Peer interventions to improve HIV testing uptake among immigrants: A realist review.

Background: As a vulnerable group in HIV control programs, immigrants face various obstacles to HIV testing. Despite the effectiveness of peer interventions on health promotion in HIV testing, relatively little is known about how these interventions work. This realist review aims to understand why, how, and under what conditions peer interventions can improve immigrants' HIV testing uptake. Methods: We followed the steps suggested by Pawson and colleagues for conducting the realist review. To test a initial program theory, we first systematically searched databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane, as well as the websites of UNAIDS, World Bank, Global Fund, WHO, and IOM. After data extraction and quality appraisal, data synthesis was conducted to explain the intervention pathways corresponding to context-mechanism-outcome configurations. Results: Seventeen studies were included in the review. Peer interventions for improving immigrants' HIV testing uptake worked through four pathways: Following the improvement of communications (as a proximal mechanism): 1) increasing awareness, 2) reduced stigma, 3) improved support, and 4) increased access to services could lead to improved HIV testing uptake among immigrants. The identified mechanisms were influenced by three groups of individual/ interpersonal, service delivery, and structural factors. Conclusion: Peer interventions with multiple strategies to be designed and implemented considering the barriers to HIV testing and also moving beyond one-size-fits-all approaches can successfully improve the immigrants' HIV testing uptake. The refined program theory in this study can help the healthcare providers and policy-makers promote the immigrants' HIV testing uptake and reduce the risk of disease transmission.

The effect of occupational burnout on cognitive failure and general health in industrial workers (case study: Iran Tire Factory).

BACKGROUND: Human resources are the most important organizational resources and play the most important role in the production and productivity cycle. Considering the importance of people's health and the study of their burnout as a possible cause of occupational cognitive failures, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between burnout, cognitive failure, and general health. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: A cross-sectional-analytical study was conducted in Iran Tire Factory. The statistical population of this study was 302 personnel who were randomly selected. Data were collected by four valid questionnaires (demographic information, Maslach burnout, cognitive failure, and general health questionnaire). Then data were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: The results of the analysis revealed a significant and direct relationship between burnout and cognitive failure (p < .001), and a significant inverse relationship was found between cognitive failure and physical health (p = .022). The other results showed that emotional exhaustion and depersonalization dimensions are significantly associated with cognitive failure (p < .001, p = .016). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, burnout causes cognitive failures among factory personnel and on the other hand, cognitive failures affect the physical health of individuals and lead to deterioration of physical health, which in turn can reduce a person's performance and reduce work efficiency.

The effect of educational intervention in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in patients with hypertension with application of health belief model: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: The best methods for preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases are preventive behaviours. Aim: The purpose of the current study is to ascertain how educational intervention affects cardiovascular disease prevention. Methods: The current investigation is a quasi-experimental study conducted in Shiraz, Iran, in the year 2022, focusing on 200 hypertension patients (by sample random sampling) that were divided into two groups: a control group consisting of 100 participants (63 males and 37 females) and an intervention group also consisting of 100 participants (58 males and 42 females). The data collection instrument comprises inquiries pertaining to demographic factors as well as constructs of the health belief model (HBM) and preventive behaviours for cardiovascular diseases. The participants in both groups completed the questionnaire prior to and three months after the intervention. The intervention group underwent a total of six training sessions, each lasting 55 min. Results: The results showed that after the intervention, the intervention group showed a significant increase in all cues of the HBM model except for the perceived barriers. Following a period of three months subsequent to the educational intervention, the experimental group also exhibited a notable reduction in blood pressure in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate that the utilisation of the HBM demonstrated positive outcomes in facilitating the promotion of cardiovascular disease prevention among patients diagnosed with hypertension. The promotion of health among individuals with high blood pressure can be both beneficial and feasible. Moreover, this particular model can be utilised as a comprehensive framework for the development, execution, and evaluation of advantageous and effective healthcare initiatives.

Association between cognitive capacity and metabolic indices in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders.

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies suggested the relationship between metabolic indices and cognitive capacity, results have been conflicting. The prevalence of metabolic and cognitive disorders is high in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. We aimed to assess the relationship between laboratory metabolic indices and specific areas of cognitive capacity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review of the medical records of 423 from 452 patients with neuropsychiatric disorders who were admitted to the neuropsychiatry unit, Ayatollah Kashani Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, from September 1, 2018, to September 30, 2022. We extracted demographic factors, laboratory metabolic indices, and scores of the Neuropsychiatry Unit Cognitive Assessment tool (NUCOG). We utilized a generalized linear model (GLM) to demonstrate the effect of metabolic indices on the risk of reduction in cognitive domains. Due to the presence of missing data in the metabolic indices, we used the multiple imputation method. RESULTS: The regression coefficient of NUCOG total score and subscale scores for metabolic indices using GLM after multiple imputation method demonstrated that among the metabolic indicators, fasting blood sugar (FBS) had the reverse relationship with the total score of NUCOG (ß = -.05). Among the NUCOG subscales, executive functioning had the strongest relationship with FBS (ß = -.01). Also, there was a negative relationship between patients' age and the total score of NUCOG (ß = -.38). Educational level had a positive relationship with the total NUCOG score (ß =10.2). CONCLUSIONS: The main metabolic factors that might reduce cognitive capacity were higher FBS.

Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy upon distress, emotion regulation, and self-compassion in patients with cardiovascular disease: a randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular patients experience various psychological problems due to the conditions caused by their disease, which make it worse if left untreated. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of acceptance and commitment therapy on distress, emotion regulation, and self-compassion in patients with cardiovascular disease. METHODS: This study was a randomized clinical trial with pre-test, post-test and two-month and four-month follow-up periods accompanying a control group. At four stages, patients filled out questionnaires on depression, anxiety, stress (DASS-21), emotion regulation (ERQ), and self-compassion (SCS). The experimental group underwent a treatment protocol based on acceptance and commitment therapy. Data were then analyzed using SPSS-25 with repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Act significantly reduced depression, anxiety, and stress, enhanced self-compassion, and improved emotion regulation in cardiac patients. Between-subjects (Group) partial etas for depression, anxiety, stress, reappraisal, suppression, and self-compassion were 0.61, 0.64, 0.66, 0.62, 0.66, and 0.65, respectively. Treatment efficacy was maintained during the 2- and 6-month follow-up visits. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that treating cardiac patients' psychological problems in a way focused on acceptance and commitment therapy may have an impact on how well they respond to their treatment.

Early-onset gynecological tumors in DNA repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum group C patients: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a group of rare hereditary disorders with highly increased risk of skin tumors due to defective DNA repair. Recently we reported 34-fold increased risk of internal tumors in XP patients in comparison with general population. The molecular data and clinical practice on the internal tumors treatment in XP patients is limited and scarcely represented in the medical literature. In this work, we describe young patients with constitutive biallelic deactivation of the XPC gene developing gynecological tumors with somatic DICER1 mutations. METHODS: Whole genome sequencing was used to analyze in detail somatic mutational landscape and driver events of these rare tumors. RESULTS: We describe five early-onset gynecological tumors in four xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XP-C) young patients (11 to 19 years old) including vaginal embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas in monozygotic twin sisters, juvenile granulosa-cell tumor of the ovary and poorly differentiated stage IA Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor in 19-years old patient, and FIGO stage IC1 tumor of ovary in 13-years old patient. XP-C ovarian tumors harbor 4.4 times more single base substitutions than sporadic tissue-matched cancers and demonstrate XP-C specific mutation signature with strong transcriptional bias indicating inability of the cells to repair bulky DNA lesions of unknown etiology. A special mode of treatment was applied to avoid usage of chemotherapy which is toxic for XP patients. CONCLUSIONS: XP-C status should be accounted for prevention and specific treatment of gynecological tumors in young DNA repair-deficient XP patients.

Xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XP-C) is a rare inherited disorder resulting in a highly increased risk of skin and internal cancers due to the inability to efficiently repair DNA. In this study, we described four young XP-C patients who developed early-onset tumors affecting the female reproductive organs. We describe how we cared for these patients in the clinic. We looked at the genetic material within the tumors to better understand the mechanisms through which these tumors developed. We observed high numbers of specific types of changes in DNA, which are not typical for sporadic (non-inherited) gynecological tumors, but are characteristic of internal XP-C tumors. Further studies are needed to better understand the nature of these changes. Our findings highlight the important role of DNA repair in human tissues and cancer risk, and might inform future strategies for tumor prevention in XP-C patients.

The Effect of Add-on Memantine in New Onset Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Core Symptoms: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Studies using standard neuropsychological instrumentation have shown memory deficits in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients. We examined the efficacy and safety of memantine in new cases of combat-related PTSD in the military by conducting a 16-week prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial. Method : Twenty-six new combat-related PTSD cases were recruited from among the military personnel based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Patients were assigned to memantine and Placebo groups. They were monitored at baseline, week eight, and week 16. Memantine was added to each patient's current medication with an initial dosage of 5 mg/day, raised by 5 mg/day every week until it reached the maintenance level of 20 mg/day. The concurrent drugs were essentially kept unchanged during the trial. The primary outcome was PTSD severity as assessed by the Clinician-administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). The CAPS is a valid and reliable tool for the diagnosis of PTSD and measurement of its severity according to the DSM-4. Results: CAPS mean score in baseline (P = 0.811) and weeks eight (P = 0.389) and 16 (P = 0.066) did not show any significant differences between the two groups. The mean CAPS score in the memantine group significantly (P = 0.006) decreased (Mean differences = -8.79) compared to the placebo group, showing that intervention with memantine was effective. The mean total CAPS in weeks eight (Mean differences = -14.21) and 16 (Mean differences = -27) were less than the baseline, which was significantly meaningful (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that add-on memantine can be effective in veteran patients with PTSD. So our data provide useful insight into the management of new cases of combat-related PTSD.

Brazilian XP-E siblings carrying a novel DDB2 variant developed early-onset melanoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Xeroderma pigmentosum group E (XP-E) is one of the least common forms of XP, a rare syndrome where patients are prone to develop skin cancer in exposed sunlight areas. XP-E patients are generally not diagnosed until they are adults due to the mild phenotype. CASE PRESENTATION: two XP-E siblings, female, 23 years, and male, 25 years, from a Brazilian consanguineous family carrying the novel missense pathogenic variant in DDB2 gene, NM_000107.3:c.1027G > C, associated with skin cancer early-onset and severe phenotype, as nodular melanoma in the cornea and in the ear. CONCLUSION: The assessment of genomic variant pathogenicity was a challenge since this family belongs to an underrepresented population in genomic databases. Given the scarcity of literature documenting XP-E cases and the challenges encountered in achieving an early diagnosis, this report emphasizes the imperative of sun protection measures in XP-E patients. Additionally, it highlights the detrimental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer diagnosis, leading to the manifestation of a severe phenotype in affected individuals.

Barriers and Facilitators to Participatory Governance in Iran Health Policymaking: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Community participation has been accepted as a promising approach to promoting health and health equality. Based on Iran's constitution and the general health policies, community participation in health is addressed as a right, and during recent decades, some measures have been put in place. However, it is critical to improve public participation in Iran's health system and institutionalize community participation in health policymaking. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilities affecting public participation in Iran's health policymaking. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews with health policymakers, health managers and planners, and other stakeholders were conducted to collect data. The conventional content analysis approach was used to analyze the data. Results: Two themes-including community level and government level-and 10 categories were identified through the qualitative analysis. Cultural and motivational factors, lack of awareness of the right to participate, and lack of sufficient knowledge and skills are among the identified barriers in the process of establishing effective interaction. From the health governance perspective, a lack of political will is identified as one of the obstacles. Conclusion: A culture of community involvement and political will are pivotal in the sustainability of community participation in health policymaking. The provision of a suitable context for participatory processes and capacity building on the community and government levels can be useful in institutionalizing community participation in the health system.

Pro-tumorigenic role of lnc-ZNF30-3 as a sponge counteracting miR-145-5p in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer remains one of the deadliest neoplasms in developed countries. Identification of new molecular markers that predict the onset and progression of the disease could improve its clinical management. Low miR-145-5p expression is consistently found in primary tumors and metastases, but the regulatory mechanisms governing its functions remain largely unknown. METHODS: Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to identify [1] a set of novel potential competing endogenous lncRNAs for sponging of miRNA-145-5p in prostate cancer and [2] miR-145-5p and other EMT-related miRNAs response elements in lnc-ZNF30-3. Quantification of miR-145-5p, lnc-ZNF30-3, and TWIST1 expression levels in tumor tissues in RNA sequencing datasets of our and TCGA PRAD cohorts revealed a correlation with clinical outcome of prostate cancer patients. Biochemical and cell biology approaches, such as RNA pull-down, western blot, immunostaining, and wound healing assays were used for evaluation of the impact of TWIST1/miR-145/ lnc-ZNF30-3 interactions in prostate cancer cells altered in miRNA and lncRNA expression. RESULTS: We identified a few potential lncRNA sponges of miR-145-5p, including lnc-ZNF30-3. It contains five response elements for miR-145-5p, but also other miRNAs targeting EMT transcription factors. Lnc-ZNF30-3 is significantly upregulated in prostate cancer cell lines and tumor tissues, and its high expression is correlated with poor patient prognosis. We demonstrated that lnc-ZNF30-3 is associated with AGO2 and specifically interacts with the miR-145-5p seed region. Knockdown of lnc-ZNF30-3 results in decreased migration of prostate cancer cells and downregulation of EMT drivers such as TWIST1 and ZEB1 at both the RNA and protein levels. These phenotypic and molecular features of lnc-ZNF30-3-depleted cells are partially rescued by miR-145-5p inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our results point to lnc-ZNF30-3 as a novel competing endogenous lncRNA for miR-145-5p and other miRNAs that target TWIST1 as well as other EMT transcription factors. Prostate cancer patients with high lncRNA expression in primary tumors show lower survival rate suggesting that lnc-ZNF30-3 may contribute to prostate cancer progression and metastasis.

Genomic mutation landscape of skin cancers from DNA repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum patients.

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in genes of the Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) pathway (groups A-G) or in Translesion Synthesis DNA polymerase η (V). XP is associated with an increased skin cancer risk, reaching, for some groups, several thousand-fold compared to the general population. Here, we analyze 38 skin cancer genomes from five XP groups. We find that the activity of NER determines heterogeneity of the mutation rates across skin cancer genomes and that transcription-coupled NER extends beyond the gene boundaries reducing the intergenic mutation rate. Mutational profile in XP-V tumors and experiments with POLH knockout cell line reveal the role of polymerase η in the error-free bypass of (i) rare TpG and TpA DNA lesions, (ii) 3' nucleotides in pyrimidine dimers, and (iii) TpT photodimers. Our study unravels the genetic basis of skin cancer risk in XP and provides insights into the mechanisms reducing UV-induced mutagenesis in the general population.

Prognostic and diagnostic values of non-coding RNAs as biomarkers for breast cancer: An umbrella review and pan-cancer analysis.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women. The incidence and morbidity of BC are expected to rise rapidly. The stage at which BC is diagnosed has a significant impact on clinical outcomes. When detected early, an overall 5-year survival rate of up to 90% is possible. Although numerous studies have been conducted to assess the prognostic and diagnostic values of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in breast cancer, their overall potential remains unclear. In this field of study, there are various systematic reviews and meta-analysis studies that report volumes of data. In this study, we tried to collect all these systematic reviews and meta-analysis studies in order to re-analyze their data without any restriction to breast cancer or non-coding RNA type, to make it as comprehensive as possible. Methods: Three databases, namely, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS), were searched to find any relevant meta-analysis studies. After thoroughly searching, the screening of titles, abstracts, and full-text and the quality of all included studies were assessed using the AMSTAR tool. All the required data including hazard ratios (HRs), sensitivity (SENS), and specificity (SPEC) were extracted for further analysis, and all analyses were carried out using Stata. Results: In the prognostic part, our initial search of three databases produced 10,548 articles, of which 58 studies were included in the current study. We assessed the correlation of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) expression with different survival outcomes in breast cancer patients: overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.521), disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 1.33), recurrence-free survival (RFS) (HR = 1.66), progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 1.71), metastasis-free survival (MFS) (HR = 0.90), and disease-specific survival (DSS) (HR = 0.37). After eliminating low-quality studies, the results did not change significantly. In the diagnostic part, 22 articles and 30 datasets were retrieved from 8,453 articles. The quality of all studies was determined. The bivariate and random-effects models were used to assess the diagnostic value of ncRNAs. The overall area under the curve (AUC) of ncRNAs in differentiated patients is 0.88 (SENS: 80% and SPEC: 82%). There was no difference in the potential of single and combined ncRNAs in differentiated BC patients. However, the overall potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) is higher than that of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). No evidence of publication bias was found in the current study. Nine miRNAs, four lncRNAs, and five gene targets showed significant OS and RFS between normal and cancer patients based on pan-cancer data analysis, demonstrating their potential prognostic value. Conclusion: The present umbrella review showed that ncRNAs, including lncRNAs and miRNAs, can be used as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for breast cancer patients, regardless of the sample sources, ethnicity of patients, and subtype of breast cancer.

Efficient NiO/F-TiO2 nanocomposites for 4-chlorophenol photodegradation.

This work aimed to study NiO/F-TiO2 composites in the photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol. F-TiO2 support was prepared by in-situ fluorination of TiO2 using the sol-gel method. The heterostructured materials were prepared by wet impregnation method, varying NiO content (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% wt). The solids were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectrophotometry, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The characterization studies showed that the coupling of TiO2 with fluoride ions promoted the generation of ≡Ti-F surface species that could be responsible for the decrease in the recombination frequency of charge carriers and the increased photoactivity. In addition, it was found that the coupling of NiO/F-TiO2 semiconductors improved the photocatalytic properties of the fluorinated support, obtaining higher percentages of degradation and mineralization of the phenolic contaminant. These results are possibly a consequence of factors such as the formation of larger crystallites, lower band gap energies, and the generation of p-n type interfacial heterojunctions that potentiate the proper separation of electron-hole pairs. An effect of NiO content on photoactivity was observed, being a percentage of 1.0% wt the optimum in this photocatalytic treatment.

Premedication Propofol Dose to Prevent Emergency Delirium.

Objective: One of the most common complications in general anesthesia is the Emergence delirium (ED). Many agents have been studied for prevention of ED, among which propofol has been successfully used. However, there is no information about the optimal dosage of this agent considering the ultimate outcome and the adverse effects; therefore, aimed to assess in this study. Method : 70 children undergoing general anesthesia using propofol, fentanyl, and atracurium were assessed. Participants were allocated randomly to treatment with either propofol 1 mg/kg (n = 35) or 0.5 mg/kg (n = 35) by the end of the anesthesia. The Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) Scale, Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale, and the University of Michigan Sedation Scale (UMSS) were assessed by 10-minute intervals. Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay and adverse effects were registered and compared as well. Results: Duration of PACU stay (P < 0.001), PAED (P = 0.001), and UMSS (P = 0.003) were remarkably lower among low-dose propofol-treated children in the assessment at the 30th minute, while there were no significant differences in FLACC scores between the groups (P > 0.05). Apnea was found in a patient (2.85%) treated with high-dose propofol and decreased oxygen saturation was demonstrated in 5 (14.28%) and 2 (5.71%) participants in high- versus low-dose propofol. None of the patients experienced postoperative nausea and vomiting. Conclusion: Based on the current study, propofol 0.5 mg/kg by the end of anesthesia could efficiently prevent ED incidence and reduce time of PACU stay and adverse effects compared to a high dose of 1 mg/kg.

In-depth systems biological evaluation of bovine alveolar macrophages suggests novel insights into molecular mechanisms underlying Mycobacterium bovis infection.

Objective: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic respiratory infectious disease of domestic livestock caused by intracellular Mycobacterium bovis infection, which causes ~$3 billion in annual losses to global agriculture. Providing novel tools for bTB managements requires a comprehensive understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying the M. bovis infection. Nevertheless, a combination of different bioinformatics and systems biology methods was used in this study in order to clearly understand the molecular regulatory mechanisms of bTB, especially the immunomodulatory mechanisms of M. bovis infection. Methods: RNA-seq data were retrieved and processed from 78 (39 non-infected control vs. 39 M. bovis-infected samples) bovine alveolar macrophages (bAMs). Next, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify the co-expression modules in non-infected control bAMs as reference set. The WGCNA module preservation approach was then used to identify non-preserved modules between non-infected controls and M. bovis-infected samples (test set). Additionally, functional enrichment analysis was used to investigate the biological behavior of the non-preserved modules and to identify bTB-specific non-preserved modules. Co-expressed hub genes were identified based on module membership (MM) criteria of WGCNA in the non-preserved modules and then integrated with protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks to identify co-expressed hub genes/transcription factors (TFs) with the highest maximal clique centrality (MCC) score (hub-central genes). Results: As result, WGCNA analysis led to the identification of 21 modules in the non-infected control bAMs (reference set), among which the topological properties of 14 modules were altered in the M. bovis-infected bAMs (test set). Interestingly, 7 of the 14 non-preserved modules were directly related to the molecular mechanisms underlying the host immune response, immunosuppressive mechanisms of M. bovis, and bTB development. Moreover, among the co-expressed hub genes and TFs of the bTB-specific non-preserved modules, 260 genes/TFs had double centrality in both co-expression and PPI networks and played a crucial role in bAMs-M. bovis interactions. Some of these hub-central genes/TFs, including PSMC4, SRC, BCL2L1, VPS11, MDM2, IRF1, CDKN1A, NLRP3, TLR2, MMP9, ZAP70, LCK, TNF, CCL4, MMP1, CTLA4, ITK, IL6, IL1A, IL1B, CCL20, CD3E, NFKB1, EDN1, STAT1, TIMP1, PTGS2, TNFAIP3, BIRC3, MAPK8, VEGFA, VPS18, ICAM1, TBK1, CTSS, IL10, ACAA1, VPS33B, and HIF1A, had potential targets for inducing immunomodulatory mechanisms by M. bovis to evade the host defense response. Conclusion: The present study provides an in-depth insight into the molecular regulatory mechanisms behind M. bovis infection through biological investigation of the candidate non-preserved modules directly related to bTB development. Furthermore, several hub-central genes/TFs were identified that were significant in determining the fate of M. bovis infection and could be promising targets for developing novel anti-bTB therapies and diagnosis strategies.

Interventions to increase participation of NGOs in preventive care: A scoping review.

Background and Aims: Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have enormous potential to effectively prevent and manage diseases; however, little research is available on interventions used to improve NGOs' participation in this area. A scoping review was conducted to identify options proposed or implemented to improve the participation of the NGOs in preventive care. Methods: Pubmed, Web of Science, and ProQuest were extensively searched. Google Scholar was also searched to find potential studies related to the subject. Relevant keywords were used in the English language. The reference list of relevant studies was also scanned. Studies were screened with defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Relevant data were then extracted. Two individuals independently screened and extracted studies. The interventions implemented or proposed to promote the participation of the NGOs in the implementation of preventive interventions were deductively identified and classified. Results: Eighteen articles were included in our review. We identified 31 interventions and categorized them into 11 strategies, including (1) building strong collaboration among NGOs and with governments; (2) expanding networks and sustained relations among NGOs; (3) evaluating the NGOs' performance; (4) increasing intersectoral collaboration; (5) advocating for the role of NGOs; (6) supporting NGOs from the side of government; (7) empowering the abilities and capabilities of NGOs; (8) defining the precise roles and responsibilities of the parties; (9) strengthening the health system governance; (10) increasing the health literacy of the community; and (11) developing required regulations, rules, and policies. None of the interventions identified had evidence of its effectiveness. Conclusion: The current evidence on effective interventions to strengthen NGOs' participation in implementing health care is scanty. It means there is an information gap in the effect of interventions to improve NGOs' participation in health.

Aspects Influencing Access to HIV/AIDS Services among Afghan Immigrants in Iran: A Qualitative Study.

Background: A successful response to the risk of human immunodefficiency virus (HIV) infection among immigrants requires improved access to HIV prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services. However, most immigrants face significant challenges in accessing HIV/AIDS services. The aim of this study was to explore the aspects influencing access to HIV/AIDS services among Afghan immigrants in Iran. Methods: This was a qualitative study using conventional content analysis that was conducted from June 2018 to April 2020 in Tehran, Iran. Purposeful sampling method was performed. We conducted 25 semi-structured interviews with three groups of stakeholders including Afghan immigrants infected with or at risk of HIV (n=8), service providers (n=8), and policymakers/managers/experts (n=9). Inductive qualitative content analysis was applied according to the Granheim and Lundman method. Data were analyzed using Open Code software version 4.03. Results: Aspects influencing access to HIV/AIDS health services were categorized into 3 themes (that were extracted from 9 categories): 1. Cultural aspects (cultural similarities and differences, values and beliefs); 2. Psychosocial aspects (social support, stigma and discrimination); and 3. Service delivery related aspects (awareness, health services coverage and integrity, health services financing, accessibility, and continuity of care). Conclusion: The findings suggest that efforts to improve Afghan immigrants' access to HIV/AIDS health services in Iran need to consider the cultural aspects, increasing HIV awareness, providing support, reducing stigma and discrimination, and improving health services coverage, integrity, financing, and continuity of accessible services.

Epidemiology of Sleep Disorders Among Adolescents in Kerman, Iran, in 2019.

It is an important fact that the onset of adolescence is a time of both physiological and social changes that affect sleep. In this study, the prevalence of sleep disorders in adolescents and the association between them were investigated. Anthropometric dimensions (such as height and weight) of individuals in Kerman in 2019 were also assessed. A total of 451 adolescents (mean age: 14.72 years; 51.88% females) of Kerman, Iran, took part in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, and then demographic (age, gender) and anthropometric data (weight and height) were collected. The prevalence of sleep disorders in this population was 31.9%. Among those with self-rated sleep disorders, 53.5% were males. Participants with sleep disorders were younger and showed lower anthropometric values such as height, weight, and body mass index. However, there was no difference between sleep disorders and gender (P-value > .05). This study revealed a relatively high prevalence of sleep disorders among adolescents. This research was done with the aim of encouraging the healthcare organization to design educational programs to evaluate and reduce sleep disorders.

Identifying the non-governmental organizations' activities and challenges in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The spread and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic have been to such an extent that to shape an effective, collective response, governments need the participation of society and the cooperation of a wide range of civil society organizations and institutions. The objective of this study was to identify the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in response to the covid-19 pandemic in Iran and the challenges they confronted. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative analysis based on twenty-two individual, virtual, and semi-structured interviews. Interviewees were selected through purposeful and snowball sampling. All interviews were performed with active health-related NGO representatives willing to participate in the study and continued until data saturation. Data analysis was performed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The activities and challenges raised by NGO representatives were identified in 6 main categories, including the need for the participation of NGOs in the fight against pandemics, response to the COVID-19 crisis in the society, challenges in providing services to the target group in the COVID-19 crisis, NGOs challenges in interacting with governmental and non-governmental institutions, information sources used by NGOs in the COVID-19 crisis and strategies to support NGOs in their efforts. CONCLUSION: Considering the crucial challenges for their participation, such as the NGO access to the target groups, lack of communication network, and constructive interaction between government institutions and the NGOs, it is recommended to increase the capacity of these institutions and intervene to establish a constructive and long-term relationship with the government.

Expression level of miR-155, miR-15a and miR-19a in peripheral blood of ductal carcinoma breast cancer patients: Possible bioindicators for cellular inherent radiosensitivity.

Examination of cellular radiosensitivity (RS) helps prevent the adverse side-effects of radiotherapy in radioresistant tumors. We aim to study whether miRNA-155 (miR-155), miR-19a and miR-15a can predict inherent RS according to cellular RS in breast cancer (BC) patients. This study was done on the blood samples of 40 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) BC patients and 15 healthy women. G2 assay was performed to evaluate cellular RS. To study the expression level of these miRNAs in blood, qRT-PCR was used. The sensitivity and specificity of the studied miRNAs were assessed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The yield of spontaneous (SY) and radiation-induced (RIY) chromatid breaks (CBs) was significantly different between control and patient groups (p < 0.0001). A cut-off value was specified to recognize the patients with cellular RS from those without. Expression of miR-15a was significantly downregulated (p < 0.0001) in BC patients. However, miR-19a showed upregulation in the blood of BC patients. It was also found the expression level of miR-155 and miR-19a were significantly associated with frequency of CBs (FCB) (p < 0.05). ROC curve analysis manifested that the miR-15a and miR-19a differentiate BC patients and healthy women with 0.91 and 0.68 yielding an area under the ROC curve, respectively. miR-155 and miR-19a discriminate between BC patients with and without cellular RS with area under the ROC curve 0.98 and 0.68. Our findings uncovered miR-155 and miR-19a could be applied as a bioindicator to predict cellular radiosensitivity of BC patients.