[Evaluation of long-term effect of adding low-dose daclizumab to standard protocol on kidney rejection in kidney recipients]

Daclizumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against CD25 subunit of interlukin 2 receptor. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of daclizumab on reduction of acute rejection in renal transplantation with regular or limited dose. The present study assessed the outcomes of 3 and 5 years follow-up of a prospective case-control trial comparing safety and efficacy of induction therapy with two doses of daclizumab, compared with no induction treatment, in renal transplant recipients. This clinical-trial study was started in 2006 on 140 living donor kidney recipients admitted to kidney transplant ward of Kerman Afzalipour hospital, Iran. These patients were randomly assigned into two 70 patients, intervention and control groups. All patients received cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisolone. Intervention group recieved daclizumab at a dose of 1 mg/kg before transplantation and then two weeks later, also. All patients were followed up for 3 and 5 years for graft and patient survival and side effect of daclizumab, so.After 3 years, 58 patients remained in case and 61 in control group. Function of transplanted kidney was evaluated on base of calculated glomerular filtration rate [GFR], and after 3 and 5 years, were same between two groups. Rate of sepsis was same between two groups but infection with varicella zuster, in first 6 months after transplantation, was significantly more in intervention group [P = 0.04].Daclizumab did not have any effect on patient or graft survival. It did not increase the rate of sepsis but might increase the rate of varicella zuster infection

[Chemical composition of the essential oil and antioxidant activities, total phenol and flavonoid content of the extract of Nepeta pogonosperma]

Nepeta pogonosperma Jamzad and Assadi [Labiatae] is one of the endemic Nepeta species in Iran [Alamut region]. Flavonoids, iridoids, phenols and dierpenes have previously been reported in some Nepeta species. Genus of Nepeta have essential oil and antioxidant, antimicrobial, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and anxiolytic activities and also used in folk medicine because of their expectorant, antiseptic, antitussive, antiasthmatic and febrifuge effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate chemical composition of the essential oil and antioxidant activities, total phenol and flavonoid content of the extract of N. poganosperma in the flowering stage. Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the species were measured using colorimetric methods. The total antioxidant capacity was determined by the following ABTS and DPPH free-radicals scavenging and ferric reducing/antioxidant power [FRAP]. Essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The extract possessed a higher concentration of total phenol than total flavonoid content. Methanol extract showed moderate DPPH scavenging activity [IC50 < 200 microg/ml]. Fifty constituents were found representing 95.95% of the essential oil. The main constituents of the essential oil were 1, 8-cineole and 4aalpha, 7aalpha, 7aalpha-nepetalactone. The present results demonstrate that N. pogonospema extract exhibits antioxidant activity and may serve as potential source of natural antioxidants for treatment of some diseases. Further investigations are necessary for chemical characterization of the active compounds and more comprehensive biological assays

comparison of prevalence of diabete and hypertension between rural areas of Fars and rural area of EMRO region

Since monitoring and evaluation of diabetes and hypertension in individuals/the population greatly contribute to improving both clinical care and following identification of disease in the region and even the country, and to manage prevent and control diabetes and hypertension and their risk factors, the goal of this study was to compare disease status in rural areas of Fars province and rural areas of the EMRO region. The current study is a descriptive-analytic cross sectional one that has been conducted in 2008 by randomized cluster sampling, based on data obtained from an extensive provincial screening plan for adults aged over 30 years in rural areas of Fars province. Based on these data, the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and their risk factors were calculated and the relationship between diabetes and hypertension was determined by risk factors including age, sex, family history, and Ml using Chi square and t-test and SPSS software version 17 and Minitab version, prevalences in 15 is rural areas were compared with the ones in EMRO region countries. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes rural areas of Fars province were calculated to be 21.8% and 11.14% respectively as compared with rural areas of EMRO region countries.The prevalence of diabetes was also lower on the average and the prevalence of obesity [BMI>30], was less than other countries in the region and Iran. In general, although, the prevalence obtained in this study was lower than other regional countries, raising a wareness in high rish groups affected public commitment to basic information transmitting to high risk classes of the society should be taken into account and commitment by the health system administration and the government to sustain monitoring of health, to ensure curtailing the burden of diabetes and hypertension and associated risk factors among countries of the region

[Knowledge, attitude and practice of physicians and pediatricians regarding the prevention of oral disease in children]

Statement of Problem: General practitioners and pediatricians are in an ideal position to advise families about the prevention of oral diseases in their children because of their frequent contacts with families for routine preventive visits in the child's first few years of life

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the prevention of oral diseases among an Iranian group of physicians and pediatricians

Methods and Material: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 296 physicians and pediatricians in Isfahan. A self-administered questionnaire was used to determine the socio-demographic information, knowledge on risk factors, attitude and practice about the prevention of oral diseases. The collected data were analyzed using t-test and Chi-square statistical tests

Result: The mean scores of knowledge, attitude and practice on the prevention of oral diseases among physicians and pediatricians were 62 +/- 14, 94 +/- 8 and 38 +/- 17, respectively. No significant differences were detected between physicians and pediatricians in their scores [p >0.05]. Knowledge and also their practice showed a correlation with their attitude. Physicians who worked at governmental centers had better oral health practice

Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, the present educational courses about oral health in medical school both in undergraduate and postgraduate curricula are insufficient. The good level of knowledge and attitude but weakness in oral health practice revealed that the increased level of knowledge and attitude does not necessarily lead to good practice in prevention of oral diseases. Therefore, practical education on oral health and training for referring the cases to dentists during medical students. education can improve their practice in oral health preventive measures

Hyalomma aegyptium on spur-thighed tortoise [testudo graeca] in Urmia region west Azerbaijan, Iran

Ticks are obligate blood feeders that parasitize a wide variety of animals. Hyalomma aegyptium, parasitize tortoises and other small wild life and livestock. This study was carried out to determine spur-thighed tortoise [Testudo graeca] infestation to H. ageyptium in Urmia region West Azerbaijan of Iran. The study was carried out over a 16 month period from the spring of 2004 to the fall of 2005. A total of 32 tortoises were sampled. The results indicated that 14 tortoises infected with ticks. A total of 117 ticks were collected from infested animals, the minimum and maximum tick infestation was 1-60. Ticks were attached to the axilla of fore and hind legs of tortoises. All ticks were determined to be H. aegyptium. H. aegyptium was the most common tick species in the study area. Due to tendency of some people to keeping tortoise as pet animal, more attention must be done to tortoise's tick infestation. Due to existence of H. aegyptium on tortoises in this region more study will need to evaluate presence of this tick on other animal species and its role on transmission of diseases

[Frequency and intensity of depression during menstrual period and it's relation with religious attitudes in Karaj High School Girls 2003]

One the most critical life periods of a girl is beginning of puberty and menstrual period .Depression is one the psychological disorders of puberty period which is prevalent among adolescent girls. Performing religious duties is one the important prevention factors of mental disorders especially depression. This research is performed with the aim to determine the frequency and intensity of depression during menstrual period and its relation with religious attitudes in Karaj high school girls in 2003. This research is a cross sectional descriptive-analytical study in which 264 students of ages 13-18 were randomly selected as samples. The instrument of data collection was questionnaire. To analyze data, descriptive and inferential statistical methods and SPSS software were used. The results indicated that, most of samples [64.8%] suffered from different degrees of depression and remaining 35.2% showed no depression. 63.7% of depressed students had mild, 30.5% moderate and 5.8% had severe depression. 14.4%, 68.6% and 17.0% of cases had high, moderate and low religious believes respectively. Moreover, results showed a meaningful and significant negative correlation between frequency and intensity of menstrual depression and religious believes [p<0.001]. Considering the research results, this disorder can be minimized through enhancing religious believes by families and educational centers and also enjoying the help of midwives and health centers as counselors