The challenges facing programs for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Iran: a qualitative study of senior managers' viewpoints.

Background: Despite significant achievements in the prevention and control of NCDs in Iran, these conditions are still the biggest challenges to Iran's healthcare system and are estimated to account for 78.1 percent of all deaths. Therefore, this study aimed to reflect on the potential challenges standing in the way to implement the relevant policies, empower the dimensions of governance, and react in an effective and timely manner by Iran's healthcare system to NCDs.

Intelligence Quotient at the Age of Six years of Iranian Children with Congenital Hypothyroidism.

Objective: To evaluate the success rate of the National newborn screening program in maintenance of intelligent quotient (IQ) of children with congenital hypothyroidism in Iran.

Objective: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: The IQ scores, in three subsets of verbal, non verbal (Performance) and full scale IQ, of 240 children diagnosed with Transient congenital hypothyroidism (TCH) and Permanent congenital hypothyroidism (PCH), from 5 provinces in 5 different geographical areas of Iran, were measured at the age of 6 years using revised Wechsler pre school and primary scale of intelligence and compared with 240 healthy children.

National action plan for non-communicable diseases prevention and control in Iran; a response to emerging epidemic.

Emerging Non-communicable diseases burden move United Nation to call for 25% reduction by 2025 in premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The World Health Organization (WHO) developed global action plan for prevention and control NCDs, but the countries' contexts, priorities, and health care system might be different. Therefore, WHO expects from countries to meet national commitments to achieve the 25 by 25 goal through adapted targets and action plan.

Congenital Hypothyroidism: Optimal Initial Dosage and Time of Initiation of Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Context: Appropriate management of neonates, tested positive for congenital hypothyroidism (CH), in particular, the initial dosage of levothyroxine and the time of initiation of treatment is a critical issue. The aim of this study was to assess all current evidence available on the subject to ascertain the optimal initial dose and optimal initiation time of treatment for children with CH.

Evidence Acquisition: In this study, all published research related to the initiation treatment dose and the onset time of treatment in congenital hypothyroidism were reviewed.

The Effectiveness of Family-Based DOTS versus Professional-Family Mix DOTS in Treating Smears Positive Tuberculosis.

Background: The present study compared the effectiveness of Family-Based DOTS (FB-DOTS) versus Professional-Family Mix DOTS (PFM-DOTS) in smear positive tuberculosis (TB) patients.

Methods: This semi-experimental study was performed in Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Center of Tabriz in 2011-2012, among 57 TB patients recruited into either FB-DOTS or PFM-DOTS groups. At the baseline of the study, knowledge of both patients and their supervisors were assessed while at the end point, smear and culture of sputum, quality of life, knowledge and satisfaction of the patients along with the knowledge and satisfaction of their supervisors were assessed.