Influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients: systematic review and meta-analysis from a public health policy perspective.

Immunocompromised patients are vulnerable to severe or complicated influenza infection. Vaccination is widely recommended for this group. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients in terms of preventing influenza-like illness and laboratory confirmed influenza, serological response and adverse events

Neural Tube Defects in Native Fars Ethnicity in Northern Iran

"nBackground: Neural tube defects (NTD) are one of the leading causes of infant mortality worldwide. This study was de­signed to determine the prevalence of NTDs among native Fars ethnic groups during 1998-2005, and to identify maternal and demographic factors associated with NTDs. "nMethods: We performed a descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study in Dezyani Hospital, Gorgan, North of Iran, since January 1998 until December 2005. The design was based on a sample of 30,639 births of native Fars ethnic groups. Data were analyzed by using spss V13.5 software and were compared with the chi-square test."nResults: The prevalence of NTDs in Native Fars during the 8-year period was 25.4 per 10000 births (95% confidence inter­val: 20.1-31.8). The prevalence of NTDs was 20.6/10000 and 30.6/10000 in males and females respectively but this differ­ence was not significant. The prevalence of spina bifida, anencephaly and encephalocele were 12.7, 11.4 and 1.3 per 10000 respec­tively. The rate of NTD was 48.9/10000 in newborns with mothers aged > 35 years. The highest rate of NTDs and spina bi­fida was in 2002. The highest and lowest rate of anencephaly was in 2005 and 2003 respectively. Twenty eight percent of the parents had consanguineous marriages. Degree relatedness 3, 4, 5 and 6 of consanguineous marriages were 12.8%, 9%, 3.8%, 2.5%, respectively. Also 47.5% of the parents resided in rural areas.  "nConclusion: This investigation showed that the rate of NTDs in Native Fars was higher in Iran. In addition, this rate is higher than the Canada and Ukraine and lower than Chinese people

Serum zinc level in newborns with neural tube defects in Gorgan

Background: Neural tube defects (NTD) are a group of congenital malformations that include spina bifida, anencephaly and encephalocele. Some investigations have indicated that Zinc deficiency is one of the causative factors of NTDs. This study was done to determine the relation between neural tube defect and neonatal serum Zinc level in Gorgan - North of Iran. Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 23 newborns with NTD and 35 healthy newborns, in Dezyani hospital in Gorgan- north of Iran. Serum zinc level was assessed with spectrophotometery. Data was analyzed by SPSS soft ware. Findings: Mean of serum Zinc levels in case and control groups were 8 (±3.9) μmol/Lit and 12.3 (±4) μMol/Lit, respectively (p<0.001). Zinc deficiency was found in 43.5% of the cases and 8.6% of the controls (χ2 =9.73, p=0.002). The logistic regression analysis has shown an association between the presence of NTDs and zinc deficiency (OR=8.2, 95%CI: 1.9-34.7). Conclusion: This study showed that Zinc deficiency was thought to be one of the most important factors in the NTDs etiology in this area

Iranian Health Research Networks and Vision of Iran by 2025: A Case of Virtual Health Network in EMRI

Background: The present paper aims to explore the role of Health Research Networks (HRN) in facilitating and expedite achieving the prospects for goals of health research based on the visions of Iran by 2025.Methods: Aiming to the main function of HSR to achieve the targeted conducting of health sciences research; more cooperation and coordination between health science researchers; avoid parallel investigations; and optimum utilization and appropriate distribution of resources, in 2000 the deputy of Research and Technology of Ministry of Health and Medical Education defined and developed a comprehensive HRN.Result: There are currently 27 research networks operating under the supervision of the Deputy of Research and Technology at MOHME. All of the HRN policies are following based on their strategic planning’s which are extracted from national visions of Iran by 2025.Conclusion: Promoting the current position needs a reliable and feasible new strategies. The present article introduces the lessons learned of our experience in virtual web-based health research networking in Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute (EMRI)

Prevalence of intra abdominal injuries due to penetrating trauma in Gorgan, Iran (2002-07)

Background and Objective: Trauma is the most common cause of death in all individuals between 1 and 44 years and the third most common cause of death regardless of age. The abdomen is the third most commonly injured region of the body. Some intra abdominal organ injured more than others, related to mechanism of injury, size and location of organ in abdominal cavity. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of intra abdominal injuries due to penetrating trauma. Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was done on 114 patients admitted to 5 Azar hospital in Gorgan, Iran due to penetrating abdominal trauma during 2002-07. Gender, age, type of injury causes of trauma and hospitlalization period were obtained form patients files. Results: 92.1% of patients were male. The mean age of subjects was 24.8 years (9-70 years) with highest frequency between 20-24 years. Two (1.8%) deaths directly related to abdominal stab wounds related to hemorrhagic shock. The most common cause of penetrating abdominal injury was knife wound (78.9%). The mean time spent in hospital was 4.6±2.8 days. In 53 patients, cause of trauma were either related to pentration into peritoneum or passing through in. Small intestine injuries (14 %), rupture of diaphragm and concurrent lung injuries (7%) were the common damage organs. Conclusion: This study showed that the knife was the main cause of abdominal penetrate trauma and peritoneum was the most common damage tissue

Gastrointestinal and abdominal Tuberculosis in Golestan-Iran: A 5-years report

Background&Objective: 15-20% of TB cases are extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). Abdominal TB is the most common type of extra intestinal TB. Signs and symptoms of abdominal TB are unspecific. In this study, we identified all GITB cases in Golestan province (Iran) between 1999 and 2003 and determined their demographic characteristics. Materials&Methods: We reviewed all new cases of TB reported during 1999-2003 from TB centers of Golestan province .Then EPTB and especially GI and abdominal TB cases were selected. We completed a questionnaire containing demographic information for each of them. The information entered the computer in SPSS-13 was used to analyze the data. Results: 30 patients had been treated for GI and abdominal TB, most of them were females (22 cases, 73.3%). Mean age of the patients was 32.03±13.73 with higher incidence in age before 40 years old (70%). Most common complaints of the patients were fatigue, weight loss, anorexia, fever and abdominal pain, respectively. In 66.7% of patients the diagnosis was pathologically documented. Conclusion: Our data suggest that 38.46% of all TB cases in Golestan province were EPTB, and this scale is higher than other studies. In this study, 5.27% of EPTB cases were GI and abdominal TB, higher than the world reports (3%)

Bone Mineral Density in 10 to75 Year-Old Iranian Healthy Women: Population Base Study

Osteoporosis is a major public health problem in Iran. Bone densitometry is used to diagnose osteopenia and osteoporosis and if necessary, prevent bone fractures, especially that of femoral neck. Bone density is related to several factors including race, age, sex, environmental factors and nutrition. No comprehensive study has been performed in Iran, yet. Among the 10 to 75 year-old population living in Tehran, after excluding those who suffered from conditions affecting bone metabolism, 600 people were randomly selected from 50 clusters. All participants underwent a clinical examination and lumbar and spinal densitometry using DXA method. Prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in women older than 50, was 28.1% and 53.3%, respectively. Prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis was higher in our study population. Peak bone density in the 25-35 -year-old population could be useful in policy-making for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

Silis contamination in the flour of Golestan province

Background&Objective: Silis (SiO2) is an oxide of silicon that its existence in food products is known as a contamination, classified as a human carcinogen. Some suggest it as an etiology of esophageal cancer. Golestan province has a high incidence and prevalence of esophageal cancer and is on the world belt of this disease. This study was designed to determine the concentration of silis in flour produced in Golestan province, north of Iran Materials&Methods: This descriptive study was done in spring 2005. Census method was used to gather flour samples from flour manufactures. Samples were transported to laboratory. Base-melting method in nickel cruise was used in 550°c and the extract was reduced with acid. The complex was evaluated with spectrophotometer. Data entered into SPSS-12, and the differences between silis concentration in various regions were compared with non-parametric Kruskul Walis test. Results: Median silis concentration was 0.0030 grams, mean concentration was 0.008760 with 0.004265 standard deviation, minimum was 0.003 and maximum was .018 grams in each 100 grams flour produced in province's factories. Mean silis concentrations were 0.012, 0.01 and 0.003 in Gorgan and the central part of the province, western and eastern part, respectively. The differences were not significant. Conclusion: Although in earlier reports it was shown that silis level in the flour is high, but the findings of this study indicated that the above element is in normal range

Effects of vitamin E supplementation on activity of serum Paraoxonase, SOD, GPX enzymes and lipid profiles in beta major thalassemia patients

Background and Objective: In pathogenesis of beta major thalassemia, tissue damage is occurring due to oxidative stress. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E supplementation on serum Paraoxonase, SOD, GPX enzyme activity and lipid profiles in beta major thalassemia patients. Materials and Methods: In this clinical tiral study, Sixty (25 males, 35 females) beta major thalassemia patients with age≥18 years who had criterias to enter the study, were selected randomely in two groups. The patients in interventional group, vitamin E at a dose of 400 mg/day were given for three months, with no supplementations in control group. The enzyme activities of paraoxonase, SOD, GPX and lipid profiles (LDL-c, HDL-c, triglyceride, total Antixidant Capacity) were measured prior and after 3 months in both case and control groups. Data analyzed by using paired t-test. Results: Significant increases in serum levels of vitamin E, Paraoxonase activity, HDL cholesterol (P<0.001), BMI (P≤0.001) and a significant reduction in GPX activity (P<0.05) were observed in cases compared to controls. Conclusion: The vitamin E supplementation may be useful in reducing oxidative stress and lipid profiles in beta major thalassemic patients

Quality of Published medical articles in approved Medical Journals by Islamic Republic of Iran Committee of Medical Journal (1983-2005)

Background and Objective: Quality of medical articles is effective at improvement of medical science. This study was done for determining of published medical articles quality in approved Medical Journals. Materials and Methods: This cross- sectional study was done on 690 medial articles, which published between 1983-2005 in scientific journals, approved by special Medical Journal committee of Ministry of health and medical Education (MOHME) in Iran, during 2007. Source of data was indexed medical journal in the Iranmedex database. Results: Type of study in 52% of articles was descriptive, 21.2% was interventional and 5.8% of them were analytical. In recent years the number of analytic and interventional articles have been increased significantly in comparison to other types (P<0.05). There was no qualitative type article in published papers. The percentages of original, case report and review articles were 44.9%, 36.9% and 14.1%, respectively. In recent years the rate of original articles has increased in comparison to case report and review articles (P<0.05). In 80% of articles, at least one statistical test was applied. 60% of articles were clinical and 82% of them have been written in Persian language. Conclusion: Findings showed an increasing trend in quality indexes of published articles. It seems in recent years, the changes of MOHME policies in evaluation of the research deputy of medical science universities implementation of research and scientific writing workshops ratting protocol of approved medical journals and academic members promotion guidelines, resulted in improvement qualitative index of articles