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

SEASONALITY PATTERN OF TUBERCULOSIS IN IRAN

R Taghizadeh Asl

Awareness regarding incidence pattern of disease is an important issue for researchers. To explore seasonal pattern of TB in Iran we decided to do this study. This study have been done as an ecologic study .all notified TB cases during 1997 to 2001 have been included in this study .all data have been processed and analyzed by the Cosinor analysis method. We found 59756 registered TB cases during above mentioned years. TB in this 5 year period has seasonal pattern (amplitude=11.73% ,acrophase=13 June(85.23) , p<0.000) . Frequency of TB cases evaluated by sex in this model and found that there is seasonality by sex too (p<0.000) , but different amplitudes found for female and male(13.35%, 10.5%) and point estimate of acrophase for them were consequently 18 June and 8 June . When we evaluate this pattern among smear positive and smear negative cases found that smear positives have seasonal pattern (p<0.000) . Association of TB frequencies in quarters and mean temperature of each quarter have been evaluated by ANOVA in different 4 temperature groups(p< 0.020) ,and a significant difference have been found between 10-20 and 20-30 temperature groups(p<0.051) . According to this study there is a seasonal pattern in TB notification (incidence) in Iran which should be notified in population based studies and surveys in this regards. Comments: We recommend performing more studies on patterns of pulmonary disease, other relevant factors on TB involvement and also laboratory circulation to clarifying cause of existing seasonality

OPTIMIZATION OF SPE METHOD FOR TRACE LEVEL DETERMINATION OF T,T-MUCONIC ACID AS A BIOLOGICAL INDICATOR OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BENZENE

S.J Shahtaheri

In this study, parameters affecting on SPE of trance trance muconic acid (t,t-MA), including sample pH, sample concentration, sample volume, sample flow rate, washing solvent, elution solvent, and type of sorbent were evaluated. After sample preparation of muconic acid as urinary metabolite of benzene, it was determined by HPLC-UV. In chromatographic analysis, column was C18 (250 cm × 4.6 mm id, 0.5 µm), UV wave length was 259 nm, mobile phase was H2O/methanol/acetic acid (69:30:1 v/v/v) was run at flow rate of 1 ml/min. Through experimental evaluation, a strong anion exchange silica cartridge (SAX) has been found successful in simplifying sample preparation compare to C8 and C18. There were significant difference between recoverie of muconic acid when different washing solvent, sample volume, and sample flow rate were used (p< 0.001). An optimum recovery was obtained when sample pH was adjusted at seven. Other optimum conditions were: sample flow rate 1 ml/min washing solvent acetic acid 1% , and acetic acid 10% as elution solvent. In this study, there was no significant difference when different sample concentrations were used (p>0.05). Recovery of spiked urine sample at concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10 µg/ml were more than 95%. The limit of detection of the optimized method was 0.01 µg/ml, showing 20 times less than biological exposure index (BEI). The optimized method was then validated with three different pools of samples at above mentioned concentrations and showed a good reproducibility over six consecutive days as well as six within-days experiments.

THE STUDY OF SOME OBESITY ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL GIRLS

A.R Dorosty

Obesity is excessive body fat on a scale that adversely affects health. Childhood obesity is increasing world-wide and is an important risk factor for many chronic diseases. In order to explore the association between childhood obesity and putative risk factors among primary school girls, the present study was carried out. In this study, all the obese students (according to Iranian references) from a sample of 835 school girls aged 8-11y were considered as the case group (n=134). 134 control students with normal weight (5th percentile < BMI ≤ 85th Percentile) were chosen randomly and obese children were matched with non–obese children by age, school and classroom. For each subject, we interviewed the mother and filled 3 questionnaires covering potential risk factors for obesity. Results showed that obese children had significantly higher probability of having obese parents compared to controls. Daily energy and macronutrient intake and frequency of consuming fast foods and fizzy drinks were higher in the case group. Compared to normal children, obese ones spent more time in front of the TV or the computer non-obese children the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The duration of daily physical activity, energy and macronutrient intake per kilogram body weight, and parental education were all significantly higher in the control group (P<0.05). Most obese girls were born in winter or autumn while non–obese girls were born mostly in spring and summer (P<0.015). Obesity is a multi-factorial syndrome involving genetic, environmental and behavioral alterations. In this study, daily energy and macronutrient intake, physical activity, parental education, season of birth, frequency for eating fast-foods and fizzy drinks and time spent watching T.V. and videos or working with computers turned out to be risk factors.

A SURVEY ON NON- POLIO ENTEROVIRNSES (NPEVs) CIRCULTION IN SEWAGE SYSTEM OF TEHRAN BY RD AND HEP -2 CELL LINES USING DIRECT, PELLET AND TWO – PHASE METHODS

M Kargar

Human Enteroviruses replicate in gastrointestinal tract and are excreted to the sewage system through feces, so isolation of Enteroviruses from sewage can be considered as a sensitive indicator for virus cirulation in society. They are originally given the name of Enteroviruses, but the inadequacy of this term became apparent when some Coxackie and Echoviruses were also found in acute respiratory infections. Therefore, these viruses can produce acute or paraclinical infecions, the shedding of virus is more than 1010 virus per each gram of feaces. In this study, 63 sewage samples were obtained from the 6 main sewage disposal systems in Tehran by grab sampling: Direct, Pellet, Two–phase methods in 2 sensitive cell lines (Hep2 & RD) and neutralization test were used to determine Enterovirus circulation in one year. None-Typable Enteroviruses, E11 and E25 were isolated more frequently than other Entroviruses. Out of 63 sewege specimens, we isolated 13 (20.63%), 25 (39.68%) & 27 (42.83%) Enteroviruses by Direct, Pellet and Two-phase methods respectively.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINETS IN A BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTER

A Choobineh

The use of biological safety cabinets (BSCs) in laboratories has greatly increased over the last few decades. BSCs are used in laboratories to protect both the scientists and the experiments from contamination by biological hazards during tissue culture procedures. The function of BSCs depends upon the HEPA filtration, the fan performance and the airflow patterns in the cabinet. To ensure BSCs proper functioning, regular performance evaluation tests are necessary. Failure to observe this may lead to direct and indirect losses. The objective of this study which was conducted at a biological research center was to evaluate the performance of seven present BSCs used in different laboratories. Based on BS 5726 (1992), two sets of measurements were performed: a) Determination bioaerosol concentration in the cabinet and b) inflow and downflow velocity measurements at the cabinet. The results revealed that the lowest and the highest bioaerosol concentrations were 0.2 cfu/m3 and 1.33 cfu/m3, respectively. The lowest inflow mean velocity was found to be 0.33 m/s which was far less than the recommended value in BS 5726 (0.7 m/s). The highest inflow velocity was 1.1 m/s. The lowest downflow velocity equaled to 0.09 m/s which was below the recommended value (0.25- 0.5 m/s). The highest downflow measured was 0.55 m/s. As a conclusion, in general, none of the BSCs evaluated in this study provided sterile atmosphere at the cabinets. In no case, airflow patterns met the recommended values proposed in BS 5726.

CAPABILITY OF EARTH WORM (EISENIA FETIDA) IN PROCESSING OF HOUSEHOLD WASTES TO VERMICOMPOST

G.H Omrani

In this research household herbal wastes transformed to compost by Eisenia foetida earth worm within 3 months. For this reason, first all herbal wastes were studied in term of Bacteria, parasites, heavy metals and herbal nutrient elements, namely Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P.) and potassium (K.). Then, 3 samples of herbal wastes were selected from different points of compost pits with different dimensions, transported to laboratory, and were analysed. Finally, after compost processing within 3 months, sampling was repeated again and results showed raised herbal nutrient element and improvement ratio of C/N, from 29.5 up to 14.5 and substantial reduction in heavy metals, particularly chrome (Cr), Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) in riped compost. In this experiment, Mean and S.D. of measured was criteria calculated by SPSS software and Mean & S.D. of initial herbal wastes and processed compost (Vermicompost) also compared by statistical Mann- Whitney. Staisdical test. The number of earthworms increased from 5000 – in the beginning of the experiment – fo 13000 during 3 months of compost processing. Electric conductivity (EC) raised from 1813.33 µs/cn in the initial herbal wastes to 907.33 µs/cn in vermicompost. which shows less salinity in processed compost. It is reported that some salts came be removed by Eisenia foetida during compost processing.

QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG KAHRIZAK CHARITY INSTITUTIONALIZED ELDERLY PEOPLE

N. Rafati

The population of most countries in the word has been growing older during the last 30 years. This trend is important because it leads to a predictable increasing burden of diseases, political, social and economic challenges. The objective of this study was to assess health related quality of life and relating factors in institutionalized elderlies living in “Kahrizak Charity Institution for elder people, in Tehran, Iran”. In this cross sectional research 202 persons aged 65 years and above who were residing in the institution for at least 6 months and able to answer our questions were studied. We used the Iranian version of the SF-36 questionnaire to measure quality of life. Data were collected by face to face interviews. For comparing quality of life between different groups we used non-parametric tests. The mean age of participants was 76.8 (SD=±7.6) years and 58.5% were female.The results showed significant relation between the participants’quality of life scores and variables such as gender, educational level, working in the institution’s workshop, receiving pension, having different types of fractures, deformities, and arthrosis. The study findings indicated that quality of in this group of elderly people was poor and it needs to be improved.

A STUDY ON CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS AMONG PATIENTS WITH ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY IN THE GREAT TEHRAN

H Nahrevanian

Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic zoonosis prevalent all over the world and recognized as one of the important causes of diarrhea in children and immunodeficient subjects. The manifestations range from self-limited acute diarrhea in immunocompetent individuals to fatal chronic diarrhea in immunocompromised patients. In this study, conducted in Greater Tehran, 214 patients in 7 disease categories in 10 hospitals were investigated. Samples were collected from both patients with immune deficiency symptoms (Test group) and those with an intact immune system (Control group). Overall, 22.4% of patients had diarrhea and 77.6% had stools with a normal consistency. 1.4% of immunocompromised patients and 6.3% of those with diarrhea were found to harbor Cryptosporidium infections. These Cryptosporidium-positive cases included one patient with AML and two AIDS patients. The incidence rate of infection in AML and AIDS patients who had diarrhea was 11.1% and 33.4%, respectively. While the infection is usually self-limited in immunocompetent subjects, it could be fatal in immunodeficiency states. Therefore attention must be paid to effective disease prevention in immunocompromised subjects.