Species composition and abundance of mosquito larvae in relation with their habitat characteristics in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran.

Mosquitoes transmit a variety of diseases to humans. Their abundance and distribution are related to the characteristics of larval habitats. Mosquito larvae were collected from 120 natural and artificial habitats in 30 villages of 16 counties using standard 350 ml dippers and pipette, on a monthly basis from May-December 2014 in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. Larval habitat characteristics were recorded separately, based on the conditions of the habitats (permanent or temporary, stagnant or running), type of habitats (natural or artificial), vegetation, exposure to sun, type of bed, water condition (clear or turbid), expanse (m), depth (cm, m) and temperature (°C) of habitats. The relationship between larval density and environmental variables was assessed by Chi-square tests. Totally, 19,840 larvae from three genera and 16 species were collected and identified. Anopheles maculipennis s.l. and Culex pipiens were the dominant species and collected with the highest density in plain areas. The highest number of larvae were collected from natural habitats (60.34%), including; river edge, marsh, pit and wetlands; with temporary and stagnant water, expanse of 0-5 m, depth of 1-25 cm, without plant, shadow-sun, muddy floor, turbid water, temperature 20-25°C and in sunny conditions. River edge and rice fields for An. maculipennis s.l and, wetlands and discarded tires for Cx. pipiens were the main larval habitats in the province. Statistical analysis revealed significant relation between occurrence of An. maculipennis s.l., Cx. pipiens, Culex torrentium, Culex mimeticus and Cs. annulata with each of the environmental variables (P < 0.001). These findings are essential in expanding our knowledge of the vectors ecology specially the type of habitat preference and will be beneficial in larval control programs.

Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) in differential diagnosis of transient myocardial ischemia from non ischemic chest pain.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is an important factor in reducing mortality of this disease. Cardiac troponins are not elevated within first hours. So there is a need to optimize the clinical applicability and accuracy of novel ACS markers, particularly with regard to utilizing this technique in combination with other diagnostic methods. METHODS: In this prospective study, we examined 226 patients between July 2009 and March 2010, admitted with chest pain to emergency room (ER). The study groups constisted of 120 subjects presenting with chest pain whose initial and subsequent diagnosis was unstable angina (UA), and 106 subjects whose initial diagnosis was unstable angina but subsequent diagnosis was non ischemic chest pain(NICP). For each patient electrocardiogram (ECG), cardiac troponins (cTnT), creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), IMA levels were measured. We used McNemar's test for correlated proportions and logistic regression and ROC curve for achieving better result. RESULTS: In this study median IMA values were definitely higher in patients with ACS compared with non ischemic chest pain (NICP) (p < 0.0001) (83.5 to 49.6). An IMA cut-off threshold derived from the receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) was 85U/ml and gives 54 % (95%CI 51 to 56) sensitivity and 87 % (95%CI 83 to 92) specificity in our population. Negative predictive value was 62 % (95%CI 59 to 66). When IMA and ECG and cTnT were considered together sensitivity was 97.5 % and specificity was 63 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: Ischemia-modified albumin did not provide superior sensitivity or specificity compared with other diagnostic tests (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 25).

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in an adult urban population of the west of Iran.

OBJECTIVES: We determine the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in an urban population of Zanjan, a province located to the west of Tehran. METHODS: Randomly selected adults >20 years were studied using stratified sampling. Target study sample was 2941 (1396 males and 1545 females). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using Adult Treatment Panel-III (ATP-III) guidelines when any three of the following were present: central obesity, raised triglycerides > or =150 mg/dl, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, blood pressure > or = 130/ > or = 85 mm Hg, and diabetes or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) > or = 100 mg/dl. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome was present in 697 (23.7%) subjects (CI 95%:22%-25%, P = .001), prevalence was 23.1% in men and 24.4% in women (P : .4). The prevalence increased from 7.5% in the population younger than 30 y to 45.6% in ages more than 50 years. Low HDL was the most common metabolic abnormality in both sexes. Most of those with metabolic syndrome had three components of the syndrome (75.6%), 170 subjects (24.4%) had four and none had five components simultaneously. The prevalence of obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2)), hypercholesterolemia (> or =200 mg/dl) and high LDL cholesterol (> or =130 mg/dl) was greater in the metabolic syndrome group than normal subjects (P = .00). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this urban population of the northern west of Iran. Focus of cardiovascular prevention should be undertaken in this area.

High prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and other dyslipidemic phenotypes in an Iranian population.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of different atherogenic dyslipidemic phenotypes, especially decreased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in an Iranian population and its relationship to other coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factor. METHODS: The prevalence of lipid abnormalities was assessed in 2941 people, including 1396 males and 1545 females, aged more than 20 years. The population is representative of Iranian urban adults living in northwestern Iran. In addition to isolated forms of hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypoalphalipoproteinemia, some dyslipidemic phenotypes including hypertriglyceridemia/low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) combination, mixed dyslipidemias, and severe dyslipidemias were assessed. RESULTS: The most prevalent abnormality was low HDL cholesterol (HDL-C; 73% including 63% for men and 93.3% for women). Hypertriglyceridemia (>150 mg/dL) was the second most prevalent abnormality (40.6%). Increased total cholesterol (>200 mg/dL) was observed in 35.4% of the subjects. The combination of hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-C was observed in 9.9% of the population. Fifty eight percent of the low HDL-C cases were not accompanied with hypertriglyceridemia, and 24.4% of hypertriglyceridemic subjects had low HDL-C. Among subjects younger than 30 years, 19% had hypercholesterolemia, 13% had isolated low HDL-C less than 35 mg/dL, and 63% had HDL-C less than 40 mg/dL. Unexpectedly, except for the hypertriglyceridemia/low HDL-C pattern, which was more common in males, the other abnormal lipid profiles were more common in females. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dyslipidemia, especially low HDL cholesterol, in Iranian adults is very high. Urgent preventive programs and changes in lifestyle are needed in this area.