Risk factor analysis of hepatitis C virus seropositivity in Iranian blood donors: a case-control study.

Background: Due to blood screening and blood donor selection, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is expected to be lower among blood donors compared to the general population. The effective control of blood-transmitted infectious diseases should be one of the goals of public health. Thus, this case-control study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors of HCV in a representative sample of blood donors in Iran.

α:Non-α and Gγ:Aγ globin chain ratios in thalassemia intermedia patients treated with hydroxyurea.

Objectives: To elucidate the possible ways by which hydroxyurea molecules affect globin chain (α or β-like) synthesis.

Methods: A total of 23 thalassemia intermedia patients (13 male and 10 female) aged between 5 and 26 years were treated for five months with 15 mg/(kg·day) of hydroxyurea. Hemoglobins electrophoresis and globin chain electrophoresis was performed on each sample at different time points before and during the treatment.

Study of depressed mood and quality of life in asthma patients in Tehran using the 28-item general health questionnaire.

The prevalence of depression among the general population has been estimated as up to 50% and even higher among asthmatics. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of depressed mood among asthma patients (n = 280) attending a pulmonary clinic in Tehran and compare it with measures of severity of asthma and of health and well-being. The prevalence of depression symptoms on the 28-item general health questionnaire (GHQ-28) was 65.