Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
Volume:17 Issue: 10, 2013

Cytotoxic lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) plays an important role in regulating T cell activities. CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms are associated with genetic susceptibility to various autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The present study was conducted to analyze the role of CTLA-4 polymorphism at positions −1722TC in patients suffering from SLE. Samples were collected from 180 SLE patients and 304 healthy people. Both groups were equal in terms of age and ethnicity. Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragments length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to analyze the genotype and allele frequencies of these polymorphisms. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. No statistically significant difference was observed between the studied genotypic and allelic frequencies, SLE patients and the controls. There was a significant correlation between age range 15-45 and TT genotype (P<0.0001). However, no significant correlation was found between other risk factors and different genotypes. The results suggested that 1722TC polymorphism in the promoter region of the CTLA-4 gene does not play any role in the genetic susceptibility to SLE.

Inflammatory mechanisms appear to play a major role in pathogenesis of various types of pulmonary hypertension such as idiopatic PAH (iPAH). Although inflammatory factors such as IL6 and TNFa play an important role in IPAH, there is limited information about the relationship between acute phase reactants and pulmonary hypertension occurring secondary to pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). This cross-sectional study was carried out on 94 patients with COPD. Patients with a recent history of systemic corticosteroid use, infection, trauma or surgery, and gastrointestinal bleeding were excluded. Body plethysmography and transthoracic echocardiography were performed. Blood samples were taken from all patients and sent for complete blood count (CBC), and hsCRP tests. Twenty patients (28.6%) had pulmonary hypertension. There was a significant difference between the mean of WBC in patients with and without pulmonary hypertension (8505 mic/lit vs. 7044 mic/lit) (p=0.04). There was also a significant difference between the hs.CRP in patients with and without pulmonary hypertension (8.8pg/ml vs. 4.07pg/ml) (p=0.032). After adjustment of age, sex, serum hemoglobin, hematocrit, O2sat, FEV1 and FVC, the relationship between the IL6, white blood cell count, HS.CRP and pulmonary hypertension remained significant (p=0.018, p=0.022). Inflammatory factors such as white blood cell and HS.CRP are independent risk factors of pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients.

Heavy metal pollution has always been a major cause of environmental contamination and considered a concern for food health. Rice is the most popular food among Iranians and the presence of heavy metals in rice as trace level has received special attention because they are directly related to health. In Iran, it is customary for people to wash and soak the rice before cooking. The aim of this research was to investigate the contents of heavy metals (Pb, Cd and As) in Iranian and imported rice after washing and soaking in Kermanshah in 2011. 21 samples of the most widely consumed brands of Iranian and imported rice were purchased from local supermarkets in Kermanshah, Iran. 3 samples of each brand were collected and specific volumes of each sample were digested with acid. Heavy metal contents in the digested samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed that the concentration means of Pb, Cd and As in the Iranian rice samples were 275.17 µg/kg, 13.28 µg/kg, 53.69 µg/kg, respectively before washing and concentration means after washing and soaking were 236.96 µg/kg, 12.31 µg/kg, 44.06 µg/kg, respectively. The concentration means of Pb, Cd, As in imported rice samples were 215.71 µg/kg, 8.17 µg/kg, 45.92 µg/kg, respectively before washing and 183.59 µg/kg, 7.16 µg/kg, 37.61 µg/kg, respectively after washing and soaking. Results showed that washing and soaking decreased contents of Pb, Cd and As (15%, 7.2% and 18%, respectively). It should be noted that washing and soaking are important factors for decreasing heavy metals in the rice distributed in Kermanshah.

Although defects in social and communicative functioning are the most obvious features in autistic children, there is evidence suggesting that unusual perceptual processing is at least a concomitant and possible cause of many of the behavioral signs and symptoms of autism spectrum. In the present study, the perceptual integration of autistic children was studied. These processes require perceptual coherence in visual structure in a holistic manner. 25 high-functioning autistic and 25 neuro-typical boys were assessed in term of visual perceptual processing. Visual stimuli included fragmented (incomplete) and complete object images that were presented in a monitor. The subject’s task was rapid and accurate naming of images that were seen. Responses were compared by independent t-test. Also, the effect of completeness factor and group type on the samples’ visual processing was analyzed by repeated measure analysis of variance. The autistic children had lower function in naming the fragmented picture, however, both groups were equivalent in recognition of the complete image. On the other hand, all subjects in this study performed better in naming the complete images compared with the fragmented images. Also, the interaction effect of image type and group on visual processing was significant. Defect in recognition of fragmented images can be indicative of disturbance of processes related to visual perceptual integration in individuals with autism. Detection of these images in autistic children was significantly different from that of normal children, that indicates weakness of processes related to visual completion and perceptual integration.

The main purpose of this study was to analyze and assess the development level of health services in Kermanshah province from the perspective of social justice in 2010. The data extracted from the statistical yearbooks in Statistical Center of Iran and Governor''s House in Kermanshah Province were studied by Division by Mean and Principal Component Methods in the framework of GIS, SPSS and Excel software using thirteen indicators of access to health. Findings indicated that, based on the composite index gained, Kermanshah, Qasr-e Shirin and Paveh cities were the most advantaged in terms of a range of health indicators and Salas Babajani, Ravansar and Dalaho were the most disadvantaged cities. Factors such as lack of spatial planning perspective, special concern for the provision of health services in war-torn cities and motivation to work in the hometown, have affected this issue. Thus, the data indicate lack of balance and proportion of the quantity and distribution of health services to the population of the cities as well as inequality in citizens’ access to the civil welfare.

Human beings have been exposed to the risks that have threatened their life. Illness is one of the threats which has shown itself in different ways. During the twentieth century, AIDS was one of the serious threats to the global public health. This study was designed to examine the relationship between hope and quality of life among HIV-infected patients. This study was cross-sectional, descriptive analytic. Total number of 183 (79 women and 104 men),, attending the welfare clubs in Tehran and Kermanshah including, Zendegy Mosbat Iranian and Zendegye Khamosh both located in Tehran and Affray Sabz situated in Kermanshah, participated in this research. The participants completed the demographic checklist, and HIV/AIDS-targeted quality of life and hope questioners. Statistical tests Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Pearson and Spearman, U Mann-Whitney and Chi-Square were used to analyse the collected data. no positive and significant relationship was found between hope and quality of life among men and women who were suffering from HIV/AIDS (p>0.05). unlike other chronic diseases, there was no significant relationship between hope and quality of life among HIV/AIDS-infected patients.

Full consideration of the performance and efficiency of hospital costs necessitates the application of economic analysis techniques. The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of hospitals in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences through Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) method. The performance of Kermanshah hospitals (n=7) was assessed and analyzed by Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) method during 2005-2011. Inpatient admission was considered as the output variable, while the number of medical doctors, nursing staff other personnel, active beds and outpatient admission were considered as the input variables. Frontier 4.1 software was used to analyze the data. Based on the results of performance evaluation using Cobb-Douglas production function, the mean efficiency score of the hospitals in the SFA method was 0.63. Also, the efficiency capacity in these hospitals could be promoted up to 37 percent. Based on the results of Stochastic Frontier Analysis, downsizing the manpower in hospitals plays a major role in reducing hospital costs and improving their performance. Finally, it is necessary to investigate the effect of factors such as quality of service and patient satisfaction on hospital performance.

laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become a technique of choice for treatment and removal of gallbladder problems. Various studies have been done on its effectiveness & complications. The most common complications are bile duct injuries, bile leakage, wound infection and bile peritonitis. This study retrospectively analysed the total number of laparoscopic cholecystectomy cases performed in Imam Reza hospital (2006-2012). According to the patient''s profile, we tried to determine the actual incidence of complications after L.C. Total of 1380 patients were studied, from whom 1074 cases were female (77.8%). The average age of the participants was 48.11(0/7%). The most common complications were bile duct injuries and bile leakage. The most common location of biliary damage was CBD (61%). Cystic duct injuries and other accessory bile ducts were categorized as following priorities. Incidence of collections after surgery was 15 cases (1.08%). The majority of bile duct injuries were surgically treated (81%), using biliary-enteric anastomosis procedure. The most common and challenging complications of L.C were bile duct injury and bile leakage that occur for patients due to tragic consequences. The most common surgical repair method for bile injuries is biliary-enteric anastomosis and insertion of T.Tube. The alternative method is percutaneous drainage for small leakages.