[Determination of reservoirs of cutaneous leishmaniasis by PCR molecular method in the villages of central county of Qom province]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major health problem in many parts of Iran and its main foci are in various parts of the country. This study was carried out with the intention of examining the species composition of the possible disease reservoirs in the cutaneous leishmaniasis focus in the selected villages of central county of Qom province. Study was done as a descriptive, cross-sectional study on rodents [possible leishmaniasis reservoirs] in the selected rural areas of Qomrood and Ghanavat located in central parts of Qom province in 2010. In this research, a total of 46 small rodents were hunted by live traps from 5 selected villages. A Smear prepared from auricle or suspicious lesions on skin, and after Giemsa staining, the smears were examined for the presence of leishman's bodies. After extracting DNA from positive smears, PCR technique was exploited to determine the parasite species. A total 46 small mammals were hunted and identified by the authentic keys. They included 31 rodents [67.4%] were Meriones libycus, 8 [17.4%] Allactaga elater, 4 [8.7%] Mus musculus, 2 [4.3%] Nesokia indica and one [2.7%] Hemiechinus auritus. The results of PCR demonstrated that 3.7% of M. libycus rodents were infected by Leishmania major. The results of this study showed that epidemic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the central county of Qom province was zoonotic and its reservoir was species of rodents. Therefore, determining disease type and its reservoir can help health care authorities to adopt appropriate strategies for prevention and control of the disease in this area

[Association of body mass index with sexual dysfunction in women referred to health centers of Qom city, 2010, Iran]

Satisfactory sexual performance is an important factor for strengthening families and is the source of many innovations in human life that can be affected by many factors. Obesity as a recent epidemic has influenced the global population. Researches have shown that sexual dysfunction is associated with obesity in men, but this association is unclear in women. This study aimed to investigate the association between body mass index [BMI] and sexual dysfunction in women. In this case-control study of women who referred to the selected health centers of Qom city, 77 persons with sexual dysfunction [score 28] by a standardized questionnaire of sexual function. To determine BMI, height, and weight, and distribution of body fat, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Data were analyzed using statistical tests, such as t-test, chi-square and multiple regression, on the significance level [p<0.05]. The mean BMI in case group was 34.1 +/- 5.4 and 26 +/- 4.4 in the control group, that statistical test showed a significant relationship between BMI and sexual dysfunction [p<0.05]. Also, the most dysfunction was observed in the arousal phase in the case group and in the sexual pain phase in the control group [p<0.05]. According to the results of this study, obesity affects some aspects of sexual performance in women. Therefore, interventional studies on weight loss in obese women with sexual dysfunction are necessary to reveal the association of obesity with sexual dysfunction