[ effect of family-centered empowerment model on the life style, self-efficacy and hbalc of diabetic patients]

Introduction: Empowerment of diabetic patients and education of their families in order to participate actively in the care and treatment of these individuals is important. The aim of this research is determine the effects of the family-centered empowerment model on the life style, self-efficacy and HbA1C levels of type 2 diabetic patients

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, seventy diabetic patients were allocated randomly to the case and control groups. Firstthe [modified life style questionnaire], [self-efficacy questionnaire] and HbA1C were used for data collection in the two groups. Then the family-center empowerment model was used in the intervention group, and the empowerment model without family participation was used in the controls. Three months after the intervention, the questionnaires were administered again and HbA1C values were measured in two groups. Data analysis was performed using SPSS20, and statistical methods including Chi-square test, exact fisher test, t-test and the paired t-test

Results: No significant differences were observed in demographic factors, life style scores, self-efficacy scores and HbA1C values between the two groups before the intervention. Three months after the intervention life style-and self-efficacy scores were increased and HbA1C valueswere lower in the two groups, although the changes were higher in the intervention group and were significantly different to those of the control group [P<0.01]

Conclusion: Findings of this study showed that the family-centered empowerment model was more effective than the non-family-based empowerment model.Therefore, considering the family's role in the promotion of patients' self-efficacy and improvement of their life style, application of this training method is recommended in Comprehensive Health Services Centers in order to better management of diabetes in patients with type 2 diabetes

[Seroparasitological evaluation of Plasmodium vivax malaria and stability of the anti-plasmodial antibodies in Parsabad, Ardabil province]

Malaria is one of the most important parasitic diseases in the world and a major health problem in some areas of Iran. In addition to endemic areas in the south and south-eastern part of Iran, a new threat of Plasmodium vivax malaria importation emerged from the Parsabad district, which is located in Ardabil province in the north western part of the country. Malaria in this area may have originated from Azerbaijan, Armenia or southern part of Iran. This study has been carried out to clarify seroparasitological results from Indirect Fluorescence Assay [IFA], stability of antiplasmodial antibodies and its comparison with those of confirmed direct microscopy in Parsabad district during 2003-2005. This seroparasitological study has been carried out on 250 samples from malaria infected patients which was previously confirmed by microscopy and treated with routine antimalarial agents, and 250 samples of healthy control with no history of malaria in Parsabad during two years [2003-2005]. Sera of collected blood samples were assessed for the presence of anti-plasmodial antibodies using IFA assay. Statistical analysis was applied by using ANOVA and Students t-tests with Graph Pad Prism. The results of this study indicated that all blood smears of test group were detected as positive by observation of P. vivax by direct microscopy and no positive smears were found among control group. Moreover, no mixed-infection was observed among collected samples. In addition, serological results revealed that 47 cases [19%] from test group and 4 cases [1.6%] from control group had antibodies against P. vivax malaria [P<0.001]. The results of this study demonstrated that the rate of antiplasmodial antibodies is not stable in malaria infected patients which was previously confirmed by microscopy and can not be used for epidemiological evaluation for malaria in this area. Therefore, more investigation is needed for evaluation and detection of the malaria

Application of direct agglutination test [DAT] for the diagnosis and seroepidemiological studies of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran

Visceral leishmaniasis [VL] is one of the most important parasitic diseases which is endemic in different parts of Iran. Serological studies were conducted by direct agglutination test [DAT] on 12144 human serum samples, collected from four geographical zones of Iran. Sero prevalence, geographical distribution, clinical signs and symptoms for human visceral leishmaniasis based on DAT for the period of 2002 through 2005 were determined. From 516 kala-azar cases detected: 50.6% were from Meshkin-shahr and Moghan districts in Ardabil Province, northwest of Iran and 49.4% were detected from other areas of Iran. In physical examination of seropositive cases, which were detected by DAT with anti-leishmanial antibodies at titers of 1: 3200 to 1: 102400, almost 50% of suspected individuals showed the classical kala-azar signs and symptoms. Predominant signs and symptoms in 233 hospitalized patients with anti-Leishmania antibodies at 1:3200 and higher, were fever [88.0%] and splenomegaly [84.5%]. Statistically significant difference was found between males [58%] and females [42%] [P< 0.01]. Moreover, 93.6% of the VL patients were < 5 yr of age, and 6.4% were older than 5 yr that this difference was statistically significant [P< 0.01]. From 1383 serum samples collected from domestic dogs in the villages that are known as endemic foci of human leishmaniasis, 152 [11.0%] were positive by DAT [>/= 1:320]. Parasitological and serological examinations that were performed in 30 wild canines showed that 10% of these animals were infected by L. infantum. L. infantum Lon49 is the principal agent of the disease in human as well as animal reservoir hosts in different parts of Iran. For the first time in Iran, L. tropica isolated from both skin lesions in the face and bone marrow aspiration in a HIV+ man who co-infected with VL as well as in an infected dog from Ardabil Province

Analysis of plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1 gene sequences

The emergence of Plasmodium vivax in Dashte Moghan in northwestern Iran has become a major concern for Iranian's health officials. Knowledge of genetic make up of the P. vivax populations in this area would give us an insight into the origin of the prevalent infections and the possible routes they are introduced. This paper reports the analysis of a variable region between the two interspecies conserved blocks [ICBs] of 5 and 6 of MSP-1 gene in 18 isolates from Dashte Moghan. The results revealed that all the 18 isolates were similar to an Azari Belem-like type with 21 glutamine [Q] in the repeated residues. Our results may give a clue that the resurgent malaria in Dashteh Moghan might have primarily been introduced from Azerbaijan. However, much more molecular and epidemiological evidence are needed to confirm this hypothesis