مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی قم
سال پنجم شماره 4 (پیاپی 20، زمستان 1390)

Recognition of the risk factors of childhood cancer has been important. However، there is little identification about these risk factors. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of cancer in children under14 years old. The present study has been a case-control study of 14-year-old children. 98 childhood cancer cases and 100 controls were matched on age and sex. Data were collected using a questionnaire with some of the known and suspected risk factors of cancer via the parent، and were analyzed with two independent samples t–tests، chi–square and logistic regression models. In this study، low- educational status in mothers and fathers increased risk of childhood cancer (p<0. 05). Children lived in low-income families (500000-1500000 Rails per month)، and had a significantly higher risk of cancer (Odds ratios=3. 08; 95% CI=4-6. 00). Fathers smoking during pregnancy (odds ratio=3. 00) and living near high voltage power lines (Odds ratios=1. 5) were significantly related to an increased risk of cancer in children. In addition، there was a higher risk of cancer particularly among heavy (11 cigarettes per days) smokers (odds ratio= 2. 7). The results of this study indicated that some risk factors such as living conditions، smoking fathers during pregnancy، parental educational level and financial status were associated with the risk of childhood cancer. Therefore، public health should aim at improving environmental and familial socioeconomic status for all children; efforts should be concentrated on planning preventive and educational campaigns.

Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health problem. LBW is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. There is no consensus in the literature as to whether maternal copper nutrition is associated with pregnancy outcome or fetal growth. This case-control study was carried out at Alavi Hospital in Ardabil between August 2008 and August 2009. 56 women who had delivered low-birth- weight infants (<2500gr) were taken as the case group، and from the mothers who had delivered normal birth weight infants (≥2500gr)، 56 were selected at random as the control group. Venous blood samples were obtained from the mothers. Serum zinc level was determined by the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer method. Mean of birth weight in infants، maternal age، body mass index in mothers and socioeconomic or demographic factors did not differ between cases and control groups. Maternal copper concentration (μg/dl) differed between Cases and Controls; 231. 75±38. 12μg/dl vs. 204. 42±31. 30μg/dl respectively. There is a significant difference (p<0. 001) in the serum copper concentration between the two groups. There is a negative relation between low infant birth weight and maternal copper concentration.

Probiotic bacteria is added directly to food components and it has beneficial effect on function and the health of organisms. The bifidogenic factors enter the colon where they contribute to an increase lactic acid bacteria population including Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria and they inhibit enteric pathogenic bacterial growth. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of culture medium on metabolic and antibacterial of probiotic bacteria.

In this study، the probiotics bacterial and intestine pathogenic are to be used. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium were identified by plating samples on MRS medium، Gram Staining and standard biochemical methods. The effect of antagonistic probiotics was investigated in the presence of growth factor in the method well diffusion Ager on the Shigella flexneri (PTCC 1234)، Escherichia coli (PTCC 1552)، Salmonella typhi (PTCC 1609) and the culture medium pH was measured.

The probiotics bacterial growth in MRS and lactose1%، sorbitol، raffinose، riboflavin were shown the effect antibacterial. The results of the study show the most antagonistic activity in commercial strain Lactobacillus acidophilus on Shigella flexneri and lower activity was in Lactobacillus casei (PTCC 1608)، and Salmonella typhimurium (PTCC 1609)، and also in Bbifidobacterium bifidum، it showed the most decrease pH value.

According to the result of the study، adding growth factors to MRS medium base and lactose 1%، probiotic growth was increased and which also increased antagonistic activity.

Increasing blood lipids is one of the mortality factors in human communities. In this study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure on the lipid profile (total cholesterol، triglycerides، LDL and HDL) in 48 male rabbits with normal diet and hyper-cholesterol diet were investigated. This study was experimentally conducted on 48 New Zealand adult male rabbits. The rabbits in control groups، C1 (normal diet) and C3 (hyper-cholesterol diet)، were not exposed to any electromagnetic field. Sham exposed groups male rabbits، containing C2 (normal diet) and C4 (hyper-cholesterol diet) were exposed to sham stimulated (without electromagnetic stimulation) for 5 days، 2 hours per day، and the rabbits in the treatment groups، including T1 (normal diet) and T2 (hyper-cholesterol diet)، were treated with triangular form 10 Hz of electromagnetic field for 5 days، 2 hours per day. Immediately after the mentioned period، blood samples were obtained from ear vein، and levels of so-called factors were measured. Acquired data were compared with statistical method of One-Way ANOVA. In the exposed groups، the levels of Total cholesterol، Triglycerides، and LDL were significantly decreased compared with the control groups; and the amount of HDL was significantly mounted (p<0. 05). The results acquired indicate extremely low frequency triangular electromagnetic field can positively alter the levels of serum lipids both in rabbits with normal diet and rabbits with hyper lipid diet.

Waste produced by health and treatment centers (hospitals) including medical diagnostic laboratories is one of the sources of municipal waste production. Waste produced by medical diagnostic laboratories due to the existence of pathogens and infectious materials by high importance is one of the environmental issues. This survey has been done on the qualitative-quantitative analytical bases، and the investigation has focused on the management strategies of the waste material of medical diagnostic laboratories of Rasht، Iran in 2009.

In this descriptive study، samples were collected from 19 medical diagnostic laboratories of Rasht in 3 consecutive days (Monday، Tuesday and Wednesday every week)، after filling the questionnaire and interviewing with the managers. Then، the samples were separated manually، and divided into 46 different constituents and weighed. Next، the constituents were classified based on characteristics and potentiality of being hazardous.

The total amount of annual waste production by the medical diagnostic laboratories of Rasht is 25785. 143kg. In this study، the share of manufacturing conventional waste (domestic type wastes)، especially infectious، chemical، pharmaceutical، and radioactive wastes were 1. 16%، 95. 34%، 1. 42% and 2. 08%، respectively. The highest and lowest amount of waste production relates to plastic materials and wood which are 48. 37 and 0. 43%، respectively. In this study sharp cutting things were calculated to be 10. 52%. Furthermore، 84 percent of the managers of the medical diagnostic laboratories had not had enough information of the circulars and instructions on the enforceable management strategies of the medical wastes.

Concerning the management of the medical waste production in the medical diagnostic laboratories، it is suggested that the managers and the personnel be trained on the separation، collection، and disinfection techniques and final disposal، and the wastes have to be treated per regulations and instructions.

Chemical gasses، particularly Sulfur Mustard، have a negative impact on physical، psychological، social and spiritual aspects of quality of life of those suffering from this gas. It is so serious that even 20 years after being exposed to Sulfur Mustard، we can witness people who are still suffering from various damages of organs particularly the pulmonary system. This research aimed at determining the quality of life of chemically-disabled war veterans with pulmonary complications of Sulfur Mustard from physical، social، psychological، and spiritual aspects. This was a descriptive study in which 260 chemically-disabled war veterans living in Sardasht، Iran then، were randomly selected for the study. It should be mentioned that all these people are now treated as chemically-disabled war veterans suffering from the pulmonary complications of Sulfur Mustard Gas and were living in Sardasht at the time of bombardment of that city. Having been acquainted with the procedure، they were then asked to fill in the questionnaires. The results showed that quality of life in 71. 5% of the samples was moderate، only in 5. 8%، it was considered as good. 11. 9% of them in physical domain، 8. 1% in psychological domain، 1. 9% in social domain، and 22. 8% in spiritual domain had a good quality of life. Based on the findings، the quality of life in the social، physical and psychological domains was 1. 9%، 11. 9% and 8. 1% poor، therefore; responsible organizations can help these people in various ways by، for example، providing them with low price drugs، which are usually costly in the market، public transportation designed especially for chemically-disabled war veterans، improving insurance services and developing public services in Sardasht. The researchers، finally suggests a qualitative study be performed on each domain of quality of life of chemically-disabled war veterans.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the important causes of comorbidity in diabetic patients. Considering the cost of this complication to the health care system، this study was performed to assess the prevalence and identify its risk factors. In this cross-sectional study، 261 diabetic patients، who referred to Kamkar hospital diabetes clinic in Qom، Iran، were investigated. Personal information، data about diabetes، physical examination and laboratory tests were collected in questionnaires. Foundoscopy with dilated pupil was performed by practicing ophthalmologists & findings were categorized according to international classification of diabetic retinopathy. The mean age was 52. 2±11. 5 years، and 66% were female. The mean duration of diabetes was 9. 08±7. 14 years and the mean HbA1C was 9. 25±2. The overall prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) was 39. 1%، which included 15. 3% with mild Non proliferative DR (NPDR)، 7. 7% with moderate NPDR، 4. 6% with severe NPDR and 11. 5% with proliferative DR (PDR). Comparison of variables between DR and Non-DR groups shows that the mean of age، duration of diabetes، HbA1C، protein excretion in 24h urine were statistically significantly higher in retinopathic group (p=<0. 001، p<0. 001، p<0. 005 & p<0. 01). Also، the percent of patients with history of hypertension، nephropathy & peripheral distal neuropathy was significantly higher in retinopathic group (p<0. 05، p<0. 001 & p<0. 001). In final analysis with logistic regression model، duration of diabetes & nephropathy were recognized as independent risk factors for diabetic retinopathy. According to the results of this study، screening of all diabetic patients in early stages of retinopathy، identify and control of its risk factors to decrease the burden of eye complications and improve the quality of life for these patients are important.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of glucose and glutamine supplementation on two serum growth factors، GH and IGF-I، in non-athlete males during four weeks of exhaustive endurance - intermittent training that causes glycogen depletion.

20 non-athlete healthy males were selected and randomly assigned into four groups including: glucose supplementation with glycogen depletion training group (n=5، supplement 1)، glutamine supplementation with glycogen depletion training group (n=5، supplement 2)، glycogen depletion training group (n=5، placebo)، and a group without any treatment (n=5، control). The blood samples were collected at the onset of the training protocol، and 48 hours after final training session from anticubital venous. Serum GH and IGF-I concentration were determined by ELISA technique. The main and interaction effects of variables were determined using TWO WAY ANOVA compeleted with Tukey post-hoc test. The significant level was chosen as α=0. 05.

The results showed the significant effect of training variable for serum IGF-I concentration، (p<0. 01). Post-hoc test showed the significant difference between supplement 1 with control groups (p<0. 01)، and placebo with control (p<0. 01). The effect of training variable was not significant for serum GH concentration. In addation، the effect of supplementation variable was not significant neither for serum IGF-I، nor serum GH concentration. Also، the interaction effect between the two variables was not significant.

The results suggested that glucose or glutamine supplementation does not have significant effects on serum GH and IGF-I concentration after four weeks، but four weeks glycogen depletion training causes an increase on the serum IGF-I.

These days، Formalin is considered as a good and cheap fixative، but very harmful for human health. It is one of chemical components which has traditionally been used as a routine fixative in anatomy and pathology laboratories; however، their personnel are still under its harmful effects. In this study، effects of formalin substitution fixatives on H&E staining results were investigated. Three kinds of formalin substitution beside 10% buffered formalin were used in this study. They were named and recognized as B، K، M. Pieces of rabbit liver were placed in dishes which contained each kind of above mentioned fixatives. After 24 hours، tissues were processed and embedded by paraffin followed by sectioning، staining by hematoxylin and eosin. Then، they were studied under light microscope. Overall، preserving of tissue structures and staining results with M fixative were more desirable. In general، two out of the three fixatives، with some advantages and disadvantages rather than formalin، made tissues fixed desirably، and had acceptable results in staining. Thus، they can be known as suitable substitution for formalin.

The most important reason in couples′ marital conflict is their expectancy of their roles in the family. The couples get married by presumptions and different prejudices about emotional subjects and life activities which are the mental well-being. the purpose of this research is the study of mental well-being and marital life quality of couples. The method is cluster sampling in which 50 couples are selected from clinical and health centers of Sirjan. The research method is descriptive- correlation and all data were gathered by Golombok-Rust′ marital quality، PANAS scale for positive and negative affect and Debz′s life satisfaction questionnaire. All data were analyzed by correlation، regression and variance in SPSS. The results show that there is a positive relationship between marital quality and life satisfaction as a rate of 0. 435 (p>0. 001)، marital quality and positive affect as a rate of 0. 322 (p>0. 05)، life satisfaction and positive affect as a rate of 0. 754 (p>0. 001). However، there is a negative relationship between positive affect and negative affect as a rate of 0. 205 (p>0. 05)، and marital quality and negative affect 0. 036 (p>0. 05). Since mental well-being increase can anticipate marital life quality; couples′ mental well-being strength is a suitable method for marital satisfaction improvement and marital quality which should be studied.

Recent studies suggest that shift work is associated with metabolic syndrome in the shift workers. The population of truck drivers is of particular interest، because they frequently work irregular shifts. In addition، truck drivers have a high prevalence of sedentary habits، poor diet، and obesity. The aim of the present study was to investigate prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the relationship between metabolic syndrome and shift work schedule. We conducted a cross sectional study. A total of 192 truck drivers were assessed and the variables studied were: body mass index، waist circumference، blood pressure، triglycerides، total and fraction cholesterol، and fasting blood sugar. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the criterion set by the National Cholesterol Education Panel III. The average age was of 39. 4±1. 3. According to the anthropometric data، it was observed that there were waist circumference >102 cm in 54%، HDL cholesterol <40/dl in 27%، triglyceride >150mg/dl in 29%، and glycemia >110mg/dl in 19. 5%. Hypertension prevalence was 10. 4%. Regression analyses to show the relationships between shift work and metabolic syndrome were performed using simple and multivariate models and adjusted for age، personal habit such as smoking، and physical activity. We found a significant association between shift work and metabolic syndrome. In truck drivers، shift work may be responsible for increased waist circumference، total cholesterol، and some features of metabolic syndrome.

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed countries. One of the indices of vascular injuries in atherosclerosis is proliferation and migration of smooth muscles of tunica media of arteries with lipids peroxidation by endothelial cells causing an increase in thickness of arterial wall. It is distinguished that iron can reduce antioxidant levels indirectly and also has a major effect in LDL per oxidation. As there is still doubt about anti-oxidative role of vitamin E in atherosclerosis formation، in this study، we observed the effect of vitamin E and iron on the thickness of the media of the carotid artery of hypercholestrolemic male rabbits. Thirty white male rabbits were fed with cholesterol، Iron and Vitamin E for 42 days، and then these groups، and the carotid arteries were dissected. The samples were fixed in 10% formalin، and after tissue processing، serial sections were obtained، and H & E staining was done. Morphometrical studies were done by Motic Plus 2 and light microscope. Statistical analyses were conducted with SPSS software and ANOVA test. Intima-media thickness of arterial wall in those received iron and cholesterol، was significantly increased (p<0. 05)، but in the group receiving Vitamin E and cholesterol، this size was reduced (p<0. 05). According to our findings، Vitamin E due to its anti-oxidative effects on free radicals، was found to prevent arterial wall thickness، and thus has a protective role during atherosclerosis

One of the most important and complicated problems in medical ethics is to disclose the full truth about diagnosis of incurable diseases which leads to death، and each therapist may be encountered with it during the years of medical profession. The aim of this study was to survey on attitude of professors and residents of clinical wards to disclose the diagnosis for incurable patients leading to death.

In this descriptive study، sampling was carried out by a survey. All faculty members and their residents of teaching hospitals of Urmia University of Medical Sciences، Urmia، Iran، were surveyed as sample in 2007. Of 145 subjects، 138 responded to the questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using Pearson and Spearman correlation tests with a p≤0. 05 being considered as significant.

In this study، the tendency to disclose the diagnosis among faculty members and residents was 64. 63%. Also، there was no significant relation between age، sex، university degree، educational field، years of service of the faculty members and residents of clinical wards with the tendency for telling the truth to incurable patients.

Final analyses revealed that the faculty members and clinical residents of different fields in terms of diagnosis disclosure do not have a definite idea. However، the majority of them agree to disclose the full truth about diagnoses.

Preterm birth defined as delivery before 37 completed weeks was implicated in the cause of approximately two thirds of neonatal deaths. Some studies have shown that a positive relationship exists between inflammatory factors such as Ferritin، G-CSF، and IL6 and occurrence of preterm birth. The present study is done to estimate Serum ferritin for the prediction of preterm birth and determination of sensitivity and specificity of ferritin in diagnosis of preterm birth. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Alzahra & Beheshti Hospitals، Esfahan، Iran during 2008-2009. All of the pregnant women who have the included criteria were investigated. 69 preterm and 153 term labors were studied. During the pregnancy، the level of serum ferritin was measured. The data was entered into a computer and analyzed by SPSS soft ware after collection. The T student، Chi square and Roc Curve tests were used for data analysis. According to results of our study، sensitivity، specificity، positive and negative predictive values for diagnose of preterm labor at cut of point 22. 5ng/ml were estimated as 78. 3%، 83%، 67. 5% and 89. 4% respectively. Results show that there is a relationship between serum ferritin and preterm deliveries and according to sensitivity، specifity، positive and negative predictive value of serum ferritin، we can use this test for prediction of preterm birth.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is the most common chronic metabolic disease، with many complications including renal failure، blindness and non-traumatic amputation، so it is important to monitor and regulate blood glucose. Considering how easy home blood glucose monitoring is، we decided to evaluate the performance of two available glucometers for detection of blood glucose compared with standard laboratory methods.

In this analytical study، we compared the capillary blood glucose levels of 60 volunteers with mean age of 32. 8±9. 6 years in Tabriz Mehr Laboratory as determined by test strips (two different Glucometers) with venous blood glucose levels’ measurements by the enzymatic method (the standard laboratory kit). Data were analyzed using one way-ANOVA test، T-test، Pearson correlation and Bland and Altman plot.

The mean differences of No: 1 and No: 2 Glucometers with enzymatic laboratory method were 20. 78±11. 61 and 4. 5±3. 76mg/dl respectively. The one way ANOVA test indicated significant differences between three methods (p<0. 05). Further Duncan''s test revealed significant differences between two devices (p=0. 001) and device No. 1 and laboratory method (p=0. 001); however، the differences between device No. 2 and laboratory method were not statistically significant (p=0. 83).

According to the results، calibrating the devices with laboratory instruments in order to make major clinical decisions is recommended.