[ 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

[Comparison of ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder] prevalence between female and male students of primary schools in Arak City in academic year of 2009-2010]

The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder] between female and male students of primary schools in Arak City. This study was a descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study which included 2000 female and male students of primary schools in Arak City between 2009 and 2010. The method of sampling was stratification. We used Intelligence-Matrix of Raven Scale intelligence, Canners questionnaire [parents and teachers] to study ADHD, the demographic checklist for recording students' demographic data, and K-SADS-E questionnaire to document diagnosis of ADHD. Data were introduced into SPSS software and analyzed by chi-square test to determine the relationship between qualitative variables and also logistic regression model to determine odds ratio. In this study among 2000 students, 168 were suffering from one type of ADHD. Also this study showed that the prevalence of attention deficit was 2.3 percent [%1.6 in boys and%2.9 in girls], prevalence of the combined type of disorder was 2.7 percent [%3 in boys and%1.3 in girls]. There were a significant relationship between prevalence of ADHD and each of the following variables including: gender [p<0/001], educational level [p<0/027], and monthly family income of the students who were suffering from ADHD [p<0.019], but there was no significant relationship between the parents' educational level, the parents' occupation, living in areas polluted with heavy metals, living style and ADHD. According to the results of this study we recommend that the educational departments in every city provide training programs for the teachers and parents about the identification of signs and symptoms of ADHD to prevent deterioration of ADHD and educational problems in the children

[ study of sub-MIC ciprofloxacin effects on Shigella dysenteriae]

Shigella dysenteriae causes one of the most acute kinds of diarrhea which could be established as chronic infection with alternative periods of recurrence. Administration of normal doses of antibiotics will suppress microbial infections; however it is possible to control these infections by consumption of sub-MIC doses of certain antibiotics. In this basic study, a strain of Shigella dysenteriae [PTCC:1188] was used. After determination of MIC by microdilution method in Muller-Hinton Broth and MBC in Muller-Hinton Agar, the different dilutions [1/2,1/4,1/8] of MIC were prepared in order to study the sub-MIC effects of ciprofloxacin on some traits of Shigella dysenteriae. The results showed that different sub-MIC dilutions of ciprofloxacin could cause morphological changes in Shigella. The Shigella cells became filamentous in 1/2 MIC whereas this configuration was weaker in 1/4 MIC and 1/8 MIC. Meanwhile, the appearance of colonies was changed significantly due to the higher concentrations of sub-MIC. Some of the biochemical traits were affected by sub-inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin is a drug of choice for shigellosis. According to the results of this study, treatment of Shigella infections would be possible by lower doses of ciprofloxacin