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Anemia especially those due to Iron deficiency is one of the nutritional problems. Women are more susceptible to anemia during the age of fertility. The main purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of anemia among 18-35 years old women in the villages around Gorgan. It was carried out in the 20 villages on 415 women. They were chosen by compound sampling. The mean age of the cases was 24.92 years old. Blood sampling and filling the questionnaire were carried out. On the chosen samples ferum Iron, TIBC, was determined using spectrophotometer hematolog tests was carried out using electronic cell counter. The prevalence of Iron deficiency, anemia, and the anemia due to Iron depletion were 37.78%, 25.1% and 13.45% respectively. There was not a meaningful relationship between marital status age with Iron depletion anemia and anemia due to Iron depletion. The conclusion out of this research showed that the anemia and especially anemia due to Iron depletion is one of the main nutritional problems among the women living in the villages around Gorgan.

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Urinary tract infection is common disease in pregnancy and most symptomatic infection with grate danger for fetus and mother’s. This study has been done to determine the prevalency of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women in Gorgan in 2000. Mid-stream urine from 900 pregnant women was obtained. Urine analysis and culture for all of them have been done and positive cultured (Isolated bacteria with 100000-colony count) was antibiogramed by Kerby Buer method. Out of 900 urine specimen 3.7% of samples had positive urinary tract infection. The common organism isolated was E.coli (33.3%), Coagulase negative, Staphylococci (30.3%) and Klebsiella (15.2%). There was not a significant correlation between age, pariety, pregnancy age, fresh urinary infection and asymptomatic bacteriuria but there was a significant and correlation kidney stone between bacteriuria. Anti-microbial sensitivity pattern demonstrates more sensitivity of strain with Amikacin and Gentamycin. Although prevalence of bacteriuria in this (3.7%) lower than other studies in this country but for their severe sequele. This phenomen should be taken into more consideration further investigation in other part of the country should be done to face the probable difficulties.

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The solid waste is all of the refuse produced by the human activities. The quality and quantity of the solid waste are variable according to the economic, social and cultural factors. The purpose of this research is to study of the quality and quantity of the Gorgan garbage. This is a cross-sectional study. We used the city halls statistics to calculate the share-out of the garbage (Daily produced garbage divided by the population of the city in that year). This share-out is calculated in spring and fall in 1998. To determine the quality of garbage, the city was divided to three zones: Northern, central and southern zone. Two temporary container were chosen in each zone and 100 kg garbage were taken from each container. The garbage of each container was examined three times during each season. After separating the samples out, the rates are reported according to the percentage of the weight of various materials. The final results shown are the mean of results that came from the study of the chosen containers. The results show that the share-out of garbage for one person in spring is 537 gr and in fall is 644 gr. According to their weight, the percentage of various materials were: Biodegradable materials 85.6%, paper and carton 6.6%, glass 2.6%, plastic 2%, fabrics and cloths 1.5%, wood 0.9% and metals 0.8%. This study reveals that biodegradable materials are the majority of garbage. To establish the compost industry in this province and use the prepared compost in agriculture can decrease the need for chemical fertilizer, and the same time, environmental pollution by both chemical and biodegradable materials would reduce.

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Background & Objective: Swimming pools are the most important sports field. The swimming effect on body and mental human health. The health, and disinfection of pools help to protect swimmers otherwise it can transfer agent of disease such as conjunctivitis-dermatit-athletes feet and parasitic in swimmers. The main purpose of this study is to survey the quality of health indicators in swimming pools and matching them with present standard in the Gorgan. Materials & Methods: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. It has performed on all of the swimming pool in summer season in Gorgan. In this study, general characteristics had determined by interview method and the parameters such as pH, turbidity, residual chlorine, Coliform bacteria, E.coli, Streptococcus Fecalis and Pseudomonas Aerogenosa determined in the laboratory. The sampling of water was performed every 10 days at 14-16 PM. The residual chlorine and pH determined in the field and the other parameters determined in the laboratory. Results: This research showed that pH>8 in 66.6% of samples and the amount of Coliform, E.coli and Streptococcus Fecalis were not at upper limit of standard, but the Pseudomonas Aerogenosa is more than limit of standard in 58.3% of samples. The residual chlorine was more limit of standard in 61.1% of samples and the amount of residual chlorine was according to limit of standard in Kiani and women’s pools. Conclusion: The lack of chlorinator system-inadequate of water treatment system and lack of knowledge pool’s incumbent cause that pH and residual chlorine were undesirable at most of the time. Additionally bacterial pollution confirms above subjects. So it is recommend that extensive research to be done on relationship between bacterial pollution and prevalence of disease in swimming pools.

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Background & Objective: In all of world, a portion of household income expends on health care cost. Amount and distribution of the proportion indicate financial burden of health care in the societies. WHO believes that one of the main determinants in health system efficiency is fairness of financial contribution. This study aimed distribution pattern of urban households’ income, health expenditure by cost types and measuring of equality on health care costs in the Gorgan district. Materials & Methods: In order to establish the population laboratory, this cross-sectional study assessed 1014 household in the Gorgan health posts (No 4 and 8) on January 2003. health insurance status, monthly household income and monthly health care cost gathered through interviewing with the husbandmans. Results: Health insurance coverage was 67% in highest and 44% in lowest income deciles (P<0.05). Median and mean of assessed households’ income and household health care cost were 1200000 Rls, (1669669±187300 Rls) and 80000 Rls, (281530±95124 Rls) respectively. Mean of median of out of pocket proportion health care cost per households’ income was 0.57±0.03 and 0.66 respectively. 13% of total income expended health care cost through out of pocket. This proportion in highest and lowest income decile was 7% and 28% (P<0.05). Gini coefficient of health care cost and out of pocket cost per total household income were 0.22 and 0.18 respectively. Conclusion: Low income households expended almost 40% of their income in order to purchasing of health care, in comparison to richest households, they spent 9% of total income. Instead of, additive development of health insurance systems and complementary insurance mechanisms, a half of health care cost in the population spend by out of pocket. According to WHO standards of health system performance, revising health insurance system and payment mechanisms are mandatory.

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Background & Objective: Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer of GI and 2nd most common cause of cancer death in the world. The purpose of this study was to determine epidemiologic aspect and tumor characteristics of colorectal cancer for patients and compare them in young (<50 yr) and older (>50 yr) patients. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study during 3 yr the samples of malignant colorectal cancer presented in Gorgan endoscopy and pathologic centers were collected. Data evaluated by statistically method. Results: There were 101 cases of malignant colorectal cancer. 61 cases were male and 40 cases were female. The mean age was 56±13.65 yr. 13.9% of patients were <40 yr. The type of tumor in 94% was adenocarcinoma, 2.9% lymphoma and 2.9% undifferentiated carcinoma. The site of involvement in 30 cases were rectum and in 71 cases were colon. The most common symptom was abdominal pain, constipation and rectal bleeding. The time interval between onset of symptom to diagnosis of disease in 58 cases was >6 mth. Family history of cancer in 36 cases was positive. Right colon cancer in young patient was significantly more than older (P<0.05). Positive family history of cancer in right colon cancer was significantly more other than. Positive family history of cancer in young patient was more than other (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to this study, colorectal cancer was high. Therefore, it is necessary to pay more attention to the symptom of young patient and providing a screening program in patients over 50 years old and young patients with positive family history.

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Background & Objective: No nutrient deficiency is as bad as Iodine deficiency which attributed to a broad spectrum of disorders like goiter, abortion, hypothyroidism, etc. Screening for hypothyroidism must be done before or just after pregnancy. The present study was conducted to evaluate serum TSH and urinary Iodine concentration in pregnant women in Gorgan several years after salt iodization in Iran was implemented. Materials & Methods: From December to March 2004, 97 pregnant women referred for prenatal care to the Deziani Hospital in Gorgan were selected. 2 cc of blood for serum TSH measurement and 2 cc of urine for Iodine concentration measurement were collected. Urine Iodine concentration was measured by Acid digestion and TSH concentration measured by ELISA method. Results: 97 women, 86 (89%) women had normally urinary Iodine, 11 women had Iodine deficiency, 9 women had mild Iodine deficiency (82%) and 2 women (18%) had moderate Iodine deficiency none of them had severe Iodine deficiency. Serum TSH was normal in 90 women and only in 7 women it was more than 4 and none of them had TSH less than 0.3. There were not any significant statistical correlation between age, weight, height, parity, goiter grading, salary, gestational age and urinary Iodine concentration. Conclusion: According to low prevalence of Iodine deficiency in this study Iodine programs were successful in Gorgan and the mean urinary Iodine is high so evaluating of Iodine consumption for preventing of Iodine overload is necessary. Because of complications of Iodine deficiency especially in the 1st trimester of pregnancy regular measurement of urinary Iodine must be done in reproductive ages before pregnancy or just after pregnancy.

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Background&Objective: Addiction is one of major problems of today's world population. The first step on combating a social issue or disease is the proper re.organization. This study was done to determine the demographic characteristic, prototype of drug consumption and its relation with some personal and social variation in Gorgan (North-East, Iran). Materials&Methods: This study was a descriptive cross sectional research. The characteristics of 3005 addicts, was studied whom research voluntarily to the addiction clinic during 2001–2005 in the 5th Azar hospital of Golestan Medical Sciences University in Gorgan. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS software. Results: From a total 3005 files which were studied, 2786 (92.7%) were male and the reminder were females. The meanSD of age was 36.9111.41. 4.8% of samples had university education, 21.3% high school diploma, and 61.7% were either unemployed or without any certain job. Opium with 66.7% was the substance with highest rate of consumption. In 40.2% of the cases, inhaling was the main route of consumption and in 30.9% of addict subjects taking the drugs orally. From the point view of type of drug, smocking cigarette, alcohol consumption, using cannabis and pill consumption, there was a meaningful correlation (P<0.05). The rate of addicted male subjects whom referred to the clinic to leave the addiction was 14.97% times of female subjects. 93.8% of the addicts persons had 20-50 years of age, which is an indicative of the real of age of addicted people in Gorgan. Conclusion: Unemployment can be considered as one of the main cause of high rate of addiction among the people in the society and in particular in this sample population. It seems that with education and creating employment in the region, to some extend the addiction can be controlled.

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Background & Objective: Vaccination is one of the most effective ways in preventing the hepatitis B viruse. This study was done to evaluate the response rate to hepatitis B vaccine in under one-year children in Gorgan, Iran. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on 215, children of 7-12 month of age (55.3% male, 44.7% female), in Gorgan, northern Iran during 2006. These subjects already had received the three-time vaccination against hepatitis B. Anti-HBs, Anti-HBc and HBsAg level of these children serum were determined, using ELISA technique. Results: In 30 (14%) subject's serum, there was not detected any antibodies against the viruses. Out of 185 children positive for HBS, 4 cases belong to HBC viruses. As a whole, 86% of the samples, had more than ten international unit of HBS. The meanSD of the titred antibodies in male and female were 158.8412 and 187.5513.83 respectively. The response not to three-times vaccination in male and female were 84% and 89.9% respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that in spit of vaccination, there are cases with virus-contamination. The reasons for absence of any response to the vaccination in some of this children can be due to deficiency in the immune system, improper genetic background which can not be stimulated by that vaccination, inadequate proper conditions for the preservation of vaccine, and the type vaccine used. Also the procedure of vaccine inoculation, the vaccine preservation condition and transportation should be taken into considertion.

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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: One of the problems in urban areas is nitrate contamination of ground waters. High nitrate concentration can cause methemoglobinemia, appearing as a risk factor is provided by ground waters. More than 80% of drinking water of Gorgan, Iran. So this investigation was done to determine of nitrate level in ground waters in Gorgan. This study has been carried out for investigation of nitrate rate in drinking water supply networks and not drinking water ground water wells of Gorgan city. Materials and Methods: This discriptive study was done on 43 ground waters and surface water samples which collected in spring and winter, in Gorgan during 2005. K+, Cl-, NO21-, NO31- of samples were analyzed by spectrophotometery method. Results: The chemical analysis of ground waters of drinking water resources of Gorgan city showed significant variation of nitrate between 3.52 to 69.52 mg/l. The rates of nitrate in certain ground waters wells in vicinity of landfills were between 84.48 to 145.2 mg/l which is more than drinking water standards. Nitrate concentration in agricultural lands such as Shast-kula and Garmabdasht aquifers is lower than Ziarate aquifer in vicinity of urban area. Conclusion: Nitrate contamination in aquifers in vicinity of urban area and unsanitary disposal of solid waste substance may result from house sewage effluents and infiltration of landfill leachs to ground water wells.

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Background and Objective: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disturbance of colonic function characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating and abnormal bowel function, resulting in episodes of chronic diarrhea, chronic constipation, or both in alternation. It affects approximately 3 to 20 percent of the population. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Irritable bowel syndrome among the high school pupile in Gorgan, in North of Iran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical cross sectional study, data was collected by clustering, quota and randomized sampling. 1080, 15-19 years old male and female high school pupiles, residing in Gorgan participated in the survey during 2007. The data collection tool was a demographic questionnaire and standard Rome-II criteria. Results: 1063 pupiles completed the questionnaire. The Irritable bowel syndrome prevalence according to Rome-II was 5.7%. The relation between ethnicity and Irritable bowel syndrome was significant (P<0.05). The rate of Irritable bowel syndrome was higher among the Turkmen students. There was no significant relation between Irritable bowel syndrome prevalence with gender, age and family income. Conclusion: This study showed that irritable bowel syndrome prevalence in this area is nearly similar to that reported in national studies in western Iran as well as with Asian countries.

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Background and Objective: Destructive effects of thyroid diseases in pregnancy and fetal frowth is well established subclinical autoimmune thyroid diseases can double the rate of preterm labor, abortion and postpartum thyroiditis. This study was done to compare thyroid function and autoimmunity derangment in goiterous and non-goiterous pregnant women. Materials and Methods: This case – control study was done on 100 healthy and 100 goiterous pregnant women in Dezyani hospital located in Gorgan, Northern Iran during 2005. Five mililiter of blood sample was obtained from each subject to measure thyroid hormones concentration including T3/ T4/ TSH/ T3 RUP and thyroid autoantibodies (Anti Tg/Anti TPO). Thyroid hormone and auto antibodies were measured using IRMA and ELISA techniques. Results: Thyroid volume was enlargel twice and tripl of its orginal size in 34% and 66% goitrious pregnant women respectively. Mean serum TSH in cases and controls were 1.81+/-1.33 microU/ml and 1.84+/-1.4 microU/ml respectively. The mean of Anti TPO and Anti Tg in cases were 373.91+-197.36 U/ml and 248.80+-70.59 U/ml respectively. The same indecs for controls were 79.52+-63.99 U/ml and 248.80+-70.59 U/ml respectively. In pregnant women with goiter 36% had high Anti TPO and 9% had high Anti Tg, but in control group 16% and 4% of controls had elevated Anti TPO and Anti Tg, respectively. Conclusion: According to thyroid function tests there were elevation of antibody in 20% of the healthy subjects and 45% of the goiterous subjects, therefore it is advisable to measure thyriod function tests accompanied with thyriod antibodies in all pergnant women either with or without goiter in order to prevent feto-maternal disorders.

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Background and Objective: Environmental hazards are one of the most important threats to human health. The dramatic increase in population and new lifestyles has led to a variety of environmental problems and outbreaks of illness. This study was conducted to determine the attitude and knowledge in environmental behavior of citizens of Gorgan city, north of Iran.
Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was carried out on 400 people (209 men and 191 women) in Gorgan citizens in northern Iran during 2017. A multi-stage sampling method was used to select the samples. The city of Gorgan was divided into 3 categories according to urban divisions, and the neighborhoods within the classes were considered as clusters. 40% of the neighborhoods were randomly assigned to each study. The instruments used for collecting data were demographic questionnaire and knowledge, attitude and environmental behavior questionnaires.
Results: The level of environmental attitudes and environmental knowledge of the citizens was poor and their Pro-environment behavior was highly valued. Persons with higher age, higher education and level of employment had better environmental behaviors (P<0.05). There was a significant and inverse relationship between environmental attitude and environmental behavior (P<0.05). Increasing
bio-environmental knowledge led to an increase in bio-environmental behavior (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The level of knowledge and environmental attitude of Gorgan citizens was weak and their pro-environmental behaviors were strong.