PURPOSE To evaluate the risk factors for pterygium in the dry, high altitude province of Ilam, Iran. METHODS The study included patients who presented to ophthalmology clinic. The patients were divided into two groups: 210 diagnosed with pterygium or pinguecula (unilateral or bilateral), and 210 healthy controls. Demographic variables, living environment, disease type, disease laterality, fam...

John Parkes was born in Marton, went to school in New Plymouth, and completed his BSc and MSc degrees at Massey University. He joined the Forest Research Institute at Ilam as a scientist in 1975 and transferred to Landcare Research when the Crown Research Institutes were formed in 1992. John has worked on the ecology of many mammals (hedgehogs, possums, swamp wallabies, hares, red deer, wapiti,...

BACKGROUND Suicide has become an increasingly widespread form of morbidity in the developing countries. There has been an increasing trend in morbidity and mortality due to suicide in Iran over the past few decades. This study surveyed attempts and completed suicide over a 5-year period. METHODS Through a cross-sectional study, overall identified suicides by systematic registration suicide da...