Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among iranian steel workers

Musculoskeletal disorders in developing countries are considered as main cause of occupational disorders and disability and highly associated with socioeconomic burden to individual, organization and society in general view. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and associated risk factors among Iranian steel workers. In a cross-sectional study, 1439 questionnaires were provided from 1984 randomly selected workers of four Iranian steel industries. Data of musculoskeletal disorders was gathered by means of standardized Nordic self-reporting questionnaire. Demographic and work related data were collected into the check list. Out of 1984 individuals, 1439 questionnaires returned and mean age of study workers was 37.23 +/- 8.74 years old. Among workers, 46.3% in the past week and 61% in the last year claimed one of musculoskeletal disorders in their bodies. Lumbar, knee[s] and neck areas had the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders had significant association with the job time of work and BMI. Musculoskeletal disorders in Iranian steel industries happened in high rate. Ergonomic interventions strategies into the workplaces must be focused to eliminate environmental hazards such as apposition on the time of work and manual handling of heavy loads

Proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced in HL-60 cells by a natural diterpene ester from Daphne mucronata

Gnidilatimonoein [Gn], a new diterpene ester from Daphne mucronata, possesses strong anti-metastasis and anti-tumor activities. In this study, its apoptosis and differentiation capabilities were evaluated by using the leukemia HL-60 cell line. Cell prolifaration inhibition was estimated by MTT assay. The occurrence of apoptosis was evaluated by EtBr/AO double staining technique, cell cycle analyses and detection of apoptotic cells by Annexin V-FITC and propodium iodide [PI]. Differentiation of the cells was determined by NBT reduction assay and the expression of specific cell surface markers such as CD 14 and CD1 Ib, were analyzed by flow cytometry. The drug decreased the growth of the cells dose- and time-dependently and the IC[50] was found to be 1.3 microM. Our data suggested that Gn induced both monocytic differentiation and apoptosis among HL-60 cells. In addition, cell cycle analyses showed an increase in Gl phase population by 24 hrs, which was gradually replaced by Sub-Gl cell population [apoptotic cells] by 72 hrs. Based on these data, the Gn-treated HL-60 cells displayed differentiation-dependent apoptosis. Thus, Gn might be a good candidate for differentiation therapy of leukemia, pending full biological evaluation of the compound among the wide array of leukemia cells

Detection of haemophilus influenzae type b in cerebrospinal fluid of suspected children with meningitis byPCR

A polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay with primers from "hpd" gene was compared with culture for the detection of Haemophilus influenza type b [Hib] in CSF samples from children suspected of meningitis.300 cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] samples from suspected meningitis cases were studied by culture [Leventhal and Chocolate Agar] and PCR.The latter method could detect Hib in all 5 culture positive and in 2 of 295 culture negative cases, showing sensitivity, specificity, and an accuracy index of 100%, 99% and 99%, respectively. The PCR result was available within a day.This study has shown that PCR is a rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic test for Hib from CSF samples. Furthermore, to maximize management of meningitis cases to reduce the morbidity, mortality, and complications of invasive Hib infection a combination of culture and PCR is necessary for the detection of Hib infection. The incidence of Hib meningitis among children in Children's Medical Center in Tehran based on culture and PCR results were 2.4% and 1.7% respectively. Based on culture results, Hib causes 15.6% of all cases of bacterial meningitis in children