[Entomological research and its specific course in Iran from 1935 to 2008]

Malaria remains an important vector-borne disease globally and is a threat for human life. Forty percent of the world's populations who are living in low-income countries are at risk of malaria. The disease exists in Iran and caused economic and social damages. As result of malaria control program that has been done during the past years, the disease is eliminated from the most parts of the country, so that it is only reporting from a small part in these years. During this study, all available papers, books and thesises were reviewed and articles from Iranmedex, DIS and PubMed databanks were also used. Furthermore the related reports from different sources were noted. The extensive studies have important information about malaria vectors. In this study the data about malaria vectors and related training courses are listed. During this study the related papers, Books and thesises which have been reviewed. Although efforts, surveillance system, diagnostic and treatment facilities, as well as knowledge and attitude of peoples regarding to health behavior are improved nowadays, there are significant improvements about decreasing the malaria cases. Risk of the disease exists because of population exchange and asymptomatic cases. The malaria can be studied with both public health and economical aspects. This paper represents entomological studies of malaria during 1935 by the end of 2008. our study revealed that, based on recent malaria national program, the authorities should make an emphasis on vector control monitoring, resistance management, malaria evaluation and because of weak supervision on all malaria operation at stage of elimination of malaria, accurate and careful suppersional require to reach the objective and goal of elimination

First cancer statistics report from Hazara division

'Cancer' is on rise globally. Cancer registry is vital for policy making, resource allocation, progress tracking and overall cancer control. In Pakistan, cancer prevention, screening and standardised clinical trials, as well as quality assurance through surveillance are badly hampered due to the lack of a National Cancer Registry. For Pakistan a well-integrated system of Cancer Registry is need of the day. This retrospective study was conducted on the hospital records at the Oncology Department of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad from year 2007-12. Data were collected through a standard data capture form with a final figure of 555 patients. The malignancies were diagnosed clinically and histopathologically at different laboratories of Pakistan. Among these cases, 54.08% were male and 45.92% female. Incidence of cancer in patients below 14 years age was 8.47% and 91.53% above 14 years. Majority [31.95%] cases were from Mansehra followed by Abbottabad with 27.08% and Haripur 14.26% cases. Leukaemias were at top with 15.14% cases followed by breast carcinoma [13.69%], Lymphomas [12.07%], ovarian carcinomas [8.65%], and gastric carcinoma and skin cancers with 2.70% each. Among men, the highest incidence was of Hodgkin's lymphoma [14.9%] followed by lymphocytic leukaemia [14.3%]. Prostate cancer was seen in 8.3% male patients. Another 5.7% patients had lung cancer. In women, the highest incidence was carcinoma breast [19.7%] followed by ovarian carcinoma [13.4%], leukaemia [9.7%], and Hodgkin's lymphoma [4.3%]. A variety of cancers are prevalent in the indigent population. Record-keeping in wards is sub-optimal. Commonest cancers in the area have slight differences with rest of the country

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Bam: a comparative evaluation of pre- and post- earthquake years [1999-2008]

The recent devastating earthquake of December 26 in Bam, 2003 created various risk factors; caused a sharp increase in incidence of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis [ACL] cases and reached to an epidemic proportion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the status of ACL cases five years before the earthquake compared to the cases occurred five years after the earthquake [1999-2008]. Status of disease was assessed retrospectively for the five years before the earthquake and prospectively for the five years after the earthquake. Identification was confirmed by smear and polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. The mean annual incidence of ACL for the period from 1999 to 2003 was 1.9 per 1000 comparing to post earthquake period, which was 7.6 per 1000. Most of the infection was in individuals of <20 years, more frequently in females before the earthquake, whilst in contrast, there was a progressive rise in the number of cases, significantly in male individuals of >20 years [P< 0.0001] in post earthquake era. The anatomical distribution of lesions considerably changed during the two periods. Most of the cases were limited to three zones within the city prior to the earthquake, whereas it was spread throughout different zones after the earthquake. PCR indicated that the CL was due to Leishmania tropica in the city. The results strongly suggest that in natural disasters such as earthquakes various precipitating factors in favor of disease will be created, which in turn provide a suitable condition for propagation of the vector and the transmission of the parasite

Comparison of knowledge, attitude and practice of urban and rural households toward iron deficiency anemia in three Provinces of Iran

Lack of nutritional knowledge is one of the most important reasons of nutritional problems and consequently improper practice, which can lead to several complications. This study has been designed in order to compare knowledge, attitude and practices of the urban and rural households regarding iron deficiency anemia [IDA] in Boushehr, Golestan and Sistan and Balouchestan provinces in 2004. The sampling method at household's level in each province was the single-stage cluster sampling with equal size clusters. The necessary data were gathered with a structured questionnaire and via the interviews between the questioners and the eligible people in each household. Comparison of frequency of variables between urban and rural areas were tested by chi square test. A total of 2306 households were selected as overall sample size. In urban areas, people recognized iron food sources better than rural areas. Knowledge level of respondents about vulnerable group for IDA and the favorite attitude of households toward IDA were better in urban areas of Sistan and Blouchestan and Golestan provinces. In Sistan and Balouchestan and Golestan, rural households who drank tea immediately before or after meal was more than urban ones. The majority of pregnant and lactating mothers [except for rural areas of Bushehr] did not take iron supplement regularly. Less than 60 percent of children used iron drop regularly. Knowledge, attitude, and practice levels of households toward IDA were not acceptable. One of the best ways of improving nutritional practice is nutritional education with focus on applying available food resources

Application of direct agglutination test [DAT] for the diagnosis and seroepidemiological studies of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran

Visceral leishmaniasis [VL] is one of the most important parasitic diseases which is endemic in different parts of Iran. Serological studies were conducted by direct agglutination test [DAT] on 12144 human serum samples, collected from four geographical zones of Iran. Sero prevalence, geographical distribution, clinical signs and symptoms for human visceral leishmaniasis based on DAT for the period of 2002 through 2005 were determined. From 516 kala-azar cases detected: 50.6% were from Meshkin-shahr and Moghan districts in Ardabil Province, northwest of Iran and 49.4% were detected from other areas of Iran. In physical examination of seropositive cases, which were detected by DAT with anti-leishmanial antibodies at titers of 1: 3200 to 1: 102400, almost 50% of suspected individuals showed the classical kala-azar signs and symptoms. Predominant signs and symptoms in 233 hospitalized patients with anti-Leishmania antibodies at 1:3200 and higher, were fever [88.0%] and splenomegaly [84.5%]. Statistically significant difference was found between males [58%] and females [42%] [P< 0.01]. Moreover, 93.6% of the VL patients were < 5 yr of age, and 6.4% were older than 5 yr that this difference was statistically significant [P< 0.01]. From 1383 serum samples collected from domestic dogs in the villages that are known as endemic foci of human leishmaniasis, 152 [11.0%] were positive by DAT [>/= 1:320]. Parasitological and serological examinations that were performed in 30 wild canines showed that 10% of these animals were infected by L. infantum. L. infantum Lon49 is the principal agent of the disease in human as well as animal reservoir hosts in different parts of Iran. For the first time in Iran, L. tropica isolated from both skin lesions in the face and bone marrow aspiration in a HIV+ man who co-infected with VL as well as in an infected dog from Ardabil Province

case series study on clinical and epidemiologic aspects of Kala azar in patients referred to the children's medical center since 1991 to 2003

Kala azar is a parasitic disease which belongs to the category of metazoonoses [a communicable disease which requires at cost to an invertebrate host], In Iran canines are major reservoir for it and most of patients are 6 months to 2 years old. The aim of this study was evaluation of the clinical end epidemiologic aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in patients visiting the Children Medical Center over the 12 past years. This study used the hospital records of a case series of 106 kala azar patients hospitalized in the Children's Medical Center between 1 991 and 2001. We extracted and analyzed data on geographical location, background factors, clinical and laboratory findings, response to treatment and Glucantime[R] side effects. The greatest number of cases was seen in 1992 and the smallest number in 1993 and 2003; the number of cases peaked in the spring. Most patients referred to the Center are aged 1 to 4 years, end there is a strong preponderance of males 82.1% vs 17.9%]. The majority of these children come from families in which the breadwinner was a peasants or a laborer. Common laboratory findings included anemia, rising ESR titers and thrombocytopenia. The most striking clinical signs and symptoms were fever, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly. Eighty-three percent of the patients had shown clinical improvement, 1.9% had died and 15.1% had relapsed. Moreover, in 52.8% of cases, the disease was treated successfully with within 2 weeks; The incidence of Glucantim[R] side effects was low. The cities of Khorramabod, Karaj and Saveh had produced the greatest numbers of cases. Compared to other studies, our case series showed a higher proportion of male patients and a somewhat different clinical and laboratory profile. However, the most important achievement of this study was identification of major endemic foci in Ardabil province, northwestern parts of Ghom province. Khorrornabad, and regions located south of the Alborz Mountains [e.g. Saveh]

[Knowledge, Attitude and practice of households and health care staff towards nutrition and micronutrients (NUT-KAP) in provinces under the pilot study on flour fortification with Iron: study design and sampling method]

A [healthy human being] is the cornerstone of stable development in every country. Thus, an important part of the development process is the nutritional improvement of the society. Although a great proportion of the families' income is spent on food nutritional problems are still prominent in this country. This fact demonstrated that diets are mostly influenced by the education and knowledge of the households, rather than any new developments in food production. This study was designed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practices of the households and health care provider regarding nutrition and micronutrients in provinces of Bousheher, Golestan, and Sistan and Balouchestan. The results of this study can help the Community Nutrition Office in the design and effective implementation of interventions aimed at improving nutritional health households. The sampling method for households was the single-stage cluster sampling with equal-sized clusters. The sampling method for health staff was stratified random sampling. The number of samples in each stratum was proportion to its size. A total of 2304 households and 360 health care workers were selected for this study. The data were gathered through a structured questionnaire and via interviews with eligible people in each household, and although some levels of health staff. At the level of the health staff, physicians and other health professionals, data collection was done through self-administrated questionnaires

Seroprevalence, incidence and risk factors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in sistan-va-Baluchestan province, Iran

Since 1999, many cases of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever have been reported from different parts of Iran. This study intended to define CCHF seroprevalence, incidence rates, and the most important risks in Sistan- Baluchestan province, Iran. Using cluster sampling with probability proportional to size, 310 subjects were selected from various districts of Zahedan and Zabol in the northern part of the province. Blood samples were drawn from consenting subjects, once at the beginning of the study and then 6 months later. The study began on 22 April 2003 and continued till 17 February 2004. A total of 18 out of 285 subjects who consented to give blood samples were actually positive by IgM and IgG capture ELISA tests. The calculated seroprevalence was 6.32% [95% CI: 3.24% to 9.40%]. The calculated incidence was 0.48% [95% CI: 0.00% to 1.44%]. Fourteen out of the 18 subjects with definitely positive IgG or IgM were female. In multivariate analysis, age, education, and history of slaughtering livestock were significantly related to the risk of infection. Only one of the seropositive subjects had a history of tick bite. This study shows the importance of subclinical infections in the epidemiology of this disease in Iran. It also seems that the risk of infection for housewives is high. Regardless of the high female to male ratio of seropositive subjects, it appears that the epidemiologic characteristics of the infection in this region are not so different compared to other parts of the world

Induction of pneumoperitoneum, are we doing it the safest way?

The technique used to induce and maintain pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopy was studied among gynecologists in Britain, Northern Ireland and Greater Cairo Public Teaching and University Hospitals. The study sheet was sent to all consultants and specialist registrars working allover Northern Ireland. In Cairo, specialists and consultants from hospitals representing the ministry of health, teaching, university and private hospitals were interrogated. The details of the technique used for induction of pneumoperitoneum were studied in the different units and among different surgeons. This paper explored the techniques adopted for the induction of pneumoperitoneum and discussed that the safest one is the direct access technique

Evaluation of cytology and colposcopy in single station management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia using large loop excision of the transformation zone

In this study, one hundred and twelve patients had an excisional treatment for their cervical intraepithelial lesions. It can be concluded that the colposcopic assessment of the cervical intraepithelial lesions provides a safe reliable guidance to the single step management 'select and treat' of patients referred to the colposcopy clinic with abnormal cervical cytology. The cytological grading of the cervical intraepithelial cervical neoplasia is not a substitute for colposcopic evaluation and histological diagnosis. The referral of patients with low grade SIL or atypical cytology for colposcopic evaluation is mandatory, especially if it is recurrent or persistent

Safety and convenience of post-partum intra-uterine contraceptive device insertion

This study included 240 patients for whom CuT 380 A was inserted in the immediate postpartum period. One hundred and forty women had their coils inserted post placental, while the remaining 100 had their coils inserted in the immediate postpartum period. In the post placental insertions group, there was a total of 22 discontinuations. Four women reported an irregular uterine bleeding in the form of spotting at six weeks follow up visit, two of them requested their coils to be removed at six months follow up visit. Misplaced intrauterine device was diagnosed in 11 cases by ultrasound examination including one case of abortion. Nine cases reported spontaneous expulsion during their puerperium. By the end of the first year, 118 women were still using their intrauterine devices and were satisfied with it

Confirmation of Tatera indica [rodentia: gerbillidae] as the main reservoir host of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the west of Iran

During our study [summer of 1994] twenty two Tatera indica were collected and two out of them [9.09%] were naturally infected with amastigote. Parasites were cultured in NNN+LIT medium and isolated promastigotes were sent to the Medical University of Montpellier in France for identification. The result of isoenzyme showed, the parasite was Leishmania major zymodem MON 26-[=LON 1], therefore Tatera Indica was known the main reservoir host of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the west of Iran. This is the first report on the isolation and identification of L.major zymodem MON 26-[=LON 1] from this species of rodent. In the meantime, Rhombomys opimus was absent in these areas

Accidents and injuries in rural areas of east azerbaijan province, northwest of Iran

A study has been carried out in 1992 to determine the incidence mortality and disability due to accidents and injuries in more than seven hundred thousand population under the coverage of Health Houses in East Azerbaijan province, northwest of Iran. This study showed that burns, falls, road accidents and those related to agricultural and other equipments are the main types of accidents. Road accidents, burns suicides and suffocations were the main causes of accident deaths. Both the types and the end-results of accidents were different in various age groups and between male and female. Recommendations are presented for further studies and for reducing the health burden of these problems

experience of leishmanization in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Leishmanization programmes in a hyperendemic area [Isfahan] and a high-risk group [army recruits and the Revolutionary Guard] are described and their effectiveness and complications are discussed. A trial of a non-living crude vaccine is outlined. More than two million people underwent leishmanization and it was found to reduce the incidence of the disease between one-sixth and one-eighth of its original level. The procedure is recommended whenever people are at a very high risk of contracting the disease

Anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the city of Bam, southeast Iran

Due to the high prevalence of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniosis [ACL] in Barn city, a survey was carried out to determine epidemiological characteristics of ACL in Barn in 1992. For this purpose, 23 out of the total 51 schools [elementary, junior high and senior high] were randomly selected and 6053 students were examined. The prevalence of acute sores and scars were 2% and 17% respectively. A map of the city was prepared, showing the residence of acute cases seen in schools. 3 parts with higher concentration of cases were selected and house - to - house visits were made, examining all age groups. In 2155 persons examined, the prevalence of acute cases was 3.6% and prevalence of scars 26.9%

Epidemiological aspects of Kala-Azarin Meshkin-Shar Iran investigation on vectors

Visceral leishmaniasiam caused by Leishmania infantum has become endemic in Meshkjn-Shahr area, northwest Iran, so that in the last 8 years, more than 1600 cases have been diagnosed and treated, the majority of them among children younger than 5 years of age. The present study was carried out to determine the probable vectors in this area. During the active season of sandflies in l991,we collected sandflies from fixed catching sites by sticky traps. The result shows that sandflies were active from mid-June through mid-October the following species have been caught in this area: Phiebotomus papatasi, Ph. sergenhj, Ph. caucasjcus Ph. 'nongolensis Ph.alexandrj, Ph. kande/akii, Ph. major. Ph.perfj/jewj transcaucasjcus Ph. kech ishiani, Ph. ha/epensis, Ph. ba/can icus, Ph. brevis, Sergen tomyia dentata, Spa wlowskji and S.sumbarjca As many of these are potential vectors, dissection was made in 1991 and 1992 on gravid and blood- fed flies caught by sticky traps and CDC light traps. We found promstigote infection in 2 Ph.kandelakjj and 2 Ph. perfiliewi transcaucasicus Hamster inoculation of one strain caused massive visceral infection. Further studies are planned to identify other probable vectors and also the principal definite vector

socio-demographic study of new referrals to the psychiatric out-patient clinic in Qatar

A Socio-demographic analysis of 438 new referrals seen at the Psychiatric Out-Patient Clinic at Doha, Qatar, during a period of six months showed that the rate of first consultation was 4.6/1000/year for general population, 6.6 for Qataris and 2.6 for non Qataris. Majority of patients were married males in age group 25-39. More than half of the patients were suffering from depressive and anxiety disorders. 75 of patients studied were admitted to the psychiatric in-patient unit during the same period

Effect of a single therapeutic dose of oxytetracycline on some blood constituents and serum enzymes in sheep

A single intramuscular injection of 15 mg/kg. b.wt., of oxytetracycline chloride was gives to normal awassi rams and ewes. Blood samples were collected at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 120 and 168 hr. after injection. Serum glucose significantly increased after 3 hr. then sustained a slight reduction until 24 hr. total plasma protein increased from 6-120 hr. Creatinine did not change. Urea and urea nitrogen levels varied according to sex. Rams have a short significant increase at 3 hr.; ewes showed a marked decrease during the first 6 hr. followed by a marked increase at 24 hr. got activity increased at 6-12 hr. and GPT activity remaining unaffected gave indication for mild temporary toxicity

Attempted suicide in Qatar

This is a study of 47 consecutive patients admitted to Hamad General Hospital in Doha, Qatar, because of deliberate self-harm during the period 1st July 1981 till 30th June 1982. 60% [N=28] were females and 40% [n=19] were males. 70.22% [N=33] were in the young age group. Married females attempted suicide more than the single ones, but less married males than single. The commonest method adopted by both sexes was drugs. Females who have no children attempted suicide more than those who have children. Commonest psychiatric illness was Neurotic Depression. Family conflict was the commonest leading cause