Distribution of ophthalmologists and optometrists in Islamic Republic of Iran and their associated factors

We aimed to determine the distribution of ophthalmic care providers and its correlation with health and socioeconomic status and health system indicators. Data were gathered from the Iran Medical Council and the Iranian Societies of Ophthalmology and Optometry. Concurrent indicators were collected from the Statistical Center of Iran and national studies. A population-adjusted number of combined ophthalmologists and optometrists was used as the main dependent variable. Optometrist/ophthalmologist ratio was 0.9. We had 1 ophthalmologist and 1 optometrist for every 40 000 and 45 000 individuals, respectively. We observed a direct correlation between the number of ophthalmologists, optometrists and life expectancy at the provincial level. Gross provincial income and expenditure and provincial literacy were correlated as well. Provincial unemployment had a negative correlation. Provincial hospital statistics and population density were also significantly correlated. The Islamic Republic of Iran has met the World Health Organization's desired per capita number of ophthalmologists and optometrists, but there is wide variation in their density

[ comparison of stress coping styles between athletes and nonathletes and its relationship with mental health]

Stress and anxiety are important factors that can highly affect athletes' performance. They can also influence the mental and physical heath of the athletes. The aim of this study was to compare the stress-coping styles in two groups of athletes and non-athletes and evaluating its relationship with their mental health. One hundred athletes were selected randomly and 100 non-athletes were voluntarily participated in this study. Both groups answered the standard Yoo copingstyles and Goldberg general health questionnaires. Relevant statistical tests were used for data analysis. Athletes in comparison with non-athletes used problem-focused and emotionfocused coping styles more frequently, but, they used avoidant-coping styles less frequently [P<0.01]. Also, in the former group, while the application of problem- and emotion-focused coping-styles were correlated with increase in mental health, avoidantcoping styles were correlated with decrease in mental health. In contrast, in non-athletes, using problem-focused and avoidant coping styles were correlated with increase and decrease in mental health, respectively [P<0.05]. Regression analysis demonstrated that stress-coping styles could largely predict the mental health variation in athletes and non athletes groups [P<0.05]. Findings of this study provide more support for the importance of coping styles and its relationship with mental health in stress situations such as sport fields

[Relationship of methodology workshops with research productivity - knowledge of research methodology among the Tehran University clinical faculty]

To determine the level of knowledge in methodology among clinical faculty and to explore the association between attending to courses on statistics and methodology, the knowledge of the clinical faculty, and the number of research papers published by them at the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. We conducted a survey on a random sample of one hundred clinical faculty members. A questionnaire of 20 items was used to assess knowledge. Thirty percent [95% CI: 21-39%] of the faculty surveyed had a fair to satisfactory knowledge of the field. The proportion of fair to satisfactory level of knowledge was 41% among the educated faculty and 21% among those who did not attend a course on the subject [P value: 0.043]. Mean difference in the number of published papers between the two groups was 3 [P value: 0.057]. Considering the plausibility of a causal relation between attending to courses on statistics and methodology and knowledge and research productivity, and the general unsatisfactory level of knowledge on the subject, continuing delivery of such courses is recommended

[Evaluation of sonogeraphic index for insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in asymptomatic fatty liver disease]

The frequency of sonographic report of liver fat infiltration in asymptomatic person is increasing. The aim of this study was evaluation of liver function and detection of frequency of metabolic syndrome and Insulin resistance in asymptomatic persons with fatty liver in sonographic examinations. Seventy six patients with fatty liver in sonographic examination and 78 persons with normal sonographic examination who had similar sex, age and body weight were selected. Patients with history of diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension who took drugs that induced fatty liver such as amiodaron, diltiazem, metotrexate, tamoxifen and patients with positiveserology for HBS-Ag and HCV-Ab were excluded. Blood pressure, BMI, weight, height, liverenzymes, blood lipids, and fasting insulin level and insulin resistance according to HOMAindex were evaluated. Results: Mean age was 44.8 +/- 9.79 and 42.54 +/- 10.7 years for fatty liver patients and normal persons, respectively. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures, weight, height, HDL triglyceride, FBS, ALT, 2-hour postprandial glucose level, fasting insulin level and insulin resistancewere significantly higher in fatty liver patients compared with normal persons Fifty percent of fatty liver patients but only%18 of normal persons had metabolic syndrome criteria. Insulin resistance andmetabolic syndrome are very common in fatty liver persons. It seems that fatty liver is one of the criteria of metabolic syndrome.Patients with fatty liver in sonographic examination should be further evaluated for metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance

Acute cholestatic hepatitis associated with teucrium polium

Diabetes mellitus [DM] is a metabolic disorder resulting from a defect in Insulin secretion, insulin action or both. Despite the fact that it has a worldwide high prevalence, morbidity and mortality, it is regarded as a non-curable but controllable disease. In addition to different synthetic drugs, plant remedies and dietary traditions play an effective role in treatment. Teucrium polium L. is one of the 300 species of the genus Teucrium and found mainly in the Mediterranean and Western Irano- Turanian sphere. It is widely distributed in Jordan and Palestine. The leaves, 1-3 cm long, are sessile, oblong or linear, the stems are ending in shortly paniculate or corymbose inflorescences, and corolla is white or pale cream colored. This case describes a 74year old man with diabetes since 20 years. He was treated by glibenclamide 5mg/day. He stopped this drug and started daily consumption of tea containing the medicinal plant, teucrium polium. One month after initiation of this therapy, he developed an acute icteric hepatitis like illness. After 8 weeks, the patient recovered clinically and bilirubin, ALT and AST levels were normal

Is there any difference in the plasma homocysteine levels of diabetes mellitus type II patients, impaired glucose tolerance subjects and normal people?

Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to determine plasma homocysteine levels in diabetics and compare with control persons and also evaluation of correlation between plasma homocysteine concentration and diabetic related variables. This study was done on 39 type II diabetic patients, 27 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and 23 normal persons referring to Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center of Medical university of Isfahan. Physical characteristics were recorded. After an overnight fast, a blood sample was drawn for determination of FPG, HbAlc - homocysteine, Cr. Cholesterol - Triglyceride and HDL- Cholesterol. Mean plasma homocysteine levels in the groups were compared by one way ANOVA. The Correlation of different parameters was tested by Pearson's correlation. There was no statistically significant difference in the plasma homocysteine levels of all the groups.[P=0.71]. Correlation between homocysteine levels and HbAlc was not significant [P=0.42] in diabetic patients. The findings suggest that diabetes does not influence plasma homocysteine levels. Also, there is no correlation between plasma homocysteine levels and HbAlc in diabetic patients