Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among Iranian children aged 15-26 months in 2006

This study in 2006 estimated the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination coverage in the Islamic Republic of Iran at the national and district levels in urban, rural and remote populations of 41 university health service areas. Of 21 905 children recruited to the study, vaccination coverage based on vaccination card records was 100% in 14, 15 and 10 of the 41 university areas for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd doses of HBV respectively. National levels of HBV1, HBV2 and HBV3 coverage were 98.9%, 98.8% and 98.4% respectively. The lowest HBV vaccination coverage rate was 90.7% (in a remote district). HBV vaccination coverage was at an acceptable level in Iranian children

Gender Differential in the Association of Body Mass Index and Abdominal Obesity with Prehypertension and Hypertension in Iranian Adults

*Objective:* The aim of this study was to determine the gender differential in the relationship of body mass index (BMI) and abdominal obesity with blood pressure (BP) and prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and prehypertension (Pre-HTN) among the adult population of Iran.

*Design:* A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 2004 to February 2005. The selection was conducted by stratified probability cluster sampling through household family members in Iran.

*Subjects and Measurements:* Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and systolic and diastolic BP of 45,082 men and 44,322 women aged 15-65 (mean 39.2) were measured. 

*Results:* The prevalence of HTN was 25.2% in men and 24.8% in women; and 50.1% of men and 39.1% of women were pre-hypertensive. WC and BMI were strongly associated with BP in both genders. Multivariate analysis revealed that both WC and BMI had the stronger association with HTN and Pre-HTN in men than women. Compared to men and women with normal weight, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval) of HTN was 5.75 (5.13, 6.44) for men and 4.29 (3.95, 4.66) for women with BMI ≥ 30. The multivariate OR of prevalence HTN in men with abdominal obesity compared with men without was 3.76 (3.41, 4.22) and in women, 2.92 (2.73, 3.13).

*Conclusion:* These data indicate that both BMI and WC had the stronger association with HTN and Pre-HTN in men than women. 
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Relationship between occurrence of Guillain-Barre syndrome and mass campaign of measles and rubella immunization in Iranian 5-14 years old children

Background: Case reports and epidemiologic studies have reported a relation between different vaccines including measles, rubella, mumps and Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). In this study we investigated relation between receiving measles and/or rubella vaccines and occurrence of GBS after national immunization campaign in 2003 in Iran. Materials and methods: We used the national surveillance system for acute flaccid paralysis from the beginning of 2002 to the end of 2004 and studied the incidence of GBS disease among 5-14-year-old children. The 3-year time span of the study was divided into fifteen 10 weeks intervals and the number of reported and confirmed GBS case reports in each time period was analyzed supposing their distribution was according to Poisson distribution. Results: From 2002 through 2004 there were 370 patients confirmed GBS case reports among persons 5-14 years of age. The annual incidence in this age group remained relatively constant over the 3-year period and ranged from 0.65 per 100,000 population in 2004 to 0.76 in 2003. The estimated average annual incidence of GBS in persons <15 years of age was 1/100,000 (CI 95%: 0.88-1.13), and 0.7/100,000 in persons 5-14 years of age (CI 95%: 0.58-0.83). No obvious seasonal pattern in GBS occurrence was observed. The mean number of GBS patients during each 10 week study interval was 23.8. Twenty-five patients with GBS were reported in the time period which coincided with national immunization campaign. The probability of occurring ≥25 cases of GBS in that time period according to Poison distribution with expected case numbers of 23-8 is equal to 0.43 (p = 0.43). Conclusion: The yearly incidence rate of GBS in this study was similar to other studies. According to our results, there was no increase in GBS Incidence in the 4 weeks national Immunization campaign and 6 weeks after it in comparison to other 10 weeks periods before or after this time period. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Stability of serum ferritin measured by immunoturbidimetric assay after storage at -80°C for several years

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) may impair long-term neurological development when it occurs in young infants. In cohort studies, it is sometimes necessary to evaluate ID with sera kept frozen for several years. To assess ID, learned societies recommend measuring serum ferritin (SF) level combined with C-reactive protein level. The long-term stability of C-reactive protein in frozen samples is well established but not ferritin. Methods: We measured SF level (immunoturbidimetric assay; in micrograms per liter) immediately after collection from 53 young adults recruited and followed-up in Porto, Portugal, from 2011 to 2013 (SF1), and then, in 2016 in two aliquots kept frozen at– 80°C for 3 to 5 years: one without (SF2A) and one with (SF2B) intermediate thawing in 2014. We compared SF1 to SF2A then SF2B; statistical agreement was evaluated by the Bland and Altman method and the effect of intermediate thawing by regression modelling. Results: Mean SF2A–SF1 and SF2B–SF1 differences were -2.1 (SD 7.0) and 48.9 (SD 66.9). Values for Bland and Altman 95% limits of agreement were higher for the comparison of SF2B and SF1 than SF2A and SF1: -82.2 to 179.9 and -15.8 to 11.8, respectively; the effect of thawing was highly significant (p <0.001). Conclusions: Agreement between SF values before and after 3 to 5 years of constant freezing at -80°C was in a generally accepted range, which supports the hypothesis of ferritin’s stability at this temperature for a long period. In long-term storage by freezing, intermediate thawing induced a major increase in values.This work was supported by the Secteur Français des Aliments de l’Enfance https://www.secteurfrancaisdesalimentsdelenfance.com/ (ASS, MC); French Ministry of Health “DGOS PHRC régional 2014 n° AOR14053” (http://solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/) to ASS, MC and the Paris Diderot University - Sorbonne Paris Cité (https://www.univ-paris-diderot.fr/) to ASS. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Sentinel hospital-based surveillance of Rotavirus diarrhea in Iran

Background. Rotavirus is the most common causes of severe, acute diarrhea during childhood and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. We established active hospital-based surveillance of childhood diarrhea to assess the scope of severe rotavirus disease in Iran. Methods. From May 2006 through April 2007, prospective surveillance of rotavirus diarrhea among children aged <5 years was conducted in 5 sentinel hospitals in Iran. Stool samples were tested for rotavirus using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay, and rotavirus-positive samples were genotyped using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results. Of 2198 children admitted to the hospital for acute gastroenteritis, 1298 (59.1%) had stool samples test positive for rotavirus by enzyme immunoassay. Of the rotavirus episodes, 85% occurred during the first 2 years of life, with the peak prevalence of severe rotavirus disease occurring from September through January. Among the 110 rotavirus-positive samples that were genotyped, G4P[8] was the most commonly detected rotavirus genotype (30.9% of strains). Other commonly detected genotypes included P[8] with G nontypeable (21.8%), G4 with P nontypeable (13.6%), G1[P8] (10.9%), and G2[P4] (5.5%). Conclusions. Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in Iran, which indicates that safe and effective rotavirus vaccination in Iran is a public health priority. © 2009 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved

Blood pressure percentiles by age and body mass index for adults

Since no comprehensive study has been conducted on blood pressure (BP) percentiles established upon nationally representative sample population of adults, the present study aimed to construct the blood pressure percentiles by age, sex and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects. Analyses were based on data collected in 2011 from 8,425 adults aged 25 to 69 years old. Data on demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and blood pressure was recorded for each subject. Linear Regression analysis was used to assess the adjusted relationship of age-sex-specific standard deviation scores of BMI, height, and weight with blood pressure. Four separate models for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of men and women were constructed for BP percentiles according to age and BMI. Blood pressure increased with the rise in BMI and weight, but showed a negative correlation with height. SBP and DBP rose steadily with increasing age, but the rise in SBP was greater than DBP. Overweight and obese population, seem to fall into the category of hypertensive. The findings of present study show that BP percentiles are steadily increased by age and BMI. In addition, most obese or overweight adults are hypertensive

Mutation in human CLPX elevates levels of δ-aminolevulinate synthase and protoporphyrin IX to promote erythropoietic protoporphyria

Loss-of-function mutations in genes for heme biosynthetic enzymes can give rise to congenital porphyrias, eight forms of which have been described. The genetic penetrance of the porphyrias is clinically variable, underscoring the role of additional causative, contributing, and modifier genes. We previously discovered that the mitochondrial AAA+ unfoldase ClpX promotes heme biosynthesis by activation of δ-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS), which catalyzes the first step of heme synthesis. CLPX has also been reported to mediate heme-induced turnover of ALAS. Here we report a dominant mutation in the ATPase active site of human CLPX, p.Gly298Asp, that results in pathological accumulation of the heme biosynthesis intermediate protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). Amassing of PPIX in erythroid cells promotes erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) in the affected family. The mutation in CLPX inactivates its ATPase activity, resulting in coassembly of mutant and WT protomers to form an enzyme with reduced activity. The presence of low-activity CLPX increases the posttranslational stability of ALAS, causing increased ALAS protein and ALA levels, leading to abnormal accumulation of PPIX. Our results thus identify an additional molecular mechanism underlying the development of EPP and further our understanding of the multiple mechanisms by which CLPX controls heme metabolism. Keywords: heme biosynthesis; porphyria; ALAS; protein unfoldases; AAA+ ATPaseNational Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant F32 DK095726)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01 GM049224

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Studies: One or Two Fields of Research?

Innovation and industrial dynamics have grown in importance over the last 40-50 years as we have moved towards a more knowledge intensive society. In an effort to understand these developments in society new research fields have emerged such as innovation and entrepreneurship studies. In general, these two research fields are regarded as rather closely interlinked. In this study we elaborate on the question: Should innovation and entrepreneurship be seen as one or two fields of research? We have taken a cognitive approach in which we analyze the knowledge platforms in innovation and entrepreneurship studies. We use a methodology in which we have built a unique database consisting of all references in twelve “state-of-the-art” books in entrepreneurship. The chapters in these “state-of-the-art” books are written by experts within the field, and it can be assumed that the most frequently cited references in these chapters represent “core knowledge” in entrepreneurship research. We have analyzed the references cited in these chapters in order to identify core contributors and core works within entrepreneurship research. In addition, we have compared our results with a similar study conducted by Fagerberg et al. (2012) on the knowledge basis in the field of innovation studies. The study shows that we are talking about two more or less separate fields of research. Despite common roots in Schumpeter and some interrelated works, the two fields seem to have drifted apart over the last decades. However, there seems to be some elements of overlaps, for example, in the interest in the evolutionary approaches, and in the interest in topics such as innovation management (corporate entrepreneurship) and in technology-based ventures

Protocol Design for Large–Scale Cross–Sectional Studies of Surveillance of Risk Factors of Non–Communicable Diseases in Iran: STEPs 2016

INTRODUCTION: The rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has gained increasing attention. There is a great need for reliable data to address such problems. Here, we describe the development of a comprehensive set of executive and scientific protocols and instructions of STEPs 2016. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a large-scale cross-sectional study of Surveillance of Risk Factors of NCDs in Iran. Through systematic proportional to size cluster random sampling, 31,050 participants enrolled in three sequential processes, of completing questionnaires; physical measurements, and lab assessment. RESULTS: Out of 429 districts, samples were taken from urban and rural areas of 389 districts. After applying sampling weight to the samples, comparing the distribution of population and samples, compared classification was determined in accordance with the age and sex groups. Out of 31,050 expected participants, 30,541 participant completed questionnaires (52.31% female). For physical measurements and lab assessment, the cases included 30,042 (52.38% female) and 19,778 (54.04% female), respectively. DISCUSSION: There is an urgent need to focus on reviewing trend analyses of NCDs.To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first comprehensive experience on systematic electronic national survey. The results could be also used for future complementary studies