ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: While gender differences in physical activity (PA) have been reported, their origin is not well understood. The present study aimed to identify factors contributing to this disparity.METHODS: This was a population-based cross-sectional study based on the 2011 surveillance of risk factors of non-communicable diseases that was conducted among Iranian adults. Multi-staged sampling was performed to obtain the required study sample. The primary outcome was gender differences in the prevalence of sufficient physical activity (SPA). Total physical activity (TPA) was calculated as metabolic equivalents (MET) per minute during a typical week, as recommended by the World Health Organization. On this basis, achieving 600 MET-min/wk or more was defined as SPA. The nonlinear Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition technique was used to explain the disparity.RESULTS: The predicted gap was 19.50%. About one-third of the gap was due to differences in the level of observable covariates. Among them, work status contributed the most (29.61%). A substantial portion of the gap remained unexplained by such differences, of which about 40.41% was related to unobservable variables. The differential effects of standard of living, ethnicity, and smoking status made the largest contribution, accounting for 37.36, 35.47, and 28.50%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to reduce the gender gap in PA should focus on increasing TPA among housewives and women with chronic diseases, as well as those with a higher standard of living. In addition, it is essential to explore the impact of ethnicity and smoking status on women's TPA in order to promote health.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Chronic Disease , Cross-Sectional Studies , Gender Identity , Metabolic Equivalent , Motor Activity , Physical Exertion , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Smoke , Smoking , Socioeconomic Factors , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: While gender differences in physical activity (PA) have been reported, their origin is not well understood. The present study aimed to identify factors contributing to this disparity. METHODS: This was a population-based cross-sectional study based on the 2011 surveillance of risk factors of non-communicable diseases that was conducted among Iranian adults. Multi-staged sampling was performed to obtain the required study sample. The primary outcome was gender differences in the prevalence of sufficient physical activity (SPA). Total physical activity (TPA) was calculated as metabolic equivalents (MET) per minute during a typical week, as recommended by the World Health Organization. On this basis, achieving 600 MET-min/wk or more was defined as SPA. The nonlinear Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition technique was used to explain the disparity. RESULTS: The predicted gap was 19.50%. About one-third of the gap was due to differences in the level of observable covariates. Among them, work status contributed the most (29.61%). A substantial portion of the gap remained unexplained by such differences, of which about 40.41% was related to unobservable variables. The differential effects of standard of living, ethnicity, and smoking status made the largest contribution, accounting for 37.36, 35.47, and 28.50%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to reduce the gender gap in PA should focus on increasing TPA among housewives and women with chronic diseases, as well as those with a higher standard of living. In addition, it is essential to explore the impact of ethnicity and smoking status on women's TPA in order to promote health.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Chronic Disease , Cross-Sectional Studies , Gender Identity , Metabolic Equivalent , Motor Activity , Physical Exertion , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Smoke , Smoking , Socioeconomic Factors , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
This study was conducted to examine the relationship between urbanization and risk factors of noncommunicable diseases [NCDs] according to the World Health Organization stepwise approach to surveillance of NCDs. This study is part of a NCD risk factor surveillance of 10 069 individuals in all provinces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, aged over 20 years, during 2011. By utilizing 2011 census data, urbanization levels were determined in all provinces and logistics regression was used to examine the relationship between urbanization and risk factors. Among males, urbanization had a positive correlation with low physical activity [OR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.42-2.09], low fruit and vegetable consumption [OR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.09-2.96], and high BMI [OR=1.4; 95% CI: 1.20-1.70]. Among females there was a positive and significant correlation with low physical activity [OR=1.2; 95% CI: 1.08-1.49], low fruit and vegetable consumption [OR=1.22; 95% CI: 0.78-1.91] and high BMI [OR=1.3; 95% CI: 1.14-1.53]. Thus, urbanization has a significant correlation with increases in NCD factors in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Urbanization , Risk Factors , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) isolated from ready-to-eat foods of Iran. Methods: From January to August 2013, a total of 368 unpacked ready-to-eat food samples were purchased from randomly selected supermarkets, retail stores and restaurants located in Isfahan and Shahrekord, Iran and were evaluated for the presence of C. difficile. Results: C. difficile spores were detected in 5 (1.36%) of the 368 samples. The highest prevalence of C. difficile was found in fasl salad (4.29%), followed by yogurt stew (2%), and olovyeh salad (0.93%). All 140 maccaroni salad and falafel sandwich samples were negative for C. difficile. One of the five C. difficile isolates (20%) contained tcdA, tcdB and cdtB toxin genes and four strains (80%) contained tcdA, and tcdB toxin genes. Also, among the five C. difficile isolates, only three strains were found to be toxigenic for toxin A and/or B by ELISA. Isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole, but variably resistant to other antimicrobial drugs. Conclusions: This study, combined with studies on other food sources, suggests that widespread contamination of food is common.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Myrtus communis (M. communis) L. against Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (E. rhusiopathiae) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wild populations of M. communis collected from Khuzestan and Lorestan provinces, Southwest Iran, were examined for antibacterial activity and chemical variability in leaves. The in vitro antibacterial activity against E. rhusiopathiae was performed by agar disc diffusion and micro-dilution assays.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The essential oils of M. communis have strong antibacterial against E. rhusiopathiae in both assays. The results showed that the major components of the oil were α-pinene (22.3%-55.2%), 1,8-cineole (8.7%-43.8%) and linalool (6.4%-14.5%). The inhibition zones and MIC values for bacteria which were sensitive to the essential oils of M. communis were in the range of 14.7-27.0 mm and 0.031-0.25 mg/mL, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study demonstrates that products with valuable antibacterial activity can be produced from leaves of M. communis against E. rhusiopathiae.</p>
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Human brucellosis is an endemic disease in many countries including Iran. Exact diagnosis of brucellosis is not just based on clinical symptoms, because it will be considered in differential diagnosis of other diseases. Therefore, defining organism in culture or identification of organism by serological and molecular methods for confirming clinical diagnosis is necessary. Our aim was to develop a diagnostic PCR assay and define the optimal clinical specimen for this test. This cross-sectional and descriptive study was from February 2011 to November 2012. Results of standard agglutination test [SAT] and specific immunoglobulin IgG and IgM by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] were compared with multiplex PCR in 116 patients with suspected brucellosis referred to the Ali Ebn-e-Abitaleb hospital, Rafsanjan, Iran. Their sera were collected and tested by SAT, ELISA and multiplex PCR. DNA was extracted from serum samples and examined by multiplex PCR involving specific primers for Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus based on IS711 in the brucella chromosome. Brucellosis was confirmed in 116 patients [75% male and 25% female] based on applied diagnostic methods and clinical features. Results of ELISA, the SAT, and PCR were positive in 116, respectively. B. abortus and B. melitensis were detected in 101 and 15 patients. The results of present study showed that multiplex PCR assay is a rapid and sensitive technique for diagnosis of brucellosis compared to SAT. However it is more accurate when coupled with conventional methods
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Campylobacter species are common bacterial pathogens causing gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. A total of 148 randomly sheep carcasses were sampled by surface section of neck meat taken immediately after slaughter analyzed using microbiological examinations. Campylobacter spp. was isolated from 10.13% meat cultures samples examined. Among these 80% sample were C. jejuni and 20% sample were C. coli. Using PCR assays, the number of positive campylobacters increased to 11.48%. Of these positive samples, 82.35% were C. jejuni and 17.65% were C. coli. Significantly higher prevalence rates of Campylobacter spp. [p<0.05] were found in the meat samples taken in summer [47.05%]. The PCR is a reliable and sensitive method which can be used as a diagnostic technique for the detection of campylobacter in lamb samples
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Despite the high value of poultry meat, there is no accurate control and inspection on poultry carcasses in the slaughterhouse. Therefore, the possibility of transmission of some bacteria like Escherichia coli which is one of the main causes of food poisoning is not unexpected. The present study was carried out to detect and analyse antibiotic resistance pattern of Escherichia coli O157 isolated from pheasant, partridge, duck and goose meat in Gilan, Mazandaran, Isfahan and Fars provinces, Iran. For doing the experiments, 25, 17, 22 and 36 samples from pheasant, partridge, duck and goose chest muscle meat were collected, respectively. The samples were immediately transferred to the laboratory in cooler ice-pack. All samples were cultured and DNA was extracted from the typical bacterial colonies which represent Escherichia coli. Polymerase chain reaction was used to confirme the diagnosis and to detect O157 serogroup. Finally, the antibiotic resistance pattern was studied using simple disk diffusion method. The results showed that 27% of samples were positive for presence of Escherichia coli; 6 of them had the O157 serogroup. The goose and partridge meat had the highest and lowest frequencies of bacterium and O157 serogroup, respectively. The Escherichia coli which were isolated from poultry meat had the highest antibiotic resistance to sulfamethoxazol and vancomycinand the lowest antibiotic resistance to ciprofloxacinand gentamycin. A significant statistical difference [P < 0.05] was seen between the prevalence rate of the bacterium and O157 serogroup in goose and partridge meat and between the levels of resistance to various antibiotics. We recommended using Polymerase Chain Reaction as an accurate, rapid and safe method to control presence of some pathogens like Escherichia coli. This study showed that using simple disk diffusion method is very essential before antibiotic prescription.
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Influenza virus H9N2 Low Pathogenicity of the viruses that are causing the disease in 1999, two 1 and 4-year-old girl in Hong Kong. Although influenza A H9N2 subtype virus is considered as widely spread low pathogen in poultry, however there are a few reports of human infection by this virus. This study was conducted to evaluate if such infection in human related by Poultry Farm Industries i.e. workers of slaughter house, poultry farms, and poultry clinics in Iran has occurred or not. In this study, sera and swabs-nasal and throat-were collected from workers of slaughter houses, poultry farms, Razi institute. To prevent false positive and negative results in HI test the sera were treated by trypsin-periodate and concentrated RBC respectively. RT-PCR was accomplished seeking HA and NP genes of H9N2 subtype influenza viruses. Of 148 sera HI titers, two and 17 samples were 1/160 and 1/40 respectively for antibody against H9N2 influenza virus. The higher titers belonged to slaughter house workers. No viruses were detected in RT-PCR. The positive sera for antibody against H9N2 influenza virus showed a changing tendency of these viruses toward infecting human tracheal epithelia. However the highest titer in slaughter house worker showed the need to close contact with poultry and their feeces for infection to be occurred. It means that the virus needs more circulation in human population to be adapted as true human influenza virus