An epidemiological study of road traffic accidents in guilan province, northern iran in 2012

Objective: To determine the epidemiological characteristics of the road traffic injuries [RTIs] in Guilan province, northern Iran

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study which included all of RTIs admitted to medical centers of Guilan province [northern Iran] during 2012. ICD-10 was used as diagnostic criteria. Demographic variables also injury circumstance and in hospital variables such as length of stay, time of admission, type of surgery, ICU admission, final outcome and mechanism of injury, anatomical part of injury according to Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] classification were derives from records by trained research team. Descriptive data is reported

The predictors of mortality were also determined

Results: The prevalence of road traffic injuries in Guilan province was 31 in 10,000 populations. Of total 7671 accidents, 5976 [77.9%] were men and 1695 [22.1%] were women. Mean age of these victims was 33.3+/-17.289 years [32.64+/-16.939 for men, 35.62+/-18.312 for women]

Most of them [32.5%] were 20-29 years old. Motorcyclecar accidents had the highest frequency followed by car-car crashes and car accidents involving pedestrians

Most of the patients [85.9%] were hospitalized and 280 injured died [3.7%]

Upper extremities were the most sites of injuries. Male sex, length of hospital stay, multiple injuries and increased age were associated with road traffic accident associated mortality

Conclusion: RTIs cause enormous death and disability in this area and more road traffic preventive programs should be enforcement in these areas to reduce incidences RTI

[Body mass index and mental health in people referring to assadabadi health center in Tabriz, Iran]

Obesity is known as a public health issue. In addition to common problems,it also affects the mental health. The environmental factors are very effective on mental health among which nutrition and BMI have a critical role. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between BMI and mental health in Tabriz Assadabadi Health Center. This cross-sectional and analytic study was performed out on 500 people referring to assadabadi health center in Tabriz Assadabadi Health Center. Using a questionnaire, individual, population and community information was obtained from each case including sex, age, weight, height, family size, income, education, and occupation. A 28-itemGeneral Health Questionnaire [GHQ] was used for evaluation of mental health. Data were analyzed using Mann-whitney test. This study was performed on 127 men and 373 women, with mean age of 37.92 and 32.85 years, respectively. The BMI of 36.5% of the cases was in normal range, 33.5% of cases were overweight, and 22.9% were obese. Regarding mental health indexes, 51.8% of the subjects were healthy and 48.2% were unhealthy according to GHQ-28. There was a significant statistical relationship between BMI and mental health condition [p= 0.015]. The results of this study underlined that body weight could be related to mental health

[Common KRAS and BRAF mutations in colorectal cancer patients]

KRAS and BRAF gene mutations are considered as key events in carcinogenesis progression of colorectal cancer. Given the importance of these gene mutations evaluations, especially in metastatic patients, in terms of determination of therapeutic strategies, we studied the prevalence of KRAS and BRAF mutations in Tabriz city. Deoxyribonucleic Acid [DNA] extracted from Fresh tumor and normal tissues of 30 primary CRC patients. Direct sequencing method, was the method for determining the mutation points of KRAS exon 2 and BRAF exon 15 genes. After mutation analysis, the clinical and pathological associations of mutant genes were assessed. The prevalence of KRAS gene mutation was 20 %[6 out of 30 cases] in this study, and none of patients had the mutant BRAF gene. The odds ratio of the KRAS gene mutation in high grade CRCs was 2.1[95% CI: 1.34 to 3.29]. The same ratio for metastasis was 1.1[95% CI: 0.93 to 1.25]. There was no significant relationship between the mutation and clinical and pathological aspects of the disease. The high occurrence of early onset of colorectal cancer in Iran demands more attention to screening and prevention programs in the younger age group in the country. However further genetic studies are needed at the molecular level and large population in different geographical areas

Prevalence of oral human papilloma virus in healthy individuals in east Azerbaijan province of Iran

Human papilloma virus causes benign and malignant abnormalities in different part of the body. The link between high risk types of HPV and some anogenital and aerodigestive tract cancer is well established. Oral HPV infection plays a role in developing oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We studied the prevalence of oral HPV in healthy individuals and its relative risk factors. Saliva samples of 114 healthy subjects were collected for HPV DNA analysis. Volunteers completed questionnaires and signed a written consent. For data analysis descriptive statistic, chi square test and odds ratio was used. The frequency of oral HPV in healthy individuals was 6.1% [seven participant]. The most frequent type was HPV-18 in five of them.HPV-6 and HPV-66 each was detected in one case. Relation of oral HPV positivity to demographic features and risk factors was not statistically significant. The prevalence of oral HPV infection in our community is the same as many other communities of developing countries, stressing that HPV-18 were the dominant type

survey of characteristics of self-immolation in the East of Iran

The aim of this study was investigating the characteristic and outcome of self-immolation cases admitted to the Burn Centre of Birjand, Iran over an eight year period. This study is a retrospective review of case notes for patients with self-Immolation and admitted to our referral burn centre in the last 8 years [January 2003-January 2011]. A performa was designed to collect the data such as: demographic information, length of hospital stay, extent of the burn injuries as%TBSA [Total Body Surface Area] and final outcome. Data was analyzed by SPSS software. Between 2003 and 2011, 188 self-immolation cases admitted. The mean age was 26.97 +/- 12.6 years. Female to male ratio was 1.7:1. Housewives represented the largest group [43.1%] and kerosene was the most frequent agent used [74.6%]. There was significant different between mortality and TBSA and low educational level [P=0.0001]. There was a significant fluctuation time trend in the incidence [per 100,000 population] of self-immolation from 2003 [4.64, CI 95%: 4.62-4.65] to 2008 [5.2, CI 95%: 5.19-5.21]. Mortality rate was 64%. The survival rates at three weeks survival for patients who self-immolated was 24 percent [CI 95%: 17-31]. The mean and median survival times were 6 days [CI 95%: 4.8-7.2] and 17.5 days [CI 95%: 13.3-21.6], respectively. Our study has shown a lower incidence of self-immolation [5.3%] in the South Khorasan region, when compared with other parts of Iran, as well as a relatively low mortality rate. We have also reported self-immolation in pregnant women which has rarely been reported in medical literature

Study of carbon monoxide [CO] level in ambient air of Tabriz streets

Background: Air pollution with its gaseous and particulate material is important factor in induction and aggravation of different illnesses especially pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. Carbon monoxide [CO] is one of the gases which is produced mainly from combustion of motor vehicles. It has high affinity for hemoglobin, causing acute and chronic toxicities and deleterious cardio-pulmonary effects

Material and Methods: We measured CO concentration [ppm] with Compur Monitox Plus CO, GmbH in the streets of Tabriz at different times of the day [working/ holiday] and also in different seasons. For each target point, 4 measurements and overall 1536 measurements were taken

Results: The mean concentration of CO was 15.6 +/- 0.87ppm with 25.34ppm in the summer and 7.89ppm in the fall. [p <0.001]. In holidays the mean value of CO was 10.8 ppm compared with on 16.66ppm working days. [p=0.002].The highest concentration at different times during a fortnight was 20.72ppm in the afternoon and the lowest was 11.12 ppm at midnight. [p <0.001]. The highest recorded value was 105 ppm in the Bazaar area next to the central bus station

Conclusion: Drivers and people walking or working in crowded areas of Tabriz are exposed to high concentration of CO. This may cause acute and chronic CO poisoning with its related health hazards. This may be very important in patients with decreased cardio-pulmonary reserve