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Background & Objective: Depression is a debilitating disorder with high prevalence especially in child-bearing women. This study was done to determine relationship between postpartum depression and its various risk factors.
Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic study on 600 women referring to health centers in Tabriz. Data were gathered using a questionnaire including 5 parts: demographic characteristics, mother-newborn characteristics, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, Holms stress scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. These data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical methods in SPSS 14/win software.
Results: In this study 34.7% of mothers were depressed (scores>12). Significant risk factors for postpartum depression were: Marital dissatisfaction, relationship with mother, mother-in law and husband's family, job dissatisfaction, house condition, having an unpleasant
pregnancy experience, unplanned pregnancy, baby care stressors, infant feeding method, nursing problems, mother's self-esteem and stress level.
Conclusion: Concerning high prevalence of postpartum depression in this study and other similar studies and effects of some factors in this disorder, it seems to be necessary to improve the knowledge of mothers and health care staff about this risk factors for reducing effects of this disorder on physical and psychological health of newborns, mothers and
community.

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  Background & Objectives: Postpartum depression is one of the most important problems during post partum. Several new medications have been introduced for treatment, but considering their side effects and also breast feeding women's desire for dietary complements rather than chemical drugs, this research was done to determine comparison of effectiveness of Omega-3 fatty acids with placebo in treatment of mild to moderate postpartum depression.

  Methods: This double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial study was done on 120 women with postpartum depression, who had the required criteria. First by using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in women who gave birth 2 weeks to 3 months before, postpartum depression approved for determining the severity of depression, Beck Depression Inventory scale (BDI) was used. Women with mild to moderate depression who had a score 46 on the (BDI) and did not have any tendency to use anti-depressant drugs under the supervision of the psychiatrist, enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to receive either 1gr of Omega-3 capsules or placebo for 8 weeks. Severity of depression was measured before treatment and weekly during treatment in both groups. The data analyzed through T-Test, repeated measurements of one way ANOVA and chi square test in SPSS 14/Win.

  Results: There were no significant differences between two groups with respect to demographic characteristics. Results show that Mean Depression Scores before treatment in Omega-3 group (35.4 ± 9.2) decreased after treatment (17.7 ± 7.0), which was significant (p<0.0005). Mean Depression Scores before treatment in placebo group (34.2 ± 3.4) decreased after treatment (33.6 ± 9.3) which wasn't significant (p=0.57). There was a significant difference between reductions of Depression Scores in two groups(P<0.001).

  Conclusion: According to research results, use of Omega-3 1gr/day for 8 weeks improves postpartum depression.

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Background & objectives: Fluoroquinolones have important role in treatment of P. aeruginosa infections. The main mechanism of fluoroquinolones resistance in P. aeruginosa is mutations in the quinolone-resistance-determining region (QRDR) of gyrA and parC genes. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of these mutations in ciprofloxacin resistance in different clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa.

Methods: A total of 75 clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were collected from different university-affiliated hospitals in Tabriz. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ciprofloxacin were evaluated by Etest assay. DNA sequences of the QRDR of gyrA and parC were determined by dideoxy chain termination method.

Results: From 75 isolates, 77.33% were resistant to ciprofloxacin. No amino acid changes were detected in gyrA or parC genes of the ciprofloxacin susceptible isolates. Thr-83→Ile substitution in gyrA was observed in all ciprofloxacin resistant isolates. About 90% of them had Ser-87→Leu substitution in parC. Geometric mean MICs of ciprofloxacin were different for various clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa which had the same situation in type and location of gyrA and parC mutations. Moreover, the geometric mean MIC in isolates from urine was significantly (p<0.05) higher than isolates from tracheal aspirates.

Conclusion: Mutations in gyrA and parC genes are the major mechanisms for ciprofloxacin resistance in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. Moreover, the role of different effective factors in fluoroquinolone resistance can be different in various clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa.