Journal of Health Reports and Technology
Volume:1 Issue: 1, Jun 2015

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the success rate of gastric bypass surgery-assisted weight loss in Iranian patients with morbid obesity. This interventional study was conducted from the year 2008 to 2011 in Ghaem Hospital of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Convenience sampling was conducted and the significance level was set as P 40 kg/m2. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured using standard methods and BMI was calculated. Body compositions were measured using a body composition analyzer. Other inclusion criteria were subjected to gastric bypass (GBP) surgery. All patients underwent pre-operative psychological, nutritional, and comprehensive medical evaluations. The mean body weight declined from 114.88 ± 13.64 kg before the surgery to 100.1 ± 14.5 kg, 89.65 ± 16.09 kg, 87.38 ± 14.1 kg, and 85.73 ± 12.31 kg, respectively at the first, second, third, and fourth post-operative follow-up visits. These changes were significant (P

Identification of survival predictors can be as a guide to formulate preventive strategies to reduce mortality. The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting death and readmission due to acute coronary syndrome based on acute coronary syndrome registry in Kermanshah in 2010-2011. Data was collected according to the questionnaire used in Euro Heart Study-ACS Registry. For the purpose of this study, we used data recorded in patients’ medical files as well as interviews with doctors and patients if it was necessary. A nurse on collected all relevant data for each patient regarding prehospital history, hospital course and one year after discharge. To calculate survival and readmission of patients and the factors affecting on them COX regression was used. Of total 1972 people who were studied, 101 patients died during follow-up and 1030 patients were rehospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome or complications of heart diseases. The most important factors affecting survival and after adjustment for other factors, were age more than 75 years (HR = 14.90, 95% CI: 3.47 -63.85), female gender (HR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.00-2.35), and chronic condition (HR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.42-4.10). The most important predictors of readmission were also age less than 50 years (HR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.52-2.59), male gender (HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.00-1.39) and having Q wave MI (HR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.46). Women had higher mortality and lower readmission after ACS, the fact that need to be addressed in future health interventions. Other modifiable factors related with survival and hospital readmission need to be investigated and tackled in future studies and population based interventions.

Consumption of foods containing Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs) may have effects on the plasma lipoprotein profile to increase LDL and decrease HDL level which may lead to coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, fetal growth disorder, and increase the probability of cancer. Because of insufficient documents related to the TFA content of Iranian foods, this study aimed to examine TFA content of cakes, confectionaries, and snacks in markets. A cross-sectional study was designed and food samples were collected from all different zones of Kermanshah city in Western Iran. Fatty acids were extracted using the Folch method and methylated by the AOCS method. Fatty acids separated using gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector and a 100 m × 0.25-mm inside diameter silica column. The highest amount of TFAs was found in coffee mate, biscuits, and cakes that contained 6.95%–13.94% of total fatty acids. Confectionaries showed 1.24%–3.38% TFAs. Palmitic and stearic acid were the most abundant saturated fatty acids found in analyzed foods. Coffee mate and chocolates presented the greatest amount of saturated fatty acids among foods. This study confirmed that Iranian snack foods contain high TFA levels due to use of hydrogenated fat by food processing companies. According to the adverse health effect of TFAs they need to be minimized or eliminated from foods, we strongly recommend that hydrogenated fat should replace with other safe, edible oils, with minimal content of TFAs.

Tinnitus is a common complaint among noise-exposed workers. A dietary zinc supplementation is apparently beneficial in reducing symptoms in patients with tinnitus. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hypozincemia among patients with tinnitus and the effect of zinc therapy on the severity of symptoms. A total of 66 male workers afflicted with tinnitus were selected from industries in the Khuzestan Province, which yielded a final participant tally of 60 cases due to drop out. Serum zinc levels were measured for all the participants by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry using non-diluted serum samples. Subsequently, 35 and 25 patients were randomly selected for zinc (60 mg/day) and placebo therapy, respectively, for two months. Moreover, the patients were categorized into two groups on the basis of serum zinc levels: group one (16 patients) with ≤50 µg/dl and group two (19 patients) with >50 µg/dl serum zinc level. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software by paired t-test and one-way ANOVA. The age of the workers, represented as mean ± standard deviation (SD), were 34.9 ± 5.1, 37.5 ± 5.4, and 36.1 ± 5.5 years for groups one, two, and placebo, respectively. The serum zinc levels before and after zinc/placebo therapy were found to be 47.7 and 77.3 µg/dl respectively in group one, 86.6 and 98.2 µg/dl respectively in group two, and 73.2 and 72.6 µg/dl respectively in the placebo group. The tinnitus symptoms were observed to decrease from pre-treatment to the post-treatment condition in both groups, which received zinc therapy. Zinc therapy is likely to be beneficial for individuals with certain types of tinnitus and could relieve or possibly even prevent the condition. However, like other complex neurological disorders, one drug is unlikely to resolve tinnitus in all patients.

The use of raw wastewater or effluent from inefficient wastewater treatment plants can result in an outbreak of parasitic diseases in a community. The aim of this study was to measure the parasite contamination of raw wastewater in Qasr-e-Shirin and evaluate the performance of a constructed wetland system in removing this contamination. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over the course of 6 months (24 weeks), with a total of 48 samples selected to be tested. Every week a sample was taken from the raw wastewater of the influent and effluent. To identify parasites on the basis of a modified Bailenger method, parasitic analysis was conducted using a McMaster counting slide. The results showed that the minimum, average, and maximum number of all parasite eggs in the raw wastewater of Qasr-e Shirin was 0.08, 35.85, and 167.8 per liter, respectively. The minimum, average, and maximum number of protozoan cysts was 0, 19.95, and 75 per liter, respectively. In the wetland system of Qasr-e-Shirin, removal levels of protozoan cysts and parasite eggs were found to be 99.7 ± 0.23% and 100%, respectively. Because of parasitic wastewater contamination in Qasr-e-Shirin, outbreaks of parasitic diseases in this city are important issues. On the basis of the results of this study, constructed wetlands are very effective in removing parasitic contaminants. In addition, in term of parasite nematode eggs, the final effluent was consistent with the standards for reusing agriculture irrigation (1≥ number per L).

Urbanization, industrial development, mining, and agriculture all contribute to the pollution of the environment. Water resources are considered to be a vital part of the environment and are especially impacted by pollution from heavy metals. Because of the detrimental effects of heavy metal contamination on public health, the present study reviews previous research on Iranian water resources in terms of concentrations of heavy metals in the last 20 years. This study will be the first step toward managing and solving this critical public health concern. This study is a systematic review that aims to investigate the concentrations of heavy metals in Iranian surface and groundwater resources. Iranian and non-Iranian databases, including Iran Medex, SID, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ISI Web of knowledge, were reviewed for papers over the last 20 years from 1992 to 2012. Thirty-nine relevant papers were analyzed. Most studies reported the concentrations of heavy metals to be above the standard level. In groundwater resources, concentrations of Pb and Cd are above medium level, whereas in surface water resources, concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, and Fe are above the standard level. Accordingly, the increase in heavy metal concentrations is due to the pollution of mining and related industries, and also the excessive use of pesticides in agricultural land, and so on. Regarding high the concentration of heavy metals in several areas, particularly around industrial and agricultural sites, the government should administer strict environmental regulations to reduce the concentrations of these metals in order to protect the environment and public health from damage; otherwise, irreparable damages will occur to the environment and public health.

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, according to several international standards, should identify as many environmental aspects as possible in project appraisals. The Kurdistan Iron and Steel Factory (KISF) proposed to expand its existing plant to cater the higher demand of downstream industries. The total capacity of the expanded plant will exceed 650,000 tons/year, thus requiring an EIA. This paper describes relevant aspects of the KISF manufacturing process, and the steps taken to fulfill EIA requirements. In the first stage of the EIA, we collected qualitative and quantitative data with regard to the physical-chemical, biological, and socio-economic environments. Then, we assessed the impacts of different activities and considered a range of effective practical approaches that could be taken to prevent and control adverse impacts. We also describe the actions to be executed and the environmental monitoring plans adopted.