[Investigation on mycobacteriosis in aquarium fish: a periodic study in Ahvaz]

Mycobacterial infection or Mycobacteriosis is one of the most important zoonotic bacterial diseases in fish, especially in aquarium fish, worldwide. Despite the importance of this disease, there is no record about the surveillance of this disease in Ahvaz region-Iran. In this investigation the occurrence of Mycobacterium spp. in ornamental fish was studied using PCR technique. In this survey, 150 fish were obtained from aquarium shops of Ahvaz. The fish was belonged to 5 species, i.e. Scatophagus argus, Astronotus ocellatus, Heross severus, Caesioteres sp. and Symphysodon aequifasciatus. The fish were transferred to the laboratory and examined after dissection. Meanwhile, liver, kidney and spleen samples were collected for PCR analysis. 80% of the examined fish showed no gross lesions at necropsy. However, only in a few fish some symptoms such as emaciation and anorexia were observed. In this study only 1 out of 150 fish [Heros severus] was detected as positive in PCR examination. Meanwhile, in DNA sequencing the bacterial species was recognized as Mycobacterium bovis. Other fish species showed no infection with Mycobacteria in PCR examination. Due to no pathogenesis of M. bovis in fish, this positive specimen can be considered as a transmission to fish from infected persons or feed products. These negative findings show that this Iranian region can be considered as a freeone for these particular pathogens

[Complications of transpupillary thermotherapy in exudative age-related macular degeneration]

To evaluate the visual outcomes and complications of low power transpupillary thermotherapy [TTT] in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration [AMD]. The study included 20 eyes of 17 patients. Diagnosis of exudative AMD was established on the basis of fundus examination and fluorescein angiography [FA]. TTT was performed using a diode laser at 810 nm wavelength, spot size of 2.5 to 4 mm and duration of 60 seconds for each spot with power settings between 300-600 mw [20% reduction]. Follow-up visits were scheduled 1 and 6 weeks and 1, 3 and 6 months after the procedure and yearly thereafter. Patients were followed for at least 6 months. Cases with persistent leakage from CNV in late frames of FA were referred for another treatment option. Patients included 10 men [12 eyes] and 7 women [8 eyes] with mean age of 70.71 +/- 9.8 [range 50-84] years. Baseline best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA] ranged from 20/50 to 20/1300. Post-TTT regression of leakage [clinically and angiographically], and improvement or stabilization of visual acuity, was not statistically significant [P=0.14]. Post-TTT complications included subretinal prepapillary hemorrhages in 2 eyes, vitreous hemorrhage in 2 eyes and macular infarction in one eye. At final follow-up, fibrosis of the CNV was detected in 7 [35%] eyes and flat chorioretinal atrophy with hypopigmentation was seen in 11 [55%] eyes. There was no significant difference between cases with flat atrophy and those with fibrous scars in terms of BCVA [P=0.91]. Subgroup analysis showed that patients with better visual acuity [>/=20/60] had poorer visual outcomes after TTT [P=0.03]. Overall, in spite of the low threshold, visual acuity remained unchanged or decreased. Although TTT can occlude choroidal neovascularization, it could not prevent retinal complications and occurrence or progression of chorioretinal atrophy or subretinal fibrosis

[Ocular findings associated with meningomyelocele in two brothers with gaucher's disease]

To describe the variability of ocular and systemic findings in two brothers with Gaucher's disease. Ophthalmic, general clinical evaluation and enzymatic studies were performed in two brothers, 14 and 7 years old with Gaucher's disease. Mental retardation, occipital meningomyelocele and Gaucher cells in bone marrow in addition to high myopia and various fundus abnormalities consisting of granular white lesions in the fundus periphery were noted. In the older brother, splenomegaly and anemia, macular coloboma -like anomaly in the right eye and night blindness were additional findings. There are various ocular findings including fundus changes and high myopia in Gaucher's disease

[Survey and comparative study of retinal vein occlusion risk factors]

39 cases of retinal vein occlusion that sequentially attended to eye clinic in 3 years enrolled in this study. The hypertension, cigarette smoking, mean plasma homocystein and age-range in retinal vein occlusion category were compared with 49 controls. 19 cases had Branch retinal vein occlusion and 20 have Central retinal vein occlusion, 15 of them were female and the remainder [24] was male 17 cases had left eye involvement and one has bilateral involvement. Except 5 cases, most of the patients had at least one of 3 systemic diseases [Hypertension, Diabetes, and hyperlipidemia]. The mean plasma homocystein level in cases was 15, 39 micro mol/l and in controls it was 15.95 which was not statistically significant. [p=0.42]. The mean plasma homocystein level was above the normal in 21 cases [13.0 micro mol/l] and in 28 control subjects. This study showed that retinal vein occlusion is mostly associated with one of the systemic diseases. We could not find also statistically significant relation between homocysteine level and retinal vein occlusion in this study

Assessment of conventional Crigler massage in recovery of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction

We aimed to determine the success rate of conventional massage in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. 45 children attending to eye clinic with congenital nasolacriml duct obstruction initially were treated with Crigler massage ad conventional procedure. We therefore evaluated the effect of the implemented message upon one week. The overall success rate in all age groups was 84.4%, whereas it was 100% in group 1 [under 8 months], 75% in group 2 [8-12 months] and 100% in group 3 [13-24 months]. One eye did not response to treatment. Congenital nasolariml duct obstruction was more common in girls than boys and left eye involvement was more prevalent than right eye. Conservative treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction as a conventional procedure by ophthalmologist could be an efficient outcome

[Prevalence of obesity and its associated factors in population aged 20 to 70 years in urban areas of Mazandaran]

Obesity is an undesirable outcome of changing of life style and behavior. In order to control obesity associated diseases, this study was aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and its associated factors in population aged 20 to 70 years in urban areas of the province of Mazandaran, in North of Iran. A population based cross-sectional study with a sample of 3600 subjects using cluster sampling techniques, was conducted in urban areas of four cities: Sari, Gaemshahr, Babol and Amol. In each city, 30 random clusters were selected based on cumulative family health number under coverage of different urban health centers using systematic sampling techniques. In each cluster, 15 men and 15 women aged 20 to 70 years were selected and assessed. The anthropometric measures [height, weight] were measured with standard methods and the social, demographic and some life style data were collected with interview using a designed questionnaire. In assessment of obesity, a standard recommended WHO method based on BMI distribution was used. The logistic regression model was used to estimate the age adjusted odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval and the P-value <0.05 was considered as significant level. The mean [ +/- SD] age of men and women were 38.5 +/- 14.2 and 37.5 +/- 13.0 years respectively. The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight were 18.8% and 34.8% respectively [27.8%, 33.5% for men and 9.9% and 36.2% for women]. The pattern of obesity was significantly different with age in both genders. The results of logistic regression model showed that the odds ratio of obesity for age increased up to 60 years and then it tended to decrease slightly [P<0.0001]. The age adjusted odds ratio for obesity was greater roughly 3.6 times in women compared with men [P<0.0001]. The adjusted odds ratio decreased with increasing the level of education [P<0.0001] while the odds ratio was 0.19 for education at university level [P<0.0001]. The adjusted odds ratio was tended to decrease with occupational activities, physical activity level in leisure time and exercise level. The results of this study indicate an increased rate of obesity and overweight in urban population. With respect to these findings, low level of physical activity and education, parity, family history of obesity, marriage at earlier age, gender and aging were responsible for obesity. Therefore, community based multiple strategies are required to combat the increasing rate of obesity and its subsequent complications