Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection Among Inhabitants and Tribes of Chelgerd, Iran, 2008-2009.

INTRODUCTION Although a notable development in treating and controlling of parasitic infections in recent years has occurred but, these infections are still counted as important problems in many countries. AIM The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in the inhabitant and tribe populations who were referred to central health care of Chelgerd, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from April 2008 to October 2009 in Chelgerd, Iran. A total of 655 samples of feces from inhabitants and tribes were collected and each sample was examined by Direct smear, formol- ethyl acetate concentration and Trichorom staining. RESULTS Out of 655 stool samples, 367(56%) patients revealed at least one intestinal parasite (pathogenic /non-pathogenic protozoa/helminth), 233(67.7%) in tribes and 134(43%) in inhabitants. There was significant difference between infected inhabitants and infected tribes (p=0.001). Although the intestinal parasitic infections were more in female than male it was not statistically significant (p=0.52). There was no significant difference in various age groups. Common intestinal parasitic infections which were detected in both the populations were Giardia intestinalis (28.2%) and Blastocystis hominis (27.5%). CONCLUSIONS We found that the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was higher in the tribe than inhabitant populations. Prevalence of intestinal protozoa infections was much higher than the helminthic infections. These findings reflect poor sanitary conditions in this region. They should be educated and provided better facilities to get rid of intestinal parasitic infections

Increased Serum Levels of IL-1β after Ischemic Stroke are Inversely Associated with Vitamin D

Background: The initial inflammatory reaction starts following occlusion in ischemic stroke (IS). Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders.Objective: To investigate the levels of IL-1β and vitamin D (VitD) in patients with IS compared with controls and their correlation.Methods: The serum level of 25-OH VitD and IL-1β was assessed in 102 IS patients (0-24 h after stroke) and 102 controls with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.Results: We found a significant increase in IL-1β (80.14±6.8 vs. 60.32±4.1 pg/ml, p<0.05) and a decrease in VitD level (24.3±1.4 vs. 29.9±1.5 ng/ml, p<0.01) in the IS patients compared with the controls. There was a significantly positive correlation between the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and IL-1β according to both the Spearman correlation (r=0.35, p=0.0003) and the linear regression (beta=0.255, p=0.014). Also, a significant negative association between VitD and NIHSS was detected by the Spearman correlation (r=-0.41, p<0.0001) and the linear regression (beta=-0.381, p=0.000). Moreover, we found a significant negative correlation (r=-0.26, p=0.006) between the serum levels of VitD and IL-1β in the patient group.Conclusion: Ischemic stroke correlates positively with IL-1β and negatively with VitD levels. The speculated role of VitD deficiency in the evolution and severity of stroke may be justified by its role in the modification of inflammation

The Hospitalization Rate of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis before and during COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives: There are several reports of the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). In this study, we aimed to compare the hospitalization rate of CVST before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (before vaccination program). Materials and methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the hospitalization rate of adult CVST patients in Namazi hospital, a tertiary referral center in the south of Iran, was compared in two periods of time. We defined March 2018 to March 2019 as the pre-COVID-19 period and March 2020 to March 2021 as the COVID-19 period. Results: 50 and 77 adult CVST patients were hospitalized in the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods, respectively. The crude CVST hospitalization rate increased from 14.33 in the pre-COVID-19 period to 21.7 per million in the COVID-19 era (P = 0.021). However, after age and sex adjustment, the incremental trend in hospitalization rate was not significant (95% CrI: -2.2, 5.14). Patients \u3e 50-year-old were more often hospitalized in the COVID-19 period (P = 0.042). SARS-CoV-2 PCR test was done in 49.3% out of all COVID-19 period patients, which were positive in 6.5%. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≥3 at three-month follow-up was associated with age (P = 0.015) and malignancy (P = 0.014) in pre-COVID period; and was associated with age (P = 0.025), altered mental status on admission time (P\u3c0.001), malignancy (P = 0.041) and COVID-19 infection (P = 0.008) in COVID-19 period. Conclusion: Since there was a more dismal outcome in COVID-19 associated CVST, a high index of suspicion for CVST among COVID-19 positive is recommended

Factors Associated with Breastfeeding in the First Hour after Birth, in Baby Friendly Hospitals, Shiraz-Iran

Introduction: Clinical policies of “10 steps of breast feeding” proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) can promote breast feeding. The goal of this study was to evaluate breast feeding in the first hour after birth and its relation to the influencing factors. Material and methods: In this cross-sectional study, the data is related to mothers and infants referring to two baby friendly hospitals of Shiraz. The data were selected through convenience sampling method by interview, questionnaires and reviewing of medical records. Results : In this study 257 mothers and infants were studied. 94% of mothers were breast feeding and 5.8% of them were not able to breast feed. 63.8% of the infants had started breastfeeding an hour post delivery. 79% of the infants had been given to their mothers post delivery. 68.9% mothers given birth in public hospitals versus 52.2% of mothers given birth in private hospitals,75.5 % of mothers having gestational age greater than 37 weeks versus 38.9% of mothers  having gestational age less than 37 weeks, 60.1% of infants weighing more than 2500 grams versus 43.5% of infants weighing less than 2500 grams. 88% of mothers with vaginal delivery versus 40.2% of mothers with cesarean section all had started breast feeding in the first hour after birth. Conclusion: Initiation of breastfeeding in the first hour after birth was higher in mothers having diploma, gestational age greater than 37 weeks, previous history of breastfeeding, vaginal delivery, infant weighing more than 2500 gram, lack of infant disease, lack of hospitalization in NICU, rooming in, lack of prelactal feeding and delivery in public hospitals

The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Breastfeeding Success in Lactating Mothers

Introduction: Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to promote children's health. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence and success of breastfeeding. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study in referring of multiple health centers in Shiraz, sample of 150 mothers with children aged one to three 3 years were selected using convenience sampling method and divided to breast fed and formula fed children groups, they obtained Bar-on and demographic questionnaire .Data were analyzed by SPSS software and Significant level for all tests was considered as 5%. Results: Mean age of mothers was 28.8±4.3 and the mean age of children was 19.80±5.8 years in breast fed and  18.98±6.25 in formula fed infants (p=0.406)   ; 45.3% of them were high school graduates or low literate, and the rest of them were college educated. 71.3% of the women were housewives and most of them were nulliparous. 71.3% of all women had cesarean delivery. The mean duration of breastfeeding in children  were 14.80±4.35 month in breast fed and  3.98±1.25 month in formula fed infants (

Maternal Knowledge and Attitude toward Exclusive Breastfeeding in Six Months after Birth in Shiraz, Iran

Background To develop the culture of breastfeeding, it is needed to know the level of maternal knowledge. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate maternal knowledge and attitude toward exclusive breastfeeding in six months after birth in Shiraz, Iran. Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional study carried out on mothers who referred to health centers. Four health centers were selected from four geographic areas of Shiraz city; finally, 201 mothers was selected and their demographic information and knowledge and attitude toward exclusive breastfeeding were gathered through a researcher made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 14.0.  Results 201 mothers who were 18-45 years old were studied. 43% of them were 30-34 years old. 46% of maternal education level was bachelor andMaster of Science or more and 80% of them were housewives. Their level of knowledge was low (69.2%), moderate (11.4%) and high (19.4%) respectively. Regarding the level of attitude 11.4% of them were low, 15.4% of them were moderate and the others were high. There was a significant relationship between maternal knowledge with parents’ education and infants’ nutrition (breastfeeding) (

Prevalence of Sleep Disorders and Their Impacts on Occupational Performance: A Comparison between Shift Workers and Nonshift Workers

The consequences of sleep deprivation and sleepiness have been noted as the most important health problem in our modern society among shift workers. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sleep disorders and their possible effects on work performance in two groups of Iranian shift workers and nonshift workers. This study was designed as a cross-sectional study. The data were collected by PSQI, Berlin questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and RLS Questionnaire. Occupational impact of different sleep disorders was detected by Occupational Impact of Sleep Disorder questionnaire. These questionnaires were filled in by 210 shift workers and 204 nonshift workers. There was no significant difference in the age, BMI, marital status, and years of employment in the two groups. Shift workers scored significantly higher in the OISD. The prevalence of insomnia, poor sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness was significantly higher in shift workers. Correlations between OISD scores and insomnia, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness were significant. We concluded that sleep disorders should receive more attention as a robust indicator of work limitation

Effect of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field and/or GABAB Receptors on Foot Shock-induced Aggression in Rats

Introduction: The present study investigated the interactive effect of GABAB receptors and extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on foot shock-induced aggression in rats. Methods: fifty adult male rats were randomly assigned into 10 groups. Groups 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 were exposed to 50 Hz, 500 µT ELF-EMF for 30 days 8h per day while the remaining groups (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9) were sham-exposed. At the end of this period, the animals in groups 1 and 2 received normal saline while groups 3 and 4 treated with 100 mg/kg (low dose) of CGP35348 and groups 5 and 6 injected with 200 mg/kg (high dose) of CGP35348. Groups 7 and 8 treated with 1.7 mg/kg (low dose) of Baclofen and groups 9 and 10 received 3 mg/kg (high dose) Baclofen by IP injections. Twenty min after the injection, the aggressive behavior was recorded in foot shock-induced aggression model. The number of lateral threat, lifted up threat, biting, attacking, chasing and approaching were considered as paradigms of aggressive behavior. Results: ELF-EMF, Baclofen or CGP35348 alone had no significant effect on aggressive behavior. Except that rats exposed and treated with low dose of CGP35348 demonstrated significantly higher numbers of only one of the paradigms of aggressive behavior (lifted up threats), CGP35348 and Baclofen in both doses in combination with ELF-EMF exposure had no significant effect on aggression. Discussion: GABAB receptors and ELF-EMFs had no effect (both enhancement and suppression) on aggressive behavior of rats in foot shock-induced model of aggression

Comparing the drawings of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with normal children.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral problem during childhood and in school-aged children. Various projection drawings have been designed for assessing children's personality and psychological disorders including the tests of draw a person (DAP) and draw a family (DAF). We aimed to compare the differences between typically developing children and children with ADHD using these tests.In this case-control study, all the 9-10 year-old boy students studying at the third and fourth grades were enrolled from schools in the 2nd educational district of Shiraz, south of Iran. Eighty students were then selected and enrolled into the ADHD group and the control group. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition- text Revised (DSM-IV-TR), and the Child Symptoms Inventory were used to diagnose the children with ADHD. We evaluated and analyzed impulsiveness, non-impulsiveness, emotional problems and incompatibility indices in the DAP and DAF tests in each group.A significant difference was found in the indices of incompatibility and emotional problems, impulsiveness, non-impulsiveness and DAF between typically developing children and those with ADHD. The mean (±SD) total scores of the above mentioned indices in the ADHD group were 19.79(±2.94), 12.31(±1.84), 5.26(±2.29) and 5.89(±2.13), respectively (