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Background & Objective: WHO estimated almost 27% of under 5 years children suffered from under-weight. This study aimed are assessing anthropometric indicators (underweight, wasting and stunting) in 0-24 months children at Golestan province and the relationship with the background variables of households. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 1473 children (under 2 years old) whom resided in urban and rural area. Samplimg method was single stage cluster sampling. Constitutional variables in child’s mothers, age, educational level, job and child’s weight and height are measured by structured questionnair. The data were analysed with chi square, chi square for trend and logistic regression. Results: The under-weight, wasting and stunting (mild to severe) prevalence were 21.4% (CI 95%: 19.3-23.6), 16.5% (CI 95%: 14.7-18.5) and 31.4% (CI 95%: 29.1-33.8) respectively. Maximum sex difference in the malnutrition indicators were seen stunting (boys 14.3%, girls 7.2%) (p<0.05). The prevalence of under-weight, wasting and stunting are positively correlated with increasing the children’s age. The under-weight and stunting linear trend was significant (p<0.05). The risk of under-weight children were 2.8 fold in illitraced mothers relative to mothers with high school diploma (CI 95% for adjusted odds ratio: 1.1-7). The risk was 1.5 fold in stunting (CI 95% for adjusted odds ratio: 0.5-4.3). Conclusion: The under-weight and wasting (moderate to severe) prevalence are increased relatively ANIS study (1998), but stunting prevalence are not increased. The mothers’ illitracy and very low educational level can be suspected risk factors for under-weight and stunting.

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Background & Objective: Burning is a general health problem and is also a global injury as well as a very serious sanitary issue in industrial and developing countries. In its severe form, burning can claim lives. It seems essential in every society to analyze burning, to study the causes of burning, treatment outcomes and the death rates, etc. to find proper preventive measures. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the medical records of all patients who were hospitalized and finally deceased during the years 2002 and 2004 in Zare' teaching hospital, Sari, were examined. Some variables including the age span average, the degree and percentage of burning, patients' residence, gender, the cause of burning (i.e. boiling water, fire, acids and explosives), average hospitalization period, surgery and also the abundance of self – burning attempts were examined. Results: This study indicate that during these 3 years the total number of those who died from burns was 506 (23.4%). The residential places were in Mazanderan province (41.7%), Golestan province (41.4%), and Gilan province (10.2%). The abundance of burning ranges as below: The 2 and 3 degree of burning at 91.8%. Regarding the percentage of burns, 31.7% of abundance pertains to burning at 90% and more. The greatest external causes leading to burns are petrol, gas, and gas oil at 57.9%. Also, the percentage of burns does not have much influence on death rate among 50 – year – olds and older people. Conclusion: This study indicated that the importance of death between burned patient in special sex and age. To establish hospitals, some issues must be considered as: distance, transportation, route dangers, characteristics of area, existing epidemiological survey, and finally the epidemics and event statistics.

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Background & Objective: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most important health problems all over the world. This study was conducted to determine the co-infection of hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV) in HBV infected patients in Golestan province of Iran. Materials & Methods: This population based cross sectional study was done in 2004. 139 HBsAg positive cases were assessed for co-infection with HCV and HDV. Serologic tests were done by ELISA method using available kits. Data were analyzed by SPSS-12 and STATA8 software. P-values of less than 0.05 were considered as significant. Results: Sixty eight (48.9%) of 139 cases were males and 71 (51.1%) were females. The mean (±SD) of participant's age was 41.89 (±11.3) years (range: 25-64 years). Anti-HCV and Anti-HDV antibodies were positive in 17 (12.3%) and 8 (5.8%) cases, respectively. Females were more infected with HCV and HDV than males. But the differences were not significant. Conclusion: The prevalence of co-infection with HCV and HDV in HBV infected cases is relatively high and notable in Golestan province of Iran. Because of negative effects of these co-infections in clinical outcome of the disease, it is recommended to assess possible HCV and HDV infection in individuals with HBV infection. This may result in more efficient management of the disease.

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Background & Objective: Gorgan Gulf, with unique environmental value, has been located at the eastern south region of the Caspian Sea. It has not only valuable fish species such as strugen, Caspian roach, carp and vobla fish which supply a great part of daily protein need of our country and the world, but also its beaches are used for swimming. Therefore Lack of observation for environmental regulations result in entrance of microbial pollutants into Gorgan Gulf and creates dangers both for human health and for marine environment. So the evaluation microbial pollution for these beaches and comparing them with standards is an essential need. This study was done to evaluate microbial pollution for Caspian Sea at Gorgan Gulf. Materials & Methods: 40 sea water samples were collected during spring and autumn of 2004 at Gorgan Gulf for evaluation of sea water in Gorgan Gulf microbial pollution and also the mean total number of bacteria, coliforms, fecal coli forms and fecal streptococci was determined by standard method. Results: The results indicated that the mean total number of bacteria, coli forms, fecal coli forms and fecal streptococcus were 5001/1cc, 1555/100cc, 817/100cc and 59/100cc respectively. Conclusion: Mean results compared with related standard (both for swimming beach and piscicultres) and we found that Gorgan Gulf beaches have been polluted for swimming applications, but it is not the case for piscicultures.

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Background and Objective: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a definition of dysfunction of immune system in human that is induced by infection with a virus named human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The most high risk group in HIV infected people are intravenous drug users (IDUs) with unsafe sex. This study was conducted to evaluate knowledge and attitude of IDUs with unsafe sex about AIDS and relation with socioeconomic levels in Golestan province in North of Iran. Materials and Methods: This Cross-Sectional study was conducted on 134 IDUs in Golestan province during 2007. Samples were chosen by a random systematic method. Data was collected with interview by standard questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS-16 and One-way ANOVA,T-test student, Kruskal-wallis, Mann-Whitney U and Kendall tests. Results: This study showed that 36.6% of samples had moderate knowledge about AIDS and 49.3% of them had negative attitude about AIDS. 67% of subjects had education between 6-12 years, 44.8% were married and 53% were jobless and without income. Level of knowledge had a significant relation with age (P<0.05) and education level (P<0.05). Older subjects had better knowledge. Level of knowledge in 25-34 years group was higher than other age. Well educated people had higher knowledge compared with low educated and illitrate subjects. Level of knowledge had a significant relation with attitude (P<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that 65% of subjects with high risk behavior on HIV/AIDS had a appropriate knowledge about transmission of HIV, but half of these population have a poor HIV/AIDS attitude.

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Background and Objective: Child obesity is increased in developing countries. This study assessed the prevalence of obesity on children which are exclusively on breast feeding and its duration among children aged 24-59 months in Bandar Turkmen district Northern, Iran.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive- analytical study, 343 in children aged 24-59 months were selected with stratified random sampling. Obesity was defined as >+2SD NCHS (National Center for Health Surveys) reference. Data were collected by questionnaire, interview with mothers and were analyzed with Chi-Square and Fisher tests and multiple regression logistic models.

Results: In this study, 6.4% of children were obese. Prevalence of obesity was not significantly different between boys and girls (5.4% and 7.4% respectively). Breast feeding duration<18 months (P<0.005) and formula or cow’s milk plus breast feeding up to 6 months old (P<0.01) was significantly correlated with children’s obesity. Breast feeding duration more than 18 months reduced the obesity risk factor with 64%.

Conclusion: This study demonestrated that exclusively breast feeding in the first 6 months of life and breast feeding duration more than 18 months reduce the child obesity.

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Background and Objective: Elevated levels of inflammation markers including white blood cell, platelet, serum fibrinogen and CRP are associated with prognosis in patients with coronary artery diseases. This study was done to determine the effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Amaranthus caudatus l on Inflammation markers level in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 20 male Rabbits were allocated into four groups of five each: Group I Normal diet(75 days) Group II Hypercholesterolemic diet (75 days) Group III and IV Hypercholesterolemic diet (45 days) followed by Normal diet and Normal diet with hydroalcoholic extracts Amaranthus caudatus l., respectively for an additional 30 days(Regression period). Blood samples were collected from rabbits before and after 45 days and 75 days of respective diet regimen. The level of White Blood cell, platelet, serum fibrinogen and CRP were measured. Data analyzed by using SPSS-13 and one-way ANOVA‌ test. Results: CRP in treatment group reduced from 8.14±4.5 mg/l to 17.8±4.6 mg/l in hypercholesterolemic animals (group II) (P<0.05). WBC count was 20820±8692 and 42366±17048 in treatment and hypercholesterolemic animals, respectively (P<0.05). Platelet and fibrinogen concentration was reduced in treatment group 502600±35725 and 208±24 mg/dl, respectively in comparison with hypercholesterolemic animals 638000±59774 and 299±46 mg/dl, respectively. These differences were significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that hydroalcoholic extracts of Amaranthus caudatus l reduces inflammatory markers in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

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Background and Objective: Kombucha (fungal) tea is a sugar sweetened black tea obtained through a fermentation process containing symbiotic culture of acetic acid bacteria and yeasts. This study was done to determine the effect of Kombucha tea on rat liver histophatological alterations due to Thioacetamide (TAA). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 20 adult male Wistar rats randomly allocated into four groups as follow: 1) control, 2) TAA group, treated with (TAA), (400 mg/kg/bw) for two weeks, 3) treated with (TAA), (400 mg/kg/bw) and then with Kombucha tea (50 mg/kg) and finally 4) preventive, treated with Kombucha tea, (50 mg/kg) and then (TAA), (400 mg/kg) for three weeks. The serum level of aminotransferase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total bilirubin were meseared and liver tissue samples were stained by hematoxilin and eosin. Results: Serum level of AST, ALT, ALP, LDH and total bilirubin significantly increased in TAA group compare to control group (P<0.05). Serum level of AST, ALT, ALP, LDH and total bilirubin significantly reduced in treated and protective groups in comparision with TAA group (P<0.05). Mitosis and apptosis increased in TAA group. These liver histopathological alterations reduced in terated and protective groups. Conclusion: Kombucha tea contains theraputic and protective effects on enzyms and liver histophatological damage due to Thioacetamide in rat.

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Background and Objective: Individuals habit has been changed due to technology improvement as a result fast food consumption has dramatically increased in Iran. This study was done to determine the effective factors on Fast food consumption among high-school students based on planned behavior theory.

Methods: This descriptive-analytic, cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 high-school students in Aliabad city in Golestan province in north of Iran in one year study from October 2014-2015. A valid and reliable researcher-made and self-administered questionnaire based on TPB constructs (including attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and behavior intention) was utilized to collect the data.

Results: The frequency of fast food consumption was 4.01 per month and hamburger and pizza were the most prevalent fast foods. TPB explained fast food consumption behaviors with relatively high R2 around 0.65, effectively. Frequency of fast food consumption was significantly associated with behavioral intention and subjective norms (P<0.05).

Conclusion: As friends are the effective subjective norm for student fast food consumption therefore, they must specifically be considered in developing beneficial educational interventions.

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Background and Objective: Genu varus is a deformity in frontal plane that in weight bearing position whiles the medial malleolus’s touch each other, the medial knee epicondyles far from each other. Genu varus is very prevalent in soccer players. This study was done to evaluate the effect of using knee brace and lateral wedge on muscular activity amplitude in male soccer players with genu varus during running.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was done on 15 right-footed male soccer players with genu varus and 15 healthy soccer players. A wireless electromyography system with eight pairs of bipolar Ag/AgCl surface electrodes (20 mm center-to-center distance; input impedance of 100 MΩ; and common-mode rejection ratio of >110 dB) was used to record the activity of the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medialis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris, and gluteus medius muscles of the right leg. Electromyography data were recorded by sampling rate of 1000 Hz in selected muscles during running at five conditions including: control, 10 degrees lateral wedge, 15 degrees lateral wedge, simultaneous using 30 degrees brace and 10 degrees lateral wedge, and simultaneous using 30 degree brace and 15 degrees lateral wedge.
Results: Treatment intervention had reduction effect on muscular amplitude of biceps femoris and vastus lateralis during push-off phase (P<0.05). Muscular amplitude of biceps femoris and vastus lateralis during loading phase was reduced due to Treatment intervention (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Simultaneous using of lateral wedge and knee brace reduce the electromyography activity of vastus lateralis and biceps femoris muscles. This reduction may be associated with passive support of knee brace that in result could decrease the external knee adductor mowment.