International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022320110628211211MD, PhD, Emeritus Professor, Arteriosklerose-Präventions-Institut, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.2011061020110612http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/211http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/211/334

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022320110314135135Public Health Program, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, United States.201103022011031420110313<p class="abstract">Polio remains a global public health issue, and even though it has been eradicated from most countries of the world, countries like Nigeria, the largest black nation on earth, threatens the dream of total eradication of polio from the surface of the earth. Transmission of wild polio virus has never been eliminated in Nigeria, but even worse is the number of countries, both in Sub-Saharan Africa and all over the world that has become re-infected by polio virus strains from Northern Nigeria in recent past. Although a lot has been documented about the Nigerian polio struggle, one aspect that has received little attention on this issue is ethnic and geographic disparities between the Southern and the Northern parts of Nigeria. Understanding these disparities involved in polio virus transmission in Nigeria, as well as the social determinants of health prevalent in Northern Nigeria will help government and other stakeholders and policy makers to synergize their efforts in the fight against this perennial scourge.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Keywords:</strong> Healthcare disparities, Poliomyelitis, Nigeria.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/135http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/135/335

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022320110312127127ENDepartment of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, School of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Department of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, School of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Department of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, School of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.201102122011031020110309<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> Growth charts are the most important evaluation tools for the assessment of growth and development of children which could be further used to develop preventive interventions. This study was undertaken with the aim of reviewing different current growth curves, their advantages and disadvantages, and performing a review of the studies conducted in Iran and other countries on determination of weight and height standards.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> In order to collect materials for this review, a detailed search of Scientific Information Database (SID), Iran Medex, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science was carried out for the time period 2005-2010.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The results of performed studies in European and Asian countries showed that the height and weight curves of these children were different from WHO and NCHS growth standards. The finding of growth trend study of Iranian children showed that the mean height and weight of girls and boys were increased. In spite of these increases, the median height and weight of Iranian girls and boys under 15 years was under 20^th percentile of the United States National Center for the Health Statistics.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Considering the epidemiological changes and existing genetic differences and different children's weight and height growth patterns, it seems that the global standard for the children's growth, including the WHO standards, are not applicable to all the populations and each country should construct a separate national standard.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Keywords:</strong> National standard, Height, Weight, Children, Growth chart.</p><p><strong><br /></strong></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/127http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/127/336

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-780223201103125757ENMD, Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Te-hran, Iran.MD, Resident, Department of Infectious Diseases, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.MD, Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.2010110920101219<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> Acinetobacter baumannii is an omnipresent pathogen known as a major agent in healthcare and nosocomoal-associated infections. Its ability to develop resistant pattern to the major and broad spectrum antibiotics is an important issue to be studied.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> In this study, 101 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii were isolated from the hospitalized patients during July 2007 to June 2009 in one teaching hospital in the southern Tehran. The identification of Acinetobacter baumannii and resistant pattern was performed by using conventional bacteriological methods and Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI).</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Respiratory tract specimens were the most common place of Acinetobacter isolation. The organism was resistant to ceftazidime (96%), ceftizoxime (95%), ceftriaxone (93%), amikacin (58%), gentamicin (68%), co-terimoxazole (85%), and ciprofloxacin (85%). This pattern also pointed that imipenem had the lowest resistance rate (9%).</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Susceptibility rates of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates to third-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, amikacin, gentamicin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT) were very low and the rate of resistant Acinetobacter baumannii to imipenem was significant. It would be a good idea to consider surveillance of antibiotic usage and restriction of using broad spectrum antibiotics before development of resistance to these agents.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Keywords:</strong> Acinetobacter Baumannii, Resistance, Susceptibility, <br /> Imipenem.</p><br />http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/57http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/57/337

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022320110312138138ENMD, Lecturer of Public Health, Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, El-Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt.MD, Lecturer of Public Health, Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, El-Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt.2011030920110310<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> This study was conducted to determine breast cancer survival time and the association between breast cancer survival and socio-demographic and pathologic factors among women, in El-Minia, Egypt. While there has been much researches regarding prognostic factors for breast cancer but the majority of these studies were from developed countries. El-Minia has a population of approximately 4 million. To date, no research has been performed to determine breast cancer survival and the factors affecting it in El-minia.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Methods</strong>: This retrospective study used data obtained from the cancer registry in the National Institute of Oncology in El-Minia and included 1207 women diagnosed with first primary breast cancer between 1^st January 2005 and 31^st December 2009 and followed to 30^th June 2010. The association between survival and sociodemographic and pathological factors and distant metastasis at diagnosis, and treatment options was investigated using unifactorial chi-square test and multi-factorial (Cox regression) analyses. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare survival time among different groups.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Median survival time was 83.8 &plusmn; 3.2. Cox regression showed that high vs low educational level (Hazard ratio (HR)= 0.35, 95% CI; 0.27&ndash;0.46), metastases to bone (HR = 3.22, 95% CI: 1.71-6.05), metastases to lung (HR= 2.314, 95% CI: 1.225-4.373), tumor size (&le; 2 cm vs &ge; 5 cm: HR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-1.8) and number of involved nodes (1 vs &gt; 10 HR = 5.21, 95%CI: 3.1-9.01) were significantly related to survival.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The results showed the need to develop screening programs and standardized treatment regimens in a tax-funded health care system.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Keywords:</strong> Breast cancer, Survival, Egypt.</p><p><strong><br /></strong></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/138http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/138/338

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-780223201103129090ENPhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health and Department of Health Care Management, School of Allied Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.MSc Student, Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Expert of Tariff Policy, Payment and Treatment Re-sources, Ministry of Health and Medi-cal Education, Tehran, Iran.Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.PhD Student, Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.2010122020101220<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> The purpose of this survey was to compare the knowledge, attitude and practice of Iranian, American and Chinese college students about tobacco use.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire that was designed for the first time in comparative studies for the purpose of gathering information from American and Chinese college students was used. The students were selected by convenience sampling.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> In Iran, 958 participants (456 male and 485 female) enrolled in the study. In addition, 1534 Chinese participants (39.7% female and 60.3% male) and 597 American participants (62.1% female and 37.9% male) were included in the study. Comparing the consumption of tobacco among college students of the three mentioned countries, it is shown that American women have more experiences in smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes and chewing tobacco.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This survey determined the tendency toward smoking among the students and their perception of this behavior and its outcome among the students from Iran, USA and China. It provided significant differences, however the culture dissimilarities in responding to such type of surveys should be taken into account.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Keywords:</strong> Youths, Tobacco, International, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice.</p><p><strong><br /></strong></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/90http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/90/339

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022320110628209209ENPhD, Associate Professor, Department of Sport Physiology, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.MSc, Environment Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sci-ences, Isfahan, Iran. MSc, Department of Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.MSc, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.MD, PhD, Child Health Promotion Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.2011061020110612<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of exercise on the aerobic power, serum lactate level, and cell blood count among active individuals in the environments with similar climatic characteristics differing in their level of air pollution.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This trial comprised 20 volunteer students of Physical education in The University of Isfahan, Iran. Two places with the same climate (altitude, temperature, and humidity), but low and high level of air pollutants air were selected in Isfahan, Iran. Participants underwent a field Cooper test with a 12-minute run for fitness assessment. Then the aerobic power, serum lactate, and cell blood counts were measured and compared between the two areas.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The study participants had a mean (SD) age of 21.70 (2.10) years and body mass index (BMI) of 24.44 (2.32) Kg/m2. We found a significant decrease in mean Vo2 max, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin, as well as significant increase in mean lactate level, white blood cell count and mean corpuscular volume in the higher-polluted than in the lower-polluted area. No significant difference was documented for other parameters as platelet counts or maximum heart rate.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Exercise in high-polluted air resulted in a significant reduction in the performance at submaximal levels of physical exertion. Therefore, the acute exposure to polluted air may cause a significant reduction in the performance of active individuals. The clinical importance of these findings should be assessed in longitudinal studies.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Keywords:</strong> Air pollution, Aerobic power, Lactate, Active individuals.</p><p><strong><br /></strong></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/209http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/209/340

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022320110312113113ENDepartment of Community Medicine, PSG Institute of Medical Science and Research, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.Department of Statistics, St. Thomas College, Pala, Kottayam, Kerala, India.Department of Statistics, St. Thomas College, Pala, Kottayam, Kerala, India.Department of Community Medicine, PSG Institute of Medical Science and Research, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.Department of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases, PSG Institute of Medical Science and Research, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.201101252011031020110309<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> Studies of parental atopy, exposure to pets, and the risk of asthma have provided conflicting results. We aimed to assess the relationship between asthma among adults with parental atopy, pet keeping inside, and pet keeping outside the home. This study involved a total of 159 adults. The clinically diagnosed cases were 53 adults with asthma as per Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines and 106 controls without asthma.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The study design was a hospital based case-control study. Information on parental atopy and exposure to pets was collected by using a self-administrated questionnaire. We used the exposure odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) to quantify the relation between determinants of interest and the risk of asthma. These were estimated using logistic regression analysis with SPSS version 11.5.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The paternal and maternal history of asthma were found to have significant effect on asthma among adults with adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 6.70 (1.92-23.33 95%CI) and 3.33 (1.25-8.89 95% CI) respectively. Parental history and parental atopy significantly increased risk of asthma among adults with adjusted odds ratios of 5.78 (2.38-14.05 95% CI) and 3.65 (1.58-8.43 95% CI) respectively. There was no significant association between asthma and exposure to pets. The adjusted odds ratios for pet keeping inside and outside the house were 1.61 (0.55-4.7395%CI) and 1.32 (0.61-2.87 95%CI) respectively.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Our results support the hypothesis that both parental history and parental atopy increase the risk of asthma among adults whereas pet keeping inside and outside the house during the previous 12-month period were not significantly associated with asthma among adults.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Keywords:</strong> Parental Atopy, Pets, Asthma, Case-Control Study.</p><br />http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/113http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/113/341

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022320110421166166ENMD, Assistant professor of Interventional cardiology, Isfahan Hypertension Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.MD, Professor of Interventional cardiology Chamran Heart Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.Cardiologist, Chamran Heart Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.MD, Cardiologist, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.MD, Assistant professor of Cardiology, Hajar Hospital, shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. Shahrekord, Iran.MD, Physician, Isfahan Hypertension Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.2011041920110419<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> Lipid disorders, lipoproteins, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are the known risk factors for coronary artery diseases; however, their role is unknown in restenosis after coronary stenting. This study aimed to review the role of these factors, particularly lipoprotein (a) or Lp (a), as a predictive factor for restenosis after coronary stenting with Bare Metal Stent.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> In this study, coronary artery stenting was performed on 170 patients. Follow-up was done using coronary angiography in 128 patients, 6 months after conducting angioplasty. Clinical and biochemical characteristics of the patients were collected as prospective method and were compared between the patients with and without restenosis.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Restenosis was seen in 46 patients (35.9%). Fasting blood glucose level (FBG) in patients with restenosis was significantly higher than patients without restenosis (102.3 &plusmn; 39 mg/dl vs. 84.5 &plusmn; 28.9 [OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.04]). Lp (a) levels (OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.26-1.10) and other biochemical markers and clinical variables had no correlation with restenosis.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Lipoproteins and lipids may not be the underlying cause of restenosis but accurate control of diabetes may improve prognosis after elective coronary stenting.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Keywords:</strong> Stent, Restenosis, Lipoprotein (a), Lipid, Diabetes.</p><p><strong><br /></strong></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/166http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/166/342

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022320110610190190ENMD, MPH, PhD, Associate Professor, Laboratory of Hygiene and Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.MD, BSc, MPH, PhD, Candidate, Laboratory of Hygiene and Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece SHO Doctor, Department of Surgery, Larnaca, General Hospital, Larnaca, Cyprus.PhD, Lecturer, Laboratory of Hygiene and Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.MD, Laboratory of Hygiene and Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.MD, MPH, PhD, Professor, Laboratory of Hygiene and Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.2011051520110522<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> In Greece, there is limited research on issues related to organ donation. We aimed to study the attitudes, knowledge, and actions of local medical students regard to organ donation and transplantations of tissues and organs in Greece.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This cross-sectional questionnaire based survey was done in Laboratory of Hygiene and Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece on medical students in years 1 to 6. In a sample of 600 medical students, a special anonymous questionnaire, which included data as sex, age, and semester of studies, as well as questions regarding certain aspects of transplantation, was distributed. 558 valid questionnaires were completed (men 52.3% and women 47.7%).</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The vast majority of the sample (93.6%) were in favor of transplantations whereas 32 (5.7%) of the students claimed to be organ donors. 78.9% claimed ignorance of the existing legislation concerning transplantations and organ donation in our country. 81.2% believed that the voting of law, which would consider all Greek organ donors after death will cause strong reactions. As the main causes, responsible for the shortage of transplants in our country were stated to be the inadequate public information, Greek mentality, and the lack of organized transplant centers. Public information through Media, a lifelong free health check-up for organ donors and activation of voluntary organizations that promote organ donation were proposed as the most important actions that could increase organ donation and transplantations in Greece.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The need for further informative actions stressing the importance of organ donations appears to be the only way to increase transplantations in our country and towards this direction medical students could also be activated. A new medical curriculum should increase medical students&rsquo; awareness of the organ shortage problem. Public education is recommended to correct misconceptions.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Keywords:</strong> Transplantations, Proposals, Medical students, Greece.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><br /></strong></span></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/190http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/190/343

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022320110509136136ENMSc, Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Public Health, Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia.PhD, Professor of Veterinary Public Health, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, PIN 141004, Ludhiana, India.PhD, Associate Professor in Department of Veterinary Public Health, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, PIN 141004, Ludhiana, India.PhD, Associate Professor in Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, PIN 141004, Ludhiana, India.PhD, Associate Professor in the Division of Public Health, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, PIN 243 122, Izatanagar, India.201103052011050320110412<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> Brucellosis is the most common zoonotic disease that has been diagnosed mainly by serological tests and blood culture to some extent.&nbsp; This study was designed to establish a PCR technique for rapid diagnosis to be used in surveillance activities.&nbsp;</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The purpose of this study was firstly explained to the study population and verbal consent was obtained before sample collection. Peripheral blood was collected from 116 occupationally exposed groups with and without pyrexia of unknown origin from various districts of Punjab. Samples were subjected to blood culture, serological tests and DNA extraction was done using conventional laboratory extraction procedure. A primer pair B4/B5 that amplifies a gene encoding a 31 kDa immunogenic outer membrane protein (bcsp31) of Brucella species was used for PCR amplification.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The results showed that 8 (7%) of the cases had positive PCR and the detection threshold of primers used in this study were 715 cfu/ml. PCR results were 51.3% accurate for sensitivity of 12.6% and specificity of 100% using STAT as gold standard.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Early-case reporting is possible by rapid tests like PCR. Thus, PCR is a promising diagnostic tool for routine investigation and surveillance of brucellosis which is the key element for management of prevention and control programmes. But patient condition before testing, optimal clinical specimen, sample volume used, simple and efficient DNA extraction protocol are the points of concern for PCR to be used as a routine test in clinical laboratory practice.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>Keywords:</strong> Brucella, PCR, human brucellosis, blood, DNA extraction, India.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/136http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/136/344

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022320110312103103ENMD, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.MD, Professor, Department of Neurology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.MD, Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.Researcher, Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.MD, Specialist in Community Medicine, Child Health Promotion Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.2011010720110202Craniopharyngioma accounts for 2.5-4% of all intracranial<br />tumors. The tumor is more observed in the chiasmatic region in<br />adults and the intraventricular subtype is rare. We report an<br />intraventricular craniopharyngioma in a 22-year-old woman presented with chronic headache. Magnetic Resonance Imaging<br />showed hyperintense large mass on T1-weighted images and hypointense mass on T2-weighted images in third ventricle with<br />pressure effect on both lateral ventricles and foramen of Monro.<br />The diagnosis of craniopharyngioma was confirmed through<br />histopathological examination of the resected tumor after surgery. After a follow-up period of nine months, neither tumor<br />recurrence nor regrowth occurred. The early diagnosis of this<br />relatively frequent tumor tumor would help to prevent related<br />sequelae.<br />Keywords: Craniopharyngioma, Headache, Histopathology.http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/103http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/103/345

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022320110315139139ENDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.Department of Infectious Diseases, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.Medical Student, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.2011031320110314<p class="matn">Instead of strict recommendations of experts of doing vaccination in chemotherapy patients, they may not be aware of its necessity, except to be encouraged by their responsible healthcare workers. As it is clear that morbidity and mortality of influenza is high in immunocompromised patients.^1,2 According to some reports, mortality rate of influenza infection can reach 9% among oncology patients.³ Vaccination against influenza is recommended in immunosuppressed patients, including those receive anticancer chemotherapy.⁴ Absence of immunization commands, particularly against influenza, endangers the quality of life in patients with cancer.³ Generally, although patients with cancer respond positively to vaccination, the utility of influenza vaccination is very low in this population.</p><p class="matn">The purpose of this study is to evaluate if the influenza vaccine coverage in oncology patients under chemotherapy treatment is enough to guarantee prevention during the season. We also tried to investigate the factors influencing coverage rate. Between January and March 2010, we performed a prospective, monocentric study in 100 patients with median age of 47 years (range 16&ndash;79). A standardized form was given to all cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in our department. The median time to receive chemotherapy was 14 months (range out of 1&ndash;180) among the patients with colorectal (30%), sarcoma (6%), leukemia (18%), and breast and ovarian (11%) cancers.</p><p class="matn"><span>Only nine <a name="_GoBack">patients </a>(9%) had received influenza shots. Chemotherapy was the reason for shot in only 44.4% of those who were vaccinated, while 55.6% of remaining people got the vaccine for some other reasons. No relationship was found between the vaccination rate and age. A similar study published on 2008 reported 30% of coverage which is pretty much more in our study.</span></p><p class="matn">Although cancer patients often care about their own health, but health workers may neglect to recommend influenza vaccine that may be the leading cause of low vaccination rate. It is important to encourage patients with cancer to get a flu shot before the season is going off. In addition, fear of side effects is among the factors that crash coverage of vaccination in this group. According to the immunologic status of oncology patients, more attention is required to make their coverage full especially in those undergoing chemotherapy.</p><br />http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/139http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/139/346

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78022320110628210210ENMD, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Director of Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.MD, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Director of Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.2011061020110612<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; color: #008585; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; color: #008585; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; color: #008585; font-size: medium;"><p class="matn">We read with interest the published article by Hashmi et al¹ in your journal recently. Hepatitis C is considered as main cause of liver failure, mortality, and morbidity worldwide.^2-3 More risk factors of HCV transmission are reported from Pakistan previously.⁴ We want to attract author&rsquo;s attention to some points that can help them to have high quality study.</p><p class="matn">First, we think there is an under estimation, because known cases of HCV were excluded, while they are members of female population in Pakistan. Also females with history of jail were not included and maybe authors could find more prevalence of hepatitis C infection if this group were enrolled, especially when some high risk behaviors such as sexual transmission and tattooing are more common among them.⁵ Intravenous drug users (IVDUs) are a high risk group for hepatitis C transmission and hepatitis C infection rate has been reported 50% among them previously,6 it was better to include them for inexact estimation. Although numbers of IVDUs among women are less than men and it seems that HCV infection will detect less, so it leads to less attention to this issue and indicates this study is not generalize for all Pakistan society. It was better to explain about region selection and it is interesting to know that authors have considered socioeconomic situation of regions or not.</p><p class="matn">In addition, self administered questionnaires are not reliable; because illiterate and primary educated women could not understand main mind of questions. It was better to fill the questioners with trained persons, especially when <br />58.73% of included women were from poor class. It is interesting to know if any family has had more than one enrolled women.</p><p class="matn">Moreover surgery, dental procedure, and dilation and curettage are more associated factors with HCV seropositivity that indicate to unsafe medical procedures in Pakistan; health policy are responsible for finding source of transmission and try to resolve them, such as: prevention of illegal and unsafe curettage in non-unsterile places as they should do it in dentistry centers too.</p><p class="matn">Blood transfusion is considered as the most associated factor with seropositivity of Hepatitis C in multivariate analysis as it was reported in previous study too.⁷ This source of transmission confutes us to think more about unsafe and maybe unscreened blood transfusion in Pakistan and it shows that more attention is needed for blood screening in this.</p><p class="matn">We want to ask, if all participants have had sexual contact? And it was better to mention number and percent of anti hepatitis C positives as ratio among women with positive history of sexual contact, but it is reported among all of participants without considering the sexual contact history.&nbsp;</p><p class="matn"><strong><br /></strong></p></span></span></span><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/210http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/210/347

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-780223201106282022022011052620110612<p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21478384">Prevention of atrial fibrillation with omega-3 fatty acids: a meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Liu%20T%22%5BAuthor%5D">Liu T</a>, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Korantzopoulos%20P%22%5BAuthor%5D">Korantzopoulos P</a>, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Shehata%20M%22%5BAuthor%5D">Shehata M</a>, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Li%20G%22%5BAuthor%5D">Li G</a>, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Wang%20X%22%5BAuthor%5D">Wang X</a>, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Kaul%20S%22%5BAuthor%5D">Kaul S</a>.</p> <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p>Context Previous randomised controlled trials (RCT) regarding n-3 PUFA supplementation for atrial fibrillation (AF) prevention have yielded conflicting results. Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCT was conducted to examine the role of n-3 PUFA in AF prevention. Data Sources MEDLINE, Web of Science and Cochrane clinical trials database were searched until November 2010. Study Selection Of 127 initially identified studies, 10 RCT with 1955 patients were finally analysed. Data Extraction Two blinded reviewers extracted data independently to a predefined form. Disagreements were resolved through discussion and consensus. Results n-3 PUFA had no significant effect on the prevention of AF (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.15; p=0.24). There was significant heterogeneity among the studies (p=0.002, I(2)=65.0%). Subgroup analysis showed no significant beneficial effect of fish oils in any subset of population. Conclusions No significant effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation on AF prevention were observed in this meta-analysis. A large-scale trial with higher doses and longer follow-up might be required to rule out the possibility of any treatment benefit.</p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/202http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/202/348