The efficacy of a first aid training course for drivers: an experience from northern Iran / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of a first aid training course for a group of drivers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study comprised 500 drivers, randomly selected from the road transport companies. They underwent a course of first aid training and the results were evaluated at 0-3 and 4-6 months after training.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both quantitative and qualitative improvements were observed in the drivers'efficacy in giving first aid. Also the rate of correct interventions was higher at 4-6 months than at 0-3 months. The exception was airway management which was not favorably improved after training.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The first aid training course for drivers is beneficial and helpful for prehospital care system in road traffic accidents.</p>

Predictors of Colorectal Cancer Survival in Golestan, Iran: A Population-based Study / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate factors associated with colorectal cancer survival in Golestan, Iran. METHODS: We used a population based cancer registry to recruit study subjects. All patients registered since 2004 were contacted and data were collected using structured questionnaires and trained interviewers. All the existing evidences to determine the stage of the cancer were also collected. The time from first diagnosis to death was compared in patients according to their stage of cancer using the Kaplan-Meir method. A Cox proportional hazard model was built to examine their survival experience by taking into account other covariates. RESULTS: Out of a total of 345 subjects, 227 were traced. Median age of the subjects was 54 and more than 42% were under 50 years old. We found 132 deaths among these patients, 5 of which were non-colorectal related deaths. The median survival time for the entire cohort was 3.56 years. A borderline significant difference in survival experience was detected for ethnicity (log rank test, p=0.053). Using Cox proportional hazard modeling, only cancer stage remained significantly associated with time of death in the final model. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal cancer occurs at a younger age among people living in Golestan province. A very young age at presentation and what appears to be a high proportion of patients presenting with late stage in this area suggest this population might benefit substantially from early diagnoses by introducing age adapted screening programs.

Genistein induces a protective immunomodulatory effect in a mouse model of cervical cancer

Genistein [GEN], a naturally occurring flavonoid present in soy bean, has attracted scientific interest for its possible benefits in cancer. The potential immunomodulatory effects of genistein on the immune system and against TC-1 tumor cell line were evaluated in adult female C57BL/6 mice. Mice were treated with GEN 10 days before to 10 days after the tumor induction. Thirty days after the last GEN treatment, lymphocyte proliferation, Lactase Dehydrogenase [LDH] cytolytic activity and cytokine secretion were analyzed in GEN and control groups. The results showed that ingestion of genistein significantly increased lymphocyte proliferation and LDH release. Furthermore, the treatment with genistein also caused a significant increment in interferon gamma [IFN-alpha]. In addition, the treatment achieved significant therapeutic effect in tumor models compared to the control group. These results indicated that the effect of GEN on tumor growth may be attributed to its effect on lymphocyte proliferation, cytolytic activity and IFN-alpha production. These results demonstrate that GEN exerts an immunomodulatory effect in a mouse model of Human Papillomavirus [HPV] associated-cervical cancer

Longitudinal pattern and reference values of obesity indices of infants in Jahrom [southern region of], Iran

Obesity [scaled weight-by-height index] charts of a cohort of 597 healthy infants [391 boys and 206 girls] living in Jahrom [Southern Iran] are presented. An adjusted weight-for-height was used to develop power type obesity indices, Ip=W/Hp. Polynomial modeling was used by applying HRY [Healy, Rasbash, Yang] nonparametric method to estimate age-related smoothed centiles of obesity. The optimal value of p was found to be 2.5 for girls and 2 for boys. No more than cubic and quadratic polynomials were needed to fit obesity-for-age smoothly for infants. Infant's obesity increases from birth to six months of age and decreases later on to the age of 20 months when it becomes stable. Using age-dependent obesity index [scaled weight by height] is an appropriate index which explores the degree of fatness. A local standard for assessing obesity in clinical practice as well as community health programs in Iran is of urgent need; our data serve this purpose