Objective: In this study we investigated the epidemiology of MS and some related environmental factors in Kerman province, southeastern Iran. Methods: The MS diagnosis was based on the revised Mc-Donald criteria. The patients were those registered at the Iran MS society, Kerman branch; those in the MS registration centers of Kerman and Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, and the Department of Neurology at Shafa Medical Center were studied. Results: The prevalence of MS was 31.5 per 100,000 population in Kerman province, and 57.3 per 100,000 population in Kerman city. The male to female ratio was 1:3. Average age at onset was 28.35 years, and 3.9% of cases were early onset at ≤16 years of age. A linear relationship was observed between prevalence and average environmental temperature as prevalence tended to be lower in areas where the annual average temperature was higher. However, in the town of Shahrbabak which has cold weather, prevalence was low, which might be related to the presence of copper in this area. Average disability was 4.5± 1.9 (4.83 ± 1.9 in men and 4.26 ± 1.8 in women, p=0.0035) on the Kurtzke Disability Status Scale. The mean duration of illness was 8.2 ± 1 year. Almost all patients in this study used beta-interferon for a period of at least 4 years. Conclusion: The prevalence of MS in Kerman province was 31.5 per 100,000 people. A linear relationship between an increase in prevalence and low average temperature was observed. Copper may have a preventive effect.

Background: Work-related stress and its causes are among the most important issues which can seriously challenge organizational efficiency and employees' health. Different occupational environments and groups have different levels of job stress. The present study aimed to investigate relationships between job stress and its dimensions with three occupational groups (administrative, administrative-operational, and operational) among a subsidiary company workers of Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company.Methods: The present study had descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional type and was conducted among 468 out of 503 employees (with entry condition of a year of work experience as well as an official and contractual membership) volunteered to participate in research. Data collection tools included demographic questions and job stress questionnaire as well as human resource department information to determine occupational group of employees. Descriptive statistics, statistical tests, Independent test, and one-way ANOVA in addition to SPSS 21 software were used for data analysis.Results: There were significant relationships between age, education levels, work experience and smoking with mean score of job stress (P-value <0.05). Mean score of employees' job stress in operational occupation group was significantly higher than other two occupational groups (P-value=0.004), and there were significant relationships between employees' occupational group variables with five dimensions of job stress (demand, relationships and role, managerial support, and peer support) (P-value<0.05). There were not any significant relationships between other variables and job stress (P-value>0.05).Conclusion: Exposure to different occupational harmful agents, facing with different safety risks, being far from family, heavy workload, and uncertain employee roles have significantly increased job stress in both operational and executive occupation groups compared to other two occupational groups; hence, there is a positive correlation between high job stress and operational jobs.

Objective: To assess the spatiotemporal trait of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Fars province, Iran. Methods: Spatiotemporal cluster analysis was conducted retrospectively to find spatio-temporal clusters of CL cases.Time-series data were recorded from 29 201 cases in Fars province,Iran from 2010 to 2015,which were used to verify if the cases were distributed randomly over time and place. Then, subgroup analysis was applied to find significant sub-clusters within large clusters.Spatiotemporal permutation scans statistics in addition to subgroup analysis were implemented using SaTScan software. Results: This study resulted in statistically significant spatiotemporal clusters of CL (P<0.05).The most likely cluster contained 350 cases from 1 July 2010 to 30 November 2010. Besides, 5 secondary clusters were detected in different periods of time. Finally, statistically significant sub-clusters were found within the three large clusters(P<0.05). Conclusions: Transmission of CL followed spatiotemporal pattern in Fars province, Iran.This can have an important effect on future studies on prediction and prevention of CL.

Drug resistance is a great challenge in cancer therapy using chemotherapeutic agents.Administration of these drugs with siRNA is an efficacious strategy in this battle.Here,the present study tried to incor-porate siRNA and paclitaxel(PTX)simultaneously into a novel nanocarrier.The selectivity of carrier to target cancer tissues was optimized through conjugation of folic acid(FA)and glucose(Glu)onto its surface.The structure of nanocarrier was formed from ternary magnetic copolymers based on FeCo-polyethyleneimine(FeCo-PEI)nanoparticles and polylactic acid-polyethylene glycol(PLA-PEG)gene delivery system.Biocompatibility of FeCo-PEI-PLA-PEG-FA(NPsA),FeCo-PEI-PLA-PEG-Glu(NPsB)and FeCo-PEI-PLA-PEG-FA/Glu(NPsAB)nanoparticles and also influence of PTX-loaded nanoparticles on in vitro cytotoxicity were examined using MTT assay.Besides,siRNA-FAM internalization was investi-gated by fluorescence microscopy.The results showed the blank nanoparticles were significantly less cytotoxic at various concentrations.Meanwhile,siRNA-FAM/PTX encapsulated nanoparticles exhibited significant anticancer activity against MCF-7 and BT-474cell lines.NPsAB/siRNA/PTX nanoparticles showed greater effects on MCF-7 and BT-474 cells viability than NPsA/siRNA/PTX and NPsB/siRNA/PTX.Also,they induced significantly higher anticancer effects on cancer cells compared with NPsA/siRNA/PTX and NPsB/siRNA/PTX due to their multi-targeted properties using FA and Glu.We concluded that NPsAB nanoparticles have a great potential for co-delivery of both drugs and genes for use in gene therapy and chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: As a common gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been reported to be associated with some psychological and neurological factors. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence rate of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a sample of IBS patients and to compare this prevalence with that of matched healthy controls. METHODS: This prospective comparative study was conducted in Tehran, Iran during 2010-2011. Based on the Rome III criteria, a total number of 225 definite IBS patients and 262 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited in the final assessment to compare the prevalence rate of RLS between the 2 groups. RESULTS: RLS was significantly more frequent in IBS group (25.3% vs 6.5%, P < 0.001) which led to an odds ratio (OR) of 4.89 (95% CI, 2.75-8.70). IBS patients with co-morbid RLS significantly suffered more from stomach pain (96.5% vs 86.3%, OR = 4.36 [95% CI, 1.00-19.12]), nausea (40.4% vs 21.4%, OR = 2.48 [95% CI, 1.30-4.73]) and vomiting (10.5% vs 2.4%, OR = 4.82 [95% CI, 1.31-17.76]). CONCLUSIONS: By enrolling a considerable number of IBS patients and healthy controls, our study showed a significantly higher prevalence of RLS in IBS patients. Surprisingly, a higher prevalence rate of RLS was also accompanied with a more severe discomfort and stomach pain in IBS patients. It seems that screening patients with IBS for RLS may lead to greater identification of RLS and improved treatment for both conditions.
Control Groups ; Humans ; Iran ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Mass Screening ; Nausea ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Restless Legs Syndrome ; Rome ; Stomach ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Since the presence of a co-driver can be considered as a companion, partner, or friend for a driver through eliminating driver's loneliness, it plays a significant role in health and safety of drivers. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of co-drivers on depression and occupational stress on male truck drivers. METHODS: This study was an interventional case-control study. Seventy truck drivers were selected and divided into two groups: case (33 truck drivers with co-drivers) and control (37 truck drivers without co-drivers). Two Goldberg depression inventories (for evaluating driver's depression) and the Karasek job content questionnaire (for evaluating driver's job stress) were used to collect data which were completed by interview. RESULTS: The results showed that job content values for the case group were higher in all dimensions except job nature. The comparison of the percentages showed significant difference between two groups. Depression rate in drivers with co-driver is truly less than depression rate in drivers without co-driver. There was significant positive relationship between dimensions of job content and depression rate. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, it can be claimed that a co-driver decreases stress and loneliness of drivers, as well as increases work performance and job satisfaction, and, in turn, leads to a decrease in job-related depression.
Case-Control Studies ; Depression ; Equipment and Supplies ; Friends ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Loneliness ; Male ; Motor Vehicles ; Work Performance

Primary intracranial mesenchymal neoplasms are rare tumors. These tumors are usually metastatic disease from other primary sites. We presented a 31-year-old man with a 6-month history of gradually enlarging frontal mass and positional headache. There was no other symptom demonstrating other organs’ involvement. The patient underwent an uncomplicated craniotomy with clear surgical margins. The pathology review and the immunohistochemistry staining confirmed leiomyosarcoma grade II. We prescribed radiation therapy with tumor dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions with conformal treatment planning to the tumor bed. As this disease has a high potency for metastasis, we advised four courses of single agent doxorubicin chemotherapy 75 mg/m2 every 4 weeks starting one month after the end of radiotherapy. In the last follow-up visit 34 months later, the patient was disease free in physical exam and imaging findings.

Primary intracranial mesenchymal neoplasms are rare tumors. These tumors are usually metastatic disease from other primary sites. We presented a 31-year-old man with a 6-month history of gradually enlarging frontal mass and positional headache. There was no other symptom demonstrating other organs’ involvement. The patient underwent an uncomplicated craniotomy with clear surgical margins. The pathology review and the immunohistochemistry staining confirmed leiomyosarcoma grade II. We prescribed radiation therapy with tumor dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions with conformal treatment planning to the tumor bed. As this disease has a high potency for metastasis, we advised four courses of single agent doxorubicin chemotherapy 75 mg/m2 every 4 weeks starting one month after the end of radiotherapy. In the last follow-up visit 34 months later, the patient was disease free in physical exam and imaging findings.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine factors associated with caregiver burden among primary caregivers of women with breast cancer in Iran. METHODS: This was a descriptive correlation study conducted in 2012 on 150 main caregivers of patients with breast cancer who came to the oncology clinic of Shahid Ghazi hospital in Tabriz, Iran. A questionnaire which included caregiving-related factors and the Zarit Burden Interview was used for data collection after its validity and reliability were determined. Data was analyzed using SPSS 13.0 software with descriptive and analytic statistics. The association between significant variables and the dependent variable with an observation of the effects of other variables was assessed using the multiple linear regression model. RESULTS: The mean age of caregivers was 39.60 ± 13.80 years old, and 77 (51.3%) of them were men. The mean score of the Zarit Burden Interview was 30.55 ± 19.18. In the regression model, the mean score of activities of daily living, level of education, gender, and financial status were identified as the determining factors of the burden of caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Primary caregivers need to be financially supported by the relevant organizations. Care skills training and providing palliative care seem helpful in reducing the pain and the burden of family caregivers for patients with breast cancer.
Activities of Daily Living ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms/*psychology ; Caregivers/*psychology ; *Cost of Illness ; Family/psychology ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Iran ; Male ; Marital Status ; Middle Aged ; Socioeconomic Factors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a widespread chronic health condition which is significantly more prevalent in women. We conducted a gender difference analysis by comparing findings of men and women to determine whether any significant differences exist or not. METHODS: This single-center study was conducted in Tehran, Iran during 2009-2010. IBS was diagnosed on the basis of Rome III criteria. A simple "10 point" objective questionnaire was used. RESULTS: A total number of 144 IBS patients including 44 (30.6%) males and 100 (69.4%) females with the mean age of 37.50 +/- 11.50 years, were assessed. The only differently observed symptom was nausea which was significantly more prevalent in females (49% vs 18.2%, P < 0.001). The commonest subtype of IBS in male patients was diarrhea predominant IBS (38.6%); while, constipation predominant IBS was the most frequent type among females (38%). Moreover, the frequency of loose, mushy or watery stools within the last 3 months was significantly higher among males (2.11 +/- 1.67 vs 1.37 +/- 1.50, P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: We report that gender is important in IBS. Although qualitative comparison of different subtypes of IBS between male and female failed to meet the statistically significant level, the answers to the corresponding questions of ROME III IBS module suggest the higher prevalence of bowel movements and looser stool in males. Moreover, nausea was reported more often by females.
Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Female ; Gender Identity ; Humans ; Iran ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Male ; Nausea ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rome