prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in low socioeconomic people in Birjand 2008 [East of IRAN]

Introduction: Studying the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in low socioeconomic groups is of great importance. People who are under the supervisioin and care of Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation [IKRF] are the most deprived in Iran. The present survey aimed at investigating the prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors among the citizens who are under the supervision of IKRF

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 1008 individuals protected by the IKRF in Birjand in 2008 through multi-stage, random sampling. Demographic data were recorded. Furthermore, blood pressure, waist circumference, weight and height were measured by two trained nurses. Fasting Blood Sugar [FBS] and serum lipids were measured within 12 hours of overnight fasting. Chi-square and T-test were used for data analysis at the significant level of 0.05 using SPSS software [version 15]

Results: The mean age of the patients was 39 +/- 16.8 years and the most common proved risk factor was dyslipidemia [72%]. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia was 43/2% and 12.7% respectively. Obesity was detected in 32.1%. The prevalence of hypertension [HTN] and diabetes mellitus [DM] appeared to be 13.1% and 6.3% respectively. Smoking was distinguished in 9.8 % of the participants. The prevalence of high Cholestrol [P=0.001], high LDL [P=0.01], low HDL [P<0.001], overweight and obesity [P<0.001] was higher in female, but prevalence of smoking was higher in male [P<0.001]

Conclusion: Dyslipidemia, obesity and HTN were the most prevalent risk factors in IKRF supported groups with a low socioeconomic status. Thus, it is necessary to hold effective certain educational programs for all the community. Moreover, the screening of cardiac risk factors must be done for all individuals, particularly for those with a low socioeconomic status /

Comparison of the who child growth standards and the nchs for estimation malnutrition in Birjand-Iran

Anthropometric indices are widely used to assess the health and nutritional status of children. The aim of the present study was determination of malnutrition and compare estimates of under nutrition among young children under 2 years of age from Birjand city of Iran using WHO growth standard and the National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS] references. The cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on 822 children under 2 years of age mean z scores for weight-for-age and height-for-age and prevalence underweight, stunting and wasting were calculated using the new WHO growth standards and compared with NCHS references. Compared with NCHS reference, the mean height for age were lower and mean weight for age scores were almost similar using the WHO standards. Prevalence underweight, stunting, and wasting using WHO standards were 5.2-8.2% and 1.9%, respectively, compared to 6.5-37.3% and 1% based on the NCHS references. Using WHO standards resulted differences in mean z score for height for age and changes in prevalence of stunting compared with NCHS references in Birjand city children

[ assessment of radiographers' technical and protective performance in hospitals affiliated to Birjand University of Medical Sciences in 2012]

Background and Aim: Notwithstanding the benefits of radiography, the staff of radiography wards must take necessary care to minimize their own and patients' exposure to harmful rays. Therefore, the present paper aimed at assessing the radiolographers' awareness and performance concerning technical and protective principles

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, all the 26 radiolographers working in the radiology wards of Vali-asr and Imam Reza hospitals of Birjand participated. In order to collect data about their performance, a checklist whose reliability and validity had been approved was provided. For the radiography staff 17 technical and 12 protective items during three work shifts were checked and recorded. In order to measure their awareness of technical and protective principles, a 12-item questionnaire was completed by each of them. The obtained data was statistically analyzed by means of SPSS software using X[2]

Results: Mean Performance score in the technical area in the three work shifts was 15 +/- 1.60, and that of the protective area was 10.9 +/- 1.1 both of which were at an average level. Around 46.5% of the subjects gave correct answers to protective and 37.2% of them to the technical questions. The comparison of technical and protective performance scores showed no significant difference in terms of work shifts, education, gender, and type of employment [P>0.05]

Conclusion: The radiographers' awareness of technical and protective principles was at a very low level. Therefore, both quality academic training and in-service education seem necessary

Urinary melatonin levels and skin malignancy

Melatonin inhibits tumor genesis in a variety of in vivo and in vitro experimental models of neoplasia. In industrialized societies, light at night, by suppressing melatonin production, poses a new risk for the development of a variety of cancers such as breast cancer. This effect on skin has been previously studied only in animals and not in humans. Our goal was to examine the relationship between 24-hour 6-sulphatoxymelatonin levels and skin cancer in a case-control study of 70 patients with skin cancer and 70 healthy individuals. The level of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin was measured in 24-hour urine by the ELISA method. In the case group, 55 [78%] patients had basal cell carcinoma and 15 [22%] had squamous cell carcinoma. The mean level of 24-hour urine 6-sulfatoxymelatonin was significantly higher in the control group [P<0.001]. Also, sleep duration had a significant difference between the two groups [P=0.001]. It seems that a low level of 24-hour urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin renders human beings prone to skin cancer. This association, however, requires further investigation

Risk factors for premature myocardial infarction: a matched case-control study

Myocardial infarction in young age is increasing. Identifying risk factors could be important for health promotion. We studied classic atherosclerotic risk factors in premature myocardial infarction. In this matched case-control study, which was conducted from 2005 to 2007 in Birjand County, the east of Iran, atherosclerotic risk factors [hypertension, family history of coronary artery diseases, obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia] of 98 patients affected by acute myocardial infarction aged under 50 years were compared with that of 98 healthy neighborhood controls. Mean levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, as well as systolic blood pressure and body mass index were significantly higher in cases than in controls. There was a positive association between coronary artery disease at younger age and dyslipidemia OR=2.8 [95% CI: 1.5, 5.2], smoking OR=6.4 [95% CI: 3.0, 13.5], systolic hypertension OR=3.1 [95% CI: 1.5, 6.3], family history of coronary artery diseases OR=10.9 [95% CI: 3.2, 37.9] and diabetes OR=2.5 [95% CI: 1.04, 6.2]. Smoking, systolic hypertension and dyslipidemia were the most common risk factors among patients with premature myocardial infarction

Relationship of body mass index with serum lipids in elementary school students.

Objective. To determine the relationship of body mass index with serum lipids in elementary students. Methods. This prospective analytic study was conducted among 954 elementary school students (9-11years), selected by multi stage random systematic method from 6 cities and their rural areas from The South Khorasan province (eastern Iran) from September to December 2006. Height and weight was measured and Body mass index was calculated. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined. Results. 954 students 9-11 years old were studied. 45.4% were boys. 76.5% were living in the city. 1.8% of students were obese and 3.4% were over weight. There was no significant relation between obesity and overweight with sex, age and the area of residence. There was significant relation between BMI with TC (P= 0.003), TG (P< 0.001) and LDLC (P= 0.04). TG was significantly higher in obese and overweight students than in normal weight students (P< 0.001). TC (0.002) and LDL-C (0.01) were significantly higher in obese students than normal weight students. The prevalence of high TG was significantly higher in obese and overweight students than normal weight students (0.003). There was no significant difference between different kinds of dyslipidemia with area of residence. Conclusion. it is necessary to measure serum lipid profile in obese and overweight children.

Prevalence of zinc deficiency in elementary school children of South Khorasan Province [East Iran]

Zinc deficiency is common in developing countries and can affect growth of children. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of zinc deficiency and its effect on growth in elementary school children of South Khorasan province. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 908 9-11 year-old school children of South Khorasan province [East Iran] from October to December 2007. The subjects were chosen by multi-stage cluster random sampling method from urban and rural areas. Anthropometric measurements were made following standard techniques. Children were considered Stunting, underweight and wasting as height-for-age and weight-for-age and weight-for-height Z-score below or equal -2 standard deviation using the National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS] reference population. Serum zinc level was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed by the SPSS statistical package using t-test, Chi-square and ANOVA. Totally, 474 subjects [52.2%] were girls and 697 subjects [76.8%] resided in city. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting was 13.2%, 6.8% and 5.5%, respectively. The mean value of zinc plasma level was 87.7 [ +/- 32.7] micro g/dl; it was significantly higher in girls and in urban areas. There were no significant differences in mean serum zinc in school children with normal growth and subjects that were stunted, underweight or wasted. The prevalence of zinc deficiency was 28.1% and it was significantly higher in rural areas. The prevalence of zinc-deficiency was significantly higher in stunted school children than non-stunted children. Zinc deficiency is common in elementary school children of South Khorasan province, so searching studies for underlying factors of zinc deficiency and supplementation of zinc, especially in stunted students is recommended

epidemiological study on infant mortality and factors affecting it in rural areas of Birjand, Iran

Infant mortality rate is one of the most expressive indicators of development in all countries. The aim of this study was to determine the cause of infant mortality and risk factors in rural areas of Birjand in Iran.: This population based case-control study covered 156 infants who died when aged less than one-year in health houses of Birjand between January 2004 and December 2005. For each case, two controls were selected matching one-to-one to the case considering variables of residency and their date of birth. The data was collected through interview with mothers and reviewing infants' files in health houses. 57.7 percent of deaths in under one year old infants happened during the first month of their lives. The most important causes of death in neonates were prematurity and low birth weight [44.4%] later gastroenteritis [30.3%]. In addition, the study showed that 9.6 percent of infants had died because of narcotic toxicosis. Moreover, the study showed a significant relationship between infant mortality and parents' level of education, mother's addiction, age of mother in the first pregnancy, prematurity, low birth weight, type of delivery and exclusive breast feeding. Special attention to infantile period and special care for infants born to at-risk mothers, as well as providing special health education can cause a dramatic reduction in infants' mortality rate

Comparison of Lipoprotein [a] and apolipoproteins in children with and without familial history of premature coronary artery disease

The importance of cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia in prediction of later coronary artery disease [CAD] in offspring of high-risk family is well known. This study was performed to compare the level of lipoprotein [a] and apolipoproteins as new risk factors in children and adolescents with and without a family history of premature CAD This case-control study was performed from November 2004 until September 2005. All patients with premature myocardial infarction hospitalized in the coronary care units [CCU] of Vali-e-Asr hospital, who survived and had children between 2-14 years old, were defined as parents of the case group. 86 of them were chosen with simple non-random method. Only one child from each family was selected randomly. The control group consisted of children with nearest age and sex to children of the case group from the neighbors with equivalent socioeconomic status, without a family history of premature myocardial infarction. Subjects had been instructed to fast for 12 to 14 hours. Venous blood was analyzed for lipoprotein [a] and Apolipoprotein A1 and B100. The level of lipoprotein [a] was significantly higher in the case group. There was not a significant difference of lipoprotein levels between the two groups. Measurement of lipoprotein [a] is recommended in screening programs in offspring of high-risk families