Iranian Journal of Health Sciences
Volume:7 Issue: 2, Spring 2019

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women all over the world. The death rate of this cancer is also increasing. It seems that medication is related to this cancer. The present study aimed at estimating the risk of this cancer using Gail Model and its relationship with medication in women. In this cross-sectional study, 260 35-year-old women and more were selected from healthcare centers in Zahedan. The data were collected using interview and questionnaire. The risk of breast cancer was estimated by Gail Model. The medication conditions were estimated by interviewing the employees in healthcare center. The data were analyzed using independent sample t-test and linear regression. The average age of women was 49.3±8.3 years old with five-year risk, and the life time of breast cancer were 0.37±0.24 and 5.5±0.79 percent, respectively. Self-medication (P=0.043) and medication (p=0.035) had a significant relationship with estimated risk of breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer in women can be influenced by medication along with socioeconomic and menstrual-reproductive factors and variables, such as ethnicity, body mass index, education, age, marriage age, nursing period, and menstrual age. The final analysis showed that consuming contraceptive pills, painkillers, and anti-inflammatory pills are the most important predictive factors in 5-year risk with cancer based on Gail Model. On the other hand, consuming painkillers and contraceptive pills were found to be the most important predictive factors in lifetime risk with cancer based on Gail Model.

Low birth weight (LBW) is an effective factor in neonatal mortality and morbidity. Growth retardation and subsequent chronic diseases are other complications of LBW. The goal of the present study was to determine the prevalence and related factors of LBW in Rafsanjan city in 2016. This cross-sectional study investigated existing data of all live births born in Niknafas Rafsanjan Maternity Hospital, the main maternity hospital in the city, and other delivery centers, from March 2016 to 2017. The information was analyzed in two stages using univariable, and multivariable logistic regression model, to control the effect of confounding variables. The prevalence of LBW was 9.7% in Iranian population of which 4.5% had a gestational age of 37 weeks and more. In non-Iranian population (Afghan), the prevalence of LBW was 13.8%, and the percent of gestational age of 37 and more with weight under 2500 gram was 6.7. The main risk factor was gestational age under 37(OR= 38.38). Other important variables in this study that had significant effects after controlling for the confounding were age over 35 years (OR= 1.485), addiction (OR= 4.057), Abortion history (OR= 1.2), Place of living  (Village vs. city) (OR=0.93), Maternal educational Level (OR= 1.85), infant’s gender (Boy vs. girl) (OR= 0.74), and delivery type (OR=1.39)  Despite the provided health services, there was found a high prevalence of LBW, so delivering quality healthcare for all pregnant women and screening for high-risk pregnancies, such as, prevention of premature delivery, educational interventions, and quality healthcare for high risk groups and beside, more research on the recognition of other risk factors can have important role in LBW prevention.

  Changing the physical activity pattern is an important factor in reducing mortality and increasing longevity. The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of educational intervention on physical activity of elderly people. In this quasi-experimental study, 80 elderly people from two rural health centers in Ghaemshahr city were selected and assigned to intervention (n=40) and control (n=40) groups. The elderly in the intervention group received 4 training sessions of 30 to 45 minutes in a month, while the control group did not receive such training. Before and one month after the intervention, Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) questionnaire was completed by both groups. The collected data were analyzed using chi square, paired sample t-test, independent sample t-test and ANCOVA. The mean total score of RAPA, before intervention, in the control group was significantly higher than the intervention group (P = 0.017). However, after the intervention, the mean total score in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (P <0.001).  One month after the intervention, the mean of the RAPA score in the intervention group significantly changed from 2.1 to 4.95 (P <0.001), however, the mean change in the RAPA score in the control group (from 2.4 to 2.5) was not significant (P = 0.352). Given the effect of educational intervention on the physical activity of the elderly, the design of such educational interventions is recommended.

Self-medication is an important concern in every part of the world. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and to investigate the associate factors of self-medication among adults in Gorgan, north of Iran.  This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among adults aged 12 years and above who were residents in Gorgan city. The participants were selected using the multi-stage cluster sampling method. SPSS Software and Pearson's chi-squared test were used for data analysis. A total of 592 households with 2050 respondents were visited. The prevalence of self-medication was 67.9%. A larger number of females were self-medicating (71.3%) than males (63.5%). The majority of the respondents self-medicated because of the previous use experience (59.3%). The main indication for self-medication use was headache (60.8%).  Analgesics were the most commonly self-medicated by the respondents (83.9%). Also, 88.6% of the respondents prepared their drug from drugstores. Furthermore, there were significant differences between self-medication and demographics characteristics including gender, age group, marital status, occupation, education level and income (p<0.05). The prevalence of self-medication especially with analgesics is relatively high among adult city-dwellers in Gorgan. So, preventive measures, such as strengthening of the communities awareness on the side effects of self-medication practice and regulation of pharmacies are very important mechanisms to decrease the practice.

Bioaerosols enter into human body through various ways (inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption). The aim of this study was to investigate the type and density of the predominant bacteria in two seasons - cold and warm - in the kitchen air of restaurants. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on the air of restaurants' kitchen in Babol. Sampling was performed by using a personal sampling pump with impinger tank using a flow rate of 4 l/min during 50 minutes. Counting the colonies in the air was determined in terms of CFU/m3 and the type of grown bacteria was identified using different tests, such as Gram staining and biochemical methods. Temperature and humidity were recorded at the time of sampling, too. Totally, 120 samples of bacteria were taken from the indoor air of kitchens with and without air conditioning. The results showed that the highest and lowest densities of bacteria in cold season were 15 CFU/m3 and 63.7 CFU/m3, and in warm season, they were 19.6 CFU/m3 and 80 CFU/m3, respectively. The predominant bacteria were Gram-positive bacteria in the air of kitchen but Bacillus and Micrococcus were the most frequent. The results showed that due to humidity and the temperature (warmer), bacterial density was higher in summer than winter. The concentration of bacteria in the kitchen and restaurant was also less than WHO recommendation and guide values ACGIH (up to 500 CFU/m3), respectively. So, air quality was found to be good and acceptable in terms of the restaurant kitchen.

Mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of many pathogens such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, and so on. The control of mosquitoes using chemical insecticides is not always a sensible approach, so, alternative biological control methods, especially the use of larvivorous fishes, can play a significant role in controlling of mosquito larvae. In this narrative review study, papers and dissertations were collected without time and language limits from international electronic databases in Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Ovid, Medline and WHO site, and Iranian scientific databases including: Barakatkns, SID, Civilica, Magiran, and Medlib using appropriate keywords from 1937 to 2018. Finally, 55 sources were selected and criticized, interpreted, and analyzed. In the study, some of larvivorous fishes including Aphanius dispar, Carassius auratus (goldfish), Gambusia affinis, and Poecilia reticulate (guppy) have been investigated as important predators of mosquito larvae. Among these fish, Gambusia, Aphanius dispar, Colisa Lalia, Danio rerio, Goldfish, Guppy and Oreochromis mossambica are present in different regions of Iran. Given the fact that malaria carriers are present in many regions of Iran and the climate of Iran is also potentially suitable for the transmission of malaria, it is recommended to use larvivorous fishes that are compatible with the environmental conditions of each area.