مجله تحقیقات نظام سلامت حکیم
سال نهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 32، بهار 1385)

Laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis is based on direct smear and culture, the latter being especially time - consuming. The aim of this study was to compare three laboratory methods for diagnosis of tuberculosis: direct smear, culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

One hundred clinical specimens were collected from Molla-Hadi-Sabzevari health center in Isfahan, Iran. PCR was based on MT1 and MT2 primers common to all species of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (M. tuberculosis, M. africanum, M. microti and M. bovis). Primers amplified a 225 bp PCR product. Also a polymerase chain reaction enzyme linked immunoassay (PCR-ELISA) was employed for some of the clinical specimens. The PCR product was the tag in which anti-digoxigenin antibody was bound in the subsequent ELISA. The PCR product was bound to a streptavidin-coated microtitration plate through a biotinylated capture probe.

Out of 50 individuals in control group, there was no positive result of PCR. In patient group 48 out of 50 were positive PCR. The sensitivity of the culture, the direct Ziel-Nelson smear and the PCR were %88, %82 and %96, respectively.

According the results of this study it is concluded that PCR is more sensitive than culture and direct smear.

One of the main objectives of the national health policy of a country should be designing a strategic program for pharmaceutical research in order to take the best advantage of the allocated funds and to prevent wasting of national resources. This investigation was carried out to assess views of graduate and undergraduate students of Tehran University faculty of pharmacy, about the importance, priorities (applied or basic), problems and opportunities of the pharmaceutical research as well as its impact weaknesses, and its impact on the future careers of students.

This was a qualitative study carried out by focus group discussion in 2004 for four months on two groups of 6-10 undergraduate and two groups of 6-10 graduate students in the National Research Center for Medical Sciences of Iran.

Results showed that almost all participants believed in the necessity of pharmaceutical research, especially applied research based on demands of our country. Uncompromising rules about research, budget allocation, tardy and uneven appropriation of resources, weak and feckless administration, lack of the research ethos and ethics, paucity of skilled specialists, weak cooperation between universities and industry, lack of research registry system, weak research motives, inadequate inter association and ineffective evaluation systems for research and researchers were mentioned as the main factors impeding pharmaceutical research in Iran. The presence of young population, the country’s scientific history, decent human and financial resources and high potentials of the pharmaceutical industry were considered as strengths of the pharmaceutical research. Most students believed that doing research provides them with better opportunities to live and work abroad.

Results of this study supports the necessity of a strategic plan for pharmaceutical research in Iran and will be used in the development of this program.

Opium use has been traditionally common in the southeast of Iran. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the prevalence of drug abuse, its pattern and health service status in the city of Bam and Baghchamak village during the first year after Bam earthquake.

Five qualitative methods were used in this study: focus group discussion, individual in-depth interview, ethnographic observation, mapping and photographing. Drug abusers, ordinary people, drug abuse therapists, and other key informants were interviewed in ten groups and 69 individual in-depth interviews.

A high prevalence of drug dependence was reported in Bam and Baghchamak, especially among men. Opium was the most widely used illicit drug, but heroin use was rare. Most of the interviewees believed that opium and heroin use has increased in Bam after the earthquake. Also an increase of drug use has been reported in the youth and women, as well. There were a few centers providing drug abuse treatment services, and in almost all of them detoxification was the only service provided. Many drug abusers were unaware of the available services.

Bam earthquake caused an increase in drug use. There is an urgent need for plans to establish a rapid response to control the rise in drug use and minimize its negative effects.