The aim of the current study was to investigate breast cancer screening performance among Iranian Turkmen women along with their knowledge and beliefs. A cross-sectional study was carried out in June to December 2011. Through clustered sampling method, 1080 Iranian Turkmen women completed the questionnaire including breast cancer screening adherence, knowledge, fatalism beliefs, and perceived threat using Champions Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS).The mean age of the participants was 43.04 (SD = 11.80) years. Compliance rate in a regular basis based on national guidelines was 13.1%, 2.5%, and 0.9% for SBE, CBE, and mammography, respectively. A mere 4% have been provided adequately with information about breast cancer. Having knowledge was the best predictor of breast cancer screening adherence along with high educated husbands for SBE performing. Susceptibility and fatalism were low and were influenced by participants' educational level and age. In conclusion, Iranian Turkmen women had insufficient knowledge, low perceived susceptibility, high fatalistic belief, and very poor adherence to breast cancer screening. There is a need for providing breast cancer education programs among the Iranian Turkmen women to increase their adherence rate.

BackgroundSelf-efficacy is one of the factors involved in successful self-care of diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate general self-efficacy and diabetes management self-efficacy and to determine their association with glycemic control in diabetic individuals, referred to the diabetes clinic of Aq Qala city, North of Iran.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 251 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were enrolled using census method. Data collection tools consisted of Sherer General Self-Efficacy Scale (SGSES) and Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale (DMSES) with minor demographic adjustments and hemoglobin A1C test. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analytical techniques include independent t-test, Spearman correlation coefficient and linear regression were applied for further data analysis.ResultsThe mean and standard deviation age of subjects was 56.17 ± 10.45 years. The mean level of HbA1C of studied subject was 8.35 ± 2.02%. There was a negative correlation between age and general self-efficacy and diabetes self-efficacy while, there was a positive correlation between general self-efficacy and diabetes self-efficacy (P < 0.001). Results of the regression analysis showed that duration of the disease was the only variable which had a significant effect on the level of hemoglobin A1C (P < 0.001), so that for each year of having the disease, the level of hemoglobin A1C increased by 0.084% (CI 95% = 0.048–0.121).ConclusionsGeneral self-efficacy and diabetes self-efficacy does not affect glycemic control in diabetic individuals. The duration of the disease is the only affecting variable on glycemic control by its worsening in diabetic individuals. Interventions are recommended to help glycemic control in individuals who are having this disease for longer periods. Moreover, further studies on the affecting factors on poor glycemic control of diabetic patients as well as the role of time variable, are recommended.

The increasing incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is a major concern to public health policy-makers. To assess knowledge about TB and the DOTS strategy among medical students in a high incidence area of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a questionnaire designed around the national TB programme guidelines was given to 80 interns in Golestan and Mazandaran medical schools in December 2007. The overall mean knowledge score was 1.80 (SD 1.61) items correct out of 15. Knowledge about diagnosis, treatment and monitoring was especially poor. There were no significant differences between the knowledge of interns who had completed their internships in the infectious diseases or community health departments compared with those who had not. Connaissances des internes en médecine sur la tuberculose et sur la stratégie du traitement de durée brève sous surveillance directe dans la partie septentrionale de la République islamique d'Iran RÉSUMÉ L'incidence croissante de la tuberculose est une préoccupation majeure pour les responsables politiques de la santé publique. Pour évaluer les connaissances des étudiants en médecine sur la tuberculose et sur la stratégie du traitement de durée brève sous surveillance directe dans une zone d'incidence élevée de la République islamique d'Iran, un questionnaire élaboré à partir des directives nationales du programme de lutte contre la tuberculose a été administré à 80 internes des facultés de médecine de Golestan et Mazandaran, en décembre 2007. Le score moyen global était d'1,80 réponse exacte (E.T. 1,61) sur un total de 15 questions. Les connaissances concernant le diagnostic, le traitement et le suivi étaient particulièrement insuffisantes. Il n'y avait pas de différences significatives entre les connaissances des internes qui avaient effectué leur internat dans le service des maladies infectieuses ou dans les services de santé communautaires et les connaissances des internes d'autres services.

Background and objectives: Aspergillosis is a widely distributed infectious disease, which is difficult to manage. According to recent studies, the prevalence of resistant Aspergillus fumigatus has increased from 3.3% to 6.6%. Acquired triazole resistance in Aspergillus species is an evolving global health challenge, which has made the control of diseases caused by Aspergillus a concern. This study was performed to investigate prevalence of azole resistance in Aspergillus isolates from environmental samples. Methods: In this study, 316 soil samples were collected from three hospitals and a university campus in Gorgan (Iran) from July to September 2017. Two grams of each sample were suspended in 5 ml of 0.2M NaCl with 1% Tween 20. Then, 100 µl of the suspension was plated on sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) supplemented with chloramphenicol, SDA supplemented with chloramphenicol and voriconazole (VOR, 1 mg/L) and SDA supplemented with chloramphenicol and itraconazole (ITC, 4 mg/L). The plates were incubated at 37 °C and examined for growth after 24, 48 and 72 hours. Results: We detected Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus nidulans isolates in 187(59.2%), 84(26.6%), 147(46.5%) and 65(20.6%) samples, respectively. We found no VOR resistant isolate. However, 21 (25%) A. flavus and 16 (8.6%) A. fumigatus isolates were intermediate for VOR. In addition, seven (8.3%) A. flavus, 68 (36.4%) A. fumigatus, 41 (27.9%) A. niger and three (4.5%) A. nidulans isolates were resistant to ITC. Conclusion: We were able to detect A.fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger from all four sampling sites in Gorgan, North of Iran. A. fumigatus is the most prevalent and most resistant isolate in the studied area. History of previous agriculture activity and use of pesticides in the proximity of sampling sites may have affected the rate of ITC resistance.