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Byline: Mahboobeh. Pozhhan, Sahar. Sobhani, Aleheh. Rasouli, Fariba. Tohidinezhad Background: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is an unavoidable side effect that affects the quality of life (QoL) and treatment compliance [...]

An eighty-year-old lady a with history of treated tuberculosis decades ago and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) proven COVID-19 pneumonia about four months ago was referred to our department for ventilation/perfusion scan due to deteriorating dyspnea to rule out P.E. Planar perfusion scan showed bilateral accentuated apical perfusion gradient and multiple segmental and non-segmental perfusion defects in both lungs, which were mismatched with relatively normal planar ventilation images. Perfusion SPECT images also showed multiple segmental, sub-segmental and semi-segmental perfusion defects, which proved to be concordant with consolidations, bilateral pleural effusion, right lung pneumothorax, and atelectasis which were consultant with CT findings. The ventilation SPECT/CT images also demonstrated uniform tracer activity throughout both lungs, with almost complete improvement in consolidations, lung pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and atelectasis. Our case highlights the importance of SPECT/CT imaging in avoiding false-positive interpretation of pulmonary embolism as well as the possibility for rapid resolution of the lung parenchymal abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socioeconomic factor is a determinant of health may contribute to diabetes. We conducted a systematic review to summarizing evidences on associations between socioeconomic factors and diabetes in Iranian population. We systematically searched international databeses; ISI, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and national databases Iranmedex, Irandoc, and Scientific Information Database (SID) to retrieve relevant articles to socioeconomic factors and diabetes without limitation on time. All identified articles were screened, quality assessed and data extracted by two authors independently. From 74 retrieved articles, 15 cases were relevant. We found increased diabetes prevalence among female sex, over 50 years' old age, illiterate population, retired status, unemployed, urban residents, and low economic status. There was a negative association between social capital and diabetes control. Diabetes complications were more frequent in upper age group, higher education levels and low income populations. Socioeconomic factors were associated with diabetes that leads to inequality. Improving modifiable factors through priority based interventions helps to diabetes prevention and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Recently, herbal medicines have been commonly used for oral health, because of their antimicrobial, antifungal and anticancer properties and few side effects. Magnolia is one of the herbs that has numerous applications in traditional and herbal medicine. Magnolia is in the group of polyphenols. Polyphenols are one of the most common compounds found in herbs. Polyphenolic compounds have a wide range of biological activities, many of which are relevant to their conventional antioxidant actions. However, their potential in preventing oral diseases is highlighted with scientific developments in this field. Materials and Methods: In this study, we used the reliable scientific websites such as PubMed, Scopus, and evaluated the scientific articles on the medicinal features of Magnolia. Out of 28 articles, 12 articles related to the antidisease effects of polyphenol compounds for mouth and teeth, were evaluated. Results: Analysis of the results from different studies supported the antibacterial role of Magnolia on dental caries caused by Streptococcus. The effect mechanisms on bacteria include: a direct effect against Streptococcus mutans, interacting with microbial membrane proteins and inhibition of cell adhesion of bacteria to the tooth surface, inhibiting glycosylation of transferase and amylase. However, further research and clinical evidence are needed to determine the clinical efficacy of this plant on dental diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemoglobinopathies are known as the most common genetic disorders in Iran. The paper aims to provide global estimates of deaths and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) due to hemoglobinopathies in Iran by sex and age during 1990 to 2010 and describe the challenges due to limitations of the Global Burden of Diseas study 2010 (the GBD study 2010). Methods: The GBD study 2010 estimates of the numbers of deaths and years of life lost (YLLs) due to premature mortality were calculated using the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm). Years of life lost due to disability (YLDs) were computed by multiplication of prevalence, the disability weight for occurrence of sequelae, and the duration of symptoms. Prevalence was estimated through a systematic search of published and available unpublished data sources, with a Bayesian meta-regression model developed for GBD study 2010. Disability weights were produced using collected data from population-based surveys. Uncertainty from all inputs was incorporated into the computations of DALYs using simulation methods. We aim to prepare and criticize the results of the GBD study 2010 and provide some recommendations for reaching better conclusions about the burden of hemoglobinopathies in Iran. Results: Between 1990 and 2010, the overall deaths attributed to hemoglobinopathies decreased from 0.51% to 0.36% of total deaths, with the corresponding burden declining from 1 % to 0.82% of total DALYs. There was a reduction in deaths and DALYs rates for all ages and the rates attributed to all ages followed the same pattern in Iranian men and women. The highest DALYs for hemoglobinopathies, thalassemia, sickle cell disorder, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD-D) were found in those aged less than 5 years. The collective burden of all of these hemoglobin disorder was lower in 2010 than in 1990. Conclusion: Although the screening programs in Iran have been very successful in reducing the number of thalassemia patients between 1990 to 2010, in order to provide a better estimation of the burden of hemoglobin disorders, it is necessary to perform a national and sub-national study of hemoglobinopathies using multiple national and sub-national surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Although Visual impairment (VI) and its prevention is a public health issue, sub-optimal information about its magnitude in national level and its distribution is one of the impediments for visual health advocacy. In this article, we are detailing the approaches which will be taken to estimate the magnitude (prevalence, incidence, and burden), distribution, and trend (1990 to 2013) of low vision and blindness in Iran. Besides that, an attempt will be made to describe inequalities and their determinants. METHODS: After finalizing the list of diseases, a systematic search will be started using confirmed search terms and all published and unpublished data will be extracted. Other data sources, including data from hospital records, schoolchildren amblyopia and refractive error screening data, registries such as Iran Eye Bank keratoplasty will be added to the data extraction sheet. Using distinct statistical models including spatio-temporal model and multilevel autoregressive model, we will estimate rate of burden measures of eye disease and their uncertainty interval by sex, age, year, and province as well as social determinants of visual impairment inequality. Conclusion: The results are to be reported in separated analyses of meta-analysis, trend, risk factors and diseases burden, inequality, Bayesian prediction modeling, and map for visualizing the results. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study will address gaps in different regions and have implication for evidence-based policy making in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases, as the major public health problem, are caused by different risk factors. The main leading lifestyle risk factors for most diseases burden in Iran are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and smoking. The aim of this study is to provide data collection and methodology processes for estimating the trends of exposures to the selected lifestyle risk factors and their attributed burden at national and sub-national levels. METHODS: Systematic review will be performed through PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and ISI/Web of Science as well as Iranian databases such as IranMedex, Irandoc and Scientific Information Database (SID). In addition, hand searching of unpublished data sources will be used to identify relevant population-based studies. The searched studies will be included only if it is reasonably population-based and representative, and exposure data has been reported or could be plausibly obtained from the study. For risk factors with no surveys identified, other sources of potential data will be considered. The target population is healthy Iranian adult population living within Iran from 1990 to 2013. Other data sources include national censuses, national registration systems, and national and sub-national surveys. Spatio-temporal Bayesian hierarchical model and Bayesian multilevel autoregressive model will be used to overcome the problem of data gaps in provinces, and in some age or sex groups or in urban/rural areas. The problem of misaligned areal units will be also addressed in these models. CONCLUSION: National and sub-national assessment of major lifestyle risk factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and smoking is necessary for priority setting and policy making in different regions of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes is one of the chronic and very complex diseases that can lead to microvascular complications. Recent evidence demonstrates that dysbiosis of the microbiota composition might result in low-grade, local, and systemic inflammation, which contributes directly to the development of diabetes mellitus and its microvascular consequences., Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the association between diabetes microvascular complications, including retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, and gut microbiota composition., Methods: A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science from database inception to March 2023. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent authors. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used for quality assessment., Results: About 19 articles were selected from 590 retrieved articles. Among the included studies, nephropathy has been studied more than other complications of diabetes, showing that the composition of the healthy microbiota is changed, and large quantities of uremic solutes that cause kidney injury are produced by gut microbes. Phyla, including Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria, accounted for the majority of the variation in gut microbiota between Type 2 diabetic patients with and without neuropathy. In cases with retinopathy, an increase in pathogenic and proinflammatory bacteria was observed., Conclusion: Our results revealed that increases in Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria may be associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. In view of the detrimental role of intestinal dysbiosis in the development of diabetes-related complications, gut microbiota assessment may be used as a biomarker in the future and interventions that modulate the composition of microbiota in individuals with diabetes can be used to prevent and control these complications., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)