RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from infected mothers to their neonates is one of the most important routes of infection. The exact prevalence rate of HBV in Iranian pregnant mothers is not well known but based on different studies it is estimated between 0.35% and 6.5%. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in pregnant women of selected provinces in Iran. METHODS: At this cross-sectional study, seven provinces supposed to be of high and low prevalence of hepatitis B in the general population selected. Multistage sampling was used to enroll 5261 parturient women who attended the target provinces birth facilities, during January to March of 2011, were recruited to study. To determine the statistically significant mean and proportion differences, t-test and χ (2) test were used, respectively. RESULTS: Overall 1.2% was positive HBsAg of which 11% of them were hepatitis B e-antigen positive as well. The eastern and north eastern provinces were considerably higher in HBsAg seropositivity than the west and northwest of the country. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the considerable prevalence of hepatitis B in pregnant women, screening all pregnant women prioritizing the eastern and north-eastern provinces is strongly recommended.
RESUMO
AIMS: To assess the results of factor analysis of coronary artery disease risk factors in a large national representative sample of children, and to compare its results on the variables measured between those with or without metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: This cross-sectional multicenter population survey was conducted on 4,811 nationally representative school students aged 6-18 years. MetS was defined based on criteria analogous to the Adult Treatment Panel III. Factor analysis by principle components analysis and Varimax rotation was carried out to cluster risk factors. RESULTS: MetS was present in 14.1% of subjects (n = 678). From the nine variables assessed, factor analysis of the z scores of variables show that in all age groups, three similar factors were loaded: lipids, adiposity, and blood pressure, that accounted for 87.4-90.8% of the variance. Three factors were loaded in those with MetS (cholesterol/TG, metabolic/adiposity, and blood pressure) (65.9% of variance); and four factors (cholesterol, metabolic, adiposity, and blood pressure) were loaded among those without the MetS (75.6% of variance). We did not find a central feature that underlies all three factors among children with the MetS; however, waist circumference was the only variable that was loaded for two factors. CONCLUSION: These findings support a change in the concept of MetS from that of a single entity to one that represents several distinct but intercorrelated entities. An approach to assessing risk clustering from early life, and longitudinal studies that would elucidate how these various risk domains interact over time are needed.
