Challenges impeding integration of oral health into primary health care

The primary healthcare [PHC] services in the Islamic Republic of Iran have succeeded in addressing high levels of communicable diseases; however, they seem less able to deal with maternal and paediatric oral diseases. The aim of this study was to examine problems in integrating oral health services into PHC. This was a qualitative research study comprising focus group discussions and interviews. Five focus-group discussions were held with midwives, family healthcare practitioners, rural PHC workers, duty-service dentists, and public health dentists. Also, individual interviews were organized with experts of faculty members in related fields, informant managers and policy makers, and in-depth interviews were done with pregnant women in four PHC centres. Audiotapes were transcribed following each session, and then a qualitative thematic analysis was carried out on gathered data. Data analysis resulted in 4 main themes relating to the challenges: environmental, educational, organizational and school-based programme factors. This study provides a clearer understanding of the challenges of integrating oral health services into PHC

Frequency of antitoxocara antibodies in students with chronic cough and eosinophilia in a rural area of Shiraz, Iran

Visceral larva migrant's syndrome by toxocara affects mainly children between 2 and 5 years old, it is generally asymptomatic, and the seroprevalence varies from 3 to 86% in different countries; as well as, the secondary stage larvae cause ocular, respiratory and neurotic disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of anti-toxocara antibodies in children blood that showed chronic cough having eosinophilia in rural part of Shiraz, Iran. In a cross sectional study during a tuberculin survey rural area of Shiraz, a city in Southwest Iran, a number of 610 children were selected by randomized two-stage cluster sampling. Children with chronic cough were investigated for toxocariasis. Initially, the absolute eosinophil count was determined. Then, children having eosinophilia were tested by toxocara-IgG - ELISA kit [Ibl, Hamburg]. Of total 80 children with chronic cough, 12 [15%] were eosinophilic, among them 6.25% were hypereosinophilic, 9 [11.25%] were toxocara ELISA-IgG positive. No correlation between intestinal parasites and toxocariasis was detected. There was also no significant interdependence between age, gender, and dwelling difference in toxocara antibody amount. Presence of eosinophilia and the risk factors evaluated in this population were frequently associated to human toxocariasis. Anti toxocara antibody was detected in more than half of children with chronic cough, thus, toxocariasis among children in schools should have been noticed in schools by both education and hygiene ministry

Quality of life in patients with bipolar 1 disorder: is it related to disorder outcome?

Bipolar 1 disorder [BID] and its treatments have shown to be associated with deep impacts on patients' subjective feelings and quality of life [QOL]. There are also some comments about impact of these feelings on course and outcome of patients with BID. This study was aimed to evaluate quality of life in patients with BID and to assess its relationship with course of disorder. Fifty patients with BID were recruited based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders [SCID-I] from May 2008 and followed for 12 months. Quality of life and mood disorder recurrence were assessed through World Health Organization Quality of Life and SCID-I tools respectively at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. Repeated j measures analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the independent effect of QOL and demographic factors on BID recurrence. Fifty patients [66% male; 48% never married; 48% in primary school level] with mean +/- SE age and age of BID onset 33.8 +/- 1.5 and 26.6 +/- 1.1 years were studied. They had 3.4 +/- 0.6 episodes already. Twenty eight percent suffered from recurrences during the follow-up. The QOL scores at baseline, after 6 and 12 months were 70 +/- 1.8, 69.6 +/- 1.1 and 73 +/- 1.3 respectively. There were no significant change in QOL and its sub-domains during the follow-up [P=0.37]. QOL showed no independent relationship with BID recurrences [P>0.1]. No change in the QOL during the follow-up could denote lack of effectiveness of routine interventions on this factor. Also, short-term follow-up might be concerned as the f possible reason. Of prime importance is to consider quality of life independently in treating patients with bipolar disorder

Microleakage of CEM cement in two different media

Sealing ability of root-end filling materials is of great importance. It can be investigated by measuring microleakage. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate microleakage of calcium enriched mixture [CEM] cement in two different media including phosphate buffer solution [PBS] and distilled water. Twenty single-rooted human teeth were selected. All teeth were root-end filled with CEM cement. Samples were divided into two groups of 10 each and were placed in PBS or distilled water. The microleakage was measured after 12 and 24 h, 14 and 30 days with Fluid Filtration device. Data were statistically analyzed by repeated measures test. Sealing ability of CEM cement was significantly superior in PBS compared to distilled water [P<0.05]. This study also showed that time had no significant effect on the sealing ability of CEM cement. Media can significantly affect the microleakage of CEM cement. PBS can provide more phosphorous ions for hydroxyapatite formation of CEM cement; therefore, CEM cement can seal more effectively with PBS