[Assessment of screening tests for methicillin - resistant staphylococcus aureus in patients undergoing surgery by molecular [PCR] and culturing methods]

Staphylococcus aureus is the main cause of surgical site infection, causing morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgery. Despite a lot of research on the best diagnostic method and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] screening in patients undergoing surgery, the most appropriate diagnostic method is still unknown. The question is whether Rapid Molecular [PCR] or the traditional microbial culture is the most suitable method? This study aimed at systematic reviewing of articles to evaluate molecular method in MRSA diagnosis and the necessity of screening patients before and after surgery to prevent infections and its subsequent outcomes e.g. mortality. Many searches in databases including the digital and medical inlm library and sites such as Science, JAMA,BMD, Springer were done since 2007 to August 2010. In total, 118 studies were selected regarding the following keywords; site surgical infection, Staphylococcus aureus, PCR, and culture. Two independent persons who selected the articles evaluated the designs of the studies and extracted the information using blinded method objectively. After a complete study of other articles, 50 articles were also eliminated, and 8 articles were finally entered the study. Data of culture diagnostic methods and PCR and the statistics of infection prevalence in surgical site were analyzed by Cumulative Pooled analysis. Eight randomized clinical trials of culture methods and PCR had been studied in MRSA diagnosis and screening in different surgeries. The average duration of study was 11.6 months in all articles. The relative risk of side surgical infection was 7.3% with MRSA in all articles and CI was 95% [0.969, 0.367]. The conformity between culture and PCR was 91%, PCR sensitivity 99.2% and PCR specificity 82.2%. The rates of MRSA infection before [0.65%] and after [0.35%] surgery were significantly different with screening. When screening was applied, the rate of infection with 0.95% CI decreased to 28.9% - 31%. Findings confirm the necessity of screening before surgery in order to determine the antibiotic prophylaxis preceding the surgery in those who carry MRSA. Thus, considering the specificity and sensitivity of PCR to microbial culture, molecular method is rapid and effective in diagnosis and screening of the patients who undergo surgery

Prevalence and risk factors of ecstasy use among college students in Astara, Islamic Republic of Iran

We determined the prevalence and risk factors for 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine [MDMA, "ecstasy"] use among college students in Astara, a northern border city of Iran. In a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 1226 students, the lifetime prevalence of ecstasy use was 5.6%. The lifetime prevalence of use of other drugs, mostly cannabis and opium, was 4.6%. A fifth of students [21.8%] were current cigarette smokers and 24.8% had ever used alcohol. After logistic regression, the factors influencing ever use of ecstasy were ever use of other drugs, ever use of alcohol, current cigarette smoking and living alone or with friends. Targeted prevention programmes should be conducted in all colleges

Oral soft tissue pathologies among diabetic patients in Rasht- 2005

Diabetes can affect organs including the oral mucosa. There is a disagreement about the prevalence of oral mucosal disease in diabetic patients. We therefore decided to investigate more about that. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of soft tissue pathologies by assessing burning mouth and xerostomia in diabetic patients on the basis of type of diabetes and control status of diabetes. This descriptive, analytic study was done by visiting 486 known diabetic patients who were referred to the Endocrine Clinic in summer of 2005. Their demographic information with history of systemic diseases accompanied by the amount of HbAIC and duration of disease was recorded in their questionnaire. Diagnosis of oral lesions was done by clinical examination. Burning mouth was assessed by visual analog scale in persons who suffered and subjective xerostomia was evaluated by standard questionnaire. Data collection was done by software SPSS 10, and statistical analysis was done by X2 and logistic regression test. In this study, 34 patients were type I and 434 were type II patients with mean age of 47.84 +/- 9.77 years. Frequency of all candidasis lesions was 15.4% which included denture stomatitis 5.3%, angular cheilitis 4.1%, median rhomboid glossitis 1.5%and papillary atrophy of tongue 4.5%. Frequency of non-candidal lesions was 20.1%, which included fissured tongue 10.5%, geographic tongue 7.9% and lichen planus 1.7%. 6.2% of patients suffered from glossodyna. 15.6% of patients had xerestomia. By logistical regression test, we found that type of diabetes affects denture stomatitis, angular cheilitis, tongue atrophy and amount of HbAlc. All of the pathologies were greater in type I than type II diabetes patients. Level of HbAlc had an important role in appearance of oral lesions and level changes can cause problems in the mouth. Thus, patients should maintain their oral hygiene and control their glucose regularly

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and risk factors of drug using prisoners in Guilan province

This was a cross- sectional prevalence study to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus [HCV] and high- risk behaviours in drug abusers admitted to prison in Guilan province, northern Islamic Republic of Iran. Subjects were asked about risk behaviours for acquiring HCV and blood was drawn for HCV antibody testing using ELISA techniques. Of 460 inmates, the mean duration of drug use was 8.9 years; 51.7% were opium users and 18.3% heroin users. HCV risk behaviours were in this population and 209 inmates [45.4%] were HCV antibody positive [88.9% of intravenous common drug abusers]. HCV- positive status was significantly associated with intravenous drug use, having skin tattoos and number of times in prison

[Prevalence of nursing caries and associating factors in 2-4 year olds children]

Introduction: Nursing caries is a specific form of rampant caries affecting the primary teeth of infants as a result of improper nursing bottle habits and/or prolonged unrestricted bottle and breast-feeding. The clinical feature is distinctive in that the maxillary incisors are the most affected. This condition can lead to pain, infection, and interference with eating and expensive dental treatment

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and associating factors of nursing caries between 2-4 year-old children in Talesh in 1382

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study 261 children aged 2-4 years were selected through a multistage random sampling and examined. Data collection was done by a questionnaire consisting of anterior teeth. Besides dmft [decayed, missed and filled teeth] was evaluated. Data analysis was done with SPSS 11.5 software and X[2] square was used

Results: Prevalence of nursing caries in this sample was 28%. There was a significant correlation between nursing caries and sex, tooth brushing habit, parent's educational state, feeding with liquid sweetened with sugar, cleaning the teeth after feeding and snack eating. There wasn't a significant correlation between visiting the dentist, using the sweetened pacifier, bottle-feeding and breast-feeding with nursing caries. 36.4% of children were caries free. The mean of dmft was 7.86 in nursing caries cases and 1.79 in others [P<0.05]

Conclusion: The prevalence of nursing caries in this community is high. It's necessary to educate parents about controlling the associating factors of nursing caries

[Prevalence of overweight and obesity among female medical students in Guilan-2003]

Urbanization, industrialization, and related lifestyle changes in and the dietary transition to high fat and calorie diets are leading causes of the worldwide obesity epidemic. The aims of this study was to assess prevalence of overweight and obesity among future physicians. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional study involving 282 female students aged 18-26 years. Weight and height were measured to 0.1 kg and was 0.1 cm respectively. Other information regarding behavior and socioeconomic factors were obtained using a questionnaire during interviews. Physical activity was measured using the Bake questionnaire. Overweight was defined as BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m2 and BMI >= 30.0 kg/m2 was defined as obese. A waist circumference [WC] of >= 80 cm or waist-to-hip ratio [WHR] of >=0.8 was considered to represent central obesity. Findings revealed that 12.8% of students were overweight, 0.4% obese and 8.1% underweight. Central obesity was 10.2% [using the WC] and 14.8% [using WHR] cut-offs. Over half the subjects lach understanding of appropriate weight for their age. History of obesity in childhood and adolescence were factors affecting current BMI. Results indicate a prevalence of both over weight and underweight exist in this student group, along with a lack of accurate information on appropriate weight ranges. Educational programes to increase awareness are recommended

Effectiveness of osmotic fragility screening with varying saline concentration in detecting B-Thalassemia trait

Thalassemia is a major health problem in Iran. The prevalence of thalassemia minor is high and screening program for detecting beta -thalassemia trait has been established in southern parts of Iran since 1992. To determine the efficacy of naked-eye single-tube red cell osmotic fragility test [OFT] as a screening test for beta -thalassemia trait. Three different concentrations [0.36%, 0.37% and 0.38%] of buffered saline solutions were used. OFT were applied to three groups of subjects: 50 normal individuals, 50 subjects with genetically proven beta -thalassemia trait, and 15 patients with proved iron-deficiency anemia. The results demonstrated that 0.37% saline was the best solution for OFT. It could detect 98% of heterozygous beta -thalassemia patients compared to 96% and 84% detection rate obtained with respective 0.36% and 0.38% saline. Specificity of OFT with 0.37% saline was 96% whereas that of 0.36% and 0.38% saline were 84% and 94%, respectively. The OFT with 0.37% saline was also positive in 5 [33.3%] patients with iron-deficiency anemia. OFT done with 0.37% buffered saline solution provides more accurate results. Since the test is inexpensive and practical it might be considered as the single screening test to be used in areas with limited laboratory facilities and economic resources