Introduction:The present study aimed to assess the association between nutritional status and depressive symptoms among elderly Iranians and to explore their impact on their Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL).Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 447 elders aging from 55 to 85 years were randomly selected and completed the Iranian version of Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and the Iranian version of Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).Results:Out of the 447 elderly, 72.1% were female with the mean age of 65.99 ± 7.89 years. The prevalence of depression was 38.1%. In addition, the SF-36 sub-scores tended to be lower among the elders with depressive symptoms according to GDS. The Physical Functioning (PF), Bodily Pain (BP), Role Physical (RP), Role Emotional (RE), and Mental Health (MH) dimensions of the SF-36 were also statistically poorer in the elders with depression. The mean MNA score was 24.6 ± 2.7; 35.4% of the participants were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition and 64.6% were adequately nourished. The sub scores of SF-36 were significantly lower in the elders with impaired nutritional status.Conclusions:Considering the importance of the association among psychological and nutritional problems and HRQoL in caring for and promoting the welfare of the elders, this study provided fundamental information and a basis for further evaluation of this issue in developing and undeveloped countries.

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Vitamin D has received attention for its potential to disrupt cancer processes. However, its effect in the treatment of prostate cancer is controversial. This study aimed to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on patients with prostate cancer. In the present study, PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched up to September 2017 for trials that evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on prostate specific antigen (PSA) response, mortality, and its possible side effects in participants with prostate cancer. The DerSimonian and Laird inverse-weighted random-effects model was used to pool the effect estimates. Twenty-two studies (16 before-after and 6 randomized controlled trials) were found and included in the meta-analysis. The analysis of controlled clinical trials revealed that PSA change from baseline [weighted mean difference (WMD)=–1.66 ng/ml, 95% CI: –0.69, 0.36, p=0.543)], PSA response proportion (RP=1.18, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.45, p=0.104) and mortality rate (risk ratio (RR)=1.05, 95% CI: 0.81–1.36; p=0.713) were not significantly different between vitamin D supplementation and placebo groups. Single arm trials revealed that vitamin D supplementation had a modest effect on PSA response proportion: 19% of those enrolled had at least a 50% reduction in PSA by the end of treatment (95% CI: 7% to 31%; p=0.002). Although before-after studies showed that vitamin D increases the PSA response proportion, it does not seem that patients with prostate cancer benefit from high dose vitamin D supplementation and it should not be recommended for the treatment.

MetS is a major threat to women's health and an aging population, and longitudinal studies to determine the mechanism of postmenopausal MetS are required.

Women’s health is increasing identified as a global health priority. Women’s health is affected by many factors, such as the economy, environment, society, culture, religion, and biology. For this reason, the Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz, Iran decided to hold The First Iranian International Conference on Women’s Health. The aim of this conference was to provide up-to-date information on different aspects of women’s health, including healthy aging, non-communicable and communicable diseases, psycho-social aspects, health promotion, reproductive health, and nutrition. Finally, the attending specialists and experts provided recommendations to be put into practice which reinforced the recommendations for additional clinical preventive services for women, mobilizing health professionals within practice, education, and research to address the national health goals, encouraging the adoption of ongoing evidence-based prevention guidelines, gender-sensitive, and culturally appropriate, persuading all stakeholders to harmonize their endeavors on women’s health, changing the viewpoint to the women as a workforce alliance as with like men, along with considering the major role of women as the basis of the family, and improving the coverage, accessibility, and quality of women-oriented health services.