The comparison study of laminectomy with unilateral and bilateral pedicle screws fixation and laminectomy alone without fusion interbody in young patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: There are many reports about the risk factors for recurrence after laminectomy surgery. Some surgeons use unilateral and bilateral fusion to provide sufficient stability to the lumbar spine. However, its strength, safety, and effectiveness in young patients are not widely known. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare surgical methods of laminectomy with unilateral and bilateral fixation and laminectomy alone without interbody fusion in young patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: 90 patients eligible for lumbar spinal stenosis surgery were selected through convenience sampling and randomly divided into three groups: laminectomy without fixation (A), laminectomy with unilateral fixation (B), and bilateral fixation (C). Pain, functional disability, quality of life, recurrent disc, adjacent segment disease (ASD), and fusion rate were evaluated and compared among the three groups six months post-surgery. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: Six months after surgery, the mean score of functional disability in the bilateral group was significantly higher than the other groups (12.92 (3.30) vs 5.52 (1.91) and 4.30 (1.84), P < 0.05). Also, the highest mean score of pain after surgery was observed in the bilateral group (4.33 (0.70) vs 1.81(0.68) and 1.63(0.56), P < 0.05). The mean score of quality of life in the unilateral group was significantly higher than the other groups (87.81 (5.67) vs 68.58 (3.08) and 56.07 (4.04), P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the groups (P > 0.05) regarding fusion, recurrent disc herniation, and adjacent segment disease. Conclusions: Unilateral fixation provides the same benefits as bilateral fixation but has the additional benefits of being less invasive and minimizing the disadvantages of other investigated techniques during and after surgery.

The Effects of Subcutaneous Rapid-Acting Insulin Aspart in the Treatment of Mild and Moderate Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Children: A Prospective Study.

Background and objectives The traditional treatment approach to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) involves the replacement of fluid and electrolyte deficits and a continuous intravenous infusion of regular insulin. Several clinical trials supported the administration of subcutaneous rapid-acting insulin analogs in the management of uncomplicated DKA. This study aimed to determine the effects/safety of subcutaneous rapid-acting insulin aspart injections in treating uncomplicated mild and moderate DKA in children. Methods In this prospective study in 2022, 25 children with mild/or moderate DKA were enrolled. The main outcome measure was median time (hours) for the resolution of ketoacidosis. Data recorded were as follows: clinical characteristics, severity of ketoacidosis and dehydration, blood glucose, sodium, potassium, creatinine, urine ketones, hospitalization's duration, and complications. Based on the degree of dehydration, fluid deficit was replaced by sodium chloride 0.45%. Insulin aspart 0.15 units/kg subcutaneous injections were given every 2 hours in the hospital outside ICU. Blood glucose was measured hourly and blood gases every 2 hours. Ketoacidosis was considered resolved when the patient did not have nausea/vomiting, was conscious, and could eat, and blood glucose was <250 mg/dL, pH was >7.30, and/or HCO3 was >15 mmol/L. Results Of 25 DKA patients (mean age 11.06±3.89, range 4-17 years, 60% girls), 16 cases (64%) had established type 1 diabetes. Overall, 13 (52%) cases had mild ketoacidosis (average pH=7.25), and 12 (48%) cases had moderate ketoacidosis (average pH=7.15). The mean time to resolution of ketoacidosis was 11.24 hours. All but one patient met DKA recovery criteria without complications. Mild cases compared to moderate cases of DKA had a shorter duration to resolution of DKA (p = 0.04). Mean duration of hospitalization was 2.3 days. No electrolyte disturbances, hypoglycemia events, readmission or mortality, or other adverse effects were observed. Conclusion In children with mild and moderate DKA, subcutaneous rapid-acting insulin aspart administration was an effective, safe, and convenient treatment.

The Immediate Effect of Straw Phonation in Children With Repaired Cleft Palate.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the immediate effect of straw phonation on the phonation of Persian-speaking children with repaired cleft palate. STUDY DESIGN: Quasi-experimental preintervention and postintervention. METHODS: Seventeen children with repaired cleft palate and velopharyngeal dysfunction were investigated. A control group was established comprising children without a cleft palate (control group), carefully matched in terms of age and gender. All participants underwent straw phonation and assessment. The assessments were made two times: at baseline and immediately after straw phonation. Each participant performs straw phonation (a short straw measuring 3 mm in inner diameter and 20 cm in length) once for 3 minutes. The acoustic analysis including parameters, such as jitter, shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), cepstral peak prominence (CPP) parameters, as well as the electroglottography (closed quotient [CQ]) analysis were performed at pretreatment and immediately after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the pretreatment values, after-treatment observation demonstrated a significant reduction in Jitter % and Shimmer %, and a significant enhancement in HNR and CPP among children with repaired cleft palate. There is no significant difference in intragroup data in the CPP and CQ in pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed straw phonation technique results in an immediate positive change in the quality of voice in both groups. Moreover, assessments in the clinical group showed a significant decrease in shimmer and jitter perturbation, alongside elevated levels of HNR and CPP subsequent to straw phonation, irrespective of the phonatory task.

Neonatal risk factors associated with autism spectrum disorders: an umbrella review.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe social communication deficits and stereotypical repetitive behaviors. PURPOSE: This umbrella review assessed neonatal risk factors associated with ASD using meta-analyses and systematic reviews. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of interna- tional databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published through April 2022 utilizing pertinent keywords. A random-effects model was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Substantial heterogeneity was considered at values of I2≥50%. A quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR2) checklist. RESULTS: A total of 207,221 children with ASD and 22,993,128 neurotypical children were included. Six meta- analyses were included in this umbrella review. The factors of congenital heart disease (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.17-1.52), macrosomia (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.05-1.18), low birth weight (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.48-1.81), very low birth weight (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.79-2.83), small for gestational age (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.09-1.24), jaundice (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.42- 2.12), male sex (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.39-1.55) and 1-minute Apgar score <7 (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.26-1.55) were graded as suggestive evidence (class III). Only 3 studies reported heterogeneity (I2<50%). Based on the AMSTAR2 analysis, the methodological quality was critically low in 3 meta- analyses, low in 2, and moderate in 1. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, clinicians should consider the risk factors for ASD and screen children in clinics.

Pre and perinatal predictors on autism spectrum disorders: a case-control study in the west of Iran.

INTRODUCTION: The constellation of pre and perinatal predictors are introduced as predictor for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), however, the information about the direction and strength of these predictors are lacking in Western, Iran. The current study aimed to determine the pre and perinatal predictors of ASD among children in this region. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted in Hamadan, Western Iran during January to March 2022. The study included 100 children with ASD who referred to the autism center as case group. Hundred children without ASD from registration system of health service centers were selected as control group and were matched (1:1) to cases by age and place of residency. A structured questionnaire about pre and perinatal predictors of ASD was developed by an expert panel. The questionnaire was administered by interviewing the mothers of children. RESULTS: Boy gender (OR: 3.51, 95% CI: 1.74-7.10, p-value < 0.001), small for gestational age (SGA) (3.92, 1.64-9.39, 0.002), maternal diabetes (3.51, 1.03-24.95, 0.04) and family history of mental disorders (3.64, 1.18-11.27, 0.04) were identified as significant predictors in a multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: Our study emphasizes on the importance of screening and monitoring for ASD in the boys, those with history of SGA, from mothers with history of diabetes and with family history of mental disorders. Proposing the replication of findings emphasizes the necessity of conducting studies with larger sample sizes.

Decomposing difference in the kidney cancer burden measures between 1990 and 2019 based on the global burden of disease study.

The kidney cancer (KC) burden measures have changed dramatically in recent years due to changes in exposure to the determinants over time. We aimed to decompose the difference in the KC burden measures between 1990 and 2019. This ecological study included data on the KC burden measures as well as socio-demographic index (SDI), behavioral, dietary, and metabolic risk factors from the global burden of disease study. Non-linear multivariate decomposition analysis was applied to decompose the difference in the burden of KC. Globally, ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR of KC increased from 2.88 to 4.37, from 1.70 to 2.16, and from 46.13 to 54.96 per 100,000 people between 1990 and 2019, respectively. The global burden of KC was more concentrated in developed countries. From 1990 to 2019, the burden of KC has increased the most in Eastern European countries. More than 70% of the difference in the KC burden measures between 1990 and 2019 was due to changes in exposure to the risk factors over time. The SDI, high body mass index (BMI), and alcohol use had the greatest contribution to the difference in the KC burden measures. Changes in characteristics over time, including SDI, high BMI, and alcohol consumption, appear to be important in the evolving landscape of KC worldwide. This finding may help policymakers design policies and implement prevention programs to control and manage KC.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of arsenic concentration in drinking water sources of Iran.

Recent studies have found arsenic contamination of drinking water in some parts of Iran, as in many other countries. Thus, a comprehensive systematic review is necessary to assess the distribution and concentration of arsenic in drinking water sources. For this purpose, articles published from the first identification until December 2023, were retrieved from various national and international databases. Of all the studies examined (11,726), 137 articles were selected for review based on their conceptual relationship to this survey. A review of the extracted studies presented that ICP methods (ICP-MS, ICP-OES, 56%) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS, 34.1%) were the two most commonly used techniques for the analysis of arsenic in water samples. The order of arsenic content in the defined study areas is descending, as follows: northwest ˃ southeast ˃ southwest ˃ northeast. A review of studies performed in Iran depicted that provinces such as Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, and Kerman have the highest arsenic concentrations in water resources. Accordingly, the maximum concentration of arsenic was reported in Rayen, Kerman, and ranged from < 0.5-25,000 µg/L. The primary cause of elevated arsenic levels in water resources appears to be geologic structure, including volcanic activity, biogeochemical processes, sulfur-bearing volcanic rocks, Jurassic shale, the spatial coincidence of arsenic anomalies in tube wells and springs, and, to some extent, mining activities. The findings of the presented survey indicate that it is essential to take serious measures at the national level to minimize the health risks of arsenic contamination from drinking water consumption.

Designing and psychometric assessment of the moral intelligence scale for healthcare professionals.

The moral intelligence of healthcare professionals in the cardiac operating room is one of the most important aspects of professional competence. However, moral intelligence is an abstract and multidimensional concept that needs to be clarified and described based on organizational culture and environment. Therefore, there is a need to design a specific scale for measuring the moral intelligence of healthcare professionals in the cardiac operating room. This study aims to design and assess the psychometric properties of a moral intelligence scale for healthcare professionals in the cardiac operating room. The present study was a mixed method study with a sequential exploratory approach. The research was conducted in 2023-2024 in Iran. The first phase data were collected from 20 healthcare professionals and were analyzed by conventional content analysis method. In the second phase, the validity and reliability of the instrument were evaluated by involving 300 healthcare professionals in the cardiac operating room. The moral intelligence of health care professionals in the cardiac operating room was defined as moral sensitivity combined with moral commitment and moral courage for the provision of quality care that respects the principles of medical ethics. After deducing the conceptual framework, the moral intelligence scale for healthcare professionals in the cardiac operating room was developed with three dimensions: "moral sensitivity," "moral commitment," and "moral courage." 11 items were removed during testing to ensure content validity. Face validity was confirmed with impact scores > 1.5 for all items. A scale was developed through factor analysis with three factors that accounted for 73.04% of the observed variance. The instrument's reliability using Cronbach's alpha coefficient calculation was reported as 0.94 for the entire instrument. The testretest showed no statistically significant difference between the pre and post-test scores of moral intelligence (p = 0.51). The moral intelligence scale demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties. The moral intelligence scale for health care professionals in the cardiac operating room demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties. This instrument may serve to assess the moral intelligence of healthcare professionals and determine the need for educational interventions to reduce the ethical challenges and improve the moral intelligence of this healthcare.

Evaluation of Neurological and Auditory Development in Children with Congenital Heart Disease using Essence Q Questionnaire and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Test.

Objectives: The progress of cardiac surgery in children and the increase in the survival of children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) has led to consider another issue called a neurodevelopmental disorder. In this study, 53 children with CHD were evaluated in terms of development with the Essence Q questionnaire, Otoacoustic Emission (OAE), and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) regarding these patients' hearing and risk factors. The Essence Q scores were also examined. Materials & Methods: In this prospective, cross-sectional study, the researchers included 53 children diagnosed with CHD. Initially, each child underwent ABR and OAE tests. Subsequently, data on potential risk factors associated with neurodevelopmental delay were collected. A trained project associate administered the Essence Q questionnaire, using parents' information as a guide. Following data collection, this study proceeded with an in-depth analysis of the information. Results: Thirty-six boys (67.92%) and 17 girls (32.08%) with CHD were included in the study. The mean age of children was 26.98±10.64 months. The mean Essence Q score for boys was 7.48±2.57. Moreover, the average score for girls was 2.23 ± 8.11. According to this questionnaire, 39 patients (73.58%) had hyperactivity disorder, 46 patients (86.79%) had behavioral disorders, and ten patients (16.98%) had a motor delay. Unlike previous studies, all patients had normal OAE and ABR hearing. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that factors such as developmental delay in the first year, a known genetic disease, and a history of seizures significantly impacted the Essence Q score. However, elements like prematurity, the use of ventilation, abnormalities on the dorsum, and the number of days post-surgery did not significantly affect the Essence Q score. Essence Q can be a reliable tool in screening for neurodevelopment in children with CHD.

Factors affecting subsequent dose of COVID-19 vaccine uptake based on BASNEF model among older adults.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is a primary prevention approach to preventing disease by disconnecting the transmission chain. The current study utilized a BASNEF model framework to identify factors influencing subsequent doses of COVID-19 vaccination among older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in the west of Iran in May 2022. The participants were selected via multi-stage sampling. Finally, 1120 participants contributed to the present study. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: a) Socio-demographic characteristics, b) cognitive impairments tests, and c) Questionnaire about the subsequent dose of COVID-19 vaccine uptake based on the BASNEF model. Data were analyzed using the software IBM AMOS-20 and SPSS-23 via one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent sample T-tests were used, too. The significance level of statistical tests was regarded as less than 0.05. RESULTS: The presented results of analyzing 50% of the variance of vaccination intention as the dependent variable (R square = 0.497) and 10% of the behavior variance as the dependent variable (R square = 0.104) can be explained based on the BASNEF model. The enabling factors (ß = 0.636, p < 0.001) and the intention (ß = 0.322, p < 0.001) were important factors for subsequent doses of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in older adults. CONCLUSION: So, planning and implementing promotional intervention programs for older people (over 65; 80), females, illiterate, widows and divorced, good economic status, and urban areas is essential. It seems that enabling factors such as free vaccinations, vaccination inaccessible places such as public social security agencies, social supports such as involvement of the government and physicians, and improving information by the medium or knowledge-sharing experience, which can be further used to enhance the acceptance of subsequent doses of COVID-19 uptake in older adults.

Effect of acupressure on pain intensity and physiological indices in patients undergoing extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: a randomized double-blind sham-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) as a treatment for kidney stones, it is essential to apply methods to control pain and improve patient comfort during this procedure. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of acupressure at the Qiu point on pain intensity and physiological indices in patients undergoing ESWL. METHODS: This randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial was conducted at the Shahid Beheshti Educational-medical Center in Hamadan City (western Iran) from May to August 2023. Seventy-four eligible patients were split into intervention (n = 37) and sham (n = 37) groups. Ten minutes before lithotripsy, the intervention group received acupressure at the Qiu point, while the sham group received touch at a neutral point. The primary outcomes were pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and physiological indices such as blood pressure and heart rate at baseline, 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min after the intervention. The secondary outcomes included lithotripsy success and satisfaction with acupressure application. RESULTS: The analysis of 70 patients showed no significant differences in the demographic and clinical information of the patients across the two groups before the study (P > 0.05). Generalized estimating equations revealed that the interaction effects of time and group in pain and heart rate were significant at 30 and 40 min (P < 0.05). The results of this analysis for systolic blood pressure revealed a significant interaction at 30 min (P = 0.035). However, no significant interaction effects were found for diastolic blood pressure changes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acupressure at the Qiu point positively impacts pain in patients undergoing ESWL treatment and increases their satisfaction. However, these results for physiological indices require further studies. Thus, acupressure can be considered a simple, easy, and effective option for pain management in patients during this procedure. TRIAL REGISTRATION: [ https://en.irct.ir/trial/69117 ], identifier [IRCT20190524043687N4].

Validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Suboptimal Health Status Questionnaire among university staff in Iran.

Background: Suboptimal Health Status Questionnaire-25 (SHSQ-25) is an established tool for measuring a precision health state between health and illness. The present study aims to assess the validity and reliability of a Persian version of SHSQ-25 (P-SHSQ-25) in a university staff Iranian population. Methods: A sample of 316 academic and supporting staff (163 males, age range from 23 to 64 years old) from Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran was recruited in this population-based cross-sectional study with a questionnaire validation from Apri1 to October 2022. Forward-backward translation method was performed for the SHSQ-25 translation from English to Persian. Internal reliability, content, convergence, discriminative and construct validity of the P-SHSQ-25 were examined. The factorial structure of the P-SHSQ-25 across groups was examined using measurement invariant test. Results: In the translation process, the conceptual equivalence of the P-SHSQ-25 with the English version was confirmed. The item-content validity index and content validity ratio of all P-SHSQ-25 items were higher than the cut-off values of 0.70 and 0.62, respectively. Cronbach's α was higher than 0.70 for all P-SHSQ-25 domains. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed the fitness of five factors on the data set (comparative fit index = 0.88, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.07). The CFA model fit did not change substantially across sex, age, occupation, economic status, and body mass index (Δ comparative fit index (CFI)<0.01). Conclusions: The P-SHSQ-25 can be used as a reliable and valid tool to measure health status for screening pre-chronic disease conditions in a primary care setting among Iranian population.

Exploring the spatial pattern of animal bites in Iran (2021-2022).

OBJECTIVE: Knowledge of the spatial pattern of animal bites can be helpful for targeted resource allocation and to develop and deliver effective intervention programs. The aim of this study was to explore the spatial pattern of the animal bites in Iran during 2021-2022. METHODS: Animal bite cases from all provinces and counties in Iran were obtained from a nationally based registry. Global Moran's I was applied to check spatial autocorrelation. The spatially adjusted standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were estimated using the Besag, York, and Mollie (BYM) model. Spatial clusters were identified by local indicators of spatial association (LISA) and purely spatial scan statistic. RESULTS: A total of 260,470 animal bites were registered during the study period. There was a positive spatial autocorrelation (global Moran's I=0.27, p-value=0.001). The majority of SIRs greater than 1.00 was found in counties in the northern belt of Iran (e.g., observed greater than expected animal bites). LISA found that approximately 7% of counties in the north and northeast, 18% in the west and south, and 3% in the central part of Iran were significant hot spots, cold spots, and spatial outliers (p-value≤0.05). Spatial scan statistic detected primary hot spot cluster in the counties in the Mazandaran and Alborz provinces (Relative Risk=2.56, p-value<0.001), while primary cold spot cluster involved counties in Kurdistan and Kermanshah province (0.37, <0.001). CONCLUSION: Animal bites were unevenly distributed in Iran. Further prevention and control programs as well as appropriately resource allocation are needed in order to reduce the observed animal bites spatial disparity.

Developing and validation of COVID-19 media literacy scale among students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional validation work evaluated the psychometric features of the COVID-19 Media Literacy Scale (C-19MLs) in Students. METHODS: The study was conducted on 530 students from a medical university in Hamadan, Iran, who were recruited through a stratified cluster random sampling process in June-July 2020. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and internal consistency were used to assess the reliability. Moreover, CFA (Confirmatory Factor Analyses) and EFA (Exploratory Factor Analyses) were carried out to examine construction validity. CVR (Content Validity Ratio) and CVI (Content Validity Index) were used to examine the content validity. RESULTS: According to the factor analysis, it was indicated that the C-19MLs included 21 items measuring five dimensions (constructedness of credible Covid-19 media messages, contractedness of fake media coronavirus messages, fake media coronavirus messages, audience, with three questions in each factor; format, represented lifestyles in fake media coronavirus messages with six questions in each factor) for an explanation of 58.4% of the prevalent variance. The average scores for the CVI and CVR were respectively 0.94 and 0.77. According to confirmatory factor analysis, the studied model had an appropriate fitting to the data; the relative chi-square (x2/df) = 2.706 < 3, RMSEA = 0.093 ≤ 0.1; CFI = 0.893 ≥ 0.9; TLI = 0.874 ≥ 0.9; GFI = 0.816 ≥ 0.9; and SRMR = 0.06 ≤ 0.08. Further analyses represented acceptable findings for internal consistency reliability values with 0.86 of Cronbach's alpha. CONCLUSIONS: The results proved that the C-19MLs is a reliable and valid tool, and it is suitable and acceptable now and can be utilized in forthcoming investigations. This highlights educators and stakeholders to realize the importance of participating individuals in the new media ecology and new 'Infomedia' ecosystems for enabling people in the current digital society.

Investigating the relationship between domestic violence with substance abuse and suicide resilience in mothers with disabled children.

Introduction: Mothers with disabled children are among the most critical groups exposed to domestic violence. Although domestic violence strongly affects these mothers' physical and mental health, it subsequently affects their drug addiction and resilience to suicide. Based on this, it is crucial to investigate domestic violence, drug addiction, and resilience against suicide in mothers with disabled children. This study investigated the relationship between domestic violence, substance dependence, and resilience against suicide in mothers with disabled children in Iranian society. Methods: From January to April 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted in central and western Iran with the participation of 267 mothers with disabled children. The mothers of disabled children were selected through convenience and snowball sampling. Then they completed questionnaires included domestic violence, substance dependence and resilience against suicide. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 with descriptive statistics, such as prevalence, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, and expository measurements, including ANOVA, independent t, and regression tests. Results: The study revealed that there was a strong direct correlation between domestic violence and substance abuse (r = 0.89, p < 0.001), as well as a strong indirect correlation between domestic violence and suicide resilience (r = -0.90, p < 0.001). Additionally, substance abuse and suicide resilience were negatively correlated (r = -0.93, p < 0.001). Other variables, such as the severity of children's disability, education, financial status, and the fathers' involvement, were predictors of domestic violence, accounting for 73.28% of the variance. Conclusion: Mothers with disabled children reported moderate levels of domestic violence, which strongly impacts their physical and mental well-being, leading to drug dependency and suicide. So, it is essential to implement comprehensive planning and provide extensive support to reduce domestic violence against them. By doing so, we can enhance their physical and mental health and ultimately improve their overall quality of life.

Epidemiologic Aspects of Animal Bite, Rabies, and Predictors of Delay in Post-exposure Prophylaxis: A National Registry-based Study in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The increasing trend in animal bites and rabies in recent years makes the disease a public health concern in Iran. The objectives of the current study were to investigate the epidemiologic aspects of the animal bite and determine the associated risk factors of the delay in initiation of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against rabies in Iran. STUDY DESIGN: National registry-based cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study included all registered cases of animal bites between March 2021 and March 2022 at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in Iran. We retrieved epidemiologic data on person, time, place, and PEP outcome. RESULTS: A total of 260470 animal bite cases (approximately 334 per 100000 populations, and 11 deaths) were registered during the study period. About 77.2% of them were reported in males, 4.3% in children aged less than 5 years, 56.4% occurred in urban areas, 98% in domestic animals, and mostly in north and northeast areas of Iran. Additionally, 2.8% of cases had a delay of more than 48 hours in the initiation of PEP. Significant determinants of the increase in delay were female gender (OR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.36, 1.51, P<0.001), foreign nationality (OR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.12, P=0.001), rural residence (OR=1.07, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.12, P=0.010), and the wild animals (OR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.34, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The observed frequency of animal bites in a year indicates a serious public health concern and the need for targeted interventions, especially in at-risk areas and vulnerable populations.

Promoting Oral Health Behavior During Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women are vulnerable to oral disease due to physiological, hormonal, and dietary alterations. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the educational program according to the Health Promotion Model (HPM) on the oral health prevention behavior of pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. METHODS: This study was performed on 105 pregnant women visiting health centers located in Arak from February to November 2022. The subjects were randomly assigned to intervention (n=54) and control (n=51) groups. A reliable and valid questionnaire according to HPM constructs was used to collect the data. The pre-test was conducted in the groups. The intervention group received the educational program in 9 educational sessions (from 12 to 24 weeks of pregnancy). Then, the post-test was conducted in the 36th week of pregnancy in the groups. Finally, the data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 18) and using independent t-test, paired t-test, and Chi-square test. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups regarding perceived benefits (24.68±3.63 vs. 26.57±3.67, P=0.009), perceived barriers (7.31±3.14 vs. 5.81±3.59, P=0.025), positive affect (10.50±1.66 vs. 11.29±1.34, P=0.009), negative affect (1.59±0.223 vs. 1.40±1.51, P=0.006), commitment to the action plan (4.05±1.92 vs. 4.77±1.50, P=0.034), and tooth brushing time (2.29±0.72 vs. 2.74±0.48, P<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed regarding the tooth brushing frequency (2.05±0.58 vs. 2.07±0.66, P=0.901) after the intervention. The brushing time for 2-3 minutes in the intervention group increased from 51.85% to 75.92% after the intervention. CONCLUSION: HPM-based education was effective in promoting the duration of tooth brushing in pregnant women. However, it had no effect on the tooth brushing frequency.

Trend of Conflict Rate in Iran from 2014 to 2020: An Ecological Study.

BACKGROUND: Detecting the correlation of conflict rate within provinces over time provides a better understanding for health policymakers in identifying potential causes. The purpose of this study was to assess the trend of conflict rate in 31 provinces of Iran using the growth mixture model (GMM). METHODS: This ecologic study was conducted based on the data obtained from the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization (ILMO) by gender and provinces between March 21, 2014 and March 21, 2020. First, the 7-year cumulative incidence rates were described; second, the trend of conflict rate was modeled by a linear mixed-effects model according to gender and overall; finally, distinct classes of provinces with similar conflict trends in seven years were identified using the GMM. The significance level was considered less than 0.05. RESULTS: Among provinces, Ardebil and Sistan Baluchistan had the highest and the lowest 7-year conflict incidence rates (95% CI) with 66.6 (52.38, 84.67) and 20.79 (13.53, 31.95) per 100000, respectively. The results of the linear mixed-effects model showed that the annual rate of conflict in Iran decreased by 0.37% from 2014 to 2017 and then slightly increased by 0.07% after 2017. In addition, the GMM results indicated that the trends for Iranian provinces can be clustered into four distinct classes. CONCLUSION: Our study showed the increasing growth of conflict in the last years in most provinces of Iran. Necessary interventions are important to prevent the rising conflict rate due to the various effects of conflict on psychological, social, and health factors.