BACKGROUND/AIMS: Metabolic syndrome is a well-known risk factor for atherosclerosis. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has features of metabolic syndromes. This study aimed to investigate the association between NAFLD and atherosclerosis. METHODS: In a population-based study in southern Iran, asymptomatic adult inhabitants aged more than 20 years were selected through cluster random sampling, and were screened for the presence of fatty liver and common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), with abdominal and cervical ultrasonography, respectively. Those with fatty liver were compared to the same number of individuals without fatty liver. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety individuals were found to have fatty change on abdominal ultrasonography, and were labeled NAFLD. Compared to normal individuals, NAFLD patients had significantly higher prevalence of increased CIMT (OR, 1.66; p<0.001). Those with hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), higher waist circumference (WC) and older ages had significantly higher prevalence of thick CIMT. Through adjusting the effects of different variables, we indicated that NAFLD could be an independent risk factor for thick common carotid intima-media (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.17-3.09; p=0.009). It was also shown that age could be another independent risk factor for thick CIMT. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with risk factors such as HTN, DM, and high WC are prone to develop atherosclerosis of the carotid artery. The presence of NAFLD should be considered as another probable independent factor contributing to the development of carotid atherosclerosis.
Abdomen/ultrasonography ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Carotid Arteries/ultrasonography ; *Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Complications ; Fatty Liver/epidemiology/*ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSEThe aim of this present study is to investigate the prevalence of alcohol and substance abuse (ASA) and its relationship with other risky driving behaviors among motorcycle drivers.

METHODSThis is a cross sectional study which is performed at Shiraz city of Iran. Data from motorcycle drivers were collected using a standard questionnaire in eight major streets at different times of the day. The data includes consumption of alcohol and other substances two hours before driving and some of the risky behaviors during driving.

RESULTSA total of 414 drivers with a mean ± SD age of (27.0 ± 9.3) years participated in the study. Alcohol or substance consumptions two hours before driving was significantly associated with risky driving behaviors such as using mobile phone during driving, poor maneuvering, and driving over the speed limit (both p < 0.001). It was also associated with carelessness about safety such as driving with technical defects (p < 0.001) and not wearing a crash helmet (p=0.008).

CONCLUSIONScreening for alcohol and substance consumption among motorcycle drivers is an efficient way to identify drivers that are at a greater risk for road traffic accidents.

Accidents, Traffic ; mortality ; statistics & numerical data ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Alcoholism ; complications ; epidemiology ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Confidence Intervals ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Developing Countries ; Humans ; Iran ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motorcycles ; statistics & numerical data ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Risk-Taking ; Substance-Related Disorders ; complications ; epidemiology ; Survival Rate ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the time factor in road traffic accidents (RTAs) in Fars Province of Iran.

METHODSThis study was conducted in Fars Province, Iran from November 22, 2009 to November 21, 2011. Victims'information consisted of age, sex, death toll involving dri- vers or passengers of cars, motorcycles and pedestrians, and site of injury etc. Accidents were analyzed in relation to hour of the day, season of the year, lighting condition including sunrise, sunset, daytime and nighttime.

RESULTSA total of 3 642 deaths (78.3% were males, and the ratio of males to females was about 3.6:1) were studied regarding their autopsy records. There was a steady increase in fatal accidents occurring at midnight to 15:59. The risk of being involved in a fatal traffic accident was higher for those injured between 4:00 to 7:59 than at other times (OR equal to 2.13, 95% CI 1.85-2.44). The greatest number of fatal RTAs took place in summer. Mortalities due to RTA during spring and summer were more pronounced at 20:00 to 23:59 and midnight to 3:59, whereas mortalities in fall and winter were more pronounced from 12:00 to 15:59.

CONCLUSIONThe high mortality rate of RTA is a major public health problem in Fars Province. Our results indicate that the time is an important factor which contributes to road traffic deaths.

Accidents, Traffic ; mortality ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Iran ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors