Investigation of enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus in processed meat products sausage and ham, in Isfahan Province in summer of 2015

Background and Aim: Contamination of food with enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus is a risk factor for public health. Because of lack of information on the contamination of the processed meat products including sausage and hams with the enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus, the present study was conducted to assess the presence of these toxins in the aforementioned products in Iran

Material and Methods: In this cross sectional study, 72 samples of sausage and ham were obtained from product storages of four active meat processing plants with different qualitative grades; including A, B, C and D in summer of 2015 in Isfahan Province, Iran. The qualitative grading of the meat processing plants was performed on the basis of the [pre requisite programs: PRPs] form approved by Food and Drug Administration of Ministry of Health in Iran. The scores of hygienic factors including [hygiene of workers], [production and processing], [washing, disinfection, cleaning] and [hazard identification and verification] of the aforementioned meat processing plants were determined according to the PRPs form

The meat processing plant with qualitative grades of A, B, C and D had the scores of 924, 825, 754 and 614, respectively. The hygienic grades of meat processing plants were [desirable], based on the PRPs form. The ELISA kite was used to detect the enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus

Results: The results showed lack of contamination of the processed meat products with enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus in all samp Is obtained from all of the factories with different qualitative grades

Conclusion: The result of the current study showed that the implementation of suitable designs in relation to the hygienic principles and the continuous surveillance of food inspectors of the Department of Food and Drug of Isfahan University of medical sciences could have a positive role in prevention of contamination of sausage and hams with enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus

[Performance assessment of hospitals affiliated with Iran University of medical sciences: application of economic techniques in health care area]

Introduction: hospitals are considered as one of the main health delivery systems and the largest and most expensive operational units that have specific importance and sensitivity. This study was conducted to assess the performance of hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences applying economical techniques

Methods: this was a cross sectional with a data panel study conducted in 16 hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2006-2012. Two forms according to research objectives were designed one for registering Pabon Lasso indexes and the other for DEA inputs and outputs. Excel software was used for analyzing the former data and Windeap 2.1 for estimating the efficiency and productivity indexes of the hospitals

Results: Pabon Lasso Model shows that in the years 2007 and 2011 the number of hospitals in the third zone was at the maximum level. Furthermore, the mean of technical and managerial efficiency was at the maximum level [0.889 +/- 0.135, 0.909 +/- 0.142] in 2011. Malmquist index shows that during the study period the mean of total productivity changes was 1.018 indicating a decrease in hospital productivity during the study period

Conclusion: it seems that system changes in Iran University of Medical Sciences has led to negative fluctuations in efficiency and productivity indexes of the hospitals. Applying managerial approaches along with reassessing the indexes after managerial status of the University is suggested

[ analysis of productivity in hospitals affiliated to Iran and Tehran universities of medical sciences: 2006-2011]

Introduction: The rise in healthcare costs, population and technology development has led to an increased demand to consider productivity issue in hospitals and other medical centers to provide, preserve and promote public health services. The aim of this study was to analysis the productivity in hospitals affiliated to Iran and Tehran universities of medical sciences

Methods: In this study, partial and marginal productivity of each factor of production, as well as the total factor productivity changes of hospitals affiliated to Iran and Tehran universities of medical sciences were calculated using Kendrick-Kerimer and Malmquist indexes in 2006-2011

Results: The average total of productivity changes was 1.012 which implies a decrease in productivity during the study. The rate of reduction was 1.2, mostly affected by technological efficiency changes compared with other factors. Scale efficiency changes, managerial efficiency and technical efficiency were the next effective factors. Total productivity, checked with Kendrick-Kerimer index, was affected by productivity of active bed input

Conclusion: Lack of knowledge on the part of hospital staff concerning the proper use of technology in patients' treatment is the main cause of productivity loss caused by technological changes in these hospitals. Therefore, it is recommended to hold training courses for staff on the correct use of technology in diagnosis and taking care of patients

[ comparison between Iran and the selected countries on the efficiency of expenses in health sector by data envelopment analysis [1998-2008]]

Maintaining and providing the health care are of the proprieties of each health system. Therefore, those involved in health sector should always do their best to provide high quality services. Increasing the efficiency of health system is one of the issues emphasized by the policy-makers. This study was aimed to compare between Iran and the Selected Countries on the Efficiency of expenses in Health Sector by Data Envelopment Analysis [1998 -2008]. In this applied descriptive study, the Data Envelopment Analysis [DEA] Method was used to determine the efficiency of Iranian health sector and the other selected countries [N: 40]. The findings revealed that the health sector in Iran had a technical efficiency of 77.2% during the period of 1998-2008. Iran held the 16[th] rank among all countries under study. The technical efficiency of the health sector in Iran is about 70% of the optimal level. As the mere increase in the expenses of the health sector cannot lead to improvement of health indices, health policy-makers should increase the efficiency of these expenses by means of appropriate policy making and implementation of these policies. Developing public insurance, improving life style, making organizational modifications, and paying more attention to the preventive measures can results in raising the efficiency of these expenses

Toxocara spp. eggs in public parks of Urmia City, west Azerbaijan province Iran

The visceral larva migrans [VLM] is a syndrome observed in human infection with helminth larval eggs such as the Toxocara spp. that usually infects dogs and cats. Among the risk factors involved in the occurrence of VLM, particularly importance of these animal populations, an investigation was carried out for the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs in public parks in the city of Urmia, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Samples were collected from total 26 existing public parks in Urmia from December 2003 to March 2004. Soil samples were collected from 3-4 distinct sites in the same area. The floating material was analyzed under the light microscope. Toxocara spp. eggs were found in 8 samples of total 102 taken samples from 26 public parks showed a contamination rate of 7.8%. The number of observed Toxacara eggs in each microscopic field was varied from 1-8. Low rate of contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs in Urmia parks might be due to lower dog population and cultural differences of present study in this city in comparison of other cities of the world

[ estimation of production function in Orumieh Medical Sciences University hospitals]

Hospital is known as an important and the most costly performing unit of health care systems, therefore, economic analysis of this unit is very important This study designed to estimate hospital production function in Orumieh Medical Sciences University hospital's. for this study 16 hospitals were studied. We used panel data for estimation of mentioned function, data were gathered from 2000 to 2006. A double- logged form of the Cobb-Douglas production function has been estimated. The dependent variable is inpatient admissions, the explanatory variables that are included are the umber of doctors, nurses, beds, other staffs and average length of stay [ALOS]. As a result of study the elasticity of doctors is EY. P =1.08, the elasticity of nurses is EY. N =3.4, the elasticity of beds is EY. B =1.4, and the elasticity of other staffs is EY. P P =2.8. There was not significant correlation between ALOS and the number of admission. The marginal production of inputs are MPP =391, MPN=244, MPB=103, MPP P =273, and, there is an increasing return to scale. Also, we have investigated MRTS1 between production factors. Results of this study show that, the maximum elasticity is attributable to the number of nurses and then respectively to, other staffs, beds and doctors. The marginal production of inputs shows an important role of doctors in production. The decision makers, in critical circumstances can substitute inputs with considering MRTS between inputs. There is an increasing economic of scale and in long-term there will be a monopolistic competition market, therefore, for achievement to equity issue, the intervention of government in this hospitals market is necessary

Attitude and awareness about AIDS in high school students of Tehran

AIDS is an infectious and very dangerous disease that in spite of many attempts to find effective drugs and treatments is still a global health problem. It seems that in addition to medical efforts, social matters and personal hygiene play a big role in controlling this disease. To evaluate knowledge and attitude of high school students [boys and girls] about AIDS. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed. Using cluster random sampling, 22 districts of Tehran were divided to five areas according to their geographic position and in each area, two districts were selected and in each district, two boy and girl high schools were selected. Finally, from each high school, 40-45 students in grade 1, 2 and 3 were selected through simple random sampling, and information was gathered from 5000 students by interviewers using questionnaires. Data showed that students' knowledge about AIDS was moderate and their attitude was negative, especially in boys. There was a direct, significant correlation between amount of knowledge and attitude, with higher knowledge leading to more positive attitude. Student s knowledge was also increased by increasing level of education. Given the direct association between knowledge and attitude and the importance of preventive behaviors, improvement of students' knowledge is of great importance. This can be achieved by building committees in different provinces across the country and by public education of all the students

[Comparison of the effect of infrared [IR] and Phenytoin cream on skin wound healing in rat]

Background and Objective: Infrared [IR] is one of the modalities in electrotherapy that indicates for treatment of some diseases with minimal side effects, but there is different ideas about its effects on wound healing. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of IR on skin wound healing in rat and its comparison with phenytoin's effect

Methods: This interventional and experimental study was done on three groups of rats. After inducing general anesthesia in rats, skin wound was made on dorsal neck about 2 cm[2]. Then from third day after operation, IR and phenytoin cream [1%] were indicated in two groups. No treatment was administered for control group. Wound surface area, percentage of recovery and rat weight change post operation at 1[st], 4[th], 7[th] and 10[th] day were measured. Number of fibroblasts, collagen fibers, new vessels, lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils and thickness of epiderm were determined in three groups by biopsy at 10[th] day

Findings: The results showed that percentage of recovery was not significantly different in three groups at 4[th] day. But, percentage of recovery at 7[th] day in IR, control and phenytoin group were 51.5+/-17.7, 38.8+/-17.9 and 55.3+/-10.1, respectively [P<0.04] and at 10[th] day in IR, control and phenytoin group were 68.4+/-17.5, 57+/-18.4 and 78.9+/-8.2, respectively [P<0.01]. Number of new vessels, fibroblasts, macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils and thickness of epiderm were not significantly different in three groups after 10[th] days. Number of collagen fibers was significantly different in three groups [P<0.01]

Conclusion: Findings suggest that infrared accelerates wound healing from 7[th] day that this effect is the same as phenytoin's healing effect

[Mental health of mothers with children afflicted with psychiatric disorders comparison with control group]

In this project, the mental health status of mothers with children afflicted with psychiatric disorders was compared with that of the mothers of children without psychological complaints. 57 mothers of children afflicted with psychiatric disorders and 56 mothers of children without psychological complaints were selected as the subjects of the study via available sampling. The subjects from the two groups were matched in terms of some demographic variables. To collect data the 28-question version of General Health Questionnaire was used. Data were analyzed via multivariate analysis of variance. The mean scores of mothers of children with psychiatric disorders were higher than those of the mothers of children with no psychological complaints in the subscales of somatic syndrome, anxiety syndrome, social functioning, and depressive syndrome; the difference was more considerable in anxiety syndrome. The mothers of children afflicted with psychiatric disorders experience more depression and anxiety, lower social functioning and physical health than mothers of children with no psychological complaints

Reasons for delay in the management of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

The study assessed reasons for delay between patient's first symptoms of tuberculosis and initiation of therapy. Fifty newly diagnosed cases of pulmonary tuberculosis admitted to the NRITLD in Teheran were studied. Mean patient delay before consulting a physician was 12.5 +/- 10 days, significantly higher among men than women. Mean delay until the physicians' diagnosis was 93 +/- 80 days, significantly higher for women than for men. Almost no treatment delay was observed [mean 4 +/- 4 days after diagnosis had been confirmed]. The major delay was the time taken by physicians to diagnose tuberculosis in symptomatic patients. An active and effective national tuberculosis programme is needed in the Islamic Republic of Iran, with integration of the programme in medical school curricula and in continuing professional training