Effect of male age in Caspian brown trout, Salmo trutta broodstock on reproductive performance

In this study, three different age groups of male broodstocks (4, 5 and 6 years respectively) were used to fertilize eggs obtained from nine females. The results showed that 6 year old males had maximum body weight (1766 g), total length (56.3 cm) and sperm volume (31.83 ml). Results did not show significant difference in spermatocrit and spermatozoa concentration among age groups (p>0.05). Our study showed maximum fertilization rate (98.5 %), survival rate until eyes pigmentation (91.17 %), hatching rate (94.5 %) and survival rate until absorption of yolk sack (97.16 %) for 4 years treatment group. Such positive relationships were detected between sperm production characteristics (spermatozoa concentration, spermatocrit and sperm volume) and fertilization parameters. Based on our results, it can be concluded that 4 year old males have high efficiency leading to fertilization success

Risk factors for stunting and wasting at age six, twelve and twenty-four months for squatter children of Karachi, Pakistan

Objective: A high proportion of stunting and wasting in children under-five has been reported from developing countries. This paper presents the nutritional status of a two year cohort of urban squatter children in Karachi, Pakistan and assesses risk factors for wasting and stunting at the reference ages of six, twelve and twenty-four months.Methods: A birth cohort of 738 children were visited at specific intervals by trained nurses to collect information on anthropometric measurements, feeding practices and intercurrent illnesses. Socioeconomic and demographic information included water and sanitation facilities, availability of electricity, type of house construction material and average monthly income. Information about the mother\u27s reproductive history was also obtained.Results: At two years the proportion of stunting and wasting was 41.8% and 10.6% respectively. Intrauterine growth retarded children had a higher risk of stunting and wasting at all reference ages as compared to children who were appropriate for gestational age. In the logistic regression models, intrauterine growth retardation was the only significant risk factor that remained in all models at each reference age.CONCLUSION: The consistent association of IUGR for stunting and wasting adds to the growing body of evidence that by improving maternal health we will ultimately break the vicious cycle of malnourishment and improve the health and well-being of future generations. We suggest interventions to improve the nutritional status of Pakistani urban children living in squatter settlements focused on mothers and children

Isolation of rapid growing mycobacteria from soil and water in Iran

A total of 350 soil samples were collected from different part of Uremia city and suburbs. We used 3% sodium lauryl sulfate and 1% NaOH for decontamination of soil samples. Of 350 samples, mycobacteria were isolated from 65 (18.3%) specimens. Mycobacterium fortuitum with 18(5.14) strains yielded the highest frequency of isolation. The other isolates were: Mycobacterium peregrinum 11(3.14%), Mycobacterium flvescens 10 (2.85%), Mycobacterium chelonae 6 (1.71%), Mycobacterium mucogenicum 6(1.71%), Mycobacterium thermoresistable 4(1.14%), Mycobacterium abscessus 3 (0.85%), Mycobacterium neoaurum 2(0.57%), Mycobacterium smegmatis 2 (0.57%) and M. fortuitum third biovalant complex 3 (0.85%). The mean pH of soil was 7.89 ± 0.379 (max 8.5, min 7.5). Our data showed an abundant occurrence of mycobacteria in low pH (P value = 0001). We also collected 120 water samples from rivers, brooks and drinking water. Water samples decontaminated were by adding cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) to give final concentration of 0.05%. Mycobacteria isolated from 12 water samples. The predominant isolated species were M. fortuitum and Mycobacterium cheloni. The majorityisolates were from brooks and surface waters

Risk behaviours associated with urethritis in prison inmates, Sindh

Objective: To identify sexual risk behaviours associated with lifetime risk of urethritis in prison inmates.Design: A cross-sectional study using a pre-designed questionnaire.SETTING: Fourteen prisons throughout the Sindh Province, Pakistan.SUBJECTS: Three thousand three hundred ninety-five prison inmates incarcerated during July, 1994.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Lifetime risk of urethritis occurrence (whether or not the subject was ever affected with urethritis up to his present age)Results: Lifetime risk of urethritis occurrence in the study population was 20.8% (706/3395). The final multivariate logistic regression model indicated that risk behaviours associated with lifetime risk of urethritis in this population were \u27sexual intercourse with a female\u27 (adjusted OR = 2.18; 95% CI 1.60, 2.95), \u27multiple female sexual partners\u27 (adjusted OR = 1.67; 95% CI 1.28, 2.18) and \u27sexual intercourse with man\u27 (adjusted OR = 2.75; 95% CI 2.29, 3.31).CONCLUSION: The prevalence of urethritis in this population was very high. High prevalence of various risky sexual behaviours among inmates indicates, their unawareness as to what precautions they might take to avoid risk of acquiring STDs including HIV. The study subjects meet the characteristics of a core group of STDs transmitters and provides short window of opportunity for STD/HIV control programs to intervene, while they are in detention to reduce the risk not only for this group but also for general population

The Effect of Ignoring Statistical Interactions in Regression Analyses Conducted in Epidemiologic Studies: An Example with Survival Analysis Using Cox Proportional Hazards Regression Model

Objective: To demonstrate the adverse impact of ignoring statistical interactions in regression models used in epidemiologic studies. Study design and setting: Based on different scenarios that involved known values for coefficient of the interaction term in Cox regression models we generated 1000 samples of size 600 each. The simulated samples and a real life data set from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort were used to evaluate the effect of ignoring statistical interactions in these models. Results: Compared to correctly specified Cox regression models with interaction terms, misspecified models without interaction terms resulted in up to 8.95 fold bias in estimated regression coefficients. Whereas when data were generated from a perfect additive Cox proportional hazards regression model the inclusion of the interaction between the two covariates resulted in only 2% estimated bias in main effect regression coefficients estimates, but did not alter the main findings of no significant interactions. Conclusions: When the effects are synergic, the failure to account for an interaction effect could lead to bias and misinterpretation of the results, and in some instances to incorrect policy decisions. Best practices in regression analysis must include identification of interactions, including for analysis of data from epidemiologic studies

Multivariate analysis of risk factors associated with genital ulcer disease among incarcerated males in Sindh

Objective: To evaluate the potential risk behaviors associated with the lifetime risk of self reported genital ulcer disease (GUD) among prison inmates.SETTING: Prison inmates from 14 prisons of Sindh Province.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 3395 prison inmates during July to December, 1994. A questionnaire was used to assess the lifetime risk of self-reported GUD (whether or not the subject was ever affected with GUD up to present age) and to investigate demographic markers and risk behaviors for their possible association with lifetime risk of GUD using logistic regression analysis.Results: The reported lifetime risk of GUD in the study sample was 11.4% (386/3395). In final multivariate logistic regression model the sexual behaviors which were independently associated with GUD were having sexual intercourse with female (adjusted OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3-2.3, P = 0.0002), sexual intercourse with a prostitute (adjusted OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2-2.0, P = 0.0008), sexual intercourse with man (adjusted OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.7-2.7, P = \u3c 0.001) and sexual intercourse with man during current incarceration (adjusted OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-2.9, P = 0.0071).CONCLUSION: Health education needs to re-enforce monogamous relationship for high risk groups such as in our study. Although infrequent condom use was not a risk factor for GUD in this study, yet based on the results of previous studies, promotion of condom use should be the component of health education program

Survey of heavy metal (copper, iron, lead, cadmium, zinc and nickel) concentrations and their effects on the water quality of Anzali wetland

Anzali International wetland is one of the most valuable water resources as registered in Ramsar convention with an extent of about 150 km2 in the south Caspian Sea. This wetland, not only has ecological and biological importance for migratory birds and rare fish species, but also is used for farms to discharge into the Caspian Sea through this wetland. Therefore its pollution control is very important for human life. In this study 6 elements (copper, iron, lead, zinc, cadmium and nickel ) in Anzali wetland were analyzed by Atomic Absorption spectroscopy method. . Water samples were collected from ten sampling sites seasonally and the results were compared with each other. The detection limits obtained were 0.016 ng/ml for cadmium, 0.02 ng/ml for copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn), 0.025 ng/ml for iron (Fe) and 0.026 ng/ml for nickel (Ni). Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) was 1.7%. The results showed that these heavy metals were present in the water. Concentrations of Cu (0.6 mg/l) were higher than international standards reported in some stations. This can be due to industries around the wetland. The average level of heavy metals was higher in spring than in the other seasons which can be due to increase in seasonal rainfall and intensity of flow from rivers to wetland

The effect of grandmultiparity on pregnancy related complications: The Aga Khan University experience

Background: Grandmultiparity has been associated with complications for both mother and the fetus.Objective: To evaluate if grandmultiparity is a risk factor in the presence of adequate antenatal care.Setting: A tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: It was a retrospective study conducted in the department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at The Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi. During this period 9253 women were delivered, out of these 143 booked grandmultiparas (GMP) served as cases. The outcome of these women was compared with 430 non-grandmultiparas (NGMP). Logistic regression model was used to adjust for potential confounders.Results: Grandmultiparas had almost three times increased risk of having postpartum hemorrhage compared to NGMP group. Similarly, there were significantly low five-minute apgars in the GMPs compared to the NGMP group. Although the neonatal intensive care admissions were three times more in the GMPs but this did not reach statistical significance due to small number of cases in both groups.Conclusion: Our study indicates that grandmultiparity is a risk factor for pregnancy in this part of the world, even in the presence of reasonable antenatal care. This may be explained on the basis of the increased age of these women. Finally, we also recommend that an age-matched study needs to be undertaken in order to determine if age is an important determinant for risk factors in grandmultiparas

Multicollinearity in Regression Analyses Conducted in Epidemiologic Studies

The adverse impact of ignoring multicollinearity on findings and data interpretation in regression analysis is very well documented in the statistical literature. The failure to identify and report multicollinearity could result in misleading interpretations of the results. A review of epidemiological literature in PubMed from January 2004 to December 2013, illustrated the need for a greater attention to identifying and minimizing the effect of multicollinearity in analysis of data from epidemiologic studies. We used simulated datasets and real life data from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort to demonstrate the adverse effects of multicollinearity in the regression analysis and encourage researchers to consider the diagnostic for multicollinearity as one of the steps in regression analysis