[ case study of the health system response operation to flood in chaldoran township on July 2011]

Due to casualties and financial losses, floods are the most horrible natural disasters. It is responsible for 40-50% of all deaths in the world, about 43% of total population damaged by disasters that have occurred between 2009-2000. Despite the high abundance of floods in Iran, yet little research has been done on how the health system response to the flood. This article aims to study the health system response operation to Chaldoran township flood. In this descriptive case study, data was collected by using checklists that were prepared by researchers through interviews with authorities of health system in affected areas; reviewing existing documentation; and observing of how the response has been provided. A flash flood was occurred and damaged some parts of Chaldoran Township on 16 July, 2011. Initial investigation team dispatched immediately to the affected areas and surveillance system was exacerbated. 24 samples of water had been taken in the region that 6 cases had bacterial contamination. However, no chemical sampling was prepared, 6 drinking water sources restored and also 34 kg of calcium hypochlorite was distributed. Chlorine measurement was performed in 206 cases which 182 were favorable cases. 8 toilets of 11 were reconstructed after damaging in flood. Meanwhile, there were not any unwanted problems in maternal and child and family planning health services. Fortunately, losses resulting from the recent flood were not noticeable and have been managed well by the health system. But for broader disaster management involving high mortality, the health system should design a proper disaster plan in order to prepare and improve employees by training programs in various maneuvers. The health system and employees should be ready. Otherwise, such disasters are very difficult to manage and also the results will be tragic

[Microemulsion preparation from pumpkin seed oil [cucurbita pepo] as an oral drug carrier]

One of the modern Drug Delivery methods is the use of microemulsion for oral delivery of insoluble drugs .To use medicinal plants oil in these systems resulted in therapeutic solution for carrying lipophilic drugs. Pumpkin seed oil is one of the plant oils with high therapeutic properties especially in BPH treatment .The oil has significant absorption in the body. Microemulsion Preparation from Pumpkin Seed Oil for Oral Drug Delivery-To choose surfactants and cosurfactants based on oil components structure-To formulate the ingredients with different methods in different conditions-To study the repeatability and stability of samples-To measure particle size Short chained alcohols are not suitable cosurfactants for this research. The best result is obtained with polysorbate 80 as a surfactant and sugar as a cosurfactant. Addition of polymer has no effect on the stability of microemulsion. On the other hand, stirring has no effect in bench scale. It would be better to conduct the experiments at room temperature. Pumpkin oil O/W microemulsion contained 5-10% oil could be prepared by polysorbate 80 as a surfactant and sugar as a cosurfactant

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in thalassemic patients of East Azarbaijan in 2003

Patients with major beta-thalassemia have been exposed to a wide range of blood-borne viruses among which hepatitis B and C viruses have a considerable importance. In this study, seroprevalence and risk factor of HBV, HCV and HIV infections among thalassemic patients of East Azarbaijan were evaluated. Eighty four thalassemic patients who were regularly transfused at Children Hospital [Tabriz] enrolled in this observational study. Some data were collected through questionnaires and patients' medical history; then, patients were evaluated for the presence of HCVAb, HBsAg, HIVAb, HBsAb, HBcAb and ferritin by ELISA; moreover, HCV positive sera were confirmed by Recombinant Immunoblot Assay [RIBA-3.0]. None of the eighty-four thalassemic patients were HIV and HBV positive; however, 6 [7.1%] were HCV positive. Distribution of sex and the mean ferritin did not differ from HCV-positive to HCV-negative patients, but the age average was significantly higher in HC V-positive patients [p<0.001]. Moreover, HCV-positive patients had a significantly longer history of transfusion compared with HCV-negative patients [p<0.001]. The prevalence of HCV in those patients who had received their first blood transfusion before the implementation of compulsory testing for HCV in 1995 was significantly lower. In other words, no case became infected after the initiation of donor screening test for HCV.The prevalence of HCV in thalassemic patients of East Azarbaijan was lower compared to other provinces of Iran and all positive cases in this study went back to the time period preceeding 1995 that is before the implementation of compulsory HCV screening tests