Introduction: Information and its major effect on strengthening the process of management decision-making cause the maximum efficiency in a system. Thus, if information is made available to managers with required speed and in a proper way, it will help them to make correct and proper decisions. Unavailability of such conditions will cause irretrievable problems, especially in the health sector. Geographical Information System (GIS) makes required information available for users more rapidly, accurately and up-to-date in order to make decision. The objective of applying GIS in health management is to show its advantages practically compared to other information systems e.g. MIS.

Methods: After necessary studies and organizing experts' meetings, three districts (Farsan from Chaharmahal Bakhtiari province, Dashti from Boushehr province and Bam from Kerman province) were chosen where on the basis of their ecological variety and environmental related diseases. First descriptive information was collected then the required information layers were adjusted on spatial information by selecting and modifying the base maps.

Results: The data model of this project was designed in the form of geographical databank on the basis of descriptive information of health network and need assessment. For example, the health and medical facilities with their descriptive information were specified on the district geographical map in a way that different information layers of health centers are visible dynamically and simultaneously. The incidence of important diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, cholera, etc. can be also determined on the map so proper and prompt action can be taken for their prevention and surveillance.

Conclusion: The system was accountable to information needs of health system and there is the possibility of its development and improvement from many aspects.

Hakim Research Journal 2006 9(1): 58-63.

Introduction: Foot and knee deformities are among common complaints of patients referred to the orthopedic centers. Most of naturally occurring lower limb deformities in children, which are rather common, would be corrected with further normal growth. However, a small percentage of these problems remain unresolved and may cause complications in the future.

Methods: The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the prevalence of foot and knee deformities (such as, genovarus, genovalgus, flat foot, …) among one thousand female high-school students in of Tehran District No.5. Also relationships of deformities with age, familial and personal history and severity of clinical symptoms were studied. To indicate the severity of symptoms of genovarus and genovalgus, bilateral medial femorocondylar distance and bimalleolar distance were measured respectively. Severity of hallux valgus was determined by measuring the angle formed by medial border of foot and medial border of great toe. Also clinical observance of patient's sole while standing was used to evaluate whether the patient had the pescavus or flat foot.

Results: 30.4% of the studid subjects had knee abnormalities, of which 27.5% were classified as genovarus and 2.9% as genovalgus. 11.2% suffered from foot anomalies, of which 0.2% had pescavus and 11% had flat foot. Prevalence of hallux valgus was 12.7%. Meaningful relationships were observed between foot and knee deformities and other variables such as age, birth order and severity of clinical symptoms. There was a significant association between foot deformities and familial or personal history. No significant association was detected between knee deformities and familial or personal history.

Conclusion: These findings point to the importance of proper physical examination, early diagnosis and on-time treatment of foot and knee deformities in children.

Hakim Research Journal 20069(2):18- 23.

Introduction: TT virus (TTV) is an unenveloped single-stranded circular DNA virus. Sensitive PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) methods with primers designed for very conserved regions of the viral genome (UTR) indicate high prevalence (> 90%) of TTV infection in general population of many countries world-wide. Although there has been no evidence of its relation to any liver or other specific disease to date, it is speculated that certain genotype(s) may be capable of causing hepatitis. A relationship between viral load and immune status of host is also suggested. This study was done to determine the prevalence of TTV infection in general population of Isfahan, Iran.

Methods : Serum samples were collected from 132 voluntary blood donors in Blood Transfusion Organization, Isfahan. Among them, four were positive for HBs-Ag and six for Anti-HCV antibody. DNA was extracted and subjected to PCR using consensus primers. The amplified PCR products were sequenced.

Results: TTV DNA was detected in 105 out of 132 examined samples (95% confidence interval: 73% to 86% with) These included ninety-five out of 122 healthy and 10 out of 10 hepatitis-positive sera.

Conclusion: The results showed high prevalence of TTV in general population of Isfahan which is the same as other areas studied. Determining the genotypes present in Isfahan population is suggested .

Hakim Research Journal 2007 9(4): 52- 58.