International Journal of Preventive Medicine
Volume:6 Issue: 2, Feb 2015

The patient decision aids (PDAs), which can facilitate the decision-making process when choosing the optimal method of treatment, are a challenge to patients. This study tried to determine the attitude of physicians on the barriers of using PDAs in the way of prioritizing and proposing solutions to them. This study was a cross-sectional research carried out on 150 clinical faculty members of research centers and scientifc associations affliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The participants were chosen using the convenience sampling method. The attitude of physicians toward the application of PDAs was interviewed using a self-made questionnaire composed of 23 questions. The association between physicians’ attitude to the use of PDAs and their characteristics was examined using the t-test, analysis of variance, and correlation test. The mean score of physicians’ attitude was 76.2 (standard deviation =11.9) and the range was 33–107. There was a signifcant and direct association between the attitude toward the use of PDA and the respondents’ age (r = 0.237, P = 0.007), years of experience (r = 0.205, P = 0.02), being male (P = 0.04), and working in the private sector (P = 0.009). The attitude score of instructors was signifcantly lower than that of professors (P = 0.02). The general attitude of physicians toward the use of PDAs was positive. However, apparently as a result of problems mentioned in this study for the developing countries such as Iran, it is much easier to employ these tools in centers run by the private sector. Usage of such tools in public centers necessitates systemic infrastructure as well as credits and budgets required for the training of patients and physicians.

Considering the controversial information regarding the effects of perchlorate on thyroid function of high risk population as neonates, and given the high prevalence rate of thyroid disorders specially congenital hypothyroidism in our region, this study aims to investigate for the frst time in Iran, the relationship between drinking groundwater perchlorate and cord blood thyroid hormones level in an industrial region. In this cross-sectional study, drinking groundwater perchlorate level of rural areas of Zarinshahr, Isfahan was measured. Simultaneously, cord blood level of thyroid hormones of neonates born in the studied region was measured. Thyroid function test of neonates in regions with low and high perchlorate level were compared. In this study, 25 tap water samples were obtained for perchlorate measurement. Level of cord blood thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T4 and T3 of 25 neonates were measured. Mean (standard deviation) of perchlorate, TSH, T4 and T3 was 3.59 (5.10) µg/l, 7.81 (4.14) mIU/m, 6.06 (0.85) mg/dl, and 63.46 (17.53) mg/dl, respectively. Mean levels of thyroid function tests were not different in low (<5 µg/l) and high level of drinking ground water perchlorate (P > 0.05). Perchlorate did not appear to be related to thyroid function of neonates in the studied industrial region. It seems that iodine status of the regions, as well as other environmental contaminants and genetic background, could impact on its relation with thyroid function of neonates.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Prostate‑specifc antigen (PSA) is a marker of prostate gland malignancy, which has been considered in cases with breast cancer in recent years. The goal of this study was to determine total and free PSA levels in cases with malignant and benign breast lesions. In this case–control study, ninety women with histological proved malignant breast masses and 90 with benign breast masses were enrolled. Total and free PSA levels along with Histological grade and conditions of vascular and perinural invasion, status of hormonal tumor receptors, immune‑histo‑chemistry markers recorded for all cases. Total and free PSA levels were assessed after treatment in cases with malignant masses. Total and free PSA levels were signifcantly higher in cases with malignant masses. The best cut‑off point for total PSA to differentiate benign and malignant masses was 0.31 with sensitivity and specifcity of 100%, 100% (area under the curve [AUC] =1, P < 0.001) and the best cut‑off point for free PSA to differentiate benign and malignant masses was 0.19 with sensitivity and specifcity of 100% and 100% (AUC = 1, P < 0.001). After treatment, mean free PSA level was signifcantly lower than free PSA before treatment (0.23 ± 0.1 vs. 0.3 ± 0.08, P < 0.001). Serum PSA level could be applied for differentiating benign and malignant breast masses.

Cardiovascular disease is the main reason for mortality in men and women. Clinical epidemiology of myocardial infarction (MI) in men and women has not been yet studied in Iran, one of the largest Middle East countries in South‑Western Asia. This study was conducted to determine the clinical epidemiology of MI in men and women in Iran. This hospital‑based, cross‑sectional study used the data of 20,750 MI patients in Iran in 2012 (the codes I22, I21, I24, and I25.2). Univariate comparisons used Chi‑square test for categorical variables and t‑test for continuous variables. P < 0.05 was considered as signifcant. Totally, 20,750 MI patients (15,033 men and 5,717 women) with age range of 13–106 (mean; 61.2 ± 13.4) years were enrolled. Only 9 (0.04%) patients (8 men and 1 woman) were ≤18 years (mean age: 14.8 ± 1.9), out of whom only two men were diabetic. 22.2% (18% men and 33.4% women) of the patients had diabetes, 26.2% (28.5% men and 20.1% women) were smoker and 35.5% (28.6% men and 53.7% women) had hypertension. ST‑segment elevation MI incidence was 2.8 times higher in men than women. Left bundle branch block was signifcantly more prevalent in men than women. Men used percutaneous coronary intervention more frequently than women did. No difference in coronary artery bypass graft was noted between men and women. Mortality incidence was approximately twice higher in men than women. The prevalence of chest pain was higher in women than men. The MI incidence pattern, mortality from MI, and risk factors prevalence are signifcantly different between men and women in Iran. More emphasis on these issues in training people and healthcare professionals seems to contribute partially to patients’ timely referring to health care centers and preventing MI‑associated mortalities.

In pediatric resuscitation, it is necessary to distinguish the weight in order to provide proper doses of drugs, equipment selection, and ventilator settings, therefore, access to a simple, unbiased, and accurate formula can decrease mistakes. The aim of this study is to determine the percentage of error (PE) of different weight estimation methods toward actual weight in children admitted to17 Shahrivar Hospital. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 1–10 years children admitted in the pediatric clinic of 17 Shahrivar Hospital in Rasht. Data were collected by a checklist, including age, sex, height and mid-arm circumference (MAC). Investigators compared estimated weight by ten different methods with the actual weight. Finally, clinicians measured the PE and data were analyzed in SPSS software version.18. About 50.9% of participants were male. The mean age was 4.59 ± 3.35 years and the mean weight was 17.4 ± 5.69 (6.5–45) kg. Results showed no signifcant difference between the estimated weight and the actual one based on visual expert estimation and advanced pediatric life support (APLS) method. Visual estimation (0.017%) and MAC (25.48%) noted the lowest and highest PE, respectively. Results indicated a signifcant difference between the estimated weight and the actual one based on visual expert’s estimation and APLS method. As, these methods were easy, rapid and accurate for body weight estimation in emergencies and may be more accurate than parent’s estimation, it seems that it could be helpful for prescribing medication dosage and equipment sizes.

Physical activity is a complex behavior. To designing the effective intervention, qualitative researches may be allowed for greater understanding of the reasons behind the adolescences’ physical activity‑related behaviors’. Using the grounded theory approach, including semi‑structured focus group discussions (FGDs) and in‑depth interviews, we conducted a quantitative study to elicit the adolescents and key informants’ opinion regarding the satiation, needs, social and environmental barriers of adolescents’ physical activity. For FGDs, participants were selected from volunteered adolescent (aged 10–19 years) of the populated western part of Tehran, which was selected as a research field. Key informants were invited from the health professionals and experts in the field of adolescents’ health. According to findings, although the majority of participants agreed on the important role of physical activity, the lack of essential motivation and the pressure of educational assignments remove it from the daily program priorities. Lack of a safe environment for girls’ physical activity and high cost of professional sports were two first mentioned barriers. It was also suggested that future interventions should focus on improving more parents’ engagement and their direct participation in physical activities with their adolescents. We proposed the participatory strategies for adolescent’s physical activity promotion. Through which target groups participation during the designing, development, and implementation of health programs led to more effective interventions.

According benefcial effects of Tribulus terrestris (TT) extract on tissue damage, the present study investigated the infuence of hydroalcoholic extract of TT plant on cisplatin (CIS) (EBEWE Pharma, Unterach, Austria) induced renal tissue damage in male mice. Thirty mice were divided into five groups (n = 6). The first group (control) was treated with normal saline (0.9% NaCl) and experimental groups with CIS (E1), CIS + 100 mg/kg extract of TT (E2), CIS + 300 mg/kg extract of TT (E3), CIS + 500 mg/kg extract of TT (E4) intraperitoneally. The kidneys were removed after 4 days of injections, and histological evaluations were performed. The data were analyzed using one‑way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post‑hoc test, paired‑sample t‑test, Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests. In the CIS treated group, the whole kidney tissue showed an increased dilatation of Bowman’s capsule, medullar congestion, and dilatation of collecting tubules and a decreased in the body weight and kidney weight. These parameters reached to the normal range after administration of fruit extracts of TT for 4 days. The results suggested that the oral administration of TT fruit extract at dose 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg body weight provided protection against the CIS induced toxicity in the mice.

Drug–drug interactions (DDIs) are an emerging threat to public health and are diffcult to detect. To prevent DDIs and their burden, the possible DDIs should be kept in mind. We know that the obesity predisposes to the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, combinational uses of antiobesity drugs and glucose‑lowering drugs are very common. As the hepatotoxicity of both pioglitazone (an antidiabetic drug) and orlistat (an antiobesity drug) has been shown in some cases, the aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction of pioglitazone and orlistat in human hepatocellular cell line human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells to determine their effect on liver toxicity. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells were treated with 25 µM Pioglitazon (Pio), 20 µM Orlistat (Orl) pioglitazone, orlistat or combination of them. The MTT assay was used to assess cell viability. Pioglitazone and orlistat combination caused a loss of HepG2 cell viability. While pioglitazone (25 µM) and orliatat (20 µM) alone decreased the cell viability around 91% and 85% respectively (notsignifcant, P > 0.05), the combination of these two drugs reduced the amount of viable cells to 55% which was signifcant when compared with each drug alone (P < 0.001). Revealing the signifcant loss of viability of HepG2 cells in the combination use of pioglitazone and orlistat indicates these two drugs should not be administered at the same time to prevent their hepatotoxic effects especially in patients with liver dysfunction.