A Report of Health Related Anthropometric Indices in 2–5 Years Old Children of Golestan Province of Iran in 2015

Pediatric malnutrition is an enormous health issue all around the world and its distribution is different in distinct areas of a country. This study has been designed to report the anthropometric status and some socio-economic factors among 2–5 years old children from Golestan province of Iran to show a better view of pediatric health status and better planning for future actions. This study was carried out by clustered-randomized sampling method on 1,382 of 2–5 years old children in urban and rural areas of Golestan province. Anthropometric measurements were performed and World Health Organization child growth standards were used for further analyses. The prevalence of stunting in boys and girls were 7.4% and 7.5% in urban and 4.1% and 5.4% in rural areas. The prevalence of underweight in boys and girls were 6.9% and 4.7% in urban and 5.7% and 4.4% in rural areas. The prevalence of subjects being at risk for overweight were 17.8% and 11.7% in boys and girls, respectively, in urban areas and were 11.1% and 9.2% in rural areas, respectively. There was a marginally significant difference between urban boys and girls in terms of weight status (p = 0.067). In this study remarkably high prevalence of malnutrition, especially a high dominance of overweight, was reported in Golestan province of Iran. Follow-up investigation to identify the cause of malnutrition and to establish public health policies are needed to revise these health issues in Golestan province of Iran.

Survey of Olive Fungal Disease in North of Iran.

New plantations of Olive tree in northern Iran are usually being severely affected by wilt or dieback and death. To determine the etiology of this problem, a study was carried out in samples of affected young trees collected in Golestan, Zanjan, Gilan and Khorasan provinces, the north of Iran during 2004-2009. Fungi that cause olive disease or associated with stem cuttings are listed. From this list Verticillium dahliae and Fusicladium oleagineum were the most common on a wide range area and on all cultivated cultivars. Several fungi were isolated from seedling rotted roots and some recorded associated with stem cuttings. Other fungal species associated with death of young olive trees in the field or in the nurseries, including Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, Phytophthora megasperma, Phytophthora nicotiana, Pythium aphanidermatum, Rhizoctonia solani and some stem decay fungi such as species of Ascochyta, Alternaria, Cephalosporium, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Diplococcium, Diplodia, Nigrospora, Sphaeropsis, Stemphyllium and Ulocladium. As the fungal pathogen can affect olive production, these findings are potentially important to the future olive industry in northern Iran.