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History and Objectives: Due to the prevalence of the disease in Kashan and the fact that the treatment by glucantime as a therapeutic agent is elective, this study was conducted to evaluate the side effects of the glucantime on liver and kidney. Hepatic enzyme profile and renal function test were performed on the patients suffering from cutaneous Leishmaniosis. The present study was done on such patients in 1995.

Materials and Methods: An experimental study was designed to assess the effect of glucantime therapy before and after treatment. A questionnaire pertaining to the age, sex, occupation and address of the patients was filled. Blood samples (5ml) were taken and hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) and renal function test (BUN, Creatinine) were determined by Technicon RA-100 auto analyzer (Control group). Liver tests and renal function tests were done after 21 days of therapy by intramuscular injection of glucantime (60 mg/kg body weight/day) (Experimental group). Statistical paired t-test was conducted.

Results: 70 patients, 47 females (67.1%) and 23 males (32.9%) were followed in this study (Mean age: 26.3±7.9 intervals of 5-69). Therapeutic administration of glucantime altered the concentration of ALT 1.6±7.9 P<0.05) however it did not any effects on other tests (AST, ALP, BUN, Cre).

Conclusion: Therefore it is suggested that hepatic enzyme tests should be performed at intervals in order to prevent any hepatic damage.

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History and Objectives: Due to the possibility of side effects of Glucantime on blood parameters and in order to determine its effect on blood parameters, this study was performed on patients with cutaneous Leishmaniasis referred to central laboratory in Kashan in 1375.

Materials and Methods: A clinical trial with comparison of peripheral blood smear before and after treatment in 70 patients with cutaneous Leishmaniasis, considering age, occupation and residential place of the patients complete blood count with RBC indices and platelet count were performed. Then Glucantime was administered 50 mg/kg day for 21 days by intramuscular injection and on the last day of treatment all the above examinations were repeated under the same conditions. Results were recorded and changes in blood parameters were compared by paired t-test.

Results: This study revealed that treatment with Glucantime results in decrease in the number platelets (4.6%), red blood cells (2.5%), white blood cells (10.4%), monocytes (12.7%) and increase in ESR (50.4%), lymphocytes (8.5%), eosinophils (3.4%), basophils (0.2%), MCH (0.17%), MCV (2.4%), MCHC (0.23%) while the average neutrophil and monocyte count, HCT, Hb and absolute WBC, RBC and platelet counts were decreased.

Conclusion: Due to resulting changes following Glucantime administration, it is recommended to perform CBC and ESR in patients with cutaneous Leishmaniasis before treatment with Glucantime in order to use other therapeutic options in the presence of a hematologic disease.

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History and Objective: Due to the variety of pathologic lesions of appendix and its unknown status is Kashan and in order to define the types of the pathologic lesions and their relationship with sex and age and detecting the positive cases, this study was performed on the specimens received by the word of pathology of Kashan University of Medical Sciences from 1372 to 1374.

Materials and Methods: The present study was performed by existing data method on all of the received specimens. Patient’s records were drawn out from the archive of the ward and those with the clinical diagnosis of appendicitis were enrolled into the study if their sex ad age were also recorded. The lesions were classified into seven independent groups and their relationship with age and sex were evaluated and presented by descriptive statistics.

Results: From the 522 patients, 506 had complete information. 281 cases (55.5%) were female and 225 (44.5%) were male with the age of 27.2±13.6 years. From the 449 patients undergone surgery with the clinical diagnosis of appendicitis, 332 (79.2%) had positive results on pathological examination and 87 cases (20.8%) had negative results. The most common lesions were acute suppurative appendicitis (31.2%) and acute appendicitis (32%). Follicular hyperplasia was observed in 25% of cases. Appendix was normal in 10% of subjects.

Conclusion: Appendectomy is more commonly performed in women than men. Appendicitis is more common in the third decade of life. Acute suppurative appendicitis, which was the most common pathological diagnosis, was more frequently observed among men. Correct diagnosis was observed in 79.2% of the patients with the clinical diagnosis of appendicitis. Negative results on pathological examination are more commonly observed among women, which are due to the special diseases that are mistaken with acute appendicitis.

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Background: Considering the importance of hydatidiform mole and its higher prevalence in Asian countries including Iran and also with respect to the lack of informative data the present study was conducted to determine the frequency of hydatidiform mole in samples referred to the pathology laboratories in Kashan during a seven-year period, 1992-99.

Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive study. For this, all patients hospitalized in Shaheed Beheshti and Shabihkhani hospitals with confirmed diagnosis of hydatidiform mole were identified through the medical records.

Results: During the study period, 85 cases of hydatidiform moles including 67 cases of complete and 18 cases of incomplete mole were found. The most commonly affected age group was ?20 years (53.3%). Meanwhile, those greater than 45 years old have shown another increment in prevalence (10.4%). 40.7% of the patients were afflicted during their first pregnancy. There was a decline in the rate of mole associated with repeated pregnancy, however, again another increase was observed in pregnancies 6 and 7. Previous history of at least one abortion was reported in 8.6% of the patients. In one patient previous history of molar pregnancy was noted. 79% of patients reside in rural region and 89% were born in Iran. Vaginal bleeding was reported to be the first presenting sign in 82.8% of the patients. 39.5% had blood type of O. Sonography has detected molar pregnancy in 78.4% of the patients.

Conclusion: Considering the higher prevalence in individuals less than 20 or those greater than 45 years old, we suggest further care for these age groups. Meanwhile, patients with vaginal bleeding should follow up thoroughly.

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Background: Due to augmented spread of cutaneus leishmaniasis in our country that impose great economic problems for the sufferers and also with respect to the lack of informative data regarding its status in Kashan, The present study was conducted in 1994-2000 to determine the prevalence of cutaneus leishmaniasis in patients referring to parasitology laboratories in Kashan.

Material and methods : A descriptive study was carried on all referred patients to laboratories during a 7- year period, 1994-2000. Initial data including age, sex, occupation, place of resident, and number of lesions were all recorded. Suspected individuals were asked for samples and Leishman body was surveyed by a microscope following the gimsa staining.

Results : The incidence rate of cutaneus Leishmaniasis was reported 50.2% in females and 49.2% in males. The highest prevalence rate (37.9%) was shown in 0-10 years old subjects. More than one active lesion was reported in 30.3% of individuals. Hands were more commonly affected (45.6%).

Conclusion : With respect to the increased prevalence of cutaneus leishmaniasis in Kashan, health care observers should pay further attention on preventing the disease spread

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Background: Maintenace and promotion of health are the duties of governments. For suitable resource allocation decisions in health sector, we need measures that combine information on mortality and non-fatal health outcomes. Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) have above mentioned features.  Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women. It is the first cause of death in 40-44 years old women. Breast cancer has the highest age standardized incidence rate (ASR) in Yazd province in Iran. The aim of this study was to estimate burden (DALYs) of breast cancer in Yazd province to determine of its significance and also provide a base for evaluation of its control programs in Yazd.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study the burden (DALYs) of breast cancer in Yazd province in 2006 was measured by the use of specific cancer modeling software. Software input data consisted of province population, mortality rate of all causes, incidence rate, survival rate and mortality rate of breast cancer. The data were gathered from 2006 census, death registration system, cancer registry and expert panel, respectively.

Results: The total burden of breast cancer for women in Yazd province was 580.6 years (DALYs), 461 years of which was due to premature death and 119.6 years of which to its disability. The burden of breast cancer for every 1000 Yazdian women was 1.22 (DALYs/1000). The age specific peak of burden was in 45-69 years women.

Conclusion: The burden of breast cancer in Yazd province was higher than the other parts of Iran, probably for its higher ASR in Yazd. It seems that breast cancer is one of the health sector priorities in Yazd but definite judgment needs measuring the burden of all other cancers diseases and injuries and their ranking in this province.

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Background: Dyspepsia is one of the most common ailments today and Helicobacter pylori infection is known as one of the common causes of dyspepsia in adults and children. Histopathologic diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori is a standard method and biopsy samples can be obtained by invasive endoscopy method. The current study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic value of stool antigen test of Helicobacter pylori as a non-invasive method.

Materials and Methods: In this study all dyspeptic patients referred to GI clinic of Kashan Shahid Beheshti Hospital from 2007 to 2008 were involved in this study. In upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, mucosal biopsy was taken from antrum and corpus simultaneous examination of the stool antigen sample for diagnosing of Helicobacter pylori was evaluated using ELISA method (positive titer>1/1). Data were collected and analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value.

Results: Among the 100 dyspeptic patients 50 were men and the remaining 50 women with a mean age of 43.3±17.13. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in stool antigen test were %83.3, %79.4, 88.7% and 71.7%, respectively. There was a direct correlation between the severity of Helicobacter pylori infection and stool antigen titer in biopsy samples.

Conclusions: The stool antigen test as a noninvasive method of diagnosing Helicobacter pylori can be regarded as an affordable alternative to the invasive biopsy procedure.

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Background: Although febrile seizure is the most common cause of convulsion in childhood and strongly age-dependent, its incidence is rare before 9 months and after 5 years. Moreover, iron deficiency in these ages may have a detrimental effect on neurological and intellectual functioning. This study was designed to determine the serum ferritin level in febrile children with and without seizures.

Materials and Methods: This case-control study was performed on 80 children (6 months to 5 years) referred to Kashan Shahid Beheshti hospital from January until June 2010.They were divided into two equal case and control groups (children with febrile seizures and febrile children without seizure, respectively). Children with the CNS disorder, developmental delay, renal failure, and shigellotic gastroenteritis were excluded. Ferritin, Hb, MCV and MCH values between the two groups were compared.

Results: The mean serum feritin levels were 97.6±90.6 ng/ml for cases and 109.2±106.2 ng/ml for controls (P=0.351).The mean corpuscular hemoglobin was 11.17±0.881 g/dl in the case group and 11.04±0.963 g/dl in the control one (P=0.534). Moreover, the mean MCV in the febrile seizure and fever groups were 73.71±4.16 fl and 71.86±4.42 fl, respectively (P=0.049). Also, the mean MCH in the febrile seizure and fever groups were 24.80±1.64 pg and 23.83±2.16 pg, respectively (P=0.033).

Conclusion: No relationship between the serum ferritin level and febrile seizure is seen in both groups.

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Background: Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder which despite treatment its clinical manifestations affect the patients' quality of life. Therefore, psychological support and rehabilitation programs are needed to improve the quality of life in such patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an 8-week walking program on quality of life in patients with thalassemia major.

Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 61 patients with thalassemia major (18 years and older) were randomly divided into the experimental and control groups. Patients in the experimental group performed an 8-week walking program. Quality of life was assessed using the SF36 questionnaire before and after the intervention in both groups.

Results: Results showed significant improvements in quality of life in the experimental group compared with the control group after an 8-week regular walking program (P<0.05).

Conclusion: An 8-week walking program has a positive effect on the quality of life in thalassemia major patients and a walking program designed for such patients is recommended to enhance their quality of life.

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Background: Renal system deposits are uncommon in the neonatal period and its exact prevalence is not fully understood. The present study was conducted due to the lack of a similar study in Iran aimed to determine the prevalence of renal sediment and the factors affecting its occurrence in Iranian neonates and to compare with similar studies in other communities.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 200 infants who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah, Iran in 2017, were included in the study by available sampling method. The mean age of the newborn was 4.06 days, of which 117 were boys (58.5%) and 83 were girls (41.5%).
Results: The results showed that the overall prevalence of kidney deposits was 2.5%, including 2% nephrolithiasis and 0.5% nephrocalcinosis and there was a statistically significant relationship between the type of renal sediment and the age of the neonates at the time of admission, oxygen and ventilator use (P<0.001), also.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the prevalence of renal deposits (nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis) in neonates admitted to the intensive care unit was lower than similar reports in other communities.