[Noise induced hearing loss in Zanjan dentists]

There are many chemical, physical and biological hazards which are threatening the dentists' health. In this study we assessed the effect of noise on Zanjan dentists hearing loss as one of the dentistry physical hazards. This cross sectional study was performed on all zanjan dentists in 2006-7. All dentists were examined by audiometer [CA76 and AC40]. The exclusion criteria were hearing accidents and diseases. The data were statistically analyzed by T test [alpha =0.05]. Noise induced hearing loss was observed in most cases. Left ear was more susceptible than right ear. The men had more hearing loss than the women. [P value on Freq 8000[HZ]= 0.001]. Deutists with seniority of 10 years and over had more hearing loss than who have seniority of less than 10 years [P value on Freq 8000[HZ]= 0.004]. The dentists in the age of 40 years old and over had more hearing loss than the ages below 40 year [P value on freq 8000 HZ in the left ear = 0.007, in the right ear = 0.019]. Left ear had more hearing loss than right ear. Noise induced hearing loss in extra-speech frequencies was more than speech frequencies. The noise frequency of dental equipments was between 70 to 105 db. Noise induced hearing loss which has threatened the dentists' health is an incurable problem that must be prevented. Regular audiometric exam, use of hearing protection devices and also the occupational health regulations must be implemented for dentists in order to reduce the risk of noise induced hearing loss

[Serological study of visceral leishmaniasis in Boyer Ahmad Township in 2005]

Visceral leishmaniasis [Kala-azar] is a disease caused by intracellular protozoa parasites of the genus Leishmania. Kala-azar in Iran is usually seen in children below 10 years old. Kala-azar is endemic in some areas of Iran including Ardebil, Fars, and East Azerbaijan. The present study was designed to assess the situation of Kala-azar in children of ten and below ten years in Boyer Ahmad township in Kohgiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad province in 1384. Blood samples were collected from all the children of 10 and less than 10 years old. In this survey 1628 blood samples were collected from finger tip of children on filter paper. Collected samples were evaluated by direct agglutination test [DAT]. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS software. Result of this study showed that from 1628 samples collected, 50 cases [3.07 percent] were become positive with DAT test. Infection in females was less than male. No significant correlation was found between antibody titer and sex. The highest prevalence rate of the infection was seen in age 10 [14.82%]. Leishmania Infection was not found in any of the studied reservoirs [dogs]. Results of this study indicate that Kala-azar is an endemic disease in the studied region. Considering the obtained data, more study is needed to find out the prevalence of the disease in other regions of the province and also to find ou more about the possible animal reservoir of the diseases in the region