Socially-deviant middle eastern women at a great risk of poor reproductive health

It is important to examine scale and scope of the reproductive health among socially-vulnerable women. The study was aimed at testing the hypothesis that as compared to general population, reproductive health is poorer among socially-vulnerable women. We enrolled 100 cases and 203 controls conducted from January 2010 to January 2011. Cases were socially- vulnerable women seeking care from Tehran's Center for Improving Social Health of Socially-Damaged Women [Specific Center for Socially-Vulnerable Women]. Controls were women referring to health centers of Tehran. Mean age of cases and controls were 34.1 years and 33.8 years, respectively. Unwanted pregnancy was reported by 62.9% of cases and 33% of controls. Among socially-vulnerable women, 50.6% of abortions were reported to happen during the period in which they were using drugs. Among cases, 45.7% reported to give birth to low birth weight newborns and for controls was 11.7%. Among cases with low birth weight child, 64.9% used drug during pregnancy. Birth control was reported by 81.5% of cases and 92.8% controls. The most common method of contraception was condom among both cases [66%] and controls [31.2%]. At least one screening test for cervical cancer was reported by 82.8% of controls and for 47% of cases. Mean age at first sexual intercourse was 15.7 years among cases and 20.9 years among controls. Mean Sexual Performance Scale score was lower among cases [22.3] than controls [25.9] and sexual dysfunction was more prevalent among cases [80.6%] than controls [59.1%]. A high prevalence of reproductive health disorders was documented among socially-damaged women as compared to the women from general population

Human papilloma virus in head and neck squamous cell cancer

Epidemiologic and molecular evidences have established a strong link between high risk types of Human Papilloma Virus and a subgroup of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas [HNSCC]. We evaluated the frequency of HPV positivity in HNSCC and its relationship to demographic and some risk factor variables in an open casecontrol study. Fourteen recently diagnosed patients with squamous cell cancer of oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx aged 18-50 years were examined from 2008-2010 in Tabriz, Iran. HPV DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded blocks of each patient's sample for PCR evaluation. Saliva samples of 94 control cancer-free subjects were collected for DNA analysis. Multivariable logistic regression method was used to calculate odds ratio for case-control comparisons. High risk HPV was detected in 6[42.8%] patients, and 6[5.3%] control subjects which was statistically significant [p<0.0001]. HPV-18 was the most frequent type both in the cases and controls. HPV-16 DNA was detected in two patients of the case group, but it was not detected in any of the controls. The relation between demographic and risk factor variables was not statistically significant. HPV infection has a significant impact on HNSCC. Despite HPV-16 stronger impact, HPV-18 is more likely to cause malignant degeneration in such cancers amongst some communities. It is vital to introduce and conduct immunization schedules in health care systems to protect communities to some extent

effect of inorganic cations Ca[2+] and Al[3+] on the release rate of propranolol hydrochloride from sodium carboxymethylcellulose matrices

Several methods are available for control release of propranolol hydrochloride [PLH]. The aim of the present study was to develop a novel technique to sustain PLH release from matrices. Matrices of PLH containing sodium carboxymethylcellulose [Na CMC] and various amounts of the inorganic cations Ca[2+] and A1[3+] were prepared. Dissolution of the matrices was carried out using the USP apparatus I. Analysis of release data was performed by some model independent and dependent approaches. The release of PLH was affected by incorporation of different amounts [milliequivalents, meq] of Ca[2+] 2+ and Al[3+]. When the Ca[2+] amount increased from 0- 0.375 meq, the fraction of PLH which released within 480 min was augmented from 0.74 to 1 apparently via disintegrating effect of the cation. Al[3+] in the range 0- 0.125 meq, decreased the fractional release from 0.74 to 0.37 presumably by in situ cross- linking with polymer. Al[3+] between 0.125 and 0.5 meq enhanced the release from 0.37 to 1 possibly due to the disintegrating effect. Among model independent metrics, the mean release time [MRT] failed to represent the effect of the cations on the release but the release efficiency [RE] as well as a suggested mean release rate [MRR] correlated well with the experimental release rate. Due to the complexity of the release, the only suitable kinetic model was the Weibull distribution. The minimum and maximum Weibull release rate constants for matrices containing Al[3+] were 0.0007-0.017 1/min. The corresponding values for the matrices with Ca[2+] were 0.0029-0.0082 1/min. Through careful choice of the amount of Al[3+] in NaCMC matrices the release of PLH can be controlled at a desired rate. The best model independent approach is MRR and the most accurate model dependent method is Weibull distribution to describe the release data

survey of the results of the exploratory tympanotomy in the patients suspected to otosclerosis

Otosclerosis is one of the causes of hearing loss in different ages, which its treatment capability with surgery is remarkable. The goal of this study is to determine the extent of clinical and audiometric correlation with tympanotomy findings. In this study, all patients' have been studied in a prognostic manner. Suspected to otosclerosis, they were received to oto-rhino-laryngology department of Imam Khomeini hospital from April 1999 to September 2003. The differentiations studied were compared with studies done in other sources and areas. Then all of these patients have been performed stapedectomy surgery to restore hearing. During three weeks after surgery, the complication prevalence and the results of the patients treatment have been recorded, and compared with other sources. According to this study, it was determined that in the society studied, the prevalence rate of the disease in women were more common than men, and the majority of the patients have been received the treatments in the third and fourth decade of their life, and the family prevalent rate was less than the statistic of the world presented. The hearing loss was more conductive type the most frequent complication after surgery has been reported, was dizziness and a high percentage of the patients received a significant hearing recovery. Results of this study indicated that early diagnosis and exploratory tympanotoy of these patients could provide adequate hearing, and prevent severe hearing loss

Report on the results of surgical techniques for ear cholesteatoma

Cholesteatoma defined as the epidermal inclusion cyst of the middle ear includes 36% of pathologies of the patients suffering from chronic otomastoid. Choosing an appropriate surgical technique to eradicate cholesteatoma seems to be necessary. To evaluate the results of surgical techniques for ear cholesteatoma. The study was carried out on 34 patients [Tabriz, 1998-2000]. Using symptoms, physical visit and schuller and town graphy before operation chalesteatoma was diagnosed. While during the operation, it was seen in 80% of the cases and there was no diagnosis in other cases [20%]. All the patients had ear stench secretion and guidance auditory reduction and the most prevalent clinical finding was ear polyp along with cholesteatoma [14 cases]. In 79.4% of the cases, tympanomastoidectomy canal wall down technique was suggested which regarding during- operation findings was applied. While in 5.8% the suggested technique was tympanomastoidectomy canal wall up and it was applied in 20.5% of the patients. The extent of disease can be diagnosed definitely during the surgical operation on the basis of which the appropriate technique is choosed