HAKIM RESEARCH JOURNAL
Year:2009 | Volume:11 | Issue:4|Papers Count:13

Introduction: The presence of a clear message and addressing of the direct target audience facilitates knowledge transfer. This study examines the aforementioned factors and their determinants in the three (maternal care, diabetes, tuberculosis) health programs’ articles.Methods: All research articles of studies conducted in the three-abovementioned topics from 2001 to 2006 that had been registered in databanks were searched. Basic science articles were deleted and the rest were examined for presence of a clear message and addressing of the direct target audience.Results: The total number of articles possessing the inclusion criteria was 795. Only 12.2 % contained a clear message ‘and’ addressed the direct target audience. Examination of the abstracts showed that a clear message had a significant relationship with the abstract being formatted (P= 0.003). Upon studying the whole articles, we found that addressing of the direct target audience was significantly higher in health system research articles (P< 0.001).Conclusion: It seems that defining a certain format for abstracts will have a positive impact on writing a clear message in articles. Another recommendation is to consider a section for target audiences in article formats.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the current situation of PhD education of medical science fields in Iran and compare it with successful models in developed countries.Methods: In a qualitative design, we systematically collected and analyzed the academic staff’s perspectives that had studied abroad and were involved in training of post-graduate students in medical fields. In the first step we prepared a conceptual framework based on the findings in brain storming sessions and in-depth discussions. Then in semi-structural interviews, the pros and cons of the current dominant model were discussed and the proposed revisions along with their applications were tabulated.Results: The main challenges in the current training system were listed as no-involvement of departments in the admission of their PhD students, insufficient attention to meta-capacities of enrolled students- e.g. their English skill, nonfunctional relationship of the universities with the industry, and poor supervision of doctorate students. As one of the potential advantages of the research-based PhD training model, it was mentioned that the students might obtain more capability to address the further needs of the industry and research system.Conclusion: Accordingly, we believe that the advantages of the current system should be kept, nonetheless a revision in the PhD training model, particularly with more attention to the research based training, may address more efficiently to needs in the future. Considering the limitations of the research based model, such a reform should be implemented gradually using a comprehensive road map.

Introduction: The goals of this study were evaluating the changes in menopausal symptoms in response to soya protein supplementation in postmenopausal women living in Orumieh City Iran.Methods: In this randomized, double- blind, Placebo- controlled trial study, the effect of 20- grams daily soya protein supplements was surveyed in 80 healthy postmenopausal women reporting vasomotor symptoms at base line. They were classified randomly into case group (n=40) and control group (n=40).The control group consumed a daily 20-g of placebo. The menopausal Kupperman index was used to assess changes in menopausal symptoms at base line and after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of intervention. Results: The epidemiologic as well as clinical characteristics of age education, social status, use of nicotine, BMI, blood pressure and diabetes were similar in both groups. In the first visit, symptoms were similar between placebo and soya protein groups (P= 0.385). The data showed a decrease in menopausal symptoms (P= 0.000 paired t test, two paired) between base line and soya protein group. In addition, ANOVA test showed a decrease in menopausal symptoms, between case and placebo groups (F= 8/69; P= 0.004).Conclusion: This study suggests that 20- grams daily supplement of soya protein may be a safe and effective alternative therapy for menopausal symptoms.

Introduction: To determine the incidence of pre invasive and invasive cervical lesions and the effective age of doing Pap smear in Kermanshah, western Iran this study was conducted.Methods: A descriptive, cross sectional study was performed between March 2004- March 2007 and all Pap smears were analyzed according to Bethesda II system. Data were analyzed with SPSS software, mean and standard deviation tables. Effectiveness was estimated as ratio of number of HSIL and invasive carcinoma detected to all Pap smears.Results: A total of 148472 smears were analyzed. 99.7 % of smears were negative, only 0.3% had cytological abnormalities. ASCUS, LSIL, HSIL and carcinoma was 205.4, 73.4, 21.6 and 5.4 per 100,000 Pap smear, respectively. Incidence of HSIL was 4 times to carcinoma. The incidence of HSIL and carcinoma totally was 26.9 per 100,000 smears. Before age 35 yr, we had not any HSIL or carcinoma.Therefore, effectiveness of Pap smear before age 35 yr was zero. Most incidence of invasive cervical carcinoma was seen in age 45- 49 yr.Conclusion: We had not HSIL or carcinoma before age 35, and since for changing one LSIL to HSIL to carcinoma it must pass more than 5 years, the results of this study suggest that Pap smear before 35 years old is not effective in Kermanshah and we suggest commencement of Pap smear in Kermanshah, from age 30 yr to diagnosis LSIL or ASCUS before changing to HSIL. Because we had not HSIL or carcinoma before age 35 yr, Pap smear before age 35 yr is not cost- effective.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to design a molecular detection for differentiation of bacterial from nonbacterial meningitis.Methods: In this research, the universal primer was used. The DNA of 20 bacterial strains was extracted. Eubacterial 16SrRNA gene fragments (16S rDNA) were amplified by PCR with broad-range ribosomal primers. The PCR was carried out under optimized standard conditions. The PCR products were electrophoresed on agarose 1 % and compared with standard strains. The high specificity of the PCR assay was documented after testing bacteria of 20 different species.Results: At least 10 bacteria could be found in 1 ml of fluid culture. The use of universal primer which contains 16SrRNA could be suitable amplification of a sequence with 1000bp. This sequence was found very similar in nearly all bacteria. Twenty different bacterial strains were tested. The sequence (1000bp) was seen in all bacterial strains applied in this study.Conclusion: Use of this molecular method for any bacterial meningitis is applicable because of fast diagnosis in 3 hours, differentiating bacterial meningitis from non-bacterial, and finally the effective treatment of patients suffered with the disease. The method is effective in developing and developed countries.

Introduction: A School achievement of children is an important preoccupation of parents. Parents’ behavior and their demographic status may affect children learning potentials and mental health.Methods: Two hundred seventy five of 4th grade students of Isfahan City, central Iran and their parents were studied for association between the last year school average of children and aggression trends of parents by aggression questionnaire scale (AGQ). Findings were analyzed by Pearson correlation scale, tstudent, ANOVA, and regression under SPSS.Results: We found negative significant correlation between maternal aggression and their children school marks (P=0.01) but this was not statistically significant in case of fathers’ aggression. Fourty two percent of children school achievement could be predicted by their parents’ aggression and demographic status.Conclusion: Maternal aggression and demographic status of parents are important and predictive factors in school achievement of students.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the rate of food-born botulism poisoning from 2003 to 2007 in Iran.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the data of the botulism cases in Iran during were collected and analyzed epidemiologically on account of food items which produce it, processing type, affluence distribution in rural & urban vicinities and widespread types .Results: Overall, 341 suspicious cases of botulism were recorded. The most and the least cases pertained to the years 2007(28.28%) and 2003 (12.6%), respectively. Among the provinces, Gilan lead the cases with 90 instances while the least amount related to West Azerbaijan with 4 occasions. Spawn and Salin fish (31.08 %) were the most botulism producing factors. Indeed, the prevalence rate in rustic vicinities (56.59%) was punctually more than cities (39.29%). Providing & consumption of canned foods in home was one of the most predominant causes of food poisoning (53.07%). Moreover, A and E types with the rate of (18-47 %) and (13.7-41.3 %), respectively were the most common causes of engendering botulism food poisoning.Conclusion: This kind of food poisoning had an escalation probably due to paying more attention to record and reports of the occurred cases in recent years in comparison with what was used to be. Some measures like general health education , not using unsanitary and traditional food processing, heating sufficient while consumption, not using unpasteurized dairy product and regular supervising by health inspector ; can prevent claimed issue.

Introduction: The aim of this research was to validate the General Health Questionnaire- 28 (GHQ-28) as a screening instrument of mental disorders in the population of aged 15 yr and above in Tehran City, capital of Iran.Methods: Overall, 879 people (455 females and 424 males) were chosen by the randomized cluster sampling from families under the coverage of health centers of the universities of Tehran, Iran and Shahid Beheshty. The study was carried out in two stage procedures. In the first step the GPs completed the GHQ-28, and in the second step all the samples were clinically interviewed by psychiatric residents based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria.Results: By using conventional scoring method of GHQ, the cut off point for the sample was 6. The sensitivity and specificity of this questionnaire were 84.7% and 93.8% respectively, and the overall misclassification rate was 8.2%. Likert scoring method of GHQ showed a cut off point of 24 and the sensitivity, specificity and the overall misclassification rate of 70.5%, 92.3% and 12.3% respectively.The concurrent validity of this questionnaire carried out by the Symptom Checklist- 90- Revised indicated that there was a meaningful correlation between scores of samples within the scales of these instruments. The Pearson correlation between the scales and total scores of GHQ-28 suggested that fluctuation of anxiety symptoms had an important character in predicting abnormality than the other scales.Conclusion: The evaluation of reliability of GHQ-28 carried out by the test- retest procedure a week after the first stage, and validation of this instrument indicated that the instrument could be used successfully in the epidemiological study of mental disorders as a screening instrument.