Attitudes toward menopause among middle-aged women in Semnan, Iran

The menopause marks a major biological transition in the lives of all women.Understanding the attitude of women about menopause facilitates the implementationof public health policies that focus on improving women's health. This study wasdesigned to determine the attitude of a group of Iranian women toward menopausewith respect to sociodemographic variables and menopausal status.A cross-sectional study was conducted at Primary Health Centers of Semnan during2012. A total of 747 women aged 45-60 years were interviewed Sociodemographiccharacteristics and attitude toward menopause were collected through a structuredpretested questionnaire. The attitude scale consisted of 17 questions, each rated ona five-point Likert scale with a total score of 85 points.The mean [ +/- SD] age of women was 51.3 [ +/- 4,5] years. Women were classified aspremenopausal [38.4%], perimenopausal [16.9%], and postmenopausal [44.8%].he majority of respondents [63.5%] were illiterate or have had low level of education [<9 years], and 86.3% were unemployed. The mean [ +/- SD] attitude score was 53.3 [ +/- 6.8]. Most of the women [71%] had neutral attitude, 22,8% had positive, and only6.3% had negative attitude toward menopause. Menopausal status, educational level,marital status, place of residency, and employment were not associated with women'sattitude. In general, women's attitude toward menopause ranged from neutral to positive. Theattitude did not differ significantly on the basis of menopausal status, educational level,marital status, place of residency, and employment

[Relationship between alopecia areata and serum ferritin, TIBC and serum iron levels]

Alopecia areata is a common disease that affects the life quality of patients. Iron deficiency has been suggested to play a role, but its effect is controversial. We decided to evaluate the relationship between alopecia areata and serum ferritin, TIBC and serum iron levels. In this study, 30 patients who were diagnosed with alopecia areata by a dermatologist and 30 healthy individual as the control group were evaluated. All the cases [patients and control group] were referred to Semnan Central Lab for the following laboratory tests: CBC test [WBC, HGB, PLT, MCV, MCH, MCHC], serum ferritin, serum iron and serum TIBC. Mean serum ferritin [P<0.001], serum iron [P<0.001], transferin saturation [P<0.001] and mean hemoglobin [P=0.002] were significantly lower in patient group comparing to the control group. Mean TIBC [P<0.001] was significantly higher in patient group in compared with the control group [P<0.001]. Our findings indicate that there is a relationship between alopecia areata and low serum ferritin, low serum iron and increased TIBC. Therefore evaluation of serum iron status and treatment, if needed, with iron supplements is recommended in alopecia areata patients

Relationship between asymtomatic Brucella infection and spontaneous abortion

Brucella infection in animals has got documented association with high incidence of abortion, but in human there are controversies about the role of brucellosis in spontaneous abortion. Since brucellosis is endemic in Iran and is a disease that can be diagnosed and treated and many causes of abortion are undiagnosed, this study was designed to evaluate probable association between maternal brucella infection and spontaneous abortion. This clinical-trial study was done in the year 2006 at Amir-al Momenin Hospital of Semnan University of Medical Sciences. 81 women with spontaneous abortion were considered as case and 103 women with normal pregnancy outcome as control group. Previous pregnancy rates, previous abortion rates, and pregnancy age were similar in both groups. Two milliliter blood samples obtained from each one and IgG and IgM antibody measured by ELISA method in both groups. IgG or IgM equal or greater than ten considered positive. Individual, pregnancy age, fresh cheese and milk consumption, blood examination tests were gathered in a questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics and statistical tests with significance of 5%.Both groups were matched based on age, number of previous pregnancies and abortion, pregnancy age and consumption of fresh cheese. 6.2% of cases and 13.6% of control group had positive IgG titer [IgG >/= 10 units]. In both groups IgM was negative [IgM < 10 units]. There was no significant relationship between brucella antibody and spontaneous abortion. There was significant relationship between raw milk consumption and spontaneous abortion [OR=6.31].This study showed that asymptomatic brucella infection has no role in spontaneous abortion