[Prevalence of clinical manifestations of pre-menstrual syndrome and pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder among medical students in Gorgan, Iran [2010]]

Due to high prevalence of pre-menstrual syndrome [PMS] and pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder [PMDD] and its effect on the educational, professional activities and familial behaviors, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of clinical manifestations of pre-menstrual syndrome and pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder in medical students. This descriptive-analytic study was done on 162 female medical students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences in Gorgan, Iran during 2010. Demographic characteristics and PMS and PMDD clinical manifestations questionnaire based on DSM-IV-TR and ACOG criteria was filled for each subject. Mean age and menarche age of subjects was 22.2 +/- 2.5 and 13.3 +/- 1.2 years, respectively. 145 students [89.5%] were single. 57.4% and 22.8% of participants fulfilled the criteria of PMS and PMDD, respectively. The most frequent affective and somatic symptom was lethargy and fatigability [57.4%] followed by sensation of bloating and weight gain [45.7%]. The lowest frequent somatic and affective symptoms were dyspnea [8%] and insomnia [1.2%], respectively. There was significant correlation between the prevalence of PMDD and chronical and menarche age [P<0.05]. Pre-menstrual syndrome is a prevalent disorder in medical students of Golestan University of medical sciences in Iran

[Tuberculin reaction in 4.5 months babies and 7 years old children, vaccinated with BCG at bith]

Approximately one-third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis [T.B], which is an indicator of high distribution of these bacteria in our environment. The only vaccine currently available against TB is the attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain bacillus Calmette-Gu‚rin [BCG], which used regularly for many years to prevent the tuberculosis in Iran and many part of the world. The efficacy of this vaccine varies in different populations, and is a matter for discussion. On this basis, the present study has been set up to determine the level of tuberculin reaction in 4.5 month and in 7 years old children that receive BCG vaccine at birth time, in Golestan province. 2700, 4.5 month infant and 2400, 7 years old children in Golestan province were chosen by cluster sampling after the proper permission from the parents, public health centers and educational authorities were taken. The presences of the BCG scar were assessed, and 0.1ml of 5tu tuberculin were injected subcutaneously. The induration was measured 48-72 h after tuberculin injection. The results were determined as percent and compare with t test. In these study 2559 infants and 2193 child were taken part in the final evaluation. The BCG Scar were present in 97.9% of infants and 87.8% of 7 years children, this difference was meaningful. The average induration in 4.5 months babies were 2.29 mm, and in 7 years child was 0.66 mm, this difference was significant [P<0.05]. More than 44.7% of babies and 82% of 7 years children did not show any reaction after PPD test, this difference was also significant [P<0.05]. The level of positive tuberculin reaction in infants of this province in spite of vaccination was very low, and this level was reduced after 7 years time, this indicate that BCG vaccination at birth did not have any major role in positive tuberculin reaction. Our results also indicate that the presence of scar can be a good indicator for previous vaccination. In regard to the negative tuberculin reaction in majority of babies, it is suggested to evaluate the efficacy of BCG vaccine in preventing the TB disease itself, by other method such as studying the TB incidence among children in long term or by determination of cytokines level after tuberculin injection