Iranian Journal of Public Health
Volume:35 Issue: 2, Summer 2006

The UNESCO Chair in Health Education in TUMS (TUMS), Iran, was established in Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute in April 2004. The purpose of this chair is to promote an integrated system of research, training, information and documentation activities in the field of health education. The target group includes the public, health care workers, students, trainees and researchers. During its one year existing, the Chair has supported financially eleven admitted proposals and supported technically eight submitted proposals in divers fields regarding health issues with the cooperation of other research institutes in TUMS. It has made connections with most of the national research institutes and universities to establish multi-centric collaborations. The activities of the Chair are being directed towards the health priorities of the country and region. The Chair has contributed to an important international congress on immunodeficiency disorders as well as another meeting on Asthma in near future. The Chair is to publish several educational books, booklets and CDs related to health education; it is also going to prepare a thorough proposal on HIV/AIDS prevention with collaboration of other institutions, which could be applicable regionally, and in neighboring countries and states.

Smoking has become more prevalent in Turkey than it has in those of western countries during the past decade. This study was conducted to make parameter estimations on gender related smoking habits with the minimum of variance. Of the ninety-two researches related to smoking habits conducted from 1981 to 2003 in Turkey, 60 were deemed appropriate for the application of Meta analysis and Meta regression analysis. The proportions of men and women smoking cigarettes were 0.51 and 0.35, respectively. The proportion of men smoking cigarette in 1996 and the years before it was 0.52, and for women as 0.35. However, the figures for the years following 1996 were 0.41 for men, and 0.32 for women. In the results of the Dersimonian and Laird random effect model, the Odds Ratio, which shows the tendency of men to smoke compared to women, was found 1.894 for the period of 1981-2003. A heterogeneous distribution between the researches was apparent (Q=1560.91, P<0.001) as well as for Tau-square test (x2=0.55, z=6.29, P<0.001). We propose that effective precautions should be considered, especially with regard to the introduction of laws to minimize the smoking habit for both sexes, with particular attention to women.

Lyme borreliosis is a tick-born disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. The aim of this research was molecular typing of different strains of B. burgdorferi and protective efficacy of outer surface protein in animal model. Seven strains of B. burgdorferi isolated from skin and CSF of Lyme disease patients were compared using PCR- RFLP as well as DNA and amino acid sequences. The gene coding for Outer Surface Protein A (OspA) was cloned and recombinant protein was expressed. Immunization experiment was conducted on gerbils with purified recombinant OspA protein. The OspA gene sequence of B. afzelii and B. garinii showed 83.76% similarity and calculated amino acid identity of 84 % with each other and 82.5% similarity to B31 strain. DK6 was 100% similar to Pbi, 99.6 % to Ptrob isolate and 88 % to B31 strain. Cloning and expression of OspA from DK6 strain in E. coli has shown lipoprotein with molecular weight of 32 kDa. Immuno blot of recombinant protein from DK6 with rabbit anti DK1 revealed strong reaction with OspA from DK6 strain. Immunization experiment in gerbils with three doses of rOspA protein revealed that all immunized animals either with OspA fusion protein alone or combined with adjuvant were protected against infection with DK1 or DK6 pathogenic strains.

Wound infections are a common cause of staphylococcal infections. An ability of S.aureus is to adhere and form biofilm on host surfaces. Biofilm is an exopolysaccharide, a slime matrix around multiple layers of cells and is mediated by expression of the icaADBC operon. The present study evaluated the biofilm forming capacity and the presence of icaAD gene among S.aureus isolated from wound infections. Slime production assay was performed by cultivation on Congo Red Agar plate. In addition, Quantitative biofilm formation determined by microtiter plate assay PCR method used for detection of icaAD gene. Fifty strains were identified, 54% of the isolates produced black colonies on CRA plate, 52% were positive biofilm forming, and all strains carried the icaAD gene. Regarding the ability of S.aureus to form biofilms helps the bacterium to survive hostile environments within the host, suggests that biofilm production is a risk factor for infection. It is important in rapid diagnosis and treatment biofilm forming strains, because biofilm formation may lead to increased antimicrobial resistance and create a significant impediment to wound healing.

Fast enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Fast-ELISA) was compared with the standard ELISA for the diagnosis of human hydatidosis. Seventy serum samples including 30 from hydatidosis patients (surgically confirmed), healthy control individuals not infected with any parasitic diseases (n=/20) and from others with different parasitic infections including, toxocariosis (n=5), fasciolosis (n=5), trichostrongylosis (n=5), and strongyloidosis (n=5) were analysed for anti-hydatid IgG antibodies using sheep hydatid cyst fluid antigen. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, as well as validity of the test were found as 96.7%, 95.2%, 93.7%, 97.5% and 96% for conventional ELISA, while these paramters for fast-ELISA were respectively as follows: 100%, 97.5%, 96.7%, 100% and 98.8%. Regarding standard-ELISA 3µg/ml of antigen, serum dilution of 1:500, conjugate dilution of 1:3000 and 30 min incubation were found optimal, while for fast-ELISA 3µg/ml of antigen, serum dilution of 1:125, conjugate dilution of 1:1000 and 5 min incubation were utilized. The present study indicates that fast ELISA can easily be performed in place of the standard ELISA for the serodiagnosis of human hydatidosis with the advantage of minimising consumed time and manpower hours. Moreover, this test can be utilized in screening tests to diagnos human hydatidosis.

Trichophyton rubrum is an anthropophilic fungus causing up to 90% of chronic cases of dermatophytosis. Several properties of this fungus have been investigated so far. However, a few studies were carried out in the field of molecular biology of this fungus. In the present study, we tried to identify the subunit G of its vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase). Pairs of 21 nt primers were designed from highly conserved regions of the V-ATPase subunit G genes in other fungi. Mentioned primers were utilized in PCR using isolated genomic DNA template as well as cytoplasmic RNA of T.rubrum and the PCR and RT-PCR fragments were then sequenced. About 469 nucleotides were sequenced which encoded a polypeptide with 119 amino acids. Nucleotide sequence comparison in gene data banks (NCBI, NIH) for both the DNA and its deduced amino acid sequence revealed significant homology with V-ATPase subunit G genes and proteins of other eukaryotic cells. The amino acid sequence of the encoded protein was about 84% identical to the sequence of V-ATPase subunit G from other fungi. In summary, we have cloned the first V-ATPase subunit G of dermatophytes and characterized it as a member of this gene family in other eukaryotic cells.

Some lesions in the oral cavity and mostly on gingiva have predominant predilection towards females, and mostly occur in the first four decades of life when changes in sex hormone levels in blood are obvious. The present study aimed to investigate the presence and distribution of estrogen and progesterone receptors in peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG), pyogenic granuloma (PG) and peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) on gingiva as an organ target. In a descriptive case series study from March 2002 to April 2003, paraffin blocks from patients with exophitic lesion on gingiva, diagnosed by histopathology as PGCG, PG or POF at Dentistry Faculty of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Iran, were analyzed with Immunohistochemical (IHC) technique. The data analysis was performed by frequency and descriptive statistics. Of 35 patients, 12 estrogen receptors (ERS) and progesterone receptors (PRS) were detected. Nine of them were PRS and three were ERS. Two third of ERS/ PRS were seen in females and one third in males, respectively. In order of decreasing frequency the ERS and PRS were found in PG (n=6), POF (n=4) and PGCG (n=2). In this study, ER/ PR were revealed in three lesions. PR was detected in all of three lesions but we could not see ER in PGCG. Thus, gingiva may be considered as a target organ for sex hormones.

In order to assess the relationship between obesity with food habit and body image, this case control study was conducted among 85 urban primary school children male and female aged 10-12 years old, attending Anuban School in Nakhon Pathom Province, in Thailand. Two different questionnaires were used for data collection for caregivers and students. The standard used for definition of overweight and obesity was body mass index [BMI]. Obesity was defined as percentile ≥ 95th of the sex-specific BMI-for-age growth chart, CDC. Obese children commonly (> 4 times per week) ate blanched /steamed foods as well as spicy foods. While sugar consumption was the same between the two groups, oil consumption was higher among the obese group. Compared with control children, obese children had more snacks before breakfast as well as during lunch and dinner on weekdays and weekends. Normal students had more foods- except for leafy vegetable and fried BBQ snacks. Two-thirds of the children knew about the food groups, but only one-third of them could classify foods into the food groups. Obese children knew about the food groups and could classify foods better than the way normal children could. Children gained information about foods from their parents, teachers, sisters, books, and television. Most of obese children knew they were obese, and they were not happy with their status. In conclusion, Programs must be designed to improve nutrition and in this way, parents and /or caregivers must be involved.

Mercury is one of the three major environmental metal poisons, and mercuric chloride is a highly reactive compound which can harm cells by a variety of mechanisms including direct interaction with sulphydryl groups of proteins and enzymes, therefore affecting the enzymatic activity. This study focused on the effect of Hg++ on horseradish peroxidase (donor: hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7) (HRP) (Isoenzyme C) activity. In the presence of 88 mM hydrogen peroxide Km for o-dianisidine oxidation was 0.05 millimolar and Vmax was 8.5 M.s-1. Incubation of the enzyme with 1 to 100 millimolar mercuric chloride for 5-20- and 60 min resulted in progressive inhibition of the enzymatic activity. At low Hg++ concentrations the inhibition was reversible by excess substrate, while at high Hg++ concentration the inhibition was not reversible. Results also indicated that the type of inhibition depended on the duration of incubation of the enzyme with metal ion and on the Hg++ concentration. So we could conclude that the type of inhibition changed from noncompetitive to mix with increased incubation time and increased metal concentration.

Ingestion of infective metacercariae, attached to watercress or other various species of water and terrestrial plants, has been implicated as the main source of human contamination by fasciolid flukes. Presence of several species of aromatic wild grown plants, which are eaten fresh on the table or used for preparation of some plant-made foods (Delar, mixture of salt and ground local plants, as a paste and Zeitoon-Parvardeh, olives in walnut sauce, as an appetizer) have been suggested to play a role in human contamination in the endemic zone of fascioliasis, in Gilan province, northern Iran. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of ingredients using for preparation of these local foods on viability and infectivity of liver fluke metacercariae. Metacercariae for this study were obtained by experimental infections of Lymnaea gedrosiana, collected from Bandar Anzali endemic zone. The viability and infectivity of metacercariae kept in Zeitoon-Parvardeh and Delar was checked by microscopical analyses and animal infection assays. The results indicate the possibility of human contamination following consumption of these traditional foods when prepared with fresh vegetables presenting attached metacercariae.

The most important factor in evaluating dental health is DMFT (Decayed, Missing, Filled, Teeth). This research was conducted to compare DMFT index in the workers of sweets and cable factories of Shahrood (Moghan), a small city near 300 km east of Tehran. All the 127 production line workers of cable factory and 124 workers of sweets factory who had the predetermined criteria were selected. A questionnaire was filled out and dental status was recorded for each one. After analyzing the data by SPSS soft ware the results were as follows: Mean and SD of DMFT in sweets factory: 12.59± 6.5; in cable factory: 9.7± 5.4; and Caries free in both factories was less than 1% which was neglectable. Mean and SD of DMFT in 35- 44 yr age group in sweet and cable factory was 11.6± 6.05, and 10.8± 6.5, respectively. With Anova two-way analysis in two groups and with P< 0/000, there was a significant correlation between type of work and DMFT which proved the hypothesis. Accordingly, consumption of sweets and neglecting oral hygiene can be considered of great importance in increasing DMFT in the workers of sweets factory compared to the cable factory.

Chlamydia trachomatis infections are the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) recognized throughout the world. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis among a randomized statistical group of women suffering from cervicitis in Tehran- Iran. During a 12- month- period, Jan 2003 to Jan 2004, 142 endocervical samples were taken from women suffering from cervicitis attending to Mirzakoochakkhan Women Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) and PCR techniques were used to detect Chlamydia trachomatis in endocervical samples. Twenty two (15.5%) [95% CI, 9.54-21.4] of 142 samples were diagnosed as Chlamydia positive according to PCR results, while DFA diagnosed 20 (14.1%) positive cases [95% CI, 8.37-19.8]. No statistically significant difference was found between two diagnosis methods applied in this study. The prevalence was the highest (25%) among women aged 25 to 29 yr and 35 to 39 yr. The x 2 test showed a significant relationship between positive test result and bearing a history of STI (P= 0). The results of this study showed high prevalence of C. trachomatis infection among women suffering from cervicitis and suggested that patients diagnosed with genital Chlamydia infection should be referred to the genitourinary medicine clinic for further STI screening and partner notification.

Trichomoniasis, the most widespread sexually transmitted disease is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. This parasite is site specific for the genitourinary tract and recruitment of macrophages as well as polymorphonuclear nutrophils (PMN) to the site of infection is the first line of defense as a component of non-specific resistance and immunity. In this study, BALB/c mice were infected with 10 isolates from symptomatic and 10 from asymptomatic patients. Then PMN from vaginal washes, vaginal tissue and blood of infected mice was isolated and the rate of superoxide formation by intact stimulated PMN was measured. Results showed that, mice infected with symptomatic isolates indicated significant increase in polymorphs with increase in days of infection as compared with mice infected with asymptomatic isolate and control (uninfected) animals. Vaginal tissue cells generated maximal amount of superoxide in symptomatic isolates infected animals (5.17 ± 0.36) as compared to asymptomatic isolates (4.54 ± 0.43), which brings out the maximal abnormality in PMN in this localized area. The amount of superoxide radicals generated by cells of vaginal washes and blood of symptomatic isolate infected mice) 4.29 ± 0.25 and 2.16 ± 0.35) was less than the asymptomatic isolate (4.94 ± 0.49 and 3.18 ± 0.26), respectively. This study indicates that super oxide radical generation may play role in establishing the infection.