ABSTRACT
Approximately 2.2 billion [2200 million] of the world population are living in the area with Iodine deficiency [ID], most of them in the developing countries. In IRAN about 2 million are exposed to Iodine deficiency. Most of the complications of ID are not curable, especially brain damage. On the other hand, adding iodine to daily salt is a suitable program for decreasing iodine deficiency. This has been the main aim of IDD National committee since 1986. This study is a before after preventive trial, and was conducted to determine the effect of iodized salt in preventing the disorders of Iodine deficiency. This study was a preventive field trial in 2 stages before and after prevention. Since 1995, Iodized salt has been distributed in Tabas in Yazd province. Sample of 2,150 students aged 6 18 years were chosen by stratified cluster random sampling method from 24 schools, 12 schools from rural and 12 from urban areas. Goiter frequency and educational status were determined using WHO criteria and mean scored, respectively. Prevalence of goiter has decreased from 34 to 25 percent after 10 years [P < 0.001]. The prevalence in urban areas has decreased from 35.8 to 23.5 percent and in rural from 35.6 to 28.5 percent [P = 0.02]. Prevalence of Goiter has changed from 32.8 to 20 percent and from 39.5 to 31.5 in boys and girls, respectively [P < 0.001]. There was a statistically significant relation between educational status and goiter frequency before and after prevention [P = 0.01]. There was also a statistically significant relation between educational status in 2 stages, before and after intervention [P < 0.001]. Although, there are some confounding variables, such as: educational resources development, improved educational methods, and enhanced family emphasis on extracurricular education, increased frequency of students in higher education after intervention shows the iodine effects on mental function
ABSTRACT
The most effective treatment in chemical warfare victims [CWV] suffering from severe long-term obstructive pulmonary disease is inhaled corticosteroids [ICS] and long acting beta-2 agonists. Study results on adverse effects of ICS on bone were conflicting. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of ICS on bone mineral density [BMD] of CWV and possible effects of chemical warfare agents on BMD. Thirty-five CWVs entered this study. Demographic and spirometric data [including staging of severity of lung disease] and BMD results as shown by z-score and t- score measured in lumbar and femoral regions were evaluated in this group of patients. In comparison, 75 normal subjects as controls were included in this study and their BMD results were compared with those of the case group. The mean age in CWVs was 41.40 +/- 7.74 years, which showed no significant difference with that of the control group. According to spirometric data, CWVs had obstructive lung disease. BMD in lumbar and femoral regions in the case group was 1.14 +/- 0.14 and 0.93 +/- 0.13 g/cm[2] respectively, which showed no significant difference with that of the control group. Regression analysis showed that BMD in the femoral region was correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] and forced vital capacity [FVC] and t-score in lumbar region was correlated with FEV1. BMD in the femoral region decreased as the severity of bronchial obstruction increased [0.99 +/- 1.07 g/cm[2] in mild form to 0.75 +/- 0.27 in severe form; F=3.91, P=0.03] but in the lumbar region BMD had no significant correlation with severity of bronchial obstruction. BMD did not decrease during long-term therapy with ICS in CWVs. Severity of bronchial obstruction can be an important risk factor