International Journal of Preventive Medicine
Volume:10 Issue: 7, Jul 2019

Mobile phone dependency is an emerging public health problem. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between general health and mobile phone dependency in college students.

In this cross-sectional study, 334 students from Arak University of Medical Sciences of Iran were selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected by (1) demographic checklist, (2) 27-item Mobile Phone Problem Usage Scale, and (3) General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28).

Mean scores of mobile phone dependency and GHQ-28 were 119.83 ± 43.53 and 23.73 ± 12.77, respectively. In multiple linear regression, age, family economic status, anxiety and sleep disorder, and social dysfunction were the main significant predictors of mobile phone dependency (R = 0.469, R2 = 0.220, adjusted R2 = 0.203).

Based on the finding of this study, prevention strategies for management of mobile phone use in students can be adopted.

Renal ischemia‑reperfusion (IR) injury has numerous deleterious effects on the kidney function. An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the possible protective role of testosterone (TES) and zinc (Zn) supplementations on the kidney function after IR injury in orchiectomized rats.

Orchiectomized rats (n = 32) were divided into the five groups as sham operated (Group 1), IR (Group 2), IR pretreatment with TES (IR + TES, Group 3), Zn (IR + Zn, Group 4), and TES + Zn (IR + TES + Zn, Group 5). Twenty‑four hours’ post‑IR injury, the animals were sacrificed and the required parameters were measured.

The results revealed that there were not any significant difference in serum levels of creatinine (Cr), nitrite and malondialdehyde (MDA), Cr clearance (ClCr), renal sodium (Na) load, and percentage of Na excretion (ENa%) between sham and IR groups. The pretreatment with TES and Zn either alone or combine did not alter the serum levels of Cr, nitrite and MDA, and ClCr, Na load, and ENa%. However, pretreatment with Zn, TES, or combined altered kidney weight, kidney tissue levels of nitrite and MDA, and urine flow in IR groups.

The orchiectomy itself performed protective effect against renal IR injury. However, pretreatment with Zn or TES may not alter kidney function against renal IR in orchiectomized rats.

Hypertension is a risk factor for renal disease. Therefore, this study was aimed at estimating the prevalence of hypertension in renal patients in Iran through meta‑analysis.

The search was carried out using authentic Persian and English keywords in national and international databases including IranMedex, SID, Magiran, IranDoc, Medlib, ScienceDirect, Pubmed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, Medline, and Google Scholar search engine without any time limitation until 2017. Heterogeneity of studies was assessed using the I2 index. Data were analyzed using STATA ver 11.

In 35 reviewed studies with a sample of 39,621 subjects, the prevalence of hypertension in renal patients was 35% (95% CI: 29%–41%) (25% in women and 18% in men). The prevalence of systolic hypertension in renal patients was 5%, diastolic hypertension 26%, and diabetes 23%. The prevalence of hypertension in hemodialysis patients was 34%, 27% in peritoneal dialysis, 43% in kidney transplantation, and 26% in chronic renal failure. In addition, meta‑regression showed that the prevalence of hypertension in renal patients did not significantly decrease during the years 1988–2017.

More than a third of kidney patients in Iran suffer from high blood pressure. The diastolic blood pressure of these patients is about five times higher than their systolic blood pressure. Moreover, the age group under 30 is a high‑risk group. The prevalence of hypertension in women with kidney disease is higher than in men. In addition, patients who have kidney transplants are more likely to have high blood pressure than other kidney patients.

Increasing rate of type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence during the recent years has caused concern about significant risks for the public health. Dietary patterns have recently attracted great attention in the evaluation of the relationship between diet and health. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between the major identified dietary patterns and T2D.

In this matched case–control study, 315 individuals (125 newly diagnosed cases and 190 controls); 18–60 years of age were selected. A valid semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary intakes of individuals. Anthropometric characteristics and blood pressure were measured with standard instructions and body mass index and waist to hip ratio were calculated. Factor analysis was used to identify major dietary patterns. The relationship between major food patterns and T2D was assessed by logistic regression analysis.

Two dietary patterns were identified: healthy and Western dietary patterns. The second tertile of the healthy dietary pattern had significantly association with decreased risk of T2D in the crude model (Odds ratios [OR]: 0.51, 95% Confidence interval [CI]: 0.29–0.9; P for trend = 0.018), Model II (OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.27–0.9; P for trend = 0.019), and Model III (OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.23–1.4 P for trend = 0.048). The inverse association of the second tertile of Western dietary pattern score with the T2D was significant in crude (OR: 9.25, 95% CI: 4.95– 17.4; P for trend <0.001) and multivariable‑adjusted model (OR: 16.65, 95% CI: 2.99–92.84; P for trend <0001).

Our study found an inverse relationship between adherence of healthy pattern and direct association with Western dietary pattern and the risk of T2D.

Prevalence of migraine, as a chronic neurovascular disorder, was approximately 10.3 and 23.1% among men and women, respectively, mostly in people younger than 40 years old. Migraine is prevalent in different geographic areas worldwide. The present study was designed to compare the impact of intranasal lidocaine 4% and peppermint essential oil drop 1.5% on migraine attacks.

In this double‑blind, parallel, randomized controlled trial, 120 adult patients with a diagnosis of migraine based on the International Headache Society criteria were treated with intranasal lidocaine drop 4% or peppermint essential oil drop 1.5% or placebo. Patients expressed their symptoms 5 and 15 min after dripping, and if they still had a headache after 15 min, they were given the second dose. Patients with a second dose of medication, 15 min later recorded their headache rate. All patients recorded their symptoms after 30 min. Symptoms of the patients were followed by a researcher through the phone and in‑person after 2 months. Then, the questionnaires were filled.

In the present study, there was a significant difference among groups in headache intensity after treatment (P < 0.001). In 40% of the patients in the peppermint oil and lidocaine groups, the intensity of headache decreased. In the placebo group, fewer patients responded highly to the treatment, whereas 41.5% of patients in the lidocaine group and 42.1% of patients in the peppermint oil group responded to the treatment considerably.

Concerning the findings of the present study, nasal application of peppermint oil caused considerable reduction in the intensity and frequency of headache and relieved majority of patients’ pain similar to lidocaine. On the basis of findings of this study, it can be concluded that nasal menthol, such as lidocaine, can be used to relieve migraine headaches.

Brucellosis is a common zoonotic infection caused by bacterial genus Brucella, a Gram‑negative bacterium, and continued to be a health problem in endemic areas. Anti‑N‑methyl‑d‑aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune disease which can lead to status epilepticus. A 19‑year‑old male patient was referred to our hospital with status epilepticus. The diagnosis of brucellosis was confirmed about 2 weeks before. The brain magnetic resonance imaging was normal. Lumbar puncture was performed, and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) was in normal limits. The patient was treated with antiepileptic, anti‑brucellosis agents. Two weeks after discharge, the patient readmitted to hospital with status epilepticus again. Extensive workup was negative except that NMDAR antibodies were detected in serum and CSF. The diagnosis of anti‑NMDAR encephalitis was established. Brucellosis as a triggering factor for NMDAR encephalitis should be considered.

This study investigated the effects of resistance training and Eurycoma longifolia Jack supplementation on isokinetic muscular strength and power, Wingate anaerobic power, and testosterone: epitestosterone (T/E) ratio in young males.

Forty young males were weight‑matched and assigned into four groups: control (C), Eurycoma longifolia jack (ElJ), resistance training (RT), and Eurycoma longifolia Jack plus resistance training group (ElJ & RT). Participants in ElJ and ElJ & RT groups consumed 200 mg Eurycoma longifolia Jack daily, whereas participants in the C and RT groups consumed placebo capsules daily for 8 weeks. Resistance training program which consisted of 10 different exercises was conducted three times per week for 8 weeks. Participants’ isokinetic muscular strength and power, anaerobic power, and urinary TE ratio were measured before and after the intervention period. This is a randomized placebo‑controlled intervention study. Paired t‑test and one‑way analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis.

The mean average power of knee flexion at 300°/s in the RT and ElJ & RT groups was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the posttest compared with pretest. Wingate relative peak power in the RT group increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with respective pretest value, whereas peak power in the combined ElJ & RT group was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in posttest compared with pretest. There was no significant difference in T/E ratio between pre‑ and posttests in all the groups.

The prescribed resistance training program, either with or without ElJ supplementation, improved isokinetic power of the lower limb. Resistance training alone improved relative anaerobic power, whereas combined Eurycoma longifolia Jack and resistance training improved peak power output. ElJ consumption of 200 mg daily for 8 weeks did not affect the urinary T/E ratio.

Crimean‑Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is the most medically significant hemorrhagic fever. Afghanistan as an endemic region of CCHF has shown a rapidly growing incidence of the CCHF recently, but there is no data on the characteristic of the disease in this country, here we study the epidemiological, clinical, and paraclinical features of this disease in patients with CCHF, based on the collected data from the patients document records from March 2017 to January 2018 in the referral infectious diseases hospital of Afghanistan (Kabul Antani Hospital).

A cross‑sectional study in 120 patients admitted in Kabul ANTANI hospital was carried out from March 2017 to January 2018. All of the patients were included based on the standard case definitions by World Health Organization.

Among the 120 patients admitted to CCHF ward, 29 were confirmed by ELISA (18% IgM, 8% IgG+) and the reminders defined as “probable cases” according to WHO case definition. Case fatality rates were calculated as 15% and the overall mean ages were 35 years. The peak of the disease incidence occurred between August and July. Almost all patients reported fever, bleeding, and thrombocytopenia.

Early detection plays an important role in patients’ outcome. Considering that the most cases of the disease are associated with some contacts around Eid‑Adha and death attributable to CCHF usually occur in the first 7 days of disease onset, educating population, and especially slaughters, gloves using by housewives during contacts with meat or animal products, and early detection and immediate treatment would have essential roles in primary and secondary prevention of CCHF. Hemorrhagic manifestations and low platelet count provide a clue to early detection of disease. Vaginal bleeding can be a sign of CCHF and needs immediate action.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning results in hundreds of deaths and thousands of emergency department visits all over Iran annually. In this study, we aim to provide an epidemiologic analysis of this poisoning in different consciousness levels.

This single‑center retrospective study was conducted at a referral poison center from March 21, 2007 to March 19, 2012 in Tehran, Iran. All CO poisoned children and adults who hospitalized were evaluated based on their on‑arrival consciousness level.

Two‑hundred‑sixty patients with pure CO poisoning were enrolled with the majority of males (55.4%). CO exposure was unintentional in 99.6% of cases. The average period between CO exposure and the patients’ hospital admission was 6.4 hours (SD = 11.2). Most of the toxicities had occurred at home (73.5%). On arrival acid‑base status revealed respiratory acidosis cases in 11.9% of cases. Central nervous system imaging revealed 6.2% abnormal finding. Typically, patients presented with vomiting (25.8%), nausea (22.7%), and dizziness (11.3%). Twenty‑nine patients (11.2%) needed intubation and mechanical ventilation. Thirty‑six patients admitted to ICU with a median [IQR] hospital stay of 6 [2, 18] days. Ultimately, 202 (78.6%) patients discharged and 47 (18.3%) left the hospital against medical advice, 5 (1.9%) died, and 10 (3.8%) experienced sequellae. Two patients (0.8%), were transferred to other hospitals for specialized care.

The incidence and mortality rate of CO poisoning in the current study are still higher than many other parts of the world. Ongoing health prevention strategies are not efficiently working. Hence, constant public education and warning about CO toxicity should be highlighted.

Social issues have short‑ or long‑term as well as positive or negative effects on health systems. Identifying and analyzing events and trends help managers to make the vision and strategic planning. The purpose of this study is to identify the social trends and their impacts on the future of the Iranian health system.

Focus group discussion (FGD) was used to collect the data in 2017‑‑18. The participants were selected through purposive sampling and the snowball method. The discussions were all written and recorded with the consent of the participants. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data.

The participants believed that the most important social trends affecting future of health system in Iran are increase health literacy, demographic transition, nutritional pattern, migration and urbanization, marginal settlement, rising unemployment, and increased usage of personal cars.

The increase in health problems, healthcare costs, and mortality because of social behaviors and trends are considered as threats to the health system. Therefore, policymakers should reduce their negative effects by taking into account and focusing on these trends and making appropriate plans.