efficient removal of cephalexin from aqueous solutions

Rasoul Khosravi,Ahmad Zarei,Mohsen Heidari,Ali Ahmadfazeli,Mehdi Vosughi,Mehdi Fazlzadeh 한국화학공학회 2018 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.35 No.4

This study considers the feasibility of uptake of cephalexin, an emerging contaminant, from aqueous solutions by using green local montmorillonite (GLM), montmorillonite coated with ZnO (ZnO/GLM) and montmorillonite coated with TiO2 (TiO2/GLM) in the presence of H2O2. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of pH, initial concentration of the cephalexin, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and temperature. Finally, the adsorbents were characterized by XRD, SEM and FTIR analyses. XRD patterns showed dramatic changes in the adsorbents after loading with the nanoparticles, confirming successful placing of the nanoparticles onto GLM. The GLM mineral surface after nanoparticle loading appears to be fully exposed and more porous with irregular shapes in particles diameters of 1-50 microns. FTIR analyses also confirmed dramatic changes in surface functional groups after modification with these nanoparticles. The results showed that the removal efficiency of cephalexin was better at lower pH values. Totally, the removal efficiency increased with increase in adsorbent dosage and contact time and decreased with concentration and temperature increase. The thermodynamics values of Go and Ho revealed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. In isotherm study, the maximum adsorption capacities (qm) were obtained to be 7.82, 17.09 and 49.26mg/g for GLM, ZnO/GLM and TiO2/GLM, respectively. Temkin constant (BT) showed that adsorption of cephalexin from solution was exothermic for all three adsorbents.

Perceived Psychological Traumatic Childbirth in Iranian Mothers: Diagnostic Value of Coping Strategies

Sedigheh Abdollahpour,Ahmad Khosravi,Habibollah Esmaily,Seyed Abbas Mousavi 질병관리본부 2019 Osong Public Health and Research Persptectives Vol.10 No.2

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of a stress coping scale for predicting perceived psychological traumatic childbirth in mothers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 400 new mothers (within 48 hours of childbirth). Psychological traumatic childbirth was evaluated using the 4 diagnostic criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Coping was measured using Moss and Billings’ Stress Coping Strategies Scale. Results: The overall mean score of stress coping was 29 ± 14.2. There were 193 (43.8%) mothers that had experienced a psychological traumatic childbirth. A stress coping score ≤ 30, with a sensitivity of 90.16 (95% CI = 85.1-94.0), and a specificity of 87.44 (95% CI = 82.1-91.6), was determined as a predictor of psychological traumatic childbirth. So that among mothers with stress coping scores ≤ 30, 87% had experienced a psychological traumatic childbirth. Conclusion: Investigating the degree of coping with stress can be used as an accurate diagnostic tool for psychological traumatic childbirth. It is recommended that during pregnancy, problem-solving and stress management training programs be used as psychological interventions for mothers with low levels of stress control. This will ensure that they can better cope with traumatic childbirth and posttraumatic stress in the postpartum stage.

A selective catalyst for methanol conversion into light olefin with a high propylene to ethylene ratio

Hamed Rashidi,Ahmad Shariati,Mohammad Reza Khosravi Nikou,Touba Hamoule 한국화학공학회 2016 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.33 No.8

MSU-S catalyst, assembled from ZSM-5 zeolite seed (MFI), was synthesized with silica to alumina ratio 55 and characterized by XRD, NH3-TPD, BET and FT-IR techniques. It was tested in a vertical fixed bed reactor for selective production of light olefins from methanol (MTO) at temperatures of 400, 450 and 500 oC and WHSV of 1, 5 and 25 h−1. After thorough investigation, it was found that WHSV=5 h−1 and temperature of 500 oC are the optimum conditions for maximum light olefin yield, which was 52% with propylene to ethylene ratio of 4.57. Acidity of MSU-S was promoted by incorporation of phosphotungusticacid (HPW) and a direct method to reach high HPW dispersion and thermal stability. Maximum light olefin yield was observed over HPW-MSU-S at the optimum reaction conditions to be nearly 60% with propylene to ethylene ratio of 4.3.

Study of the Relationship Between Self-Efficacy, General Health and Burnout Among Iranian Health Workers

Mohammad Amiri,Ahmad Khosravi,Seyed Reza Mirhoseini,Ahmad Reza Eghtesadi,Hassan Vahedi 질병관리본부 2019 Osong Public Health and Research Persptectives Vol.10 No.6

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between self-efficacy, general health and burnout of the staff at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In 2015, 249 staff at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences (from a total reference population of 520 staff members) were selected through stratified random sampling. To collect the data, Sherer self-efficacy Scale, General Health Questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory were used. The collected data were analyzed through ANOVA, Pearson correlation and Chi-square tests using SPSS 16. The relationship between self-efficacy, general health and burnout (latent factors) were studied using structural equation modeling with Stata 14. Results: The mean age of participants was 36.97 ± 7.60 years, and the mean number of years work experience was 12.29 ± 7.57. The mean scores of general health, self-efficacy and burnout were 28.24 ± 11.14, 62.30 ± 9.21 and 81.67 ± 22.18, respectively. The results of the study showed a statistically significant relationship between self-efficacy and general health which equals -0.32. A statistically significant relationship also existed between burnout scores and general health scores (beta = 0.78). Conclusion: The results showed that high self-efficacy improves the general health of employees at the Shahroud University of Medical Sciences and reduces burnout. Special attention should be paid to selfefficacy in the prevention of burnout.

The Relationship Between Health-Promoting Lifestyle and Its Related Factors with Self-Efficacy and Well-Being of Students

Mohammad Amiri,Ahmad Khosravi,Reza Chaman 질병관리본부 2019 Osong Public Health and Research Persptectives Vol.10 No.4

Objectives: Unhealthy lifestyles among young people are seriously related to incapacity and health problems in adulthood. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of a health-promoting lifestyle and its association with self-efficacy and well-being. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 500 students from Shahroud University of Medical Sciences (Shahroud, Iran) were randomly selected in 2017. The Persian versions of Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile, Self-Efficacy Scale, and WHO-5 Well-Being Index were used. Results: Among the participants, 34% of students had an abnormal imaginable well-being, and 68% of students had high self-efficacy. The mean score of a health-promoting lifestyle was 127.47 ± 19.78, which is interpreted as moderate, and the mean score of physical activity was 14.10 ± 4.95, which is poor. There was a significant relationship between well-being, and self-efficacy with health-promoting lifestyle. Age, gender, educational level, place of residence, student employment, self-efficacy, and wellbeing were associated with students’ lifestyles. Conclusion: A health-promoting lifestyle of students in this study was moderate and they did not have an acceptable level of physical activity. The direct effect of well-being, and self-efficacy on lifestyle, revising students’ curriculums to improve their health behaviors, and general health indicators, can all lead to the enhancement of health-promoting lifestyles.

Effect of the P/Al ratio on the performance of modified HZSM-5 for methanol dehydration reaction

Yadollah Tavan,Mohammad Reza Khosravi Nikou,Ahmad Shariati 한국공업화학회 2014 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.20 No.2

The precipitation method was used to modify HZSM-5 by coating it with aluminophosphate at P/Almolar ratios of 0.3, 0.8, 1.2 and 1.5. These catalysts were characterized by XRD, NH3-TPD, BET, FT-IR, ICPTEOSand SEM and evaluated as catalysts for the methanol dehydration reaction. The ZALPO0.8 catalystachieved 86% conversion which was the highest conversion till 315 ℃. It was found that primary benefitsof AlPO modification were that it tended to retard the activity of the highly active acid sites whichpromote dimethyl ether decomposition and led to decrease in the apparent activation energy.

Relationship Between Assertion and Aggression with Addiction Potential: A Cross-Sectional Study in 2019

Amiri Mohammad,Sadeghi Zakieh,Sadeghi Elham,Khosravi Ahmad 질병관리본부 2020 Osong Public Health and Research Persptectives Vol.11 No.4

Objectives This study aimed to determine the relationship between assertion and aggression with addiction potential among students in Shahroud University of Medical Sciences. Methods In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2019, 500 students of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, were selected by multistage random sampling, for a study using the Addiction Potential Scale, and Assertion and Aggression Questionnaires. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Chi-square, t test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and the linear regression model. Results The mean scores of addiction potential, aggression, and assertion were 32.7 ± 17.2, 41.5 ± 12.9 and 139.4 ± 22.3, respectively. In this study, 38.8% (N = 194) of students had high aggression and 76.8% (N = 384) had high assertion. In the regression model, aggression, history of drug and addictive substances abuse, history of tobacco use, and history of alcohol abuse were significantly related to addiction potential (p ≤ 0.05). There was a negative relationship between assertion and addiction potential so that with one-unit increase in the assertion score, the addiction potential score decreased by −0.11. Conclusion Given the direct relationship between aggression and addiction potential, and since more than three-quarters of the students had moderate to high aggression, it is necessary to pay more attention to this issue. Interventions may play an important role in improving the current situation.