Iranian Journal of Public Health
Volume:31 Issue: 3, Autumn and Winter 2002

Mutations in the GJB2 gene at the DFNB1 locus on chromosome 13q12 are associated with autosomal recessive non syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) in many populations. A single mutation, at position 35 (35delG) accounts for approximately 30-63% of mutations in white populations with a carrier frequency of 1.5-2.5% in most European, North American and Mediterranean populations. In this study we have investigated the prevalence of the GJB2 gene mutations using direct sequencing in 43 presumed ARNSHL subjects from 34 families in an Iranian population. Eleven different genetic variants were identified. GJB2-related deafness mutations (35delG, 235delC, W24X, R184P and IVS1+1G>A) were found in 9 of 34 families (26.5%). The 35delG was the most common mutation found in 5 of 34 families (14.7%). We found one novel variant (–3517G>A) in the upstream region to the gene. The mutation frequency found in this study is lower than other ethnic groups with European ancestry, but it is indicating that mutation in GJB2 in Iranian population has contribution to ARNSHL. We have also developed a simple and accurate nested PCR assay to screen the 35delG mutation in 250 unrelated unaffected Iranian individual (controls). No 35delG heterozygous was found in the control population.

Coprological analysis is still commonly employed to diagnose human fasciolosis despite the fact that this method is not utterly reliable. By far serologic methods in this case hold more validity and reliability. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a 35-mer peptide covering a preliminary epitope of Cathepsin L1, a new purified antigen of Fasciola hepatica, by IgG-ELISA method for diagnosis of human fasciolosis. The advantage of this method is that identical batches of a synthetic peptide could be generated immediately without any variation in prepared batches and can be applied to diagnose thousands of infection cases assertively. Totally 90 individuals coprologically positive for fasciolosis and 15 control negative serum samples were included in the test. The cut-off value (O.D.450 nm; 1:1250 serum dilutions) with this peptide was 0.16. Considering this value 27 cases of false negative were detected; hence the calculation of the sensitivity of the IgG-ELISA was identified as 77%. No cases of false positive were spotted. It is concluded that this peptide is not capable to detect antibody in patients’ sera. With reference to other peptides some measurements are being put into operation.

Because of endemic parasitological infectious diseases in Iran and contaminated vegetables, as one of the most important ways of contamination, carried out a parasitical study on 263 vegetable samples from 44 farms in the suburbs of Tehran city, and also 166 vegetables samples from 20 green grocery markets in the same city. From 263 samples of farms 147 cases (65%) of contamination were recorded, of which 43 cases (16/5%) of human pathogenic parasites were isolated. In this study various techniques were used such as: Baermann funnel, centrifuging of plants and soil, temporal precipitation procedure and so on. Ova and parasites such as Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Trichostrongylus sp. Toxocara sp. Larvae of Nematodes, protozoa cysts like Amoeba sp. Giardia lamblia and some flagellatae were seen. The highest percent of contamination was detected in leek and parsley and the lowest one was detected in tarragon. The results show that vegetables could be a potential source of parasitic infection.

The purpose of this study was to determine evaluation of clean air from viewpoint of tile industry personnel at two pressing workplaces, in order to utilize the results for economic policy making of air pollution control. Total dust was measured on the basis of NIOSH Method 0500, showing dust concentration of 59.26 ±15.81 mg/m3 and 32.16 ±9.85 mg/m3 in the mentioned workplaces. The value of clean air was determined, using Contingent Evaluation Method from the viewpoint of 100 workers (50 workers in each workplace) as case group, and 100 administrative personnel as control group. The results demonstrated that, the average payments by workers are 77500 and 16700 Rials per person monthly in the case and control groups respectively. The workers were exposed to 3 options as: discount in payment of insurance premium and tax, causing an increase in partnership monthly payment in the case group: 39% and 55% respectively, and in the control group equivalent to 20% and 36% respectively. It is worth mentioning that, to pay loan to the workers did not indicate any significant difference between case and control groups partnerships.

Consumption of leaded gasoline in Iran cause to emit lead compounds in ambient air of gasoline stations and is known to effect on workers health in these locations. The objectives of this study were assessment of ambient lead levels and blood lead levels of gasoline station workers in Hamadan city، Iran. For this purpose، 82 samples were obtained in ambient air of gasoline station locations. Serum samples from 44 workers and 44 unexposed people were collected to determine blood lead levels. Samples were analyzed with atomic absorption spectrometry. Blood lead levels in workers and control group were 30. 05 and 17. 31 g/dl، respectively. The correlation coefficient between blood lead level and ambient lead level، age as well as duration of employment were 0. 44، 0. 66 and 0. 81، correspondingly. The highest concentration of lead was recorded at the gasoline station in the city center. A high correlation between vehicle numbers in gasoline station locations and lead concentration was determined in the city center، but with a poor correlation in the suburb of the city. 48% of exposed workers had blood lead levels more than the biological exposure limit recommended by American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygiene (ACGIH). Using unleaded gasoline and liquefied gas together with a health program education are importance factors to reduce blood lead level in workers of gasoline stations.

Malaria has recently been resurged in some parts of Iran which is bordered with Armenia, Naxcivan and Turkey. An attempt was made to asses the current status of insecticide resistance in the main malaria vector, An.sacharovi. Adult engorged mosquitoes were collected from dwellings during the seasonal activity of the vector, which is synchronized in summer 2001. Mosquitoes were subjected to the diagnostic dose of insecticides based on WHO method. Results showed that this species is still resistant to DDT, tolerant to dieldrin but susceptible to other insecticides such as, bendiocarb, propoxur, malathion, fenitothion, deltamethrin, permethrin, cyfluthrin, lambdacyhalothrin, and etofenprox with low frequency of tolerant gene in some population to some above mentioned insecticides.

Onychomycosis is the fungal infection of the nails with worldwide occurrence, caused by various species of dermatophytes, yeasts and molds. In addition, of pain and physical effect of onychomycosis that may interfere with individual’s personal and professional life, it may also causes negative psychosocial consequences in patients. Concerning increase of onychomycosis during recent decades and effect of different climates, professional and socio-economic conditions in prevalence of onychomycosis, local investigation for defining of incidence and causative agents of onychomycosis seems necessary. In the present study, 252 patients suspected to onychomycosis were examined by direct microscopy and cultural methods. 28.3% of patients were male and the rest were female. Specimens were tested by direct microscopic examination using potassium hydroxide 20% and culturing on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (S) and Sabouraud’s containing cyclohexamide and chloramphenicol (Scc mediums). Direct microscopy test were negative in 61.1% nail specimens and positive in rest of them. Among these positive cases, 12.3%(n=31) specimens presented branching mycelium with arthroconodia, and 21%(n=53) specimens presented blastoconidia and pseudohyphe. Beside, saprophytic mycelium has been observed in 5.6 %(n=14) of positive cases. The isolated causative agents from culture of specimens according to their frequencies were as follows: Candida albicans (13.7%), Trichophyton mentagrophytis (8.3%), Candida species (6.9%), Aspergillus flavus (2.9%), Aspergillus niger (1.5%), Scopolariopsis (1%), Trichophyton rubrum (1%) and Fusarium (0.5%). The majority of the patients were women and in both sexes, the most cases of infections were observed in the individuals who were 60-70 year old. The rate of effected fingernails and toenails were almost equal. Concerning the results of culture of specimens, Candida was the most prevalent causative agent in the fingernails such as Trichophyton (esp. Trichophyton mentagrophytis) in toenails. The most prevalent none dermatophytic moulds were Aspergillus species in particular in toe nails.

The Iranian Food Consumption Program (IFCP), a unique program in Iran was developed to aim accurate calculation of nutrient intakes in relation to heart health investigation released in Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center in March 1998 for the first time. The new versions came out along changes in computer technology. This interview-based program is designed to gather data through designed questionnaires in two dietary and non-dietary parts under an individual code number for each subject. The interview can be repeated to nine times for each code number. The non-dietary questionnaires are used to obtain information about personal, demographic and anthropometric characteristics, lipid profiles, personal and family history for cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, fasting blood sugar, blood pressure and heart rate records as well as physical activity data. The dietary data collection is flexibility programmed to be able to match easily with different methods of nutrition assessment especially record-assisted 24-hour recall method. A photographic food atlas makes food recalling accurate, easily and in real quantity and quality amounts. Therefore, a separate food list is made for each subject containing foods, ingredients and composed nutrients by record. Food analysis is performed to obtain daily nutrients intakes extremely accurate according to Iranian Food Table with over 1377 food items and values of 45 nutrients. The ultimate file can be exported in nearly eleven formats for statistical analysis. Consequently, the nutrient status can be easily investigated in designed studies for individuals, groups and populations especially concerning heart health. Also, the validity of the software was established by a comparative study through a trial and error. IFCP is useful for diet therapy, dietetic practice, nutrition research and epidemiological survey.

The present study was carried out for evaluation of calcoflour white staining (CWS) as a rapid method for detection of Pneumocystis carinii in respiratory specimens of rats as an animal model for human infection. A total of 35 Spraque – Dawley rats were divided into two groups. Group1 (20 rats) received increasing doses of dexamethasone subcutaneously, and Group 2(15 rats)as control group that received no immunosuppressive drugs. After immunosuppressant, all of the rats were killed and necropsy was performed. Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) and impression smears from the lungs prepared and stained by CWS. The results were compared with a few standard staining methods which have already been used for P.carinii. The calcofluor white staining was found to have more validity (sensitivity and specificity) than other staining methods such as Geimsa, Modified Geimsa and Toluidine blue O (TBO). The study showed the CWS to be more valid, faster and easier to perform for detecting of P. carinii rganism.

The objective was to investigate the presence of Mycoplasma and Chlamydia in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other chronic arthritides. Samples of synovial fluid (SF) were collected from all patients presenting with an articular effusion. Seventy SF samples were subjected to study for Mycoplasma and cultured on standard media for Mycoplasma. The 70 other SF samples were subjected to study for the presence of Chlamydia and cultivated on cell cultures specially MC coy cell lines. All standard cultures for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia remained negative, consistent with the fact that synovial fluid is sterile, despite of many investigations that have indicated DNA of some bacteria in the SF of patients with arthritis. However, as many other attempts to detect the presence of these fastidious organisms in the joints of patients with such arthritides have failed, the question of their possible roll in the pathogenesis of human rheumatic diseases remains controversial and needs to be re-examined

Cantharidin is one of the most well- known compounds which has ever been fascinating in medicine due to its effects on human and domestic animals. It is produced naturally by beetles of family Meloidae and Oedemeridae, however a considerable spectra of other insects sequestered it too. Cantharidin along with the other analogue, Palasonin, which has a methyl group less than it, found in the hemolymph and all tissues of both cantharidin producing and cantharipilous taxa. Although, palasonon mostly found in low volume, some species bear it even in a higher amount than cantharidin; thus it may be regarded as a precursor for cantharidin synthesis in producing taxa. Measuring titre of both chemicals in Iranian blister beetles from Nahavand county, Hamedan Province and some other species from France, Italy and South Africa, we have tried to have an index to differentiate species or at least different poulations of the same species as it has already done for family Staphylinidae. In this way, cantharidin may not be a good inicator, but it seems more effective along with other analogues, chemicals and some simple physiological information. Cantharidin/Palasonin ratio (C:P) is a better index which seems efficient in dividing European species from similar South African ones. Palasonin itself can be used to diffrentiate Iranian species from all other studied groups. More chemicals used in this new developed method, more precise is the classification.

To evaluate the quality of services in hospitals can rely on mortality rate and side effects rate. According to performed studies, side effects rate is a better indicator to evaluate the quality of hospital services, therefore decreasing of side effects is one of the main objectives in hospital management. A side effect of open-heart surgery is the skin damage. Some of Iranian patients who were operated on this kind of surgery have appeared some skin damages that medical articles haven’t pointed this matter. This study was performed to assess the appearance rate and also causes of skin damages to promote the services quality of Khatam-ol-Anbia Hospital in Tehran. During 6 months particulars of patients, who were operated on the open-heart surgery were considered. The data regarding the patients from their medical files and the data about skin damages rate from Nursing reports was collected. The skin damages were divided four groups on the basis of damage intensity: without damage; with skin redness; blustery; and intense phlogestic (inflamed). 102 patients (%28.2) somewhat suffered from skin damages. Among these 102 patients, 88 patients (%87.1) were affected with slight skin redness; 5 patients (%5) with intense skin redness; 5 patients (%5) with blister; and 3 cases with intense burn like damages. Generally, %1.4 of patients suffered from blister and %0.8 of cases from intense burn like damages; it means one case among every 50 patients needed special attention. In this study, the factors of weight, gender, diabetes, narcotics addiction, and function of one of the first aid of surgeon influenced the skin damage. It deserves to pay attention to the rate of patients’ losses and compensation amount, which must be, paid the patients by hospitals. It seems if the above mentioned matters are considered the importance of this study will be cleared more.

An Interventional field trial study was carried out in the Dehdahst area, Kohgiloyeh & Buyer Ahmad province, Iran, during 1997-1998. Efficacy of deltamethrin-impregnated bednet at target dosage of 25 a.i. mg/m2 and the incidence of malaria were compared in treated and untreated villages. In this area Anopheles superpictus is the dominant species and the activity of the species occurs in one peak, in August. Regarding to malaria incidence, the results showed a high reduction of Annual Parasite Incidence from 51.2 to zero in treated villages. Bioassay tests on impregnated bednet showed 100% mortality after 110 days and decreased to 97% after 120 days. Due to the exophilic and exophagic habit of vectors in treated areas, it could be concluded that the use of deltamethrin impregnated bed net could reduce the malaria incidence.

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species are the most serious contaminants of cell cultures and this remains one of the major problem encountered in biological research using cell cultures. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species as contaminats of cell cultures. A total of 100 different cell culture specimens including, R228, Hela, Vero, MDCK, L20, RD and Hep2 were collected. Then the specimens were investigated by culture method and biochemical tests. The rate of contaminant cell culture specimens was 32%. The highest and lowest rate of contamination was observed among Hela cell culture (25%) and R238 cell culture (0%), respectively. Moreover, the results of 2 statistical analysis test, showed significant difference between contamination rate and kind of cell culture (p = 0/001). It is concluded that Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species are the most common source of further contamination of cell cultures.

Fish including; Barbus spp, Cyprinus carpio, Liza abu and Aspius vorax have very important role in the economic condition of the rural areas of Khuzestan province. These fish have been consumed as fried or roasted. Inadequately cooked fish, could be served as a source of infection in these communities. For this reasons, 701 fish were trapped from 4 lagoons (Atash, Sobhanieh, Al-hai, Houfel) and transported alive to Ahwaz Health Research Center. Their skin, gills, eyes, muscles, intestine and body cavity were examined carefully. In 54 (7.7%) of fish,.6 cases of Contracaecum sp. (0.85%) and 48 Anisakis sp. (6.8%) were identified belong to helminth family of anisakidae. These results suggested that human anisakiasis could be health hazard in these areas.

Anopheles fluviatilis complex is known to be a vector of malaria in Iran. Since mosquitoes of this species cover a wide geographical range in Iran, they might have evolved into different separated populations. Random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) assay was used to differentiate geographic populations of this species. DNA was extracted from individual mosquitoes from 8 localities in 4 south and southeast provinces and amplified in PCR reactions using 18 single primers of arbitrary nucleotide sequence. Results of RAPD-PCR showed that Kazeroun populations could simply be differentiated from other populations using a diagnostic fragment amplified with primer UBC-306. But other populations could not be differentiated either visually or by means of statistical analysis. Moreover ITS2 fragments of some selected specimens were amplified using a pair of universal primer and sequenced as a key standard for detection of putative sibling species. Sequence analysis of the ITS2 fragments revealed a very high (100%) homology among the populations. These findings are crucial in epidemiological studies concerning relatedness of geographic populations and vector movement in the region. Results of RAPD-PCR and ITS2 analysis suggest that this taxon in Iran comprises of only one species with a low genetic variation among geographic populations.