Objectives: Health-promoting behaviors are essential for maintaining independence and enhancing quality of life in aging populations. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between social support and health-promoting behaviors among older adults in Fasa, Iran in 2020. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 300 older adults attending a specialized outpatient clinic in Fasa, Iran. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Walker Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile, and the Canty Perceived Social Support Scale, administered either through self-report or structured interviews. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25 and included descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, the chi-square test, and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: The mean age of participants was 68.9±7.8 years. Most participants were women (56.6%), married (81.7%), and had less than a high school education (41.3%). The mean scores for health-promoting behaviors and perceived social support were 124.2±31.3 and 24.4±9.4, respectively. A statistically significant positive association was observed between perceived social support and health-promoting behaviors (r=0.10, p=0.04). Social support, gender, and education level were identified as significant predictors of health-promoting behaviors, collectively explaining 34% of the variance. Conclusions These findings emphasize the pivotal role of social support in promoting health-related behaviors among older adults. Interventions that strengthen social support networks, foster enabling environments, and address gender and educational disparities are recommended to improve health outcomes and quality of life in aging populations. Policymakers and healthcare planners should incorporate these determinants into the design of targeted, evidence-based interventions for older adults.

EXTRACTION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF F7 BIOSURFACTANT FROM BACILLUS CLAUSII AGAINST ORAL PATHOGEN KEY PLAYERS Introduction: Biosurfactants are surface-active molecules produced by various microorganisms. It holds exceptional properties, including its capacity to lower surface tension, antiadhesive activity, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and antimicrobial activity. Objectives: This study investigated the production, characteristics, and antimicrobial potential of biosurfactants extracted from Bacillus clausii, isolated from a crude oil sample obtained from a natural oil reservoir. Methods: Biosurfactant was extracted using the chloroform-methanol extraction method. Characterizations were assessed through Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), determination of surface tension, Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC), and emulsification index. Antimicrobial activity was determined by the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) evaluation against Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 24212, and Candida albicans ATCC 14503 using the microdilution method. Results: The biosurfactant extraction yielded at 1.6 mg mL-1, and was labelled as F7 biosurfactant. FTIR analysis revealed that the F7 biosurfactant belonged to the lipopeptide group, as evidenced by the presence of an aliphatic chain (CH3 and CH2). It exhibited a surface tension of 12.0 mN m-1, a CMC of 157.5 mg L-1, and an emulsification index of 56.5%. The MIC for each tested organism was 0.2 mg/mL-1, 0.4 mg/mL-1, and 0.8 mg/mL-1 with inhibition percentages of 3.20%, 4.03%, and 7.87% against S. mutans, E. faecalis, and C. albicans, respectively. Conclusions: The antimicrobial activities of the F7 biosurfactant demonstrated dose-dependent. These findings suggest that increasing the F7 biosurfactant concentration could lead to a more effective antimicrobial effect, making it a potential antimicrobial agent for oral applications.

Tobacco smoking is one of the most important risk factors for the development of oral mucosal lesions such as leukoplakia and hairy tongue. Controversy exists in the literature, however, about the prevalence of oral lesions in smokers. The aim of this study was to evaluate oral lesions in male smokers compared with nonsmokers in Hamadan. A total of 516 male participants were assessed, 258 of whom were smokers and 258 of whom were healthy nonsmokers. The prevalence of lesions was evaluated by clinical observation and biopsy. We found that the most prevalent lesions among smokers were gingival problems and coated tongue; smokers had significantly more lesions than did nonsmokers. Malignant and premalignant lesions were found in a higher age range. Among all participants in our study, we found a large number of oral mucosal lesions in smokers that had a strong correlation with smoking. Dental services need to implement care and health education for smokers to promote health.
Biopsy ; Health Education ; Humans ; Leukoplakia ; Male ; Mouth ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tongue, Hairy