Spatial accessibility of the population to urban health centres in Kermanshah, Islamic Republic of Iran: a geographic information systems analysis

Geographic information systems [GIS] analysis has not been widely used in underdeveloped countries to ensure that vulnerable populations have accessibility to primary health-care services. This study applied GIS methods to analyse the spatial accessibility to urban primary-care centres of the population in Kermanshah city, Islamic Republic of Iran, by age and sex groups. In a descriptive-analytical study over 3 time periods, network analysis, mean centre and standard distance methods were applied using ArcGIS 9.3. The analysis was based on a standard radius of 750 m distance from health centres, walking speed of 1 m/s and desired access time to health centres of 12.5 mins. The proportion of the population with inadequate geographical access to health centres rose from 47.3% in 1997 to 58.4% in 2012. The mean centre and standard distance mapping showed that the spatial distribution of health centres in Kermanshah needed to be adjusted to changes in population distribution

[Relationship of mother's depression and child enuresis]

Functional enuresis, as a common psychiatric problem in children, can cause depression in mothers and also low quality of life. Considering the fact that the family has an important role in mental health of their child, it can be expected that the mother's depression can cause enuresis in her child. Up to now there had been no study about the relationship of mother's depression and child enuresis. The present study is designed with the aim of evaluating this association. In this descriptive analytic cross sectional case-control study, 48 girls and 48 boys with the diagnosis of enuresis based on criteria of DSM-IV-TR that were admitted to the clinics of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, from 2004-2005 were selected as the case group and 96 children without enuresis [48 girls and 48 boys] as the control group. The average age of both groups was 9 years. Then the mothers of the children of both groups answered to the Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]. The prevalence of depression in case group was significantly higher than the control group [P<0.001]. The prevalence of depression in mothers with enuretic girls was significantly more than the enuretic boys [P<0.04]. But the relative prevalence of depression of non enuretic girl's mothers didn't show significant difference from the non enuretic boy's mothers. Enuresis in children, especially in girls, is accompanied by increased prevalence of mother depression as compared with the control group. So in treatment of enuresis, especially in girls, attention to the treatment of mother's depression and her support is crucial

Effects of chitosan and salvadora persica on blood lipids in the wistar rat

Hypercholesterolemia is a metabolic disorder that ultimately results in arterial sclerosis and complications like hypertension and coronary arterial diseases. Various drugs have been used for treatment of this condition and many studies are underway to be used in the future. Chitosan and Salvadora Persica are two such drugs. Chitosan is produced by deacetylation of chitin which is present mainly in the exoskeleton of crustaceans. The aim of this in vitro study was to study the effects of these two drugs on blood lipid levels. In this Interventional Laboratory Trial, 30 mature vistar rats weighing 200-250 grams were selected and after a period of two weeks of adaptation to the surroundings, they were allotted randomly to 6 groups. The rats were then fed for a period of 15 days with normal or fatty diet, with or without the drugs. Chitosan in pure powder form and persica in the form of hydro alcoholic, Salvadora persica stem extract were added to the diet of the respective study groups. At the end of this period, blood samples were taken in order to measure cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL and LDL levels. Data were analyzed statistically using SPSS software program and Scheffe, ANOVA and Descriptive statistical tests. Both chitosan and persica decreased cholesterol and LDL levels in the groups ingesting fatty diet [P < 0.05] and the mean reduction was not statistically different for the two drugs [P > 0.05]. The two drugs had no effect on triglyceride and HDL levels [P > 0.05]. Both chitosan and persica had no effect on blood lipid levels of subjects on normal diet whose cholesterol levels were normal [P > 0.05]. Persica and chitosan have similar effects on reduction of cholesterol and LDL levels in cases of hypercholesterolemia, but have no effect on triglyceride and HDL levels