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Background and Aims: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a severe complication in diabetes patients, often resulting in significant morbidity and mortality due to non‐healing. This study investigated the effectiveness of 5% topical potassium permanganate on these ulcers. Methods: A clinical trial was conducted on 23 patients with Wagner grade I and II DFU. Patients in the control group received standard treatment, while those in the intervention group also received 5% potassium permanganate topically. Data were recorded at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days for analysis. Results: Among 23 patients studied, 7 (30.4%) were male and 16 (43.7%) female, with an average age of 59 ± 4 years. Both groups showed a statistically significant decrease in wound size and infection over time (p < 0.001). The intervention group, however, had a more substantial reduction in wound size and infection rate (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Potassium permanganate, when applied topically, is both well‐tolerated and effective in enhancing wound healing and reducing infection in DFU, suggesting its potential as a complementary treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ongoing challenge to reduce burn‐associated mortality rates, this study explores the predictive capacity of clinical factors in burn patients, focusing on vitamin D, calcium, and serum albumin levels during hospitalisation in cases with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Our research involves a comprehensive analysis of 100 burn patients, encompassing crucial clinical parameters such as the burn severity index, serum albumin, vitamin D, and calcium levels at admission. Data were meticulously entered into IBM Statistics SPSS software version 28 and subjected to statistical analysis. The study reveals an average patient age of 39.75 years and a notable 34% mortality rate. Additionally, the average lengths of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stays are determined to be 11.33 and 7.79 days, respectively. Significantly, a correlation between calcium and albumin variables and treatment outcomes is established, showcasing their potential to predict variable changes in patient mortality rates. Furthermore, a noteworthy association is observed between serum calcium levels and the duration of ICU hospitalisation. In conclusion, albumin and calcium variables emerge as sensitive and specific indicators for predicting outcomes in burn patients. Importantly, the independence of these factors from the physician's experience and diagnosis reduces human error and thus increases the accuracy of mortality prediction in this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study evaluated patients' satisfaction with hospital meals in seven urban public hospitals using a validated questionnaire. The quality of food services based on the hospital standards was assessed using a checklist prepared by Iran's ministry of health. Of 800 subjects, the quality and quantity aspects of hospital meals, in general, were nearly satisfactory to the patients (mean score: 2.13, range: 1–3, SD: 0.39, 40% good and 36% moderate). The mean score of hospitals' food service quality based on hospital standards was 2.17 (range: 0–4, SD: 0.59). Females, younger patients and those with higher education level reported to be less pleased with hospital meal services. No relationship between patients' satisfaction and hospital food quality assessment based on hospital standards was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the available evidence emphasizes the beneficial effects of probiotics in normalizing various cardiometabolic markers, there is still substantial uncertainty in this regard. Thus, we set out to determine the effect sizes of probiotics on blood lipid parameters more coherently. A systematic literature search of the Medline (PubMed) and Scopus databases was conducted from inception to 12 February 2021, applying both MeSH terms and free text terms to find the relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The meta-analysis was conducted based on a random-effect model to calculate the mean effect sizes demonstrated as weighted mean differences (WMDs) and the 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). To explore the heterogeneity, the Cochrane χ2 test, and analysis of Galbraith plots were performed. Meta-analysis of data from 40 RCTs (n = 2795) indicated a significant decrease in serum/plasma triglyceride [WMD (95% CI) = –12.26 (–17.11 to –7.41) mg/dL; P -value <0.001; I2 (%) = 29.9; P heterogeneity = 0.034], total cholesterol (with high heterogeneity) (WMD (95% CI) = –8.43 (–11.90 to –4.95) mg/dL; P -value <0.001; I2 (%) = 56.8; P heterogeneity < 0.001), LDL-C [WMD (95% CI) = –5.08 (–7.61, –2.56) mg/dL; P -value <0.001; I2 (%) = 42.7; P heterogeneity = 0.002], and HDL-C (with high heterogeneity) (WMD (95% CI) = 1.14 (0.23, 2.05) mg/dL; P -value = 0.014; I2 (%) = 59.8; P heterogeneity < 0.001) following receiving probiotic/synbiotic supplements. Collectively, the current preliminary evidence supports the effectiveness of probiotics/synbiotics in improving dyslipidaemia and various lipid parameters more prominently among subjects with hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. However, large and well conducted RCTs are required to provide further convincing support for these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cancer is the leading cause of death in the world after cardiovascular disease, and is the third leading cause of death in Iran. Objective This epidemiological study aims to investigate different types of cancers in Sowme’e Sara County, Guilan, Iran. Methods This analytical cross-sectional study is a part of the PERSIAN Guilan cohort study that was conducted on 10520 adult men and women in Sowme’e Sara County. The prevalence rate was determined per 100,000 people. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage) were used for describing data. Statistical analyzes were performed in STATA version 13 software. Results In this study, 94 patients with cancer and 98 types of cancer were recorded. Most of patients were female (n=65, 68.4%). The mean age at diagnosis in men and women was 47.61±11.23 and 44.30±7.87 years, respectively (Total=45.58±10.09 years). The most common cancers were breast cancer, brain & central nervous system cancer, and prostate cancer. The minimum age for diagnosis in men and women were 23 and 19 years, respectively,. Conclusion Screening for breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men living in Sowme’e Sara County should be done which is currently underway using mammography and prostate specific antigen tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colon cancer is the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal cancers in developed countries with varied incidence and the onset age of disease worldwide. Overall, 161 participants who were under patronage of a local relief foundation and referred to the endoscopy ward of Razi Hospital affiliated to the Guilan University of Medical Sciences. These patients have been aged more than 50 or more than 40 years with history of colorectal cancer in their first-degree family were enrolled from March 2016-March 2017. Demographic information were collected. Colonoscopy was performed and histopathological evaluation of observed lesions and polyps was done. Most of participants were female (113 individuals, 70.2%) and aged 50-60 years (83 individuals, 51.6%). Seventy-four (46%) had certain lesions. Most of colonoscopy findings were observed in the ascending colon in which depressed polyps and diverticulum were most frequent. However, rectum showed the most histological findings. All polyps of descending and ascending colons were neoplastic, while most of rectal polyps were non-neoplastic. Male patients, who were aged more than 60 years and smokers had significant higher percentage of both lesions and polyps in their colon (p<0.05). Moreover, significant positive association was detected between exposure to harmful industries and having polyps (p=0.01). We found male gender, higher age, smoking, and exposure to harmful industries as important risk factors for having colorectal lesions, which must be confirmed in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the nasopharyngeal, blood, urine, and stool samples of patients with COVID-19. Methods: In this hospital-based longitudinal study, 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were recruited between March 2020 and August 2020 in Guilan Province, north of Iran. Nasopharyngeal, blood, urine, and stool samples were obtained from each participant at the time of hospital admission, upon discharge, one week after discharge, and every two weeks until all samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. A survival analysis was also performed to identify the duration of viral persistence. Results: The median duration of viral RNA persistence in the nasopharyngeal samples was eight days from the first positive RT-PCR result upon admission (95% CI: 6.91- 9.09); the maximum duration of viral shedding was 25 days from admission. Positive blood, urine, and stool RT-PCR results were detected in 24%, 7%, and 6% of the patients, respectively. The median duration of viral persistence in the blood, urine, and stool samples was seven days (95% CI: 6.07-7.93), six days (95% CI: 4.16-8.41), and 13 days (95% CI: 6.96-19.4), respectively. Also, the maximum duration of viral persistence in the blood, urine, and stool samples was 17, 11, and 42 days from admission, respectively. Conclusion: According to the present results, immediately after the hospitalized patients were discharged, no evidence of viral genetic materials was found. Therefore, appropriate treatments were selected for the patients at this hospital. However, we recommend further investigations on a larger sample size in multi-center and prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effects of different drugs on the shedding of the virus through body secretions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Guilan cohort study was conducted on 10 520 men and women between 35-70 years of age in Guilan province and Some'e Sara county, northern Iran, from October 8, 2014 to January 20, 2017 as part of the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran (PERSIAN). Eligible participants were contacted over the phone and were invited to refer to the cohort center. Demographic information was inquired during the phone call. Upon arrival of participants at the cohort center, consent forms were filled out and additional data on demographic characteristics, socio-economic status, employment, fuel status and location, lifestyle habits, and sleep and food habits were obtained. Blood pressure and anthropometric indices were measured. Finally, biological samples were collected. There was a participation rate of 83.2%, and a 15-year active follow-up was planned for all of the participants. The results showed that 53.5% of the participants were female and 56.1% of the participants were rural residents. A total of 1738 participants (16.5%) were illiterate. Of the total cohort participants, 4543 (43.2%) were hypertensive. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg, or a prior diagnosis of hypertension by a health professional, or taking antihypertensive medications. Approximately one-third of participants (n = 3435 or 32.7%) were obese, and most were females (n = 2647, 77.1%). Prevalence of diabetes (defined as fasting blood sugar equal or higher than 126 mg/dL or history of diagnosis with diabetes or taking glucose lowering medication) was 24.1% (20.2 % in males and 27.3% in females). We also obtained laboratory samples for basic and genetic scientific research. According to laboratory evaluations, 3,585 (34.1%) of the participants had hematuria, and most of them were women (n = 2151 or 60%). The preliminary results of our study demonstrate a high prevalence of metabolic risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases and mainly cardiovascular diseases in Guilan province, which merit detailed investigation of their intricate relationships. The population-based design of the study as well as its large sample size were the main strengths of our cohort study that makes these investigations feasible. Researchers interested in using the information are invited to visit the following websites: http://www.gums. ac.ir/cohort and http://persiancohort.com/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]