[Prevalence of non-communicable diseases risk factors among the population of rural areas of Kurdistan Province, in Iran: a population-based study by rapid assessment method in 2015]

Background and Aim: Determination of prevalence of non-communicable diseases [NCD] risk factors is the key factor for designing any intervention program for the control and prevention of these diseases. The aim of this study was to determine NCD risk factors among rural areas population in Kurdistan Province, in Iran, in 2015

Materials and Methods: In this population-based study, we investigated the prevalence of main NCD risk factors among 13710 adults above 20 years of age selected by systematic random sampling method from rural areas of Kurdistan Province, in the north-west of Iran. Data were collected by using a standard questionnaire. SPSS version 22 software was used for data analysis

Results: The results showed that 10.6% [9.0-12.2%] of the participants were current daily tobacco smokers and 32% [31.5-33.0%] of them had passive smoking. 54.9% [54.1-55.8%] used solid oils as the main consumed oil by the households. The prevalence rate of overweight/obesity was 17.2% [16.5-17.8%]. Mean daily fruit and vegetable consumption and also mean hours of exercise or vigorous physical activity per week were 1.6+/-0.9 servings and 2.8+/-3.5 hours, respectively. The prevalence rates of hypertension and hyperlipidemia were estimated 8.2% [7.8-8.7%] and 3.3% [3.0-3.7%], respectively. The prevalence rats of stroke, various cancers, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], depression and diabetes were 0.6% [0.5-0.8%], 0.4% [0.3-0.6%], 1.1% [0.9-1.3%], 1%[0.8-1.1%], 1.5% [1.3-1.7%] and 2.5% [2.2-2.7%], respectively. Different cities of the province showed significant differences in the prevalence rates of the most of the risk factors [P<0.05]

Conclusion: This population-based study provided the real figures of NCD risk factors among the population living in the rural areas of Kurdistan Province. We recommend use of the results of this study for designing any intervention program for control and prevention of NCD in this region

Investigation of the relationship between the increase in the intercanine width and the children's facial parameters; a 6-month follow-up study

The present study, as a pilot study, aimed to investigate the increase in the intercanine width in different facial forms to predict the amount of future increase in the intercanine width. The results of the pilot study showed that the intercanine width increased more in the boys with wider faces while this relationship was not observed in the girls. Based on the results of this preliminary study, the girls' facial width could not be considered as a determining criterion in evaluation of the amount of increase in the intercanine width

Awareness of Iranian's general dentists regarding the latest prophylaxis guideline for prevention of infective endocarditis

Statement of Problem: Dental procedures leading to oral tissue injuries may provoke bacterial release to the blood stream causing infective endocarditis [IE] in vulnerable patients. The guideline which was proposed by AHA has been updated 9 times having the last update published in 2007. This study was endeavored to uncover the level of knowledge of general dental practitioners in Shiraz, concerning the 2007 AHA guidelines for endocarditis prophylaxis in patients with cardiac problems receiving dental treatments

Materials and Method: This cross- sectional and descriptive analytical study included 150 dentists as participants. All practitioners were given a self -report questionnaire which consisted of three sections. Questions were designed to assess their knowledge of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with cardiac disease

Results: Almost all participants [93%] were aware of antibiotic prophylaxis to be essential for tooth extraction. Most participants did not believe in prophylaxis for noninvasive procedures [such as shedding of primary teeth, impression, intraoral radiography]. From all of the respondents, 75% considered Amoxicillin to be the antibiotic of choice and 57% were acquainted with the correct dose of Amoxicillin for high risk patients

Conclusion: The study identified a potential for under/over prescription of antibiotic prophylaxis under the current guideline. Burden of IE necessitates more accurate knowledge of antibiotic prophylaxis in the undergraduate curriculum and continuing education programs of dentistry

Prevalence of malocclusions in school-age children attending the orthodontics department of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

To provide quantitative data about the prevalence of malocclusions in the Shiraz orthodontic population, we studied the records of 700 patients [391 girls and 309 boys] aged 6-14 years attending the undergraduate Department of Orthodontics at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The prevalence of Angle class I, II and III malocclusion of first molars was 52.0%, 32.6% and 12.3% respectively. Skeletal class I, II and III malocclusion was found in 18.0%, 70.0% and 12.0% respectively. There were no significant differences between the sexes in the prevalence of different types of skeletal malocclusion. Children with class III were significantly younger [mean age 8.9 years] than those with class I [9.6 years] or class II [9.7 years] malocclusions. Orthodontics students need more education and training in the management of class II malocclusion to improve the overall quality of care for patients

Assessment of a low dose of IV midazolam used orally for conscious sedation in pediatric dentistry

Midazolam is preferably used in pediatric dentistry for quick onset of action and recovery. The aim of this prospective, observer-blind and placebo-controlled study was to assess the efficacy of a low dose of oral midazolam in modification of the behavior of young pediatric dental patients. Forty children aged 3 to 5 years who displayed ratings 1 or 2 on the Frankl Scale and were healthy by the American Society of Anesthesiologists-I status were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups of 20 each. All children required pulpotomy and restoration of D and E teeth and received either 0.25mg/kg of a 15mg/3ml IV midazolam mixed in black cherry syrup or the syrup alone. Subjects were continuously observed and monitored with pulse oximetry. Houpt's Behavioral Ratings was used to determine the overall behavior, the degree of crying and movement during treatment. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. Patients who received 0.25mg/kg of the prepared oral midazolam significantly behaved better during treatment than the placebo controls [P<0.05]. In comparison with the placebo group, reduced movement and crying were observed in the midazolam group [P<0.05]. No adverse effects were observed and treatments were completed successfully. A low dose of 0.25mg/kg of a 15mg/3ml IV midazolam mixed in black cherry syrup was found to be effective in conscious sedation of young pediatric dental patients

[ effect of mothers' depression on children's oral health]

The mother's mood and her attitude towards health services, dental treatment and their effects on her child's oral health have already been studied. To the best of our knowledge, no research evaluating the direct effect of mothers' depression on the child's oral hygiene was found. Considering the fact that maintaining the child oral hygiene may depend on the mother's willingness and attitude, the issue of maternal depression's effect on the child's oral health is a subject for research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of mothers' depression on their 5-12 year old children's oral health. For this descriptive and cross- sectional study, 358 mothers and their children aged from 5 to 12 years [mean=8.7 +/- 1.96] were selected through convenient sampling from the department of pediatric dentistry of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The children's oral hygiene was determined, using OHI-S index. The mothers' depression was assessed using 21 items Beck depression questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed, using SPSS Ver. 7.5. Descriptive and analytic outputs were obtained. Analysis of variance, t-student, and Chi-Square tests were performed to analyze the data. There was a statistically significant difference between the means of Debri Index [Dl] in the two groups of children with mothers with and without clinical depression [1.37 +/- 0.37 and 1.25 +/- 0.38 respectively] [p<0.05]. These results were confirmed by Chi-square test based on the frequency of children with good and poor debri Index. Based on the above results, oral hygiene in children of mothers with clinical depression is poorer than those with mothers without clinical depression. Children need emotional support, education, supervision and help of their mothers in order to perform their routine oral hygiene practice. Therefore, for improvement of the children's oral health, their mothers' mood is of great significance

[Protective effect of vitamin E on diabetes induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in rat heart tissue]

The purpose of this study was to determine and to assess the protective effect of vitamin E on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress status in the heart under hyperglycemic conditions, in vivo. Wistar male rats [n=16] at 6 months of age were made hyperglycemic by STZ. Same age, normal wistar rats [n=8] were used for comparison [controls]. Diabetic rats were divided into two groups, the nontreated and those treated with vitamin E [300mg/kg/daily]. Diabetic rats exhibited severe apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Also significant increases in lipid peroxidation as measured by 8- isoprostan, protein oxidation as measured by protein carbonyl content and superoxide dismutase were observed after 6 weeks. Catalase activity was shown to increase in controls compared to nontreated rats. A distinct elevation in the HbA1C, QT interval and a decline in the activity of catalase were also observed. Vitamin E treated rats shown significant decline in apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl and QT interval compared to nontreated rats. Vitamin E decreased the incidence of apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, lipid peroxidation and improve antioxidant enzyme in the diabetic hearts of rats. Further research to confirm the findings is recommended

Histopathological features of Ornithodoros lahorensis bite on rat

Besides of transmitting several diseases to animals, and tick paralysis, Ornithodoros lahorensis induce skin lesions. This experiment was done to determine histopathological features of adult O. lahorensis bite on rat. In this investigation adult male rats were infested with O. lahorensis ticks. Animals were divided into two groups and euthanized two days and two weeks after infestation. The skin samples were fixed in 10% buffer formal saline and processed and sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The lesions reflected the clinical and gross findings, with hyperemia, edema and vacuolation in the early stages, cellular infiltrations, principally lymphocyte accompanied vascular changes. Newly formed fibrous tissue with large number of hyperemic capillaries and active inflammatory process in which lymphocytes and eosinophils were the predominant cells, were seen after two weeks. Foci of necrosis in the epithelium with remnant of infiltration of polymorphonucular cells with sever hemorrhages were also evident. Vascular changes included prevascular infiltration of lymphocyte and fibrinoied ne'crosis on the vessel walls. This study well documented the different pathological changes of skin of rats with O. lahorensis