An Assessment of the Fire Safety Standards in Iranian Homes and Equipment As They Relate to Fire Accidents.

Fire accidents and burns are one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. This study was conducted with the aim of studying the etiology of fire accidents as well as investigating the fire safety standards of both homes and equipment in Iran. Samples included patients with flame burns who consented to answer the questions. Questions covered five areas: patient demographics, epidemiological characteristics of burns, the fire safety status of the home, the fire safety status of the equipment, and the mechanism of the accident. In this study, the mean extent of the burns was 18.07 ± 14.29% of body surface area and was significantly related to the age grouping of the patients. The highest total body surface area (TBSA) was observed in patients between 19 to 39 years. The most common cause of flame injuries was gas explosions (36.81%). The interviews revealed that most of the houses were not equipped with smoke detectors or fire extinguishers. The extent of burns was significantly higher in patients living in unequipped homes (P = 0.047). Cooking equipment was often involved in the accidents (38.1%). Considering the low home fire safety and the role of equipment misuse and damaged equipment use in the occurrence of accidents, it seems that installing fire alarms and firefighting equipment, proper training on how to work with and maintain the equipment, using cooking and heating equipment correctly along with discontinuing use if damaged would all be effective and are highly suggestive to reduce fire injuries.

Les incendies et les brûlures sont une cause majeure de décès et de handicap dans le monde. Les buts de cette étude était d'identifier les causes d'incendie en Iran et d'évaluer la sécurité des maison et des équipements en Iran. Nous avons interrogé des victimes d'incendie acceptant de répondre à nos questions, qui relevaient de 5 sujets: démographie des patients, caractéristiques des brûlures, sécurité- incendie de leur domicile ainsi que des équipements et mécanisme de l'incendie. La surface brûlée était de 18,07 +/- 14,29%, significativement corrélée à l'âge de la victime, la surface maximale étant observée dans le groupe 19-39 ans. Une explosion de gaz était la cause la plus fréquente de déclenchement de l'incendie (36,81%) et les équipements de cuisson étaient impliqués dans 38% des cas. La plupart des habitations ne se pas équipées de détecteurs de fumées (DAAF) ni d'extincteurs, les brûlures étant plus étendues en l'absence de tels matériels (p= 0,047). Il est donc nécessaire de promouvoir l'installation de DAAF et d'extincteurs, de développer l'éducation à l'utilisation et à l'entretien des appareils de chauffage comme de cuisson, de décourager l'utilisation de ces appareils quand ils sont endommagés afin de réduire le risque d'incendie de domicile.

Description and molecular characterization of Trachactinolaimus persicus sp. n. from Iran (Nematoda, Dorylaimida, Actinolaimidae), with new insights into the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships of the genus.

A new species of the free-living nematode genus Trachactinolaimus, collected in natural habitats of northern Iran, is described, including morphological and molecular (28S-rDNA) data. Trachactinolaimus persicus sp. n. is characterized by its 1.95-2.44 mm long body, lip region weakly offset by depression and 18-20 µm wide, odontostyle 25-27 µm long, neck 540-636 µm long, pharyngeal expansion occupying one-half of the total neck length, bipartite uterus 2.6-3.9 body diameters long, vulva (V = 49-53) pore-like, tail long and filiform in both sexes (174-223 µm, c = 10.0-13.4, c' = 5.9-7.0 in females, 165-196 µm, c = 10.7-13.8, c' = 4.6-5.8 in males), spicules 68-75 µm long, and 12-14 almost contiguous ventromedian supplements with hiatus. Molecular data supports the monophyly of the genus and the hypothesis that Dorylaimidae are the sister group of actinolaims. The taxonomy of Trachactinolaimus is updated, including diagnosis, list of species, key to their identification, and a compendium of their main morphometrics. Dominiactinolaimus is regarded as its junior synonym.

A new needle nematode, Longidorus zanjanensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from north-western Iran.

During a survey of soil nematodes in 2022, a new species of the genus Longidorus, described here as Longidorus zanjanensis sp. nov., was discovered in the rhizosphere of Astragalus sp. in Zanjan Province, Iran. The new needle nematode is described and illustrated based on morphological, morphometric, and molecular traits. Further, its females are characterized by having a long body ranging 5.6-7.7 mm long, lip region anteriorly flattened and almost continuous or slightly offset by a depression with body contour, ca 16.5-18.5 µm wide, amphidial fovea pouch-like without basal lobes, guiding ring at 35-41 µm distance from the anterior end, and an odontostyle and odontophore ranging 102-115 and 47-75 µm long, respectively. The pharyngeal bulb is 123-153 µm long, female reproductive system didelphic-amphidelphic containing sperm, vulva almost equatorial, located at 46.7-51.4% of body length, tail short, rounded to bluntly conoid, bearing two pairs of caudal pores and terminus widely rounded with distinct radial lines in hyaline region (39-50 µm long, c = 122.4-189.4, c' = 0.6-0.8). Males are common, making up to 60% of the adults, and are functional, with spicules 68.0-80.0 µm long, as well as having 8-14 ventromedian copulatory supplements. All four juvenile life developmental stages were present, with the tail of first-stage juvenile conoid shape, dorso-ventrally curved with rounded terminus. The polytomous codes delimiting the new species are: A4-B3-C3-D3-E1-F34-G12-H1-I2-J1-K6. Morphologically, the new species comes close to eight known species of the genus, namely L. apulus, L. armeniacae, L. crassus, L. kheirii, L. soosanae, L. proximus, L. pauli, and L. ferrisi. The morphological differences between the new species and the aforementioned species are discussed. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on D2-D3 of large subunit (LSU) and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) rRNA sequences indicate that Longidorus zanjanensis sp. nov. is closely related to L. hyrcanus, L. soosanae, and L. elongatus.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Metaxonchium magnum sp. n. from Iran (Nematoda, Dorylaimida, Belondiridae), with new insights into the phylogeny of the genus.

A new species of the genus Metaxonchium is described from a natural habitat in Iran. Metaxonchium magnum sp. n. is characterized by its 3.62-4.65 mm long body, lip region cap-like and offset by constriction and 13-16 µm wide, odontostyle fusiform and 14-17 µm long, neck 1016-1359 µm long, both parts of the pharynx separated by a short isthmus-like narrowing, pharyngeal expansion occupying 74.2 (73-77)% of total neck length in females and 70.4 (66-72)% in males, female genital system mono-opistho-ovarian, didelphic, anterior genital branch a large uterine sac with a small terminal mass occupying 7-14% of body length, posterior uterus long and tripartite with a Z-like differentiation, V = 50-52, caudal region short and rounded (24-41 µm, c = 99-161, c' = 0.5-0.7), spicules 90-105 µm long and 10-13 spaced ventromedian supplements with hiatus. Analysis of D2-D3 28S rDNA sequences of the new species suggests that Metaxonchium might not be a monophyletic taxon, a matter that should be confirmed after future research.

Epidemiology and Etiology of Burns in Iran Through the Examination of the Economic, Social and Educational Situation.

Burn accidents continue to cause severe physical, psychological and economic damage to individuals and communities, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The present study was designed and conducted to investigate the epidemiology and identify the causes/mechanisms of burns in Iran, focusing on the economic, social and educational status of patients. This is a survey study that was performed from August 2016 to October 2017 on patients referred to Shahid Motahari University Hospital in Tehran. Samples included all patients whose parents or children were able to answer the questions. The data was extracted and analysed with SPSS Statistics v. 21. A total 1708 patients participated. Most of the patients were 19 to 39 years old. 70.6% had achieved a high school diploma or lower, and 11.5% patients were illiterate. Most of the patients lived in urban areas (91.7%) and in most cases, 4 people or less lived in a common space. Heat burns, chemical (acid) burns, and electrical burns account for the majority of cases. Most patients were unfamiliar with safety standards for burn prevention, safely stopping a fire, and fire safety equipment (alarms and extinguishers). The most common burn mechanisms were hot liquids inside the kitchen (12.6%) and gas explosion (11.9%). Based on these findings, the implementation of codified training programs, continuous control and monitoring of the safety standards in home and work environments, and the establishment of laws to standardize cooking and heating equipment will play an important role in reducing burn injuries in our country.

Les brûlures ont des conséquences physiques, psychologiques et économiques sévères (ces dernières aussi bien vis à vis de l'individu que de la communauté), en particulier dans les pays à IDH moyen et bas. Cet étude avait pour but d'explorer l'épidémiologie (causes et mécanismes) des brûlures en Iran et de rechercher des corrélations avec les statuts socio-économique et éducatif. Elle a été réalisée entre août 2016 et octobre 2017 auprès des 1 078 patients hospitalisés au CHU Shahid Motahari de Téhéran capables (eux même ou leur entourage) de répondre à notre questionnaire. Les données ont été extraites et analysées avec SSPS 21. La majorité des patients était âgés de 19 à 39 ans, 70,6% avaient reçu un enseignement de niveau lycée au plus haut et 11,5% étaient illettrés. Ils étaient urbains pour 91,7% d'entre eux, dans une habitation renfermant 4 personnes ou moins. La majorité des brûlures étaient thermiques, électriques ou chimiques. Peu de patients connaissaient les mesures de prévention globales, d'extinction d'un feu et de matériel d'extinction ou de détection de fumées. Les 2 mécanismes les plus fréquents étaient l 'ébouillantement dans la cuisine (12,6%) et l'explosion de gaz (11,9%). Ces données rendent nécessaire le déploiement de mesures d'éducation et surveillance des moyens de sécurité, au domicile comme au travail. Légiférer sur les équipements de cuisson et de chauffage permettrait aussi de réduire l'incidence des brûlures dans notre pays.

Investigation Of Common Burn Mechanisms, And Training And Safety Conditions In The Workplace.

Workplace burn injuries are associated with significant physical, psychological, and social challenges. This study was designed and conducted to investigate the common burn mechanisms, and training and safety conditions in the workplace. The study is a cross-sectional study that was performed on patients admitted to Shahid Motahari University Hospital in Tehran from August 2016 to October 2017. Samples consisted of patients who suffered burns at work and were able to answer research questions. Data were recorded in tablets by electronic patient registration forms.Of the total burn patients under study, 14.28% were injured in the workplace. The burns were mainly thermal, followed by electrical, chemical, and inhalation burns. 38.2% of patients were not trained for safety measures at work and 27.8% of patients were not given personal protective equipment. 39.0% of workspaces were not safe against the risk of burns. Failure of devices and equipment was the cause of 28.8% of the accidents. Electrical damage, the ignition of flammable materials, gas explosions and contact with molten materials were the most common mechanisms in the occurrence of workplace burns. The lack of awareness by workers, lack of attention to the use of safety equipment at work, and the presence of damaged equipment are the main causes of burn accidents in the workplace. Therefore, the implementation of codified safety training and monitoring the observance of safety measures by workers and employers are recommended.

Les brûlures sur le lieu de travail ont des conséquences physiques, psychiques et sociales. Nous avons étudiés les circonstances de survenue de ces accidents, les conditions de sécurité et l'entraînement (au mesures de sécurité, NDRLF). Elle a été réalisée auprès de tous les patients admis au CHU Shahid Motahari de Téhéran entre août 2016 et octobre 2017. Sur l'ensemble des patients, 14,28% avaient subi un accident de travail (AT). Les brûlures étaient, par ordre décroissant, thermiques (matériel inflammable, explosion de gaz, contact avec liquide en fusion), électriques, chimique et pour finir lésions isolées d'inhalation. Un entraînement n'avait pas été dispensé à 38,2% des blessés ; 27,8% d'entre eux ne disposaient pas d'Équipement Personnel de Protection (EPP), 39% des sites n'étaient pas sécurisés contre l'incendie. L'absence de formation spécifique, l'absence d'utilisation des EPP et du matériel défectueux sont les facteurs de risque le plus souvent retrouvés en cas d'AT. Nous recommandons donc le développement de protocoles de préventions adossés à des audits de leur respect, tant par l'encadrement que par les ouvriers.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Lenonchium zanjanense sp. n. (Dorylaimida, Nordiidae) from Iran, with new insights into the phylogeny of the genus and a revision of its taxonomy.

The new species Lenonchium zanjanense sp. n. is described from a natural habitat of Zanjan province, Iran, including line, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy illustrations and a molecular (18S, 28S) study. It is characterized by its 3.50-4.51 mm long body, rounded lip region, continuous and 13.5-15.5 µm broad, odontostyle 21-24 µm long, neck 362-490 µm long, double guiding ring, pharyngeal expansion 190-285 µm long, female genital system didelphic-amphidelphic, uterus simple and 185-320 µm long or 3.4-5.9 times the corresponding body diameter, vulva nearly equatorial (V = 45-53), tail conical-elongated to filiform (90-165 µm, c = 23-43, c' = 2.4-5.3) with three or four mucro-like projections at the tip, spicules 58-64 µm long and 16-21 contiguous ventromedian supplements ending at the level of the anterior end of the spicules. The taxonomy of the genus is updated, with an emended diagnosis, list of species, key to their identification and a compendium of their main morphometrics. Lenonchium asterocaudatum is regarded as identical and a junior synonym of L. denticaudatum. New insights into the phylogeny of the group are also provided, and the classification of Lenonchium within Nordiidae is seriously questioned.

Genome-wide association studies and polygenic risk scores for skin cancer: clinically useful yet?

BACKGROUND: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified thousands of susceptibility variants, although most have been associated with small individual risk estimates that offer little predictive value. However, combining multiple variants into polygenic risk scores (PRS) may be more informative. Multiple studies have developed PRS composed of GWAS-identified variants for cutaneous cancers. This review highlights data from these studies. OBJECTIVES: To review published GWAS and PRS studies for melanoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and discuss their potential clinical utility. METHODS: We searched PubMed and the National Human Genome Research Institute-European Bioinformatics Institute GWAS catalogue to identify relevant studies. RESULTS: Results from 21 GWAS (11 melanoma, 3 cSCC, 7 BCC) and 11 PRS studies are summarized. Six loci in pigmentation genes overlap between these three cancers (ASIP/RALY, IRF4, MC1R, OCA2, SLC45A2 and TYR). Additional loci overlap for cSCC/BCC and BCC/melanoma, but no other loci are shared between cSCC and melanoma. PRS for melanoma show roughly two-to-threefold increases in risk and modest improvements in risk prediction (2-7% increases). PRS are associated with twofold and threefold increases in risk of cSCC and BCC, respectively, with small improvements (2% increase) in predictive ability. CONCLUSIONS: Existing data indicate that PRS may offer small, but potentially meaningful, improvements to risk prediction. Additional research is needed to clarify the potential utility of PRS in cutaneous carcinomas. Clinical translation will require well-powered validation studies incorporating known risk factors to evaluate PRS as tools for screening. What's already known about this topic? Over 50 susceptibility loci for melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) have been identified in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Polygenic risk scores (PRS) using variants identified from GWAS have also been developed for melanoma, BCC and cSCC, and investigated with respect to clinical risk prediction. What does this study add? This review provides an overview of GWAS findings and the potential clinical utility of PRS for melanoma, BCC and cSCC.

Photosensitizing antihypertensive drug use and risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Many antihypertensive drugs (ADs) are photosensitizing, heightening reactivity of the skin to sunlight. Photosensitizing ADs have been associated with lip cancer, but whether they impact the risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between AD use and cSCC risk among a cohort of non-Hispanic white individuals with hypertension enrolled in a comprehensive integrated healthcare delivery system in northern California (n = 28 357). METHODS: Electronic pharmacy data were used to determine exposure to ADs, which were classified as photosensitizing, nonphotosensitizing or unknown, based on published literature. We identified patients who developed a cSCC during follow-up (n = 3010). We used Cox modelling to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Covariates included age, sex, smoking, comorbidities, history of cSCC and actinic keratosis, survey year, healthcare utilization, length of health plan membership and history of photosensitizing AD use. RESULTS: Compared with nonuse of ADs, risk of cSCC was increased with ever having used photosensitizing ADs (aHR = 1·17, 95% CI 1·07-1·28) and ever having used ADs of unknown photosensitizing potential (aHR = 1·11, 95% CI 1·02-1·20), whereas no association was seen with ever having used nonphotosensitizing ADs (aHR = 0·99; 95% CI 0·91-1·07). Additionally, there was a modest increased risk with an increased number of prescriptions for photosensitizing ADs (aHR = 1·12, 95% CI 1·02-1·24; aHR = 1·19, 95% CI 1·06-1·34; aHR = 1·41, 95% CI 1·20-1·67 for one to seven, eight to 15 and ≥ 16 fills, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide moderate support for an increased cSCC risk among individuals treated with photosensitizing ADs.

Research gaps in the management and prevention of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in organ transplant recipients.

Although tremendous progress has been made in recent years in skin cancer care for organ transplant recipients, significant gaps remain in data-driven clinical guidelines, particularly for the treatment and prevention of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), the most common malignancy among this population. In this review, we aim to summarize current knowledge around the management of cSCC and highlight the most significant gaps in knowledge that continue to pose challenges in the delivery of skin cancer care for organ transplant recipients. We suggest future directions for research that will bridge existing gaps and establish evidence-driven guidelines for primary prevention, screening and treatment of cSCC in this high-risk patient population.