ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis [TB] is a pandemic disease. It is the second leading cause of death from infectious diseases after human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] in the world. The main objective of this paper was to determine and compare the epidemiology of TB incidence rate and its trend changes during 1990-2010 in six WHO regions regarding age, gender and income levels. The Average Annual Percent Change [AAPC] and Annual Percent Change [APC] of TB incidence, mortality, treatment-successes, case detection rates, as well as change points of trend was estimated using segmented regression model. The number of change points was selected by the permutation procedure based on likelihood ratio test. Two change points for global TB incidence rate trend with AAPC[5years] equaling -1.4% was estimated, the maximum AAPC[5years] of six regions was attributed to the American region [-3.5%]. AACP of TB treatment-successes rate for Eastern Mediterranean [+2.2], the Americas [+1.6], south East Asia [+.8] and Global [+1.1] were significant [P<0.05]. Moreover AACP[5years] of TB case detection rate for South East Asia [+7.5], Eastern Mediterranean [+4.9], Africa [+2.8] and the Americas [+1.7] were significant [P<0.05]. Globally, all of income categories had descending trend of TB incidence and mortality rate, except the upper-middle income level that had ascending incidence trend [AAPC=+0.7%]. Globally, TB incidence and mortality rates have downturn trend and TB treatment successes and detection rates have upward trend, but their changes rate are insufficient to reach the goal of TB stop strategy. The economic levels have effect on trend, with no clear pattern, so it seems necessary that evaluation TB control programs based on characteristics of countries for reach TB control goals
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Male , Regression Analysis , EpidemicsABSTRACT
Background: The prevalence of allergic diseases has risen in the last decades. The objective of this study was to determine the common allergens in children via the skin prick test
Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 313 allergic children [4 months to 18 years old] referred to the Asthma and Allergy Clinic of Children's Medical Center in Tehran. A questionnaire containing demographic data and patient history was completed. The Skin Prick Test [SPT] was selected according to the patients' history of food and/or aeroallergen sensitivity
Results: Patients [62.4% male, 37.6% female] with symptoms of asthma [n=141, 57.1%], allergic rhinitis [n=50, 20.4%], atopic dermatitis [n=29, 11.7%], and urticaria [n=20, 8.1%] were studied. Positive skin prick test to at least one allergen was 58.1%. The most prevalent allergens were tree mix [26%], Alternaria alternata [26%], weed mix [23.6%], Dermatophagoides farinae [22.9%], Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus [22.9%], milk [21.7%], eggs [20%], and wheat flour [18.3%]. Also, common allergens in the patients with different symptoms of allergic disorders were as follows: asthma [tree mix, weed mix, and Dermatophagoides farinae]; allergic rhinitis [Dermatophagoides farinae, tree mix, and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus]; and atopic dermatitis [Alternaria alternata, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and cockroaches]
Conclusion: Identifying allergens in each area is necessary and has an important role in the diagnosis and management of allergic disorders and possibility of performing immunotherapy. In this study, the most common aeroallergens were tree mix, Alternaria alternata, and weed mix and also the most common food allergens were milk, eggs, and wheat. Considering these data, appropriate preventive strategies can decrease the cost and morbidity of therapeutic actions
ABSTRACT
Need assessment for promotion reproductive health is important subject and development a questionnaire is essential. Thus the aim of this study was development of questionnaire of intention to use of oral contraception in withdrawal users based on construct of Theory of Planned Behavior [TPB]. In-depth interviews were conducted to elicit the salient beliefs relevant to oral contraception among withdrawal users. Then a cross-sectional study carried out in Tehran, Iran for validate of questionnaire. Participants recruited from attending five family planning clinics of public health services in the Eastern district of Tehran, Iran. Validity and reliability was evaluated using concurrent, content validity and Cronbach's alpha and test- retest respectively. Factor structure of the questionnaire was extracted by exploratory factor analysis [EFA]. Confirmatory factor analysis [CFA] conducted to assess how well the EFA extracted model fits observed data. The SPSS version 16 and Lisrel programs were used to analyze the data. Reliability and validity were confirmed. The principal component analysis revealed a three-factor structure for the questionnaire including attitude, subjective norm and perceive behavior control that explained 50.4 percent of the total of variance. In general, the findings suggest that questionnaire of intention to use of oral contraception in withdrawal users based on Theory of Planned Behavior is a reliable and valid measure
ABSTRACT
Epidemiological studies showed that low back pain after load-carrying and holding is the most common disorder in industrialized countries and cause of dysfunction and economic problems. Variable dynamic loads impose varying moments about the intervertebral joints and cause a threat to balance. The aim of the present study was to compare the postural stability while holding dynamic load among subjects with and without nonspecific low back pain. In this semi-experimental study 24 men [12 healthy and 12 low back pain] participated. Subjects held static and dynamic loads in neutral and flexed trunk position [12 conditions]. Center of pressure [COP] data were used to calculate: displacement, velocity and its standard deviation in Anterior- Posterior [AP] and Medial-Lateral [ML] directions, and path length. The results of repeated measurements and independent T- tests showed that displacement of COP in ML direction in low back pain patients [1.31, 1.22 cm] during holding dynamic loads [10-15 Hz] is more than healthy subjects [1.03, 1.10 cm]. AP displacement, ML velocity and its standard deviation, path length, standard deviation of ML displacement in flexed and AP velocity in standing position during holding dynamic loads are more than static loads. The increased displacement of COP in subjects with low back pain during holding dynamic loads is probably due to higher sensory threshold in this patient. In addition, external perturbations in dynamic loads increase postural sway and may cause spinal injury.
ABSTRACT
Latex allergy is a major occupational disease with prevalence nearly 5-17% among the health care workers. To determine the prevalence of latex glove allergy and its contributing factors among operation room staff. In this study, 512 operation room staff were evaluated for latex allergy, using a complete questionnaire. Those suspected to have latex allergy underwent these tests: Eosinophils counting, measurement of serum total and latex specific IgE, latex skin prick test, latex and glove additives patch test. From evaluated staff, 178 [34.8%] had a history of sensitivity to latex gloves, from which 59 persons underwent the tests voluntarily. According to the results of the tests, 13 [22%] had type I allergy to latex, 3 [5.1%] had type IV allergy to latex and 9 [15.3%] had both allergies. There were no significant relationship between latex allergy and age, sex, job, season, family and personal history of allergies. Significant relationship was found between type I allergy to latex and allergy to kitchen gloves and also between type IV allergy and allergy to other plastic clothing. Prevalence of latex allergy in this study is much higher than similar studies, which demands more evaluation to determine the contributing factors