[Smoking stages, prevalence of drug abuse and role of associated psychological and social factors: a study on male high school students in Ilam City]

There are limited information about prevalence of smoking, drug abuse and its associated factors amongst Iranian students. The present study aimed to determine prevalence of smoking and drug abuse amongst male high school students in Ilam and the role of associated psychological and social factors. Overall, 1000 male high school students were recruited using a multi-stage sampling method. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data gathering. Chi-square test and logistic regression model were used for univariate, multivariate and interactions analyses. Mean age of students was 16.2 years. The prevalence of experimenter and regular smokers were 11.4% [95% CI: 9.3% -13.4%] and 1.3% [95% CI: 0.5%-2.0%] respectively. Prevalence rates of alcohol, opium, Tramadol, Hashish, Ecstasy and methamphetamine abuses were 11.1% [9.1%-13.0%], 2.8% [1.7%-3.8%], 7.6% [5.9%-9.2%], 3.3% [2.1%-4.4%], 2.7% [1.6%-3.7%], and 2.1% [1.1%-3.0%] respectively. The logistic regression model showed a significant relationship between having a smoker friend [AOR: 1.99], self-injury [AOR: 2.35], peer pressure [AOR: 2.37] and Tramadol abuse [AOR: 3.00] and different stages of smoking. None of the considered interactions had significant effect. Although, prevalence of smoking in Ilam high school students was less than the corresponding reports from other provinces in Iran, drugs abuse followed the same pattern as the other provinces. In addition, psychosocial variables had an important role in adolescents smoking

[Survival rate estimation and its associated factors in patients with stomach cancer in Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj]

Estimation of the survival rate after diagnosis is an important indicator of treatment process in cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to determine 5-yearsurvival rate and its associated factors in the patients with stomach cancer. This was a descriptive analytical study. We reviewed records of 239 patients with confirmed diagnosis of stomach cancer who had been hospitalized at Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj city, during a five-year interval from 2006 onwards. Survival rate was calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier and by using Log rank statistical methods. Our study included 178 male [74.5%] and 61 female [25.5%] patients with a mean age of 68.8 +/- 11.97 years. The mean maximum survival rate was 19.85 months [CI 95%: 16.46-23.24] which belonged to the patients with intestinal type of tumors [60.6%, n=145], followed by the patients who had surgical therapy [10.3%, n=21] with a mean survival rate of 15.67 months [CI95%: 8.78-22.58]. Variables such as gender, residential areas, and history of stomach cancer in first degree relatives, history of symptoms of gastric diseases, cigarette smoking and psychiatric disorders during treatment course showed no significant association with mean survival rate. The mean survival rate in the patients which their cancer had been diagnosed at early stages was 14.86 months [CI 95%, 12.77-16.94] which was significantly higher as compared to those with late diagnosis of the disease[P=0.049]. One to five year survival rates were 41%, 17%, 13%, 10% and 5.4% respectively. Early diagnosis of stomach cancer increases 5 years survival rate in the patients significantly

Risk factors associated with borderline intelligence in schoolchildren: a case-control study

To determine risk factors associated with borderline intelligence during intra-uterine life, delivery and the neonatal periods. In a case-control study, 200 school children in first grade, age six years were recruited. A standard intelligence quotient [IQ] test was used for psychometric testing. Cases had a borderline intelligence [70 to 84 score] and normal controls had an IQ of 85 or above scores. Cases and controls were matched for gender. Regression analysis showed that mother's illiteracy [Adjusted OR=2.7, 95% Cl, 1.6-4.2, p=0.001], familial history of mental retardation [AOR=2.1, 95% Cl, 1.4-3.5, p=0.002] and maternal drug consumption during pregnancy [AOR=1.7, 95% Cl, 1.1-2.5, p=0.003] were the main adjusted risk factors associated with borderline intelligence in childhood. No significant association was found between adverse birth outcomes including low birth weight and prematurity and borderline intelligence in children. Intelligence quotient [IQ] of schoolchildren is affected by both prenatal and postnatal factors as well as social determinants such as parental education. Controlling these factors has important implications for preventive strategies in psychological, maternal and child health programs worldwide

[Incidence of ventilator- associated pneumonia [VAP] and bacterial resistance pattern in adult patients hospitalised at the intensive care unit of Besat hospital in Sanandaj]

Among nosocomial infections, ventilator associated pneumonia [VAP] is very important which can lead to increased mortality rate in the patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of VAP and its bacterial resistance pattern at the intensive care unit [ICU] of Besat Hospital in Sanandaj. In a prospective descriptive study carried out between September 2007 and June 2008, 149 endotracheal samples were obtained from the patients after 48 hours of hospitalization in ICU units of Besat Hospital. The samples were sent to the microbiology laboratory of Besat Hospital. Bacteriologic diagnosis was performed by using Edward and Ewings standard methods and antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined by CLSI system guidelines. Demographic data were collected and recorded in a check list. Data were introduced into SPSS software and analyzed by means of descriptive statistical tests. Among 149 samples from endotracheal tube of the patients, 48 were positive for VAP with an incidence rate of 32.2%. Mean standard deviation of duration of hospitalization was 23.4 +/- 10.2 days. Microorganisms isolated from endotracheal tube were essentially Enterobacteriacae and included Klebsiella spp, enterobacter spp, and E.coli. Acintobacter spp and Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas spp and Staphylococcus aureus were detected from 3, 3, 2 and 1 samples respectively. The maximum and minimum antibiotic resistance by gram negative bacteria were 93.3% to cefalotin and 50% to amikacin. The VAP incidence rate of 32.2% needs serious attention. Clinical isolates in the present study had a high antibiotic resistance especially to the third generation of cephalosporins. Close attention to the standards of infection control for prevention of VAP is recommended