Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: One of the most important criteria of the development of countries at the national and international levels is the survey of scientific productions indexed in authentic databases. This study aimed to analyze the scientific productions by Iranian researchers on gastroenterology and hepatology in the Web of Science (WOS) database.
Methods: This applied study used a scientometric approach to review the scientific productions by Iranian researchers on gastroenterology and hepatology in the WOS database. Therefore, the total number of scientific documents related to the category of gastroenterology and hepatology, Iran, and other countries were recovered. The time frame was until the end of 2017. Data were collected in April 2018. This research was conducted at the Clinical Research Unit in Afzalipour Medical Center in Kerman, Iran.
Results: The results showed that during 1983 to 2017, the total number of 2180 scientific productions (0.31%) on gastroenterology and hepatology were published in Iran, ranking the country 34th in the world. Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in Iranian scientific publications was 9.5%. The «Tehran University of Medical Sciences» was identified as the most productive center in gastroenterology and hepatology field with a contribution rate of 35.69%. The results also showed that the most international collaboration of Iranian researchers on gastroenterology and hepatology field was with the United States of America (USA) scientific centers (5.82%). Most articles in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology (26.69%) were published in the «Hepatitis Monthly» journal. Most scientific productions in this field were related to the microbiology. The majority of scientific productions on gastroenterology and hepatology field were published in the form of article. Most scientific productions by Iranian researchers on gastroenterology and hepatology in the Web of Science (WOS) database were in English language.
Conclusion: Results showed that although compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in Iranian gastroenterology and hepatology publications was high rather than gastroenterology and hepatology scientific productions CAGR in the world, it’s not satisfying. Most articles have published in journals with low impact factor. Therefore, we should resolve the problems and increase the scientific level of researches.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the causes of upper and lower respiratory tract infections especially in children, and antibiotics affecting the cell wall do not affect this type of infection. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and macrolide resistance in children with community-acquired pneumonia in Kerman city.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a selected teaching hospital in Kerman city from July 2018 to July 2019. Fifty-one children hospitalized in the pediatric ward were diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia acquired from the community. These children were included in the study by census method. The data collection tool was a standard checklist. The checklist was completed by parents. Pharynx and nasal swab samples were taken from all patients. PCR was used to identify mycoplasma.

Background: Vesicoureteral reflux (urinary reflux) is one of the most common congenital anomalies in children. This study aimed to compare the ureteral opening distance from the midline in children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and healthy children
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on the children with pyelonephritis who were referred to Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman, Iran from August 2019 to August 2020. Twenty children with vesicoureteral reflux (urinary reflux) and twenty healthy children were randomly selected. Then children with vesicoureteral reflux (urinary reflux) and healthy children were divided into two groups. The distance from the ureter to the midline in these children was then measured by a radiologist with a Philips affinity 70 ultrasound machine.

Results: In the group of children with tic disorders, the highest number of patients were girls and in the group of children who were healthy, the highest number of patients were girls. The average age of patients in the case group was 10.37±0.31 years old and the average age of patients in the control group was 10.06±0.41 years old. The average age difference between the children with tic disorders and healthy children was not statistically significant (P=0.971). The average body mass index (BMI) in the case group was 16.98±0.35 and the average BMI in the control group was 16.0±84.56. The average body mass index difference between the children with tic and healthy children was not statistically significant (P=0.838). The mean serum Vit 25(OH) D3 levels in the control group were higher than the average serum level of vitamin D in the case group. The mean serum vitamin D level difference between the children with tic disorders and healthy children was statistically considerable (P=0.036). Conclusion: The results showed that the average serum level of vitamin D in children with tic disorders was significantly lower than in children who were healthy. To investigate and confirm this relationship, more long-term studies with a larger number of patients are needed.

Background: Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is one of the factors that can increase maternal and neonatal mortality, which is affected by several factors. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the frequency of preterm premature rupture of membranes in pregnant women.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman from January 2018 to January 2019. All pregnant women with PPROM and normal pregnant women referred to this Hospital were included in the study through convenient sampling. The data collection tool was a checklist containing patients' demographic information (age, education, occupation, gestational age, number of pregnancies, urinary tract infection (confirmed by the attending physician), history of premature rupture of the water sac, vaginal bleeding (bleeding in any period of pregnancy as the person had visited the doctor), history of premature birth, pregnancy care and trauma (any trauma)). To analyze the data, descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), analytical (Chi-square test) and SPSS software version 22 were used.

Results: In this descriptive-analytical study, 400 pregnant women were studied. Two hundred of pregnant women had preterm premature rupture of membranes and 200 of pregnant women did not have such condistion and were normal. The mean age of pregnant women was 27.4±5.4 years old and the mean gestational age of pregnant women was 34.1±2.1 weeks. The mean parity of pregnant women was 2.3±1.4. Risk factors such as maternal age (P=0.011), number of pregnancies (P=0.035), maternal education (P=0.018), history of preterm premature rupture of membranes (P=0.046), history of preterm delivery (P=0.019), trauma (P=0.037) and pregnancy care (P=0.037) affected preterm premature rupture of membranes. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that maternal age, number of pregnancies, maternal education, and history of preterm premature rupture of membranes, history of preterm delivery, trauma, and prenatal care are risk factors for PROM. Therefore, by educating pregnant mothers about these risk factors, the incidence and complications of preterm premature rupture of membranes can be reduced.

Conclusion: High body mass index of the mother and weight gain during pregnancy can cause complications in the mother and the fetus. Therefore, prenatal care should be done more carefully and health care providers should place mothers who have abnormal body mass index and inappropriate weight gain in pregnancy in the high-risk group and under special care to minimize maternal and fetal complications.

Background: Choosing a specialty in medicine is an important decision for the individual. It is also important decision for the health system. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the interest of specialized assistants to continue studying in subspecialized fields.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated the factors affecting the interest of 261 specialized assistants to continue their studies in subspecialized fields from March 2021 to March 2022. All the specialized assistants of Kerman University of Medical Sciences (KMU), whose assistantship continued until the end of March 2022, were included in the study by census method. The data collection tool was a 4-part questionnaire. 1) demographic information including 13 questions (age, gender, marital status, city where the family lives, place of residence to complete the residency course, specialized field, level of education, grade point average, parents' education, parents' occupation and having first-degree relatives with subspecialized degrees), 2) the willingness or unwillingness to continue studying in subspecialized fields and the field of interest, 3) the reasons for the assistants' interest in continuing their education, included 14 questions, and 4) the reasons for the assistants' lack of interest in continuing their education, included 14 questions.

Results: The average age of the assistants was 31.53±3.90 years old. Most of the assistants were women (57.9%). 57.5 percent of the assistants were interested in continuing their studies in subspecialized fields. The most important reason for residents' interest in continuing their studies was "increasing practical-clinical knowledge" (80.1%). The most interest in continuing education was observed in internal assistants (17.33%). The assistant's age, specialist field and having first-degree relatives with a subspecialist degree had a significant relationship with the interest of the assistants to continue studying in subspecialist fields. Conclusion: The results showed that a significant percentage of assistants were interested in continuing their studies in subspecialized fields. Age, the assistant's specialty and having first-degree relatives with a subspecialist degree had a significant effect on this interest.

Background: Nephrolithiasis is one of the oldest known systemic diseases of kidney and urinary tract in children. This study aimed to compare the serum level of vitamin D in children with nephrolithiasis and healthy children.
Methods: The present descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2017 to September 2019. 74 children with kidney stones and 63 healthy children referring to Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman were selected by simple sampling method. Healthy children who were considered as the control group were matched with the case group in terms of age and gender. All patients underwent kidney and urinary tract ultrasound. The diagnosis of kidney stones was based on the radiologist's opinion. Demographic characteristics of patients (age and sex) were recorded. Patients' blood tests were checked for vitamin D and calcium. Descriptive and analytical methods and SPSS software version 21 were used to analyze the data.

Results: The average age of children with kidney stones and healthy children was 5.41±1.8 and 10.06±0.41 years old, respectively (P=0.971). The most number of patients were boys (58.1%). 29.7% of patients and 15.9% of healthy children had a family history of kidney stones (P=0.056). 71.6% of patients had unilateral kidney stones and 28% had bilateral kidney stones. The mean serum level of vitamin D was higher in healthy children (P=0.021). The average calcium was higher in children with kidney stones (P=0.001). The average calcium was higher in children with kidney stones who had a family history of kidney stones (P=0.018). Average calcium was higher in children with bilateral kidney stones (11.4±1.1) (P=0.033). The mean calcium was higher in children with kidney stones with vitamin D deficiency (P=0.001) and sufficient vitamin D levels (P=0.037). Conclusion: The average level of vitamin D serum in healthy children was significantly higher than that of children with kidney stones, and the average level of calcium in children with kidney stones was significantly higher than that of healthy children. Larger studies with more patients are needed to investigate these relationships.