Editorial
Clinical
Ayoob Rostamzadeh; Masoud Amiri; Mohammad Gharib Salehi; Hossein Masoumi
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, Pages 162-163
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a constant magnetic field and radio waves, a non-invasive method for examining tissues, organs and the skeletal system. Advantages and disadvantages of MRI are not fully understood; however, it has been commonly used in the diagnosis of skeleton and bone diseases ...
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a constant magnetic field and radio waves, a non-invasive method for examining tissues, organs and the skeletal system. Advantages and disadvantages of MRI are not fully understood; however, it has been commonly used in the diagnosis of skeleton and bone diseases (such as disk and spinal disorders, joint disorders (arthritis), bone tumours and tissues), cardiovascular diseases (e.g., heart wall thickness and motion, inflammation and blockage in the blood vessels, injuries occurred due to heart attack and heart disease) as well as tumours of the uterus, ovary, prostate, spleen and so on. In the computerized tumour (CT) scan, as an invasive method, the x-rays of the body are used for tomography; different x-ray attenuation coefficient in tissues as well as reconstruction of images could have an effect on the scanning of the patient and the received amount of radiation by the patient. CT imaging is capable of identifying vascular problems/diseases, gastrointestinal, infectious diseases, trauma and musculoskeletal problems. In addition, it is the preferred tool in detection of most cancers, such as lung, liver, and pancreatic cancer. In fact, it allows physicians for better diagnosing of the tumour size, accurate positioning and development of tumours compared to adjacent tissue diagnosis. Therefore, CT scan is a very important tool to examine, diagnose and treat spinal injuries changed to damages to the hands, feet and skeletal structure. CT imaging can also measure the bone mineral density and osteoporosis. Furthermore, in the case of bruising, CT scan could recognize the potential damages to the liver, spleen, kidney, or any other organ very fast. However, compared to the other radio graphical diagnostic methods, CT scan could lead to the exposure of the patients to substantial radiation dosage; this may have several radiobiological effects such as delayed effects of radiation which could result in variety of cancers, chromosomal failures and potential genetic abnormalities in the future generations. According to the international commission of radiation protection (ICRP) recommendations with regard to the principles of: as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) as well as the maximum permissible dose (MPD) (maximum dose of the population), the unnecessary imaging should be avoided, in order to reduce the acquired radiation dose by the public community. Moreover, according to the recent reports on the effects of the three waves of MRI machines and CT scan imaging dose’s effects as well as huge number of imaging tests around the world (20 million a year, over 50 thousand tests daily MRI),1 and also unnecessary increase in the requests of MRI for patients,2 it is recommended that these tests should be prescribed for patients with greater accuracy and caution; with application of magnetic dosimeter for monitoring exposure of people who work with MRI (as its application for X-ray and CT scan).3
Original Article
Epidemiology
Kanchan Mukherjee
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, Pages 164-171
Abstract
Background and aims: India has a high burden of tobacco usage and its related morbidity and mortality. Almost 30% of the above 15 years of age of the Indian population use some forms of tobacco. Men usually use smoked tobacco, while women more likely use smokeless (chewed) tobacco. Tobacco usage has ...
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Background and aims: India has a high burden of tobacco usage and its related morbidity and mortality. Almost 30% of the above 15 years of age of the Indian population use some forms of tobacco. Men usually use smoked tobacco, while women more likely use smokeless (chewed) tobacco. Tobacco usage has been identified as a risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among slum dwellers in urban cities. This study explored the tobacco consumption patterns and its determinants in an urban slum community of New Mumbai.Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Study methods included review of secondary literature and policy documents on tobacco control. Primary data were collected from the Turbhe slum community in New Mumbai using semi-structured interview schedules. Cluster sampling followed by simple random sampling technique was used to achieve the sample size of 300 households.Results: The prevalence of tobacco consumption in Turbhe slums was very high. Twenty five percent of tobacco consumers initiated tobacco use before 18 years old. Peer pressure emerged as a major factor for initiation of tobacco consumption. Smokeless tobacco was the predominant form of consumed tobacco. Though television is the most viewed medium, newspapers and magazines were the most impactful media for quitting tobacco.Conclusion: Tobacco consumption is a major public health challenge in urban slums of New Mumbai. Absence of effective legislation on curbing availability of tobacco products and poor community awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco creates a vicious cycle contributing to the rising burden NCDs in India.
Original Article
Epidemiology
Parivash RahimPour; Ataollah Hashemian; Azadeh Direkvand-Moghadam; Ashraf Direkvand-Moghadam
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, Pages 172-177
Abstract
Background and aims: Loneliness typically includes anxious feelings. It is particularly relevant to adolescence period. It has effect on physical and mental health. The present study aimed to identify the predictive factors of loneliness among high schools female students.Methods: A cross– sectional ...
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Background and aims: Loneliness typically includes anxious feelings. It is particularly relevant to adolescence period. It has effect on physical and mental health. The present study aimed to identify the predictive factors of loneliness among high schools female students.Methods: A cross– sectional survey was carried out among high schools female students in Ilam during the academic year 2014-15. Sampling was done by multistage method. The student's consent to participation in the study obtained by full filled the questionnaires. Data were collected by demographic and University of California, Los Angeles questionnaires. Questionnaires with incomplete information were excluded. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was measured as an index of internal identicalness of the questionnaire to verify its reliability.Results: A total of 400 female high school students were studied. Overall, 62.8% of students put into non- loneliness group and 37.3% of all have loneliness. The univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrates that education field, father’s education and father’s occupation were different between the groups (P<0.05). The risk of loneliness was higher in students with a mathematical sciences education field in comparison to general education field (OR=1.75). In multivariate logistic regression analysis the education field, father’s education and father’s occupation were considered as independent predictive variables for female students’ loneliness. The AUROC criterion was applied to compute both the sensibility and the specificity of the manikin. The overall percent of correct classification of the model is 64%.Conclusion: Identify the causes of students loneliness can prevent complications and provide appropriate solutions.
Original Article
Women's Health
Yousef Veisani; Ali Delpisheh; Kourosh Sayehmiri
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, Pages 178-183
Abstract
Background and aims: According to psychological research female-headed households have a lot of physical and mental problems because they experience stress and anxiety more than the other women in general population. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of life and the associated factors ...
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Background and aims: According to psychological research female-headed households have a lot of physical and mental problems because they experience stress and anxiety more than the other women in general population. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of life and the associated factors in female-headed households under the Welfare Organization coverage of Ilam Province.Methods: In this descriptive analytical study, 787 female-headed households under the Welfare Organization coverage of Ilam in urban and rural in Ilam province participated in this study. Systematic random sampling was used as a sampling method. A validated questionnaire (SF-36) completed in a six-month interval and then the data were collected and analyzed.Results: From 787 female-headed households contributing to the project, the numbers of missing subjects were 79 and 708 of the subjects completed the questionnaires (response rate 89.9%). Mean ± SD age of participants was 53.3±19.18. The results of this study showed an unfavorable health related quality of life in female-headed households spatially in role–physical (mean score 48.06) and mental health (mean score 40.80) demission. We found that having the chronic disease and living in rural area were associated with an unfavorable health related quality of life (P≤0.001).Conclusion: According to the results, the most important reason affecting the quality of life in female-headed households is low level of illiteracy and having a chronic illness.
Original Article
Cancer Epidemiology
Sepideh Mahdavi; Neda Amoori; Hamid Salehiniya; Zeinab Almasi; Mostafa Enayatrad
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, Pages 184-189
Abstract
Background and aims: Bladder cancer is the most common tumor of the urinary tract and the ninth cancer in terms of incidence in both sexes in the world. Bladder cancer is the second most common cancer among men in Iran. The most important risk factors which attribute to the incidence of bladder cancer ...
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Background and aims: Bladder cancer is the most common tumor of the urinary tract and the ninth cancer in terms of incidence in both sexes in the world. Bladder cancer is the second most common cancer among men in Iran. The most important risk factors which attribute to the incidence of bladder cancer are tobacco usage, exposure to industrial materials, and chronic infection by Schistsoma. This study aimed to investigate the trend of death from bladder cancer in Iran. Methods: This study was conducted by the use of data on mortality in Iran during 2006-10. Data on mortality from cancer within the study period were collected and entered on a pre-designed form. Mortality rates per 105 persons were calculated by age group and sex, and the trend of mortality from this cancer was determined. Results: The results from the calculation of mortality rates per 105 persons indicated that the death rate from bladder cancer is reduced from 1.12 to 1.09. The mortality rates during all the years under the study showed that increasing age increases the bladder cancer in men. Conclusion: No particular change was observed in the analysis of the trend of tobacco using in Iran in the last two decades, which can be considered as one of the causes of constancy of mortality trend from bladder cancer. However, given the increase in the number of people over 65 and the observed growing trend in bladder cancer incidence in various regions of the country, it is recommended that health policies are adopted in order to prevent the risk factors behind this type of cancer such as tobacco and harmful industrial materials.
Original Article
Infectious Disease
Somayyeh Namroodi; Ehsan Shariat Bahadory
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, Pages 190-196
Abstract
Background and aims: Cats carry a lot of zoonotic parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) which causes toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded animals. Toxoplasmosis includes wide range of symptoms in its intermediate and definitive hosts but the worst symptoms have been seen in pregnant women and also ...
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Background and aims: Cats carry a lot of zoonotic parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) which causes toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded animals. Toxoplasmosis includes wide range of symptoms in its intermediate and definitive hosts but the worst symptoms have been seen in pregnant women and also on immunocompromised hosts. Considering the importance of the fact that cats are as the only definitive host that spread T. gondii oocytes in environment, it is necessary to obtain comprehensive information about the role of cats in life cycle of T. gondii.Methods: This comparative study was done during the January 2012 to February 2014, a total of 210 feral cats were captured by hand made traps. Age, sex, season and locality were documented. Blood samples from carotid vein were collected. Sera were separated by centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 10 min and stored at 20oC until laboratory examination. Serum sample of 210 feral cats from 20 villages of Golestan province were obtained and analyzed for presence of Ig G antibody against T. gondii by ELIZA Kit.Results: The frequency of T. gondii infection in serum samples was 85% (180/210). Percentage of T. gondii infection was similar in male and female and different seasons but significant difference was recorded between sampled villages. Also the seropositivity rate of T. gondii had positive relationship with age (P˂0.005).Conclusion: High seropositive results of the current study highlight the risk of endemic toxoplasmosis in the sampled rural ecosystem. Performing suitable screening test in rural population, keeping feral cats far from the villages, controlling of feral cats population by sterilization and making villagers aware of toxoplasmosis danger are recommended.
Original Article
Epidemiology
R Rajabzadeh; K Arzamani; HR Shoraka; H Riyhani; Seyed Hamid Hosseini
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, Pages 197-203
Abstract
Background and aims: Leishmaniasis is a widespread problem, especially in the tropical and subtropical countries. Since understanding the epidemiologic and geographical distribution of the diseases is necessary for prevention and controlling the Leishmaniasis. This study was conducted on epidemiological ...
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Background and aims: Leishmaniasis is a widespread problem, especially in the tropical and subtropical countries. Since understanding the epidemiologic and geographical distribution of the diseases is necessary for prevention and controlling the Leishmaniasis. This study was conducted on epidemiological survey of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Khorasan Province, using Arc GIS Software during the years 2006-2013.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data of the Leishmaniasis patients between the years 2006-2013 were collected from the different districts of North Khorasan Province. The gathered data were analyzed by using SPSS16 statistical software and chi-square test.Results: Data concerning 2831 patients with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis were collected. The maximum outbreak of the disease occurred in 2011 and the minimum occurrence was reported in 2008. The mean age of the study population was 22.80 ± 18.08 and the maximum cases of infection were observed in age group of 16-30 years. 58.6% of the patients were male and 53.5% of them lived in the villages. The maximum infection of the disease was observed in Esfarayen with 1095 people (38.7%). There was a significant relationship between the gender and age of the patients and cutaneous Leishmaniasis (P<0.001).Conclusion: In this province, Leishmaniasis is more epidemic among men of 16-30 years of age, villagers and laborers. These factors have to be necessarily considered in prevention and controlling programs.
Review article
Epidemiology
Fereshteh Ahmadinejad; Mohammad-Amin Honardoost; Masoud Amiri; Mohammad-Saeid Jami
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, Pages 204-208
Abstract
Background and aims: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus. After the primary onset of MERS in Saudi Arabia, in September 2015 cases began to increase. The number of laboratory-affirmed cases by MERS-CoV in the Middle East has been being increased ...
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Background and aims: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus. After the primary onset of MERS in Saudi Arabia, in September 2015 cases began to increase. The number of laboratory-affirmed cases by MERS-CoV in the Middle East has been being increased recently.Methods: In this current review article, by using the terms “MERS” and “coronavirus” we first searched for English language articles in the PubMed database, published in last five years. Then by a detailed review of related articles, we provided a comprehensive information about epidemiology, genetic, host and coronavirus treatment.Results: More importantly, evidences of human-to-human transmission in Europe and America indicate that the viral adaptations in humans may precede a large-scale epidemic. The genome of Coronaviruses is a linear positive-sense single stranded large RNA and they are enveloped viruses that have a helical symmetric nucleocapsid. Some new insights have been provided in previous few months in to the animal Coronavirus hosts, transmissibility, contagion of MERS Co-V and ideal laboratory diagnostic methods.Conclusion: It seems crucial to control this new human infection “MERS-CoV” by collaborating global and local health authorities and their continual support for further research on it.
Review article
Epidemiology
Kanchan Mukherjee
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, Pages 209-220
Abstract
Background and aims: Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon that can be defined in both economic and social terms. The paper attempts to review the existing evidence to understand the relation between poverty and ill health in the context of the limited conceptual and operational definitions of these ...
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Background and aims: Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon that can be defined in both economic and social terms. The paper attempts to review the existing evidence to understand the relation between poverty and ill health in the context of the limited conceptual and operational definitions of these terms. The paper uses two of Hills criteria- reversibility and dose response relationship to understand the association between poverty and health.Methods: This study is based on review of literature from secondary sources retrieved using key words like poverty, health and economic growth. Relevant studies were identified capturing theoretical and empirical evidence on this issue.Results: The relationship between poverty and health is a complex one. There is evidence that poverty and income inequality may be the cause of ill health. However, the association does not stop there. Ill health can drive households into more poverty by creating a vicious cycle between poverty and ill health.Conclusion: The relationship between health and wealth is heterogeneous and does not operate in isolation. Providing income may not always improve health. Appropriate redistribution of income may be helpful. However, without taking into context the socio- cultural, educational and social support structures, income redistribution by itself may not be meaningful. With the MDG targets on poverty and health not being met by most countries, it is to be seen if the SDG focus on poverty and health translates into meaningful action.
Review article
Biostatistics
Kourosh Sayehmiri; Zahra Darvishi; Mohammad Reza Hafezi Ahmadi; Milad Azami
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, Pages 221-232
Abstract
Background and aims: The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnant women is in Variable between 40-80% in developing countries. There are some differences among different studies on this disorder. So, this present study is been performed for evaluating the prevalence of IDA among pregnant ...
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Background and aims: The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnant women is in Variable between 40-80% in developing countries. There are some differences among different studies on this disorder. So, this present study is been performed for evaluating the prevalence of IDA among pregnant Iranians with systematic review and meta-analysis method.Methods: This study is based on received information achieved from Magiran, Iranmedex, SID, Med Lib, Iran Doc, Scopus, Pubmed, Science Direct, Cochrane, Embase, Medline, Springer, Online Library Wiley and Google Scholar in chronological order of 1 January 1991 to 31 march 2015 with using standard key words. Search and extraction of data were done by two independent reviewers. Using random effects model and meta-analysis, the data were analyzed through SPSS.Results: In the 32 eligible studies, the 63372 individuals have been evaluated. The prevalence of anemia among pregnant Iranians was estimated to be 14.2% (95% CI: 12-16.3%). Most prevalence of anemia was seen in the study, the samples of which were collected in several parts of country, (21.5%) and the lowest prevalence was seen in the West of the country (7%). The prevalence of anemia in urban and rural pregnant women was estimated 13.7% and 20% approximately, respectively.Conclusion: The prevalence of anemia among pregnant Iranians in the recent 24 years according to WHO system reported to be low in developing countries, that it was related to appropriate planning and caring in pregnancy period in countries.
Review article
Mycology
Mehdi Agha Seyed Hosseini; Amir Hossein Mansourabadi; Ali Shams; Nastaran Razavi; Reza Daryabor; Mohammad Hasan Zadeh
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, Pages 233-238
Abstract
Background and aims: Infectious diseases are disorders caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites .The Th9 subset develops in response to combined signals from TGF-b and IL-4 among a cacophony of other cytokines in an extracellular milieu. T helper 9 (Th9) cells, as a novel ...
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Background and aims: Infectious diseases are disorders caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites .The Th9 subset develops in response to combined signals from TGF-b and IL-4 among a cacophony of other cytokines in an extracellular milieu. T helper 9 (Th9) cells, as a novel CD4 T cell subset, seem to play a complex role in the outcome of specific immune responses. In this article, we aimed to review the role of these cells in infectious disease.Methods: In this mini-review study, we study 25 novel articles since 2009 to 2014 about the role of T helper 9 in some Infectious Diseases.Results: Pleural mesothelial cells promoted Th9 cell differentiation by presenting antigen. It significantly differentiated Th17, but not Th9 cells in the development of CVB3-induced VMC. The microenvironment of VMC seemed to contribute to the differentiation and proliferation of Th17 rather than to differentiation of Th9 cells. Having reviewed the limited number of articles considering this relevance, we came to this result that Lymphatic Filariasis and mycobacterium tuberculosis infections confirmed the existence of such relationship. In addition, Rapamycin resistant murine Th9 cells have a stable in vivo phenotype and inhibit graft-versus-host reactivity but concerning Viral Myocarditis, Th9 cells could not protect against it.Conclusion: The accurate molecular mechanisms underlying the generation and differentiation of human Th9 cells are not elucidated completely. Th9 cells exhibit Ag specific expansion in a chronic helminth infection (lymphatic filariasis), but in relevance to viral myocarditis, Th9 cells did not play an efficient role against it. However; knowing that whether Th9 cells participate in the protection against infections needs further research.
Letter to the editor
Cancer Epidemiology
Sepideh Mahdavi; Neda Amoori; Hamid Salehiniya; Mostafa Enayatrad
Volume 2, Issue 4 , November 2015, Pages 239-240
Abstract
Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of death from cancer. Liver cancer is more prevalent in countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia and the western Central Africa.1 Liver cancer rates in North America and Western Europe, less than 10 cases per hundred thousand ...
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Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of death from cancer. Liver cancer is more prevalent in countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia and the western Central Africa.1 Liver cancer rates in North America and Western Europe, less than 10 cases per hundred thousand people in Asia and Africa between 50-150 cases per hundred thousand people.2 The incidence of cancer in many countries such as the United States and Central America and Europe is on the rise because it is caused by the epidemic of obesity and increasing cases of HCV infection due to intravenous drug. In contrast, in high-risk areas, decreasing trend has been observed Because of widespread vaccination against HBV infection in adults and children.1 The aim of this study was to estimate the level and trend of mortality from liver cancer in Iranian population during 2006-2010 .The overall view of the process as far as mortality due to these cancers in Iran is provided. In this study, Data related to the number of deaths caused by Liver cancer during 2006 to 2010 in 29 provinces by the Network Management Centre, Department of Information Management and Technology and Applied Research of the Ministry of health and Medical Education from various sources including government organizations, cemeteries, hospitals, homes and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education were collected.3 The results of calculation of mortality rates per hundred thousand people showed that the rate of death from liver cancer was 4.78 in 2006 to 5.37 in 2010. In Table 1, the mortality rate in all the years under the study suggests that liver cancer in men is more than in women. The results show that the mortality of liver cancer has been increased; this trend is consistent with previous studies.4 Deaths from cancer in the UK have increased by 2.6 per hundred thousand people.5 Rates of liver cancer mortality in the age groups under the study show that it increases with the increasing age of the cancer death rate and most deaths have been reported in patients aged over than 70 years. Based on the results of the present study, death from liver cancer in men has more increases with age than in women. Table 1: Mortality from Liver cancer per hundred thousand people in the study group sex Year of Study Mortality per hundred thousand Crude mortality rate Sex ratio (M/F) Woman Man Total Woman Man Total 2006 3.81 5.72 4.78 1072 1659 2731 1.54 2007 4.21 5.85 5.04 1103 1573 2677 1.42 2008 4.41 5.84 5.13 1170 1587 2757 1.35 2009 4.09 6.06 5.09 1100 1668 2769 1.51 2010 4.51 6.12 5.37 1258 1706 2964 1.35 Total 5703 8193 13898 1.43 Because both hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the major causes of liver cancer, treatment can reduce the risk of cancer, although this effect is not clear. It is estimated that approximately 1.5 million people in the country are infected with hepatitis B of which more than 15% to 40% are at risk of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer.6 The mass vaccination is a safe and easy way to control hepatitis B in the population, which can reduce infection rates by up to 95%. The universal vaccination against hepatitis B in Iran from 1993 to 2006 and applying it to more than 94% is reached.7 It is expected that the effect of reducing the burden of developing liver cancer occurs in the next decade. Since that time an attention on the course of hepatitis B and liver cancer and the virus vaccination for infants is recommended. It is also recommended that screening be performed for people with hepatitis B to identify cases of liver cancer.