Mahmoudian S.a , Poya A,
Volume 65, Issue 6 (9-2007)
Abstract
Background: The common cold is the most prevalent sickness and an important cause of absence from job. Furthermore, it often disturbs travel, including the practice of hajj, causing the use of many inappropriate drugs by these travelers. The health belief model is a psychological model that attempts to explain and predict health behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of zinc and health belief model based educational intervention on the behavior of hajj travelers with regard to viral upper respiratory tract infections (URTI).
Methods: This double-blinded randomized controlled trial was performed among hajj travelers in 2005. Preventive measures were randomly allocated to four groups: 1- education + zinc sulfate. 2- education + placebo. 3- zinc sulfate only 4- placebo only. Data regarding incidence and duration of URTIs, background disorders, vaccination and health behaviors for cold were gathered by questionnaire by physicians and finally analyzed by SPSS 11.5 software using chi-square, t-test and independent samples t-test.
Results: A total of 646 travelers were studied. The incidence of common cold in groups receiving zinc were significantly less than that for those receiving the placebo. (P=0.05). However, incidence was statistically the same for those who received education versus those who did not. Use of handkerchief was the most prevalent behavior and use of mask was the least prevalent behavior. Mean duration of symptoms was less in those receiving zinc and education (3.7 days) comparing to those who received placebo and education (5.6 days).
Conclusions: This study showed that zinc consumption can decrease the incidence and duration of the common cold. Health belief model based education could promote some preventive behaviors although most people do not take advantage of them. We recommend the use of zinc by those attending hajj.
Eshraghi N, Tarzamni Mk, Afrasiabi A, Safaie N, Halimi M, Eshraghi A,
Volume 68, Issue 7 (10-2010)
Abstract
Background: A correlation between coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries and the determination of noninvasive indexes for its existence and extent have been sought by many researchers. Some studies report that the intima-media thickness (IMT) of peripheral arteries could play this role. This study evaluated the correlation between the IMTs of common carotid and common femoral arteries and the degree of atherosclerosis in aortic arch and to evaluate the severity of CAD in candidates of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Methods: In a cross-sectional analytic-descriptive study, The severity of CAD, the grade of atherosclerosis of the aortic arch, and the IMTs of the common carotid and common femoral arteries were determined.
Results: There was a significant weak positive correlation between the IMT of common carotid artery (ρ = 0.193, p = 0.039) and common femoral artery (ρ = 0.206, p = 0.028) with the number of involved carotid vessels the mean of these two parameters was not significantly different between the three CAD groups. There was not any significant relation between the IMTs of common carotid and common femoral arteries with the severity of atherosclerosis in the aortic arch too. There was not any significant relation between the presences of atherosclerotic plaque in the common carotid or the common femoral arteries with the severity of CAD. The severe atherosclerosis of the aortic arch was significantly higher in patients with three vessel disease.
Conclusion: According to our results, the IMTs of common carotid and/or common femoral arteries may increase with the severity of CAD however, these parameters are not a surrogate for predicting the CAD severity.
Abdollahzade S, Aghamohammadi A, Soheili H, Salehi Sadaghiani M, Abolhassani H, Rezaei N,
Volume 68, Issue 10 (1-2011)
Abstract
Background: Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)
is a primary immunodeficiency disease, characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia
and heterogeneous clinical manifestations. This study was performed to evaluate
the clinical and immunological features of pediatric patients with CVID.
Methods: We reviewed the records of 69 children diagnosed
under age of 16 years with CVID
(35 males and 34
females).
Results: By the year 2008, 15 patients (21%)
had died. The total follow-up period was 333
patient-years. The mean diagnostic time between onset and diagnosis in our
patient group was 4.40 years. The overall
rate of consanguineous marriages was 58%.
10 patients had a positive family history of
immunodeficiency. At the time of diagnosis, the mean levels of serum
immunoglobulin G (IgG),
IgM,
and IgA levels
were 286.86, 39.92, and 18.39
mg/dl, respectively which were below the normal levels for age. All of the
patients presented with infectious diseases at the time of onset, the most
common of which were pneumonia, diarrhea and sinusitis. Acute and recurrent
infections were also found in almost all of the patients, particularly
involving respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. The most common infections
during follow-up period were pneumonia (31.9%),
acute diarrhea (18.8%), acute sinusitis (18.8%),
and otitis media (14.5%). Post-diagnosis
survival was estimated to be 79% during the first
five years. The survival rate was not shown to be influenced by delayed
diagnosis, serum levels of IgG
and B-lymphocyte count at the time of diagnosis.
Conclusions: Any child with a history of recurrent infections, decreased levels of serum
immunoglobulin isotypes and consanguineous parents should be considered as a CVID
patient.
