[Frequency of human papilloma virus genotypes among woman with genital lesions, in Sanandaj, Iran]

Background and Aim: genital wart is the most common sexually transmitted infection and its role in cervical cancer has been confirmed. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of human papillomavirus [HPV] and the frequency of its genotypes in the patients with genital lesions referring to the clinics in Sanandaj, Iran

Material and Method: this descriptive analytical study included 50 women with genital lesions referring to the clinics in Sanandaj City from February 2016 to February 2017. Biopsy samples were examined for four genotypes [HPV 16, 18 [high risk] and HPV 11, 6 [Low risk]] by PCR. Demographic information and risk factors were recorded in a questionnaire for every patient. Using spss v.20 software, data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Fischer test was used to investigate the relationship between the risk factors and HPV infection

Results: the results showed that 28 cases [56%] were HPV positive. Among the four genotypes of HPV, HPV 6 was the most frequent [32%], followed by the types of 18 [12%], 16 [6%] and 11 [2%]. Co-infection of HPV-16 and 18 were found in 2 cases [7.1%].The mean age of the patients with HPV infection was 34.07 +/- 8.7 years and the mean age of the first sexual contact was 21.22 +/- 4.8 years. No significant association was found between the risk factors and HPV infection [P> 0.05]

Conclusion: considering the high prevalence of HPV infection and its asymptomatic course in many cases, early detection and treatment of the genital warts, especially HPV16 and 18, can lead to prevention of cervical cancer

[Investigation of the knowledge, attitude and performance of the physicians in regard to rational antibiotic prescription]

Background and Aim: excessive use or misuse of antibiotics leads to important consequences such as increased cost of treatment, bacterial resistance, treatment failure, drug toxicity and increased morbidity and mortality. Use of guidelines can result in increased knowledge of the physicians and decreased prescription of antibiotics with resultant change in the attitudes of the physicians towards this policy

Materials and Methods: this cross-sectional study included 356 physicians and was conducted in Sanandaj in 2015. The sampling method was census. The final questionnaire included 7 questions to assess knowledge, 18 questions to measure attitudes, [by means of a 5-point Likert Scale from very strong agreement to very strong disagreement], and 12 questions to assess performance. The reliability of the questionnaire was 54%. Using SPSS20 software, frequency and mean score of the questions were calculated

Results: among 356 questionnaires, 44.2% were filled out by specialists and 45.2% by the physicians who had graduated more than seven years ago. 56% of the physicians chose the correct answer for the questions on knowledge, and 25% of the physicians had knowledge about antibiotic resistance. 97.3% of the physicians agreed that antibiotics in our country have been used in excess. In this study, 233 [65.5%] physicians had high knowledge and selfconfidence and 19.7% expressed low or lack of self-confidence about antibiotic prescription. WHO guideline and antibiotic guideline had been considered useful by 56% and 54.5% of the participants respectively. 49.9% of the physicians had not participated in any training course on antibiotic prescription. The highest and lowest frequency rates about sources of knowledge on antibiotic prescription belonged to internet [63.2%] and information provided by pharmaceutical companies [30.3%] respectively

Conclusion: considering the average level of knowledge of the doctors on antibiotic prescription and lack of participation of half of the subjects in training courses on antibiotic prescription after, attention to training courses with proper planning is recommended

Epidemiological survey on pandemic influenza A [H1N1] virus infection in Kurdistan province, Islamic Republic of Iran, 2009

This study evaluated the epidemiology of suspected cases of pandemic influenza A [HINI] virus infection in 2009-2010 in Kurdistan province, a frontier province of the Islamic Republic of Iran. A questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, clinical presentation and outcome, and history of exposure and travel was completed by patients attending health centres and hospitals in the province. Nasal and throat swabs were analysed by RT-PCR. A total of 1059 suspected cases were assessed; HI Nl influenza A was confirmed in 157 [14.8%]. The highest proportion of confirmed cases was 30,0%, among children aged <1 year. In multivariate analysis, previous contact with symptomatic influenza patients [OR - 2.17] and hospitalization [OR = 3.88] were the only significant risk factors for confirmed HINI infection. Age, sex, residency, presenting symptoms and history of national or international travel were not significant. Influenza A [HI Nl] virus has spread in Islamic Republic of Iran; probably transmitted by travellers to Kurdistan

[Suicide attempt and related factors in Kurdistan province]

Suicide is one of the most important community health problems which is related to many different factors in different communities. This was a case-control study and patients with suicide attempt admitted in Sanandaj hospitals were regarded as the case group. Control group was selected and matched for age. Data were introduced into SSPS 12.0 software and were analyzed by means of x2 test. Suicide attempt was more frequent in females [71.1%], in those with age of 20-24 years [31.1%] and in those with high school education [56.1%]. There was a significant relationship between number of family members and life events with suicide attempt [P=0.01, P<0.05 respectively]. No significant relationship was found between suicide attempt and marital status. The most common ways for suicide attempt were by using drugs and poisons. 6.7% of patients attempted suicide by selfburning. Self-burning was more frequent in married women and had 100% mortality. High frequency of suicide attempts in young women calls for attention to mental health in this group. Preventing suicide attempts by self-burning, particularly in married women indicates the importance of public education as well as reassessing marital condition, and family life training and education about handling interpersonal problems within families

[Comparison of sputum induction and bronchoalveolar lavage methods in diagnosis of pulmonary TB in patients with negative smear or without spontaneous sputum]

Sputum smear is recommended for microbiological confirmation of diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. It has been reported that sputum induction is a safe and non-invasive method for confirmation of microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis in smear negative patients. This study deals with the comparison of the value of sputum induction with that of bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] in the diagnosis of TB. 56 patients suspected to have tuberculosis were admitted in the infectious ward of Tohid Hospital and entered into this study. Sputum induction and BAL were performed for two consecutive days according to a standard procedure. Smears obtained from induced sputum and BAL contents were stained for acid fast bacilli. Exclusion criteria were severe asthma or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pregnancy. Of 56 tuberculosis suspects with negative or absent sputum production, sputum induction led to positives smears in 8 [14.3%] patients [5 previously smear-negative, 3 unproductive] and BAL had positive results in 7 [12.5%] patients which revealed a significant difference [p = 0.000]. Sputum induction is safer, easier to accomplish and more sensitive than BAL technique for diagnosis of pulmonary TB. Our study suggests that sputum induction with aerosolized hypertonic saline is a useful technique for better detection of cases of tuberculosis in patients with negative smears or non-productive cough

Prevalence of substance abuse in medical students of Kurdistan University

Substance abuse is one of the most prevalent problems in young adults. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence rate of substance abuse among Kurdistan university students. This was a cross sectional and descriptive analytic study. The sampling method was census and sample size included all students of Kurdistan University [1186 student] in 2007. The data were collected and recorded in a questionnaire for each subject. Data were introduced into SPSS software and analyzed by mean of Chi Square test. The results of this study indicated the percentage of students who reported usage of substance one or more times in their lives as following: alcohol 17.1, cannabis 4.7%, opium 4.8%, heroin 0.7%, ecstasy 2.7, and other substances 5.2. Ongoing abuse of different substances was assessed as following: alcohol 1.1%, cannabis 0.1%, opium 0.1%, heroin 0.1%, ecstasy 0.1%, other substances 0.2. There was a correlation between substance abuse and male gender [p<0.001], age [p<0.001], living with friends [p<0.001], and being medical student [p<0.01]. There was no correlation between substance abuse and marriage and father education. All substances, except for opium, had been offered to the medical students for the first time by their friends. Curiosity was the most common motivation for cannabis and opium use and pleasure was the most common reason for alcohol, heroin and ecstasy use. The mean age of first use for different substances was 18.6, 18.3, 19.5, 20.3, and 20.2 years for alcohol, opium, heroin, ecstasy, and cannabis. Substance use among Kurdistan university students was similar to other universities of Iran. Although substance abuse by female students was much lower than male ones in Kurdistan University, it was higher in comparison to the results of studies in other universities