Molecular detection and characterization of beak and feather disease virus in psittacine birds in Tehran, Iran

Beak and feather disease virus [BFDV], a member of genus circovirus, is a small, non-enveloped, single stranded DNA virus. Although BFDVs are among the most well studied circoviruses, there is little to no information about BFDVs in Iran. The aim of the present study was to detect and identify BFDV molecules from the birds referred to the avian clinic of The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran University, Iran. A total of 55 DNA samples were extracted from birds from nine different species of the order psittaciformes. A robust conventional polymerase chain reaction [PCR] was applied to detect the rep gene of the virus. Ten out of 55 samples, from four different species, were tested positive for BFDVs in PCR [Melopsittacus undulates [4], Psittacula Krameri [3], Psittacus erithacus [2], Platycercus eximius [1]]. Molecular identification of the detected BFDVs was performed based on their rep gene sequences. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Iranian BFDVs from this study were clustered into four genetically distinct clades belonging to different genetic subtypes of BFDVs [L1, N1, T1, and I4]. Although the relation between the samples and their related subtypes in the tree are discussed, further studies are needed to elucidate the host specificity and incidence of the BFDVs from different genetic subtypes

[Predictors of hypoglycemia fear in patients with type 2 diabetes under treatment of oral anti hyperglycemic agents]

Introduction: Hypoglycemia is a medical emergency that disrupt routine life. Hypoglycemia experience likely causes fear of its recurrence. Even mild or moderate episodes may worry patients for frequent events. Limited studies have assessed predictors offear of hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes. The aim of the present study was to determine the predicting factors of hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetic patients treated with oral anti-hyperglycemic agents. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 357 patients with type 2 diabetes treated with oral anti-diabetic drugs. Data was collected through interviews by using a three-part questionnaire [socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, HFS-II]. The data was analyzed with descriptive and deductive statistic methods [Generalized Linear Models] at 5<0.05 using SPSSv.16 software. Results: Mean age of patients was 54.11 +/- 11.54 years and the majority were female [56.6%]. The mean HFS score was 16.8 +/- 16.33. In regression analysis, frequency of hospitalization [p<0.001], employment [p<0.048], number of medications [p<0.029], hyperlipidemia [p<0.026], hypoglycemia [p<0.001] and hypoglycemia intensity [p<0.001] were related to fear of hypoglycemia. Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, hypoglycemia and its intensity are considered as the strongest predictors of fear of hypoglycemia. Therefore, prevention of hypoglycemia occurrence and reduction of its related fear can be performed by modifying the other predictors identified in this study

[Development of a picture receptive vocabulary test and evaluation of its validity and reliability for normal 36-71 months Persian children]

Vocabulary assessment is one of the most important screening indexes and language evaluation. Receptive vocabulary has a strong correlation with verbal intelligence and it is a strong predictor of children future academic achievement specially in reading comprehension. The goal of the current study was to develop a picture receptive vocabulary test and to evaluate its validity and reliability for normal 30-71 months Persian children. The type of this study is test construction which was conducted in descriptive- analytic method. In this study, 91 normal Persian children aged between 30 and 71 months in 7 age groups, with a 6- month-age interval participated. For developing Persian picture receptive vocabulary test, words were extracted from books and dissertations which were related to our study, afterward one picture was selected for each word. In order to consider selected picture validity, test with a questionnaire was sent for professional speech and language pathologists. At the end, final edition of the test was administered to 7 age groups. Test retest reliability and correlation between A half and B half were calculated using Spearman Rank- order correlation. In order to consider the effect of age on total scores, Kruskal Wallis test was administered and to investigate the relation between gender and total scores independent sample t test was applied. The results of this study indicated that Persian picture receptive vocabulary test is valid and reliable. [CVI=1], test retest reliability=0.81 and split- half reliability =0.91 .This study provided evidence that there is a significant difference [p=0/000] between different age groups scores, and there is no significant difference [p=0.08] in total scores between genders. Persian picture receptive vocabulary test can show differences in vocabulary comprehension ability in the study age groups

[Frequency of toxocara egg in public parks Shiraz/Iran]

Background and Aims: Toxocariasis or visceral larva migrans syndrome is a disease that appears by attack of extra intestinal animal nematode larvae of Toxocara canis to the human tissues. The present study was performed to evaluate the frequency of Toxocara eggs in public parks of Shiraz /Iran

Methods: A total of 20 parks from different regions of shiraz city were selected, and from different parts of each park [children's play area, living area and four sides of the park] 10 surface soil samples were collected. In the laboratory, after washing and filtration with flotation method, microscopic study was done for parasitic elements

Results: From total of 20 parks, 3 ones [15%] were infected with Toxocara eggs. Microscopic identification of eggs in each field ranged from 1 to 8 eggs. Furthermore, 2 polluted parks were in the south and one was in the North East of the city

Conclusion: Since the soils of some public parks are infected with Toxocara eggs, to reduce the risk of human contamination, preventative programs and more studies are recommended

[Correlation between type of personality and academic achievement of nursing students in university of medical sciences Qazvin]

Introduction: Academic achievement will be self-actualization and promote confident of students; intelligence, memory and type of personality are the psychological factors that affect learning. This study was performed to determine the relationship between type of personality and academic achievement of nursing students

Methods: This is an analytic study; subjects consisted of 161 undergraduate Nursing students [The third term and higher] at Qazvin Nursing college in 2009. The subjects were assessed by demographic questionnaire, Eysenck's personality inventory and total average of semesters as academic achievement. Data were analyzed by chi-squire, analysis of Variance and parson correlation with significant level of 0.05 and using SPPS v.15

Results: The results from 161 subjects showed 83.9% females and 16.1% male. And most samples [44.1%] were extroversion with instability personality. Statistical tests showed significant relationship between type of personality and total average [P=0.023, F=3.25]. There was significant negative correlation between academic achievement with introversion [r=-0.167, P=0.038]

Conclusion: So it seems academic achievement is also affected by characteristic of personality and psychological status; therefore further study of student's personality in several fields and creating more consultation centers in universities are necessary

Prevalence of cercarial dermatitis among paddy-field workers in central areas of mazandaran province

Cercarial dermatitis [CD] or swimmer's itch | is a hypersensitive reaction to the skin penetration of avian and herbivorous schistosomes, esp. genus Trichobilharzia. Owing to presence of both intermediate and final host of this parasite in North of Iran, we aimed at determining the prevalence of CD among paddy-field workers in central areas of Mazandaran Province. To perform this descriptive-cross sectional study, we refer to bird refuges of migrating water and Paddy-field around man-made ponds of Babol, Sari, Ghaemshahr and Savadkoh districts. The Hand and foot of the farmers were examined clinically for detection of infected people and their signs and symptoms were recorded on a sheet of paper. Based on the results, 77.5% of the workers suffer from CD. All of them are males and the majority of them are indigenous. High prevalence of Cercarial dermatitis among paddy-field workers led to a health dilemma. Thus, by increasing awareness of farmers, implementing suitable approaches, controlling the disease and sanitizing the contaminated areas can promote health situation

prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among the people living in the central areas of mazandaran province [2009 - 2010]

Intestinal parasites, esp. giardiasis are the most common gastrointestinal infection disorders in the world, especially in north of Iran. The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of parasitic infections in the stool samples of the people living in the central areas of Mazandaran province. In this descriptive study, 4223 human fecal samples were randomly collected from different areas in different seasons in the central regions of Mazandaran province, from Oct 2009 to Sept 2010. The Samples were assessed by direct smear and formalin-ether method. We analyzed the data by using Chi-square and T test. Of 4223 stool samples, 75 [17.9%] have at least one type of parasite. The rate of infection with intestinal protozoa is 15.9% including 8.1% with B. Hominis, 6.4% with G. lamblia, and 1.9% with intestinal worms [S. stercolaris and Strongyloides larvae] .The prevalence rate is 6.1% in rural, 5.9% in urban and 5.8% in mountainous areas. Considering the seasons, the prevalence in the urban area in summer [4/39%], rural area in spring [32%] and mountainous area in fall [28%] are reported. Statistically no significant differences between different regions and seasons have been observed [P> 0.05]. Based on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections, especially in the central part of Mazandaran province in different seasons, early diagnosis and treatment of the patients and public health promotion could be effective to prevent and control these infections in north of Iran

Quality of life of Iranian beta-thalassaemia major patients living on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea

In the present study, the aim was to explore the quality of life of thalassaemia major [TM] patients according to age, sex, school performance, severity and complications of the disease. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Quality of life was evaluated by 4 questionnaires; demographic characteristics, the short form 36 health survey [SF-36], Persian version of symptoms checklist-90-revised [SCL-90-R] and life satisfaction index [LSI]. 687 [41.08%] of the eligible patients with TM completed the questionnaires. With the SF-36 questionnaire, 329 [47.9%] participants had an excellent level of physical functioning. With the SCL-90-R questionnaire, 446 [64.9%] participants had a global severity index of > 0.7, considered psychiatric patients, 141 [20.5%] patients had GSI between 0.4 and 0.7, considered suspected psychiatric patients and 100 [14.6%] participants had GSI of < 0.4, considered non-psychiatric patients. The mean score of LSI questionnaire was 20.50 [SD 5.95], range 2-37. Beta-TM patients are at risk of psychiatric symptoms and need appropriate psychiatric counseling

[Factors determining satisfaction with family practitioner program from the perspective of rural insurance card holders affiliated with Sabzevar university of medical of sciences 2011]

The family Practitioner and referral system is one of the main programs of the 4[th] social and economical development plans in health sector. Client satisfaction is a basic index in payment mechanism and performance monitoring process in family practitioner program. This study aimed to determine factors effective in the satisfaction of insured rural population of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences. This cross-sectional study was conducted in rural population of Sabzevar in 2011. Data were collected by a valid and reliable questionnaire and were analyzed using independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation coefficient and simple linear regression. In the 8 aspects surveyed [care and reverence, safety and welfare, trust and belief in performance, waiting time, usefulness of actions, payment costs, paramedical unit performance and on time accessibility], the highest and the lowest levels of satisfaction were observed in payment costs, trust and belief in family practitioner performance, respectively. The correlation between sex, age, job, and marital status, and satisfaction rate was not significant. However, the relationship between residence, education, type of center and satisfaction of family practitioner was significant. Based on linear regression model, there was a significant correlation between patient satisfaction with family practitioner, residence, education, and the type of the center rendering services. The results show that higher level of education, place of residence, and delivery from urban health centers may lead to more client satisfaction

Study of satisfaction rate of family medicine plan in insured population of sabzevar university medical of sciences

Background: Family medicine is a global effort to improve quality, cost-effectiveness, and equality in health care systems. Family medicine is bound to maintain and promote family and community health. Increasing people's satisfaction with the Family Physician Plan is one of these goals. This study aimed to determine the rate of satisfaction with family medicine in the population insured by Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences

Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Data was collected by a two-part questionnaire measuring satisfaction in 8 scopes. Totally 1250 samples were selected randomly in each class. Data was analyzed with SPSS 17, using independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient

Results: Collectively, 1199 questionnaires were analyzed. Of the sample population, 69.4% were housewives; 72.1% were female, 85.3% were married, 86.4% were rural residents, and 90.9% received services from public centers. In the studied scopes, the highest and lowest levels of satisfaction were observed, respectively, in payment costs and trust and belief in family medicine performance. Relationship of sex, age, job and marital status with satisfaction rate was no significant. Also relationship between residence, education level, and type of center with the rate of satisfaction with family medicine was statistically significant

Conclusion: Results show that higher education level and receiving services from urban and private centers lead to more satisfaction for clients

[Investigating the mental health status of women in Qazvin Province [2008]]

Women have played important roles in their family and women's mental health status influence the family member health. Planning for providing essential mental health service for women requires information about the present status of mental health in women under study. The aim of this study was to assess the mental health status of women in the province of Qazvin. This was a descriptive study in which 1531women, who were referred to women health control bases, responded to a total of 28 questions using the General Health questionnaire-28 [GHQ-28]. On a general scale, a score of 23 or higher was considered as a cut-off point to identify the severe forms of mental health disorders in women. Likewise, a score of 14 within the subscales was taken as a cut-off point to diagnose those with mental health problems. Our study indicated that 38.5%of women suffered mental health disorders. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders within the age group 20-29 years [32.6%] and married individuals [75%] were higher than other groups. There was a significant relationship between the age and physical symptoms [p=0.025] and also depression [p= 0.00]. In general, the status of mental health in women under study seemed to be unsuitable therefore, paying more attention to women's mental health through systematic education program and preparing applicable plans to promote the level of mental health among women living within the province of Qazvin are recommended

Half-saline versus combined normal saline and 1/3-2/3 intravenous fluid therapy in kidney transplantation

Sufficient intravascular volume should be established for optimal graft function after renal transplantation. However, there is no recommendation for the type of fluid therapy post-operatively. We compared half-saline vs. normal saline and 1/3-2/3 intravenous fluid replacement after renal transplantation. We enrolled all patients who underwent kidney transplantation between June 2008 and March 2010 in Golestan Hospital, Ahwaz, southwestern Iran. Patients were randomly divided into two groups using a blinded allocation technique. Group A patients [Case] received half saline, and group B patients [Control] received normal saline and 1/3-2/3 intravenous fluid. According to our protocol, we replaced as much as 100% of hourly urine output in the first day, followed by 90% and 70% of every 2-hour urine output in the 2nd and 3rd days, respectively. Blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded hourly. Serum sodium, potassium, creatinine and pH were assessed twice a day. There were 34 and 36 eligible patients in the case and control groups, respectively. The mean +/- SD 6-hour urine output in the first 5 days after surgery was 2586 +/- 725 mL in the control group and 2764 +/- 758 mL in the case group [p=0.31]. The mean +/- SD serum creatinine level at the end of the 5th post-operative day was 1.3 +/- 0.5 and 1.4 +/- 0.7 mg/dL in the case and control groups, respectively [p=0.56]. Serum creatinine level did not reduce to 1.5 mg/dL or lower in 6 of 36 control subjects and in 4 of 34 cases at the end of the 5th day [p=0.558]. The mean +/- SD time to creatinine level<1.5 mg/dL was 1.3 +/- 1 days in the control group and 1.7 +/- 0.8 days in the case group [p=0.635]. Hyperkalemia occurred in 3 of 36 patients in the control group and in 2 of 34 patients in the case group [p=0.318]. The incidence of hyponatremia in the control group was 11% [4 of 36 patients] vs no patients in the case group [p=0.115]. Either half-saline or normal saline and 1/3-2/3 intravenous solution can be safely used as fluid replacement therapy after kidney transplantation

[Effects of aging associated with weight gain on the cell size and heterogeneity of different fat depots in the rat]

The mass of adipose tissue expands during weight gain mostly because of an increase in fat cell diameter, which is one of the most important determinants of tissue metabolism. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of aging associated with weight gain on cell size and heterogeneity of adipocytes at different fat depots. Adipose tissues were harvested from subcutaneous [SC], retroperitoneal [RP], perirenal [PR], proximal epididymal [PE] and distal epididymal [DE] regions of two groups of rats with a 30-day difference in age and 36% increase in body weight. Diameters of fat cells were measured using a microscope equipped with a calibrated micrometer. Cell size heterogeneity was deduced from coefficients of variation. In both groups, no significant regional differences were observed in diameter of adipocytes in various fat depots. With the exception of the RP depot, the weight gain caused a significant increase in diameter of adipocytes in all other depots. The highest and the lowest increase were seen in PR and RP adipocyte diameter, respectively. The degree of heterogeneity of fat depots was not significantly altered by weight gain. Aging associated with weight gain leads to fat cell hypertrophy in a depot specific manner, and cells at depots close to survival organs such as kidney and gonads are more affected than those of the other depots. The results of this study can enhance current knowledge on adipose tissue mass expansion and its related health complications such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes

Hepatitis A prevention strategies, Haiti case: should rescuers be immunized

Hepatitis A virus [HAV], a small non-enveloped RNA virus from Picornaviridea family, causes approximately 1.5 million cases of acute hepatitis each year, and is still a major world health problem especially in developing countries. As the risk of getting infected by HAV increases at the time of crisis such as earthquakes, we tried to perform a brief review on current situation of HAV in Haiti, a country that experienced an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale recently, and that it might be in danger of experiencing outbreaks of enterically transmittable infective agents such as HAV

[Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in Iran and worldwide]

Chronic kidney disease [CKD] is a worldwide public health problem. Increasing evidence indicates that earlier stages of CKD can be detected through laboratory testing, and that therapeutic interventions implemented early in the course of CKD are effective in slowing or preventing the progression toward end stage renal failure and its associated complications. Each physician should consider how he/she can contribute to an increase in the local screening, identification, and treatment efforts for CKD. Multidisciplinary collaboration between physicians, health care workers, and the government is necessary to halt the progression of CKD. Unfortunately, there is paucity of data concerning epidemiologic characteristics of CKD in Iran, resulting in lost opportunities for prevention. The present article summarizes recent observations about CKD epidemiology, both in Iran and worldwide

[ effect of strengthening exercises on metabolic factors, quality of life and mental health in women with type 2 diabetes]

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogenous group of different metabolic disorders, characterized by chronic increase of blood glucose and proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. In this semi-experimental investigation, 17 women patients with type 2 diabetes from the clinic of the Arak Petroleum Company were selected and divided into two groups: the strengthening [9 persons] and the controls [8 persons]. The strengthening group performed selected exercises for 8 weeks [3 sessions/week and 30-50 min/session]. In this investigation we assessed metabolic factors [total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, VLDL, LDL, FBS, HbA1c and Insulin Serum] and compared SF-36 and GHQ questionnaires. Data analyses was performed with SPSS.12 and we used of the paired samples T test. Confidence level was considered at 95% [P<0.05]. There were significant differences between means of pre-test and post-test measures of TC, FBS, HbA1C, insulin serum, quality of life [QOL] and mental health [MH] of the strengthening group, but no significant differences were found between means of pre-test and post-test measures of HDL, LDL, VLDL and triglycerides in the strengthening group and factors of control group [P<0.05]. It seems that strengthening exercises are an effective treatment for metabolic factors, QOL and MH in type 2 diabetic patients, and lead to improvement in the patient's status

[ effect of speech therapy on laryngeal stroboscopic features of patients with vocal cord nodules]

Vocal cord nodule is one of the most prevalent disorders of laryngeal mucosa which is commonly caused by the overuse of laryngeal vocal function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of speech therapy on laryngeal stroboscopic features of patients with vocal cord nodules. In this clinical trial, five women with vocal cord nodules aged between 14 and 45 years participated in a speech therapy program. Their laryngeal stroboscopic features were assessed in the first and ninth sessions of therapy. After speech therapy, glottal closure in 3 subjects reached to complete closure or near to it. Symmetry of phases in 3 cases reached to symmetrical condition and periodicity of phases in 1 patient reached to periodical state. After speech therapy, right mucosal wave in 4 subjects reached to normal condition. The left mucosal wave in 1 subject reached to normal and in 1 patient approached to normal form. The results of this study revealed that speech therapy has a gradual influence on treatment of vocal cord nodule which can be evaluated by subjective methods such as therapist's assessment of patient's voice or objective methods such as stroboscopy

[Pancreatobiliary cancers in Iran: a population- based study]

Our knowledge regarding the epidemiology of pancreatobiliary cancers in Iran is limited. This study presents the first population-based report on pancreatobiliary cancers performed in five provinces of Iran. Data used in this study were retrieved from population-based cancer registries in five provinces of Iran [Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Ardabil and Kerman] from 1996 to 2000. Crude incidence rate, age standardized incidence rate [ASR] and age specific incidence rate were calculated for each cancer sites using the direct method. Overall ASR of pancreatic cancer in five provinces was 1.18 and 0.84 per 100, 000 person-years for men and women, respectively. These values for gallbladder and biliary tract cancers were 0.42 and 0.27 per 100, 000 person-years for men and 0.93 and 0.22 per 100, 000 person-years for women, respectively. ASR of pancreatobiliary cancer is low in Iran compared to western countries

Prevalence of fatty liver disease among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and its relation to insulin resistance

A substantial proportion of the mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] is related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] and its complications. Insulin resistance is a major etiologic factor for the development of fatty liver. We aimed to study the prevalence of NAFLD among T2DM patients and its relation to insulin resistance. Patients with T2DM that were referred to a tertiary referral center in Tehran from February 2003 to August 2005 were evaluated. Patients with characteristic findings on ultrasonography were considered as having fatty Livers. The Homeostasis Model Assistant - Insulin Resistance [HOMA-IR] and Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index [QUICKI] were calculated as measures of insulin resistance. Of the 172 patients included in the study, 96 [55.8%] had evidence of fatty livers, 6 of which [3.5% of total] presented with elevated liver enzymes. BMI and triglyceride levels in the fatty liver group were significantly higher than patients with normal livers [p=0.002 and 0.036, respectively]. The HOMA-IR and QUICKI indexes were not significantly different between the two groups. Fatty liver is a common finding among T2DM patients. The degree of insulin resistance does not appear to be predictive of fatty liver among this population

effectiveness of exercise-therapy on improvement of balance, gait, quality of life and depression in elderly patients with vertigo due to peripheral disturbances of vestibular system

Vertigo is the sign of vestibular system complications that induce sense of rotation in individual toward environment or the patient himself. It also induces imbalance in gait and operational activities of patients that may lead to depression in individuals. In this study Cawthorne-cooksey exercises were used to remove signs of vestibular system complications and consequently improve balance and gait in patients suffer from vestibular complications. This study was a non-randomized prospective quisi-experimental investigation done in physiotherapy clinic of Al-zahra hospital in Isfahan province during the year 2007. As a consultation with expert statisticians, among old patients with vestibular system complications referred Al-zahra hospital, 41 patients were enrolled in to our study non-randomly. The exercises were taught to patients during three steps. Patients were asked to perform each group of exercises 10 minutes three times a day for one week. To assess the balance, gait, quality of life and depression in patients before and after treatment and also after one month follow-up, we used Berg Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index, Dizziness Handicap Inventory, and Beck questionnaire respectively. To analyze data paired t-test and Wilcoxon test were used. There was statistical significant difference in balance before and after treatment [P < 0.001], before treatment and after follow-up [P < 0.001], and also after treatment and after follow-up [P < 0.001]. There was statistical significant difference in gait before and after treatment [P < 0.001], before treatment and after follow-up [P < 0.001], and also after treatment and after follow-up [P < 0.001]. There was statistical significant difference in quality of life before and after treatment [P < 0.001], before treatment and after follow-up [P < 0.001], and also after treatment and after follow-up [P < 0.001]. There was statistical significant difference in depression before and after treatment [P < 0.001], before treatment and after follow-up [P < 0.001], and also after treatment and after follow-up [P < 0.001]. We conclude that using Cawthorne-cooksey exercises lead to improve balance, gait, quality of life and depression in adult patients for at least one month. To achieve desired treatment goals, patients should continue their daily activities even after one month for a long period of time