---

Background & Objective: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a heterogenous group of malformation which is resulting from failure of normal neural tube closure between the 3rd and 4th week of embryonic development. The most common form of this malformation is anencephaly, spinabifida and ancephalocele. Prevalence of this malformation differs from geographic situation and race distribution. Materials & Methods: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of NTDs in Birjand Hospital between 1996 to 2000. After diagnose of malformation among the 16785 infants born in the 2 hospitals in Birjand, reliable questionnaire was completed for the mothers who had malformed infants. The data was analyzed by SPSS software. Results: Prevalence of NTDs was 2.97 per 1000 birth, more higher than other countries anencephaly and spina bifida is common form of NTDs in this area. Consanguinity, previous abortion, malformed childbirth, malformed child in the family, diseases during pregnancy and winter delivery were some of the risk factors. Most of the mother (96%) didn’t take the Folic Acid during their pregnancy. Conclusion: The findings from this study indicate that the rate of NTD in Birjand is relatively higher comparing to other studies in different countries. Further investigations are recommended to find out the etiology of NTD in this area.

---

Background & Objectives: Diabetes mellitus contains a group of common metabolic disorders that induces problems in health status. Its prevalence is increasing in the world, due to increase the rate of obesity and decrease in physical activities. This study was done to evaluate incidence of diabetes and prevalence in rural areas of Kalaleh city(North of Iran).

 

Materials & Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study all persons over 30 years old were enrolled, according to diagnosis of diabetes before 2005 or diagnosis in the screening programs (with FPG>126 in two turns) in rural areas of Kalaleh during 2005-06. After collection of demographic data with questionnaires and laboratory findings, they were entered to computer with SPSS-15 software. Central and distributive indices and incidence & prevalence of diabetes were assumed according to the whole population.

 

Results: In this study, 394 cases were enrolled. Incidence and prevalence of diabetes was 0.6% and 1.13%, respectively. Mean age of cases was 51.61 years. Male to female ratio was 0.4. Mean BMI was 29.43 kg/m² and a significant difference was seen between two gender (P<0.05). Most of the cases were Turkmen (72.8%). Illiterates were the major group (77.2%) and 1.8% had diploma or higher educational levels.

 

Conclusion: Prevalence and incidence of diabetes was lower than the other area of Iran.

---

Background and Objective: Depression is the most common mood disorder. To assess the incidence and wide spread of depression and associated factor among of Bakhteyari tribal as native population in Chaharmahal and Bahkteyari province, this study was conducted. Materials & Methods: This study was a descriptive and cross-sectional study which was carried out on 400 subjects by using a systematic random sample technique during 2006. Depression was assessed by Beck inventory depressive questionnaire. Data was Analyzed by SPSS-11 Software and t-test , Chi-Square , ANOVA. Results: Mean±SD of depression score in female and male were 18.5±10.8 and 14.9±11.45, respectivly. Depression incidence rate in population was 29.6% (CI 95%: 25.6-33.6). Intermediate and upper degree of depression prevalence was determined to be 24%. The incidence rate of descriptive in female was higher than males (P<0.05). There was a significant relationship between depression in house wife and jobless people (p<0.05). The highest incidence rate was either under 20 years or above 50 years old. Conclusion: This study showed that the depresion rate is higher among the tribe than in other groups in this province.

---

Background and Objective: Self-injury (SI), also called self-mutilation or cutting, is highly stigmatized emotional disorder. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence rate of self-injury among male pupils in Tabriz – North West in Iran and to evaluate the associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: In this longitudinal study of all the pupils high school in Tabriz, 1772 (13.7%) were randomly sampled, and assessed in this and subsequent year. A self-administered questionnaire with 48 questions was distributed to high school in February and March 2005. After one year (February and March 2006), another questionnaire with 10-items was distributed to those students to determine the incidence rate of self-injury. The influence of different factors on self-injury was evaluated with a logistic regression model. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 16.3±0.87 (min 15, max 19) years. At the end of follow–up, 4.8% of pupils reported incidence of self-injury. Most type of incidenced self-injury were cutting and burning. The results of logistic regression model indicate that transition in smoking stages (OR=2.81), incidence of alcohol drinking (OR=2.27) and having smoker friend (OR=1.78) were factors associated with incidence of self-injury. Conclusion: This study showed that incidence rate of self-injury in this group of adolescents was 4.8% in one year, which related to age, alcohol and ciggaret smoking.

---

Background and Objective: Cancer is third cause of mortality and morbidity in Iran, after heart diseases and car accidents. This study was aimed to determine the incidence rate gastrointestinal tract cancer during 1998-2001 in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, the whole population residing in areas of Tehran, Shemiranat and Eslam'shahr area were supposed to be as the population in risk. Data of cancer recordings were collected from pathology and medical records archives. Those with ICD-10-based diagnosed cancer during 1998-2001, who have been inhabited in above area for at least 1 year, were supposed as canceric cases. The incidence rate of various kinds of cancer were adapted based on age-structure of world population and were calculated by dividing the total rate of this period to 4 in an annual manner. Results: The annual age-specific standardized incidence rate of gastric cancer in men and women were 12.9 and 5.8 per 100000, respectively. The row incidence rate in men and women were 9.2 and 4.1, respectively. Ealderly age groups of both men and women had higher incidence rate of gastric cancer. The annual age-specific standardized incidence rate of colon cancer in men and women were 5.7 and 5.4 per 100000, with row incidence rate of 4.3 and 4.0 per 100000, respectively. The annual age-specific standardized incidence rate of esophageal cancer in men and women were determined as 5.1 and 3.9 per 100000, with row incidence rate of 3.7 and 2.7 per 100,000, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that gastric cancer is the most common type of gastrointestinal cancers in Tehran. Therefore it is suggested the related risk factors in this area should be determined.

---

Background and Objective: The incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) is varied according to race, geographical situation and other predisposing factors. This study was carried out to determine the incidence rate of NTDs and its risk factors in Yasuj, Iran. Materials and Methods: This case - control study was done on live newborns in Imam Sajad hospital, Yasuj, Iran during 2000-10. 78 neonates with NTDs out of 36755 live newborns were considered as cases. The control group was also consisting of the same number of healthy neonates who born at the same period and in the same hospital. Data were collected by a check-list and analyzed using SPSS-19, Chi-Square, Logistic regression and odd’s ratio. Results: The incidence rate of NTDs was 2.12 per 1000 live births. Anencephaly and Spina Bifida was detected in 59 (75.6%) and 19 (24.3%) of affected newborns, respectively. The ratio of females to males was 1.5 times. 53.85% of mothers with affected newborns were grouped in 27-36 years age range. The mean number of pregnancies and abortion between two groups of mothers had no statistical significant differences. There is no significant relation between the mothers occupation and the incidence of NTDs. 10 (12.8%) of mothers from case group and 7 (8.97%) of mothers from control group have used tobacco. 52 (66.7%) of mothers of case group and 30 (38.5%) of controls did not consumed folic acid. The relation between non-user folic acid during pregnancy with NTDs was significant (95% CI: 1.4-6.15, OR=2.93, P<0.001). Conclusion: This study showed relatively high incidence of NTDs in Yasuj. Non-consuming folic acid increased the risk of NTD by 2.93 times.

---

Background and Objective: Due to the increase of incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Iran, This study was conducted to determine the epidemiological pattern of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in the Mazandaran province, northern Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was carried out on medical record of 3313 tuberculosis patients in Mazandaran province, northern Iran during 2001-11. Age, gender, affected year, area and affected organ were gathered for each patient. Results: 843 (25.4%) of subjects were diagnosed with extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis increased by 4% for every unit increase in incidence year (P<0.05). The mean age of patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis was significantly less than patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (42.8±20.6 years vs. 48.7±21.2, P<0.05). Extrapulmonary tuberculosis was significantly higher in women (P<0.05). The chance of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in women was 1.7 times of men. Lymph node (33%) was the most common affected organ followed by pleura (18.9%) and bone (17.7%). Conclusion: The trend of incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis was ascending during 2001 to 2011. The most affected organ in extra pulmonary tuberculosis was lymph nodes.