Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1033 1035 EN Dariush D. FARHUD School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Dept. of Basic Sciences, Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences ,Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Editorial https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3352 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3352/3071

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1036 1044 EN Mehri JAFARI-SHOBEIRI Dept. of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran AND Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Morteza GHOJAZADEH Liver and Gastrointestinal Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Saber AZAMI-AGHDASH Iranian Center of Excellence in Health Management, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Mohammad NAGHAVI-BEHZAD Students’ Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Reza PIRI Medical Philosophy and History Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Yasmin POURALI-AKBAR Students’ Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Raheleh NASROLLAH-ZADEH Students’ Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Parvaneh BAYAT-KHAJEH Students’ Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Marzieh MOHAMMADI Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Background: Gestational Diabetes (GD) is one of the major public health issues. The purpose of the present study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the risk factors and prevalence rate of this disorder in Iran. Methods: This systematic review and meta- analysis article was prepared using the databases of Science Direct, Pub-Med, Scopus, Magiran, Iranmedex and SID, Google search engine, Gray Literature, reference lists check and hand searching using keywords such as "prevalence", "gestational diabetes mellitus", "GDM", "risk factor*", "Iran" and "Postpartum Diabetes". The selected papers were fully reviewed and the required information for the systematic re-view was extracted and summarized using extraction table in Microsoft Office Excel software. Results: Twenty-four of 1011 papers were quite relevant to the objectives of the review so they were included. The mean age of the participants was 29.43±4.97 yr and the prevalence of GDMwas 3.41% (the highest and the lowest prevalence rates were 18.6% and 1.3% respectively). Among the influential factors mentioned in the literature, poten-tial causes of GDM are gestational age, history of gestational diabetes, family history of diabetes, body mass index, abortions and parity, and history of macrosomia. Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of postpartum diabetes and its related factors in Iran, strategic planning for disease prevention and reduction is inevitable. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3353 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3353/3072

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1045 1052 EN Yansong ZHENG Health Science Center, the Chinese PLA General Hospital, FuXing Road 28, Beijing 100853, China. Guilan ZHANG The Central Hospital of Xiaogan Health Examination, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Xiaogan , Hubei, 432000, China. Zhilai CHEN Health Science Center, the Chinese PLA General Hospital, FuXing Road 28, Beijing 100853, China. Qiang ZENG Health Science Center, the Chinese PLA General Hospital, FuXing Road 28, Beijing 100853, China AND International Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Background: This study aimed to investigate the association of seven common inflammatory diseases with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the Chinese Mainland population. Methods: Participants were recruited from a great swathe of mainland from 2009 to 2013 for the cohort study. The demographic characteristics between patients with T2D or with inflammatory diseases, including age, sex, smoking status, hypertension etc. were analyzed using the χ2 test. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to de-termine the independent effects of diabetes on the risks of any types of inflammatory diseases in the model and age, sex, hypertension and gout adjusted were used after that. Results: A total of 39367 participants were enrolled in the study and 1634 (4.2%) subjects with missing information on T2D and the inflammatory diseases were excluded. Compared to those without diabetes, after adjusting for age, sex, hypertension and gout, the incidences of asthma, chronic hepatitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic gastroenteritis, chronic gastritis or ulcer in diabetic patients were independently higher, with odd ratios of 0.235 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.117-0.473), 0.845 (95% CI, 0.731-0.976), 0.585 (95% CI, 0.540-0.634), 0.875 (95% CI, 0.806-0.951), 0.843 (95% CI, 0.787-0.903) respectively. Only inflammatory hemorrhoid did not show any clinical significance. Conclusion: There was a decreased incidence of inflammatory diseases in the diabetic patients compared with non-diabetic subjects. Except for inflammatory hemorrhoid, asthma, chronic hepatitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic gastro-enteritis, chronic gastritis and ulcer were associated with T2D of Chinese individuals, independently of hypertension and gout, and T2D might reduce the risk of these diseases. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3354 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3354/3073

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1053 1060 EN Slavica KONEVIC Dept. of Specialist Consultancy Services, Rakovica Community Health Center, Belgrade, Serbia. Jelena MARTINOVIC Laboratory Dept., Rakovica Community Health Center, Belgrade, Serbia. Nela DJONOVIC Dept. of Hygiene and Ecology Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia AND Dept. of Health Promotion, Institute of Public Health Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Background: Sedentary lifestyle represents a growing health problem and considering that there is already a range of unhealthy habits that are marked as health risk factors and the increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyle worldwide, we aimed to investigate association of sedentary way of living in suburb, working class local community with socioec-onomic determinants such as educational level, occupation and income status. Methods: In this community-based cross-sectional study, 1126 independently functioning adults were enrolled into the study. The study protocol included a complete clinical and biochemical investigation revealing age, gender, lipid status, height, weight and blood pressure. Trained interviewers (nurses) collected information from patients about cur-rent state of chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension) smoking, medication and other socioeconomic data. Descriptive analysis, Chi-square and logistic regression were performed as statistical calculations. Results: Patients with elementary school were seven times more likely to be classified in category with sedentary life-style compared to patients with college or faculty degree. Being retired and reporting low income were significantly associated with higher odds of sedentary behavior when compared with students and patients with high-income status, respectively. Conclusions: The significance of this study lies in the fact that our results may help to easier identification of patients who may have a tendency towards a sedentary lifestyle. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3355 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3355/3074

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1061 1071 EN Si ZHANG Pathogens Biology Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China AND Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Fengtai District of Beijing City, Beijing, China. Zhaolian LU Pathogens Biology Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China. Hongmei LIANG Pathogens Biology Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China. Ximei FU Pathogens Biology Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China. Yan ZHANG Dept. of Anesthesiology, First Hospital, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China. Xin LIU Institute of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China. Genshu BAO Pathogens Biology Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China Tao JING Pathogens Biology Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China Xuan WANG Pathogens Biology Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China AND Suqian Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China. Meng WANG Pathogens Biology Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China AND Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin, China. Julong WU Pathogens Biology Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China AND Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong, China. Gen CHEN Pathogens Biology Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China AND Key Lab of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Gansu, China. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Background: 5-Fluorouracil could lead to a decline in fertility in Caenorhabditis elegans. The aim of this study was to describe the mechanisms underlying such an altered fertility phenotype and to illustrate the specific genes and path-ways that are involved in the related phenotypic changes in C. elegans. Methods: We isolated total RNA from the samples and used a new method called Digital Gene Expression (DGE), which can rapidly identify genes with altered transcript levels. The random genes were confirmed by real-time RT-PCR. Results: We analyzed the results of two methods to draw conclusions based on a comparison between C. elegans and other harmful parasites. Compared with controls, 1147 genes were up-regulated, and 1067 were down-regulated. Overall, 101 up-regulated genes had a log2 ratio higher than 8, whereas the log2 ratio of 141 down-regulated genes was higher than 8. After mapping to the reference database, 4 pathways were confirmed to be involved in this phe-nomenon, with statistically significant participation from 19 genes. Conclusion: For the first time, the transcript sequence of 5-Fu-treated worms and controls was detected. We found that 4 possible pathways, i.e., ECM-receptor interaction pathway, TGF-beta signaling pathway, Focal adhesion and Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, may be involved in the number decline in the embryos of C. elegans. Specifically, the ECM-receptor interaction pathway and Focal adhesion may be very important pathways that alter the reproduction of C. elegans. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3356 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3356/3075

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1072 1083 EN Neda KAFFASH-CHARANDABI GIS Dept., K.N.Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. Abolghasem SADEGHI-NIARAKI GIS Dept., K.N.Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran AND Dept. of Geoinformatic Eng., Inha University, Incheon, South Korea. Dong-Kyun PARK U-Healthcare Center, Gachon University, Gil Hospital, Incheon, South Korea. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Background: Cardiac arrest is a condition in which the heart is completely stopped and is not pumping any blood. Although most cardiac arrest cases are reported from homes or hospitals, about 20% occur in public areas. Therefore, these areas need to be investigated in terms of cardiac arrest incidence so that places of high incidence can be identi-fied and cardiac rehabilitation defibrillators installed there. Methods: In order to investigate a study area in Petersburg, Pennsylvania State, and to determine appropriate places for installing defibrillators with 5-year period data, swarm intelligence algorithms were used. Moreover, the location of the defibrillators was determined based on the following five evaluation criteria: land use, altitude of the area, econom-ic conditions, distance from hospitals and approximate areas of reported cases of cardiac arrest for public places that were created in geospatial information system (GIS). Results: The A-P HADEL algorithm results were more precise about 27.36%. The validation results indicated a wider coverage of real values and the verification results confirmed the faster and more exact optimization of the cost func-tion in the PSO method. Conclusion: The study findings emphasize the necessity of applying optimal optimization methods along with GIS and precise selection of criteria in the selection of optimal locations for installing medical facilities because the selected algorithm and criteria dramatically affect the final responses. Meanwhile, providing land suitability maps for installing facilities across hot and risky spots has the potential to save many lives. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3357 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3357/3076

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1084 1094 EN Tao TIAN College of Economics and Management, Anhui Agricultural University, China. Yuhuai CHEN College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, China. Jing ZHU College of Economics and Management, Anhui Agricultural University, China. Pengling LIU College of Economics and Management, Anhui Agricultural University, China. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Background: China has become an aging society, and the mental health problem of the elderly is increasingly becom-ing prominent. This paper aimed to analyze the effect of air pollution and rural-urban difference on mental health of the elderly in China. Methods: Using the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS, 2013), after control-ling the social demography variable via Tobit and Probit, a regression analysis of the effect of air pollution and rural-urban difference on mental health and psychological disorder was conducted on 6,630 old people (≧60 yr old) of Chi-na from February to April 2015. Mental health and psychological disorder of the elderly were measured by the CES-D score of respondents. Air pollution degree of counties and cities (n=123) were measured by SO2 emission. Results: 27.8% of old people had psychological disorders. Air pollution significantly influenced the mental health of the elderly, showing a positive “U-shaped” curve (P<0.001). In China, the urban elderly had better psychological sta-tus than the rural elderly had. The female elderly had more serious mental health problems. Marriage, education, and social activities had positive effects on the mental health of the elderly. Conclusion: China’s local governments should consider the influence of air pollution on the mental health of the elderly during economic development. This paper recommends paying attention to the difference in mental health between the urban and rural elderly when making public health policies. Governments could improve the mental health of the elderly by enriching social activities and increasing employment opportunities of the elderly. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3358 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3358/3077

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1095 1102 EN Ali ZARE Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mostafa HOSSEINI Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mahmood MAHMOODI Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Kazem MOHAMMAD Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Hojjat ZERAATI Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Kourosh HOLAKOUIE-NAIENI Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Background: Gastric cancer is the one of the most prevalent reason of cancer-related death in the world. Survival of patients after surgery involves identifying risk factors. There are various models to detect the effect of risk factors on patients’ survival. The present study aims at evaluating these models. Methods: Data from 330 gastric cancer patients diagnosed at the Iran cancer institute during 1995-99 and followed up the end of 2011 were analyzed. The survival status of these patients in 2011 was determined by reopening the files as well as phone calls and the effect of various factors such as demographic, clinical, treatment, and post-surgical on pa-tients’ survival was studied. To compare various models of survival, Akaike Information Criterion and Cox-Snell Re-siduals were used. STATA 11 was used for data analyses. Results: Based on Cox-Snell Residuals and Akaike Information Criterion, the exponential (AIC=969.14) and Gom-pertz (AIC=970.70) models were more efficient than other accelerated failure-time models. Results of Cox propor-tional hazard model as well as the analysis of accelerated failure-time models showed that variables such as age (at di-agnosis), marital status, relapse, number of supplementary treatments, disease stage, and type of surgery were among factors affecting survival (P<0.05). Conclusion: Although most cancer researchers tend to use proportional hazard model, accelerated failure-time mod-els in analogous conditions — as they do not require proportional hazards assumption and consider a parametric sta-tistical distribution for survival time— will be credible alternatives to proportional hazard model. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3359 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3359/3078

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1103 1113 EN Hesam GHIASVAND Dept. of Health Economics, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Seyran NAGHDI Research Center for Health Services Management, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Nazanin ABOLHASSANI Dept. of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Nasrin SHAARBAFCHIZADEH Dept. of Health Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Scienc-es, Tehran, Iran. Javad MOGHRI Dept. of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Background: Inequality in households’ payments on food and health expenditures presents the accessibility and utili-zation patterns between them. This study investigated the Iranian rural and urban households’ inequality in payments on food and Out-of-Pocket health expenditures from 1998 to 2012. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted through the analysis of Iranian Statistics Centre data on Iranian households’ income and expenditures. The Gini Coefficients, Concentration and Kakwani indices have been calculat-ed for Iranian rural and urban households’ Out-of-Pocket health and food expenditures. Results: The means of Iranian rural and urban total consumption expenditures inequality were 0.48 and 0.48, respec-tively. The means of concentration index of food expenditures for rural and urban regions were 0.35 and 0.34, respec-tively. The means of Out-of-Pocket payments for health services for rural and urban regions were 0.51 and 0.5, re-spectively. Finally the means of Kakwani index of Out-of-Pocket health payments in rural and urban households were -0.005 and -0.018, respectively. Conclusion: There are relative high levels of inequality in Iranian households’ payments on food and Out-of-Pocket health expenditures. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3360 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3360/3079

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1114 1120 EN Davood MEHRABANI Stem Cell and Transgenic Technology Research Center, Dept. of Pathology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Zahra GHOLAMI Dept. of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Jamshid KOHANTEB Dept. of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Masood SEPEHRIMANESH Gasteroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. SeyedMohammad Hossein-HOSSEINI Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Shiraz, Iran. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Background: Brucellosis is a major bacterial zoonosis of global importance with the causative organisms of Gram-negative facultative intracellular pathogens. The aims of this study were to standardize two immunoelectrophoretic techniques, rocket and cross immunoelectrophoresis, and compare their results with other conventional serodiagnostic tests. Methods: Sera from 15 sheep, without any history of brucellosis vaccination, infected with Brucella melitensis M16 sub-cutaneously, were employed in a comparison of culture, precipitating, and immunoelectrophoretic tests. A 125 days serologic follow-up was performed after the infection was started. As a reference, these tests also done in the five healthy sheep. Results: The results obtained with the rocket immunoelectrophoresis test correlated very well with those of the cross immunoelectrophoresis, whereas results of other tests such as culture, Rose Bengal, standard tube agglutination and 2-mercaptoethanol seruagglutination tests were inferior. Conclusion: As agglutination test shows cross reaction and a prozone phenomenon, and in blood culture, the bacte-ria is not always detectable, so they are time consuming rocket and cross immunoelectrophoresis are recommended because their results can be obtained in a shorter time. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3361 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3361/3080

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1121 1125 EN Omid MASOUMI Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mahmoud SHAHZADI Dept. of Cardiovascular Surgery, Imam Khomeini Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Parivash KORDBACHEH Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Farideh ZAINI Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Shahram MAHMOUDI Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mahmoud MAHMOUDI Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Hesamoddin BAHREINI Mehr Diagnostic Medical Laboratory, Karaj, Iran. Mahin SAFARA Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Hossein MIRHENDI Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Background: The aim of this study was to detect fungi in atherosclerotic plaques and investigate their possible role in atherosclerosis. Methods: Coronary atherosclerotic plaques specimen were obtained from patients with atherosclerosis. Direct exami-nation, culture, histopathology study, PCR and sequencing were performed to detect/identify the mycotic elements in the plaques. Age, sex, smoking, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, family history of heart diseases and diabetes were considered and data were analyzed using Chi Square test by SPSS version 15. Results: A total of 41 specimens were analyzed. Direct examination for fungal elements was negative in all cases but in culture only one specimen grew as a mold colony. The presence of fungal elements were confirmed in 6 and 2 tissue sections stained by Gomori methenamine silver and Hematoxylin and Eosin methods, respectively. Using PCR, 11 cases were positive for fungi. The DNA sequence analysis of six positive specimens which were randomly selected revealed fungi as Candida albicans (n=3), Candida guilliermondii (n=2) and Monilia sp. (n=1). Conclusion: A significant association between the presence of fungi in atherosclerotic plaques and severity of athero-genesis and atherosclerotic disease was not found. This could be due to limited numbers of patients included in our study. However, the presence of fungal elements in 26.8% of our specimens is considerable and the results does not exclude the correlation between the presence of fungi with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3362 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3362/3081

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1126 1134 EN Zahra BEHBOODI- MOGHADAM Dept. of Reproductive Health, Nursing and Midwifery School of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Alireza NIKBAKHT-NASRABADI Dept. of Medical Surgical, Nursing and Midwifery School of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Abbas EBADI Research Center for Behavioral Sciences, Nursing school of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Sara ESMAELZADEH – SAEIEH Dept. of Reproductive Health, Nursing and Midwifery School of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Minoo MOHRAZ Iranian Research Center of HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Background: Childbearing is a cause of concern for women living with HIV. To improve reproductive right of wom-en with HIV and prevent the spread of HIV; it is needed to understand fertility experiences of infected women with HIV. The aim of this study was to explore fertility intentions and experiences of HIV-infected women in Iran. Methods: Totally, 15 in–depth interviews were conducted with HIV- infected women who were at reproductive age and had referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital Consultation Center for Clients with Risky Behaviors in Tehran, Iran. Data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method in MAXQDA 10. Results: Analysis of the meaning units of interviews showed themes in describing of fertility desires of HIV women as follows: 1) Motherhood as a way for stability of life; 2) Uncertainties about the future; and 3) Unpleasant experience of pregnancy and delivery. This theme has three sub-themes as stigma, discrimination and weakness in health care system. Conclusion: Health care provider and community should respect the right of infected women and inform them on sexual and reproductive health. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3363 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3363/3082

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1135 1142 EN Urszula RELIGIONI Public Health Department, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Aleksandra CZERW Public Health Department, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Andrzej DEPTAŁA Division of Cancer Prevention, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland AND Dept. of Oncology and Hematology, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior, Warsaw, Poland. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Background: The ability to accept illness is a major issue in the life of a person with cancer. Acceptance of disease is simultaneously conducted at two levels: the emotional and cognitive-behavioral one. It is consequential to cancer af-fecting numerous aspects of patient's life, i.e. the physical, mental, social and the spiritual area. The aim of the study was to verify the influence of socioeconomic factors on acceptance of illness in patients suffering from breast, lung, colorectal and prostate carcinoma. Methods: The study included 902 patients treated on an outpatient basis at the Center of Oncology, the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Institute in Warsaw, in the year 2013. The Paper and Pencil Interview (PAPI) technique was ap-plied. The questionnaire comprised basic demographic questions (socioeconomic factors) and Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) test estimating the level of disease acceptance in patients. Results: Prostate carcinoma patients scored highest (30, 39), whereas lung carcinoma patients scored lowest (23, 17) concerning illness acceptance according to the AIS scale. In all cases, linear dependence between the net income-per-household-member and the AIS score could be observed. Another diversification factor in the case of prostate carci-noma patients was the level of education. Yet one more dependence could be observed between the level of illness acceptance and chemotherapy over the course of past twelve months. Conclusion: The degree of disease acceptance is subject to a type of carcinoma. Patient income is an economic factor significantly affecting the acceptance of illness score. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3364 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3364/3083

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1143 1145 EN Azar NICKAVAR Aliasghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 A 6.5 yr old girl was admitted with a category of clinical signs and symptoms including recurrent gross hematuria, ab-dominal pain, and fever. After different examinations including genetic analysis, the disease was diagnosed as Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). It is suggested to consider FMF as a rare cause of recurrent gross hematuria, which is re-sponsive to colchicine treatment. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3365 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3365/3084

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1146 1147 EN KwangSuk CHA College of Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Chungju-si, Republic of Korea. MinKeun SEO College of Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Chungju-si, Republic of Korea. HoYoung RYU College of Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Chungju-si, Republic of Korea. JaeJun NAM Dept. of Golf Business, Korea Golf University, Hoenseong-gun, Republic of Korea. DongJun SUNG College of Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Chungju-si, Republic of Korea. 2015 10 11 2015 10 11 Letter to the Editor https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3366 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3366/3085

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 8 2015 10 11 1148 1149 EN Yingdong CHENG Dept. of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China. 1912 1920 Xiaohong YU Digestive System Department, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, P.R. China Dongjin FENG Digestive System Department, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, P.R. China Guangmeng WANG Digestive System Department, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, P.R. China Zhongmao DONG Digestive System Department, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, P.R. China Qi ZHOU Digestive System Department, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, P.R. China Yuan ZHANG Digestive System Department, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou Medical Univer 2020 03 19 2020 08 01 Background: To analyze the correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and digestive tract symptoms in children and other related factors, and to explore the risk factors of H. pylori infection in children and the expression of inflammatory factors in H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative children. Methods: Overall, 234 children with H. pylori test in Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University (Xuzhou, China) were enrolled. Among them, 73 children were H. pylori-positive and 161 were H. pylori-negative. The expression levels of cytokines interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative children were determined by ELISA. The correlation between H. pylori-positive and general data, digestive tract symptoms, other clinical symptoms, living habits, eating habits, family history and other related factors was statistically analyzed. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors of H. pylori infection in children. Results: Family monthly income, inattentive eating, sharing toothbrushes and cups, gnawing fingers, eating fried food, drinking raw water, eating smoked and pickled food, father suffering from gastropathy and mother suffering from gastropathy were independent risk factors for H. pylori infection in children. The most common digestive tract symptoms of children with H. pylori infection were abdominal pain, accompanied by one or more clinical symptoms. The expression levels of IL-8, IL-18 and IFN-γ in H. pylori-positive children were significantly higher than those in H. pylori-negative children. Conclusion: Prevention of H. pylori infection in children is helpful for healthy growth of children, and cytokines IL-8, IL-18, IFN-γ have the potential to be used as biomarkers for diagnosis of H. pylori-positive children. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/20072 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/20072/7007

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 49 10 2020 10 01 2018 2019 Maryam ASKARI Yazd Cardiovascular Research Center, Afshar Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical sciences, Yazd, Iran Seyedeh Mahdieh NAMAYANDEH Yazd Cardiovascular Research Center, Afshar Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical sciences, Yazd, Iran 2018 11 02 2018 11 10 No Abstract https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/15212 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/15212/7025

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 49 10 2020 10 01 1921 1930 Noor Hamzani FARIZAN Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Rosnah SUTAN Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Kulanthayan KC MANI Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia 2018 10 11 2019 08 04 Background: We aimed to assess the effectiveness of the health educational booklet intervention in improving parents/guardian’s knowledge on prevention of child drowning and, the perception of drowning risk and water safety practice.  Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in year 2017 in Selangor, Malaysia among 719 parents/ guardians of primary school children. The parent/guardians were randomly assigned as the intervention groups and were given a health educational Be-SAFE booklet on drowning prevention and water safety. The pretest was conducted before the intervention and posttest was done one month of intervention. The data collection tool was using a validated questionnaire on knowledge, attitude and practice for drowning prevention and water safety. Results: There were 719 respondents (response rate of 89.9%) participated at baseline and 53.7% at end line (after the intervention). Significant differences found in knowledge, attitudes and practice on drowning prevention and water safety for the intervention and control groups after the intervention (P<0.001). There was a significant difference in mean scores for knowledge and attitude before and after the intervention, whereas no significant findings noted for practices (P<0.001). Conclusion: Be SAFE booklet contributed to the increase in parents/guardian’s knowledge and attitudes towards drowning prevention and water safety to prevent the risk of child drowning. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/14975 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/14975/7008

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 49 10 2020 10 01 2020 2021 Amirhossein MEMARI Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ardalan SHARIAT Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Joshua CLELAND Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass, USA 2020 07 05 2020 08 01 No Abstract https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/21350 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/21350/7026

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 49 10 2020 09 29 1931 1939 Jun WANG Department of Burn and Skin Repair Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, China AND Department of Burn and Skin Repair Surgery, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China Jingxin CHEN Department of Oraland Maxillofacial Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, China AND Department of Oraland Maxillofacial Surgery, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China Gang JING Department of Burn and Skin Repair Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, China AND Department of Burn and Skin Repair Surgery, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China Daoquan DONG Department of Burn and Skin Repair Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, China AND Department of Burn and Skin Repair Surgery, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China 2020 04 08 2020 08 01 Background: To study the effects of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) on the proliferation and apoptosis of malignant melanoma cells, and to explore its specific regulatory mechanism through the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Methods: LncRNA HOTAIR small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were designed and synthesized, and the effects of si-HOTAIR transfection on the proliferation and apoptosis of malignant melanoma cells were detected via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The gene expressions were determined using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), the changes in NF-κB pathway-related proteins and apoptosis-associated proteins after interference in lncRNA HOTAIR were detected via Western blotting, and the level of NF-κB in each group was determined via ELISA. Results: The results of CCK-8 assay revealed that the cell proliferation rate significantly declined gradually in si-HOTAIR group compared with that in si-NC group and control group (P<0.05). The results of Western blotting and ELISA showed that the activity of NF-κB in si-HOTAIR group was weakened (P<0.05), suggesting that down-regulation of HOTAIR can suppress the activity of NF-κB. Compared with si-NC group and control group, si-HOTAIR group had remarkably increased gene and protein expressions of pro-apoptotic Bax, and remarkably decreased gene and protein expressions of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 (P<0.05), demonstrating that down-regulation of HOTAIR can promote apoptosis. Conclusion: Down-regulation of lncRNA HOTAIR can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of malignant melanoma cells and suppress the NF-κB pathway. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/20299 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/20299/7009

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 49 10 2020 10 01 1940 1946 EN Ahmad Ali NOORBALA Department of Psychiatry, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Psychosomatic Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Armita SALJOUGHIAN Psychosomatic Fellowship, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Seyed Abbas BAGHERI YAZDI Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran, Tehran, Iran Elham FAGHIHZADEH Department of Biostatistics, Paramedical School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran <