Characterization of Leishmania isolated from unhealed lesions caused by leishmanization

Leishmania parasites were isolated after 13 and 8 years from the unhealed lesions of 2 soldiers who had been immunized against leishmaniasis during the war between Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Isoenzyme characterization on these isolates using 11 enzyme systems was carried out and the results were compared with the enzyme profiles of the original isolates of L. major used for leishmanization. Minor enzymatic differences in glucose-6-phosphate dehyrognase and phosphoglucomutase were observed but otherwise the strains appeared unchanged

[ study of knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers on hypertension at villages of Yazd - 1384]

Hypertension is the most important risk factor for coronary heart diseases. Statistics indicates the high rate of hypertension in Iran [11.5%] and in yazd the highest [19.3%]. Regarding the role that inappropriate diet plays in causing hypertension as well as mothers' role in nutritional management of family and in adopting and administrating health instructions, this study was carried out to determine the knowledge and attitude of mothers in villages of Yazd. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Information was collected by a standard questionnaire. 363 mothers, their health being controlled by Health Service Centers, were selected by simple sampling and the data was analyzed by SPSS. 92.4% of the mothers knew that salt overuse can act as a factor affecting hypertension. According to most of the mothers [76.1% and 73.8%] hypertension has a good effect on stroke and heart attack respectively. Mothers' knowledge mean score on hypertension was 16.4 +/- 3. 68.3% of mothers had an average knowledge on hypertension and merely 23.1% enjoyed a good knowledge in this regard. In this study, there was no significant relationship between disparity of the average knowledge score among various academic and business groups [P>0.05]. However the relationship between mothers' knowledge score and informed threat score was significant. Media was the most important source of information for mothers [47.5%]. Mothers regarded daily chores as the most effective factor on lack of hypertension control. 32% of the patients were on a diet and 60% used medicine prescribed by their physicians. No one believed that drugs are of no use on hypertension control. Generally, the results showed the good knowledge of mothers about effective factors on hypertension and their complications. But, mothers' attitude and practice on prevention and control of hypertension wasn't acceptable. It was suggested that an extensive educational program should be planned to promote knowledge, attitude and practice of the people especially mothers on the problem

[Depression in truck driver: prevalence and related factors]

Depression is the most prevalent psychiatry disorder. It consist of 35-40% of all psychiatry disorders that lead to medical intervention. Driving is a dangerous job and drivers are strongly susceptible to physical and mental disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression and to investigate factors related to depression in truck drivers. Using a descriptive cross-sectional study in Yazd province goods terminal, 222 truck drivers were evaluated by a questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were determined using the Beck Depression Inventory. Data was analyzed by the statistical package for the social sciences. The mean +/- SD of depression score was 18 +/- 11 and major depression prevalence came to 15.5%. In this study we couldn't find any statistical significant correlation between the depression score and variables such as age, benefitting from a co-driver, accident in last year, specific disease, use of specific drug, type of truck ownership, marital status, educational status, duration of driving, number of children and number of cigarettes smoked in 24 hours. But the correlation between the depression score and number of home returning days was statistically nearly significant [r=0.108, p=0.06] and showed a reverse statistical significance related to the number of sleeping hours in 24 hours [r=-0.183, p=0.005]. Also in this study there was a significant association between depression score and dwelling city and capacity of loading truck [p=0.02]. Prevalence of major depression in drivers is higher than total population. Since depression leads to disturbance in concentration and alters the nature of a person's behavior, so there must be planning for health promotion in drivers to reduce accidents