Annals of Military and Health Sciences Research
Volume:7 Issue: 3, 2009

Long hours of static work with awkward posture behind traditionally designed looms can potentially cause abnormality in bone mineral density (BMD). This aim of this study is to evaluate BMD in carpet weavers in Tabriz in 2007.

In a cross-sectional study, 80 professional carpet weavers aged 20-60 years, with at least 5 years of experience, working more than 5 hours a day for at least 3 days a week were recruited in Tabriz Imam Reza hospital during 17 months. The DXA method was employed for bone densitometry at three sites; pelvic bone, wrist and lumbar vertebrae. Presence of at least one abnormal result put the patient in osteopenia (-2.5Results Eighty carpet weavers, 48 females and 32 males with a mean age of 37.81±9.79 years were enrolled. Frequency of osteopenia and osteoporosis was 55 and 17.5% in the studied population respectively. It was 68.8 and 21.9 percent in males and 45.8 and 14.6 percent in females, respectively. rate of osteopenia and osteoporosis was 50 and zero percent in cases aged 20-29 years; 60 and 10 percent in cases aged 30-39 years, 57.9 and 31.6 percent in cases aged 40-49 years; and 64.2 and 38.5 percent in cases aged 50-60 years, respectively. Rate of osteoporosis was significantly higher in males. This predominance remained after adjusting for age and duration of carpet weaving.

Comparing the results of current study with the rates of osteopenia and osteoporosis in normal population shows that the rate of these two abnormalities is significantly higher in carpet weavers. So interventions should be planned for preventing BMD abnormalities in this group.

Considering the increasing prevalence of HCV in diabetes type 2 and chronic nature of HCV infection and its progression to cirrhosis and hepato_cellular tumors, we aimed to determine the frequency of HCV infection in diabetes type 2 in order to diagnose and treat these patients as soon as possible. Essential information gathered by a check list from type two diabetic patients admitted at endocrinology institute of Firuzgar Hospital during a year (from June 2007 to June 2008). From patients who agreed to enroll in the study, blood samples were collected for detecting HCV Ab and FBS, lipid profile and HCV infection risk factors. Blood pressure was measured in all patients as well. Results were analyzed by SPSS. Totally 235 patients with type 2 diabetes enrolled in our study with mean age of 60.8±10 (42-78) years old, most of them were females 146 (62.1%). The mean duration of diabetes was 9.5±7.7 years. The prevalence of HCV infection risk factors were as follow: surgical history 139 cases (59.1%), blood transfusion 39 cases (16.6%), dentistry procedures 175 cases (74.5%), positive family for HCV infection 30 cases (12.8%). Finally, no HCV infection was found among our patients, so as expected no association was observed between HCV infection and diabetes duration and various levels of HbA1C. In the present study, no HCV infection was reported among our patients, which is congruent with another study in Iran. It seems that geographical distribution of various HLAs and prevalence of HCV infection in a region are the important factors for finding any relationship between HCV infection and diabetes incidence.