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Background and Objective: Considering the significant incidence of nosocomial infections in hospitalized patients, this study was done to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from wound infection and drug sensitivity pattern, Tehran-Iran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, Staphylococcus aureus isolated and identified according to standard procedures from the wound infections of 614 patients referred to Baqiyatallah hospital, Tehran-Iran during 2006-07. The samples were examined and antibiogram was performed by disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar with 12 antibiotics. Results: 100 (16.28%) of wound infection of Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 614 patients. The infection rate in men was twice compared to women. The highest rate 29 (29%) was observed in people aged 40 to 60 group. Also specimen's patients with immunosuppressive diseases (28 cases), surgical site infection (16 cases) and normal wounds (13 cases) were considered to be most prevalent isolates. Antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed that 96 (96%) of isolates were sensitive to vancomycin, 95 (95%) and 92 (92%) were resistant to penicillin and cotrimoxazole, respectively. Our result showed that 43% of strains were resistant at 11 antibiotics. Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus was 16.28% of samples, with 43% antibiotic resistance. The highest sensitivity was toward to vancomycin.

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Background and Objective: The child mortality is a index of development and plays an important role in determination of population growth. This study was done to determine the effect of sociol-economical conditions on mortality rate of under 5 years children, Khuzestan- Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was done on 372 women aged. 20-48 years with at least one child under 5 years whome were admitted to the health centers in urban and rural area of gotvand town in Khuzestan province, Iran during 2004. Individuals questionnaires included variables such as mortality, demographic, economic and social index were completed for each subject. Data were analyzed using SPSS-17, ANOVA, Chi-Square and Pearson’s correlation coefficient tests. Results: Providing maternal health care during pregnancy and up-grading occupational status of parents significantly reduced child mortality rate (P<0.05). Child mortality rate increased in mothers of <18 and >35 years (P<0.05) and parents desire to have male infant (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that up-grading occupational status of parents, maternal health care and maternal age and desire to have male infant play important role on the child mortality rate in Khuzestan province in south west of Iran.

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Background and Objective: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort and altered bowel habits. Although IBS etiology is poorly understood, some psychological disturbances and food allergies have been proposed. This study was done to determine the effect of food allergen exculsion on symptoms and quality of life in IBS. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive and anolytical study was done on 100 IBS patients in Tabriz, Iran during 2011. Food allergies of specific origin and effects of non allergic regimens on quality of life, pain severity and disease symptoms were evaluted during one month period. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, student’s t-test, Chi-Square and Fisher’s exact tests. Results: Patients age were 31.5±7.2 between 15-43 years. Specific antibodies against allergic foods were detectable in 31 (31%) cases. Penaut showed to induce the highest food allergy in 5 (16.1%) patients. The median disease duration was 4.5±2.6 years in allergic patients while 3.5±2.9 in non allergic group with no significant difference. The changes is quality of life was significant in non allergic regimens after one month in allergic group (P<0.05) while disease symptoms such as mucus defecation and flatulence had no significant changes. Conclusion: This study showed that one month non allergic regimens reduce abdominal pain and improve quality of life in IBS patients.

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Background and Objective: Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) is a parasitic disease which caused by a protozoan belongs to the genus Leishmania. ZCL is of great public health importance in many countries and also in endemic parts of Iran. Leishmania major is the causative agent, Phlebotomus papatasi as the main vector and Rhombomys opimus is the most important reservoir of the disease. Species identification of Leishmania in a large scale of human samples is necessary to conduct a useful program for controlling the disease outspread. This study was done to identify the Leishmania using microscopic and molecular methods in suspected patients of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis by targeting ITS-rDNA gene, Golestan province, Iran. Materials and Methods: 121 smears collected from suspected patients of ZCL, in Eastern region of Golestan province, Iran during 2009-10, stained and examined under a light microscope. DNA of parasites extracted directly from smears and ITS-rDNA gene amplified. Positive samples digested with BsuRI restriction enzyme, according to RFLP method and subsequently the parasite was identified. After sequencing the ITS-rDNA gene, Molecular software was applied for verification of RFLP results. The achieved results were definitely approved by this procedure. Results: 113 out of 121 and 92 out of 121 samples detected as Leishmania positive using microscopic examination and molecular method respectively. All 92 molecular positive samples digested with BsuRI endonuclease and 90 individuals identified as Leishmania major. In order to final verification, 8 samples of Leishmania major sequenced and confirmed by molecular software analysis. Unfortunately, sequences of two samples which were not Leishmania major were not readable, and consequently, these could not be identified. Conclusion: Comparison of obtained sequences of current study with Gene Bank sequences confirmed L.major in human from Northern Iran. Other species of Leishmania were not identified in this investigation but detection of two other samples, which were not L.major, could indicate the role of other Leishmania species causing infection in human in Eastern region of Golestan province, northern Iran. These findings should be considered to improve the disease control programs, which can be led to increase the rate of public health in Golestan province.

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Background and Objective: Internal derangement of knee (IDK) is a common problem following knee trauma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) extensively is used to diagnose the ligamentous and meniscal injuries, but the use of ultrasonography remains controversial. Previous studies showed different results about the usefulness of sonography (IDK). This study was done to determine diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging in patients with knee trauma. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was done on internal knee disorders of 73 patients with knee trauma who referred to MRI center of Imam Khomeini hospital in Sari, Iran during 2009-10. Three radiologists independently reported the ultrasonography and MRI of the patients. Results: The study population comprised of 61 (83.6%) men and 12 (16.4%) women, 91.9% of patients were less than 40 years old. The joint pain was the most common complaint (89%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of ultrasonography for the lateral meniscus was 100%, 97.14%, 60%, 100%, for the medial meniscus were 61.90%, 94.23% ,81.25%, 85.96%, for the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) was 65%, 100%, 100%, 70.21% and for the medial collateral ligament (MCL) was 100%, 94.28, %42.86 and 100%. Conclusion: This study showed that the high specificity of ultrasonography as a noninvasive and inexpensive method to exclude the ACL and meniscal lesion. Ultrasonography can reasonably be applied for screening of internal derangement of knee in the absence of MRI, especially in urgent conditions. In clinical setting of highly suspicious of ACL and meniscal tear, MRI is preferred due to low sensitivity of sonography.

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Background and Objective: Hepatitis B vaccination has been conducted in neonates in the routine vaccination in Iran since 1993. This study was carried out to evaluate the serum hepatitis B antibody level in vaccinated children after 14 years in Kashan, Iran. Materials and Methods: This prospetive cohort study was conducted on 200 fourteen-year-old children which were selected via a simple random sampling method in Kashan, Iran drung 2008-09. This subjects were have been vaccined according to the govermental guildline at 0, 2 and 6 months old. Two ml blood specimens were obtained from children and serum hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) were determined by ELISA method. Immunity was interpreted as anti-HBs≥10 IU/L. Data were analyzed using SPSS-13, Chi-Square and Fisher’s exat tests. Results: 92% girls and 95% boys, totally 187(93.5%) children had serum anti-HBs≥10 IU/L. Anti-HBc was positive in 3 (3%) girls and 5(5%) boys, totally 8(4%) which all of them had serum anti-HBS≤10 IU/L. No case of positive HBs Ag was detected. Immunity was detected in 11 of 18 (61.1%) children with birth weight<2.5 kg and in 176 of 182 (96.7%) children with birth weight≥2.5 kg (P<0.05). Conclusion: The immunity following the complete series (0, 2, 6 months old) of hepatitis B vaccination remained detectable after 14 years.

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Background and Objective: Today, the role of family members in caring for cancer patients is becoming more important. Numerous cancer-associated problems affect both the patients and their caregivers. Little information is available about the social support and spiritual health of caregivers of cancer patients; therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the spiritual health and social support status of family caregivers of cancer patients in northeastern Iran.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 265 family caregivers of cancer patients. The subjects were selected by convenience sampling from inpatient wards and outpatient clinics of Babol University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Data were collected using the Social Support Questionnaire (by Vaux), the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (by Paloutzian and Ellison), and a socio-demographic questionnaire.
Results: The mean scores of social support and spiritual health of family caregivers of cancer patients were 98.86±14.58 and 91.32±11.97, respectively, which are at a desirable level. The age of caregivers and the duration of cancer had no significant relationship with the score of spiritual health and social support.
Conclusion: According to our findings, family caregivers of cancer patients have a desirable level of social support and spiritual health.