future balance between training and demand for radiologists in Iran

The present study aimed to evaluate the balance between training and demand for radiologists in the Iranian health care system between 2008 and 2027. A total number of 250 clusters were randomly selected from urban and rural areas of Iran, of which 168 were selected from urban areas and 82 were selected from rural areas. In order to collect basic medical data and to determine the number of radiology visits in the last two weeks, questionnaires were prepared and sent out to the subjects' houses. Information on the number of radiologists as well as statistics on the Iran's population were provided by the Medical Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran [IRI] and the Statistics Center of IRI, respectively. Radiologists were visited 245 times during a two-week time period, which resulted in an average referral to radiologists of 0.125 for each individual. Our results indicated a slight shortage of radiologists in 2008, which is expected to disappear till 2023. Afterwards, the training of radiologists is expected to slightly surpass the demands. Results from the present study suggested that an overall balance between training and demand for radiologists in Iran is likely to happen in near future

Peak bone mass measurement in iranian healthy population

Osteoporosis is a disabling disease characterized by compromised bone strength, which predisposes a patient to increased risk of fracture. The aim of this study was evaluation the pattern of bone mass in Iranian healthy population. The study was performed between December 2000 and May 2001 on one thousand three healthy Iranian subjects who currently live in Tehran. They were selected randomly by cluster random sampling among men and women of 10-76 yr from 50 clusters. The volunteer people were referred to the Bone Mineral Density BMD unit of EMRC. The participants were recalled for three times and the response rate was 83%. BMD was measured by DXA using Lunar DPX-MD device. Females achieved maximum lumbar BMD up to 25-35. Femur BMD maximized in 30 to 35 and after 45 the intensity of bone loss increased. Female peak bone mass in lumbar region was 1.19 +/- 0.12 g/cm2and in femur was 1.02 +/- 0.12 g/cm2. Male peak bone mass in lumbar region occurred between ages 25-40 yr, Male's femur BMD maximized in 20-30. In male peak lumbar bone mass was 1.22 +/- 0.16 g/cm2 and femur was 1.08 +/- 0.15 g/cm2. Osteopenia was recognized in 50% and 48.8% of women above 50 in spine and total femur, respectively, however these percentages were 37.1% and 34.8% among male subjects. Iranian BMD values sufficiently different from other countries to warrant a separate reference sample with which to compare individuals for the purpose of diagnosing osteoporosis and osteopenia according to the WHO criteria

study on association between watching television and videos with violent behaviors in male secondary and high school students of Pakdasht district

Research shows that watching scenes of violence can increase incidence of high violent behavior in youth. Expansion of television networks and higher accessibility to video films in Iran was a motivation for studying the association between behavior of television and video watching and some violent behaviors is adolescents. This cross-sectional study investigated the pattern of television and video film watching in weekdays and weekend separately in middle and high school boy students in Pakdasht district. After cluster sampling, 604 eligible students answered to a standard questionnaire about the number of hours they spend to watch television and video films and their practice regarding some violent behaviors in the past 12 months. High school students spent more times in weekdays and weekend to watch television and video. We found a positive and significant correlation between watching TV and video films and target violent behaviors. Meanwhile, students that reported to carry some kind of weapon such as knife and chain, had significantly more violence behavior than the other peers [p<0/01]. Parents and school authorities should be more sensitive to what adolescent students watch. Cultural authorities should consider the negative effects of these products on committing violent behavior among children and adolescents. Also health educational programs for increasing the information of students about the concepts of violence in television and video films is the suggestion of this research

Association between computer use and feeling of students about their school and school exercises

Spread of computer use and various ability of it can affect the life style of people, especially students. The present study was conducted to determine the patterns of computer use among students and their feeling about school and exercises. An analytic cross-sectional study was carried out on 1872 primary, middle and high school students by cluster sampling method in Damavand city. The number of hours that spend for computer in weekdays and weekends and feeling about school and exercises were answered by students in a standard questionnaire. Computer use by boys were significantly more than girls [P=0.0005]. In weekdays, with increasing the educational stage, computer use was increased [p=0.03]. Bad feeling about school and exercises was associated with more computer use in our subjects [p<0.01]. Pediatricians should carry out health education on the number of hours students should spend in front of the computer

[Do the dietary habits of our community warrant health of children and adolescents now and in future? CASPIAN study?]

We performed this study considering the fact that many chronic diseases have their origin in early life, their risk factors in childhood and adulthood are identical, and an early primary prevention is of great importance. The present national survey was performed as a multi-centric cross-sectional study for the baseline survey of a project entitled: 'Childhood and Adolescence Surveillance and PreventIon of Adult Noncommunicable Diseases': CASPIAN Study. The study was supported by the World Health Organization and performed by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, with collaboration of 23 universities of Medical Sciences. One of the items studied was the dietary habits in relating to non-communicable diseases [NCDs]. 21111 school pupils aged 6 to 18 years consisting of 10858 girls [51.4%] and 10253 boys[48.6%], as well as one of their parents have been studied. 84.6% of them lived in urban and 15.4% in rural areas, 90% visited public and 10% private schools. The most frequent type of fat used for food preparation in home was hydrogenated solid fat [73.8%], and most families consumed bread prepared with white flour [58.4%], only 19.7% of pupils never added salt to their table foods. The mean consumption frequency of fruits and vegetables, sweets, salty/fat snacks and deep fried foods was 16.5, 10,4.9 and 3.98 times/week respectively, without significant difference between different school levels. The unhealthy dietary habits of the children and adolescents of our community are a major threat for the health of this age group and make our community prone to an epidemic of NCDs in the next two decades, and emphasizes the role of the pediatricians and other related health professionals in the primary prevention of chronic diseases