Background & Objectives: Goiter prevalence in school age children is an indicator of the severity of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD_S) in the society and a goiter prevalence ≥5 % in school age children indicates a public health problem. In area of mild to moderate IDD_S, measurement of thyroid volume by ultrasonography through observation is preferrable to population for grading goiter. Considering the importace of this issue, because of being mountainous and lack of this method's application for determining the incidence of goiter this study was desinged.

 Methods: In this descriptive – analytical study, thyroid volumes of 230 boys between 12 to 15 years old were measured by portable ultrasonograph in Tabriz. Also urinary iodine concentrations were determined by method A (Sandell-kolthoff reaction).

 Results: Mean of subjects’ thyroid volume was 8.12 ±2.21 ml and with latest references of Iran and WHO/NHD, goiter prevalence was taken based age 51.7 % and based surface body 81.1 %. Urinary iodine median of tested samples was 15.2µg/dl and iodine deficiency prevalence was 29.1 % . There was no significant correlation between urinary iodine and thyroid volume.

 Conclusion: Large thyroid volume of middle school boys in Tabriz is probably due to iodine intake deficiency in the first years of their life. Also, the role of goitrogenic factors and effect of climate condition on thyroid volume and goiter prevalence of middle school boys in Tabriz shouldn't be ignored. Further studies are recommended for determination of a local reference for thyroid volume Also it is necessary to be sure from consumption of iodine salt and its standardization.

  Background & Objectives: Cryptosporidium is a coccidian protozoan parasite. This organism is one of the main causes of severe, long-time and life-threatening diarrhea in immunocompromised persons. It is also among the most prevalent diarrheal agents in children. Cryptosporidial epidemics occur after consumption of water which is contaminated by oosit species of cryptosporidium. Water is usually contaminated by animal feces or by drainage of waste water into drinking water resources.

  Methods: In this study, from ten regions 200 water samples were collected, filtered by 1.2 micron papers and then positive samples were identified in terms of cryptosporidium using PCR method. Finally the related species were detected by RFLP method.

  Results: Nested-PCR showed 8 samples were positive for cryptosporidium that according to RFLP of PCR products 5 samples belonged to cryptosporidium andersony, 2 samples belonged to cryptosporidium parvum bovine genotype and 1 sample belonged to cryptosporidium pig genotype.

  Conclusion: Since Cryptoridium andersony and cryptosporidium parvum bovine genotype are the common species in animals and cryptospovidium swiss is seen in wild animals (pigs and boars), it so we conclude that animal reservoirs have the main role in the contamination of related water resources in this region.

  Backgrond & Objectives: Perioperartive shivering is a common complication which interferes with monitoring of patients and it increases oxygen consumption (up to 500%) which can be life-threating in patients with a low cardio pulmonary reserve. This study compared the efficiency and complications of two perioperative antishivering drugs. (Tramadol and Meperidine).

  Methods: All of the 70 patients under went cesarean section with spinal Anesthesia, were categorized in two groups of 35 persons, and treated as clinical trial, double blind with tramadol and meperidine. Then they were compared in terms of the interval between administration of drugs and stoping of shivering and their complications.

  Results : The mean age in patient were 27 years, youngest one was 17 and the oldest was 39 years. The average interval of stopping of shivering during tramadol using (2.57 min) is less than meperidine (6.24 min). The frequency of nausea and vomiting in meperidine group was more than that of the tramadol group. Regarding the incidence of pruritus and sedation after using of drug in both groups, there was no considerable difference between them. Respiratory and pulse rate changes, and decreasing of arterial oxygen saturation in post injection period to preinjection period of meperidine, didn't show any significant changes. In systolic and diastolic blood pressure changes, there was no significant change in both groups.

  Conclusion: Perioperative shivering treatment by tramadol is better than meperidine because of its faster onset of stopping of shivering and its low complications in cesarean section with spinal anesthesia.

 Background & Objectives: Mental retardation is a critical deficiency in cognitive functions, social skills, and adjustment behaviors. About 1 to 2 percent of people are mentally retarded because of various factors. The purpose of this research was to study the prevalence of mental retardation in Ardebil city and determining the role of environmental and Heredity factors on mental retardation. In other words, which of pre-, on-, and post-birth factors as well as environmental factors are related to mental retardation of 7-11 aged children.

 Methods: In order to find out the prevalence of mental retardation, a sample of 500 families were selected by simple random sampling method and were studied by causal-comparative method. Also percentage, frequency, and comparing of two independent groups were used to analyze the data and study the extent of prevalence.

 Results:�The results showed that the rate of prevalence of mental retardation is 3.6%, which is higher than the extent of prevalence of the world. Also the results of comparing two groups normal and mentally retarded revealed that familial marriages, in-birth events, fever and convulsion diseases during post-birth period are higher in mentally retarded group. Furthermore, the results showed that the level of mothers’ educations in normal group is significantly higher than that of mentally retarded group. And among the other factors, environmental factors were the most important factors of mental retardation of children in Ardabil city.

 Conclusion:�The high rate of prevalence of mental retardation and the role of environmental factors in mental retardation of children in Ardabil city require environmental intervention such as training of families and improving health level of society.

  Background & Objectives: University is the center in all fields of scientific developments which heightens the knowledge in the society. Investigating the effective factors on the quality of research and education in the faculty of medicin from the students planning to increase the quality and quantity of research and education status.

  Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic study which was done during the period April 2005 –April 2006 in two faculties of medicine in the state and Azad University of Ardabil. The samples included all the medical students, faculty members and employees of faculties of Medicine at Ardabil University. Data were collected through a questionare. In total, 308 status, 44 faculty members filled out the queitionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 11. Education and Research, educational Status, educational facilities and educational spaces of both faculties were compared and with the desirable standard of 80%.

 Results: There was a significant difference in is education and research in both faculties from thr instructors point of view. However, in students, view this defference was not significant. In comparing the research status in both faculties with the desirable standard of 80%, the faculty of Medicine in Ardabil state University of Medical Sciences showed a significant difference whith this difference in Azad University was not significant. In comparing the educational Apace. The faculties with the desirable standard of 80%, there was a significant differency in Azad University where as it was not significant in state University.

 Conclusion: In terms of Education the faculty of medicine in state Universy was more desirable and in terms of research. Azad University was more desirable.

  Background & Objectives: A common side effect associated with succinylcoline is postoperative myalgia. The pathogenesis of this myalgia is still unclear therefore there is no ideal method of decreasing the rate and severity of fasciculation and postoperative myalgia. The aim of this prospective and randomized study was to evaluate the influence of low-dose succinylcholine for tracheal intubation on the rate and severity of fasciculation and postoperative myalgia.

  Methods: In this study, 60 patients of ASA physical grading I or II were randomly entered into two groups of 30 patients each. One fasciculation was evaluated on the basis of Mingus and myalgia on the basis of Harvey Induction of anesthesia was performed with fentanyl/thiopentone, and then succinylcholine 1 mg/kg (control group) and 0.6 mg/kg (case group) were administered to patients for tracheal intubation.

  Results: There was not fasciculation in 50% (15 patients) of study group and on the rest no severe fasciculation occurred. Furthermore, the severity of fasciculation in the study group was significantly lower than that of control group (p<0.0001). In 16 (53.3%) patients of study group and 4 (13.3%) of control group myalgia were not occurred. Severity of myalgia was also significantly lower in study group than the control group (p<0.0001). Acceptable intubating conditions in all patients of two groups.

  Conclusion: Decreasing the dose of succinylcholine (from 1 mg/kg to 0.6 mg/kg) both provides acceptable intubation conditions, and reduces the rate and intensity of succinylcholine induced fasciculation and postoperative myalgia.

  Background & Objectives: Heart failure (HF) is a pathophysiologic state in which cardiac dysfunction leads to insufficient pumpage of blood for metabolic needs of body. One of the important problems in primary approach to patients with HF, is estimation of HF severity. The present research is an attempt to investigate the accuracy of CXR in diagnosis of HF severity especially in emergency wards.

  Methods: This sensitivity analysis study was conducted on 59 patients admitted to emergency ward of Buali Hospital during March–September 2003, with primary diagnosis of HF. One randiologist used to observe and report radiologic findings without knowing the results of each cardiography.Then cardiologists used to check on the reports and selected patients whose EF was under 50% and eventually sensitivity and specificity of radiologic findings in diagnosing severity of HF (EF ≤ 35%) were calculated.

  Results: 59 patients (53% female and the rest male) were investigated whose age mean was 65.6±10.9 EF mean was 33.4±9.09. In the diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension, CXR had 72% sensivity and 18% specifity, considering the reliance on the CXR in diagnosis of severe HF (EF ≤ 35%) findings were: cardiomeglay (94%), pulmonary artery congestion (75%), interstitial edema (78%) and alveolar edema (76%) with high specifity the reliance on the combination of pulmonary cephalization, interstitial edema and pleural effusion was to have 92% sensivity and 10% specifity.

  Conclusion: According to high sensitivity of cardiomegaly, pulmonary arterial congestion, interstitial edema and pleural effusion, lack of there findings in CXR reduce probability of severe HF. Alveolar edema because of its high specificity increases probability of severe HF. CXR also has high sensivity in diagnosis and R/O of PAH.

  Background & Objectives : Tuberculosis has been the most common fatal disease among adults. It was ranked as the 7th most prevalent disease in the Global Burden of disease. It was also predicted to retain similar rank based on the Disability-Adjusted life Years (DALY) Criteria in the year 2020, whereas this rink has decreased for other infectious diseases. Tuberculosis varies in socio-demographic characteristics in different geographic areas. Therefore understanding its pattern could be useful in designing a preventive strategy. This study was conducted to identify socio-demographic pattern of this disease on the basis of smear.

  Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted in Ardabil city by reviewing 232 samples of patients who were under treatment for TB during last four years. Information was collected from patients’ records which were kept in Ardabil health center. The Data were analyzed through SPSS.

  Results: 37.5% of cases were male and the rest were female. 86 of subjects had positive smear, 44 negative smear and 98 were diagnosed as extra pulmonary tuberculosis and 4% as relapse. The average age of cases was 42 with SD=19.4 ranging between 2 and 86 years. Positive smear’s pulmonary TB more prevalent in urban areas than rural areas while negative smear’ pulmonary TB and relapse were more frequently observed in the rural areas. Smear positive was 59.3% smear negative was 59.1% and extra-pulmonary TB 67.3% were more common in women than men. However, relapse rate was equal in both sexes.

  Conclusion: the average age of our subjects was compatible to the findings of other studies.66% of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis had positive smear which is close to 65% that was reported in the national program for prevention of TB. The ratio of positive smear’ pulmonary TB to extra-pulmonary and negative smear’s pulmonary TB was 60% which differs to the expected ratio of one. Relapse rate was 1.7% which is less than expected rate (4%). This shows that DOTS was a successful program.