[Nutritional status assessment and related factors in the retired senile]

Malnutrition is a clinical disorder and a usual risk factor in older people, that was considered as a natural part of geriatrics process in the past, but nowadays it is found that malnutrition is detectable, preventable and treatable and its early diagnosis can lead us to on time intervention. Thus, older people's nutritional status and detecting its causes can help caregivers to plan and implement appropriate interventions. The aim of this study is nutritional status assessment in the retired senile by some demographic characters in two parts: screening and complementary. This study is a descriptive-cross sectional one on 194 senile retired from governmental organizations who were assessed by simple sampling. In this study, we use a questionnaire consisting of two parts: one part for demographic data and the other called MNA [Minimal Nutrition Assessment] that has 18 items and two parts: screening and complementary parts. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 using statistical tests including Krauskal Wallis, Man Whitney and Spierman. Findings showed that 87.1 percent of the participants had normal nutrition and 12.9 percent of them had probable malnutrition and 4 percent were with malnutrition. Among the demographic factors [age, sex, marital status, educational status, income and co morbidity], nutrition was found to be related to sex [0/002] and income [p<0.013] significantly. Thus, the normal nutritional status was high in female older people and in senile with higher income. Considering the high probability of malnutrition demonstrated in this study, it is necessary for the clinicians and authorities to receive related education and become aware of this issue and respective consequences. Also, it is necessary to implement plans and programs to relieve poverty as a main risk factor in malnutrition

[KAP study of mothers referred to health centers of ahwaz, toward ascariasis of children, Southwestern Iran]

Intestinal parasitic infections are one of the health problems in developing countries. Now one to two milliard people in the world are affected by ascariasis annually, and every year people are spending heavily to treat. All the problems of the ascariasis emission can be controlled by health education programs, which cost less than treatment of the disease. This study was performed to assess health knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers referred to health centers of Ahvaz about ascariasis of children in 2006.In This descriptive analytical research 214 mothers were selected randomly from ten health centers. Using questionnaires the data were collected. Gathered data were analyzed by SPSS-13 software. The results implied that 77. 6% of the mothers were housewives. 9.8% were illiterate. The findings indicated that the knowledge of the mothers was [77. 6%] at a weak level, their attitude was [68.2%] at the middle level, and their practice was [84.1%] at the weak level about ascariasis control and prevention. In this study there were a significant correlation between health knowledge, attitude and practice at confidence interval of 95%. A significant relation was also seen between health knowledge, attitude, practice and mothers occupation and literacy at confidence interval of 95%. With regard to the results of this study the government should pay more attention to improve efficient and effective health education programs to increase the knowledge, attitude and practice about prevention of the ascariasis disease

Prevalence of cryptosporidium infection in immunocompromised patients, in south-west of Iran, 2009-10

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite with worldwide distribution. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection by antigen detection in faeces among immunocompromised patients referred to educational hospitals of Ahvaz City, South-West of Iran, 2009-1010. Fecal samples from 176 immunocompromised patients were collected and Cryptosporidium coproantigen test was performed using ELISA method [DRG kit, Germany]. A questionnaire was completed for each case and the results were analyzed using descriptive and Chi-square test, SPSS statistical software [15[th] version]. Our study indicated 5.1% Cryptosporidium infection prevalence in the immunocompromised participated population. Furthermore, 4.2%, 4%, 4.5% and 9.1% infection rates were identified in children suffered from hematopoietic malignancy, adult cancer patients, renal transplant recipients, and HIV[+] cases, respectively. There was not significant correlation between the infection and age and gender [P>0.05]. Infection was most frequent among HIV[+] patients. The present study confirmed the high prevalence of Crytosporidium antigen in fecal samples of immunocompromised patients in the region. As no chemotherapeutic agents have yet proven, especially in immunosuppressed patients, therefore our results highlight the importance of preventive intervention in these groups

Influence of combined usage of garlic powder and copper on egg yolk cholesterol concentration in laying hens

A research was conducted to evaluate the effects of combined usage of garlic powder [GP] and cupric sulfate pentahydrate [CS] as two different cholesterol-lowering supplements on blood serum and egg yolk cholesterol concentration in laying hens. A total of one-hundred ninety two 40-wks-old Single Comb White Leghorn [SCWL] laying hens were selected in a completely randomized designed to four diets that included unsupplemental basal diet as control diet [CO], the basal diet supplemented with either 15 g/kg GP, 200 mg/kg CS, or both 15 g/kg GP and 200 mg/kg Cs for a period of 6 weeks. During the experimental period hens performance traits included body weight gain, egg production, egg and yolk weights, egg mass, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio were recorded. For statistical analysis, data were averaged by replicate for 6 wks period. At the end of the experimental period blood serum and egg yolk samples were collected for cholesterol analysis. Supplementation of GP or CS to the basal diet had no significant [p>0.05] effect on overall performance in laying hens. A decrease in blood serum and egg yolk cholesterol concentration was found [p<0.01] in birds fed GP, CS, and GP/CS diets in comparison with the unsupplemented diet birds [CO diet].Serum cholesterol levels were reduced by feeding GP, CS, or both by about 14,20 and 28% respectively [p<0.01]. Feeding GP or CS decreased egg yolk cholesterol about 6 and 12.5%, respectively [p<0.01], but feeding both GP and CS diet/ supplements had no further beneficial effect on egg yolk cholesterol

Human cystic echinococcosis in nomads of south-west Islamic Republic of Iran

Cystic echinococcosis [CE] is a widespread helminth zoonosis, especially in rural areas. We investigated the prevalence of human CE among nomadic communities in 4 areas of Khuzestan province: Behbahan, Shoush, Masjed Soleiman and Izeh. Blood samples from 3446 individuals from 700 randomly selected families were examined for detection of antibody against Echinococcus granulosus. Family members were interviewed to assess possible risk factors for infection such as age, sex, dog ownership. The prevalence of CE was 13.8%: 1.9% in Behbahan, 12.4% in Shoush, 17.3% in Masjed Soleiman and 18.2% in Izeh. These differences were statistically significant. There was no significant association between CE seropositivity and age, sex and dog ownership

Diagnosis of experimentally infected sheep hydatidosis through antigen detection in serum and urine, with coagglutination [Co.A] test

To evaluate coagglutination test in the serum and urine of sheep for diagnosing of hydatidosis. Experimental study. Two rabbits, three dogs and nineteen sheep. Ovine hydatid cysts from affected livers and lungs, were collected from Ahwaz abattoir [Khozestan province, Iran]. The hydatid fluid [HF] and protoscolces were aseptically obtained in lab. Hydatid fluid was centrifuged and injected to rabbits in two steps. After then, rabbit hyperimmune sera were collected. Furthermore, each dog was given 15,000 viable protoscoleces. Less than two months later, dogs were autopsied after euthanasia and all Echinococcus granulosus worms were collected and their eggs were released. Almost, 2000 eggs were orally administred to each [N= 13]. The six other sheep were kept as control. All sheep were bled each week and their urine samples were collected fortnight. All sera and urine samples were examined with coagglutination [Co.A] test. While sensitivity of coagglutination test, was nil during five weeks of post-infection [p.i.], its values showed a biphasic pattern. While, it increased up to 23% in the sixth week and after then up to 100% in the 12th and 13th week of p.i. it decreased in the following weeks. Specificity of test was 100% throughout the experiment. While examination of urine in the affected sheep resulted in positive reaction from 6th week of p.i, its sensitivity and the sensitivity gradually increased up to 100% at 12th week of p.i. Furthermore, specificity of the test for urine of non-infected sheep remained 100%. These results suggest that the time of appearance of hydatid antigens in serum and urine is approximately alike. While positive results are very valuable, negative ones do not rule out hydatidosis

Muscular hydatidosis: a report of 3 cases

Hydatidosis or cystic echinococcosis is an important zoonotic parasitic disease caused by a small taenid-tape worm [Echinococcus granulosus]with worldwide distribution, particularly in developing countries where many rural inhabitants live under poor sanitary conditions. The majority of hydatid cysts are located in liver and lungs and muscular hydatid cysts are rare. This is a report of three muscular hydatid cysts from Ahvaz, southwestern part of Iran. The first patient was a 64-year-old man with liver and left thigh cysts. The muscular cyst was measured 3 ' 3 cm in diameter. The second case was a 32 year male with left gluteal muscle mass of firm consistency measured 3 ' 3 ' 2 cm. The third case was an eighty-year old male with a soft mass tissue and painless in the left thigh measured 5 ' 5 ' 8 cm. Complete excision of muscle cysts was done and histopathological examination of specimens confirmed the hydatid cyst. Cysts of cases 1 and 2 were fertile with laminated and germinal layers and protoscolices and case 3 was unfertile. In the third case laminated and germinal layers were observed without any protoscolices