Journal of Research in Health Sciences
Volume:6 Issue: 1, Winter-Spring 2006

Congenital transmission, prenatal mortality and abortion, are major problems in most coun-tries with high prevalence of Toxoplasma gondi infection and study of seroepidemiology of this infection among the pregnant women, could provide applicable approaches to preventive measures. In order to deter-mine the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma infection in the pregnant women, this study was carried out. In this cross-sectional and descriptive study, a total of 200 cases were selected randomly from pregnant women who, were referred to health center clinics in Zahedan province (Southeast of Iran). Ob-tained sera were examined for Toxoplasma antibodies by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). A titer of 1:20 was considered as positive for Toxoplasma infection. The studies showed that, a total of 54 samples (27%) were positive at titers 1:20 or more. Frequen-cies of different titers in positive subjects were as follows: 1:20, 20%; 1:100, 32.2%; 1:200, 40%; and 1:400 or more, 7.8%. The highest rate of infection was observed in the uneducated mothers (44.4%). Seropositivity was higher in pregnant women, who aged 15 to 30 (78.5%). We found a significant correlation between edu-catin status, unwashed/unpeeled vegetables and seropositivity (P <0.05). Regarding to this study and other studies in North of Iran (western and eastern parts of Caspian Sea), this area has a relatively lower seropositivity in this group. However, there is a need for further in-depth studies to understand the significance of infection in women with history of repeated foetal wastage, congenital malformation in her infant, especially in the women of uneducated group.

Essential hypertension tends to a familial mode. Its pattern of inheritance is heterogeneous, but the frequencies of different mode of inheritance vary in different populations. Determining of the mode of in heritance in each family is the basic information that is needed for the risk estimation in those family mem bers. Determination of pattern of inheritance in families with at least two members affected with essential hypertension in Hamadan city, west of Iran, was the goal of the present paper. The present study was a cross sectional descriptive one. The cases were patients in Dr Emami Clinic in Hamadan that were diagnosed as essential hypertension and also a familial recurrence pattern among their families. Then we prepared a suitable questionnaire containing some questions about their medical and family histories as well as pedigree containing 3 to 4 generations. After drawing their pedigree we determined their patterns of inheritance based on the standard method. The data were expressed in tables according to our variables to show the results. Totally we could include 100 families in this study. The number of live patients in 100 studied families was 285 (84 males and 201 females, aver-age=62.7 y). Our primary results showed that the ages of diagnoses were from 30 to 81 y (average 54.24) for men and 28, 90 and 54.127 y in that order for women. The consanguineous marriages were done in 10.52% of the parents of affected persons (8.07% degree 3 and 2.45% degree 4). Frequencies of patients in different age groups, according to the age of diagnosis, were statistically significant (P<0.05), but not significant between the males and females. Our family study and pedigree patterns of essential hypertension showed that the mode of inheritance in 40% of families was autosomal dominant. Autosomal recessive was the pedigree pat tern of 8% of our cases. Although in 52% of remainders the mode of inheritance was familial, but there were not enough evidences for single gene trait. It seemed that in recent families the etiology of the defect was multi factorial. Essential hypertension in our subject families was heterogenic. Their frequency orders were multifactorial, autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive trait, respectively. Such order is adopted with the literature but it seems that in our population, the essential hypertension with autosomal recessive mode is more frequent than the western populations.

The presence of chemical compounds has different effects on the rate of degradation of materi als and on changing dominant microorganisms in the biological degradation processes. These effects are re lated to the type and concentration of compounds. This study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of glucose as a growth substrate on phenol removal efficiency and microbial flora in a serial combined biological system. In this study, phenol was injected to the system and then different concentrations of glucose (50, 250, and 500 mg/l) were added. At the end, phenol removal efficiency and changing of dominant mi-croorganisms in the separated combined biological system were evaluated. The study revealed that microbial flora was changed in various concentration of glucose and degra-dation of phenol was better in the presence of low amount of glucose (50 mg/l) and decreased by increasing the glucose concentration. The dominant microorganisms in this research were Moraxella and E.coli. Presence the low concentration of glucose will increase the phenol removal and change the dominant microorganism in biological degradation process.

Heavy metals and PAHs in flue gas have received considerable attention in recent years due to their mutagenic or carcinogenic properties. PAHs are products of incomplete combustion of carbonaceous compounds at high temperatures. Heavy metals are released into the ambient air from the same sources as those earlier mentioned for PAHs. The present study was carried out to investigate the influence of the quan-tity of heavy metals on PAHs formation in ambient air. In this study, air particulates were collected on glass fiber filters using a high- volume air sampler. Each filter was exactly cut into equal pieces. One piece was digested with HNO3 as well as H2O2 and used for determination of heavy metals. Another piece was extracted using Soxhlet method. The latter was used for the determination of PAHs. The concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) were measured using Perkin- Elmer atomic absorption spectrometer. The concentration of PAHs was measured by a PU4400 gas chromatograph equipped with FID detector. The concentrations of PAHs and heavy metals were deter-mined in different seasons. The results showed that the concentration of PAHs was minimum in the weekend and holidays, but maximum in winter. The relationship between ambient air concentrations of PAHs and heavy metals was in-vestigated and an excellent agreement was found. The general trend of variations in concentration of heavy metals were found very similar to PAHs, therefore it could be concluded that the source of pollution was the same for both of pollutants. The general trend of variations in concentration of heavy metals was found very similar to PAHs, therefore it could be concluded that the source of pollution was the same for both of pollutants.

In psychological studies, exposure to electromagnetic field is one of the hazardous factors, which has adverse effects on mental health. Exposure to electromagnetic field due to daily use of electricity makes this study so important. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between psychologi-cal symptoms and occupational exposure to electromagnetic field among workers at High Voltage Substa-tions. Sampling included 103 workers at High Voltage Substations in Tehran city. The prevalence of psychological symptoms was evaluated among electrical workers and the SCL90-R questioner completed during an interview. The control group was not occupationally exposed to electromagnetic fields or not resi-dence of transmission line. This study indicated increased symptoms including depression, anxiety, hostility, paranoia, interper-sonal-sensitivity, and obsession- compulsion among exposed workers. A significant relationship was ob-served between the exposure of electromagnetic field and psychological symptoms (P<0.05). Exposure to electromagnetic field increased the risk of disorders in susceptible workers. For mental disorders, especially depression, the cognitive therapy is suggested.

In Iran, despite the use of vaccine since 1976, we are still having local epidemics espe cially in the children aged 15-20 years old. Since 1996, the yearly epidemics of measles have been re ported in these groups in Sistan- Baluchestan province, south east of Iran. The present study was con ducted to determinate the level of immunity in this target population in Zahedan. A total of 375 school-aged children were selected randomly from 8 schools in four areas of Za-hedan city, Sistan-Baluchestan province, Iran, in 2000-1. Sera were separated in laboratory and ex amined for measles antibody. The titers of antibody against measles were measured using hemagluti nation inhibition method. A titer of 1:4 or more was considered as positive and protective to measles. A total of 298 samples (76.8%) were positive at the titer 1:4 or more. Among 375 of total cases, 349 students (93%) were vaccinated twice and 26 cases (7%) were vaccinated once. Only 78.6% of the for mer group was immune against measles and in the letter group, the titer of antibody was un der the protective level. No significant correlation was found between seropositivity and sex (P>0.05). It is concluded that the present vaccination program (at 9 and 15 months of age) for pro duction of immunity against measles in this area is insufficient. A new vaccination program (at the age of 12 months and 4-6 years of age) can bring under control the measles by increasing level immunity.

Dysmenorrhea is a painful syndrome that accompanies the menstrual cycles. Although exercise is gen erally though to alleviate the dysmenorrhea, the scientific literature display mixed evidence. The main objective of this research was to determine the effects of exercise on primary dysmenorrhea. This study was a randomized clinical trial of 150 high school girl students in Masged Solayman city that suffering from severe dysmenorrhea. Students were separated in two "exercise "and "non exercise "groups. Then the "exercise "group was given some exercises and the results of the two periods after the ex-ercise were registered. The descriptive statistics and repeated measure design were used for analyzing the sta-tistical information. The results showed that the intensity of the pain in the exercise group declined from 8.59 to 4.63 in the third period and 2.84 in the forth period (P<0.01). The average of the duration pain declined from 7.15 to 4.22 in the third period and 2.23 in the forth period (P<0.01). The average of using sedative tablets also de-creased from 1.13 to 0.35 tablets in the third period and 0.0 tablets in the forth period (P<0.01). The exercise can decrease the duration and severity of dysmenorrhea and also using of the seda tive tablets in high school girls.

Controlled ovarian hyper stimulation COH/IUI represents a therapy applicable to a wide vari-ety of infertility diagnosis with no significant mechanical distortion of pelvic viscera. Identified variables in-fluenced in Intra Uterine Insemination include: age, cause of infertility, sperm number, motility and normal percentage, use of gonadotropine and number of attempts at IUI. The role of provider on pregnancy outcome in IUI is unclear, and published data are rare. We compared pregnancy rate of result of IUI achieved by phy sicians and midwives in Hamadan Infertility Center. Data were prospectively collected from 89 IUI procedures with unexplained infer tility and normal ovarian function, normal semen and normal pelvis at laparoscopy, which failed pregnant at least for 2 years. Controlled ovarian stimulation was performed by HMG on cycle day 3, and dosage varied according to the ovarian follicular response of patients by ultrasonography. Patients received 10/000 IU /IM HCG, when di-ameter of follicle reached >18mm. All patients received 50 mg /IM progesterone daily for 14 d. BHCG was tit tered 15 d after IUI. From 89 patients selected with unexplained infertility, IUI was done for 63 cases by trained mid-wives and for 26 cases by physicians. Mean age and duration of infertility in patients treated by physicians and midwives did not significantly different (27/3+5/32 to 25/5+4/2 y) and (5/16+3/6 y to 4/43+3/1 y) re-spectively. The pregnancy rate was 26/9% and 21/1%, respectively and there was not significant difference between two groups. we found no association between success rate and providers in IUI procedure, and pregnancy rate did not vary significantly between physicists and trained midwives in patients without cervical stenos.