Sequence-based genotyping of hepatitis B virus in general population.

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) causes acute and chronic liver disease worldwide. HBV has eight genotypes (A to H) which is the reflection of its genome with their characteristic geographical distribution. Each genotype could have different pathogenic and therapeutic characteristics. There have been few records on HBV genotyping in general population from our region. This study aimed to determine hepatitis B genotypes using sequencing in the general population of Shahrekord, a Southwestern region of Iran. METHODS A total of 3000 serum samples (cluster sampling method) were enrolled from general population tested for HBsAg using ELISA. Using appropriate extraction kit, HBV DNA was extracted from HBsAg positive samples and each was subjected to nested PCR for detection of HBV DNA. Finally, using sequencing, the samples were used for HBV genotyping. Data were analyzed by SPSS 19 using descriptive statistics, chi square, and Fisher's exact test. P-value < 0.05 was considered as the level of significance. RESULTS Out of 3000 serum samples, 40 (1.3%) were positive for HBsAg. HBV DNA was detected in 10 out of 40 (25%) of the samples studied. Genotype D was the predominant HBV type found in all of these 10 HBV positive samples. CONCLUSION Genotype D is probably the predominant HBV type in our region

Hepatitis C Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Adult Population of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province of Iran in 2013.

INTRODUCTION Hepatitis C is the second leading viral infectious disease worldwide. In Iran, hepatitis C is the most important and prevalent reason for chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis in the multi transfused population. AIM This study was conducted to determine seroprevalence and burden of hepatitis C in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province and to plan for controlling it. MATERIALS AND METHODS For this analytical, population-based study, 3000 samples were older than 15 years old and were enrolled from urban and rural areas of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, southwest Iran per cluster sampling. Written informed consent was obtained from the participants and the demographic data, transmission route and risk factors were collected after blood sample taking. Hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV Ab) and western blotting were consecutively run. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Data analysis was done by SPSS 19 using descriptive statistics, and chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression Ap value of 0.05 was considered as the level of significance. RESULTS The prevalence of HCV Ab was obtained 1.4% (95% CI, 0.95-1.7) and that of positive hepatitis C by western blotting 0.9% (95% CI, 0.65-1.3). The prevalence in men (1.2%) was obtained two times higher than women. The highest prevalence was obtained in 35 to 44-year-old population (2%). The prevalence was higher in married individuals and less in higher educated. History of hospital stay, first degree relatives infected with HCV, jaundice, history of blood transfusion, tattoo, outpatient surgery, imprisonment, contact with the infected, intravenous (IV) drug abuse, and smoking had significant association with disease prevalence (p<0.05). The highest odds ratio was obtained for history of IV drug abuse (OR=38.2, 95% CI, 14.06-103.9) followed by imprisonment (OR=8.9, 95% CI, 2.97-26.6). However, by logistic regression only history of IV drug abuse was obtained as significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Hepatitis C is growing and emerging as the most prevalent chronic, viral hepatic disease, so further consideration of risk factors and routes of transmission is crucial for appropriate planning for, and preventing, treating, and controlling hepatitis C. IV drug abusers as the most important group need special consideration and surveillance in order to cut infection chain and decrease the disease incidence

Prevalence of Nephrolithiasis in 7-11 year-old Students: A Multicenter Study

Introduction: Renal diseases can be asymptomatic even in progressive disorders; therefore, detecting urine and ultrasound abnormalities may help facilitate early diagnosis and prevention of renal diseases. This study was conducted to investigate random urine parameters and urinary system ultrasonography findings in 7-11 year-old students.Materials and Methods: Healthy students from Tehran and Qom, Iran were enrolled in a prospective descriptive study and their sex, age, weight, height, and BMI were measured. Then, a fresh clean urine sample was collected and ultrasonography of the urinary tract was done. The urine specimen was tested for urine Ca/Cr, urine oxalate/Cr, and urine citrate/Cr.Results: Of 932 students, 47.9% were female and 52.1% were male. The age range of the students was 7-11 years with a mean age of9.08 years. A history of renal disease and UTI was positive in 1.1% and 9.9% of the students, respectively. Ultrasound was normal in78% and abnormal in 22% of the students. Abnormal findings included hydronephrosis in 1.1%, fullness of the urinary tract in 0.1%, urinary system duplication in 3%, urolithiases in 0.7%, decreased kidney size in 0.4%, increased bladder thickness in 8.9%, and other abnormal findings in 7.8% of the subjects. Abnormal urine findings included hypercalciuria, in 10.9%, urine hyperuricosuria in 5.4%, urine hyperoxaluria in 12.8%, and hypocitraturia in 96.9% of the students.Conclusions: According to the results, nephrolithiasis may be due to hyperoxaluria, hypercalciuria, and hyperuricosuria in a normal population. Genetics and nutrition are more important risk factors. Therefore, some nutritional interventions for decreasing urine oxalate, calcium, and uric acid may be beneficial. Keywords: Urinalysis; Ultrasonography; Hypercalciuria; Hyperuricosuria; Hyperoxaluria; Child

Hepatitis a seroprevalence and associated risk factors: A communitybased cross-sectional study in Shahrekord, Iran

Background: Recently, the epidemiology of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection has been changing sue to lifestyle-related variations. To our knowledge, there are no published data about the seroepidemiology of this infection in Shahrekord, central Iran, by which decisions on the commissioning of a vaccination program could be made. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of HAV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody at the Shahrekord Center of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, southwest Iran. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, using the multistage cluster sampling method, a total of 501 serum samples from the same number of individuals over 15 years in both urban and rural areas of Shahrekord, during 2013 were tested for HAV IgG antibody using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data were analyzed using the Pearson chi-square test. Logistic regression was also used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: It was found that 455 out of 501 (90.8%) serum samples, including those of 211 (42.1%) men and 290 (57.9%) women, were positive for HAV IgG antibody. Education level, age, marital status, and ethnicity were associated with HAV seropositivity in the studied individuals (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The HAV seroprevalence of 90.8% in the studied region may be representative of a highly endemic region of HAV that does not require a vaccination program to be commissioned. © 2016, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center

Critical Discourse Analysis of Two Letters of Complaint and Manipulation of People in Power

Critical discourse analysis is a purposeful kind of study pointing social issues and aiming at causing changes according to one’s ideology and beliefs. This case study adopted a critical discourse analysis approach to investigate how typical discursive strategies introduced in Van Dijk’s frame work can be helpful in presenting a positive image of ourselves and negative image of the others and result in manipulating the people in power or in establishing an ideology in society .To this end two letters of complaint were analyzed to explore whether employment of discursive characteristics could result in expressing one’s views. The results of this study revealed that the letter which possessed a rich repertoire of discursive mechanisms gave the writer a better chance to define the honorable position of a teacher in society. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4s2p48

Hepatitis B Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Adult Population of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province in 2013

Background: Hepatitis B virus is one of the important viral causes of liver inflammation with high worldwide prevalence and important hepatic and extra hepatic complications. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran. Patients and Methods: For this descriptive, analytical, population-based study, 3000 participants older than 15 years were enrolled according to the clustering method. After obtaining written informed consent and taking required blood samples, we gathered data on demographic status and probable transmission routes of disease using questionnaire between 2012 and 2013. The data was analyzed using SPSS software (descriptive parameters and chi-square). P value below 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 38.4 +/- 16.3. The seroprevalence rate of hepatitis B was found to be 1.3% (95% CI, 0.95%-1.81%). Prevalence of HBeAg among HBsAg positive participants was 2.5% (only 1 of 40). Seroprevalence was higher in male group (2.5 times higher than women), age group of over 55 years, farmers, and non-public occupations. Positive seroprevalence was associated with a history of renal disease, familial transmission, transfusion, surgery in hospital, circumcision, contact with hepatitis B infected individuals, imprisonment, intravenous (IV) drug abuse, and smoking (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, the highest odds ratio (OR) was obtained for history of renal disease (OR = 7.64: 3.01-18.4), followed by imprisonment (OR = 5.4: 1.86-15.7) and IV drug abuse (OR = 5.68: 1.3-24.7). Conclusions: Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province could be categorized as a low endemic region for hepatitis B infection, with a seroprevalence similar to that in other provinces of western Iran. Vaccination seems to influence its decrease, especially in adolescents and youth. More surveillance and attention to risk factors are suggested to identify high-risk groups and to implement vaccination

The Diagnostic Value of Anthropometric Characteristics of Ilium for Sex Estimation Using Pelvic Radiographs

Background: Sex estimation is an essential part of forensic identification. This study was conducted on the Iranian people to determine pelvic bones anthropometric characteristics.Methods: Radiography of 180 pelvic bones (90 males and 90 females) was studied. We measured the height of ilium, inter-acetabular distance, acetabular diameter, the greatest breadth of the pelvis, breadth of pelvic inlet, and the presence of the beaklike bony extension in both sexes.Results: We found a significant difference between men and women regarding their mean height of ilium, acetabular diameter, inter-acetabular distance, breadth of the pelvic inlet in all studied X-rays. The highest accuracy for sex estimation was related to the height of ilium (77%). The prevalence of the beaklike bony extension was 43% in the studied population, 70% in males and 18% in females.Conclusion: When human skeletal remains containing pelvic bones are available, standard radiographic images along with other findings can be helpful in predicting the sex.                                                     

بررسی اثرات خشک‌سالی و شوری برکیفیت شیمیایی آبخوان دشت زنجان

Background and Objective: Due to the occurrence of dry season and exploitation of water resources for higher agricultural yields, the groundwater level in the Zanjan plain has subsided. The lowered of water level of aquifer have reduced the efficiency of wells and paralleled with water quality degradation. The underground structure of aquifer was destroyed and the quality of water resources contains more salt than fresh waters. Materials and Methods: In order to survey on the salinity of water in this region, data from 45 sampling wells (1384-1394) has been used. In the first step by collecting valid information about the chemical quality of related aquifer, investigation on fluctuation trends of ions concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na, HCO3, Cl, SO4, from 1384 to 1394has been conducted. Then, pH and EC have been surveyed for ten years (1384-1394) to determine the general chemical quality of region groundwater.&nbsp; Finally, fluctuation trends of elements and water salinity have been plotted on descriptive diagrams, piper, statistical models, and other plans. In this study, all the ethical considerations have been observed and no conflict of interest was reported by the authors. Results: The data of this study demonstrated that average concentrations of sulfate and chloride are2.3 and 1.1meq/lit respectively. The concentration of these ions in water samples indicated the desirable quality of groundwater at present. However, if the current trend regarding the subsiding of groundwater level in the Zanjan plain, we could face a decrease in water quality and an increase in salinity in the coming years. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, it can be said that the increasing trend in the concentrations of salts in the water and the declining trend of the output of the wells could reduce the chemical quality of water in near future. How to cite this article: Jalalian A, Samiee H, Shokri-Khoubestan M, Karimi MR. Investigation of the Effects of Drought and Salinity on the Chemical Quality of the Water Resources in the Zanjans' Plain Aquifers. J Saf Promot Inj Prev. 2020; 8(2):119-29. &nbsp;سابقه و هدف: با توجه به وقوع دوره‌هاي خشک‌سالي و افزايش بهره‌برداري از آبخوان، گسترش کشاورزي و افزايش برداشت آب‌هاي زيرزميني،&nbsp; تراز سطح آب زيرزميني در دشت زنجان کاهش‌يافته است که اين امر علاوه بر پايين رفتن تراز سطح آب زيرزميني، کاهش راندمان چاه‌ها، تخريب کيفي و افزايش املاح آب زيرزميني را نيز در پي دارد که خود سبب تخريب کيفيت منابع و برهم خوردن تعادل آب‌هاي شور و شيرين گرديده است. روش بررسي: جهت بررسي کيفيت و روند تغييرات پارامترهاي کيفي سفرة آبي اين دشت از اطلاعات 45 نقطه نمونه‌برداري ازچاه‌هاي موجود در منطقه استفاده‌ شده است. در مرحلة اول با جمع‌آوري اطلاعات موثق درزمينة کيفيت شيميايي سفرة آب‌هاي زيرزميني منطقه به بررسي روند تغييرات غلظت يون‌هاي کلسيم، منيزيم، سديم، بي‌کربنات، کلرايد و سولفات در طي سال‌هاي 1384 تا1394 پرداخته شد. در ادامه pH و هدايت الکتريکي جهت تعيين کيفيت شيميايي چاه‌هاي منطقه طي ده سال مورد بررسي قرار گرفت. در نهايت ميزان تغييرات يون‌ها و کيفيت آب طي بازه زماني ده ساله بررسي و نتايج با استفاده از نمودارهاي پايپر، شولر، و يلکاکس و دورو تحليل گرديد. در اين پژوهش همة موارد اخلاقي رعايت شده است و مؤلفان مقاله هيچ‌گونه تضاد منافعي گزارش نکرده‌اند. يافته‌ها: حدود 70 درصد نمونه‌ها تيپ بي‌کربناته دارند. اين امر نشان‌دهنده کيفيت بالاي آب‌هاي زيرزميني در دشت زنجان است با توجه به اينکه نمودار ويل کاکس از دو فاکتور هدايت الکتريکي (EC) و نسبت جذب سديم (SAR) جهت طبقه‌بندي مصرف آب کشاورزي استفاده مي‌نمايد، دياگرام ويل‌کاکس نمونه آب‌هاي زيرزميني گروه C2-S1 و C3-S1 قرار مي‌گيرد. لذا وضعيت آب زيرزميني دشت زنجان ازلحاظ مصرف کشاورزي مناسب است. اما در صورت ادامه روند فعلي در خصوص کاهش تراز سطح آب زيرزميني در محدودة دشت زنجان، در سال‌هاي آينده با کاهش کيفيت آب و افزايش شوري مواجه خواهيم شد. نتيجه‌گيري: بررسي کيفيت شيميايي چاه‌هاي دشت نشان مي‌دهد که اکثر پارمترهاي کيفي مرتبط با شوري در محدودة قابل‌قبول قرار دارد. با توجه به نتايج مطالعه مي‌توان گفت روند افزايشي در ميزان املاح موجود در آب و روند نزولي دبي جريان و افت آب‌هاي زيرزميني، در آينده‌اي نه‌چندان دور کاهش کيفيت شيميايي آب را جهت استفاده‌هاي گوناگون سبب مي‌شود. How to cite this article: Jalalian A, Samiee H, Shokri-Khoubestan M, Karimi MR. Investigation of the Effects of Drought and Salinity on the Chemical Quality of the Water Resources in the Zanjans' Plain Aquifers. J Saf Promot Inj Prev. 2020; 8(2):119-29. &nbsp

Increasing the Number of Adverse Drug Reactions Reporting: the Role of Clinical Pharmacy Residents

Detection of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in hospitals provides an important measure of the burden of drug related morbidity on the healthcare system. Spontaneous reporting of ADRs is scare and several obstacles to such reporting have been identified formerly. This study aimed to determine the role of clinical pharmacy residents in ADR reporting within a hospital setting.Clinical pharmacy residents were trained to report all suspected ADRs through ADRreporting yellow cards. The incidence, pattern, seriousness, and preventability of the reported ADRs were analyzed. During the period of 12 months, for 8559 patients, 202 ADR reports were received. The most frequently reported reactions were due to anti-infective agents (38.38%). Rifampin accounted for the highest number of the reported ADRs among anti-infective agents. The gastro-intestinal system was the most frequently affected system (21.56%) of all reactions. Fifty four of the ADRs were reported as serious reactions. Eighteen of the ADRs were classified as preventable. Clinical pharmacy residents involvement in the ADR reporting program could improve the ADR reporting system