Relationship between personality traits and happiness in patients with thalassemia

The aim of this study was determining the relationship between personality traits and happiness in patients with major thalassemia. The design of this study was descriptive [correlational study]. The target population of this study was all under-treated patients with major thalassemia in Amirkola thalassemia center in 2011. Among these patients, 150 patients were sampled using simple random sampling method and Morgan's table. The data were analyzed by means of calculating Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression analysis. The patients were asked to complete NEO-five factor Inventory [short form] and Oxford happiness inventory. Based on the results, the coefficient of regression analysis of NEO personality factors [big five] and happiness was 0.45, which shows a linear relationship between personality factors of NEO and happiness in patients with thalassemia. Thus, there is a statistically significant relationship among personality traits [neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness] and happiness. Among personality traits, extroversion, flexibility, agreeableness and conscientiousness had positive statistically meaningful relationship with happiness i.e. patients with lower scores in neuroticism, were happier

prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in north of Iran: the international study of asthma and allergies in childhood [ISAAC]

Asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema as a common chronic disorder in childhood, has many epidemiologic variations in different geographic areas. Uniform and standard epidemiologic researches are able to clear and modify scientific questions in this field. We carried out this study to determine the prevalence and intensity of pediatric allergic disease in our region. This analytical-cross sectional study was performed on 2 groups of children; the first group aged 6-7 years [n=3240] and the second group aged 12-14 years [n=3254] during 2002-03. According to ISAAC programming, sample size consisted of 3000 children in each group. From all students 99.3% of primary students and 88.8% of guidance students entered into study. Data was gathered by ISAAC first phase questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS 10 and Chi square test. The 12-month prevalence rates of symptoms were as follow: wheezing 16.8% and 21.7%, allergic rhinitis symptoms 14.5% and 19.9% and atopic dermatitis symptoms 4.5% and 8.2%, for younger and older age group, respectively. The prevalence of wheezing and current wheeze did not show differences according to sex [P > 0.05] but it was significantly higher in students of guidance school [P < 0.05]. The prevalence of previous history of asthma, speech disorders, wheezing after physical exercises and dry cough at night, rhinoconjuntivitis, recurrent rhinitis, eczema with pruritus, recurrent lesions and history of eczema was significantly higher in boys and in students of guidance school [P < 0.05]. The prevalence of flexor lesion did not show a significant difference according to age [P > 0.05] but in boys it was higher than in the girls [P < 0.05]. According to our findings asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema have a moderate prevalence in this region of our country

effects of beta-carotene and vitamin E on erythrocytes lipid peroxidation in beta-thalassemia patients

Thalassemia is the most common hereditary disease in the world. Thalassemic erythrocytes are exposed to higher oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of beta-carotene and vitamin E on erythrocytes lipid peroxidation in beta-thalassemia patients. A prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effect of beta-carotene and vitamin E on lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes membranes was performed on 120 beta-thalassemia major patients in four groups. The patients were supplemented for 4 weeks as follows: group 1 with beta-carotene [13 mg/day], group 2 with vitamin E [550 mg/day], group 3 with beta-carotene plus vitamin E and group 4 with placebo. We prepared all capsules for 4 roups in the same shape and color. Measurements of serum beta-carotene and vitamin E were performed by high performance liquid chromatography. After preparation of ghost cells from blood specimens, malondialdehyde [MDA] was determined as index of lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes membranes before and after treatment. The levels of serum beta-carotene and vitamin E were significantly lower and MDA concentrations in erythrocytes membranes were significantly higher in beta-thalassemia patients compared to controls [P < 0.001]. In groups that treated with vitamin supplements for 4-weeks, lipid peroxidation rates were significantly reduced after treatment [P<0.001], but in placebo group there was not significant difference [P > 0.05]. Our findings provide evidence that an oral treatment with beta-carotene and vitamin E can significantly reduce lipid peroxidation of erythrocytes membranes and could be useful in management of beta-thalassemia major patients

Seroprevalence of HCV antibody among patients with B-Thalassemia major in amirkola thalassemia center, Iran

Beta- thalassemia major is a common hemoglobinopathy in humans. In some journals, numerous studies have reported different prevalence of hepatitis C among beta-thalassemia major because thalassemic patients need multiple blood transfusions and blood transfusion is a common transmission pathway for hepatitis C virus. Thus this study was performed for detection of anti-HCV between beta- thalassemia major patients in our region

[Epidemiology, clinical and laboratory characteristics of pneumonia in hospitalized children, at amirkola children Hospital from 2003 to 2005]

Pneumonia causes about three million deaths a year in young children; nearly all of them are in developing countries. Most of pneumonias are caused by microorganisms but a number of non-infectious agents could be the etiologic agent. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of pediatric patients admitted to Amirkola Children's Hospital, Babol/Iran because of pneumonia. This cross-sectional study was done on pediatric patients, aged 1 month to 12 years who were hospitalized with a final diagnosis of pneumonia. From 2003 to 2005 a total of 404 cases with a diagnosis of pneumonia were recorded. The diagnosis was based on physical examination, result of chest radiography and laboratory findings. The epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory characteristics were recorded and analyzed by SPSS 10 software. Sex distribution showed male 58.6%, female 41.4%. The mean age of boys was significantly less than girls [P=0.02]. Admissions more than once because of pneumonia were seen in 10% of the patients. The most common clinical signs and symptoms were positive pulmonary auscultation, cough and increased respiratory rate. ESR and CRP were elevated in 66% and 65.8% respectively. The blood culture was positive in 3.5% of cases and the predominant bacteria isolated was Haemophilus influenzae type b. The mortality rate of pneumonia in this study was 1.2%. Although cases of positive culture for bacterial infection in our study population seem to be low, the predominance of Haemophilus influenzae type b in comparison to the similar studies in developed countries necessitates the vaccination of target population against this microorganism