Maternal risk factors for oral clefts: A case-control study

Introduction: A cleft lip with or without a cleft palate is one of the major congenital anomalies observed in newborns. This study explored the risk factors for oral clefts in Gorgan, Northern Iran. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based case-control study was performed in three hospitals in Gorgan, Northern Iran between April 2006 and December 2009. The case group contained 33 newborns with oral clefts and the control group contained 63 healthy newborns. Clinical and demographic factors, including date of birth, gender of the newborns, type of oral cleft, consanguinity of the parents, parental ethnicity, and the mother's parity, age, education and intake of folic acid were recorded for analysis. Results: A significant association was found between parity higher than 2 and the risk of an oral cleft (OR= 3.33, CI 95% [1.20, 9.19], P> 0.02). According to ethnicity, the odds ratio for oral clefts was 0.87 in Turkmens compared with Sistani people (CI 95% [0.25, 2.96]) and 1.11 in native Fars people compared with Sistani people (CI 95% [0.38, 3.20]). A lack of folic acid consumption was associated with an increased risk of oral clefts but this was not statistically significant (OR = 1.42, CI 95% [0.58, 3.49]). There were no significant associations between sex (OR boy/girl = 0.96, CI 95% [0.41, 2.23]), parent familial relations (OR = 1.07, CI 95% [0.43, 2.63]), mother's age and oral clefts. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that higher parity is significantly associated with an increased risk of an oral cleft, while Fars ethnicity and a low intake of folic acid increased the incidence of oral clefts but not significantly

The prevalence of depression among the elderly population of Shaystegan and Jahandidegan nursing homes in Shahrekord

زمینه و هدف: پیر شدن جمعیت و سالمندی موجب مطرح شدن مسایل مربوط به این دوره از زندگی می گردد. افسردگی از اختلالات شایعی است که در این دوره رواج دارد. این تحقیق با هدف بررسی میزان شیوع افسردگی در سالمندان مراکز شایستگان و جهاندیدگان شهرکرد صورت گرفت. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی-تحلیلی کلیه افراد ساکن در دو مرکز توانبخشی و نگهداری شایستگان و جهاندیدگان شهرکرد که هر دو تحت نظارت سازمان بهزیستی هستند، مورد بررسی قرار گرفتند. میزان افسردگی با استفاده از پرسشنامه استاندارد افسردگی بک ((Beck گردآوری و داده ها با استفاده از ضریب همبستگی پیرسون، من ویتنی و کروسکال والیس تجزیه و تحلیل گردید. یافته ها: میانگین سنی افراد مورد مطالعه 1/16±7/68 سال و میانگین نمرات افسردگی 2/9±11/23 بود. بر اساس یافته های تحقیق 9/64 درصد افراد به افسردگی خفیف، 8/15 به افسردگی متوسط، 8/15 فاقد علامت و فقط 5/3 دارای افسردگی شدید بودند. بر اساس یافته های پژوهش بین نمره افسردگی و سن و وضعیت تاهل ارتباط آماری معنی داری مشاهده گردید (05/0

Adipose, Bone Marrow and Synovial Joint-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Cartilage Repair

Current cell-based repair strategies have proven unsuccessful for treating cartilage defects and osteoarthritic lesions, consequently advances in innovative therapeutics are required and mesenchymal stem cell-based (MSC) therapies are an expanding area of investigation. MSCs are capable of differentiating into multiple cell lineages and exerting paracrine effects. Due to their easy isolation, expansion, and low immunogenicity, MSCs are an attractive option for regenerative medicine for joint repair. Recent studies have identified several MSC tissue reservoirs including in adipose tissue, bone marrow, cartilage, periosteum, and muscle. MSCs isolated from these discrete tissue niches exhibit distinct biological activities, and have enhanced regenerative potentials for different tissue types. Each MSC type has advantages and disadvantages for cartilage repair and their use in a clinical setting is a balance between expediency and effectiveness. In this review we explore the challenges associated with cartilage repair and regeneration using MSC-based cell therapies and provide an overview of phenotype, biological activities, and functional properties for each MSC population. This paper also specifically explores the therapeutic potential of each type of MSC, particularly focusing on which cells are capable of producing stratified hyaline-like articular cartilage regeneration. Finally we highlight areas for future investigation. Given that patients present with a variety of problems it is unlikely that cartilage regeneration will be a simple “one size fits all,” but more likely an array of solutions that need to be applied systematically to achieve regeneration of a biomechanically competent repair tissue

Incidence patterns and spatial analysis of the most common cancers in southeastern Iran using Geographic Information System (GIS)

Abstract: Background and aim: Cancer is the third leading cause of mortality in Iran. By use of Geographic Information System, location-based and accurate analytical and descriptive date can be given to health policy makers. The aim of this study is to identify the incidental patterns of cancers (random, scattered, cluster) and analyze them spatially. Method(s): This is a periodical descriptive and analytical study which has investigated all new recorded incidents of cancers in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province in southwestern Iran from 2008 to 2011. The data were analyzed using ArcGIS9.3 and Stata12. Spatial Auto correlation coefficient and Moran I and Getis-Ord, t test, ANOVA and Chi-square were used for data analysis. Results revealed that in the age Mean and Standard deviation of the patients was 5/81 ±9/59. The mean age of the patients was meaningful according to gender and different towns (P=0.037). Standardized Incidences of Cancer in Shahrekord, Farsan, Ardal, Kiar, Koohrang, Lordegan and Borougen towns were 220/9, 154/3, 143/8, 80/9, 64/2, 61/1 and 57/2 per one hundred thousand of population, respectively. The most frequency of cancers was related to cancers of the digestive system ((2/25%, skin(2/81%)and urinary system (9/85%) and the least of them was related to cartilage(3/0%). Patterns of cancer incidence in southwestern Iran was random (P=0.13519). In Conclusions: Reports of differences in cancer incidence based on age, sex, city of residence and non-cluster cancers in the area studied can support the cancer prevention and screening programs focusing hypothesis and pave the road for decision makers and planners in the health system

The association of changes in electrocardiography, echocardiography and cardiac enzymes with One-month mortality in AMI patients referring to Hajar Hospital of Shahrekord

Background and aim: Various laboratory tests with their own particular strengths and weaknesses exist for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study was conducted to determine the association of changes in electrocardiography, echocardiography and cardiac enzymes with One-month mortality in AMI patients referring to Hajar Hospital of Shahrekord in 2011. Materials and method: For this descriptive analytical study, 107 AMI patients were randomly enrolled. For gathering data a questionnaire was used. Demographic data and test results of cardiac enzymes, EKG, and echocardiography according to the medical profile were registered in the questionnaire. The follow-up continued for 40 days through phone calls and medical profile and the mortality and/or any recurrent myocardial complication was entered into the medical profile. Data analysis was performed by SPSS 11 using chi-square, Spearman correlation coefficient, and t test. Results: The mean age of patients was 60.62± 12.58years. Mortality showed a direct association with age and personal history of ischemic heart disease (p<0.05). In addition, one-month mortality was directly associated with troponin, ejection fraction, and the number of segments involved in echocardiography (p<0.05); troponin level in outliving people was less, the mortality among patients with less ejection fraction was higher, and the number of involved segments was higher in the dead compared to the outliving. Conclusion: The findings of this study emphasize the value of echocardiography in determining the prognosis of AMI. Moreover, troponin could have a high prognostic value in addition to its high value in diagnosis

The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Group-Therapy Alone and plus Family Psycho-Education on the Treatment of Major Depression Disorder Symptoms in Females

Abstract: Background & Aims: Major depression is one of the common psychiatric disorders imposing negative effects on patients and their families. There are several treatment methods for depression. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of combination of cognitive behavioral group therapy, family psycho-education and medication versus medication alone on the improvement of major depression disorder. Methods: This study was a clinical trial in which using convenience sampling 60 patients with major depression admitted in Hajar Hospital Shahrekord /Iran were randomly selected. The patients were randomly allocated into three groups (n=20). The first group underwent medication therapy as well as cognitive behavioral group therapy. The second group received medication therapy, cognitive behavioral group therapy and family psycho-education. The third group, served as the control group, only received medication therapy. Beck Depression Inventory II was applied to all three groups before and after therapeutic interventions. Results: Our findings indicate a significant difference between control group and both cognitive behavioral group therapy and family psycho-education after therapeutic interventions. In other words, while both cognitive behavioral group therapy and family psycho-education groups showed significant difference with medication therapy group, no significant difference was found between cognitive behavioral group therapy and family psycho-education group. Conclusion: Medication therapy accompanied by cognitive behavioral therapies and family psycho-education is more efficient in improving depression symptoms compared to pure medication therapy. Keywords: Major, Depressive disorder, Drug theraphy, Psychotherapy, Cognitive therapy, Wome

A comparative study on the benefits and challenges of the application of mobile technology in health

Background: The application of mobile technology in the health domain i.e mobile health (mhealth) commonly refers to the use of mobile telecommunication and multi-media technologies for providing health services and public health systems. Some scholars consider mobile health as a subsystem of health technology which, due to the existing conditions, has become more significant compared to other interventions in this field. The present study intends to investigate the global approach on mobile health technology on the one hand, and its benefits and challenges on the other. Materials and Methods: As a comparative-descriptive study conducted in 2011, the present study has tried to explore mhealth technology strategies in public health domain, different types of mhealth interventions and benefits of using mhealth as well as its challenges and obstacles. The data were collected through informational sources such as articles, books, magazines and valid websites. Then, the status of the countries were compared and analyzed as far as the development of this technology is concened. Results:Based on the findings of the study, one of the criteria affecting the development of mhealth is the high penetration of mobile phone. By October, 2011, the estimated number of mobile users has been over 5 billion showing a penetration coefficient of 76. The review of the research on the obstacles and challenges experienced in moving towards the development of this technology by World Health Organization revealed that prioritization and increasing knowledge level are the most significant obstacles in the way to develop this technology. Discussions: Mhealth technology has been provided in most countries with the aim of promoting public health and accelerating the supply of health services. Having a penetration coefficient of over 90 in Iran, it can be predicted that this country can take effective steps towards development of this technology

Designing an organizational memory model for reporting the medical errors

Background: The increasing growth in the volume of the data in the organizations and the resultant challenges due to medical errors during the last two decades have made the necessity of reporting and managing medical errors more apparent. Organizational memory (OM) has been known as one of the tools appropriate for implementing knowledge management. The goal of the present study is to design an organizational memory model for medical departments of the teaching and medical centers of Charmahal va Bakhtiyari province in Iran. Materials and Methods: This study is descriptive - applied in nature and its population consisted of the personnel of teachingmedical centers in Charmahal va Bakhtiyari province. Identifying the processes was performed through observation and the required data for identifying and reporting the medical errors was collected through conducting one structured interview with 65 personnel from the medical departments of 5 centers under research. OMs were derived through library research and online search. Based on the results of need-analysis and reviewing of the models, the proposed model was prepared and then was judged and evaluated by the medical professionals through Delphi test technique. Results: The personnel who took part in the study believed if they have access to the data and information required for reporting the medical errors, they will have a better performance (85). they regarded the use of organizational memory as a necessity (98) and enumerated the occurrence of errors, slowness of the work, irregularity, discontent and wonderlessness of the customers as some challenges resulting from human error and system fault (86). Discussions: Organizational memory system which relates organizational knowledge to job functions related to reporting the errors not to recognize the wrongdoer but to prevent error repetition, is one of the requirements of the medical centers which can promote the efficiency and organizational learning

Survival time and relative risk of death in patients with colorectal cancer in an Iranian population: A cohort study

Background and purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent health problems in the world and Iran. This study aimed at determining the survival rate of patients with CRC and the factors influencing it in Iranian patients. Material and Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out in patients attending 10 state and private hospitals in Tehran during 2006-2011. In this study 1127 patients (totally 2570 individuals-year) were followed up every six months and the follow-up duration was from the definite time of CRC diagnosis until death (or censoring). Only 2 of the patients were censored. Data was analyzed using stata software, bivariate and multivariate analyses, and also Cox regression. Results: The mean age of the patients was 53.5 ± 14 years old at the time of diagnosis. Most of the patients were older than 45 years of age (69.7). The age at diagnosis was significantly different between men and women (P<0.03). The patients were 61.2 male and the rest were female. The rates of mortality in male and female were 96.9 and 83 in 100,000. After the diagnosis has been made 75, 50, and 25 had a survival rate of less than 2.72 years, 5.84 years, and longer than 13 years, respectively. In Cox model some variables including ethnicity, marital status, cancer grade, family history of caner, and smoking were the main determinants of survival. Conclusion: The mean survival time was 5.8 years after diagnosis has been made which shows more improvements compared to previous studies. This study provides some information on CRC survival rate so that action plans could be designed to prevent and control this disease

Comparison of the papers published in journal of shahrekord university of medical sciences with those published in other medical journals of Iran in view of methodology

Background and aim: Scientific and research journals are considered as one of the most important tools for scientific and research information and science advancement in any discipline. Publishing articles in these journals is known to be an important indicator for knowledge generation. Comparing and assessing medical journals which present research outcomes, quantitatively and qualitatively, is particularly important to improve and promote them. The present study was conducted to compare the papers published in scientific and research Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences (JSKUMS) with those published in other medical journals of Iran in view of methodology. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined and compared the observance of scientific writing of "Materials and Method" and "Results" of 113 articles published in JSKUMS with that of 269 articles published in other medical journals of Iran within 2010-2012 through random sampling using a validated questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS software using Chi square, ANOVA, and t test. Results: The percentage of original, cross-sectional, clinical trial, and experimental studies published in JSKUMS in 2011-2012 was respectively 93, 48, 20, and 17. The mean number of authors of the articles was 4.9 ± 3 and the most common errors in JSKUMS and other medical journals of Iran were failure to mention method of sampling (29 and 42 respectively), sample size (7 and 9 respectively), the software used (39 and 10 respectively), methods of randomization and blinding (72 and 27 respectively), letter of consent and ethics committee's approval (11 and 4 respectively), failure to provide confidence intervals for descriptive indicators (9 and 14 respectively) and required analytical indicators (7 and 16 respectively), and failure to observe the instructions of drawing tables (30 and 17 respectively) and graphs (35 and 25 respectively). The number of case-control studies and cohorts was significantly higher in other medical journals of Iran compared to JSKUMS. Conclusion: Identifying the common errors in the examined journals provided the context for improving and promoting them quantitatively and qualitatively. Therefore, it seems helpful to inform the authors and consider the most common errors, to empower the reviewers and address the quality and quantity of workshops on research methodology and scientific writing, and to provide opportunities for publishing guidelines for research and writing research papers