Payavard Salamat

Evaluation of Yersinia enterocolitica diagnostic approaches

MM Soltan Dallal

Background and Aim: Yersinia enterocolitica is a Gram-negative bacterium which its strains are involved in human diseases. To differentiate among pathogenic and non-pathogenic types, tests such as Congo Red absorption, Crystal Violet, and Calcium Dependency test are used. These tests are based on existence of 70-75 kb plasmids and sometimes, with respect to plasmids instability, we will face false negative results. Therefore, by setting up a methodology based on stable chromosomal genes of pathogenic agent we can overcome this hurdle. The goal of this survey was comparison among routine and molecular diagnostic approaches in the identification of Y. enterocolitica pathogenic strains.

Materials and Methods: Some Gram-negative bacteria from family Enterobacteriacea and some Y. enterocolitica strains isolated of human beings and environment were evaluated.

Results: Obtained results showed that 4 Y. enterocolitica strains isolated of human beings were PCR positive while PCR results of environmental strains, one human strain and non-Yersinia strains were negative.

Conclusion: The mentioned approach can be used as a method to differentiate among pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica.

Hydatid Cyst Control:A glance at the experiences of other countries

M Moazeni

Background and Aim:There are a number of successful examples of hydatid cyst control, achieved on a national or regional scale in different countries. The earliest successful program was that in Iceland initiated nearly 143 years ago when cystic hydatid disease was recognized as affecting approximately one of every six Icelanders. With a continuous campaign, by the 1950_s hydatidosis was considered eradicated from Iceland. Prior to 1970, in Cyprus, hydatid cysts were routinely found in the lungs and livers of the majority of mature sheep, cattle, goats and pigs, and people believed that hydatid cysts were normal part of the anatomy of infected hosts. By performing a 15-year plan aiming to eradication of the disease, infection prevalence of dog and sheep reduced to zero and 0.11%, respectively and from 1981 to 1985, only a single case of human infection was diagnosed. Elimination of stray dogs was the key element in above remarkably successful program. During the first year of the campaign more than 18000 stray and ownerless dogs were killed.

Conclusion:In Xinjiang Province of China, a control program during 1990-1995 resulted in a dramatic decrease in the infection rate in dogs (from 14.8% down to zero) and sheep (from 73/8% down to 1.4%). In this control program, 16000 dogs and herdsman dogs were given the drug praziquantel for five years. There are also other successful examples of hydatid cyst control in Spain (La Rioja), Australia (Tasmania), Chile, and NewZealand.

The role of e-learning in Medical Sciences Universities

H Dargahi

Background and Aim: Ever-increasing development of access to appropriate software and hardware for e-learning especially development of worldwide web has suggested new horizons for educational institutes. It is much important in medical sciences, because Medical Sciences deal with the health of human beings. Since beside issues related to education, research and information production, appropriate treatment of the patients is possible through having up to date and new information as well. For this reason Medical Sciences utilize information technology as soon as possible in order to prepare essential information for physicians quickly. This article discusses the role of e-learning in Medical Sciences universities.

Materials and Methods: in this literature review article, gathering information has been done by using paper and paperless documents related to the topic.

Results: For implementing of e-learning in Medical Sciences organization there should be some infra-structures, standards and skills which are to be noted prior to commencing e-learning. These infra-structures, standards and skills play a special role in successful implementation of e-learning.

Conclusion: Regarding the advantages of e-learning naturally possesses, there is no doubt in necessity of developing Medical Sciences e-learning. But the ways of efficient access to this sort of education is much more important. So, it is recommended that by comparing the existing process in the world and using the experiences of prominent countries in this field, the most appropriate method be chosen and applied.

The relationship between Microbial Floraand Colorectal Cancer

M Rahimkhani

Background and Aim: The human bowel contains a large and dynamic bacterial population (more than 500 species of bacteria). Some intestinal bacteria such as Streptococcus bovis , Enterococcus and Bacteroides fragilis have previously been suggested to be implicated in the promotion of colon carcinogenesis probably through the conversion of mutagen metabolites.

Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with colorectal cancer confirmed by colonoscopy examination and pathological survey were evaluated. Thirty healthy people who matched by sex and age with patient group were identified. Fecal samples were collected from patient and control groups were cultured in specific and non-specific culture media (aerobic and nonaerobic situations).Organisms isolated by microbial and biochemical pathways.

Results: S. bovis was predominant fecal microbial flora in nine (39.1%) patients and six (26.1%) of control group (P=0.657). Entrococcus was predominant fecal microbial flora in 6 (26.1%) patients and 2 (8.7%) of control group (P=0.657). B. fragillis was predominant fecal microbial flora in 8 (21.7%) patients and 2 (5.4%) of control group (P= 0.062).

Conclusion: Our results by fisher statistical analysis show that the incidences of fecal S. bovis, Enterococcus and B. fragilis in colorectal cancer were not significantly higher than health people.

A survey on parity progression ratio in Bushehr and specifying factors that are affected it on the basis of multiple logistic regression models in 2005

A Soltanian

Background and Aim:To assess of human force and population's programming at high level, is very important that we know rates and characteristics of population. Growth of population has direct relationship with fertility rate of women in community. To control of population and arrive to index of N.R.R.(Net reproduction rate) equal to one ,each family must be has one or tow children .Thus ,in families that they have more over tow children, we must be search about factors affected and attempt to reduce of population's growth , until arrive to a stationary population.

Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study upon 500 women that are married and have 45 years old and more in Bushehr. Tow-stage random sampling was used in this study. First, Bushehr divided into 23 hypothesis blocks of 1000 households and thus, 20 points from each of blocks were selected by chance. Also, from each of 20 pointes, 25 families were selected by chance. In this study, a questionnaire was used for collecting of data, that questioners were asked of chief of households. The data was analyzed with SPSS package version 13. To find relationship between variables together and with response variable , was used kendall's tau test and chi-square for trend test. The multiple-logistic regression was used to find factors affected on parity progression ratios.

Results: In this study 181 persons(36.2%) of women had illiterate, 229 persons(45.8%) had primary education and 90 persons(18%) of them had high and more education .The age of the first marriage of 456 persons(91.2 %) of women were under 25 years old and the age of the first pregnancy of 196(39.2 %) of them were under 20 years old. Probability of arrive to the first child in Bushehr was equal 0.98,and probability of arrive to second, thirst and fourth children was equal 0.92,0.81 and 0.72 respectively. This study shows that the factor like the age of the first marriage of women has a negative effect on PPR (parity progression ratio) from zero to one child, and the factors like the women's education and having a dead child have a positive effect on it. The results indicate that the factor like having a dead child has increasing effect on PPR from one to tow children, and the factors like the women's education, the age of the first pregnancy and marriage have a decreasing effect on it. In this research it is observed that having a dead child has a positive effect on PPR from tow to three children, and the factors like the age of the first pregnancy and marriage, education of women and their husbands have a negative effect on PPR from tow to three children. Also it is observed that sexually and having a dead child has increasing effect on PPR from three to four children, and the factors like, the women's education, job and education of husband , and the age of the first pregnancy of women have decreasing effect on PPR from three to four children.

Conclusion: The results indicate that probability of arrive to third and fourth children are high. Thus it is show the controlling of family planning in Bushehr dose not good carry out within families belong lately decades.

A Comparative Study on Socio-economic variables amongst ederly people in Tehran

MA Abbasimoghadam

Background and Aim: Aging is a physiological process that is an unavoidable property of life. Decline in some dimensions of aging such as activity, income, health care and changes in life style are associated with increased risk of physical and mental health disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between living areas and the demographic characteristics of elderly people in Tehran.

Materials and Methods: A cross - sectional / analytical study was conducted. The sample was consisted of 5600 elderly people and data was collected by using a questionnaire All analyses were undertaken using SPSS (Version 11.5).

Results: The results of this study showed that more 50% of subjects were illiterate and 30.5% of the were in schooling level. 62% of them reported at least one disease. We found significant differences between residences of north and south regions of Tehran for many of investigated variables.

Conclusion: These findings indicated that we need to pay more attention to elderly status specially those who are living in southern region.

A comparative study on the incidence of symptoms known as “Darkroom Disease” amongst X-ray department personnel & physiotherapists

E Jazayeri Gharebagh

Background and Aim: Symptoms of the "Darkroom Disease" amongst X-ray personnel are well reported. In this study, radiographers have been compared to physiotherapists to see if there is any link between the occurrences of symptoms with processing chemicals. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of these symptoms amongst radiographers.

Materials and methods: Sixty nine radiographers from 13 hospitals of Tehran Medical School University were compared with 72 physiotherapists from those hospitals. Respondents were asked to identify, by means of questionnaire, any of the symptoms like dermatitis, sore throat, allergy, shortness of breath etc., described as "Darkroom Disease" from which they suffer.

Results: Data provided by this work demonstrated that radiographers suffered more from shortness of breath (P=0.013 & for men P=0.045), nausea (men P=0.049), and physiotherapists suffered more from catarrh (P= 0.044 & for men P=0.046), as well as joint pain (men P=0.04).

Conclusion: The results from this preliminary work suggests that there is a link between using the processing chemicals and incidence of these symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea among radiographers (P< 0.05), and it seems that the incidence of dermatitis and the history of this disease are linked.

Pulse oximetry knowledgeof medical and paramedical staff in ICUs and Ors

A Akhgar Araghi

Background and aim: One of the most important technological advancements for monitoring patients -- especially in anesthesia, recovery, and Intensive Care stages -- is pulse oximetry which can measure the oxygen saturation of arterial blood (spo2) and show hypoxemia before it is clinically observable. Therefore, it is necessary for the individuals who are responsible for treating and taking care of patients in critical stages to have sufficient knowledge about it. If they lack the required knowledge, they should be trained using appropriate methods.

Materials and methods: Upon referring to the ORs and the ICUs, a questionnaire was distributed among the medical and paramedical staff (doctors, nurses, anesthesia technicians, etc.) to assess their knowledge of pulse oximetry. The questionnaire had a part for demographic data and 20 true/false items and was to be filled in by the subjects in 15 minutes. After the data were collected and analyzed, the subjects' level of knowledge about pulse oximetry was assessed in terms of age, sex, academic degree, their experience with the device, and how they had obtained information about pulse oximetry. The variable was measured on a 0-20 scale. The subjects would get one point for every correct response and the total number of correct responses would constitute each individual's score.

Results: The results of the study show that only 15.8% of the participants had a high level of knowledge of pulse oximetry. The figure was 61% for those having medium-level knowledge and 23.2% for the individuals with low knowledge. In other words, for the optimal use of the device, 84.2% of the subjects need training. The results also indicate that the subjects' level of knowledge is positively related to their sex, academic degree, and how they acquired their knowledge. In fact, female subjects, paramedical staff, and those who had obtained information from colleagues and the companies selling the device had a lower level of knowledge needed for using the device properly. However, no statistically significant difference was found between the subjects' knowledge of pulse oximetry and their age and experience with the device.

Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is necessary for the female members of paramedical staff to be trained in classes and/or be provided with pamphlets on the issue.