Journal of School of Public Health and

Background and Aim: Iran managed to eradicate the wild poliovirus in 2000. However, a large number of AFP cases are still detected each year because of close surveillance: there were 450 reported AFP cases in 1382. The expected number of cases for the year 1382 in the province of West Azarbayjan (with an under-15 population of 1100000) was 11, while the observed number was more than 6 times greater (70 cases). In this study we investigated the non-polio enteroviral agent which could cause the AFP cases especially in Azarbayjan Province. Hence, the main purpose of the study was to identify circulating non-polio enteroviruses, using cell lines RD, Hep2, L20 and RT-PCR.

Material and Methods: All stool specimens of AFP cases were treated with chloroform and then injected into the above-mentioned cell lines. The isolated viruses were identified by the NT method. In cases where polioviruses were isolated, intratypic differentiation (wild vs. vaccine strains) using hybridization and ELISA tests. Finally, we performed RT-PCR with pan-EV primers on all samples.

Results: Using cell cultures, we were able to isolate 10 viruses, 9 of which were isolated by the RD cell line and this is regarded as the most sensitive cell line. The RT-PCR also identified 16 different viruses, 7 of which were not isolated on the RD line. Thus, RT-PCR could increase viral detection by 10%, indicating a high degree of high sensitivity.

Conclusion: Although the combination of cell culture and RT-PCR for detection and identification of non-polio enteroviruses causing AFP is invaluable, more than 75% of AFP patients were enterovirus negative. Therefore, they must be checked for other agents such as flavivirus (viral) and Campylobacter jejuni (bacterial).

Background and Aim: Wearing high-heeled shoes increases the height of the center of gravity and takes the line of gravity away from the center of the base of support. This may result in the loss of body balance. In this study the effect of 3 heel heights on the static and dynamic postural stability in healthy young women was investigated.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-over quasi-experimental study with repeated measures, three dynamic indices of anteroposterior, mediolateral, and overall stability were determined using Biodex stabilometer and static stability using a modified CTSIB test. The measurements were made at 4 conditions of the feet, i. e., barefoot, and wearing shoes with a heel height of 3, 5, or 7 centimeters.

Results: The mean static stability index in the barefoot condition was significantly different from that in any the 3 conditions of wearing heels. With the eyes closed, the most unstable condition was in the case of the 7-cm heel, which caused also the most unstable dynamic condition the differences were all statistically significant.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that postural instability increases with increases in the height of shoe heels. On the whole, considering both the static and dynamic stability, the 3-cm heel can be recommended as the optimum-height heel.

Background and Aim:  Shift work may induce adverse effects such as health problems on human life. The purpose of this study was to investigate shift work-related health problems and their associated risk factors among workers of petrochemical industries.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 21 petrochemical companies affiliated to the National Petrochemical Industries Company, Iran. The study population consisted of 3580 workers (44.2% shift- and 55.8% day-workers). Data were collected on demographic characteristics, shift schedules, and health problems using anonymous questionnaires. Statistical analyses and modeling were performed using SPSS version 11.5.

Results: The mean age of the day-workers with a job tenure of 8.87±7.22 years and of the shift-workers with a job tenure of 8.22±7.02 years was 34.56±8.19 and 33.15±7.73 years, respectively. Analysis of the data showed that prevalence of health problems among shift-workers was higher than that of day-workers. Furthermore, based on multiple linear regression analysis, it was revealed that, in addition to shift-working itself, other variables such as long working-hours, type of employment, age, job tenure, education, and job title also had a role in creating problems.             

Conclusion: Although in the shift-working system the main risk factor associated with health problems among the workers is the work itself, there are also other risk factors, such as demographic and occupational variables.

Background and Aim: Iran National Polio Laboratory (NPL) is a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Polio Laboratories Network. NPL receives stool specimens from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases from all the provinces throughout Iran for poliovirus detection and identification. Furthermore, the NPL also detects non-polio enteroviruses (NPEVs) in these specimens.  Recently, NPEVs have come to be believed to be one of the most important causes of AFP following wild poliovirus.  This paper reports the prevalence of different types of NPEVs isolated from the specimens of AFP cases between 1995 and 2000.

Materials and Methods: Stool collection, virus detection and serotype identification were performed according to the WHO standard procedures.

Results: A total of 2180 stool specimens from AFP cases were received at the National Polio Laboratory. Coxsackie B viruse and echoviruses 6, 11, 7 and 13 had the highest frequency, identified in 23.7%, 14.4%, 12.7%, 11% and 10.2% of the NPEVs isolated from AFP cases, respectively. Four cases of echovirus 20 were identified, in 2 cases the patiets having died and in one the patient having been afflicted with residual paralysis. There have been no reports of death or residual paralysis (paralysis continuing after 60 days) due to echoviruse 20.

Conclusion:  Considering the upward trend of AFP cases in Iran, even after wild poliovirus eradication, studies are needed to determine the frequency and type identification of NPEVs and the relationship between NPEVs and residual paralysis in the post-eradication era (2000 onwards).