[Relationship between pathogen intestinal parasitic infection and wasting and growth stunting]

Malnutrition is one of the most important health problems in developing countries, especially in school students. To determine of relationship between intestinal parasitic infection and wasting and growth stunting incidence among primary students in rural areas of Kashan, in the year of 2008. In this Case-Control study, 65 students with wasting and 65 students with growth stunting were chosen as case groups, also 65 students without malnutrition were chosen as control group. The National Center of Health Statistic [NCHS] growth charts was used as normal standard. The nutritional status was measured by Waterlow classification indicators, [The ratio of weight to height [wasting] and height to age [stunting] for pathogen intestinal parasites diagnosis]. Three serial fecal samples from students in case and control groups was collected during different days, in addition Cellophane tape method for Enterobius vermicularis eggs was performed in all of them. According to data, there were no significant relation between Pathogen intestinal parasitic infection and wasting and growth stunting [P=0.08 and P=0.18] respectively. The possibility of causing major detrimental effect on natural status of children by light parasitism is low

Correlation of pemphigus vulgaris antibody titers by indirect immunofluoresence with activity of disease based on pemphigus area and activity score [PAAS]

Indirect immunofluorescence [IIF] has been used to identify and measure autoantibody levels in pemphigus vulgaris but data about relationship between clinical severity of disease and antibody titers by IIF have been conflicting. We conducted this cross-sectional study to correlate the severity of oral and/or cutaneous involvement in patients with pemphigus vulgaris based on Pemphigus Area and Activity Score with IIF titers. Sixty-one new pemphigus vulgaris patients were included in this study. Human prepuce was used as substrate for IIF and assessment of disease severity was based on Pemphigus Area and Activity Score. The mean +/- SD age was 44.04 +/- 30.46 years, with a range of 18 to 79 years. IIF was positive in 56 [91.8%] patients. There was a significant relationship between total disease score and IIF titers [[P<0.001]. Also a significant relationship was found between skin score [P=0.04] and mucosal score [P=0.04] with IIF titers. Our results show that there is a significant relationship between disease activity based on Pemphigus Area and Activity Score and antibody titers by IIF. Further studies are recommended to determine the usefulness of this technique for monitoring disease

[Aggression and some of its demographic correlates in nurses of pediatric wards in hospitals affiliated to Isfahan medical university]

As a result of their stressful job, nurses are supposed to be vulnerable to aggressive behaviors. This study was done to assess the rate of aggression among nurses. This was a descriptive-analytic study on 100 nurses working in pediatric wards of all general hospitals in Isfahan in 2006. Aggression Questionnaire [AGQ] as well as a Demographic questionnaire was administered. Data was analyzed using Fisher Exact Test running SPSS software. A total of 23% of nurses had scores more than 45. Considering the sex, 10% of men, and 24.2% of women had scores more than 45. There was no significant relationship between aggression and sex. Considering the age group, 34.8% of the nurses in the age group of 22 to 29 years old, 16.6% of those in the age group of 30 to 39 and 7% of those in the age group over 40 had scores more than 45. There was a significant relationship between aggression and age. A rate of 14.9% of the single nurses versus 35.6% of the married ones had scores more than 45. A significant relationship was found between aggression and marital status. There was also a significant positive relationship between aggression and the years of service. No significant relationship was found between aggression and the level of education, shift of work, different wards of hospital, different hospitals and the salary pay. Based on the results of this study, aggression was higher in the lower age group and those with lower work experience. Aggression was higher in the married group. These results should be considered in planning appropriate mental health intervention