Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Nutrition education and introduction of procedures for choosing healthier food have an important role to reduce the rate of non-communicable diseases. It was shown the amount of risk factors of non-communicable diseases such as energy, salt, sugar, fat and trans fatty acid on the traffic light of food labelling. The status of risk is presented through three colors of red, yellow and green that are the signs of risk, precautious and safe use of food. The object of this study was to evaluate the influence of education on the knowledge, attitude and practices of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences students to the traffic light on food labeling.
Methods: This project was an empirical study performed by random sampling of 379 students of nine schools in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences from January 2017 to March 2018. The knowledge, attitude and practices of students toward the traffic light were assessed by self-administered and structured questionnaire. Education was performed face to face with the usage of pamphlet. In the period of three to six months, questionnaires were refilled out by students to determine knowledge, attitude and practice. Descriptive statistics were calculated using SPSS in mean± SD. Paired t-test was performed to assess the influence of education in total score of knowledge, attitudes and practices in test-retest. P value was considered less than 0.05 as statistically significant.
Results: Before education, the average of scores for knowledge, attitude and practice was 1.12±0.84, 14.44±4 and 2.25±2.2, respectively. Afterwards, the scores were increased to 11.72±0.75, 18.67±3.18 and 17.69±4.7 after education. Significant difference was observed in the scores of knowledge, attitude and practice of students before and after education (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Education of traffic light had a significant role in the improvement of knowledge, attitude and to some extent of practice of students in selection of healthier food.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that can cause pain and limited function. One of the non-surgical treatments is intra-articular ozone injection. This study aimed to compare the effect of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection with ozone injection in patients with grade 3 osteoarthritis of the knee.
Methods: This randomized, double-blind, clinical trial was carried out in 32 participants with diagnosis of grade 3 knee osteoarthritis were divided into 2 groups randomly. In one group 40 mg triamcinolone (1 cc) injected into the knee joint (under ultrasound-guided in suprapatellar pouch). In another group under sterile conditions, 10cc oxygen-ozone (O2O3), (Ozone generator, Hyper Medozon Comfort, Herrmann Apparatebau GmbH, Kleinwallstadt, Germany) (15 μg/ml) under ultrasound-guided (in suprapatellar pouch), injected into the joint. This study was carried out in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Clinic of Hazrat Rasul Akram and Firoozgar University Hospitals, Tehran, Iran, from September 2017 to August 2018. Outcome instruments were WOMAC, clinical parameters of the knee (knee flexion), ultrasound index (suprapatellar pouch) and pain, visual analog scale, VAS). Measurements were done before, 1 week and 1, 3 months after treatment. All injections were done under ultrasound guide. All patients were trained to perform knee strengthening exercises.
Results: From 32 patients, 7 men and 25 women were enrolled in our study. The mean age of patients, in the steroid group was 58.50 and in the ozone group was 60.06 years. Recovery was significant after treatment in both groups (P<0.05). Our results showed that there was the improvement in VAS criteria in both groups before and after treatment but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.261). There was no significant difference in the WOMAC score between the two groups (P=0.265). The recovery in one month after treatment, was in favor of the ozone group (P=0.008). There was no significant difference in ROM criteria and joint effusion between the two groups (ROM P=0.270, Effusion P=0.630), but in the ozone group, joint effusion was decreased (P=0.009).
Conclusion: Steroid and ozone injections has no superiority to each other in the improvement of pain, function, ROM, and effusion in patients with grade 3 knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Breast cancer ranks as one of the most prevalent cancers among women worldwide and remains a major cause of mortality. The axillary lymph node (ALN) status, especially in the absence of distant metastasis, is a significant prognostic indicator in breast cancer management. Non-invasive methods, such as ultrasound, have gained prominence in the diagnostic landscape, particularly for evaluating dense breast tissue where traditional imaging may have limitations. This study was conducted to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in detecting malignant ALNs among breast cancer patients.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 150 women diagnosed with breast cancer who visited Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran, between 2021 and 2022. Patients were initially examined clinically, and subsequently, ALN evaluations were performed using a GE S6 logic ultrasound machine. Key radiologic parameters including lymph node size, morphology, cortical thickness, and vascular distribution were assessed. Stata software was used for data analysis, and pathology results were considered the gold standard to determine ultrasound’s sensitivity and specificity in detecting malignancy.

Results: We found 77.7% of the 150 patients had metastatic ALNs, indicating a high rate of lymphatic spread in this population. Ultrasound showed a sensitivity of 86.09% and a specificity of 51.52% in detecting malignant nodes. Radiological signs of cancer, like abnormal morphology and increased cortical thickness, were strongly linked to positive pathological findings. This shows that ultrasound is a useful tool for diagnosis. Conclusion: The results indicate that ultrasound, as a non-invasive and accessible modality, can serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying malignant ALNs in breast cancer patients. Integrating ultrasound with physical examination could enhance diagnostic precision, potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures such as biopsies. However, more research is necessary to establish the role of ultrasound in clinical protocols and investigate its potential to guide customized treatment strategies. Such advancements could optimize patient outcomes, enhance resource allocation, and ultimately contribute to more effective breast cancer management.