Iranian Journal of Epidemiology
Year:2009 | Volume:5 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

Translated by Hamid Soori with permission from the BMJ Publishing Group and in coordination with International Journal of Epidemiology.  

Background and Objectives: Lack of nutritional knowledge is one of the most important reasons of nutritional problems worldwide and consequently, improper practice which can lead to several complications such as: malnutrition and non-contagious diseases. This study has been designed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practices of the urban households regarding practical principals of nutrition in Boushehr, Golestan, and Sistan & Balouchestan provinces in 2004. Methods: Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice of urban households towards practical principals of nutrition in mentioned provinces was carried out by this cross sectional study. The sampling method at the level of the households in each province was the single-stage cluster sampling with equal size clusters. The necessary data were gathered with a structured questionnaire and via the interviews between the questioners and the eligible people in each household.Results: A total of 1154 individuals were participated in this survey. Approximately seventy percent of individuals were aware about having basic four food groups and 45% of them were also aware of role of food group in human body. Majority of people had acceptable attitudes toward nutrition. Based on standard criteria consumption of meat was rare and consumption of fish was in medium level, legumes in high level, fruits and vegetables, milk & dairy products were in acceptable level. Consumption of carbonated beverages, junk foods and sugar were in high level.Conclusion: The findings of this study imply a need for effective implementation of nutritional community interventions by health policy makers in Iranian health systems.

Background & Objectives: The repression of retinoic acid receptor-b2 (RARβ2) expression is a concerning aspect of breast cancer, which is often induced by hypermethylation at promoter of the gene. We aimed to explore the correlation of plasma folate, vitamin B12 and total homocysteine (tHcy) levels with hypermethylation status of RARb2 gene among Iranian breast cancer patients. Methods: The hypermethylation status was investigated in 137 specimens tissues from primary breast cancer patients aged 28-85 years thorough methylation-specific PCR. Results: Hypermethylation at RARb2 gene was observed in 36.5 %. The hypermthylated RARb2 associated with younger age at diagnosis and negative family history of breast cancer. The plasma level of folate was found lower in cases aged ³48 years with hypermethylated RARb2 gene (P<0.05). In contrast the level of tHcy was shown higher in cases aged <48 y (P<0.05). The risk of hypermethylation at RARb2 gene increased with low plasma levels of folate (OR=0.21, 95%CI: 0.05-0.88) and vitamin B12 (OR=0.04, 95%CI: 0.01-0.92) and high plasma level of tHcy (OR=7.55, 95%CI: 1.07-25.7) in cases older than 48y. Conclusions: Low plasma levels of folate, Vitamin B12 and high plasma level of total homocysteine could have important roles as prognostic factors in hypermethylation status of RARb2 gene in breast cancer.

Background and Objectives: Publication of scientific articles nowadays is one of the important indexes of knowledge production. This index plays a key role for ranking in academia. The aim of this study was to assess the how academic staff in Shiraz Medical Sciences University considered the principle of scientific writing.Methods: In a cross-sectional study 200 published papers among 1104 paper registered to vice chancellor of research from 2002 to 2007 were selected with systematic random sampling method.Results: Among 200 papers, 190 (95%) had corresponding author from faculty members. Twenty three percents (23%) of papers were in basic sciences field and 72% were in clinical field. In 19 (9.5%) of papers either an epidemiologists-biostatistician or social medicine specialists were coauthor. Forty five (22.5%) of published papers, consisted of descriptive studies and the rest were analytic studies. Maximum faults in descriptive studies were the missing of time interval stating (26%). In case-control studies, 59% of papers had not stated diagnosis criteria and disease definitions. In cohort studies and clinical trials, 90% and 85% of papers had not expressed the number of missed patients during study, respectively.Conclusions: With regards to findings of this study, scientific writing and research methodology short course as continuing development professional for academic staff should be emphasized in academic institutes in Iran.

Background and Objectives: Making an accurate clinical diagnosis can be a great challenge with pediatricians. We aimed to compare the initial diagnosis and final diagnosis for hospitalized children in one teaching hospital in Iran.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients’ clinical files were used. The relationship between variables was assessed by ANOVA and X2 statistical tests. The agreement rate between final and primary diagnosis was evaluated by Kappa coefficient.Results: A total of 1310 patients’ hospital files were reviewed. There were 1244 (94.9%) cases with complete agreement, 12 (0.9%) with relatively agreement and 54 (4.2%) cases without agreement. The overall Kappa coefficient for primary and final diagnosis was 0.88.Conclusions: The agreement rate between primary and secondary diagnosis in this teaching hospital was high. This might be due to academic atmosphere in teaching children hospital.

Background and Objectives: Incidence of neurocognitive and psychologic disorders in elderly seems to become high There are numerous factors affecting neurocognitive functions like vascular factors, Vitamin B12 and folate and homocysteine levels. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between neurocognitive- psychologic markers and homocystein (Hcy), V.B12 (Cobalamin) and folate in serum.Methods: Two hundred eighty elderly people admitted to Emam Reza Teaching Hospital in Mashahd, Iran. neurocognitive-psychologic disorders was diagnosed by a trained physician. Serum cobalamin, folate and homocystein measured by RIA and ELIZA methods, respectively.Results: Based on Hcy>15 mmol/l level, cut off point <330 pg/ml for serum cobalamin and <6.5 ng/ml for folate deficiency defined as deficiency. The correlation between cobalamin and folate was statistically significant (p=0.000). Hemocystein correlated inversely to cobalamin (p=0.001) and folate (p=0.044). There were no statistical significant between Cobalamin, Folate and Hcv>15µmol/l and neurocognitive & psychologic markers unless Deep Tendon reflex test (P=0.04). All patients with dementia had hyperhemocysteinemia.Conclusions: Despite the plausible biochemical mechanism, further diagnostic studies, based on clinical, neuropsychological, laboratory features will be necessary to better understand this fascinating biochemical challenge.

Background and Objectives: Measuring the quality of life is one of the important indicators in evaluating health. The chronic disease is a one of the main cause of reduction in quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life and its influential factors in 15-64 years old people in Kurdistan province, Iran.Methods: In this cross-sectional study EUROHIS-QOL 8-item questionnaire was employed. Data was analyzed by SPSS statistical package. Results: After adjusting the possible confounders, the mean score of quality of life was less in smoker 1.41 score versus non-smoker, in women 1.52 score versus men, in hypertension patients 1.41 score versus non-hypertension. The mean score of quality of life was reduced 0.05 per each year.  Conclusions: It is recommended to implement some interventions to manage properly current chronic diseases in order to increase the quality of life. It also seems that EUROHIS-QOL (8-item) is a suitable tool to measure the QOL in Iranian culture.

Background and Objectives: Anaphylactic reaction is one of the most important transfusion anaphylactic reactions in medicine. During transfusion if Individuals with IgA deficiency take blood which containing IgA, they would suffer from severe allergic reaction. Since there is a little known about this in different ethnic groups in Iran we have decided to evaluate this issue in Sistan & Baluchestan province in Iran.Methods: During one year, blood samples were collected from 3837 volunteer blood donors. Then the serum samples were tested for IgA titer by nephlometry and SRID techniques.Results: According to our results only, one donor (0.026%) was found to have IgA less than 5mg/dl and 34(0.9%) cases had IgA: 5-30 mg/dl while 3798(99%) had IgA more than 30mg/dl.Conclusions: With regards to very low prevalence of IgA deficiency in blood donors in Southeast part of Iran, it seems that anaphylactic reactions most likely be due to other factors in the individuals that receive blood products.