Field evaluation of phostoxin and zinc phosphide for the control of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in a hyperendemic area, central Iran

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

ZCL is a growing threat in many rural areas of Iran which involves 17 out of 31 provinces. This study was conducted from April to November 2011 for evaluation of the efficacy of phostoxin and zinc phosphide against rodents.

METHODS

Rodent control operations were carried out using phostoxin and zinc phosphide. To evaluate the effect of rodent control operation on the main vector density, an entomological survey was carried out. The effects of the operation on the disease incidence were also evaluated.

RESULTS

After intervention, the reduction rate of rodent burrows was 32.68% in the village treated with phostoxin and 58.14% in the village treated with zinc phosphide. The number of rodent holes in the control area showed 6.66-fold increase at the end of the study. The incidence of the disease decreased to 19.23 and 11.40 in areas treated with phostoxin and zinc phosphide, respectively. A total of 4243 adult sandflies were collected and identified. The most common and dominant species was Phlebotomus papatasi. In the village treated with phostoxin, the density of P. papatasi in outdoors was lower than indoors. Nevertheless, the density of P. papatasi in the village treated with zinc phosphide was higher in outdoors.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION

It is concluded that phostoxin is less effective and has low safety in comparison with zinc phosphide, so that this rodenticide can be used only in special situations such as lack or ineffective rodenticides and only in the colonies far from human and animal dwelling places in small scales.

Comparative study on the effectiveness of coumavec® and zinc phosphide in controlling zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in a hyperendemic focus in central iran

BACKGROUND

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is an increasing health problems in many rural areas of Iran. The aim of this study was to introduce a new alternative rodenticide to control the reservoirs of ZCL, its effect on the vector density and the incidence of the disease in hyperendemic focus of Esfahan County, central Iran.

METHODS

The study was carried out from January 2011 to January 2012. In intervention areas, rodent control operation was conducted using zinc phosphide or Coumavec®. Active case findings were done by house-to-house visits once every season during 2011-2012. To evaluate the effect of rodent control operation on the vector density, sand flies were collected twice a month using sticky traps.

RESULTS

The reduction rate of rodent holes in intervention areas with Coumavec® and zinc phosphide were 48.46% and 58.15% respectively, whereas in control area results showed 6.66 folds intensification. The Incidence of ZCL significantly reduced in the treated areas. Totally, 3200 adult sand flies were collected and identified in the intervention and control areas. In the treated area with zinc phosphide, the density of Phlebotomus papatasi was higher in outdoors in contrast with the treated area by Coumavec® which the density of the sand fly was higher in indoors.

CONCLUSION

Both rodenticides were effective on the incidence of ZCL and the population of the reservoirs as well. Coumavec® seems to be effective on the outdoor density of the vector. This combination of rodenticide-insecticide could be a suitable alternative for zinc phosphide while bait shyness or behavioral resistance is occurred.

Epidemiology of breast cancer in the Islamic Republic of Iran: first results from a population-based cancer registry

This study presents the first population-based report on breast cancer in the Islamic Republic of Iran using data derived from a cancer registry. A retrospective study was conducted to find all new breast cancer cases in 5 provinces covered by the cancer registry during the 5-year period 1996-2000. There were 2421 cases recorded in the 5 registries. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) was 16.2 per 100 000 person-years. In contrast to more developed countries, the ASR of breast cancer was low, with the lowest rate seen in Ardabil province.

Evaluation of suppressive therapy for cold thyroid nodules with levothyroxine: double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

To study the efficacy of levothyroxine suppressive therapy in the management of benign thyroid nodules.

METHODS

We performed a double-blind clinical trial comparing levothyroxine treatment (1.5 to 2.0 mg/kg of body weight daily) (N = 32) with placebo (N = 30) for a 1-year period in patients with a benign, cold thyroid nodule confirmed by biopsy and 99mTc-pertechnetate scanning, who were randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. High-resolution sonography was used to measure the size of the nodules before and after the treatment. Suppression of thyrotropin was evaluated by the administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone to 10 patients randomly in each group.

RESULTS

The mean volume of the thyroid nodules decreased significantly after 6 months in both the levothyroxine group (from 12.8 +/- 11.9 mL to 9.4 +/- 9.8 mL; P = 0.003) and the placebo group (from 13.2 +/- 10.2 mL to 11.5 +/- 8.0 mL; P = 0.003). After 12 months, however, the volume of the nodules had increased. Thus, no significant decrease was found in the mean nodule volume in either study group at 1 year in comparison with the mean volume at baseline (final mean volume: 12.4 +/- 16.7 mL in the levothyroxine group and 11.7 +/- 13.6 mL in the placebo group).

CONCLUSION

Suppressive therapy with levothyroxine for a period of 12 months proved to be ineffective in significantly reducing the size of the thyroid nodules in our patients despite effective suppression of the thyrotropin level.

Effects of levothyroxine suppressive therapy on bone mineral density in premenopausal women

BACKGROUND

Levothyroxine (L-T4) is widely prescribed for treating thyroid disorders, but its effect on bone mineral density (BMD), is being debated.

OBJECTIVES

We studied the effect of supraphysiologic doses of L-T4 on BMD in a group of premenopausal women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We included 50 women (mean age=36.8 +/- 7.6 years) receiving L-T4 for at least 1 year for treating their benign cold thyroid nodules. Serum T3, T4, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, and phosphate and urine calcium and sodium levels of all patients were measured. Bone density at femoral neck and lumbar (L1-L4) regions was measured, using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

RESULTS

No significant decrease was detected in the bone density of the subjects treated with L-T4 compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

L-T4 treatment for 1 year is not associated with increased risk of osteoporosis in premenopausal women but other potential adverse effects still need to be monitored in women receiving L-T4 especially long-term.