Assessment of hepatitis B in high risk people of Gachsaran city, Iran

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major health problem throughout the world. The aim of this study determines the rate of prevalence of molecular and Seroepidemiological hepatitis B infections high risk populations in the Gachsaran city, according to factors such as age, sex, employment status, educational status etc.Methods: In a descriptive and analytical study, blood samples have been collected from 500 high risks individuals, from February 2015 to July 2016 in Gachsaran. The serum samples were tested by ELISA and PCR method was used to confirm the diagnosis. Data were analyzed by SPSS statistical program.Results: HBsAg was detected in 5 out of the 500 individuals, giving an overall prevalence of 1%. All the positive samples were in males. The rate of infection among the individuals with a history of unprotected sexual contact was 8% and was 0% among the individuals who experienced a needle stick. Four out of the five infected persons with hepatitis didn’t receive any vaccination and one of them received only one dose of vaccine.Conclusions: The results showed 1% infection at high-risk groups in the Gachsaran city. Age rising, maleness, unemployment, low educational level and suspicies sexual partners have been the factors of increasing HBV infection prevalence. Full vaccination has a strong and meaningful relationship with hepatitis B in the target groups, which requires all people at risk to be vaccinated completely. Government cooperation to identify and treat injecting drug users and encourage them to follow the preventive methods is beneficial

Diagnostic Accuracy of Reverse Contrast Enhancement for Detection of Vertical Root Fractures

Objectives Vertical root fracture (VRF) is a common complication in endodontically-treated teeth. Due to its poor prognosis, a valid and reliable detection method is imperative for treatment planning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of reverse contrast in diagnosis of VRF by digital radiography. Methods Fifty extracted single-rooted premolar teeth were selected for this in-vitro experimental study. The teeth were mounted in a dry mandible and fixed with wax. Radiographs were obtained of all teeth with 0° horizontal angle, and 0° and +15° vertical angle. VRFs were then created by a hammer in vertical direction. Radiographs were obtained again as previously described. Radiographs of each tooth were evaluated twice: once without reverse contrast and then with reverse contrast 2 weeks later. The weighted kappa coefficient was calculated to assess the inter-observer agreement. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (LR+) and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) were compared in use and no use of reverse contrast using the Cochrane Q test. Results Radiographic angle had no significant effect on the diagnostic accuracy in use or no use of reverse contrast, except for the sensitivity value in no use of reverse contrast which was significantly higher in 15° vertical angle. The diagnostic accuracy of images enhanced with reverse contrast had no significant difference with original images in 0° and 15° vertical angles.   Conclusion Radiographs enhanced with reverse contrast had no significant difference with original radiographs for diagnosis of VRFs. Thus, for detection of VRFs, reverse contrast should only be considered as an adjunct

Infectious and Non-infectious Causes of Abortion in Saanen and Alpine Goats

Background:      Infectious and non-infectious abortions are necessary to be evaluated in Saanen and Alpine breeds as they have been recently imported to Iran whith out enough information about their susceptibility to diseases in the country situation. The present study aimed to investigate the causes of abortion in Saanen and Alpine to compare their susceptibility to each identified abortion factor. Methods:      A total of 600 Saanen and 600 Alpine breeds were studied. Abomasal contents of foeti and serum samples from aborted does were analyzed by PCR and conventional culture methods and beta-hydroxy butyrate was measured in the serum of aborted animals. Results:      Among 1200 pregnant goats, 59 Saanens and 80 Alpines aborted their fetus. Escherichia coli was isolated from 4 Saanens and 3 Alpines. Trueperella pyogenes was isolated from 5 Saanens and 7 Alpines. Pregnancy toxemia was the cause of abortion in 12 Saanens and 30 Alpines which showed a significant difference between the two breeds. Six Saanens and 10 Alpines aborted their fetus following trauma. Conclusion:      As abortion is an economically important issue, especially for the breeds which we have less information about, the susceptibility of animals and the frequency of each abortifacient should be evaluated.

In Vitro Comparative Study on Antineoplastic Effects of Pinoresinol and Lariciresinol on Healthy Cells and Breast Cancer-Derived Human Cells

Background: Herbal medicines are the preferred anticancer agents due to their lower cytotoxic effects on healthy cells. Plant lignans play an important role in treating various diseases, especially cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of podophyllotoxin, pinoresinol, and lariciresinol on cellular toxicity and inducing apoptosis in fibroblasts, HEK-293, and SkBr3 cell lines.Methods: An in vitro study was conducted from 2017 to 2019 at the Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University (Tehran, Iran). The cell lines were treated for 24 and 48 hours with different concentrations of lignans. Cell viability and apoptosis were examined using MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. Expression levels of cell cycle and apoptosis regulator genes were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Data were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s HSD test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Podophyllotoxin significantly increased apoptosis in fibroblast cells compared to pinoresinol and lariciresinol (P<0.001). The percentage of cell viability of fibroblast cells treated for 48 hours with pinoresinol, lariciresinol, and podophyllotoxin was reduced by 49%, 47%, and 36%, respectively. Treatment with pinoresinol and lariciresinol significantly overexpressed pro-apoptotic genes and underexpressed anti-apoptotic genes in SkBr3 cells (P<0.001). SkBr3 cells treated with lariciresinol significantly reduced gene expression (P<0.001). Conclusion: Pinoresinol and lariciresinol can potentially be used as new therapeutic agents for the treatment of breast cancer

Characteristics of Walkable Built Environments and BMI z-Scores in Children: Evidence from a Large Electronic Health Record Database

Background: Childhood obesity remains a prominent public health problem. Walkable built environments may prevent excess weight gain. Objectives: We examined the association of walkable built environment characteristics with body mass index (BMI) z-score among a large sample of children and adolescents. Methods: We used geocoded residential address data from electronic health records of 49,770 children and adolescents 4 to < 19 years of age seen at the 14 pediatric practices of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates from August 2011 through August 2012. We used eight geographic information system (GIS) variables to characterize walkable built environments. Outcomes were BMI z-score at the most recent visit and BMI z-score change from the earliest available (2008–2011) to the most recent (2011–2012) visit. Multivariable models were adjusted for child age, sex, race/ethnicity, and neighborhood median household income. Results: In multivariable cross-sectional models, living in closer proximity to recreational open space was associated with lower BMI z-score. For example, children who lived in closest proximity (quartile 1) to the nearest recreational open space had a lower BMI z-score (β = –0.06; 95% CI: –0.08, –0.03) compared with those living farthest away (quartile 4; reference). Living in neighborhoods with fewer recreational open spaces and less residential density, traffic density, sidewalk completeness, and intersection density were associated with higher cross-sectional BMI z-score and with an increase in BMI z-score over time. Conclusions: Overall, built environment characteristics that may increase walkability were associated with lower BMI z-scores in a large sample of children. Modifying existing built environments to make them more walkable may reduce childhood obesity. Citation: Duncan DT, Sharifi M, Melly SJ, Marshall R, Sequist TD, Rifas-Shiman SL, Taveras EM. 2014. Characteristics of walkable built environments and BMI z-scores in children: evidence from a large electronic health record database. Environ Health Perspect 122:1359–1365; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.130770

Prognostic Value of KI6 Biomarker in Predict Short Time Prognosis of Low Grade Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia in HPV Negative and Positive Patients

Screening of cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in developing countries. Despite being preventable, but we have still some problems with the screening of this cancer. Recently, many studies have been done on immunohistochemistry to improve screening of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) as a precancerous lesion. But, the majority of the studies are based on cytological samples. The objective of this study was to analyze the correlation KI-67 biomarker and HPV infection in predict short time prognosis in CIN as an alternative or auxiliary method to the current screening method in a different geographic population. This descriptive cohort prospective study included 40 patients with a diagnosis of CIN based on cervical punch biopsy samples after colposcopy examination. They were referred to the department of gynecology and oncology of an academic hospital, Mashhad University of   2016 to 2017. All samples were investigated for HR- HPV DNA with Cobas test and immunostaining for KI-67 biomarker. Finally, after one year follows up, the prognosis for all patients was evaluated. Data were analyzed by SPSS software program version 23.0 and Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test. P<0.05 was considered significant. Significant difference was found between HR-HPV positive and negative tests in KI-67 expression (P<0.001), but no significant difference was observed in reactivity level (P=0.5), also no significant difference was found in KI-67 expression in the metaplastic and non-metaplastic epithelium (P=0.88). KI-67 biomarker is recommended as complementary screening tests not alternative for differentiating in high risks patients with CIN1. The patients with low KI-67 / HR-HPV positive test could be offered for a less aggressive follow-up protocol

Study of Diseases Associated ESR above 100 among the Patients who Visited Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in the Second half of 2013

Introduction: ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) is the sedimentation rate of red blood cells per unit of time that is expressed in millimeters. ESR test is simple and inexpensive and fast and can be somewhat diagnostic manual to confirm the diagnosis, rule out the diagnosis, follow-up course of the disease and so on, so it is of interest to practitioners.Methods: Descriptive and cross-sectional study on 124 patients in all wards of Shahid Sadooghi  hospital in the second 6 months of 1393, that had raised ESR of 100 at least one time. All information including gender, age, diagnosis of the presence or absence of fever and indigenous of them cases in the archive hospital patients were taken.Results: 56% female and 44% were male. 16% of patients in the age range 0-19 years, 56% aged 20-64 years and 28% were aged over 64 years. 41% of patients were admitted with fever. 59% were native and 41 % were non-native. Infectious causes (45.9%), malignancy (14.5%), collagen vascular disease (16.9%), internal disease and hematology (16.9%) and other causes (5.6%) were formed cases. Diabetic foot (7%), pneumonia (7%), RA (6%), ESRD (5.6%), metastatic lung cancer (4%), TB (3%) formed the majority of cases.In feverish cases pneumonia (11.5%), diabetic foot (7.6%), tuberculosis (5.7%), pyelonephritis (5.7%) and RA (5.7%) were the most frequent form. Infectious causes of fever (65.3%), collagen vascular (13.4%), malignancies (5.7%) and other causes (15.6%).conclusion: In patients with extremely high sediment in terms of gender segregation is almost the same of hospital commiunity

Modulation of Drug Craving in Crystalline-Heroin Users by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

Background: Drug craving, the main cause of relapse and a major motivator for drug use, is a challenging obstacle in substance use treatment. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique, has shown promising outcomes in treating different neuropsychiatric disorders such as drug addiction, more specifically on drug craving. The aim in the current study was to examine the effects of applying tDCS on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in reducing drug cravings in former crystalline-heroin users enrolled in methadone maintenance (MMT) programs. Methods: The present study was a semi-experimental, crossover study with pre/post-test, and a control group. 40 right-handed men were selected from former crystalline-heroin users enrolled in MMT programs in Tehran, Iran. They were then divided into two matched groups based on age, education, and age of onset crystalline-heroin abuse. Desire for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ) was administered two times to all of the subjects, before first brain stimulation, and at the end of the last session. Experimental group received TDCS on DLPFC, and sham stimulation was applied on control subjects. The data were analyzed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) method using SPSS software. Findings: The study results indicated anodal tDCS over right and cathodal TDCS over left DLPFC, and in parallel with sham, significantly decreased drug cravings among former crystalline-heroin users (P < 0.050). Conclusion: This study showed that applying TDCS on DLPFC of former crystalline-heroin users reduces drug craving. The findings of this study expanded the results of previous studies on effects of this neuromodulatory technique for drug craving reduction in other drug type settings