مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 593 (هفته اول آذر 1399)

Leishmaniasis is one of the most important vector-born zoonosis diseases that transmits to human by sandfly species. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the most important public health problems in majority areas of Iran. The current study was carried out to identify species of sand flies in Dezful District, Khuzestan Province, Iran.

Sandfly specimens were collected by using sticky traps from indoors and outdoors of different parts of Dezful City during the years 2018-2019. All sandflies were identified by valid identification keys based on external and internal morphological characters of the head and genitalia of both males and females.

2132 sandflies were collected. 8 species of sandflies from the Psychodidae family and the Phlebotomine subfamily were identified. Phlebotomus papatasi (46%) was the dominant species and Sergentomia squamiplaris (1%) was the non-dominant species in the area. Phlebotomus papatasi with 27.67% of mosquitoes caught as the dominant species indoors, and Sergentomia tibriadis was the dominant species in outdoors with 21.43% of mosquitoes caught. The peak activity of sandflies was in August, September, and October.

Due to the suitable climate, prevalence and species diversity of sanflies in Dezful is high. Phlebotomus papatasi sandfly is as the dominant vector species of cutaneous leishmaniasis in this region.

Previous research shows that marital satisfaction is one of the most important indicators of quality of life that requires special attention to its influencing factors. The purpose of this study was to design an appropriate structural model for predicting marital satisfaction based on attachment style and happiness mediated by family function.

In this cross-sectional study, the statistical population included all couples who referred to counseling and guidance centers of Tehran Association of Education and Training, Tehran, Iran, during the years 2015-2016. The sample size was 200 couples who were selected using cluster sampling method. McMaster Family Assessment Device, Enrich Scale Satisfaction Questionnaire, Adult Attachment Scale, and Oxford Happiness Inventory were used as research tools. Pearson correlation test, multivariate regression test, and structural equation modeling were used for data analysis.

Family function had a significant mediating role in the relationship between happiness and marital satisfaction (P < 0.010). Happiness had a positive effect on marital satisfaction (P < 0.010). Among attachment styles, only ambivalent style did not have a significant effect on marital satisfaction (P > 0.050). By adding the mediating role of family function in the relationship between attachment style and marital satisfaction, only secure attachment style had a significant effect on marital satisfaction (P < 0.010).

The findings of this study indicate that couples' attachment style and happiness level are important factors in improving marital satisfaction of couples, as well as quality of family performance.

Notice to the high prevalence of patellofemoral pain syndrome and the development of acupuncture methods, this study aimed to compare the effect of electro-acupuncture and sham electro-acupuncture on pain and function of patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

In a randomized clinical trial study, 40 patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome were selected, and randomly allocated in two groups. The first group were treated with electro-acupuncture and the second group were treated with sham electro-acupuncture. The severity of pain and function of patients was evaluated before the intervention, and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment using Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS), and compared between the two groups.

During the follow-up, pain severity improved in both groups (P < 0.01), but the rate of improvement did not differ between the two groups (P = 0.12). AKPS was significantly improved in the electro-acupuncture group (P = 0.04), but no significant difference was observed in the sham electro-acupuncture group (P = 0.09). The trend of AKPS was not significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.12).

The findings of our study showed that both sham electro-acupuncture and electro-acupuncture methods were effective in reducing pain and the symptoms of patellofemoral syndrome; but the efficacy of these two methods was not significant