Journal of School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Research

Association between obesity, food security and related family factors

Z Karamsoltani

Background and Aim: Food and nutrition is one of the most essential needs of human societies and gaining sufficient and suitable food for all people is based on food security. Children are one of the most volnurable groups, so researchers and nutritionest emphasize on studying and analyzing of different aspects, effects and associated facters on prevalence of food insecurity and obesity among children. This study aimed to determine the association between obesity and food security and some related family factors inYazd primery school children.

Materials and Methods: Using two stage cluster sampling from 35 Yazd primary schools, a total of 3245 students aged 9-11y (1587 boys & 1658 girls) were randomly selected. Then 187 students 9-11y who had a BMI 95th percentile of Hosseini et al. (1999) reference, were identified as obese and 187 same age and gender pupils (having 15th<85th percentile) were studied as controls. Data were collected by demographic and USDA questionnaires.

Results: We found that the prevalence of obesity among student aged 9-11 years was 13.3% and the prevalence of food insecurity was 30.5%. Data analysing indicated that with adjusting variables such as "paternal education and occupation, economic status" there was a significant association between obesity and food insecurity in these levels: father's educated by secondary school, self-employment and low and moderate level of economic status. However, no significant association was observed between obesity and food insecurity when family size and maternal education were adjusted.

Conclusion: Paternal education and occupation, and family economic status were recognised as associated factors with food insecurity but other factors didn,t show significant relationship. There is lack of published information regarding some factors affecting food security therefore, it is necessary to performe such studies in other regions too.

Reasons for not using the harm-reduction package by injection additcs under coverage of Kermanshah Province DIC

F Majlessi

Background and Aim: Considering the fact that injecting drug is the most common way of HIV transmission and having the point in mind that in spite of syringes availability, many of the IDUs still continue sharing needles, determining behaviors which lead them not to use HR packages seems invaluable. Determining the influential factors in sharing needles among IDUs who are Kermanshah's DIC clients and are provided with training program and HR Packages (syringes, needles, bleaching and condoms).

Materials and Methods: These subjects were studied in 2 steps. The first FGD (focus group discussions) and the second a cross sectional study. To gather data that we use a questionnaire based an FGG which includes: general characteristics, characteristics related to drug abuse and information about HIV.

Results: out 437 of cases that took part in the interview, 367 cases were IDUS. Among whom 28% individuals shared needles. The medium age was 33/4 and there was no significant difference between the two age groups. Only 27% were married. 61% of cases were unemployed. The unemployment rate among IDUs who share needles and syringes was a lat more significant (p=000) than those who don't share needles (P=000). The percentage of IDUs who share needles and don't living houses was higher than of those who live in houses (P=000). Most of cases started taking drugs before they were 20 years old.

Conclusion: Low Education degree unemployed, no married. Live in street, start IDUs in low age the period of referring to DIC were the most important factors for share needles injection

Dietary patterns and their association with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors among Thehrani adults: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

F Azizi

Background and Aim: This study aimed to determine dietary patterns in district 13 of Tehrani adults and evaluate its association with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 343 male and 453 female aged 18-65 years who participated in Tehran Lipid and Glucose study. Usual dietary intakes were assessed with food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were determined by factor analysis based on 24 food groups identified by similarity of nutrients. Three major dietary patterns were identified: healthy (HDP), western (WDP) and traditional (TDP). Lifestyle and socio-demographic characteristics gathered with pre-tested questionnaires. Multiple regression models separately for men and women were fitted to assess the relationships.

Results:The mean age(SD) of men and women were 40(13) and 36(12) respectively. WDP characterized by a higher consumption of salty snacks, sauces, sweetened beverages, processed meats and refined grains, and the HDP characterized by greater intakes of vegetables, low fat meats, tea and coffee, legumes and nuts.WDP had the most variance among 3 dietary patterns. The mean factor score of HDP was higher in women than in men(P<0.05) after adjusting for age and total energy intake. Adherence to a WDP was higher among younger participants (men: β=-0.46, women:-0.34, P<0.001). The percent of married individuals were the most in fourth quartiles of HDP score among the other quartiles (P<0.01) and married men were less likely to follow WDP (β=-0.25, P<0.01).

Conclusion:Three major dietary patterns were found with factor analysis: western, healthy and traditional. Younger and single individuals had more adherence to WDP and women had higher score in HDP.

Ergonomic assessment of musculoskeletal disorder risk factors in construction workers by PATH method

J Nasl saraji

Background and Aim: Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are the most prevalent occupational diseases and injuries. The aim of this investigation was WMSDs risk factors study in building construction industry by PATH (Posture, Activity, Tools and Handling) method.

Materials and Methods: This analytical-descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in four construction sites. A total of 3100 observations of 89 workers in 14 jobs were obtained. The percent of time determined for trunk, legs and hands postures, and manual material handling activities, used tools and handling in job tasks.

Results: Trunk, legs and hands postures, tools and objects weight differed significantly between stages (P<0.0001). Neutral trunk posture was observed frequently. Neutral legs and hands postures were observed greater than %50 and %80 of the time respectively in studied workers. Tools are used with different frequency in studied jobs. Loads with less than 5 Kg were handled repeatedly.

Conclusion: The result of this study can be used to reduce musculoskeletal disorders in construction workers. This study revealed construction workers spent more time with neutral postures. But ergonomic interventions should be accomplished in specified jobs.

Effects of urethane and sodium nitrite on different tissues of mice

F Koohdani

Background and Aim: To determin the most sensitive tissues to carcinogenic effect of urethane and co-carcinogenic effect of sodium nitrite by investigation of histopathological variations in different tissues of balb/c mice.

Materials and Methods: An experimental study in 40 inbred balb/c mice aged 9-11 weeks was designed. The samples were classified into 4 groups: The first group was mice treated with 50 mg/l sodium nitrite in 0.9% NaCl instead drinking water SN&NaCl). The urethane group (U) was characterized by intraperitoneal injection of 3 times urethane (600 mg/ kg/day at 48 hour intervals). The third group was given 50 mg/l sodum nitrite in drinking water (U&SN) following the same intake of urethane as the second group, and the forth one was the control group. All mice were sacrificed after 20 weeks tissues were removed and examined for histopathological changes. Data analyzed by Fisher exact test.

Results: The formation of lung tumor was, significantly, increased in the urethane group as compared with the control group & (NS+Nacl) groups ( respectively P<.004 & P<.02) and in (U+NS) group as compared with the control group & (NS+Nacl) groups ( respectively P<.003 & P<.02). In females mice also The formation of lung tumor was, significantly, increased in the urethane group as compared with the control group & (NS+NaCl) groups (P<.05) and in the (U+NS) group was significantly higher than those in (C) & (NS+NaCl) groups (P<.009). The formation of lung adenocarcinomas was, significantly, increased in the (U+NS) group as compaired with the (C) & (NS+Nacl) groups (P<.003). In females mice also the formation of lung adenocarcinomas was, significantly, increased in the (U+NS) group as compaired with the (C) & (NS+Nacl) groups (P<.009) and (U) group (p<.05).The frequencies of stomach and testis hyperplasia and metaplasia in different groups did not show any significant differences. There was no histopathological variation in other tissues.

Conclusion: Our results showed the tumorigenic effect of urethane in lung tissue. Sodium nitrite increases tumorogenic effect of urethan. Sodium nitrite increases carcinogenic effect of urethan (This result is the first study that suggest sodium nitrite increases carcinogenic effect of urethan).Urethan increases co-carcinogenic effect of sodium nitrite.

Effectiveness of ethanolic extract of Otostegia Persica against Plasmodium Berghei in comparison with chloriquine in white mice using in vivo tests

M Nateghpour

Background and Aim: Due to importance of employing native and traditional medicinal plants with good efficacy against malaria parasite, an ethanolic extract of Otostegia persica, was tested on Plasmodium berghei in sourian mice and a comparison was made with the effect of chloroquine on the same parasites.

Materials and Methods: In this Study 80 Sourian mice were divided in-to 8 groups , each consists ten animals. The first 7 groups were infected with P.berghei and the last group was used as control. The first seven groups were given chloroquine, Otostegia persica . at four different concentration (20,100 ,300,450mg /kg) and placebo.respectively and the seventh group did not receive any treatment. The evaluation was done by Rane test.In each group the level of parasitemia was determined on day 4 & 7 , and compard with values from day (just before treatment) in order to record the decline parasitemia in treated groups. Result were anylased using SPSS software and T-test.

Results:The result indicated that 450 mg/kg concentration Otostegia persica significantly decreased P.berghei parasitaemia in the infected mice (P<0.05), but not as sharp as chloroquine.

Conclusion:We can concluded that the effectiveness O.persica as P.berghei in 450 mg/kg concentration can be considered, for futures studies.

Efficiency of the Fenton Process in detergent removal and improving biological treatability of wastewater of detergent - producing industries

A.H Mahvi

Background and Aim: Discharge of Wastewater of Cleaning Industries to environment with special physicochemical characteristics has negative effects and in the other hand is not easily biodegradable because in these wastewaters ratio BOD5/COD is low and therefore biological treatment of them is difficult. Nowadays best method for degradation of Wastewater is advance oxidation processes .In this study investigated efficiency of Fenton process in remove anionic detergent and COD and improved from ratio of BOD5/COD.

Materials and Methods: This investigating is descriptive- empirical study that paksan factory was local sampling of wastewater. 30 wastewater composite sample24hr were taken during study period and then chemical characterization was performed by determining the following parameters: (COD, BOD, MBAS, PH, T) Then Sample of row wastewater were prepared and used in the experiments for determining the efficiency of Fenton process in treatment. Treatment experiments performed by use of various concentrations of H2O2 and ferrous iron at constant pH of 3and temperature of 25 in a jar test apparatus adjusted at 200 rpm and for contact time 60 min. Fe+2 on removal (COD, MBAS & BOD ) applied ANOVA. and after that for analysis of effect H2O2

Results: The results of analyze showed that the concentrations of COD, ranging from 6254-13040 mg/l and concentration of BOD was 2590-3200mg/l and concentrations of MBAS were 245-1120 mg/l and results showed that the BOD5/COD ratio was 0.34±0.09. At constant pH of 3 and temperature of 25 for contact time 60 min, about 40% of MBAS with first concentration 470 mg/l removed by H2o2 with concentration1800and fe+2 with concentration 340 mg/l .concentration of COD reduced from 8750 to 5998 mg/l, and the ratio of BOD5/COD improved from 0.334 to 0.340.

Conclusion: Wastewater from this industry has quality characteristics with deferent ranging and high organic load and because of high concentration of foaming that prohibit of oxygen infiltration in wastewater and nonbiodgredable material. These wastewaters are not easily subjected to conversation system of biological treatment therefore suitable method for treatment of this wastewater should reduce organic load foaming and improve ratio of BOD5/COD advance oxidation process is one method with good efficiency for treatment of this wastewater.

The residues of azinphosmethyl and diazinon in Garaso and Gorganrood rivers in Golestan Province

M Shayeghi

Background and Aim: insecticides are widely used for protecting of agriculture and stored products. Organophosphorus insecticides are used more than other pesticides in agriculture. Therefore the residue of these insecticides in environment such as water may be hazardous to human health. Golestan Province is one of the important agricultural zones in north of Iran. In this area, azinphosmetyl and diazinon widely used for pest control. Garaso and Gorganrood are two important rivers of Golestan Province, which are exist in the near of agricultural lands and gardens, and therefore exposed to insecticides pollutions. Determination of this organophosphorus pesticide residue in water of rivers is important in this area.

Materials and Methods:This is a cross-sectional study, was performed for 1 year, during May 2006 to March 2007. In this research 152 samples from two rivers was sampling and tested. Water sampling from 3 detemined stations in among rivers was performed. azinphosmetyl and diazinon extracted from water samples with used of methylene chloride and acetone and so clean up and concentration phase was done. High performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) was used for quantity and quality assay of insecticides.

Results:The residue of Diazinon and Azinphosmetyl in summer is significantly different from others seasons (P<0.05). The most of azinphosmetyl and diazinon residue was determined in summer. Three other seasons (spring, autumn and winter) are not significantly different in azinphosmetyl and diazinon residue (P>0.05). The means of azinphosmetyl residue in Garaso and Gorganrood in summer was 14.56ppm (±SD= 10.59) and 14.9(±11.67), respectively. The means of diazinon in Garaso and Gorganrood in summer was 22.4ppm (±18.62) and 6.74(±6.89), respectively.

Conclusion: The diazinon residue in spring and summer was more than allowed standard limitation in both rivers (Garaso and Gorganrood). But azinphosmetyl residue only in summer in Garaso river was more than allowed standard limitation.