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Background and Aims: Predicting severe disease is important in provocative decision‐making for the management of patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19); However, there are still some controversies about the COVID‐19's severity predicting factors. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between clinical and laboratory findings regarding COVID‐19's severity in patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Mashhad, Iran. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted on patients with documented COVID‐19 infection based on the reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction test. Clinical symptoms, vital signs, and medical history of the patients were recorded from their medical records. Laboratory findings and computed tomography (CT) study findings were documented. Disease severity was defined based on CT scan findings. Results: A total of 564 patients (58.8 ± 16.8 years old) were evaluated. The frequency of severe disease was 70.4%. There was a significant difference in heart rate (p = 0.0001), fever (p = 0.002), dyspnea (p = 0.0001), chest pain (p = 0.0001), diarrhea (p = 0.021), arthralgia (p = 0.0001), and chills (p = 0.044) as well as lymphopenia (p = 0.014), white blood cell count (p = 0.001), neutrophil count (p < 0.0001), lymphocyte count (p < 0.0001), and prothrombin time (p = 0.001) between disease severity groups. Predictors of severe COVID‐19 were pulse rate (crude odds ratio [cOR] = 1.014, 95% confidence interval [CI] for cOR: 1.001, 1.027) and leukopenia (cOR = 3.910, 95% CI for cOR: 1.294, 11.809). Predictors for critical COVID‐19 were pulse rate (cOR = 1.075, 95% CI for cOR: 1.046, 1.104), fever (cOR = 2.516, 95%CI for cOR: 1.020, 6.203), dyspnea (cOR = 4.190, 95% CI for cOR: 1.227, 14.306), and leukocytosis (cOR = 3.866, 95% CI for cOR: 1.815, 8.236). Conclusions: Leukopenia and leukocytosis have the strongest correlation with the COVID‐19 severity. These findings could be a valuable guild for clinicians in COVID‐19 patient management in the inpatient setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and intensity of nematode infections in sheep located in northeastern Iran from Apr 2018 to Mar 2019. Methods: Gastrointestinal nematodes of 300 sheep were inspected. The season of slaughter, anatomic location where the parasite was located, the animal’s sex, infection prevalence and intensity were recorded. Seasonal differences in arrested larvae numbers also were assessed using Cochran's Q test. Results: Overall, 4,331 adult nematode specimens were collected. Among the examined sheep, 53% (159/300) were infected with one or more nematode species. Among infected sheep, 42.8% were infected with a single species of nematode, 26.4% were infected with two species of nematodes, and 30.8% were infected with three or more species of nematodes. Marshallagia marshalli (13.3%) was the most common nematode recovered from the abomasums of infected sheep, while Trichostrongylus vitrinus (4.6%) was commonly recovered from the small intestines, and Trichuris ovis (25.6%) was commonly recovered from the large intestines. In total, 463 arrested larvae were found in the abomasums of 7.5% of infected sheep and 104 arrested larvae were found in the small intestines of 8.8% of infected sheep. A significantly higher numbers of arrested larvae were found in summer compared to autumn (P<0.001). Conclusion: Intestinal parasites continue to be a problem for sheep in northeastern Iran and additional control measures need to be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The genus Acanthamoeba is a free-living opportunistic protozoan parasite, which widely distributed in soil and fresh water. Acanthamoeba keratitis, which causes a sight-threating infection of the cornea, is going to rise in Iran and worldwide. The aim of this study was to compare direct microscopy, culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Acanthamoeba spp. in clinical samples and to determine the genotypes of Acanthamoeba spp. by sequencing 18SrRNA gene. Methods: Among patients clinically suspected to AK referred to a tertiary ophthalmology center at Mashhad, northeastern Iran. During 2017-18, twenty corneal scrapes specimens obtained. The samples were divided into three parts, subjected to direct microscopic examination, culture onto non-nutrient agar and PCR technique. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and likelihood ratio were evaluated. Results: Among 20 persons clinically suspected to amoebic keratitis, 13(69.2%) patients definitely diagnosed as Acanthamoeba keratitis. Wearing contact lens, eye trauma due to foreign particle and swimming in fresh water were the main predisposing factors. Most of patients suffered from pain and photophobia. Corneal ring infiltration and epithelial defect were common clinical sings. Direct examination had the lowest sensitivity and sensitivity of both Nelson-PCR and JDP-PCR methods were equal and highest. In addition, the results of sequencing identified that all strains belonged to T4 genotype. Conclusion: Amoebic keratitis is a sporadic parasitic keratitis, which is mainly seen in contact lens user in Mashhad. PCR based on 18S ribosomal DNA with JDP primers is a reliable and highly sensitive method for diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis in clinically suspected cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In women's health, literacy determines their participation in self and family health promotion. Low health literacy is as barrier for understanding medical recommendations, disease prevention and health care. Aim: To assess women's health literacy and relative factors in Mashhad (Iran). Methods: Women referring to healthcare centers in Mashhad in 2012 and 2013, participated in this crosssectional study by stratified sampling method. The validated Persian version of Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-revised questionnaire was used. Vocabulary comprehension and reading scores of health literacy was assessed. Comparisons were done in demographic subgroups by ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Chi-Square tests. Results: In total, 250 women with a mean age of 32.1±10.23 years and the mean education level of 10.58±3.67 years were studied. The mean reading score was 11.58±2.51 and the mean vocabulary comprehension score was 17.24±4.73. Participants' health literacy score had positive correlation with age and education, and significant difference in health literacy scores between occupational groups was seen. Housewives' health literacy scores were lower than others (p<0.05). Conclusion: Low health literacy was a common problem amongst younger women, especially among women who had less education. These women are at risk of early marriage and child bearing and require more health care. Health care professionals should use effective methods for easier transfer recommendation, also, producing medical information booklets, texts, and videos for different community subgroups through public media or even in cyberspace with clear and common words consisting of essential information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Being exposed to house dust mites intensifies atopic dermatitis. This study has investigated the contamination rate with Dermatophagoides mites in patient's residential home with atopic dermatitis. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 40 patients took part with atopic dermatitis (positive or negative for mites by prick Dermal Test). Samples were collected from 3 locations (living room, bedroom and bed) by vacuum cleaner. Dust samples (transferred to freezer -20 °C) were examined by direct method and flotation. The data were analyzed using statistical SPSS vr.20 software. Results: Twenty patients of positive prick test included 8 (40%) male and 12 (60%) female. The results of direct observation of mites: 7 cases (35%) in bedding sheets, 6 cases (30%) bedrooms' carpet, 3 cases (15%) living room's carpet. Twenty patients of negative prick test included 8 (40%) male and 12 (60%) female. Only mites were found (5%) in living room's carpets of negative prick test patients. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was more frequent than Dermatophagoides farinae. (98% vs 83%). Conclusion: Fifty-five percent of residential homes of prick test positive patients and only 5% of residential homes of prick test negative patients were positive for mite. Sunshine provided home had fewer mites than home where sunshine is not provided. Prick test positive patients used handmade carpets more than machine made ones. In positive prick test patients, mites were found in bed sheet and bedroom's carpet more than negative prick test patient's sheets and carpets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the strong evidence of child safety seats (CSSs) effectiveness in reducing injuries, it is still rarely used in some societies. The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence and predictors of CSS use in Mashad, Iran. Five hundred ninety kindergarten children whose parents owned a car were enrolled in the study. Parents were asked about using CSS for their children, reasons for CSS use/non-use, demographics, history of road traffic injuries and receiving any advice on CSS. Of families, 25.5% expressed that they used CSS for their child at present or any time in the past, but only 6.3% of children travelled restrained in CSS at the time of study. Age-appropriate CSS use was reported in 14.5% of infants and 2.3% of 1–5-year-old children. A significant relationship was observed between lower child age, higher maternal education and high family income with CSS use. The main reasons for CSS none-use were reported as not feeling the need (42%), followed by its high price (22%). Use of CSS was uncommon. The financial concerns and information gap about the essential need for CSS should be considered as priorities for action especially among lower socio-economic groups of society. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Human cystic echinococcosis (hydatidosis) continues to be an essential cause of morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world. Methods: We studied hydatid cyst pattern in hospitalized adult patients from 2003 to 2012 in Mashhad and Neyshabour, northeast of Iran. Results: Overall, 1342 patients, 711 females (53%) and 631 males (47%) diagnosed as infected with hydatid cyst were evaluated. Their age was between 1 and 91 yr (mean age 37.75). The most affected age group was 20-30 yr old. Totally, 953 cases (71%) were urban and 375 cases (27.8%) were rural residents. The most common localization of cysts was the liver and lung. The housewives were the most frequently infected occupations. Conclusion: The rate of infection with hydatid cyst is high in Mashhad, northeast of Iran, and the incidence of human hydatidosis tends to increase in recent years so control and prevention programs are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) has been recently prioritized as a health problem in Iran. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is an easy-to-use diagnostic tool for excessive drinking. This study was designed to assess the validity and reliability of the Persian version of AUDIT questionnaire. Methods: Participants were 70 individuals with AUD (study group) and 70 non-alcoholic individuals (control group). Persian AUDIT was completed for all participants. Explanatory factor analysis was used for construct validity; and the reliability of AUDIT was determined by examining internal consistency and test-retest reliability. ROC curve was applied for calculation of specificity and sensitivity. Results: Using Cronbach's alpha, the internal reliability of the Persian AUDIT was estimated to be 0.77. The internal consistency coefficient of the Persian AUDIT was calculated to be 0.78 by the split-half method in the total population. The correlation of the test-retest results was statistically significant (r = 0.711, P = 0.020). Using the ROC curve at the cutoff point of 8, a specificity and sensitivity of 89% and 99% was achieved for the test and the accuracy of the area under the curve was achieved to be 99% (P < 0.001). The cutoff value of 8 in AUDIT questionnaire was specified as the best cutoff point. Control subjects obtained significantly lower mean scores compared to alcoholic subjects (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Given the acceptable reliability and validity of the Persian AUDIT and its high sensitivity and specificity, it can be used as an effective instrument for identification of AUDs, risky drinkers and early detection of ulterior cases of alcohol addiction in the Persian speaking population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]