Iranian Journal of Public Health
Volume:32 Issue: 2, Summer 2003

A 9 bp deletion between cytochrome oxidase subunit II and tRNA Lys genes in mitochondrial DNA, has proven to be an extremely informative marker for tracing population history. Using the PCR-PAGE and PCR-SSCP techniques in this study, 152 DNA samples collected from Iranian populations were screened for the 9 bp deletion. No deletion was observed. A length polymorphism, most probably a 9 bp triplication, was detected in one case. This observation provides further evidence for an ancient migration from Africa to India through Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan. It also supports the hypothesis, which suggested diffusion of Iranian farmers to India after agricultural revolution. The existence of 9 bp deletions in a background of haplogroup I in Mediterranean and its absence in Iran, suggests that there is no eastward diffusion of this marker and therefore this haplotype would not be too old. The presence of 9 bp triplication supports its multiple independent origins.

Consanguinity has been a long-standing social habit among Iranians. The effect of consanguinity on early death (stillbirth plus infant death) and pre-reproductive mortality (death before age 15 years) was studied in an ecological study in 10 provinces of Iran (including, Boosheher, Chaharmahal-O-Bakhtiari, East Azarbaijan, Ilam, Fars, Kashan, Kerman, Kermanshah, Markazi, Semnan, and Yazd). The rates of early death and pre-reproductive mortality of the study populations were derived from the data from 20th March 2000 to 19th March 2001. Statistical analysis showed that there were significant correlation coefficients between mean of inbreeding coefficients of provinces and either early death (r=+0.611, t=2.32, df=9, P=0.046) or pre-reproductive mortality (r=+0.627, t=2.41, df=9, P=0.039) rates. When consider the frequency of consanguinity in terms of individual city of the study provinces, statistical analysis showed that early death (r=+0.324, t=3.18, df =86, P=0.002) was significantly correlated with the mean of inbreeding coefficients of populations.

The aim of the this work was to determine the finger patterns, Finger Ridge Count (FRC), Total Finger Ridge Count (TFRC), and Asymmetry of Finger Ridge Count (AFRC) of an Iranian girl (aged 13 years) affected with congenital cutis laxa (CCL).The fingerprints of the first phalanx of both hands were taken by using the standard method (stamp ink). The fingerprints were classified according to the Galton nomenclature. The patterns of palm creases were also studied. Besides, the ridges of fingerprints of all ten fingers were counted, then employing the related formulas, the FRC, TFRC and AFRC were calculated.Results showed that the finger patterns of all ten fingers were radial loop; the major creases of the palms existed but their sizes were not normal. TFRC, which is the sum of all ten FRCs, was 77 (“low”), and AFRC was 10.344, more than that of her normal sister, that was 7.280. It is concluded that in CCL, the TFRC and symmetry of the fingertips ridges count may decrease; also palm pattern may be unusual.

According to changes in the surface of respiratory epithelial cells and host immunity as well as virulence of hospital acquired pathogens, oropharyngeal colonization enhance in hospital admitted patients. Patient admission in hospital, due to changes of oropharyngeal flora and colonization of virulent germs such as Staphylococcus aureus and gram negative bacilli can be a serious problem for developing respiratory infections and nosocomial septicemia. This investigation was carried out on effects of residency of patients in the hospital by oropharyngeal flora. This was a Quasi-clinical trial and assembled data is based on observation and interview. Oropharyngeal germ samples of 30 admitted patients in dermatology ward of Loghman hospital were cultivated at the first and fifth day of admission. All the colonies were distinguished by microbiologists. Thirty patients at the range of 44± 20 years of age were studied. There have been history of corticosteroid usage in 16 persons (53%) and usage of a cytotoxic drug in 8 persons (27%).There has been α– hemolytic Streptococci in 100% of patients, Neisseria in 87%, coagulase positive Staphylococci in 3%, yeast in 3% and gram negative bacilli in 13% of the patients at the beginning of admission. At the fifth day of admission, α - hemolytic Streptococci & Neisseria had the same values as they were at the first, but colonization of coagulase positive Staphylococci increased by 30%, the increase of the yeast was 23%. According to this study changes of oropharyngeal flora in a 5 days admission were statistically significant for coagulase positive Staphylococci and yeast but these changes are not significant for other investigated germs.

Ammonia is a toxic material for mammalians. It is detoxificated and converted to urea in the urea cycle in liver. Each defect in the urea cycle cause increase in blood ammonia level. Ornithine transcarbamylase enzyme (OTC) is the second enzyme in the urea cycle that exists in mitochondria. OTC deficiency is the most common hereditary disorder in the urea cycle. In this study, 45 hyper ammonia patients were selected (2-13 years old) and assayed for serum OTC, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Four patients (n=45, 8.9%) suffered from OTC deficiency. One patient was male (n=29, 3.4%) and the others were female (n=16, 18.8%). About half of children (53.3) with hyper ammonia have liver disease. Further studies on OTC deficiency and OTC gene mutations in Iran are recommended.

To determine the prevalence of domestic physical violence against women and its associated factors in Sanandaj city, Iran, during the year 2000, this study was conducted. Random sampling of 1000 married women resident in Sanandaj city was conducted and underwent a standard interview as well as completed a 23-part questionnaire. 15 % and 38 % of the women had been assaulted by their husbands during the past year or in their marriage, respectively between 1 and 11 or more occasions. Economic problems were the most frequent cause of domestic quarrel, while there was a significant association between the husband’s educational level and the violence against their wives (P=0.001).The physical violence against housewives was significantly more frequent than the employed ones. The husbands'' job was also significantly associated with their violence The existence of child or daughter in the family had a preventive role in domestic physical violence against women. Logit Regression Model for prediction of physical violence against women (Y) during the marriage was: "Y=0.014-0.029 woman''s age +0.199 numbers of children -0.238 man''s education +0.589 woman''s job ". This study confirms for Sanandaj city of Iran, the high frequency of physical violence against women by their husbands. Cultural education and supportive measures are essential to control that. Screening protocol for the detection of domestic violence in family planning Health Care System is recommended

A simple special protocol using Semichon’s acetic carmine stain was applied for examination of muscles of some small mammals, naturally infected with Sarcocystis spp. using this method, infected muscles fibers with Sarcocystis could easily be differentiated from muscle tissues. This method can be applied for screening of infected muscles with Sarcocystis cysts on large number of samples for epidemiological studies, and in slaughterhouses on frozen samples and formalin preserved samples as well as fresh tissues.

Hydatid cyst is the larval stage of the cestode worm Echinococcus granulosus, which causes echinococcosis in human and some other mammalian. Iran is located in endemic zone of this disease and Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province, due to existence of sheep husbandry jobs, has a potential for high prevalence of the disease,. Therefore, this investigation was carried out to study seroepidemiology of hydatic cyst in human in this area. In this descriptive study, 1000 serum samples from blood donors and 1524 from patients referred to clinical laboratories of the province, were subjected to immunoelectrophoresis to detect seropositive cases for hydatid cyst. The prevalence of hydatid cyst in sample population (2524) were 4.8 percent. The infection rate of the disease among males and females was 4.4% and 5.1% respectively. Lordegan city had the highest rate of the infection while Ardal city had the lowest one. Blood donors had a lower infection rate compared with patients referred to clinical laboratories. The results of this investigation revealed that there was a major difference between the prevalence of hydatid cyst in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari and that of some other parts of the world.