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Background: Smoking poses a significant risk for colorectal cancer (CRC), considered the third leading reason for cancer-related deaths worldwide. However, there has been limited research on the relationship between smoking and CRC in the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO). Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to combine available data and gain a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between smoking and CRC in EMRO. Methods: Two independent researchers searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until December 2022. The included studies were checked for risk of bias administering the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I2 statistics and the Cochrane test. Publication bias was determined through funnel plot analysis and Egger's regression test. Additionally, a meta-regression analysis explored the impact of a country's Human Development Index (HDI) on the relationship between smoking and CRC. Results: The final analysis included 26 studies, revealing a significant association between smoking and CRC (OR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.11 - 1.78; P = 0.004). Moreover, smoking had a more pronounced adverse effect on CRC in countries with higher HDIs compared to those with lower HDIs (OR = 1.30; 95% CI: 0.99 - 1.71; P = 0.054). Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of implementing smoking cessation programs and policies in EMRO countries, as they demonstrate a positive relationship between smoking and the risk of CRC. Furthermore, the results suggest that a country's level of human development may influence the association between smoking and CRC. Further research is needed to investigate this potential connection and develop targeted public health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence suggests that dietary pattern is related to incidence and grades of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between major dietary patterns and hepatic histologic features of newly diagnosed patients with NAFLD. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 260 newly diagnosed NAFLD patients. Hepatic fibrosis and steatosis were diagnosed using Fibroscan. Dietary information was obtained using a validated 168-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The association between dietary patterns and odds ratio of the grade of fibrosis and steatosis was examined by multinomial logistic regression. Results: The mean ± SD age participant was 46.53 ± 11.71 years. Fifty-seven percent of the participants were women. Two major dietary patterns were recognized: "Western dietary pattern" and "Mediterranean dietary pattern." After adjustment for various confounders, adherence to the two extracted dietary patterns was not associated with odds of fibrosis and steatosis (P > 0.05). However, P was not significant. Patients in the second quartile of the Mediterranean dietary pattern had a higher risk for being in the F1 grade compared to those in the reference group in the crude and adjusted model. Conclusions: The major dietary patterns of NAFLD patients living in Gilan were not related to the severity of their disease. More precise study design such as cohort or interventional studies is suggested to reveal the strength of this study findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global epidemic that is often asymptomatic and silent, and progresses slowly. This study aimed to determine the biochemical markers and lipid profile among NAFLD patients and their possible relationship with degrees of fatty liver. Methods: This is analytical cross-sectional study, in which, 950 individuals referred to the PERSIAN Guilan cohort study were included through sequential sampling method. The demographic information and blood pressure of the subjects were taken and the blood sample was prepared to investigate the biochemical markers and lipid profile. Also, abdominal ultrasonography was performed to investigate NAFLD and its grades. For data analysis, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and logistic regression model were used, where P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P < 0.001), hepatic enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], P < 0.001, alanine aminotransferase [ALT], P < 0.001; gamma-glutamyle transferase [GGT], P < 0.001; AST/ALT ratio, P < 0.001), lipid profile (triglyceride [TG], P < 0.001; total cholesterol [TC], P = 0.008; high density lipoprotein [HDL], P < 0.001; LDL-C/HDL-C (ratio), P = 0.003; TC/HDL-C (ratio), P < 0.001); and fasting blood sugar [FBS], P < 0.001 correlated with NAFLD. However, there was no relationship between age (P = 0.34), alkaline phosphatase [ALP] (P = 0.26) and low-density lipoprotein [LDL] (P = 0.72). Further, a significant relationship was observed between AST (P < 0.001), ALT (P < 0.001), and GGT (P = 0.004) and NAFLD degrees based on the ultrasonography. Conclusion: Biochemical markers and lipid profile are associated with NAFLD. Thus, it is recommended to investigate NAFLD in clinical settings in cases in which their changes are observed in patients through ultrasonography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Needlestick injuries (NSIs) among healthcare workers (HCWs) pose an important health challenge and several pieces of evidence show that in many cases HCWs do not report the injury. Materials and Methods: This multicenter descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in eight teaching hospitals of Rasht, Iran. Using consecutive sampling methods, 1010 nurses were enrolled from October 2014 to January 2015. A three-part self-administered questionnaire was used. It included questions on demographic features, NSI-related questions, and questions on the knowledge of hepatitis B and C viruses (HCV, HBV). Results: Among the 1010 participants, 580 (57.42%) showed a positive history of NSI; the total number of occurrences of NSI was 914. The major item causing NSI was the syringe with needle (315; 34.47%). In this way, NSIs occurred most frequently during recapping and injection [339 (37.10%) and 147 (16.10%), respectively]. Only 92 (10.07%) of all NSI positive participations had referred to the infection control units of their hospitals. The others mostly answered the question of "Why did you not report the incident?" with being too busy at work at the time of injury (140; 27.58%). The results showed that among participants with <5 years elapsed since their vaccination, the risk of NSI reduced to 60% [p < 0.02, odds ratio (OR) = 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.20-0.80]. Conclusions: It seems that NSI is still a major problem among nurses. Correspondingly, HCWs do not take the reporting system seriously and training them requires an ongoing activity in all hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]