مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 201 (هفته سوم مهر ماه 1391)

Determination of biological age is a crucial challenge in gerontology. We studied the profile of variations in physical fitness factors in three groups of active، moderately active، and inactive Iranian women. Finally، a formula was produced to estimate biological age of women based on their physical fitness measures. This ex-post facto research was conducted in 2010. After signing informed consent forms، 107 women from Isfahan (Iran) were selected by purposeful stratified sampling. The subjects aged 18-65 years old and were categorized into age groups of 18-20، 21-25، 26-30، 31-35، 36-40، 41-45، 46-50، 51-55، 56-60، and 61-65 years old. From about 50 women who were asked to participate in each age group، at least 10 volunteers were evaluated. Physical fitness tests included vertical jump، modified pull-ups، sit and reach، Illinois agility test، 30-meter run، 20-meter shuttle run، sit-ups، and medicine ball throw. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS16. Discriminant analysis revealed that 64% of physical fitness level was explained by physical activity level (P ≤ 0. 01). Multiple regression analysis showed that chronological age had an inverse relationship with physical fitness factors. However، the rate of physical fitness reduction of subjects depended on their sporting activity level، i. e. higher sporting activity was associated with lower rate of physical fitness reduction. Similar to reports from developed countries، this study indicated that physical activity had positive effects on biological age. However، our subjects had lower levels of physical fitness. This study also provided a good opportunity to produce an equation to estimate biological age of Iranian women. Our findings are alarming، especially when considering aerobic fitness. This study could be more reliable، if the same data were collected from other provinces of the country.

Hearing impairment (HI) is one of the most common congenital disorders in neonates and is considered as a severe and obscure handicap. The best early diagnostic method for HI in newborns is universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS). This method has been implemented since a few years ago in Iran. In this study، we introduced the findings of hearing screening in a hospital in Tehran (Iran). This cross-sectional study was conducted on all newborns (n = 3818) in Najmieh Hospital (Tehran، Iran) during 2006-07. Newborns were screened using the Transient­-Evoked Otoacoustic Emission (TEOAE) test at the first 48 hours after birth. The results were documented as «pass» (desirable) or «refer» (undesirable). Neonates with undesirable results were re-screened during the next 2-4 weeks. If the responses in both sessions (test and retest) were not desirable، the infants were referred for a final diagnosis with Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) test before three months of age. They were then referred to an otolaryngologist for more evaluations. From 3818 neonates screened، 90% had a pass response and 10% were referred for retest at 2-4 months of age. Of those who were referred، only 11 (3. 6%) infants had an undesirable response again. Among these، nine infants referred for ABR and only 3 subjects showed sensory-neural hearing loss as the final diagnosis. One of them did not have any risk factors of HI. In order to minimize false negative and positive results، suspected cases are suggested to be reevaluated during the 2nd to 4th weeks after birth. In addition، high risk infants should be tested by ABR. Since one third of the children with HI in this study did not have any risk factors for HI، we recommend careful hearing screening for all neonates even those without any risk factors.

There are many controversies about relationship between hernias and connective tissue disorders in children. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BHJS) with inguinal hernias in children. This descriptive analytical study involved children of 2-12 years old who were diagnosed with inguinal hernia during 2009-11. Subjects were admitted to pediatric or pediatric surgery wards of hospital affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (Iran). Overall، 200 children in two groups of patients with inguinal hernias and controls were included. Beighton score was used for diagnosis of BHJS in the admitted children and the control group. For evaluation of collected data and the relationship of diseases، we used SPSS18 and chi-square test. The mean Beighton score was 6. 2 ± 2. 0 in the case and 2. 7 ± 2. 2 in the control group، i. e. children with inguinal hernias had significantly higher Beighton scores (P < 0. 001). Based on this study، BHJS is prevalent in children with inguinal hernias. Therefore، in every patient with inguinal hernias، the presence of concomitant BHJS should also be considered.

Healthy people are the base of persistent development. Nowadays، non-communicable diseases are greater concerns than infectious diseases. In fact، cardiovascular diseases، cancers، and vehicle accidents are major causes of mortality in the world. It is thus important to identify the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. In Iran، we have periodic health assessments in industrial centers، but office workers have been neglected in such evaluations. In this analytic cross-sectional research، physicians examined 255 office workers in Medical Services Insurance Organization of Isfahan (Iran). They made paper and electronic health records for each individual. Laboratory data of 218 employees was collected. We checked total cholesterol، low density lipoprotein (LDL)، high density lipoprotein (HDL)، triglyceride (TG)، and fasting blood sugar (FBS). Correlation tests and t-test were used to analyze the data in SPSS. Among the 255 studied individuals، 33 persons (about 13%) had hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg). Of these subjects، 75% (n = 25) were unaware of their disease. Moreover، about 56% of participants were overweight and obese (body mass index > 25 kg/m2). Five individuals had diabetes but three of them were unaware. In lipid profile assessment، 11 persons (4. 4%) had TG > 300 mg/dL (8 persons were unaware)، 59 persons (23%) had LDL > 160 mg/dL and 13 persons (5%) had LDL > 190 mg/dL (8 persons were unaware). The high prevalence of hypertension، diabetes mellitus، obesity، and hyperlipidemia shows the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore، periodic health assessment for office employees is recommended. Organizations should obligate health education for their employees.

Target groups: General physicians، internal medicine specialists، infectious disease specialists، gynecology and obstetrics specialists، and gastrointestinal specialistsEducational goals: After reading this tutorial، the learner should1. have acquired adequate knowledge about basics of hepatitis B2. know treatment goals3. know treatment principles4. be familiar with common hepatitis B medicines5. order necessary tests as required6. be able to read hepatitis B test results7. prevent unnecessary treatment measures8. know the side effects of drugs