Factors Affecting the Age in Normal Menopause and frequency of Menopausal Symptoms in Northern Iran.

BACKGROUND: The age in menopause and frequency of menopausal symptoms differ in different societies. This study evaluates the distribution of age at normal menopause, the frequency of menopausal symptoms and the associated factors in Babol, Northern Iran. METHODS: In a community based study, the Symptom Score Card was used to assess the frequency and severity of menopausal symptoms. Data from 1,397 women around 45-63 years old in Babol, northern Iran were enrolled. Subjects were selected using the standard cluster sampling techniques. RESULTS: In urban areas, the median age at menopause was 48 years. The five most prevalent symptoms were irritabilities (72.1%), joint pains (70.6%), backache (61.2%), hot flushes (49.3%) and headache (49.2%) during the previous two weeks. More than 60% of women experienced hot flushes. Low educational level (OR=0.70; 95% CI= 0.54, 0.90), early age at menarche (OR=0.76; 95% CI=0.59, 0.99) and oral contraceptive use (OR=0.76; 95% CI=0.54, 0.97) were significantly associated with hot flushes. CONCLUSION: It could be beneficial to provide evidences to manage menopausal women in Primary Health Care centers as a cost effective method. Emphasis should be placed on practical education of women to raise their knowledge on menopausal symptoms and ways of increasing their understanding on midlife experiences.

Enteral erythropoietin increases plasma erythropoietin level in preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of enteral administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on serum level of erythropoietin and erythropoiesis in preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Level III NICU. SUBJECTS: 16 preterm infants less than 34 wk with birth weight less than 1800 g. INTERVENTION: Enteral rhEPO 400 U/kg, three times/week, plus FeSO4,3-6 mg/Kg/day ( Study group, n = 7) or FeSO4 only (Control group, n = 9). OUTCOME MEASURES: Hemoglobin, serum erythropoietin (EPO), reticulocyte count, and serum ferritin levels, measured at baseline, after 10 days and at discharge. RESULTS: Mean birth weight and gestational age for the Study and the Control groups were 1328.5 +/- 267.4 vs. 1392.8 +/- 196.7 g and 30.7 +/- 2.5 vs. 30.2 +/- 0.9 weeks, respectively. At discharge, there was no difference in hemoglobin or hematocrit but the reticulocyte counts were significantly higher in the Study group (1.4 +/- 0.7 vs. 0.7 +/- 0.4, P = 0.03). Serum erythropoietin level was significantly higher in the Study group (18 +/- 11 vs. 8.6 +/- 3.9 mU/mL, P = 0.006). Conversely, serum ferritin level was lower in the study group but did not achieve statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Enteral administration of rhEPO in preterm infants resulted in increase in serum erythropoietin and reticulocyte counts at the time of discharge without significantly affecting hemoglobin or hematocrit.

Histopathological features of liver and its relation to serum transaminase levels in 91 cases of anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B.

For assessing the histopathological features and its relation to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B in Babol, north of Iran, liver biopsy samples of 91 anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with raised ALT were scored according to histological hepatitis activity index (HAI) from March 2000 to July 2003. Seventy-seven males and 14 females with a mean age of 32.24 (+/-11.92) years were studied. Mean ALT and AST levels were 112.5 (+/-98.9) and 69.57 (+/-60.6) IU/l, respectively. Minimal, mild, moderate and severe chronic hepatitis were seen in 35 (38.5%), 49 (53.8%), seven (7.7%) and 0 cases, respectively. There was not any significant difference between HAI and ALT levels of < 60, between 60-79 and > or = 80 IU/l (p = 0.299), but with regard to AST levels, this difference was significant (p = 0.005). This study showed that more than 90% of our cases are in the early stages of the liver disease. Although both serum ALT and AST levels are associated with the activity of hepatitis in HBV carriers, the AST is a better laboratory screening test for finding the severity of liver injury than ALT.

Normal uterine size in women of reproductive age in northern Islamic Republic of Iran.

To determine the efficacy of ultrasonographic assessment of uterus size in women of reproductive age, we conducted a cross-sectional analytic study of 231 women aged 15-45 years in Babol, northern Islamic Republic of Iran. Mean uterus size was 86.6 mm x 49.6 mm x 40.6 mm overall, 72.8 mm x 42.8 mm x 32.4 mm for nulliparous women and 90.8 mm x 51.7 mm x 43.0 mm for multiparous women. Mean age was 31.7 +/- 9.6 years and mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.7 +/- 4.0 kg/m2. Uterus size was significantly associated with parity and age; but not with BMI. Our findings show a greater mean uterus size than reported by others. Ultrasonographic measurement of uterus size is valuable for predicting pathologies associated with abnormal uterine size.

Epidemiological features and clinical manifestations in 469 adult patients with brucellosis in Babol, Northern Iran.

The epidemiological features and clinical manifestations of adult cases of brucellosis admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases, Babol Medical University, Iran from 1997 to 2002 were investigated. Of 469 cases, 267 (56.9%) were males. The mean age of cases was 36.9 +/- 15 years. Most (60.8%) were from rural areas. Two thirds of cases (306, 66.3%) presented during spring or summer. Fresh cheese (22.4%), animal husbandry (11.3%), laboratory worker (8.1%) and veterinary profession (1.5%) were the main risk factors. Forty-five families (9.6%) had two cases. Sweating, fever, and arthralgia were the most frequent clinical symptoms. Complications were documented in 105 males (39.5%) and 41 females (20.3%, P=0.0001). Peripheral arthritis was seen in 24 (9%) males and 19 (9.4%) females, with knees and hips being the most common sites of infection. Sacroiliitis and spondylitis were seen in 28 (6%) and 32 (6.8%) cases respectively with spondylitis more common in males (P=0.023). Epididymo-orchitis was seen in 29 (10.9%) males. There were three cases each of endocarditis (0.6%) and neurological complications (0.6%). Most patients with brucellosis did not have any of the known risk factors for brucellosis. Thus consumption of unsafe dairy products could be the main route of infection. The disease manifested with a diversity of clinical manifestations and complications. Complications were more frequent in males than females.

Normal uterine size in women of reproductive age in northern Islamic Republic of Iran

To determine the efficacy of ultrasonographic assessment of uterus size in women of reproductive age, we conducted a cross-sectional analytic study of 231 women aged 15-45 years in Babol, northern Islamic Republic of Iran. Mean uterus size was 86.6 mm x 49.6 mm x 40.6 mm overall, 72.8 mm x 42.8 mm x 32.4 mm for nulliparous women and 90.8 mm x 51.7 mm x 43.0 mm for multiparous women. Mean age was 31.7 +/- 9.6 years and mean body mass index [BMI] was 24.7 +/- 4.0 kg/m2. Uterus size was significantly associated with parity and age; but not with BMI. Our findings show a greater mean uterus size than reported by others. Ultrasonographic measurement of uterus size is valuable for predicting pathologies associated with abnormal uterine size