International Journal of Preventive Medicine
Volume:5 Issue: 2, Feb 2014

This paper seeks to understand the politician economy implications of nicotine addiction in Iran، focusing on the US office of foreign asset control’s (OFAC) awarding of Iran operations licenses to American tobacco companies. Presuming that tobacco taxes، levied both as import duties and ad valorem، would financially benefit the Iranian Government، such the introduction of a highly desired US product to the market would be antithetical to the sanctions regime currently in place. By comparing Iran’s tobacco industry and the attendant public health crisis that has arisen from high rates of nicotine addiction، to conditions in Turkey، it can be demonstrated that Iran is uniquely unable to extract revenues from the sale of tobacco products. The primary point of comparison between Iran and Turkey is smoking-attributable annual productivity loses of each country as estimated through the use of smoking-attributable mortality، morbidity and economic costs software (SAMMEC) and the available related literature. Based on the calculations derived from the SAMMEC model، Iran is burdened with an incredible cost to the economy borne by a high prevalence of smokers. It is concluded that an awareness of this condition enables OFAC to award licenses to big tobacco without fear of undermining current foreign policy initiatives.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination is a well-known, safe and effective way for protection against HBV infection; however, non-responders remain susceptible to infection with HBV. This is so important in patients with any kind of chronic liver disease, especially chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients in whom acute HBV infection may lead to decompensation of liver disease. Some of the studies have shown that immunogenicity of HBV vaccination is decreased in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of double dose vaccination of HBV in these patients, compared with standard dose vaccination in similar patients and healthy adults. A total of64 patients with chronic HCV infection were randomized into 2 groups of 32. Group A received standard dose HBV vaccine, at 0, 1, 6 months, whereas group B received double dose HBV vaccine. Group C consisted of 32 healthy adults who also received standard dose vaccination. At 1 month after the end of vaccination, Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) titer was checked in all participants and the results were compared. There was no significant difference in age or sex among three groups. The response rate in groups B and C was 100% (all had HBsAb titer >10 mIU/mL), while in group A, 4 patients (12.5%) were non-responders (HBsAb titer < 10 mIU/mL). The difference in response rate was statistically significant between Group A and the other two groups (P< 0.05). The efficacy of standard dose HBV vaccination in patients with chronic HCV infection was suboptimal. Using double dose vaccination in these patients was an effective way to increase the antibody response.

The aim of this study is to investigate the association ofcalcium and magnesium concentration of drinking water with cardiovascular disease (CVDs) in urban and rural areas of a city in Iran.This case-control study was conducted in 2012 in Khansar County in Isfahan province, Iran. We used the official data of the Provincial health center regarding the chemical analysis data of urban and rural areas including the hardness, calcisum and magnesium content of drinking water. Data of patients hospitalized for CVD in the only specialty hospital of the city was gatheresd for the years of 2010 and 2011.In 2010, the increase in the calcium hardness above 72 mg/L, the prevalence of CVDs in 1000 population decreased; in 2011 this decrease in CVDs was observed for calcium hardness of more than 75 mg/L. In 2010, the level of Mg hardness in water ranged from 23 to 57 mg/L. By increasing Mg hardness level above 31 mg/L in 2010 and above 26 mg/L in 2011, the number of CVD in 1000 people decrease.Our study suggests favorable protective effects of water hardness, mainly water magnesium content, on CVDs. Water hardness, as well as calcium and magnesium content of drinking water may have a protective role against CVDs. Further experimental studies are necessary to determine the underlying mechanisms and longitudinal studies are required to study the clinical impacts of the current findings.

Scenes depicting smoking are among the causes of smoking initiation in youth. The present study was the first in Iran to collect some primary information regarding the presence of smoking scenes in movies and propagation of tobacco use.This cross-sectional study was conducted by polling audience about smoking scenes in Persian movies on theaters in 2011. Data were collected using a questionnaire. A total of 2000 subjects were selected for questioning. The questioning for all movies was carried out 2 weeks after the movie premiered at 4 different times including twice during the week and twice at weekends. A total of39 movies were selected for further assessment. In general, 2,129 viewers participated in the study. General opinion of 676 subjects (31.8%) was that these movies can lead to initiation or continuation of smoking in viewers. Women significantly thought that these movies can lead to initiation of smoking (37.4% vs. 29%). This belief was stronger among non-smokers as well (33.7% vs. 26%).Despite the prohibition of cigarette advertisements in the mass media and movies, we still witness scenes depicting smoking by the good or bad characters of the movies so more observation in this field is needed.

Marginal seal has a principal role in durability and clinical success offissure sealants. The aim of this study was to compare the microleakage of two materials used as pit and fissure sealant with different methods of application.The 55 extracted premolars were assigned randomly to one ofthe following five groups: Group 1: Acid-etching (ultra-etch) + fissure sealant (conventional method), Group 2: Acid etching + bonding agent (single bond) + fissure sealant, Group 3: Self-etching primer + bonding agent (SE bond) + fissure sealant, Group 4: Acid-etching + bonding agent + flowable composite (Filtek flow), Grope 5: Self-etching primer + bonding agent + flowable composite. Following sealant placement, the teeth were thermocycled (3000 cycles; 5-55°C) and then immersed in 50% silver nitrate solution for 24 h and then immersed in photo developing solution for 4 h under fluorescent light. The teeth were then sectioned in a bucco-lingual direction. Microleakage was scored using a stereomicroscope and a 4-criteria ranking/ordinal scale. Data were analyzed statistically using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests.The result of tests showed that there were statistical differences between some groups. Groups 2 and 4 had the lowest and Groups 3 and 5 had the highest microleakage scores and a statistically significant difference could be displayed between them (P< 0.05). Mean microleakage in Group 4 was also significantly lower than in Group 1 (P< 0.05).Using acid and a bonding agent prior to sealant placement seems to be the best technique for sealing pits and fissures.

In Isfahan, the second metropolitan in Iran, there are 1448 dentistry treatment centers that most of them are inefficient. Today, efficiency is the most important issue in health care centers as well as dentistry clinics. The goal of this research is to investigate the affordability and efficiency of dentistry clinics in Isfahan province, Iran.The current work is a quantitative research, designed in two methodological steps, including a survey and experimental studies, for understanding current deficiencies of Iranian dentistry clinics. First, we ran a survey. Then, we analyzed the results of the questionnaires which guided us to find a particular intervening package to improve the efficiency of the clinics. At the second step, we chose an inefficient clinic named Mohtasham (Iran, Isfahan) to evaluate our intervening package.Based on what the interviewees answered, we mention the most important issues to be considered for improving the efficiency of dental clinics in Isfahan. By considering mentioned problematic issues, an intervening package was designed. This intervening package was applied in Mohtasham clinic, since June 2010. It improved the clinic’s income from 16328 US$ with 4125 clients in 2010, to 420,000 US$ with 14784 patients in 2012.The proposed intervening package changed this clinic to an efficient and economic one. Its income increased 5.08 times and its patient’s numbers grew 4.01 times simultaneously. In other words, Mohtasham’s experience demonstrates the reliability of the package and its potentiality to be applied in macro level to improve other dentistry clinics.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer among Iranians, and threatens them at younger ages. This study was guided by the theoretical concepts of the preventive health model (PHM) to assess the attitudes and beliefs of Iranians towards CRC screening.This cross-sectional study was conducted with participation of 200 individuals aged 50 years or older in a Teaching Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Background characteristics (e.g., age, gender, marital status) were assessed and a validated instrument drawn from the PHM was applied to measure cognitive and psychosocial variables (i.e., self-efficacy, intention to screening, perceived susceptibility, cancer worries, response efficacy, and social support). Data were collected via face-to-face interviews and analyzed using the SPSS version 13.00 for Windows.The age of the participants ranged from 50 years to 83 years (mean 60.13). Most respondents were married (62.5%), unemployed (42%), and had secondary or higher education (44.5%). Overall, 11% of respondents reported prior screening. Individuals obtained relatively poor scores on self-efficacy, intention to screening, perceived susceptibility, cancer worries, response efficacy, and social support.In this study, individuals mostly reported poor attitude in regard to CRC screening. The results of the present study could guide policy makers in designing tailored interventions to increase the participation of individuals in screening programs.

Regular moderate intensity physical activity and lipid lowering effects of Nigella sativa(N. sativa) supplementation may be appropriate management for sedentary overweight females. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the effects of long-term N. sativasupplementation and aerobic training on lipid profile and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) in sedentary overweight females.In this randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, which was conducted in Kerman city (Iran), 20 sedentary overweight females were divided into two groups and assigned to N. sativasupplementation (N. sativacapsules) or a placebo for the 8 weeks, both groups participated in an aerobic training program (3 times/week). Each N. sativacapsule contained 500 ± 10 mg N. sativacrushed seeds and subjects had to take 2 g N. sativaperday for 8 weeks. Blood lipids and VO2 max were determined at baseline and at the end of 8 weeks. N. sativasupplementation lowered total cholesterol (TC) (P< 0.01), triglyceride (P< 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (P< 0.001) and body mass index (P< 0.01) and increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) and VO2 max (P< 0.01). Aerobic training program lowered TC (P< 0.001) and LDL (P< 0.01) and increased VO2 max (P< 0.01). Furthermore,we observed a significant effect of aerobic training program and N. sativasupplementation lowered LDL and HDL (P< 0.05).The present study demonstrates that 8-week aerobic training plus N. sativasupplementation have a synergistic effect in improve profile lipid parameters.

Leisure time activity is an important life-style habit. This study aims to determine the screen time ofa nationally representative sample of Iranian children and adolescents.This nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted as part ofthe fourth survey of a surveillance system. The participants consisted of 14880 students, with aged range from 6 to 18 years, living in 30 provinces in Iran. Screen time, i.e. the time spent on watching television (TV)/video and computer games during leisure time, was assessed by using the questionnaire of the Globasl Student Health Survey of the World Health Organization.The study participants were 13486 school students (participation rate of90.6%) with a mean age of12. 47 (3.36) years. Overall, 75.6% of students were from urban and 24.4% from rural areas and 50.8% were boys respectively. Overall, 33.4% and 53% of students watched TV/video more than 2 h a day in their leisure time during school days and holidays, respectively. Likewise, 6.3% and 10.9% of students used computer more than 2 h a day in their leisure time during the school days and holidays, respectively. Overall, 47.1% of urban students and 24.2% of rural students used personal computer in their leisure time during the school days. The corresponding figures were 50.8% and 27.2% in weekends and holidays, respectively.The time spent on screen activities is long in a considerably high number of Iranian children and adolescents. It should be reduced by increasing the public awareness and by providing facilities for regular daily physic activity for students’ leisure times.

Germ cell tumors compromise 15-20% of all anterior mediastinal masses; 50-60% ofthese are benign mediastinal teratoma. There may be mature, immature, and rarely with malignant component within the tumor mass. There are more chances of malignancy with immature type. We are reporting a case in 20-year young male diagnosed as giant benign cystic teratoma which was adherent to superior vena cava. The patient underwent surgical excision. In follow up of 2 years, the patient is not having any complaints.