Protection provided by hepatitis B vaccine in adult population of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran in 2013

Introduction: Hepatitis B vaccination has been integrated into National Expanded Program on Immunization in Iran since the year 1993 and young adult national vaccination project was done in 2008. So we have three subpopulations with vaccination coverage for hepatitis B and different antibody levels. Consisting of Subpopulation 1 born after 1993, subpopulation 2 born between 1989 and 1993 and receiving vaccination under adult national project, and subpopulation 3 born prior to the year 1989. Aim: The present study was conducted to investigate community protection by hepatitis B vaccine in adult population in an accessible population in Iran and compare vaccination coverage, HBs Ab level, and its effective titration among the three above-mentioned subpopulations. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on a 3000-individual adult population from all seven counties of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province enrolled by clustering. After obtaining written consent and filling out a questionnaire of demographic data and history of hepatitis B vaccination by trained interviewers, necessary blood sample was taken and HBs Ab titration was checked. The data were analysed by chi-square in SPSS 19. The level of significance was considered as 0.05 and effective Ab titration as ≥ 10. Results: The mean age of the participants was 38.4±16.3 years. Of the participants 48.2% had effective titration. For vaccination coverage, 77.4% were unvaccinated, 20% completely vaccinated, and 2.6% incompletely vaccinated with a significant association with effective titration (p<0.001). Eighty six percent of the subpopulation 1 and 79% of the subpopulation 2 were completely vaccinated, with a significant difference in effective titration between them (p<0.001). Vaccination coverage was higher in men and the single but equal in cities and villages. The effective titration was significantly associated with being married and residence place (p=0.003). There was a significant association between effective titration and the time at vaccination (p<0.001). Conclusion: Protection provided by hepatitis B vaccine in adult population is relatively suitable especially in the youth population; however, catch-up programs of the groups exposed to risk are recommended. © 2016, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. All rights reserved

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

Fuzzy Logic Control for a Ball and Beam System: Fuzzy Logic Control for a Ball and Beam System

This paper presents the design of a PID controller and two different fuzzy logic controllers of Mamdani and Sugeno to control the non-linear model of a ball rolling on a beam using Matlab and Malab Simulink. Results from simulations are analyzed to provide comprehensive understandings on the ability use of different controllers. The paper also investigates the performance ability of these controllers for tracking on different references such as step, sinusoidal and square waves. Finally, advantages and disadvantages of each control strategies are concluded

Autonomous Driving Vehicles and Control System Design

Autonomous driving vehicles and the control system design have been undergoing rapid changes in the last decade and affecting the concept and behaviour of human traffic. However, the control system design for autonomous driving vehicles is still a great challenge since the real vehicles are subject to enormous dynamic constraints depending on the vehicle physical limitations, environmental constraints and surrounding obstacles. This paper presents a new scheme of nonlinear model predictive control subject to softened constraints for autonomous driving vehicles. When some vehicle dynamic limitations can be converted to softened constraints, the model predictive control optimizer can be easier to find out the optimal control action. This helps to improve the system stability and the application for further intelligent control in the future. Simulation results show that the new controller can drive the vehicle tracking well on different trajectories amid dynamic constraints on states, outputs and inputs

Frequency and severity of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and efficacy of mental health intervention in children and young adults from a rural region in Chaharmahal and Bakhtyari Province, Safilan

چکیده: زمینه و هدف: بلایا و حوادث همه ساله منجر به ایجاد معلولیت، صدمات مالی و مرگ در بسیاری از افراد می گردد. تلفات انسانی پس از حوادث غیر مترقبه منجر به ایجاد آثار روانی مانند استرس، اضطراب و شکایات جسمی می گردد. اختلال فشار روانی آسیب زاد یا اختلال پس از ضربه (PTSD) از جمله این آثار است که در پی مواجهه با فشار آسیب زای شدید ایجاد می گردد. از جمله حوادث تأسف بار در ایران می توان به واقعه آتش سوزی مدرسه ابتدایی روستای سفیلان از توابع استان چهارمحال و بختیاری اشاره نمود. پژوهش اخیر با هدف بررسی فراوانی و شدت عوارض روانی ناشی از حادثه در کودکان و نوجوانان روستا و تأثیر مداخلات روانی در آنان انجام گرفت. روش بررسی: در یک مطالعه نیمه تجربی کلیه کودکان 15-5 ساله روستای سفیلان (41 نفر) که در هنگام حادثه در روستای سفیلان حضور داشتند انتخاب شدند. از طریق مصاحبه چهره به چهره با والدین کودکان پرسشنامه اطفال یول (Yoll) بلافاصله بعد از واقعه آتش سوزی تکمیل و سپس مداخلات بهداشت روان شامل تشکیل گروههای کاری، بازگویی روانشناختی، شناخت افکار اجتماعی و راهکارهای درمانی به مدت دو هفته و طی 4 جلسه صورت پذیرفت. مجدداً پنج ماه بعد از حادثه و مداخله بهداشت و روان پرسشنامه مذکور تکمیل و داده ها از طریق آزمون های آماری t زوجی، t مستقل و آنالیز واریانس یک طرفه تجزیه و تحلیل گردید. یافته ها: در سنجش نوبت اول میانگین نمره PTSD 03/15±14/61 و در نوبت دوم 6/9±19/48 بود (001/0

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

Electrocardiographic Parameters in Healthy Dogs Anesthetized with Ketamine-propofol Combination and four Different Premedications

Abstract: Evaluating electrocardiographic parameters in healthy dogs anesthetized with ketamine-propofol combination (ketofol) and medetomidine, acepromazine and acepromazine-morphine as preanesthetic agents. Six healthy adult mix dogs (3 male, 3 female) weighing 17.8±4.8 were include the study. Normal saline, medetomidine 20 µg/kg, acepromazine 0.05 mg/kg or acepromazine 0.05 mg/kg plus morphine 0.5 mg/kg were administered intramuscularly as premedication. Thirty minutes after premedication, rapid bolus intravenous injections of 0.4 mL/kg, 1:1 single syringe ketamine-propofol combination, was administrated for induction. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane for 1 h. Electrocardiographic examinations were made before premedication and others at 0, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 min after induction. Heart rate, electrical axis of the heart, duration of P, QRS and T waves, length of PR-QT and ST segments, active potential of P, R and T waves studied for any possibility of changes. Evaluation of heart rate in this study showed a significant increase in saline and a significant decrease in medetomidine groups. There were some significant differences in P wave duration and QRS complexes but irregular figure or deviated cardiac axis were not seen in recorded ECGs. The study results revealed prolonged atrial depolarization in all study groups especially in medetomidine and acepromazine-morphine groups. The other parameters were not shown any discussable significant differences

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

Model Predictive Control for Autonomous Vehicle Tracking

This study develops model predictive control (MPC) schemes for controlling autonomous vehicles tracking on feasible trajectories generated from flatness or polynomial equations. All of the vehicle online moving parameters including coordinate positions, body orientation angle, and steering angle are included into the MPC optimizer for calculating the real-time optimal inputs for the vehicle linear velocity and its steering velocity to minimize the errors between the desired and the actual course of travel. The use of MPC can simplify and eliminate the complexity of controller design since MPC can work itself as a system modelling controller. MPC can also handle on-line the constraints of any variables exceeding their limits. However the high computational demands are the main challenge for this method applying for the real applications

Effect of early clinical exposure on attitude and performance of first year medical students

زمینه و هدف: یکی از چالش های آموزش دانشجویان پزشکی ملموس نبودن مفهوم کلی ارتباط بین دروس علوم پایه و بالین بیمار است که علاوه بر اختلال در یادگیری بر انگیزه و توانایی های دانشجویان نیز تاثیر منفی دارد. برخورد زودرس با محیط بالینی به عنوان یکی از راهکارهای رفع این چالش مطرح شده است. لذا این مطالعه با هدف تعیین میزان تاثیر اجرای دوره های آموزشی برخورد زودرس با محیط بالینی در نگرش و عملکرد آموزشی دانشجویان سال اول پزشکی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهرکرد اجرا شد. روش بررسی: مطالعه حاضر به صورت مداخله ای بر روی 43 دانشجوی پزشکی سال اول دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهرکرد در سال 1386 انجام گرفت. مداخله به صورت شرکت این دانشجویان در یک برنامه آموزشی خاص و تحت نظر راهنما، در محیط بیمارستانی در قالب گردش در بخش ها، اطاق عمل، اورژانس و درمانگاه و یک شب کشیک به عنوان ناظر در بیمارستان و اورژانس بود. نگرش دانشجویان بوسیله پرسشنامه معتبر و دارای اطمینان 82/0 قبل و بعد از مداخله اندازه گیری شد. جهت سنجش عملکرد آموزشی از مقایسه نمرات دروس اختصاصی و نتایج آزمون جامع علوم پایه با دانشجویان مشابه سال قبل استفاده گردید. داده ها با استفاده از آزمون های t زوجی و مجذور کای تجزیه و تحلیل گردید. یافته ها: مقایسه نمره نگرش قبل و بعد از مداخله نشانگر افزایش معنی دار در نگرش دانشجویان بود (01/0