Zahra Mohtasham-Amiri - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Zahra Mohtasham-Amiri

Archives of Iranian medicine, 2021

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C is a major cause of liver failure and liver transplantation. The known ris... more BACKGROUND Hepatitis C is a major cause of liver failure and liver transplantation. The known risk factors of this disease include blood transfusion, injection drug use, high risk sexual behaviors, tattoos, and use of shared blades and syringes. Due to the higher risk of viral hepatitis among people in prison, this study was done to find the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and associated risk factors in Lakan Prison in Rasht. METHODS Prisoners in Lakan Prison underwent a cross-sectional study in 2018. A questionnaire containing demographic information and risk factors was distributed to the inmates and they were asked complete them. High-risk individuals were selected and a blood sample was taken and tested. Data were collected and analyzed by SPSS18 software. RESULTS Out of 2215 prisoners, 1238 people had at least one risk factor, of whom 408 individuals were selected by random sampling. One hundred inmates were positive for anti-HCV antibody, yielding a prevalence of 24....

Comparison of the prevalence of Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) in neonates and school children ... more Comparison of the prevalence of Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) in neonates and school children using two different WHO indicators. From 2006 to 2010, 119701 newborns were screened by measurement of serum TSH level by heel prick. Neonates who had blood TSH ≥ 5 mIU/l were recalled for more evaluation. In the same period of time, urine iodine was measured in 1200 school-aged children. The severity of IDD was classified using WHO, UNICEF, ICCIDD criteria. Between 2006 and 2010 a total of 138832 neonates were screened in Guilan province and the total recall rate (neonates with TSH level ≥ 5 mIU/l) was 1.8 %. The incidence rate of Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) was 1/625. The median urine iodine level in school-aged children was 200-299 μg/l. Considering the WHO, UNICEF, ICCIDD criteria, Guilan province would be classified as a none-IDD endemic area. However, health care systems should pay attention to the iodine excess and the risk of iodine induced hyperthyroidism in this population.

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases are the fist cause of death in the world، and ... more Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases are the fist cause of death in the world، and Iran. It seems that some jobs such as bank employees due to sedentary lifestyle are at a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases than the general population. Therefore this study was done to determine the risk factors in Bank Employee-North of Iran in 2016. Material and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 488 bank employees were selected from total staff lists by simple random sampling. Demographic data، the underlying disease، physical activity and smoking were collected by interviewing them. In addition،blood lipid profie, fasting blood sugar, serum level of vitamin D, blood pressure, height and weight were measured for each participants. Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 43.3(6.1) years and the minimum and maximum age was (30 and 59) underwent this study. 445(91.2 % ) was male. 36(12.9 % ) were smoking. High blood pressure and Diabetes were preva...

Iranian Journal of Blood and Cancer, 2018

1Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medica... more 1Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran 2Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical Biotechnology Research Center, School of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran 3Guilan Blood Transfusion Organization, Rasht, Iran 4Guilan Province Health Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran 5Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

AIMS Medical Science, 2019

Background: Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is one of the main consequences of preeclampsia... more Background: Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is one of the main consequences of preeclampsia, which could be manifested by a change in the optic nerve sheath diameter as a radiologic and clinical sign. However, the effect of preeclampsia on the ultrasound measured optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and its possible applications are rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between ultrasound measured optic nerve sheath diameter and the risk of preeclampsia. Methods: This case-control study was performed on 38 pregnant women with normal blood pressure and 38 pregnant women with preeclampsia in Alzahra hospital in Rasht during 2018. A checklist was used to record demographic and clinical data. Measurements were made using a high resolution transducer, by placing the focal point and a cursor line at 3 mm behind the globe, perpendicular to the optic nerve axis (measuring the mean of two eyes). Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 21. Results: The mean age of patients with preeclampsia and normal pregnant women were 31.42 ± 6.2 years and 29.76 ± 3.46 years, respectively. Differences in gravidity (P = 0.854) and the history of hypertension (P = 0.946) in both groups were not statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean optic nerve sheath diameter in women with preeclampsia was significantly higher than pregnant women with normal blood pressure (P = 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for the ONSD was 0.82 and the cut-off point for this index was calculated as 4.55 mm, which at this point, sensitivity and specificity were 78.9% and 73.7%, respectively. Conclusion: There was a relationship between the risk of preeclampsia and ONSD, in the way that the ONSD in preeclampsia patients was higher than that of normal subjects. However, the mean ONSD in two groups of mild and severe preeclampsia were not significantly different.

Iranian Journal of Neurosurgery, 2019

Background: Spine trauma is an important health problem. Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) due t... more Background: Spine trauma is an important health problem. Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) due to motor vehicle accident (MVA) might have a different epidemiologic pattern in Guilan province of Iran owing to its geographical characteristics. Therefore, the present study was conducted to the study epidemiology of SCI injuries due to road accidents in a trauma referral center in Guilan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used data SCI registry of Poursina Hospital. All the patients with spine trauma, due to MVA, hospitalized in the trauma center of Poursina Hospital, Rasht, Guilan, Iran between March 2015 and March 2018 were studied. Results: A total of 127 patients with spine trauma due to MVA were reviewed. The mean±SD age of patients was 38.27±16.22 years. We observed that 93.7%, 1.6%, and 4.7% of the patients had initial Glasgow Comma Scale (GCS≥13, 9≤GCS≤12, and GCS<9, respectively). SCIs were found several anatomical regions including cervical (n=54, 42.5%), lumbar (n=39, 30.7%), thoracic (n=23, 18.1%), thoracic and lumbar (n=7, 5.5%), thoracic and cervical (n=3, 2.4%), and lumbar and cervical (n=1, 0.8%) regions. Evaluated by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), good recovery, moderate disability, severe disability, vegetative state, and death were found in 114 (91.2%), 4 (3.1%), 4 (3.1%), 1 (0.8%), 2 (1.6%) of the patients, respectively. Two patients were discharged by their personal contest. Conclusion: Spine trauma due to MVA is mostly seen in the young. SCI due to such trauma is mostly found in the cervical region. Good recovery was seen in most of the subjects.

Iranian Journal of Neurosurgery, 2019

Background and Aim: Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is one of the most traumatic events threat... more Background and Aim: Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is one of the most traumatic events threatening patients' well-being and places a financial burden on health care system. The first step in determination of the exact impact of SCI is to estimate the pattern of traumatic injuries in a population and also the type of frequently occurred co-injuries. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the frequency of anatomy, type of spine injuries, and associated co-injuries in patients with trauma in Poursina Hospital of Guilan province in Iran. Methods and Materials/Patients: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on traumatic spine patients admitted to the Poursina hospital of Rasht, a referral therapeutic center for trauma in north of Iran, in Rasht during 2015 to 2019. Data were extracted from the

Alborz University Medical Journal, 2016

Iranian Journal of Medical Education, 2002

Archives of Trauma Research, 2021

Introduction: Animal-vehicle accidents are a growing concern in many parts of the world not only ... more Introduction: Animal-vehicle accidents are a growing concern in many parts of the world not only because of its environmental consequences but also because of its economic and social costs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of accidents involving animals in Northern Iran. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, the data of all animal-vehicle accidents which had occurred during 2014–2018 were obtained from the traffic police database. Results: According to the regression model, fatalities and injuries associated with animal-vehicle collisions on main roads were significantly lower than those on the secondary and rural roads (P < 0.001). The reports showed a significantly lower number of accidents on wet, slippery than the dry roads (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study reports on the high number of accidents involving animals in Guilan which lead to injuries and fatalities of both humans and animals. Importantly, the pattern...

To find out factors that influence the use/non-use of pedestrian bridges in Northern Iran. Method... more To find out factors that influence the use/non-use of pedestrian bridges in Northern Iran. Methods: In this observational study, 4 pedestrian bridges at four different places in Rasht, North of Iran was studied. In addition to demographic data, pedestrians were interviewed for reasons of use/not use the pedestrian bridge. The data analyzed with SPSS software version 18 by non-parametric tests such as Chi Square. Results: From all 499 participants, more than one-third of pedestrians had not used pedestrian bridges. The most reasons for bridges use among respondents were feeling of safety and security (79.2%) and obey the rules (53.6%). The reasons for the non-use of bridges were time saving (63.7%), laziness (48.7%) and inappropriate of the bridge (34.2%). There were no significant differences in age, sex, education level, and road accidents' history with use of bridge but there was a significant difference between the bridge usage with having a driver's license, rash-hour time, and the presence of a mechanical elevator (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study show that in order to increase the pedestrian bridges use, it is necessary to pay more attention to make standard facilities such as installing escalators or elevators of these bridges.

World Journal of Plastic Surgery, 2017

BACKGROUND Burn is the most devastating condition in emergency medicine leading to chronic disabi... more BACKGROUND Burn is the most devastating condition in emergency medicine leading to chronic disabilities. This study aimed to compare the effect of Lithospermum officinale, silver sulfadiazine and alpha ointments on healing of burn wounds in rat. METHODS Ninety-five rats were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 just underwent burn injury, and groups 2-5 received alpha ointment, silver sulfadiazine (SSD), gel base and L. officinale extract, respectively. A hot plate was used for induction of a standard 3rd degree burn wound. Burn wounds were macroscopically and microscopically evaluated on days 7th, 14th and 21st after burn induction. RESULTS A decrease in the number of inflammatory cells was noted when L. officinale and SSD were applied while the most inflammatory response was seen after administration of alpha ointment. The number of macrophages alone decreased after burn injury, while the frequency was the most when L. officinale and alpha ointment were applied. Re-epithelialization, an...

Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2018

Trauma Monthly, 2016

Introduction: Trauma is currently the ninth cause of mortality in the elderly. Several factors ma... more Introduction: Trauma is currently the ninth cause of mortality in the elderly. Several factors may have an impact on the outcomes after trauma in the elderly including background disease, sex, trauma severity, and age. The aim of this study was to understand the sex differences about trauma in this growing population. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the records of all the traumatic injured people above 60 years of age who were admitted to a main center of trauma hospital in north of Iran in 2012 were studied. Demographic data, characteristics of road traffic incidents, and in-hospital medical profiles were derived. The analysis of data was done by using the χ 2 test and T test with SPSS Ver. 18 software. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: One thousand and eight-hundred thirty injured elderly patients were admitted during the study period. This amount accounted for 10.5% of the total injured. In this study 56.3% of victims were male with the mean age of 70.84 ± 8.16 years in comparison to 71.65 ± 8.59 years in women (P < 0.05). Sex differences were seen in Glasgow coma scale, place, mechanism of trauma, anatomical part injured, and in-hospital death rate (P < 0.05). Outdoor trauma was more prevalent in men and indoor trauma in women. The mechanisms causing trauma in both sexes were slipping and road traffic accidents, respectively. In men, head and neck were the most common anatomical sites injured, while most women suffered from injuries to the upper extremities. Conclusions: It seems that elderly men are more at risk of severe injury with a higher mortality rate in comparison to elderly women.

Journal of Public Mental Health, 2019

Purpose Mental health is an inevitable and vital dimension when it comes to providing a global de... more Purpose Mental health is an inevitable and vital dimension when it comes to providing a global definition for the appropriate health status. This highlights the importance of investigating factors influencing utilization and out-of-pocket payments (OOP) for mental health services. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to assess the determinants of the utilization and OOP for psychiatric healthcare in Iran. Design/methodology/approach A total of 39,864 households were included in this cross-sectional study. Data on the utilization and OOP for psychiatric healthcare as well as all their determinants (e.g. wealth index of households, geographical area, household size, etc.) were extracted from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES). The HIES was conducted by the Statistical Center of Iran in 2016. A zero-inflated Tobit model was used to identify the main factors affecting utilization and OOP for psychiatric healthcare utilization. Findings The average of utilization and OOP fo...

Journal of Injury and Violence Research

Weather, Climate, and Society

Driving in rain is very dangerous, and drivers seem not to drive properly whenever it rains. In s... more Driving in rain is very dangerous, and drivers seem not to drive properly whenever it rains. In such situations, the risk of driving increases on rainy days, especially after a prolonged dry period. This would be a problem for drivers steering on slippery roads. In this study, the effect of dry spells on road traffic accidents and resulting mortality in Rasht, Iran, located in the southern margin of the Caspian Sea, in a 3-yr period from 21 March 2014 to 19 March 2017 was examined using time series patterns. The results of the study showed that the first day after a dry spell had the greatest impact on road accidents and resulting injuries and deaths. It was also found that with increased length of a dry spell, the risk of accidents and related deaths and injuries rises.

Acta Medica Iranica, 2012

Comparison of the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) in neonates and school children ... more Comparison of the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) in neonates and school children using two different WHO indicators. From 2006 to 2010, 119701 newborns were screened by measurement of serum TSH level by heel prick. Neonates who had blood TSH ≥ 5 mIU/l were recalled for more evaluation. In the same period of time, urine iodine was measured in 1200 school-aged children. The severity of IDD was classified using WHO, UNICEF, ICCIDD criteria. Between 2006 and 2010 a total of 138832 neonates were screened in Guilan province and the total recall rate (neonates with TSH level ≥ 5 mIU/l) was 1.8 %. The incidence rate of Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) was 1/625. The median urine iodine level in school-aged children was 200-299 μg/l. Considering the WHO, UNICEF, ICCIDD criteria, Guilan province would be classified as a none-IDD endemic area. However, health care systems should pay attention to the iodine excess and the risk of iodine induced hyperthyroidism in this population.

Caspian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 2019

Background: Aging is a natural and physiological process. Moreover, balance disorders frequently ... more Background: Aging is a natural and physiological process. Moreover, balance disorders frequently occur in the elderly and cause many morbidities in this population. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate balance disorders and their related factors in the healthy elderly population of the rural areas of Guilan province, in the north of Iran. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 425 individuals over 65 years old were selected by random cluster sampling method from the villages of Rasht, the capital city of Guilan province. After obtaining written consent, the subjects were examined for balance disturbance through gait and balance adjusted scale (GABS) index. The obtained results were reported as frequency. We applied the Mann-Whitney U test and non-parametric regression analysis for non-normally distributed dependent variables. The obtained data were analyzed in software version 18. Results: The Mean±SD score of GABS was 10.07±8.00 [median (IQR):7(1...

Archives of Iranian medicine, 2021

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C is a major cause of liver failure and liver transplantation. The known ris... more BACKGROUND Hepatitis C is a major cause of liver failure and liver transplantation. The known risk factors of this disease include blood transfusion, injection drug use, high risk sexual behaviors, tattoos, and use of shared blades and syringes. Due to the higher risk of viral hepatitis among people in prison, this study was done to find the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and associated risk factors in Lakan Prison in Rasht. METHODS Prisoners in Lakan Prison underwent a cross-sectional study in 2018. A questionnaire containing demographic information and risk factors was distributed to the inmates and they were asked complete them. High-risk individuals were selected and a blood sample was taken and tested. Data were collected and analyzed by SPSS18 software. RESULTS Out of 2215 prisoners, 1238 people had at least one risk factor, of whom 408 individuals were selected by random sampling. One hundred inmates were positive for anti-HCV antibody, yielding a prevalence of 24....

Comparison of the prevalence of Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) in neonates and school children ... more Comparison of the prevalence of Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) in neonates and school children using two different WHO indicators. From 2006 to 2010, 119701 newborns were screened by measurement of serum TSH level by heel prick. Neonates who had blood TSH ≥ 5 mIU/l were recalled for more evaluation. In the same period of time, urine iodine was measured in 1200 school-aged children. The severity of IDD was classified using WHO, UNICEF, ICCIDD criteria. Between 2006 and 2010 a total of 138832 neonates were screened in Guilan province and the total recall rate (neonates with TSH level ≥ 5 mIU/l) was 1.8 %. The incidence rate of Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) was 1/625. The median urine iodine level in school-aged children was 200-299 μg/l. Considering the WHO, UNICEF, ICCIDD criteria, Guilan province would be classified as a none-IDD endemic area. However, health care systems should pay attention to the iodine excess and the risk of iodine induced hyperthyroidism in this population.

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases are the fist cause of death in the world، and ... more Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases are the fist cause of death in the world، and Iran. It seems that some jobs such as bank employees due to sedentary lifestyle are at a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases than the general population. Therefore this study was done to determine the risk factors in Bank Employee-North of Iran in 2016. Material and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 488 bank employees were selected from total staff lists by simple random sampling. Demographic data، the underlying disease، physical activity and smoking were collected by interviewing them. In addition،blood lipid profie, fasting blood sugar, serum level of vitamin D, blood pressure, height and weight were measured for each participants. Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 43.3(6.1) years and the minimum and maximum age was (30 and 59) underwent this study. 445(91.2 % ) was male. 36(12.9 % ) were smoking. High blood pressure and Diabetes were preva...

Iranian Journal of Blood and Cancer, 2018

1Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medica... more 1Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran 2Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical Biotechnology Research Center, School of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran 3Guilan Blood Transfusion Organization, Rasht, Iran 4Guilan Province Health Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran 5Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

AIMS Medical Science, 2019

Background: Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is one of the main consequences of preeclampsia... more Background: Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is one of the main consequences of preeclampsia, which could be manifested by a change in the optic nerve sheath diameter as a radiologic and clinical sign. However, the effect of preeclampsia on the ultrasound measured optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and its possible applications are rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between ultrasound measured optic nerve sheath diameter and the risk of preeclampsia. Methods: This case-control study was performed on 38 pregnant women with normal blood pressure and 38 pregnant women with preeclampsia in Alzahra hospital in Rasht during 2018. A checklist was used to record demographic and clinical data. Measurements were made using a high resolution transducer, by placing the focal point and a cursor line at 3 mm behind the globe, perpendicular to the optic nerve axis (measuring the mean of two eyes). Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 21. Results: The mean age of patients with preeclampsia and normal pregnant women were 31.42 ± 6.2 years and 29.76 ± 3.46 years, respectively. Differences in gravidity (P = 0.854) and the history of hypertension (P = 0.946) in both groups were not statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean optic nerve sheath diameter in women with preeclampsia was significantly higher than pregnant women with normal blood pressure (P = 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for the ONSD was 0.82 and the cut-off point for this index was calculated as 4.55 mm, which at this point, sensitivity and specificity were 78.9% and 73.7%, respectively. Conclusion: There was a relationship between the risk of preeclampsia and ONSD, in the way that the ONSD in preeclampsia patients was higher than that of normal subjects. However, the mean ONSD in two groups of mild and severe preeclampsia were not significantly different.

Iranian Journal of Neurosurgery, 2019

Background: Spine trauma is an important health problem. Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) due t... more Background: Spine trauma is an important health problem. Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) due to motor vehicle accident (MVA) might have a different epidemiologic pattern in Guilan province of Iran owing to its geographical characteristics. Therefore, the present study was conducted to the study epidemiology of SCI injuries due to road accidents in a trauma referral center in Guilan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used data SCI registry of Poursina Hospital. All the patients with spine trauma, due to MVA, hospitalized in the trauma center of Poursina Hospital, Rasht, Guilan, Iran between March 2015 and March 2018 were studied. Results: A total of 127 patients with spine trauma due to MVA were reviewed. The mean±SD age of patients was 38.27±16.22 years. We observed that 93.7%, 1.6%, and 4.7% of the patients had initial Glasgow Comma Scale (GCS≥13, 9≤GCS≤12, and GCS<9, respectively). SCIs were found several anatomical regions including cervical (n=54, 42.5%), lumbar (n=39, 30.7%), thoracic (n=23, 18.1%), thoracic and lumbar (n=7, 5.5%), thoracic and cervical (n=3, 2.4%), and lumbar and cervical (n=1, 0.8%) regions. Evaluated by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), good recovery, moderate disability, severe disability, vegetative state, and death were found in 114 (91.2%), 4 (3.1%), 4 (3.1%), 1 (0.8%), 2 (1.6%) of the patients, respectively. Two patients were discharged by their personal contest. Conclusion: Spine trauma due to MVA is mostly seen in the young. SCI due to such trauma is mostly found in the cervical region. Good recovery was seen in most of the subjects.

Iranian Journal of Neurosurgery, 2019

Background and Aim: Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is one of the most traumatic events threat... more Background and Aim: Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is one of the most traumatic events threatening patients' well-being and places a financial burden on health care system. The first step in determination of the exact impact of SCI is to estimate the pattern of traumatic injuries in a population and also the type of frequently occurred co-injuries. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the frequency of anatomy, type of spine injuries, and associated co-injuries in patients with trauma in Poursina Hospital of Guilan province in Iran. Methods and Materials/Patients: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on traumatic spine patients admitted to the Poursina hospital of Rasht, a referral therapeutic center for trauma in north of Iran, in Rasht during 2015 to 2019. Data were extracted from the

Alborz University Medical Journal, 2016

Iranian Journal of Medical Education, 2002

Archives of Trauma Research, 2021

Introduction: Animal-vehicle accidents are a growing concern in many parts of the world not only ... more Introduction: Animal-vehicle accidents are a growing concern in many parts of the world not only because of its environmental consequences but also because of its economic and social costs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of accidents involving animals in Northern Iran. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, the data of all animal-vehicle accidents which had occurred during 2014–2018 were obtained from the traffic police database. Results: According to the regression model, fatalities and injuries associated with animal-vehicle collisions on main roads were significantly lower than those on the secondary and rural roads (P < 0.001). The reports showed a significantly lower number of accidents on wet, slippery than the dry roads (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study reports on the high number of accidents involving animals in Guilan which lead to injuries and fatalities of both humans and animals. Importantly, the pattern...

To find out factors that influence the use/non-use of pedestrian bridges in Northern Iran. Method... more To find out factors that influence the use/non-use of pedestrian bridges in Northern Iran. Methods: In this observational study, 4 pedestrian bridges at four different places in Rasht, North of Iran was studied. In addition to demographic data, pedestrians were interviewed for reasons of use/not use the pedestrian bridge. The data analyzed with SPSS software version 18 by non-parametric tests such as Chi Square. Results: From all 499 participants, more than one-third of pedestrians had not used pedestrian bridges. The most reasons for bridges use among respondents were feeling of safety and security (79.2%) and obey the rules (53.6%). The reasons for the non-use of bridges were time saving (63.7%), laziness (48.7%) and inappropriate of the bridge (34.2%). There were no significant differences in age, sex, education level, and road accidents' history with use of bridge but there was a significant difference between the bridge usage with having a driver's license, rash-hour time, and the presence of a mechanical elevator (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study show that in order to increase the pedestrian bridges use, it is necessary to pay more attention to make standard facilities such as installing escalators or elevators of these bridges.

World Journal of Plastic Surgery, 2017

BACKGROUND Burn is the most devastating condition in emergency medicine leading to chronic disabi... more BACKGROUND Burn is the most devastating condition in emergency medicine leading to chronic disabilities. This study aimed to compare the effect of Lithospermum officinale, silver sulfadiazine and alpha ointments on healing of burn wounds in rat. METHODS Ninety-five rats were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 just underwent burn injury, and groups 2-5 received alpha ointment, silver sulfadiazine (SSD), gel base and L. officinale extract, respectively. A hot plate was used for induction of a standard 3rd degree burn wound. Burn wounds were macroscopically and microscopically evaluated on days 7th, 14th and 21st after burn induction. RESULTS A decrease in the number of inflammatory cells was noted when L. officinale and SSD were applied while the most inflammatory response was seen after administration of alpha ointment. The number of macrophages alone decreased after burn injury, while the frequency was the most when L. officinale and alpha ointment were applied. Re-epithelialization, an...

Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2018

Trauma Monthly, 2016

Introduction: Trauma is currently the ninth cause of mortality in the elderly. Several factors ma... more Introduction: Trauma is currently the ninth cause of mortality in the elderly. Several factors may have an impact on the outcomes after trauma in the elderly including background disease, sex, trauma severity, and age. The aim of this study was to understand the sex differences about trauma in this growing population. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the records of all the traumatic injured people above 60 years of age who were admitted to a main center of trauma hospital in north of Iran in 2012 were studied. Demographic data, characteristics of road traffic incidents, and in-hospital medical profiles were derived. The analysis of data was done by using the χ 2 test and T test with SPSS Ver. 18 software. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: One thousand and eight-hundred thirty injured elderly patients were admitted during the study period. This amount accounted for 10.5% of the total injured. In this study 56.3% of victims were male with the mean age of 70.84 ± 8.16 years in comparison to 71.65 ± 8.59 years in women (P < 0.05). Sex differences were seen in Glasgow coma scale, place, mechanism of trauma, anatomical part injured, and in-hospital death rate (P < 0.05). Outdoor trauma was more prevalent in men and indoor trauma in women. The mechanisms causing trauma in both sexes were slipping and road traffic accidents, respectively. In men, head and neck were the most common anatomical sites injured, while most women suffered from injuries to the upper extremities. Conclusions: It seems that elderly men are more at risk of severe injury with a higher mortality rate in comparison to elderly women.

Journal of Public Mental Health, 2019

Purpose Mental health is an inevitable and vital dimension when it comes to providing a global de... more Purpose Mental health is an inevitable and vital dimension when it comes to providing a global definition for the appropriate health status. This highlights the importance of investigating factors influencing utilization and out-of-pocket payments (OOP) for mental health services. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to assess the determinants of the utilization and OOP for psychiatric healthcare in Iran. Design/methodology/approach A total of 39,864 households were included in this cross-sectional study. Data on the utilization and OOP for psychiatric healthcare as well as all their determinants (e.g. wealth index of households, geographical area, household size, etc.) were extracted from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES). The HIES was conducted by the Statistical Center of Iran in 2016. A zero-inflated Tobit model was used to identify the main factors affecting utilization and OOP for psychiatric healthcare utilization. Findings The average of utilization and OOP fo...

Journal of Injury and Violence Research

Weather, Climate, and Society

Driving in rain is very dangerous, and drivers seem not to drive properly whenever it rains. In s... more Driving in rain is very dangerous, and drivers seem not to drive properly whenever it rains. In such situations, the risk of driving increases on rainy days, especially after a prolonged dry period. This would be a problem for drivers steering on slippery roads. In this study, the effect of dry spells on road traffic accidents and resulting mortality in Rasht, Iran, located in the southern margin of the Caspian Sea, in a 3-yr period from 21 March 2014 to 19 March 2017 was examined using time series patterns. The results of the study showed that the first day after a dry spell had the greatest impact on road accidents and resulting injuries and deaths. It was also found that with increased length of a dry spell, the risk of accidents and related deaths and injuries rises.

Acta Medica Iranica, 2012

Comparison of the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) in neonates and school children ... more Comparison of the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) in neonates and school children using two different WHO indicators. From 2006 to 2010, 119701 newborns were screened by measurement of serum TSH level by heel prick. Neonates who had blood TSH ≥ 5 mIU/l were recalled for more evaluation. In the same period of time, urine iodine was measured in 1200 school-aged children. The severity of IDD was classified using WHO, UNICEF, ICCIDD criteria. Between 2006 and 2010 a total of 138832 neonates were screened in Guilan province and the total recall rate (neonates with TSH level ≥ 5 mIU/l) was 1.8 %. The incidence rate of Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) was 1/625. The median urine iodine level in school-aged children was 200-299 μg/l. Considering the WHO, UNICEF, ICCIDD criteria, Guilan province would be classified as a none-IDD endemic area. However, health care systems should pay attention to the iodine excess and the risk of iodine induced hyperthyroidism in this population.

Caspian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 2019

Background: Aging is a natural and physiological process. Moreover, balance disorders frequently ... more Background: Aging is a natural and physiological process. Moreover, balance disorders frequently occur in the elderly and cause many morbidities in this population. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate balance disorders and their related factors in the healthy elderly population of the rural areas of Guilan province, in the north of Iran. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 425 individuals over 65 years old were selected by random cluster sampling method from the villages of Rasht, the capital city of Guilan province. After obtaining written consent, the subjects were examined for balance disturbance through gait and balance adjusted scale (GABS) index. The obtained results were reported as frequency. We applied the Mann-Whitney U test and non-parametric regression analysis for non-normally distributed dependent variables. The obtained data were analyzed in software version 18. Results: The Mean±SD score of GABS was 10.07±8.00 [median (IQR):7(1...