The Impact of Currency Shocks on Sanandaj Municipality Revenues in Iran

Exchange rate fluctuations have been affecting economic demand in recent years. The purpose of this study is to review the effects of exchange shocks on Sanandaj Municipality Revenues. The statistical population is Sanandaj municipality during 2006-2018 and SPSS, Eviews softwares were used for data analysis. The results show that since the correlation test is not significant at the level of 0.95, there is no significant relationship between two variables of municipality income and exchange fluctuations. Thus, the main hypothesis is rejected. In other words, exchange shocks have no impact on Sanandaj municipality revenues. Also based on the correlation test, since the correlation test is not significant at the level of 0.95, the relationship between the two variables of municipality income and negative exchange fluctuations is not significant and the sub-hypothesis (1) is rejected, and finally based on correlation test, since the correlation test is not significant at the level of 0.95, the relationship between two variables of municipality and positive exchange fluctuations is not significant. Thus, the sub-hypothesis (2) is rejected as well. It could be concluded that, Sanandaj municipality revenues do not follow the currency rate fluctuations

Developmental screening of children with congenital hypothyroidism using Ages & Stages Questionnaires test.

 Abstract:Objectives: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is one of the most common causes of mental retardation in children. This study investigated the developmental status of children with CH screened by Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) measurement scores.Materials & Methods: In this retrospective study, neurodevelopmental status of 78 children diagnosed with CH who being followed up at the outpatient Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic of Besat Hospital, Hamadan, Iran, was evaluated by ASQ method. Data on age, sex, birth body weight, height and head circumference, residency location, parental education level, primary venous TSH and T4 level, diagnosis age, treatment start age and initial levothyroxine dosage were extracted from medical records .Data analyzed using statistical software SPSS v16. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Of the 78 patients (34=43.6% female), 32 patients (41%) had developmental disorder. 56 cases (71.8%) were living in urban areas. In terms of type of developmental impairment, global delay: 13 patients (40.6%), problem solving: 11 patients (34.3%), communication: 5 patients (15.6%), fine motor: 2 patients (6.2%) and personal-social: 1 patient (3.1%) were detected. The average of diagnosis and treatment age was 25.65 days in patients with developmental impairment and 17.99 days in those without delay. ASQ results had significant statistical correlation with initial dose of levothyroxine (p=0.017), hypothyroidism diagnosis age (p=0.002) and age of treatment initiation (p=0.018).Conclusions: Early diagnosis and treatment along with initial L-thyroxin dose were most important factor of ASQ scores of children with CH. Higher amounts of the LT4 is required at onset

Can Children Enhance Their Family’s Health Knowledge? An Infectious Disease Prevention Program

Objective: The purpose of this study is to propose an innovative method of knowledge transfer that aims to improve health literacy about pediatric infectious diseases prevention in families. Children have an appreciable role in this scheme. Methods: This study is a before and after trial that has been conducted in Hamedan in 2009. After changing seven infectious disease topics into childish poems, we selected five kindergartens randomly and taught these poetries to the children. Teaching process held after a pretest containing 24 questions that examined 103 of parents about mentioned topics. The same post-test was given after 4 months of teaching process. Findings: The mean of correct answers to the pretest was 59.22% comparable with 81.00% for post-test (P<0.00). Gender and knowledge degree could not change the results significantly. Assuming one’s correct answers to the questions as his/her Knowledge Mark, the mean of this variable increased to 5.32 by this method. Conclusion: This cost-effective and joyful method had successful results in promoting health knowledge. Children are able to play an active role in family’s health situation. Learning within family atmosphere without any obligations makes our scheme a solution for paving the knowledge transferring way

Preparation and characterization of poly (hydroxy butyrate)/chitosan blend scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

Background: Poly (hydroxy butyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer with good mechanical properties. This polymer could be a promising material for scaffolds if some features improve. Materials and Methods: In the present work, new PHB/chitosan blend scaffolds were prepared as a three-dimensional substrate in cartilage tissue engineering. Chitosan in different weight percent was added to PHB and solved in trifluoroacetic acid. Statistical Taguchi method was employed in the design of experiments. Results: The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy test revealed that the crystallization of PHB in these blends is suppressed with increasing the amount of chitosan. Scanning electron microscopy images showed a thin and rough top layer with a nodular structure, supported with a porous sub-layer in the surface of the scaffolds. In vitro degradation rate of the scaffolds was higher than pure PHB scaffolds. Maximum degradation rate has been seen for the scaffold with 90% wt. NaCl and 40% wt. chitosan. Conclusions: The obtained results suggest that these newly developed PHB/chitosan blend scaffolds may serve as a three-dimensional substrate in cartilage tissue engineering

Prevalence of diabetes in women with preeclampsia referred to Imam Hossein and Fatemieh Hospitals in Shahroud

Introduction and objective: Preeclampsia, characterised by hypertension and proteinuria occurring after 20 gestational weeks, is a leading cause of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality . The pathophysiology of preeclampsia remains elusive, and &nbsp;the incidence of diabetes during pregnancy in patients with preeclampsia is still a mather of study. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of diabetes in women with preeclampsia referred to Imam Hossein and Fatemieh hospitals in Shahroud. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 108 women with preeclampsia (based on clinical symptoms, gynecological tests, and diagnoses) referred to Fatemieh and Imam Hossein hospitals in Shahroud for delivery or termination of pregnancy in 2014. A questionnaire, which included demographic information such as age, number of pregnancies, birth rank, pregnancy conditions, type of delivery, history of hypertension and diabetes in the patient and their first-degree relatives, was used in this study. Data were expressed as percentage, frequency, standard deviation, mean, and were analyzed by Student's t test and chi-square, using SPSS software. A value of p&lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results: The incidence of preeclampsia was associated with maternal diabetes (p&le;0.05), maternal age (p&le;0.04), birth rank (p&le;0.04), multiple pregnancies (p&le;0.03), history of maternal diabetes, history of maternal hypertension (p&le;0.03), history of preeclampsia at previous delivery (p&lt;0.02) and age of termination of pregnancy (p&le;0.01). There was no significant difference with regard to other variables. Conclusion: The results revealed that about 25% of preeclampsia patients had gestational diabetes, which increased the risk in pregnant women and neonates. Therefore, by preventing and controlling blood pressure and diabetes, we can reduce the maternal and fetal complications of these disorders, and thus, reduce the rate of mortality

Identification of clinically antibiotic resistant genes Aac(3)-IIa and Aac(6’)-Ib in wastewater samples by multiplex PCR

Background: Aminoglycoside antibiotics are widely used in medical centers, particularly to treat infections. The resistance developed against these agents is a huge concern in health care. A number of researchers have reported that hospital and municipal wastewaters are among the most important dissemination sources of these agent into the environment. Some, however, do not agree with this opinion. In the present study, the prevalence of aminoglycoside resistance genes was investigated in raw and effluent wastewater from hospital and municipal wastewater treatment plants. Methods: To conduct this descriptive-analytical study, 30 samples were taken according to sampling principles and cold cycle and transferred to the molecular laboratory. DNA was extracted by the freeze-thaw method using a kit (Promega). The genes aac(3)-IIa and aac(6’)-Ib which code aminoglycoside resistance were examined in this study. Results: The results indicated that the studied genes are present in 35% of urban and hospital wastewaters, and their frequency percentage is higher in hospital wastewater (52%) than urban wastewater (48%). The studied genes were identified in 61% of raw hospital wastewater samples; however, they were not detected in the output wastewater from the studied treatment plants. Conclusion: Although, the studied genes were not detected in the final effluent, there is a high potential for their release into the environment. The current study demonstrated that the coding genes of aminoglycoside antibiotic resistance are present in raw urban and hospital wastewaters. In the case of improper exploitation of wastewater treatment plants, the output water can contaminate other environmental sections, such as soil and water resources, and result in the emission of these contaminants