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Background: Toxoplasma gondii infection (toxoplasmosis) has the potential to cause a serious disease in immunocompromised patients and can be fatal in this population. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess comprehensively the pooled seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among immunocompromised patients including HIV/AIDS patients, cancer patients, and transplant recipients in Iran. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar databases (international) and Scientific Information Database (SID), Magiran, IranMedex, and IranDoc databases (national) were systematically searched for all reports that possibly contained data for T. gondii prevalence in different immunocompromised populations in Iran between 2013 and 2022. Results: Overall, IgG seroprevalence rate of toxoplasmosis in Iranian immunocompromised patients was 45.1% (95% confidence interval (CI), 37.4-52.9). IgG seroprevalence rate of toxoplasmosis in 12 studies that included 2279 cancer patients, 19 studies that included 2565 HIV/AIDS patients and in 3 studies that included 200 transplant recipients was 43.6% (95% CI, 30.2-57.0), 45.9% (95% CI, 34.8-57.1) and 45.8% (95% CI, 32.5-59.0), respectively. Moreover, IgM seroprevalence rate in the 26 studies was 2.6% (95% CI, 1.4-3.7). Conclusion: Our findings represent a high seroprevalence rate of Toxoplasma IgG among immunocompromised patients. Health improvement and education toward prevention of toxoplasmosis is of great importance for these susceptible populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most prevalent cancer and the fourth in terms of cancer-related death worldwide. The GC is the most commonly diagnosed and the most important cause of cancer-related death in Iranians. Due to the significant burden of stomach cancer in Iran, we aimed to review all articles that have been conducted on the Incidence, Prognostic Factors, and survival of Gastric Cancer in Iran and compare them with the global situation. We surveyed Google Scholar, Pub Med, Scopus, Web of Science (ISI), and Science Direct databases using the keywords of Gastric Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Gastric Neoplasm, Stomach Neoplasm, and Iran and obtained English language articles. After a two-step screening of articles, 51 out of 202 remained eligible for our study (related to Incidence, Prognostic Factors, and survival of stomach Cancer in Iran). We found that although Iran is one of the high-burden countries for GC, the incidence rate and mortality rate are very different in different provinces (up to a six-fold and thirty-fold difference in mortality rate and incidence rate have been reported respectively in reviewed articles between Northern and Southern Iran). Considering that the initial stage is one of the most important and probably the most important prognostic factors, through upper endoscopy screening, the disease can be diagnosed in earlier stages and the survival of patients can be improved. We recommend the Ministry of Health identify high-risk people according to their combination of risk factors (especially geographical region) and make a national cost-effective screening algorithm for Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scabies is referred to the infestation of skin by an ectoparasite, Sarcoptes scabiei. Having considerable financial consequences, this disease is a public health concern in several countries. In this review, we aimed to determine the current status of scabies in different provinces of Iran. Methods: Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Scientific Information Database (SID), Sci-explore, Civilica, Magiran, Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology and Elmnet databases were searched to find the related data in the time period within 2000–2022. To have a better insight into the status of prevalence of scabies in Iran, a meta-analysis and meta-regression was performed. Results: A total of 943 relevant studies were retrieved from the databases, and 62 eligible studies met all the needed criteria for inclusion in this systematic review. Scabies was investigated and reported in at least 22 and 21 provinces of Iran respectively. Most of the studies were conducted in Tehran, Razavi Khorasan, Hormozgan, Fars and Guilan Provinces. Positive samples of scabies belonged to humans, sheep, goats, dogs, rabbits, mice and gazelles. Meta-analysis showed that the overall estimated presence of scabies in Iran during 2000–2022 was 7% (95% CI 4.7–10.3%, P< 0.001). Conclusion: Infestations due to S. scabiei in Iran occur in different geographical locations and different climates. As a neglected tropical disease, the literature about the burden of scabies in Iran is inadequate. The present review highlights the importance of development of comprehensive strategies for the diagnosis and control of scabies, especially the provinces with high infestation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (Tb) is a major public health issue across the world. Therefore, it is crucial to determine its pattern in different regions of the world. The aim of this study was to review the prevalence of drug resistant TB in the west and northwest of Iran. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search was performed to identify studies (2010 to 2021) in Google Scholar, PubMed, Thomson Reuters, Scientific Information Database (SID), Cochrane Library, and Medical Library (MedLib) databases. The patterns of any drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB); resistance to isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP), streptomycin (SMP), ethambutol (EMB), and multiple drug resistance (MDR) were reviewed in tuberculosis in the west and northwest of Iran. Results: In this review, 7 studies met the eligibility criteria for a meta-analysis. The pooled proportion of any drug resistant TB was 13% (CI 95%: 9.0, 17.0) (43.0% in re-treatment group). The pooled prevalence of any drug resistant TB was more than 1.5 times higher in men compared to women (15% vs. 9.0%). The pooled prevalence (%) of resistance to INH, RMP, SMP, EMB and MDR-TB was 11.0%, 12.0%, 13.0%, 6.0%, and 6.0%, respectively. Kermanshah Province (a province in the west of Iran) showed a high prevalence of any type of drug resistance and MDR-TB (15.9% and 20.0%, respectively). Conclusion: It seems that the western provinces of Iran have a different pattern of drug resistance compared to the northwestern provinces. Considering the extent of Iran and the neighboring countries, it is recommended that the pattern of tuberculosis drug resistance be reviewed separately in different provinces or regions of Iran. Drug resistance in the re-treatment group was more than three times that of all patients with TB drug resistance. The burden of drug resistance reduces significantly with better control and management of TB drug treatment and preventing re-infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Given the significance of climate change and its substantial effects on mosquitoes’ habitats, this study was aimed to model the spatial distribution of the main malaria vectors in the south east of Iran. Methods: Several scientific databases between 1980 and 2019 were reviewed to find mosquito species and their spatial information in this area. The archived folders in the center for diseases control and prevention were used to exploit essential data on malaria cases and foci. Three representative concentration pathways (RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) were chosen to stand for three possible climate scenarios. Finally the potential species distribution of Anopheles stephensi and An. culicifacies s.l. in the 2030s and 2050s horizons were estimated by the Maximum Entropy Model. Results: So far, a total of 39 mosquito species belonging to the family Culicidae have been reported from the study area. In 2019, the total malaria cases have increased by 91% compared to 2015, as well as a sharp rise than 2018 (249%). In that year, 91% of cases were imported from other countries, which caused 40% increase in the new potential foci than in 2018. The Jackknife test demonstrated the annual mean temperature and precipitation of the coldest quarter with the greatest impact on the environmental suitability of the mentioned two species. Conclusion: The effect of climate change on the appearance and recurrence of mosquito-borne diseases has been demonstrated in various studies. Collecting further data and conducting investigation on this issue will improve control management, especially for the malaria vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Environmental burden of disease (EBD) studies are one of the most important needs for determining the current situation, increasing the effectiveness of health policies and programs and prioritizing environmental health interventions. This review article was evaluated the status of the EBD in Iran based on the results of the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, other international studies and national estimates in the country. Materials and Methods: In this study, the researches on the EBD in Iran were identified by searching in the international and national scientific databases and the search results were studied and analyzed. Results: The review of the EBD studies showed that based on the results of the GBD study, the share of environmental risk factors in the total burden of diseases in the country in 2017 according to the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and deaths were about 8 and 13%, respectively. According to the results of the GBD study, the contributions of environmental risk factors in the attributable DALYs in the country in 2017 (a total value of 1,648,329) were as follows: ambient air PM2.5 for 45.0%, occupational risk factors for 25.1%, exposure to lead for 19.4%, unsafe water source for 5.0%, tropospheric ozone for 1.7%, lack of access to handwashing facility for 1.5%, unsafe sanitation for 1.4%, residential radon for 0.6%, and household air pollution from solid fuels for 0.3%. The total DALY rate and death rate attributable to solar ultraviolet radiation in Iran in 2000 were estimated to be 46.2 and 0.7, respectively. The DALY and the DALY rate attributable to elevated levels of fluoride in drinking water due to dental fluorosis in the country in 2017 were 3,443 and 4.14, respectively. The evaluation of the effect of water fluoridation as an environmental protective factor showed that the intervention by reducing the risk of dental caries could fall the DALY and DALY rates in the country by 14,971 and 18.73, respectively. In the period of 2005-2017, the DALY rate (per 100,000 people) attributable to ambient air PM2.5, tropospheric ozone, residential radon, and occupational risk factors rose that the result increases the importance of the preventive measures and controls of these risk factors. Conclusion: There was a considerable difference in the burden of disease attributed to each risk factor in various international studies as well as between national and international studies. The results of national studies on the burden of diseases attributable to environmental risk factors are considered to be more reliable and practical due to the application of more detailed data and conducting subnational evaluations; therefore, the strengthening and continuing these studies at the national and sub-national levels with regard to priorities, needs, and spatiotemporal trends using domestic reliable data and information are necessary and strictly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Trichomoniasis, due to Trichomonas vaginalis, is one of the most common sexually transmitted parasitic diseases in the world such as Iran. This systematic review aimed to explore the studies evaluating the medicinal herbs with anti-T. vaginalis activity which used in Iran. Methods: Articles published in 4 Persian and 4 English databases were obtained between 2000 and 2015 including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Magiran, Barakatkns (formerly IranMedex), Elm net, and SID (Scientific Information Database). Studies out of Iran, studies on animal models and articles on other parasite species than T. vaginalis were excluded from this review. Results: Twenty-one articles including in vitro experiments, met our eligibility criteria. Thoroughly, 26 types of plants were examined against T. vaginalis. Medicinal herbs such as Artemisia, Zataria multiflora, and Lavandula angustifolia are remarkably effective on T. vaginalis. As such, use of other parts of these plants in different concentrations and timelines is recommended for future in vivo studies. Conclusion: The present systematic review provides comprehensive and useful information about Iranian medicinal plants with anti-T. vaginalis activity, which would be examined in the future experimental and clinical trials and herbal combination therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]