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Background Osteoporosis affects 38% of women and 25% of men aged ≥ 50 years in Iran, with fracture-related costs estimated at US$393 million annually. Prevention hinges on modifiable behaviors such as adequate calcium intake, weight-bearing exercise, and sun exposure. However, existing instruments like the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS) and Osteoporosis Knowledge Test (OKT) mainly assess beliefs or knowledge and lack cultural adaptation for Middle Eastern populations. Pender’s Health Promotion Model (HPM) offers a comprehensive framework for evaluating preventive behaviors via constructs including perceived benefits/barriers, self-efficacy, planning, substituting behaviors, commitment, and social support. This study aimed to develop and psychometrically test the Osteoporosis Preventing Behaviors Questionnaire (OPBQ) for Iranian women aged 30–60 years, considering socio-cultural factors such as modest clothing that limits vitamin D synthesis. Methods Following COSMIN guidelines, this methodological study was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, 37 items across six HPM-based subscales were generated from literature, WHO/NOF/IOF recommendations, and expert input. Content validity was assessed by 12 experts (Content Validity Ratio [CVR] ≥ 0.56, Scale-level Content Validity Index [S-CVI/Ave] ≥ 0.90), and face validity by 30 women. In Phase 2, 600 women (mean age 45.2 ± 8.7 years) from Shiraz health centers were recruited via convenience sampling. Construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis (principal axis factoring, varimax rotation; KMO = 0.86, Bartlett’s p  < 0.001). Reliability was determined by Cronbach’s alpha (≥ 0.70) and test–retest Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC > 0.75) in 30 participants. Results Content validity was strong (mean CVR = 0.82, S-CVI/Ave = 0.94). EFA supported a six-factor structure explaining 68.4% of variance, resulting in a 35-item OPBQ after removing two low-loading items. Communalities ranged from 0.32 to 0.78, with minimal cross-loadings. Internal consistency was high (α = 0.91 overall; subscales 0.76–0.88) and test–retest reliability robust (ICC = 0.89 overall; subscales 0.78–0.92). Conclusion The OPBQ is a valid, reliable, and culturally sensitive HPM-based instrument for assessing osteoporosis-preventive behaviors in Iranian women. It can be applied in clinical screenings, educational programs, and public health policy. Broader validation and longitudinal studies are recommended to enhance generalizability.

Background Aggression is a significant psychological concern among medical sciences students, who often face elevated stress levels due to clinical responsibilities and academic demands. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of aggressive behaviors and examine the demographic and academic predictors of aggression among medical sciences students at Kerman University of Medical Sciences in southeastern Iran. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 578 undergraduate students selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Because aggression subscale scores were not normally distributed (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, P  < 0.05), non-parametric tests were applied: Mann–Whitney U for two-group comparisons and Kruskal–Wallis H for comparisons across more than two groups. Significant Kruskal–Wallis results were followed by pairwise Mann–Whitney tests with Bonferroni correction. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of total aggression scores, with categorical variables dummy-coded. Regression assumptions (linearity, homoscedasticity, multicollinearity, and independence of errors) were checked and met. All tests were two-tailed, with P  < 0.05 considered significant. Results The highest mean score was observed in the physical aggression dimension. Male students reported significantly higher physical aggression, anger, and hostility, while females scored higher in verbal aggression. Single students had greater physical aggression, anger, and hostility than married peers. Significant differences were found across faculties, with nursing and paramedical students showing the highest aggression scores. Final-year students had higher physical aggression, verbal aggression, and anger than first-year students. Dormitory residents scored higher in anger and hostility. Regression analysis identified male gender, enrollment in clinical faculties, final year of study, and dormitory residence as significant predictors of higher aggression scores. Conclusion Aggression among medical sciences students is influenced by multiple demographic and academic factors. These findings underscore the need for targeted mental health interventions to reduce aggression and promote psychological well-being in this vulnerable population.

Background Due to their presence in clinical educational settings when dealing with patients, medical science students are more affected by mental disorders than other students. Some experts believe that spiritual intelligence enhances people adaptability and compatibility and creates calm in humans, especially in stressful situations. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between spiritual intelligence and aggression among students of medical sciences in the southeast of Iran. Methods This analytical-descriptive study was conducted among bachelor students of Medical Sciences in the Southeast of Iran and examples of the research were selected from the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, Public Health, Paramedical and Management by a stratified random sampling method. To examine samples questionnaires were used which examined students' demographic information, and included King's 24-item Questionnaire of Spiritual Intelligence and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AQ). After completing the questionnaires, data were analyzed using statistical analysis software (SPSS version18) with a significance level (p < 0.05). Results The results showed that there is a significant negative correlation between spiritual intelligence and aggression of students (r = -0/19, p = 0/001). Results also showed that Students of Medical Sciences in the Southeast of Iran with a spiritual intelligence average score of 52.28 have an average spiritual intelligence and those with an aggression average score of 78.57 have higher aggression than average. Conclusion The results showed that with increasing spiritual intelligence, aggression decreases. The results can be used by policymakers and managers to take steps to reduce aggressive behaviors and mental disorders and for the promotion of spiritual intelligence of students of medical sciences.

Background Toxoplasmosis could potentially be transmitted via blood transfusions from asymptomatic donors to patients with beta-thalassemia major (BTM) who regularly receive transfusions. Nevertheless, screening for toxoplasmosis prior to blood donation has not been implemented, representing a significant gap in transfusion safety protocols. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in BTM patients undergoing blood transfusion. Methods The current case-control study was conducted among 270 patients and 90 controls in Southeastern Iran, from September to December 2024. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was utilized to detect anti- T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in serum samples. A binomial logistic regression model was employed to analyze the association between toxoplasmosis and its determinants. Results The seropositivity rate for anti- T. gondii IgG antibodies was 9.3% (25/270) in the patients and 8.9% (8/90) in the controls. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.45–2.41; p  = 0.916). Anti- T. gondii IgM antibodies were detected in the patients with a seropositivity rate of 1.5% (4/270). In the controls, the seropositivity rate for anti- T. gondii IgM antibodies was 0.0% (0/90). None of the participants’ characteristics were found to be associated with the infection. Conclusion Anti- T. gondii antibodies were detected at relatively low seroprevalence rates in both patients and controls. The presence of toxoplasmosis in these patients highlights the critical need for appropriate strategies to reduce the risk of infection, as the population appears to be mostly non-immune. It is essential to implement routine screening of blood for specific antibodies against T. gondii before transfusions in these patients to mitigate the risk of infection. This is the first study assessing the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies among patients with BTM in Southeastern Iran.

Aim To explore the effects of an educational‐ counselling programme based on the precede–proceed model during pregnancy on preventing post‐partum depression. Design A randomized clinical trial (RCT) study. Method 130 pregnant women were selected and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Data collection was carried out using questionnaires of predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors, GHQ and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The Education programme was designed and performed in each group in a given weekday through four 60‐minute sessions. The whole intervention lasted for one month in all groups. The participants in the control group were given routine pregnancy care. Data were gathered before and after the intervention in both groups. Results Independent t test showed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the mean score of predisposing, reinforcing, enabling factors and post‐partum depression (p < .05). Regression tests indicated predisposing, reinforcing, enabling factors and general health as the most important factors associated with post‐partum depression (p < .05). The results supported the effectiveness of the educational intervention on reducing post‐partum depression and showed that implementing these training during pregnancy leads to a reduced level of post‐partum depression.

The sol-gel method was used for the synthesis of zero-valent iron/titanium dioxide supported on activated carbon (Fe0/TiO2/AC) adsorbents, and the adsorbents were comprehensively characterized by XRF, XRD, FT-IR, BET, FE-SEM, and EDX analyses. The batch experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of adsorbent type, pH of solution, pollutant initial concentration, and contact time on the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) adsorption efficiency. The equilibrium experiments revealed that the Langmuir isotherm was in good agreement with the adsorption equilibrium data, whereas the adsorption kinetic experiments indicated that the adsorption procedure was described perfectly through a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The obtained maximum adsorption capacities from Langmuir isotherms of 86.5, 87.5, 86,57, and 88.76 mg/g were achieved for Activated Carbon (AC), zero-valent iron/activated carbon (Fe°/AC), titanium dioxide/activated carbon (T1O2/AC), and Fe0/TiO2/AC at the 2,4-D initial concentration of 90 mg/L, pH = 4 and 25°C, respectively.