Evaluation of the prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking and its related factors in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.

This study is designed to evaluate the prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking and its related factors among Iranian adults. This is a cross-sectional study carried out during 2013/14 in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, among 1830 citizens aged over 15 years. Sampling was through Stratified multistage cluster sampling with proportional allocation within strata. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) questionnaire for waterpipe consumption was used for data gathering. Data were statistically analyzed by SPSS software. The prevalence of current waterpipe tobacco smoking was 17.6% .Waterpipe use prevalence in men was significantly more than women (24.2% vs. 11.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that age, sex, cigarette consumption, waterpipe consumption at home and ignorance of safety issues significantly influenced current waterpipe smoking (P = 0.001). Thus, prevalence of waterpipe smoking in Iranian adults is high and significant. Tackling waterpipe smoking should be considered in tobacco control programmes. However, further studies in this field are needed.

Evaluation of the prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking and its related factors in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

This study is designed to evaluate the prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking and its related factors among Iranian adults. This is a cross-sectional study carried out during 2013/14 in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, among 1830 citizens aged over 15 years. Sampling was through Stratified multistage cluster sampling with proportional allocation within strata. Global Adult Tobacco Survey [GATS] questionnaire for waterpipe consumption was used for data gathering. Data were statistically analyzed by SPSS software. The prevalence of current waterpipe tobacco smoking was 17.6% .Waterpipe use prevalence in men was significantly more than women [24.2% vs. 11.3%]. Multivariate analysis showed that age, sex, cigarette consumption, waterpipe consumption at home and ignorance of safety issues significantly influenced current waterpipe smoking [P = 0.001]. Thus, prevalence of waterpipe smoking in Iranian adults is high and significant. Tackling waterpipe smoking should be considered in tobacco control programmes. However, further studies in this field are needed

La présente étude est conçue pour estimer la prévalence de la consommation de tabac par pipe à eau et de ses facteurs associés dans la population adulte iranienne. Il s'agit d'une étude transversale, conduite entre 2013 et 2014 à Téhéran, en République islamique d'Iran, parmi 1830 citoyens âgés de plus de 15 ans. La technique utilisée était celle de l'échantillonnage en grappe stratifié à plusieurs niveaux avec allocation proportionnelle dans les strates. Le questionnaire de l'enquête mondiale sur le tabagisme chez les adultes pour la consommation de tabac par pipe à eau a été utilisé afin de collecter les données. Celles-ci ont été analysées sur le plan statistique à l'aide du logiciel SPSS. La prévalence de la consommation de tabac par pipe à eau au moment de l'étude était de 17,6%, et était plus importante chez les hommes que chez les femmes [24,2% contre 11,3%]. L'analyse multivariée a montré que l'âge, le sexe, la consommation de cigarettes, la consommation de pipe à eau à la maison et l'ignorance des questions de sécurité influençaient de façon significative la consommation de tabac par pipe à eau [p = 0,001]. Par conséquent, la prévalence de la consommation de tabac par pipe à eau est élevée et significative parmi les adultes iraniens. La question de la consommation de tabac par pipe à eau devrait être traitée dans le cadre des programmes de lutte antitabac. Néanmoins, d'autres études dans ce domaine sont requises

The Effect of Garcin® in Preventing AntiTB-Induced Hepatitis in Newly Diagnosed Tuberculosis Patients.

Adverse effects of antituberculosis agents such as hepatotoxicity may reduce treatment effectiveness, because they significantly contribute to nonadherence and eventually result in treatment failure, relapse or the emergence of drug resistance. Garlic is an ancient herbal substance, which its effectiveness on isoniazid and rifampicin-induced hepatic injury in animal models has been demonstrated (1). In the present study a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group clinical trial was designed to assess the effect(s) of garlic tablets (1000 mg daily) administered for two weeks orally. Fifty eight newly diagnosed, smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients, with age ranges between 18-65 years old, were randomly allocated into two groups. Each patient received either garlic or placebo tablets for the first two weeks of tuberculosis treatment. Of total 58 patients, 31 received garlic tablets while 27 received placebo. No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding age, sex, nationality, smoking, underlying diseases and opium usage. During 8 weeks of anti-TB (antituberculosis) treatment, 8 (13.0%) patients developed drug-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH). Of them, 6 (75%) occurred in the first two weeks of treatment. Fifty percent of the patients who developed DIH were in garlic group. Results indicated no significant difference between groups in developing DIH (p=1.000). We could not show a significant role in preventing DIH by 1000 mg daily garlic administration.

Revised Category II regimen as an alternative strategy for retreatment of Category I regimen failure and irregular treatment cases.

Currently, the Category (CAT) II regimen is recommended for patients who have failed the CAT I regimen. We have determined before that prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) is relatively high among these patients. On the other hand, the retreatment success rate with CAT II in CAT I treatment failures and defaults is nearly 50%. Therefore, we tried to find another strategy with a higher success rate. From January 2004 to November 2007, 105 patients with pulmonary TB, who failed a prior CAT I regimen or with more than one course of irregular anti-TB treatment, were included in this study, whereas five cases with nontuberculous mycobacteria were excluded. Drug susceptibility testing (DST), for first line anti-TB drugs, and polymerase chain reaction were performed. By the time of availability of DST that took 3 to 4 months, a pilot protocol consisted of isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, ofloxacin, cycloserine, and amikacin was started. Then therapeutic regimen was adjusted based on four categories of DST pattern: sensitive, non-MDR pattern, MDR pattern, and culture-negative. Sensitive patients received the standard CAT I regimen, non-MDR patients an individualized regimen based on DST, MDR patients a standard second-line regimen, and culture-negatives a standard CAT I plus a 6-month injectable agent. Treatment outcomes were categorized and analyzed. Forty-eight patients with prior CAT I treatment failure and 52 with more than one irregular treatment courses were included in the analysis. Six percent of subjects had confirmed HIV infection. Seventy-two percent of subjects were assigned to a good outcome and 28% were assigned to a poor outcome group. Seventeen percent were culture-negative. Regarding DST pattern, 13% isolated strains were completely sensitive to first-line drugs. 53% strains were MDR, 10% monodrug-resistant, and 7% polydrug-resistant. There was no significant association between DST pattern and outcome (P = 0.13). The irregular regimen was associated with MDR TB as twice as CAT I regimen failure (69.2% versus 35.4%, P = 0.004). Patients with MDR TB significantly experienced more side effects than non-MDR-TBs (47% versus 27%, P = 0.102). Of 100 patients, 72% were cured, 5% abandoned treatment, 12% died, 6% were classified as treatment failures, 1% relapsed, and 5% were transferred out. Of 53 patients with MDR TB, 33 subjects were cured and seven died. All together, successful outcome was achieved in 62.2%, 76%, and 76% of MDR TB, non-MDR TB, and completely sensitive cases, respectively. A retreatment strategy based on DST and replacing the Category II regimen with an intermediate regimen called revised CAT II may improve clinical outcomes among Category I treatment failures and defaults who found to have active, infectious MDR TB. This strategy significantly reduces delays to MDR TB diagnosis and to the initiation of MDR TB therapy. Success rate of this strategy is 62.2% and 72% in MDR TB and overall CAT I failure cases and defaulters, respectively.

Utility of Gastric Lavage for Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Patients who are Unable to Expectorate Sputum.

BACKGROUND: There are number of patients who are unable to expectorate sputum specimens. In this study, we used gastric lavage (GL) test for diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in patients who were unable to produce sputum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who were unable to produce sputum specimens were included in the study to confirm TB disease. Gastric lavage sampling was performed and sent for acid fast bacillus smear and culture under special laboratory conditions and sterilized methods. Further bronchoscopy for broncho-alveolar lavage was done on patients with negative GL smear results. Drug susceptibility tests were performed on 48 GL culture positive cases. RESULTS: Eighty-five patients were included in the study; who were hospitalized at our referral center for suspected TB. GL smears were reported to be positive in 37 cases (66.07%) and culture in 85.7%. The total number of smear and culture-positive cases in this study was 48 (85.7%). Forty cases (87%) of drug-sensitive, 1 case (2.2%) of isoniazid and rifampin-resistant TB (multi-drug resistant; MDR), and 5 cases of resistant to one drug were detected. There have not been observed any complications after the GL method. CONCLUSION: It seems that regarding the high number of positive GL cultures (85.7%), GL can be effective for diagnosis of patients who have suspicious tuberculosis symptoms and are unable to produce sputum especially in resource limited areas.

Impact of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis on treatment outcome of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients with standardized regimen: report from Iran.

The limited experience in treating patients with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) shows a therapeutic success rate under 50-60% and there are no publications regarding the outcome of these patients treated with standardized regimens. All multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients hospitalized at the Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran, Iran, during 2004-2007 were recruited. Drug susceptibility testing to 14 drugs (including eight second-line drugs) was performed and a standardized regimen with ofloxacin, cycloserine, prothionamide, and amikacin was administered for all patients. Outcome of the patients was studied, comparing between the MDR-TB non-XDR-TB and the XDR-TB. Fifty-one patients were included, 12 with XDR-TB criteria. Of 51, 48 were HIV negative and HIV status was unknown in three cases. All 12 were HIV negative. XDR-TB infection was significantly associated only with age (p = 0.039). The success rates for the total 51 MDR-TB, the 39 MDR-TB non-XDR-TB, and the 12 XDR-TB patients were 76.5% (39 patients), 87.2% (34 patients), and 41.7% (5 patients), respectively. Resistance to ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and amikacin were found to be significantly associated with unsuccessful outcome. In this setting, a standardized second-line drugs regimen produces high treatment success rates in MDR-TB patients unless XDR-TB is present.

Incidence, clinical and epidemiological risk factors, and outcome of drug-induced hepatitis due to antituberculous agents in new tuberculosis cases.

Drug-induced hepatitis (DIH) is an important issue in tuberculosis (TB) treatment. We intend to assess the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of hepatitis due to anti-TB drugs. The study is carried out at the national TB referral center 2006-2008 including all documented new cases of TB. All patients received standard anti-TB treatment. If DIH occurred, all drugs were discontinued and reinitiated after liver function tests (LFT) normalization in a stepwise way. Of total 761 patients, 99 (13.0%) patients developed DIH during anti-TB treatment. There was no difference in sex, nationality, smoking, or opium use history between the hepatitis group and the control group (P > 0.05). DIH was significantly higher in patients older than 65 years (P = 0.019). The mean duration of DIH from the beginning of treatment was 17.53 +/- 19.42 days (median = 12; 1-125 days). Also, the mean of the time elapsed from DIH till the (LFT) normalization was 10.26 +/- 5.95 (median = 9; 0-32 days). Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, diarrhea, decreased level of consciousness, and fever were significantly higher in patients with DIH. In DIH group, 13 patients (13.4%) died, whereas in the control group, death occurred just in 21 cases (3.2%) (P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval = 2.26-9.70, odds ratio = 4.7). After adjusting with logistic regression, all the anticipated factors retained the statistical significance. Our study indicated that DIH most often occurs during the first 2 weeks of anti-TB treatment. DIH development is associated with old age, certain clinical manifestations, and higher death rates.

First-line anti-tuberculosis drug resistance patterns and trends at the national TB referral center in Iran--eight years of surveillance.

OBJECTIVE: Resistance to anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) drugs is becoming a major and alarming threat in most regions worldwide. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study at a tertiary hospital in Iran, using patient medical records for 2000-2003. The findings were analyzed following the same framework as that used for previous reports from this center. RESULTS: Among 1556 TB patients, drug susceptibility testing (DST) was performed for 548 culture-positive cases. Anti-TB drug resistance to both isoniazid and rifampin was identified in 10 (2.8%) of the new TB cases (multidrug-resistant TB; MDR-TB). Any resistance was detected in 228 (41.6%), showing an increasing trend in both new and retreatment cases. The data analysis revealed that drug-resistant TB had a statistically significant association with Afghan ethnicity, age>65 years, and the type of disease (retreatment vs. new TB case) (p<0.05). Also, assessment of the drug resistance trends showed a significant increase in resistance to any anti-TB agent, to isoniazid, and to streptomycin in new cases, and to all of the first-line anti-TB drugs in retreatment patients. CONCLUSIONS: There has been an increasing trend in drug resistance in recent years, particularly in retreatment cases. Hence, revision of the national TB control program, reevaluation of the role of the World Health Organization category II (CAT II) regimen, as well as the conducting of a nationwide drug resistance survey, are recommended.

Accuracy of frozen section diagnosis in ovarian masses: experience at a tertiary oncology center.

PURPOSE: Accurate frozen section diagnosis is necessary for appropriate surgical management. In this study, we planned to determine the accuracy of frozen section diagnosis in our center and to study the factors which may influence the accuracy of frozen section diagnosis of ovarian tumors. METHODS: In the present study, frozen section diagnosis of adnexal masses in 282 patients was compared with permanent section diagnosis as the gold standard. RESULTS: The overall accuracy of frozen section diagnosis was 95.7%. The sensitivity of frozen section diagnosis for benign, borderline and malignant lesions was 99, 60, and 92%, respectively. The tumor size in discrepant cases was larger than the concordant cases, however no association between mucinous histology and inaccurate diagnosis was found. The sensitivities of gross examination and clinical data in distinguishing benign from non-benign lesions were 93 and 70%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Frozen section is a reliable method for surgical management of patients with adnexal masses. Gross examination and clinical data are two valuable parts of intraoperative consultation.

Is standardized treatment appropriate for non-XDR multiple drug resistant tuberculosis cases? A clinical descriptive study.

The clinical relevance of second-line drug susceptibility test (DST) results with respect to treatment outcome is unknown in non-XDR MDR patients. This study was carried out in the sole national referral centre for TB in Iran between 2002 and 2006. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients who had DST to second-line drugs were included. For all MDR-TB patients the standard second-line regimen was initiated. Outcome of treatment based on DST to second-line drugs was analysed. 53 patients were included. DST for second-line drugs was available for 40 patients. Seven patients returned to Afghanistan during treatment. Among the remainder, 13 (30.4%) cases were Iranian. Mean age was 40.8 + 19.7 y. The relatively small sample size imposes some limitations on this study. However, in this study, there was no difference in resistance to second-line drugs by nationality. No significant correlation was seen between resistance to second-line drugs and outcome of treatment. In conclusion, the treatment outcome according to WHO definitions was appropriate in the study population by the use of standardized treatment regimens. Follow-up studies on a long-term basis are however needed in order to detect possible relapses.

Representative drug susceptibility patterns for guiding design of re-treatment regimens for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Iran.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has increased substantially in the past 20 years, however, there are no data specific to Iran. This study investigated patients suspected to have MDR-TB, attending the TB referral hospital in Iran. METHODS: All patients suspected of having MDR-TB on hospital admission in the period 2003-2005 were included in this study. Sputum from all patients was tested for smear and culture, and drug sensitivity testing was performed using the proportion method. Patients were categorized into three groups based on their history of medical treatment. Group I consisted of patients with CAT I regimen failure; Group II consisted of patients with a history of CAT II regimen failure and Group III comprised patients with a history of more than two courses of irregular CAT I anti-TB regimen. RESULTS: There were 105 patients recruited; 32 in Group I, 53 in Group II and 20 in Group III. There were no significant differences between the three groups in their resistance to first-line anti-TB drugs. Fifty-five patients were diagnosed with MDR-TB. The prevalence of MDR-TB was 56% (18 cases) in group I, 49% (26 cases) in group II and 55% (11 cases) in group III. No significant difference in the pattern of drug resistance was observed between the three groups. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MDR-TB was high in this study. The lack of response of MDR-TB patients to CAT II treatment indicates that antibiotic sensitivity testing is essential in patients with CAT I treatment failure.