Historically, infectious diseases and undernutrition have been the focus of global health care initiatives by international organizations. However, there has been a move in recent years towards the prevention and management of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus and cancer. NCDs have spread rapidly and are no longer restricted to highly industrialized countries. For the first time, in 1997 the World Health organization (WHO) reported that NCDs constitute a more significant contribution to ill health throughout the world than do infectious diseases. In contrast to the situation in industrialized countries, it has been shown that in some developing economies, obesity begins much earlier in life and reaches a peak by the early forties. According to WHO estimates, by the year 2020, NCDs will account for approximately three-quarters of all deaths in the developing world. In these societies, rapid modernization is associated with a cluster of NCD and unhealthy lifestyle including smoking, physical inactivity and rapid increase in junk food consumption. This has been described as the "Lifestyle Syndrome" or the "New World Syndrome", which is responsible for the very high rates of mortality in developing nations, and is likely to create an enormous socioeconomic and public health burden for poorer nations in the near future.      

Aim: Few nuclear Cardiology surveys were published in the literature, mostly from developed countries. The aim of this study is to perform a nuclear Cardiology survey in Iran. This may lead to better decision making and programming. Methods and Materials: A questionnaire was sent by mail or e-mail to all nuclear medicine centers in Iran asking for details of nuclear Cardiology practice in year 2002. Also ownership of the centers, number and type of gamma cameras and number of cardiac studies in each week were recorded. Some centers were studied using telephone interviews. Results: From 79 nuclear medicine centers in Iran, 55 centers (69.6%) filled the questionnaire including 28 centers in Tehran and 27 centers in other cities. Among them 27 centers were private clinics. There was 69 gamma cameras in these centers, 62.3% with SPECT capability. It is estimated that we may have 100 gamma cameras in Iran. About 85.5% of centers perform cardiac studies routinely. Tc-99m-MIBI is used in more than 85.7% of the studies and some centers do not use Tl-201. Pharmacological stress with infusion of Dipyridamole is used in 56.7% of the studies and treadmill is the main type of physical exercise (40.2%). SPECT technique was used in 93% of studies including 2.5% of gated SPECT. About 64.3% of centers used two day protocol for imaging. Our study showed that about 65594 cardiac studies were done in Iran each year with myocardial perfusion scan accounting for about 99.2% of the studies. Considering population of the country (About 65 millions) nuclear Cardiology activity will be about 1.01 study/1000/year. For viability assessment, Tl-201 with rest redistribution technique is used in 10.7% of cases while re-injection is used in 29.8% of cases and TNG augmented Tc-99m-MIBI injection at rest in 59.5%. Discussion: Activity of nuclear Cardiology is about 15 studies/1000 population/year in USA and 2.2 studies/1000/year in Europe. Although it is not uniformly practiced in different countries of Europe, however the numbers indicate that nuclear Cardiology is underutilized in Iran (Less than half of the European mean). Education of the physicians as well as upgrading gamma cameras will improve practice of nuclear Cardiology in Iran.

Background: The number of interventional Cardiology procedures performed has increased rapidly over the past years. While these procedures help physicians avoid using highly complicated invasive methods, it usually leads to high levels of exposure to ionizing radiation of both patients and cardiologist. The dose received by the cardiologist during interventional Cardiology procedures is determined by a wide range of factors such as clinical problems to be treated, the interventional technique to be used, the x-ray system employed, experience of the cardiologist, the protective measures taken as well as their use during the examination.Objective: To measure the dose received by 22 cardiologists, radiology residents, radiologic technologists and nurses during interventional Cardiology examinations performed in various teaching hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.Methods: The radiation dose was basically measured by thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD). Other personal dosimetry devices such as film badges and pen dosimeters were also used. According to IAEA guidelines, the dosimeter should be worn under the lead apron (at waist level) for estimating the effective dose but due to high workload in interventional radiology and since the areas of the body which are not protected by the apron receive much higher radiation doses, in this study an additional dosimeter was used over the apron (at collar level).Results: The mean±SD monthly dose recorded by dosimeters of cardiologists over the apron at collar level was 912.1±224.4 (range: 660.8–1176.4) mGy, hands received doses up to 9674.4 mGy month-1 as recorded by TLD chips.Conclusion: The annual effective dose received by interventional cardiologists who use standard lead aprons hardly reaches the occupational exposure dose limit of 20 mSv/y.

Background: Cardiovascular disease, especially coronary artery disease, is the major cause of death in Iran after age 44.Revascularization procedures have pivotal role in improving quality of life in these patients. Data from cardiac intervention in Shiraz Hospitals can be compared with other centers to improve our faculties and equipments, better management of our future programs and ranking of Shiraz catheterization centers degree among other cities in Iran and Middle East. Materials and Methods: an annual survey (year 2006) on cardiac intervention procedures was performed in Faghihi and Namazi Hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Science, Dena Hospital, Ordibehesht Hospital, Shiraz Central Hospital (MRI), and Kowsar Heart Hospital. Randomly 832 angiograms were selected and analyzed.Results:1) During year 2006, 11999 diagnostic angiographies and 2267 angioplasties were performed of which coronary stenting was performed in 99.48 %. 2) Left anterior descending coronary artery is the most frequent coronary involvement by significant lesion, followed by left circumflex coronary artery (opposite to year 2005).3) By 3.7 % reduction in normal angiograms, we can conclude that patient selection for catheterization was more rational than year 2005.4) CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft) is the most recommendation by faculties of these hospitals, but less than year 2005 (36.7% to 31.3 %).5) PTCA procedures were developed by 2.6 % in comparison to year 2005.6) Drug-eluting stent and bare-metal stent were placed in 53.70 % (40.7 % in year 2005) and 46.30 % of patients, respectively. 7) Peripheral artery catheterizations were performed rather more than last year.Conclusion: It was concluded that despite coronary stenting remains the fastest growing procedure in interventional Cardiology, in our society CABG is the leading choice of treatment. Although, angioplasty growing in Shiraz, since year 2005, is acceptable.