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Purpose: To compare the severity outcomes of COVID-19 disease between patients with and without regular sports participation. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the authors investigated all patients who visited the emergency department of Imam Khomeini hospital with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 from February 20 to April 20, 2020. Then the authors assessed all patient outcomes (outpatient vs hospitalization or death). Finally, the authors compared the outcomes between athletes with regular sports participation and others, adjusting for confounding factors of age and sex. Results: Of all 4694 adult patients, 249 individuals (137 males and 112 females with mean [SD] age of 36.45 [9.77] y) had regular participation in different sport disciplines. Overall, 30 (12%) athletes were hospitalized or died (30 and 0, respectively) compared with 957 (21.5%) nonathletes (878 and 79, respectively). Athletes with regular sports participation were 1.49 times less likely to be hospitalized (P = .044). Conclusions: Regular sports participation may positively affect the clinical outcome, regardless of confounding factors of age and sex. The probability of hospitalization in athletes with regular sports participation was 33% lower than nonathletes. However, more longitudinal studies are needed to determine the causal effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of ambient air pollutants on cardiovascular deaths in Tehran, Iran. In this time series study, air pollutant data were acquired from the Environmental Protection Agency. Meteorological data were acquired from the meteorological organization, and death data were acquired from the Tehran's cemetery registration. Generalized Additive Models (GAM) were used for estimating the Rate Ratio. NO2, SO2 and PM10 were associated with total cardiovascular deaths. PM10 and NO2 showed stronger relations with deaths in the elder age group. The result of this study showed that NO2, SO2, PM10 and O3 are probably responsible for part of the cardiovascular deaths that happen daily in Tehran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel adsorbent, Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-oxime-nano-Fe2O3, was developed to remove nitrates from water. The properties of the adsorbent were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Experiments were carried out to investigate the adsorption kinetics and desorption behaviour of the adsorbent. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) isotherms were determined and the results revealed that the adsorption was well explained by the (D–R) model. The experimental data fitted very well the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Intra-particle diffusion affects nitrate uptake. The experiments showed that the maximum amount of nitrate released after desorption processes was about 50%, indicating that a large portion of nitrate was irreversibly retained by the PAN-oxime-nano-Fe2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although numerous studies have found higher rates of abortion and still births following consanguinity (familial marriages), the question of whether consanguinity significantly increases the risk of neonatal death has inadequately been addressed. This study aims to evaluate familial marriage effects on neonatal death in rural areas in Iran. Materials and methods: In this nested case-control study, 6900 new borns who were born in rural areas of Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad Province (South-West of Iran)were followed till the end of neonatal period, and neonatal death was the outcome of interest. Subsequently 97 cases and 97 controls were selected in study cohort by using risk set sampling model. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were estimated by using a conditional logistic regression model. Results: In the final model, prematurity (OR = 5.57), low birth weight (LBW) (OR = 7.68), consanguinity (first cousins) (OR = 5.23), C-section (OR = 7.27), birth rank more than 3 (OR = 6.95) and births interval less than 24 months (OR = 4.65) showed significant statistical association with neonatal mortality (p < 0.05). Conclusion: According to our findings, after adjusting the effects of other significant risk factors, familial marriage to first cousins is considered as an important risk factor for neonatal death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the potential toxicity of TiO2 and ZnO nano-particles (nano-TiO2 and nano-ZnO) against Daphnia magna (D. magna) neonates before and after absorbing phenol. Although limited scientific investigation is conducted on possible hazards of nano-particles (NPs), no research has been carried out either on the toxicity of nano-ZnO and TiO2 in combination with other materials or on their ability to release the hazardous substances adsorbed on their surface in cells. Daphnia magna neonates exposed to different concentrations of phenol-free and phenol-loaded NPs and resulting mortality rates were recorded after 12 to 96 h. The results of mortality rates were applied to SPSS ver. 16.0 in order to calculate median lethal concentrations (LC50) of NPs. The results of experiments showed that phenol-free TiO2 was "practically nontoxic" according to EPA overview (48 h LC50: 2705 mg ⋅ L-1). But after exposure to phenol, its 48 h LC50 reached 414 mg ⋅ L-1, which means a 6-time increment in toxicity. 48 h LC50 of phenol-loaded and phenol-free nano-ZnO was 2.14 and 2.18 mg ⋅ L-1, respectively. This study showed, in contrast to nano-TiO2, that no significant difference is found between the toxicity of nano-ZnO before and after exposure to phenol. Researchers considered the amount of toxin absorbability of NPs to be one of the most important factors influencing the change in NP toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Estrogenic steroids such as estrone (E1), 17ß-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) are among the most potent endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). Compared with North America, Europe and Japan there is no reliable information on the concentration of steroid hormones in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) influents and effluents in Iran. The aim of the present study was to determine the amounts of E1, E2, E3, and EE2 influents and effluents of 7 municipal WWTPs across Tehran, the capital city of Iran, in two seasons, summer and autumn, through solid-phase extraction (SPE) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The results showed that the concentrations of E1, E2, and EE2 in influents ranged from 6.54-18.76 ng/L, 1.02-8 ng/L and 4.18-11.76 ng/L, respectively. Also, the concentrations of E1, E2, and EE2 in effluents ranged from 1.04-4.99 ng/L, 0.5-2.20 ng/L and 0.5-2.58 ng/L, respectively. The levels of E3 were below the detection limit (0.5 ng/L). The percentage removal rate of E1, E2 and EE2 ranged between 61.76-87.25%, 50.98-82.63%, and 66.3-90.25%, respectively. Results indicated no significant correlation between hormone concentrations and seasons. Conclusions: The study showed that WWTP number 7 had significant differences in influent hormone concentrations compared with others. Results only showed a significant relationship between hormones and TSS removal rate, but there was no significant relationship between hormones and COD removal rate. The removal rate of hormone in WWTP number 4 and 7 were significantly different from the others. There was no significant correlation between hormone concentrations and seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Conduction of thesis by the students is one of their major academic activities. Thesis quality and acquired experiences are highly dependent on the supervision. Our study is aimed at identifying the challenges in thesis supervision from both students and faculty members point of view. Methods: This study was conducted using individual in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The participants were 43 students and faculty members selected by purposive sampling. It was carried out in Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Data analysis was done concurrently with data gathering using content analysis method. Results: Our data analysis resulted in 162 codes, 17 subcategories and 4 major categories, "supervisory knowledge and skills", "atmosphere", "bylaws and regulations relating to supervision" and "monitoring and evaluation". Conclusion: This study showed that more attention and planning in needed for modifying related rules and regulations, qualitative and quantitative improvement in mentorship training, research atmosphere improvement and effective monitoring and evaluation in supervisory area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to carcinogenic metals, such as hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], through drinking water is a major global public health concern and associated with various concerns. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two forward osmosis membranes to remove chromium from aqueous solution. Effects of factors, such as pH, contact time, membrane type, and draw solution, were also studied. The results show that the basic pH caused higher chromium removal from water. On the other hand, with rising time, the removal efficiency of chromium was decreased and ammonium bicarbonate (NH4HCO3), as a draw solution, had a better efficiency compared to sodium chloride. Generally, the forward osmosis process can be utilized effectively for removal of chromium from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic dyes are extensively used in different industries; however, they have adverse impacts on human health and the environment. White rot fungi are capable of degrading dyes and various xenobiotics. In order to detect the important factors affecting decolorization, experimental screening is usually conducted to optimize the process. In the present investigation, fractional factorial design was used for identifying factors affecting reactive blue 19 decolorization by Ganoderma sp. among 10 initial factors. Implemented factors considered include media components and operating conditions of color removal process. Depicted results showed that experimental design is the appropriate approach to determine the main and interaction effects. The ANOVA showed that the significant main and interaction effects include temperature, type of carbon and energy source, pH and carbon source concentration. Screening procedure suggested that the optimization of decolorization process focused on glycerol concentration around 20 g/1 as carbon source, temperature around 30°C, and pH around 6. Other factors and their levels included yeast extract 0.4 g/l, copper sulfate 0.001 g/l, dye concentration 100 mg/l ethanol 2%, volume of inoculation 5 ml and shaking speed 150 rpm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The oncoplastic surgery has been revolutionized breast conservative surgery. The aim of our study was to represent the cosmetic outcome of oncoplastic breast surgery in Iran and to evaluate its determinants. Methods: Fifty eight patients with unilateral breast neoplasm operated with single surgeon in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Three view photographs were obtained pre and post operatively and were put in separate PowerPoint slides. The photographs were evaluated by six health related professionals. They scored the cosmetic outcome with modified questionnaire containing general and specific questions. Weighted kappa used for intra and inters rater reliability and ANOVA was used for analyzing cosmetic outcome determinants. Results: Generally, 72.2% of the photographs got the excellent or good score in a single breast evaluation part. Its items breast size, nipple deviation and scar quality scored 94.2, 67.9 and 88.8 respectively. "In comparison with contra-lateral breast" part shape asymmetry, need for surgery of contra lateral breast and size asymmetry scored 68.9, 75.8 and 69% respectively. Tumor size greater than two cm had poorer outcome (p=0.039) upper outer quadrant tumor had the worst and upper inner quadrant tumors had the best outcomes (p<0.0001). Patient with 50 to 60 years of age had the poorest outcomes (p<0.0001). Weighted kappa for inter and intra rater kappa was 0.12 and 0.58 respectively. Conclusions: Acceptable cosmetic outcome is obtained in the first experience of oncoplastic breast surgery in Iran. Long term monitoring of oncologic and cosmetic outcomes in greater numbers of patients is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that describes the impacts of air pollution to the public health in Iran as well as the measures taken by government authorities to mitigate its sources. It relates the social and economical impact of the often ignored traffic accidents in the country which was introduced through basic statistics. It also highlights the need to curtail air pollution and traffic accidents, which is considered the only sustainable strategy for managing its transport sector.