Search

Background and aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the important public health diseases in Iran. Therefore, to control the prevalence of the disease, knowledge is required regarding the risk factor of HBV. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of HB transmission. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted on the possible risk factors of HBV transmission. To this end, a total of 171 patients with HBV infection and 171 controls from Rasoul-eAkram hospital were investigated during 2015-2018. All subjects were directly evaluated using a faceto-face questionnaire about demographic aspects. Finally, HBV infection and its risk factors among the subjects were detected using hepatitis B surface antigen test. Results: Overall, 171 HBV patients including 77 (42%) males and 93 (58%) females were evaluated. The mean age of the participants was 40 ± 13 years. Univariate logistic analysis showed that HBV infection in these cases was associated with addiction injection (odds ratio [OR] = 4.08, CI:1.3- 9.57), family history (OR = 4.52, CI: 1.27-10.7), and having a history of blood transfusion (OR = 3.16, CI: 1.52-5.37). There were no significant relationships between the liver function tests, alcohol consumption, the history of dental visits, and HBV participants. In addition, the logistic-regression model proved that patients with a history of HBV-infected parents (At least one of them) and addiction injection were severely subject to HB infection. In other words, there was a significant association between a history of HBV-infected parents and addiction injection and HB infection. Conclusion: In general, HBV infection was strongly related to having a family member infected with hepatitis B, suffering from addiction injection, and having blood injection.

Background: Chronic functional constipation is one of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Constipation has negative impact on quality of life (QOL). Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are considered for constipation. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and abdominal massage on symptoms and quality of life improvement in functional constipation. Methods: In this randomize clinical trial study, all the patients with functional constipation, based on Rome IV criteria, with age of 18-65 years, who referred to gastroenterology clinic of Rasoul-e-Akram university hospital, Tehran, Iran, were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups of treatment with polyethylene glycol or abdominal massage. Basic demographic data, Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) questionnaire, Bristol score, and presenting symptoms were recorded. We visited our patients in 2 weeks at the end of treatment and 2 weeks after completing treatment. Drug adverse effects and patient's adherence to treatment were recorded in data gathering sheets, too. The data were compared between the two groups using SPSS software. Findings: 94 patients (47 patients in each group) completed the study. Constipation was more common in women, and low income, educated, and married patients. No significant difference was seen in demographic data between the groups. Quality of life score was significantly better in polyethylene glycol therapy than abdominal massage (P = 0.028). Moreover, symptoms (P = 0.032) and Bristol score (P < 0.001) were significantly improved more in polyethylene glycol therapy. Treatment side effects were seen in 8% of polyethylene glycol group, as well as 1% in abdominal massage group (P < 0.001), which were transient and mild. Conclusion: Abdominal massage is a non-surgical non-medical modality for treatment of functional constipation. It is feasible, without any cost and adverse effect; but it is not an effective modality, lonely. Further studies should be considered to combine abdominal massage with other treatment modalities in these patients.