Aims of the Study. Reducing estrogen levels due to menopause activates oxidative and inflammatory processes, which causes symptoms of menopause, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction. As a suggestion, potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents such as curcumin and vitamin E could be used as an effective alternative treatment due to parsimony, suitable access, and fewer side effects. Therefore, the present study was conducted to find out whether supplementation with curcumin and vitamin E affects inflammatory-oxidative stress biomarkers and primary symptoms of menopause in healthy postmenopausal women. Methods Used to Conduct the Study. The present study is a triple-blind parallel randomized controlled trial. Eighty-four eligible postmenopausal women aged 40 to 60 years old were randomly assigned into three groups using block randomization with an allocation ratio of 1 : 1 : 1. The curcumin group received one capsule containing 500 mg curcumin twice a day, the vitamin E group received one 500 mg capsule of vitamin E twice a day, and the placebo group took two placebo capsules containing 500 mg of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) daily for eight weeks. Demographic and anthropometric characteristics, dietary intake, and early symptoms of menopause were collected at baseline. Serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Intervention safety and satisfaction with the intervention were also evaluated. Results of the Study. Eighty-one participants completed the trial and were finally analyzed. There were no statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics and dietary intake of participants (except for vitamin C intake, P = 0.023 ) between the groups at baseline. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) score of total menopause symptoms, depression, anxiety, psychological, vasomotor, and physical domains significantly decreased within all groups ( P < 0.05 ). Between-group analyses indicated that decreasing the mean score of anxiety in the vitamin E group was significantly more than in the placebo group ( P = 0.026 ). The mean (SD) serum levels of MDA and hs-CRP significantly decreased only in the curcumin group ( P = 0.009 and P = 0.025 , respectively). Serum levels of TAC significantly increased in curcumin and vitamin E groups ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.006 , respectively). Conclusions Drawn from the Study and Clinical Implications. Curcumin could improve the oxidative stress (MDA and TAC) and inflammatory (hs-CRP) biomarkers. Vitamin E may also improve the antioxidant status by increasing the TAC levels. The alleviation of anxiety in the vitamin E group was more than in the placebo group. Clinical Trial Registration. The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (https://irct.ir/IRCT20131009014957N6).

Objectives: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that can lead to hirsutism, menstrual disorders, obesity, acne, and sometimes abortion and infertility. Considering the effect of PCOS-induced obesity on quality of life, the present study was aimed to evaluate the quality of life specified for polycystic ovary syndrome and its relationship with nutritional attitude and behavior. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 150 PCOS cases through convenience sampling in educational hospitals of Tabriz, Iran, in 2015. The used tools included socio-demographic questionnaire, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ), Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18: uncontrolled eating (UE), cognitive restraint (CR), and emotional eating (EE)), and a questionnaire of eating attitudes (Eat-26: including food preoccupation, dieting, and oral control). The relationship between the quality of life and nutritional attitudes and behaviors was evaluated by Pearson correlation and multivariate regression analysis. In this study, P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: A mean quality of life score of 16.58±4.18 was obtained out of 0-35. Nutritional behavior averaged 42.28±19.63 out of a min-max range of 18 to 72. Mean nutritional attitude score was 24.64±12.55 out of 0-78. A significantly inverse relationship was observed between the quality of life and nutritional attitude (P<0.001, r=-0.317), as well as nutritional behavior (P=0.015, r=-0.198) in participants. In other words, the quality of life scores increased when nutritional attitude and behavior (positive attitude and behavior) decreased. Multivariate regression analysis showed that EE, dieting, and history of pregnancy were predictive variables affected the quality of life. Conclusions: There was a relationship between nutritional attitude and behavior and quality of life specified for polycystic ovary syndrome. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to nutritional and other predictors through better health planning for these women.

Objectives: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in pregnant women can lead to the development of serious complications in neonates. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a new tool for predicting this infection in pregnant women and to assess the psychometric properties of this scale. Materials and Methods:This methodological study was carried out on 220 pregnant women visiting Al-Zahra and Taleghani hospitals of Tabriz, Iran in 2019. First, the relevant items were formulated and the respective questionnaire was developed and then, the validity (i.e., face, content, and construct) and reliability of the questionnaire were assessed as well. The data were analyzed in SPSS 21 using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), dependent t test, and Cronbach alpha coefficient. Results: A 22-item questionnaire was designed and the items were scored using a five-point Likert-type scale (Min=22, Max=120). Finally, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value, Bartlett’s test of the Sphericity value, the internal consistency of the tool based on Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and the intra-cluster correlation coefficient were 0.801, 4035.810, 0.811, and 0.81, respectively. Conclusions: In general, the present tool can reliably predict HBV infection in pregnant women thus its application is recommended in preventing relevant complications.