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One of the significant challenges facing developing countries is combating air pollution and improving air quality. Therefore, analyzing changes in air pollutants can provide valuable information for experts to analyze air quality. The TROPOMI sensor on the Sentinel-5 satellite enables the tracking of gaseous pollutants. In this study, using GEE (Google Earth Engine), the products of CO, O3, NO2, and SO2 pollutants were retrieved, and their average concentrations were mapped at the spatial scale of Razavi and South Khorasan Provinces in the period 2018-2023. Additionally, the inverse distance weighting (IDW) method was used for annual data from five air quality monitoring stations. The results of this research showed that the spatial distribution of the concentration of these pollutants increased from Razavi and South Khorasan Provinces, with the highest values recorded in the north, northeast, and center of Khorasan Razavi province. Also, the spatial distribution of the concentration of measured pollutants using the IDW model showed that the highest concentration dispersion of pollutants was recorded at the Mashin Abzar, Khiam, Sajad, and Tarog stations. To investigate the overall ability of the TRPOPMI sensor to estimate atmospheric pollutants, the coefficient of determination (R²) was used. The results showed that the monitoring values using Sentinel-5 satellite images correlate at least 0.76% for CO, 0.85% for O3, 0.79% for NO2, and 0.78% for SO2 with the values monitored by air quality monitoring stations.

Abstract Measuring disease progression in clinical trials for testing novel treatments for multifaceted diseases as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), remains challenging. In this study we assess a range of statistical approaches to compare outcomes as measured by the items of the progressive supranuclear palsy rating scale (PSPRS). We consider several statistical approaches, including sum scores, a modified PSPRS rating scale that had been recommended by FDA in a pre-IND meeting, multivariate tests, and analysis approaches based on multiple comparisons of the individual items. In addition, we propose two novel approaches which measure disease status based on Item Response Theory models. We assess the performance of these tests under various scenarios in an extensive simulation study and illustrate their use with a re-analysis of the ABBV-8E12 clinical trial. Furthermore, we discuss the impact of the FDA-recommended scoring of item scores on the power of the statistical tests. We find that classical approaches as the PSPRS sum score demonstrate moderate to high power when treatment effects are consistent across the individual items. The tests based on Item Response Theory (IRT) models yield the highest power when the simulated data are generated from an IRT model. The multiple testing based approaches have a higher power in settings where the treatment effect is limited to certain domains or items. The study demonstrates that there is no one-size-fits-all testing procedure for evaluating treatment effects using PSPRS items; the optimal method varies based on the specific effect size patterns. The efficiency of the PSPRS sum score, while generally robust and straightforward to apply, varies depending on the specific patterns of effect sizes encountered and more powerful alternatives are available in specific settings. These findings can have important implications for the design of future clinical trials in PSP and similar multifaceted diseases.

Abstract Introduction Occupation plays an important role in the spread of infectious diseases in humans. Toxoplasmosis and hydatidosis are world-wide diseases with different routes of transmission. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and hydatidosis and risk factors associated with these diseases among the butchers of Tabriz City, the northwest of Iran. Methods In this case-control study conducted in Tabriz city in 2023, 250 serum samples were collected from butchers (n = 125) and outpatients referred to Imam Reza Hospital (n = 125) and. The ELISA test was used to identify IgG and IgM antibodies against toxoplasmosis and IgG antibodies against hydatidosis. The results were analyzed by statistics tests using SPSS v. 16 software. Risk factors’ association was tested using Chi square or logistic regression analysis. Results The results indicated that 66/125 (52.8%) cases and 40/125 controls (32%) were positive for toxoplasmosis IgG antibody. Also, 5/125 (4%) and 1/125 (0.8%) were positive for toxoplasmosis IgM antibody in the case and control groups, respectively. In addition, 10/125 people (8%) were positive for anti-hydatidosis IgG antibody in the case group, while no positive cases were found in the control group. The main risk factors for toxoplasmosis were age (OR: 1.014), education level (OR: 0.638), and work experience(OR: 1.695), these factors for hydatidosis included age and education level (OR: 1.765 and 0.271) respectivily. Conclusions Our results suggest the high prevalence of toxoplasmosis and in butchers of Tabriz, which required special attention and basic measures. Moreover, the prevalence of hydatidosis IgG antibodies also requires more attention to be focused on breaking the transmission and reducing the infection.

Background and purpose: Chronic kidney disease or CKD is defined as functional failure or structural abnormality of the kidney. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the primary causes of this illness. Because the underlying causes of chronic kidney disease are more common now, the disease's financial burden on health systems around the globe has gone up. This disease can cause a wide range of complications, including changes in electrolytes and other known indicators in the blood. One of the less investigated indicators is the serum level of phosphorus in these patients. Therefore, we designed and implemented a study to investigate the relationship between serum phosphorus levels and kidney dysfunction in chronic kidney patients. Materials and methods: This study was a descriptive and retrospective study that was conducted on 110 patients with chronic kidney disease admitted to Imam Khomeini Teaching Hospital in Sari. The census sampling method and data collection tool was a checklist. Phosphorus values ​​obtained by blood tests and recorded in patients' files were studied. The comparison between the grouped variables was done with the chi-score test and Fisher's exact test. Quantitative variables were compared between 2 groups with a t-test and in more than 2 groups with an analysis of variance or their non-parametric equivalent. Also, the correlation between serum phosphorus level and GFR was done with Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient. Partial Correlation was used to adjust the effect of confounding variables. Also, the normality of quantitative variables was evaluated with Shapiro-Wilks and based on skewness and kurtosis indices. Data analysis was done with SPSS software version 25 Results: Of the 110 individuals that were examined, 51 (46.4%) were female and 59 (53.6%) were male. Of the 110 individuals, 95.5%, or 105 patients, had underlying medical conditions. During their time in the hospital, 21 patients (19.1%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. 19 individuals were in the G3 stage, 41 in the G4 stage, and 50 were in the G5 stage of CKD. Also, 69 patients were diagnosed with diabetes. Of these, 13 patients were in the G3 stage, 28 patients were in the G4 stage, and 28 patients were in the G5 stage of chronic kidney disease. The average level of blood urea and creatinine was reported to be 125.0255 mmol/L and 4.2975 mg/dL, respectively. Also, the calcium serum level was 8.9109 mg/dL and the phosphorus serum level was 4.6873 mg/dL. Also, the average eGFR among 110 evaluated patients was 19.2345 mL/min/1.73m^2. Serum phosphorus levels and eGFR in men are correlated, and this link is significant (P=0.000). However, the P-value of 0.087 indicates that there is no significant association between eGFR and blood phosphorus levels in women. This connection was significant in hypertensive individuals (P=0.003). Furthermore, in contrast to systolic blood pressure, there is a substantial correlation between patients' diastolic blood pressure and eGFR. Conclusion: Phosphorus serum level plays a role in determining the severity and prognosis of chronic kidney disease. Also, there is a direct relationship between diastolic blood pressure and the severity of this disease.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a pathogenic parasite with worldwide distribution. We investigated curcumin and chitosan in combination on the viability of T. gondii tachyzoites in silico, in vitro and in vivo. Methods: A 3D model was employed in Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran in 2021 to study the interaction between curcumin and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Ramachandran root-mean-square deviation and VERIFY3D validated the model. Cytotoxicity of curcumin and chitosan was evaluated by MTT viability assay. BALB/c mice infected with 104 Toxoplasma organisms were treated with curcumin, chitosan, and the combination of curcumin+chitosan. Serum levels of inducible NO synthetase (iNOs), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-5, glutamate oxaloacetic transaminases (SGOT), and glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) were determined. Result: Curcumin-DHFR and curcumin-DHPS (dihydropteroate synthase) interactions and calculated enzyme energy indicated an excellent affinity for curcumin with DHFR, but not DHPS. MTT results of concurrent treatments demonstrated IC50 rates of 0.1, 0.05, and 0.01 mg/ml at 24, 48, and 72h, respectively. IFN-γ, IL-5 and iNOs levels in curcumin+chitosan treated mice were 1.71, 0.51, and 1.51 IU/L, while those of SGOT and SGPT were 76 and 84 IU/L, respectively. Conclusion: The combination of curcumin and chitosan increased survival time of infected mice by seven days. Curcumin and chitosan in combination regulated the immune system and reduced liver damage, potentially forming the basis of a new treatment for toxoplasmosis.

Abstract Background Leishmaniasis, caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, is a neglected tropical disease with 700,000 to 1,000,000 global new cases annually. Adverse effects associated with expense, long-term treatment and drug resistance have made conventional therapies unfavorable, encouraging the search for alternative drugs based on plant products. In this study, the effect of Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae) extract against viability of promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania major was evaluated in vitro. Methods The extract from the leaves of C. procera seedlings was prepared using a methanol maceration method. The colorimetric cell viability 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the growth-inhibitory effect of the extract on promastigotes. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in promastigote cultures was determined after treatment with the extract using the 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) method and compared with untreated cultures (control). After exposure to the extract the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genes were determined and compared to control in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) infected with L. major. Results Based on the MTT assay, the C. procera extract significantly reduced the proliferation of L. major promastigotes with IC50 values of 377.28 and 222.44 μg/mL for 24 and 72 h, respectively (p

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the lumbar annular tears prevalence regarding the patient’s history factors, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) recorded data. Materials and Methods: In this study, 218 patients (106 men and 112 women) were evaluated; 136 cases (63 men and 73 women, 20-80 years, mean: 45.4±14.8 years) with Lower Back Pain (LBP) and High-Intensity Zone (HIZ) were diagnosed based on MR images. The diagnosed annular tears from the MRI data, Body Mass Index (BMI, kg/m2), and physical activity of the patients were recorded, and the prevalence of lumbar annular tears was evaluated regarding the mentioned parameters. Results: The prevalence of annular tears was 31.6% at L5/S1 (43/136 patients), 43.4% at L4/L5 (59/136 patients), 16.9% at L3/L4 (23/136 patients), 4.4% at L2/L3 (6/136 patients), and 3.7% at L1/L2 spinal disc space (5/136 patients). Most patients with annular tears had LBP (>60%). Based on the patient's history, 25% of patients had BMI above 30, 8.8% had post-traumatic history, 15.4% had a history of falling down, 19.1% had slipped down history, 16.2% were athletes, and 15.4% performed heavy work. Conclusion: The prevalence of lumbar annular tears was higher in patients having LBP and a BMI over 30, which should be considered possible risk factors. This study demonstrated that annular tears are more likely to occur in lower lumbar discs, especially in L4/L5 and L5/S1 discs.

Sustainable land-use planning refers to the effort to establish a balance between economic growth, ecological structures, environmental protection, and social progress. Therefore, land-use suitability assessment and extract comprehensive objectives are essential. In recent years, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools significantly increased for land-use planning. In this study, the Multi-Objective Land Allocation (MOLA) algorithm, Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA), and Image Processing (IP) technique have been applied to urban land use location of the Birjand watershed based on a comprehensive set of sustainable development goals. The objectives used include maximizing fitness functions (e.g., environmental and ecological suitability, compression functions, and landscape stability), minimizing land-use conversion, imposing limitations of flood protected areas with an above 70% slope, the demands of urban areas, placement one land use per pixel. Visual assessment, statistical and landscape metrics analysis were employed to compare algorithms' outcomes. results showed that the MOLA (with an average of 215.136) had better allocation concerning land use suitability assessment for urban development. Also, MOLA and IP algorithms (with standard deviations of 41.037 and 41.729, respectively) were placed in better positions than GSA. Additionally, landscape metrics analysis indicated that there were relative efficiency and superiority between different metrics of the studied algorithms.

Background: We aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of miltefosine on Toxoplasma gondii RH strain by various techniques. Methods: The study was conducted at the Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2020. Four groups of five BALB/c mice were selected. The cytotoxicity test was conducted by adding miltefosine to T. gondii tachyzoites; control tachyzoites received PBS and MTT assay was done on each suspension. For evaluating the Th1-type immune responses, the serum levels of IFN-γ and nitric oxide (NO) were assessed in mice after injecting tachyzoites and miltefosine, respectively. The flow cytometry technique was performed on T. gondii tachyzoites challenged with IC50 and IC90 doses of miltefosine and unchallenged cells. DNA fragments in T. gondii tachyzoites were detected by Terminal dUTPnick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. Results: Overall, 256, 64, 32, and 16 µg concentrations of miltefosine, respectively could kill more than 50% of viable T. gondii tachyzoites. The infected mice group, treated with miltefosine, significantly produced more IFN-γ relative to other groups (P< 0.001). Moreover, a significant difference was found in inducible NO synthase between the experimental and control groups (P

Fascioliasis and toxoplasmosis are the two important zoonotic diseases that are endemic in Iran and share some common transmission routes. The present study is aimed at determining the seroprevalence of human fascioliasis and toxoplasmosis in rural and urban areas of Jolfa County, Northwest Iran. In a cross-sectional study, 600 human sera were collected randomly from humans living in Jolfa County including three cities and 13 villages from 2017 to 2018. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and anti-Fasciola sp. IgG tests have been performed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Four (0.7%) out of 600 human sera showed positive levels of anti-Fasciola IgG. Three out of four seropositive humans were from an urban area, and one (25%) was from rural inhabitants. Considering T. gondii infection, 45% of studied human sera were seropositive for anti-T. gondii IgG. In conclusion, this is the first study reporting Fasciola seropositivity in the area. Based on the findings, human fascioliasis is present in the studied area, Northwest Iran, granted in low prevalence. Considering T. gondii seropositivity, the prevalence is high, yet close to the reports from other regions in the province.

A severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 infection (COVID-19)was identified in December 2019 and caused a massive pandemic that claimed millions of lives worldwide. The Chimpanzee adenovirus vector vaccine is one of the few vaccines against coronavirus disease in 2020. This case report introduces, a patient who developed thrombocytopenia, fever, and lethargy nine days after vaccination with the chimpanzee adenovirus carrier vaccine. The patient was admitted to the hospital and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) symptoms appeared during hospitalization.

The goal of this study was to check the climatological, hydrological, hydrogeological, topographical, and also vegetation cover situation of the wetland by using the google earth engine cloud system and calculation of current and future hydrological water balance of the wetland. For this purpose, data from TRMM, MODIS, Terra, LANDSAT, GRACE, and ALOS satellites were used. The results showed that GEE has a lot of potential and application for preparing time series and monitoring areas where little information is available about its past situation. According to the rainfall of 1.1333 mm3, surface runoff of 12.20 mm3, and evapotranspiration of 13.875 mm3 in the wetland area, the water balance of the wetland is -0.452 mm3. This amount indicates the volume of water that the wetland has based on climatic and hydrological relations. This amount will be equal to 1.4 mm3 in 2040, which shows that the wetland condition will improve in the future.

Toxoplasmosis is a common and serious infection caused by an obligatory intracellular protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. This study investigated the possible association between heart failure and toxoplasmosis. We searched for toxoplasmosis and heart failure patients in English databases including PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Sciences, Science Direct, EMBASE, and Google Scholar up to June 2018. A total of 6 studies and 1,795 participants, comprising 934 cases and 861 controls, had acceptable criteria for entering the study. Im­munoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against T. gondii were found in 53% (22 to 83) of patients with heart diseases and 26% (11 to 42) of healthy controls. In comparison, immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were found in 0.5% (0.1 to 1) in patients with heart diseases and 0.3% (0 to 0.7) of healthy controls. The patients suffering from cardiac disorders were more significantly correlated to anti-T. gondii IgG (OR: 3.53; 95% CI, 2.27 to 5.47; P = 0.014) and IgM (OR: 1.80; 95% CI, 0.31 to 10.4; P = 0.028) seropositivity than healthy controls. Despite limitations such as the low number of studies, our research showed a high association between toxoplasmosis and cardiac disorders. Therefore, toxoplasmosis may be a risk factor in cardiac patients, and more studies are being done.

Introduction:The present study aimed to assess the effect of pulmonary hypertension (PH) severity on the quality of life after transplantation in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).Materials and Methods: In this cohort study, 60 ESRD patients who underwent kidney transplantation were followed for at least one year. Basic and laboratory findings were recorded in patients before and after transplantation. Quality of life was assessed by the 12-item health-related quality of life questionnaire (SF-12). The severity of PH was assessed based on pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), and severe cases were excluded from the study. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24) using the chi-square test, independent t-test, and Pearson's correlation.Results: Based on the results, PH was observed in 83.3% of patients before transplantation. Following transplantation, there was a significant increase in quality of life and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (P=0.001). Patients with PH had a lower quality of life before transplantation, as compared to those without PH (P= 0.009). Furthermore, the PASP level showed a significant positive relationship with the age of patients (r= 0.465; P

We aimed to investigate the scolicidal effects of sanguinarine on hydatid cyst protoscoleces (PSCs) in vitro and in silico. Different targets were docked into the active sites of sanguinarine. Molecular docking processes and visualization of interactions were performed using AutoDock Vina and Discovery Studio Visualizer. Binding energy was calculated and compared (kcal/mol). PSCs were aspirated from the hydatid cysts and washed. The sediments of PSCs were then exposed to various concentrations (50, 25, 12, 6, 3, and 1 μg/mL) of sanguinarine. The viability test was finally evaluated by the Trypan blue solution 4%. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase were analyzed to assess the level of oxidative stress-treated PSCs. Caspase-3 activity rate was determined to evaluate cell apoptosis in treated PSCs. Among the receptors, acetylcholinesterase was identified as the excellent target, with Vina score of -11.8. Sanguinarine showed high scolicidal effects after 12, 24, and 48 h. Also, in the first hour of exposure to the drug, caspase-3 activity and MDA level significantly increased, but the levels of GSH and GPx had a significant reduction after 12, 24, and 48 h (P < 0.05). The findings of this study revealed that sanguinarine have potent scolicidal effects in vitro and in silico and could be considered an opportunity for the introduction of a novel and safe therapeutic agent for the treatment of cystic echinococcosis. However, supplementary studies will be desired to prove the current findings by examining sanguinarine in a clinical setting.

In an increasingly complex and uncertain world of the future and aligned with the emergence of Society 5.0, exploring alternative futures of education and the curricula in terms of fulfilling the mission of education systems is necessary. Therefore, this study set out to do foresight for the primary school curriculum in Iran. The study was conducted using the scenario planning method, which resulted in four alternative scenarios. The first scenario, called "The Magic School Bus" represents "curriculum as a personal roadmap." The second scenario, entitled "The Pursuit of Happyness" describes the "curriculum revival." The third scenario, named "The Ice Age" represents the "curriculum collapse." The fourth scenario, entitled "Dead Poets Society" narrates the situation of "curriculum in limbo." The findings showed that innovation comes from agency of players rather than impeccable structures and requires a transformation in perspectives about the educational aims in the digital era, as well as an increase in the authority and empowerment of schools. A key policy priority should thus be developing practical ideas for reshaping the curriculum and producing prototypes of future-proof educational models.

Abstract Background Thyroid nodules have a low prevalence of malignancy and most proven cancers do not behave aggressively. Thus, risk‐stratification of nodules is a critical step to avoid surgical overtreatment. We hypothesized that a risk management system superior to those currently in use could be created to reduce the number of clinically indeterminate nodules (i.e., the “gray zone”) by concurrently considering the malignancy risks conferred by clinical, ultrasonographic, and cytologic variables. Methods Thyroidectomy cases were reviewed from three institutions. Their benign versus malignant outcome was used to evaluate the variables for correlation. A binary logistic regression model was trained and, using indeterminate nodules with Bethesda III and IV results, validated. A scoring nomogram was designed to demonstrate the application of the model in clinical practice. Results One hundred thirty thyroidectomies (28% malignant) met inclusion criteria. The final logistic regression model included difficulty in swallowing, hypothyroidism, echogenicity, hypervascularity, margins, calcification, and cytology diagnosis as input parameters. The model was highly successful in determining the outcome (p value: 0.001) with a R2(Nagelkerke) score of 0.93. The area under the curve as determined by receiver operating characteristics was 0.91. The accuracy of the model on the training dataset was 93% (sensitivity and specificity 92% and 96%, respectively) and, on the validation dataset, 80% (sensitivity and specificity 91% and 67%, respectively). Conclusions We report a model for risk assessment of thyroid nodules that has the potential to significantly reduce indeterminates and surgical overtreatment. We illustrate its application via a straightforward nomogram, which integrates clinical, ultrasonographic, and cytologic data, and can be used to create clear, evidence‐based management plans for patients.

Background: White blood cell count (WBC) is one of the objective parameters of systemic inflammation. The aim of present study was to evaluate the relationship between WBC count and metabolic syndrome. Methods: In this study on Lor population in Borujerd province (West of Iran), from 2011 to 2013, 800 persons were enrolled. MetS was defined based on ATP III criteria. Differences among the quartiles of WBC were examined by one-way analysis of variance. Results: Only 14.7% did not have any of the five components and 43% of all subjects had metabolic syndrome. The means of WBC count in MetS group were significantly higher than the control group (p

One of the common problems in the medical parasitology laboratory is the differentiation of parasites from other elements in the stool and body fluids so-called "artifacts". Artifacts generally referred to living or abiotic agents that embedded in the clinical sample and may misleading the lab because of their similarity to parasitic organisms. Artifacts are an integral part of the diagnosis process and they are cause of common misdiagnosis in the laboratory. Their differentiation from pathogenic parasitic agents is done by proper diagnosis, which leads to proper treatment of parasitic infections. As usually an inexperienced technician often misdiagnosed a yeast or other plant cell as amoeba or considers a platelet as a malaria parasite, it may be unsuccessful to identify parasitic organisms that really exist in the stool sample. The major forms that cause confusion and misdiagnosis in parasitology laboratory are spores, fat droplets, yeast, red blood cells, and macrophages.Compared with other parts of the medical laboratory, in parasitology lab less attention observe to this problem. The consequence is the reporting of false positive results, incorrect treatment, and patient injury. Identifying, introducing, and differentiating artifacts for laboratory personnel, especially inexperienced, are an important factor in accurate diagnosis. In the present study, key diagnostic points of parasitic organisms and artifacts have been categories.

Introduction: Fasting has certain effects on metabolic and anthropometric parameters in diabetic patients. It is therefore, necessary for patients to receive proper instructions about their physical activities, eating habits, blood glucose monitoring and medications. Aim: To investigate the effects of fasting on metabolic and anthropometric indices in type II diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was performed during Ramadan 2018. The study population consisted of 40 type II diabetic patients (33 females and 7 males) who wished to fast. They started to follow given instructions on their physical activity, eating habits, blood glucose monitoring, and medications before Ramadan. Anthropometric variables were measured pre and post-Ramadan. Fasting Blood/Plasma Glucose (FBG/FPG), Glucose 2 Hour Postprandial (2h PPG), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and the lipids profile were assessed before and after Ramadan. FPG and 2h PPG were also evaluated on the fifteenth day of Ramadan. Data were presented as mean±SD. Paired t-test was employed and a p-value of

Background: Toxocariosis is a parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of Toxocara species from dog and cat. It has a worldwide distribution with higher prevalence in children. This study aimed to determine seroprevalence of Toxocara infection and its association with some risk factors among children of Aras Free Zone (Jolfa City) in Northwest of Iran. Methods: Sera were collected from 514 children aged 4–12 yr old attending to some medical centers in the study area from May 2018 to Feb 2019. Anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies assay was performed using commercial ELISA kit (Nova Tec, Germany). The seropositivity rate was determined and its association with different demographic criteria and risk factors were statistically analyzed. Results: The overall seroprevalence was 2.3% (12/514). Risk factors of children’s age group and contact with either pet animals (dog and cat) and/or soil were significantly associated with seropositivity. However, there was not any relationship between Toxocara infection and gender of children, place of residency (urban or rural) and their mothers’ education level. Conclusion: Both girls and boys are at risk of Toxocara infection in the study area. Younger age of childhood and contact with sources of infection were important associated factors. More probably, additional criteria are involved in the initiation of infection.

Objective: To investigate Echinococcus (E.) granulosus genotypes as the causative agents of hydatidosis in humans in the southwest of Iran (Khuzestan province). Methods: In this study, isolates of 80 archived human paraffin embedded hydatid cysts were collected from pathology laboratories in Ahvaz city, Khuzestan province. DNA was extracted and examined by nested-PCR of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), and PCR-RFLP. In addition, the sequences of fragments of genes coding for Cox space1 and NADH dehydrogenase 1 (ND1) were also examined. Results: Of the 80 paraffin samples, 44 (55.0%) were from the liver, 27 (33.8%) from the lung, and the rest from other organs. The amplified hydatid genomic DNA showed that the cysts were E. granulosus strains. The results of PCR-RFLP and sequencing analysis revealed the presence of G1 genotype (sheep strain) in all human isolates. Furthermore, no camel strain (G6) was detected among all samples in the regions studied. Conclusions: The molecular findings indicate that the predominant genotype involved in E. granulosus transmission in southwest of Iran is the common sheep strain (G1), which occurs in human populations. These results may have important implications for hydatid disease control in the studied areas.

Blastocystis hominis is the most common intestinal parasite found in humans and many other hosts. Pathogenicity of Blastocystis sp. remains controversial and it has been suggested that it may be associated with certain subtypes of organism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the molecular epidemiology of B. hominis and its subtype distribution in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran. During 2012–2014, a total of 481 samples were collected from patients referred to the medical laboratory centers in Ahvaz for stool examination. Samples were examined by wet mount, and genomic DNA was extracted from 50 positive samples. PCR was performed using seven primer pairs targeting the SSU rDNA gene and sequenced. 69 (14.35%) samples were found to be positive for B. hominis and the subtypes of 50 samples were identified. Five subtypes (STs) were identified, including: ST1 (22%), ST2 (6%), ST3 (40%), ST4 (2%), and ST5 (8%). 11 (22%) mixed infections were found, of which 5 were a mixture of ST3/ST4. Mixtures of ST1/ST3 and ST1/ST4 were 3, respectively. In this study people infected with ST3 showed the most gastrointestinal symptoms. This is the first study in the population of Ahvaz and indicates the high prevalence of ST3 in this area. The results suggest a possible association between this subtype and pathogenic potential of parasite. Keywords: Blastocystis hominis, Prevalence, PCR, Iran

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Objective: Since pre-transfusion screening for Toxoplasma gondii is not performed on blood packs, thalassemia patients are susceptible to acquiring toxoplasmosis; thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence status of T. gondii in individuals who suffer from thalassemia in comparison to healthy persons in the southwest of Iran. Methods: In this case-control study, 117 thalassemia patients and 205 healthy persons participated. All samples were tested for the presence of specific IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii using ELISA technique. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test. >Results: Seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG was detected in 30.76% (36/117) of patients and 20% (41/205) of healthy individuals (P=0.04), also anti-T. gondii IgM in these groups was detected 1.70% (2/117) and 0.48% (1/205), respectively (P=0.3). In present study, nine related risk factors with toxoplasmosis were evaluated and data analysis showed that only contact with cat was significantly correlated with IgG seroprevalence (P=0.02). >Conclusions: Current research suggests thalassemia patients are more prone than normal persons to acquiring T. gondii infection (P=0.04, OR:1.77). Due to limited studies in this high risk group, further studies are recommended.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of human capital and organizational characteristics on the business value of information technology. The study was a descriptive survey. The population of this study was 270 staffs of the Ministry of Health located in Tehran. To collect the required data, a stratified sampling technique was utilized and a sample of 155 people was selected using Cochran’s formula. Data were collected using a researcher made questionnaire and its reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha technique. The results show that, the impact of human capital on the business value of information technology is significant. In other words, the findings suggest that as the human capital is increased, the business value of information technology is increased as well. On the other hand, the results show that organizational characteristics have no significant impact on the business value of information technology.

Some Facts on the Diabetes Surveillance in Rural Regions of Iran

OBJECTIVES Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that occurs worldwide, with a wide range of complications in immunocompromised patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among patients undergoing hemodialysis in Iran. METHODS We searched English and Persian databases for studies reporting T. gondii seroprevalence in Iranian hemodialysis patients through December 31, 2017. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. RESULTS A total of 10 studies containing 1,865 participants (1,048 patients and 817 controls) met the eligibility criteria. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against T. gondii were found in 58% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46 to 70) of hemodialysis patients and 40% (95% CI, 31 to 50) of healthy controls, while immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were found in 2% (95% CI, 0 to 6) of hemodialysis patients and 0% (95% CI, 0 to 1) of healthy controls. The meta-analysis showed that hemodialysis patients were significantly more likely to be seropositive for IgG (odds ratio [OR], 2.04; 95% CI, 1.54 to 2.70; p

Urban population growth causes serious consequences for the environment. Here is where creating macro green space as the most important balancing factor becomes a necessity. Therefore, an undeniable need in urbanization and future development of urban space is identifying the site of green space and urban parks. Land suitability analysis is a process identifying an appropriate site in a certain area for certain land use. In the present research, land suitability analysis is used to examine the suitability of regional parks in Jiroft City. Hence, first the current situation of urban green space is examined on the basis of spatial of factors (slope, distance from water source) and situational factors (distance from historical buildings, distance from river, distance from downtown, price) and then regional park of suitability is analyzed by using GIS. Suitable green spaces are presented and finally sites for constructing new green spaces are identified. The results of this research showed that the regional parks of Jiroft City are situated in appropriate site and the allocated lands for constructing new regional parks need revision

Background: Fractures of the proximal fifth metatarsal bone are among the most common fractures observed in the foot and their classification and management has been subject to much discussion and disagreement. In this study, we aim to identify and quantify the effect of possible predictors of the outcome of the treatment of proximal fifth metatarsal fractures. Methods: Patients with established proximal fifth metatarsal fractures were enrolled in this prospective cohort and the outcome of their treatment was assessed using the AOFAS mid foot scale at 6 and 20 weeks. Results: 143 patients were included in the study. Our study showed that displacement, weight and type III fractures were significant independent predictors of poor outcome at 6 weeks while at 20 weeks in addition to these factors, gender and diabetes mellitus were also shown to be significant independent predictors of poor outcome. A scoring system was designed by assigning weight to these factors and it was shown to be a strong predictor of outcome at 20 weeks. Conclusion: We recommend that our scoring system would help surgeons to decide whether patients’ prognostic factors are significant enough for him/her to opt for a surgical approach to treatment rather than a conservative approach.

Background: There is limited information on the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Iranian population, a group that has a high prevalence of CKD and obesity. The aim of present study was to determine the relationship between MetS and CKD in West of Iran. Materials and Methods: A total of 800 subjects aged more than 35 years admitted from 2011 to 2013 were enrolled in the study. MetS was defined based on the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, and CKD was defined from the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative practice guidelines. Waist circumference and body mass index were calculated, as well, blood samples were taken and lipid profile, plasma glucose levels, and serum creatinine were measured. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 17 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: CKD was seen in 14.8% patients with MetS and 8.3% individuals without MetS. MetS was associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) for a glomerular filtration rate

Background: Intervertebral disc herniation is a major cause of low back pain. Several treatment methods are available for lumbar disc herniation including Chemonucleolysis, open surgery, nucleoplasty, laser disc decompression, and intradiscal electrothermal therapy. The high prevalence of lumbar disc herniation necessitates a minimally invasive yet effective treatment method. In this study, we compared the outcomes of open surgery and nucleoplasty method in patients with single lumbar disc herniation. Materials and Methods: This study was a noninferiority randomized clinical trial conducted in one of the University Hospitals of Isfahan Medical University; The Alzahra Hospital. About 200 patients with the diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation were recruited and were assigned to either the treatment or control groups using block randomization. One group received open surgery and the other group received nucleoplasty as the method of treatment. Patients were revisited at 14 days, 1, 2, 3 months, and 1-year after surgery and were assessed for the following variables: Lower back pain, lower limb pain, common complications of surgery (e.g., discitis, infection and hematoma) and recurrence of herniation. Results: The mean (standard deviation) severity of low back pain was reduced from 6.92 (2.5) to 3.43 (2.3) in the nucleoplasty group (P = 0.04) and from 7.5 (2.2) to 3.04 (1.61) in the discectomy group (P = 0.73). Between group difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.44), however, time and treatment interaction was significant (P = 0.001). The level of radicular pain evaluated 1 year after treatment was reduced from 8.1 (1.2) to 2.9 (1.2) (P = 0.004) and from 7.89 (2.1) to 3.6 (2.5) (P =0.04) in the discectomy and the nucleoplasty groups respectively, significant interaction between time and treatment options was observed (P < 0.001) while there was no significant difference between two treatment groups (P = 0.82). Conclusion: Our results show that while nucleoplasty is as effective as open discectomy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, it is also less invasive with higher patient compliance. Taking factor such as decreased cost and duration of the surgery, as well as faster recovery in patients into account; we suggest considering nucleoplasty as an effective method of treatment in patients with single-level disc herniation.

Background: There is limited evidence about the chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) treatment by shockwave therapy, and the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on CPPS due to non bacterial prostatitis in a long-term period. Materials and Methods: In a follow-up survey, 40 patients with CPPS (that were randomly distributed into the treatment or sham groups were evaluated at 16, 20, and 24 weeks. In the treatment group, patients were treated by extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) once a week for 4 weeks by a protocol of 3000 impulses, 0.25 mJ/m 2 and 3 Hz of frequency. 0.05 mJ/m 2 were added in each week. In the sham group, the same protocol was applied, but with the probe being turned off. The follow-up assessments were done by visual analog scale for pain and National Institutes of Health-developed Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). Data were compared using independent t-test or analysis of variences. Results: Three patients did not complete the study protocol, 37 patients were evlauated (19 patients in treatment and 18 patients in the sham group). At week 24, the mean of pain score, urinary score, quality-of-life and NIH-CPSI score between two groups were not statistically different. Conclusion: Although, ESWT therapy as a safe and effective therapy in CPPS in short-term follow-up has been established, its long-term efficacy was not supported by this study.

Background: In recent years, the bacterial resistance to antibiotics has grown at a worrying speed. On the other hand, the rate of discovery of new antibiotics has failed to keep up with the emergence of resistance. Thus, there is a need for new approaches for fighting bacterial infections. We studied the antibacterial properties of copper nanoparticles (Cu Nps) on most culpable bacterial strains for nosocomial infections. Methods: The effect of copper nanoparticles on in-vitro growth of standard and clinical strains of Escherichia coli, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Enterococcus feacalis, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas aeuroginosa was studied. Copper nanoparticles with average diameter of 20 nm were synthesized by electric arc evaporation technique. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined and the antibacterial effects were compared to the common antibiotics used to treat these strains bymeans of disk diffusion method. Findings: The arc-fabricated copper nanoparticles were successfully synthesized. At 50 A, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses showed fabrication of relatively pure, dispersed and brown Cu Nps with average size of 20 nm. Escherichia coli and MRSA showed acceptable levels of susceptibility to Cu Nps; the effects of copper nanoparticles were greater than cephalexin in suppressing Escherichia coli colony formation while the Cu Nps were more effective than vancomycin in suppressing MRSA growth. Other strains showed resistance to Cu Nps. Conclusion: Using copper nanoparticles may be a viable approach in treating or preventing infections caused by Escherichia coli or MRSA.

Introduction: Bipolar Spectrum Disorders include a variety of mood disorders from bipolar II disorder to conditions characterized by hyperthymic mood states. It has been suggested that psychosocial factors also play an important role in bipolar disorders, in this study we have used social network analysis in order to better understand the social positions of those affected by bipolar spectrum disorders. Methods: In this cross sectional study 90 individuals within a bounded network were included and studied by using a standard questionnaire for bipolar spectrum disorder scale (BSDS) and a sociometric questionnaire for analyzing the social network of those individuals.Results: This study showed that BSDS score is signi.cantly correlated with the Bonacich power of the participants (P= 0.009) as well as with their Outdegree Strength (P= 0.013).Discussion: The results of this study show that there is interplay between social attributes and Bipolar Spectrum Disorders. This emphasizes the need for understanding the role of social networks and performing further research into quantifying social aspects of psychiatric disorders.

Background. The present study aimed to compare plasma levels of cortisol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and prolactin in patients with schizophrenia and healthy individuals. Method. A total of 100 patients with schizophrenia disorder (69 men and 31 women) and 190 healthy individuals (94 men and 96 women) participated in this cross-sectional study. They were tested for hormone levels and completed demographic questionnaires. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and one-way analysis of variance. Results. Serum testosterone level was significantly higher in men with schizophrenia than in healthy men. Women with schizophrenia had a significantly higher level of testosterone and lower level of prolactin compared to healthy women. There were no significant differences in hormone levels across various subtypes of schizophrenia. No significant differences also were observed in hormones levels in patients with first-episode schizophrenia disorder compared to those in patients with recurrent episodes. Conclusion. This study indicated that abnormal testosterone and prolactin levels might be associated with pathophysiology of schizophrenia disorder.

Background: In this prospective case series we have assessed the clinical effects of 8 weeks military training on the lower extremity of the recruits. Materials and Methods: Military recruits who met the eligibility criteria and gave informed consent were entered into the study. They were asked to fill out a self-reporting pain and functionality questionnaire before and after their training. They were also examined by a physician before and after their military training. The questionnaire and examination were concentrated on three blocs: lower back, knee, and foot. Results: Three-hundred and seventy-three study subjects were evaluated. The study showed that there is a significant difference in reporting lower back pain after the training compared to the rate of complaints prior to the training (P < 0.001), knee pain, and foot pain also increased significantly (P < 0.1 and P < 0.0001, respectively) The difference was most prominent in foot complaints. Physical examination also showed significant increase in lower extremity findings following the training (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study shows that there is a need for a new approach to military training of male recruits in Iran in order to minimize the adverse health effects.