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Background&Objective: Leptospirosis is one of the most common zoonosis in the world,fatality rate of the disease is sometimes high in endemic regions and is transmitted through direct or indirect contact with urine of animals that are carrier of leptospirosis. We studied incidence of leptospirosis in Golestan province in 2004. Materials&Methods: According to coordination with province health center, 20 suspicious patients for leptospirosis were diagnosed by general practioners and referred to 5th Azar hospital. Patients with at least 4 constitutional symptoms (fever, sever headache, conjunctival suffusion, myalgia, arthralgia, icter, malaise) and history of working ir rice farm, exposure to wild or domestic animals or stagnant water were included and MAT for leptospirosis were requested. other causes were ruled out with wright, widal, VDRL, peripheral blood smear. Results: Out of 20 suspicious patients, 12 cases reported. All of them were farmer, had titer>1/100 in MAT. Fever chills, headache were found in nearly all of them. Conjunctival suffusion and increased CPK up to 2 fold than normal was seen in %75 and %66.4 respectively. They were treated by ampicillin or amoxicillin sussessfully. Conclusion: According to the results of this study we suggest to all physician of the area to be concentrated to the disease as an occupational disease in rice farmers. So early diagnosis can prevent many complications of the disease in this group of farmers.

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Background & Objective: The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is in its third decade and has become a pandemic disease that threatens the world population. Educational programs are well known as the most effective strategy to preventing the AIDS. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitude of participants about AIDS and to test the effects of an AIDS education program on it. Materials & Methods: This case-control study was conducted during 2005. 149 Red Crescent personnel in Golestan, Iran. The sample subjects participated in a pre/post intervention study. The activity consisted of a workshop 90 minutes in length, in conjunction with educational material. A 13-item questionnaire was used as the gauging tool. Results: 47% of subjects had adequate knowledge about AIDS. Mean level of knowledge in post-test exam was significantly higher than pre-test one (P<0.0001). Individuals with higher educational level (high school and university) had lower knowledge in pre-test (P=0.001), but the difference in pos-test was not significant. A significant relationship was shown between the history of participation in previous AIDS education programs and subject's knowledge in pre-test (P<0.001). Conclusion: This study indicated that education program based on special traing considerably increase general awareness and attitde towards AIDS.

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Anomalous coronary artery origin is a rare clinical entity with varied clinical outcomes ranging from asymptomatic to sudden cardiac death. The incidence of anomalous origin of left coronary artery arising from the right coronary cusp is 0.3-1%. CT angiography is the choice method for coronary anomalies, but often coronary angiography in RAO (right anterior oblique) view shows the coronary course. We present a case that referred to our hospital with post myocardial infarction angina for coronary angiography. A resting 12-lead electrocardiogram showed ST-segment elevation in leads v2, v3, v4. A transthoracic echocardiogram indicated LVEF 25% (Left ventricular ejection fraction), septal akinesia and apical dyskinesia. Coronary Angiography showed an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right coronary cusp and significant stenosis in LAD (left anterior descending) and LCX (left circumflex) arteries with poor run off.

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Background and Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are the most frequent cause of death among hemodialysis patients. Left ventricular hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction are potent predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Cardiac troponin T and I are the indices of myocardial cell damage. This study was done to determine the relationship between serum cardiac troponin T and I with left ventricular hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction in hemodialysis patients. Method: In this case-control study, 56 hemodialysis patients were divided into two groups according to echocardiographic findings. The first group included 35 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy as case group and 21 patients without left ventricular hypertrophy as controls. Serum level of cardiac troponin T and I were measured using electro chemiluminscence immune assay. Results: Serum level of cardiac troponin T and I was significantly higher in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (0.99±0.12 ng/ml and 0.17±0.09 ng/ml, respectively) in comparison with controls (0.37±0.05 ng/ml and 0.13±0.09 ng/ml, respectively) (P<0.05). There was no correlation between serum cardiac troponin T and I level with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Conclusion: Cardiac troponin I and T do not have any value for the diagnosis of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in hemodialysis patients.

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Background and Objective: Medicinal drug interactions are one of the problems caused by irrational drug prescription. It eigher change the therapeutic effect or cause drug toxicity. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of medicinal drug interactions in medicinal prescriptions in Golestan province, north of Iran.

Methods: In this descriptive study, 1100000 medicinal prescriptions under contract with the Golestan province health insurance organization were assessed for drug interactions during 20 March-
20 September 2012.

Results: Drug interactions frequency was 6262 (0.66%). 35.5%, 63.1% and 1.4% of prescriptions were severe, moderate and mild interactions, respectively. The most common severe, moderate and mild drug interactions related to Atorvastatin-Gemfibrozil (13.67%), Ceftriaxone- Gentamicin (9.05%) and Lithium Carbonate-Haloperidol (2.56%).

Conclusion: In view of moderate and severe medicinal drug interactions in physicians' prescriptions, health system should plan a comprehensive program to improve awareness and effective monitoring to reduce medicinal drug interactions.

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Background and Objective: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF) and its receptor express in developing follicles, fetal and reproductive tissues. The serum G-CSF concentration significantly increases during the ovulatory phase in comparison with other phases, so G-CSF may have an important role in ovulation and the early cross-talk between mother and conceptus in both human and animal models. This study was done to evaluate the Effect of exogenous G-CSF on ovulation and pregnancy rate in NMRI mice.

Methods: In this experimental study, 40 mature female and 10 male NMRI mice were randomly allocated into the control and treatment groups. All Ovaries were stimulated with intraperitoneal injections (IP) of 10 IU PMSG and after 48 hour by 10 IU hCG per mouse. The treatment group were recieved G-CSF (50mg/kg i.p.), at the time of PMSG administration, while the control group had the same volume of normal saline instead of G-CSF at the same time. 16-18 hours post-hCG administration, twenty female mice of both groups were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and ovulated oocytes were assessed. On day 16 post coitus, the rest of female mice of both groups were scarificed for withdrawing their fetuses to determine the effect of G-CSF on pregnancy rates.

Results: The ovulation rate in the treatment group (18.5±1.25) were significantly more than that of control (12.1±1.32) (P<0.05). The number of fetuses had no significant difference between control and treatment groups.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that exogenous G-CSF may affect on folliculogenesis and ovulation but the following pregnancy outcome was not impressed.

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Background and Objective: Hemoptysis is defined as the expectoration of blood from the lower respiratory tract. Bronchiolitis, bronchogenic carcinoma, and bronchiectasis are the most common causes of hemoptysis in developed countries, while infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis are the most common cause in endemic countries. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of causes of hemoptysis and some related factors.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done on 68 patients (37 men and 31 women, average age 56.85±17.27 years) who were referred to the Shahid Sayyad Shirazi Hospital in Gorgan, north of Iran during 2014-16 with the complaint of hemoptysis. Demographic information, cause of hemoptysis and history of illness or drug abuse were extracted from the patients’ records.
Results: Based on the results, 42.6%, 45.6%, and 17.6% of the patients had a history of smoking, drug abuse, and diabetes, respectively. The most frequent causes of hemoptysis were bronchiectasis (25%), pneumonia (20.6%), tuberculosis, and lung cancer (16.4%). Gender was determined as an independent risk factor for hemoptysis (P<0.05). The most common causes of hemoptysis were bronchiectasis, lung cancer and pneumonia in men, and tuberculosis and bronchiectasis in women. Age, drug abuse, smoking, and diabetes had no significant association with the occurrence of hemoptysis.
Conclusion: Bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, and lung cancer are the main causes of hemoptysis, and gender is an independent risk factor for hemoptysis in the study area.