[Investigation of persistent organic pollutants residue in sediments of international Anzali Wetland, Iran]

Anzali Wetland is one of the most important aquatic ecosystems of Iran located in south of the Caspian Sea. This Wetland is a habitat for valuable fishes and aquatic animals which have an important role in life cycle of this ecosystem. A group of the pollutants entering these wetlands is the persistent organic pollutants. This pollutants has a wide range of ingredients in the environment and are known as a global pollution problem. Due to the high solubility of these compounds in fat and their stability in the environment, they can make accumulate in the body of the aquatic organisms and transfer through the food chain. In this studsy, durig winter and spring of 2008, the levels of Organo Chlorinated Pesticides [OCPs] in the sediments was investigated. The concentration of HCHs, beta Cyclodiene, DDTs and HCB in the sediments of winter were in the range of 1/17-4/21 ng/g dw, nd-5/08 ng/g dw, 1/43-8/51 ng/g dw and 0/06-0/35 ng/g dw and in the spring were in the range of 1/08-4/78 ng/g dw, 1/27-5/97 ng/g dw, 2/15-9/92 ng/g dw and 0/06-0/38 ng/g dw respectively. Among HCHs, beta cyclodane and DDTs, beta-HCH, Endosulfan and p,p/-DDE with the concentration of 0/47-2/12 ng/g dw, nd-1/7 ng/g dw and 1/43-3/47 ng/g dw were the dominant detected congeners in the winter While in the spring beta-HCH, Endosulfan and p,p/-DDE with the concentration of 0/46-2/58 ng/g dw, 0/44-1/96 ng/g dw and 1/32-4/78 ng/g dw were the dominant detected ones, respectively.. In the samples of spring the mean OCPs concentrations were higher than winter. Moreover, the significant difference was observed among investigated stations [P < 0/05]

Five-year follow up of job-related injuries among sarcheshme copper mine complex workers

To measure the risk and the trend of job-related injuries among people employed in Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine Complex in Kerman [SCMC], Southeast of Iran. In this longitudinal incidence study, all workers in SCMC between 2001 and 2005 were followed. All injuries due to job-related accidents were documented. Information was recorded on a check list by a trained expert. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used to compare groups where appropriate. Significant differences between incidences rates were noted where the 95% confidence interval of the relative risk [RR] excluded unity. More than 5600 people were working and a total number of 735 injuries were reported giving an overall five-year incidence rate of 131 per 1000 five PYAR. In 71.4% of cases, the accident was due to carelessness. The mean number of lost days for each injured case was 26.9 +/- 27.9. The risk of experiencing a serious injury among SCMC workers is considerably high. Although, the risk of job-related accidents in SCMC between 2002 and 2005 decreased, an occupational health education program is strongly suggested

One-year incidence rate of injuries among secondary school pupils in an Iranian community

To describe the risk and the patterns of injuries taking place inside the secondary schools among pupils in an Iranian community. A follow up study was conducted for measuring incidence of injuries. Total population of 3371 pupils were followed and all injuries were recorded. Information about age, gender, deprivation, time, day and month of injuries, cause and the outcome of injuries were collected using a checklist. Seventy five cases of injury were reported giving an overall one-year incidence rate of 22.2 per 1000 person-years-at-risk. The maximum incidence was reported among year three pupils in both genders [33 per 1000 boys and 19.8 per 1000 girls]. "Falls" was the most common cause of injuries. Legs and hands were the main injured body area [56%]. Majority of injuries were "cured without rest" and only five pupils were admitted in hospital. Comparing to similar results reported by others, the risk of experiencing an injury among secondary school pupils during one academic year is high. Preventing "fall" can be targeted in programs for reducing the level of risk in secondary school pupils

Are endoscopic findings predictive for the presence of H. pylori infection? What about indirect histologic findings?

It is still controversial whether certain endoscopic features can be used to diagnose Helicobacter pylori related gastritis. Our aim was to determine how macroscopic findings were related to histomorphological changes and the presence of H. pylori in patients undergoing endoscopy. The study population involved 501 consecutive gastrointestinal [GI] clinic admissions who underwent esphagogastroduodenoscopy for upper GI symptoms between October 2002 and March 2004. At least 2 antral and 2 body biopsies were obtained from each patient and were examined histologically for the presence of gastritis and were stained for H. pylori using modified Giemsa staining method. Endoscopic findings were reviewed retrospectively by two experts blinded to the H. pylori status and patients history. The endoscopic findings of gastritis, classified by a modification of the Sydney system and histological findings were determined by updated Sydney system. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 11. A total of 501 consecutive patients [256 females, 245males] ranging from 8 to 91 years [mean, 49.5 years] were studied. H. pylori was found in 326 patients [65.1%]. Relative frequency of H pylori in females was 53% and in males was 47%. Rugal hypertrophy, raised erosion and bleeding were observed only in patients with H. pylori infection [specificity=100%]. Neutrophil activity also was observed only in patients with H. pylori infection. Among endoscopic findings, erythema showed a high sensitivity [81.3%] and positive predictive value [87.1%] for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Gastritis was present in 84.3% of all patients and 97% [316/326] of those with H. pylori and 56.6% [99/175] of those without H. pylori. There was significant statistical correlation between H. pylori infection and gastritis [P<0.001]. H. pylori was present in 76% [316/415] of gastritis patients and 5.1% [4/77] of patients without gastritis. An accurate endoscopic assessment of gastritis according to the Sydney system along with the histological findings is valuable indicator of H. pylori infection

Causes of death registered on death certificates in an Iranian community based on ICD-10

Accurate documentation of the cause of death is critical for health care planning. In this study, the most important causes of death registered on death certificates and the most important issues preventing accurate registration and access to death information in the town of Rafsanjan were surveyed. This was a descriptive study. All death certificates [totally 1197] issued during the year 2004 in Rafsanjan were reviewed. The relevant information was collected on a checklist. Data were analyzed with SPSS. Common issues preventing accurate documentation and access to information about the causes of death were as follows; incongruity between available information in different medical centers, incomplete death certificates, difficult access to death information, inaccurate registration of the real causes of death and illegibility of the registered information. The most common cause of death in males was accident and in females was a cardiovascular disease. The registration system and access to death information requires extensive modification, therefore, information pertaining causes of death must be used and interpreted cautiously

Electiveness of hepatitis B vaccination in children of chronic hepatitis B mothers

Although all newborns in Iran have been vaccinated against hepatitis B since March 1993, routine screening of pregnant women has not been conducted in prenatal care programs, yet transmission of hepatitis B via the maternal-fetal route is still a viable likelihood, which must be entertained. The subjects were divided into 2 groups. The exposed group comprised 97 vaccinated children whose mothers were seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and had not received hepatitis immunoglobulin at birth. The unexposed group consisted of 87 vaccinated children whose mothers were seronegative for hepatitis B surface antigen. We compared these 2 groups to determine the efficacy of vaccine alone in high-risk children. This study was conducted in Tehran, Iran, from June 2002 to December 2002. All children were born after 1993. Chronic infection [HBsAg positivity] was detected in 14.3% of children in the exposed group. There were no instances of chronic infection in the unexposed group [relative risk [RR]=13.48, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.8-100.02]. Previous infection of hepatitis B [HBcAb positivity] was found in 29 [29.9%] children in the exposed group, but only one [1.2%] in the unexposed group [RR=26.01, 95% CI: 3.61-186.95]. Immunity [HBsAb positivity] in the exposed group measured 48 [49.5%] and unexposed group measured 56 [64.4%] [R.R=0.76, 95% CI: 0.59-0.99]. Vaccination alone did not induce immunity against hepatitis B in high-risk children; it seems that routine screening of pregnant women is necessary for determining whether neonates need hepatitis B immunoglobulin after birth