The COVID-19 Pandemic, Socioeconomic Effects, and Intimate Partner Violence Against Women: A Population-Based Cohort Study in 2020, Iran.

Objectives. To investigate the prevalence, pattern, and socioeconomic risk factors of intimate partner violence (IPV) before and 6 months after the pandemic onset among a cohort of Iranian women. Methods. We conducted a population-based IPV survey among 2502 partnered Iranian women aged 18 to 60 years before (n = 2502) and 6 months after (n=2116) the pandemic's onset. We estimated prevalence and incidence of psychological, physical, and sexual IPV, and the odds of different forms of IPV associated with main exposure variables, adjusted for participant relationship factors. Results. Pandemic prevalence of IPV (65.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 63.4%, 67.4%) was higher than prepandemic prevalence (54.2%; 95% CI = 52.2%, 56.3%). At follow-up, the incidence of IPV was 25.5% (95% CI = 22.9%, 28.4%). The highest incidence was in cases of physical and sexual IPV. Women whose partners lost their employment were at significant risk of new exposure to IPV. Highest socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with less physical IPV (odds ratio = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.14). Conclusions. IPV prevalence has risen since the COVID-19 epidemic began with many women who had never experienced IPV now facing it. Unemployment of women or their partners and prepandemic lower socioeconomic status are risk factors of IPV. Monitoring programs should target these populations. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(2):228-237. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306839).

Financing of health services for undocumented immigrants in Iran: common challenges and potential solutions.

INTRODUCTION: Iran is host to one of the largest urban refugee populations worldwide, about two million of whom are undocumented immigrants (UIs). UIs are not eligible to enroll in the Iranian health insurance scheme and have to pay out-of-pocket to access most health services. This increases the likelihood that they will delay or defer seeking care, or incur substantial costs if they do seek care, resulting in worse health outcomes. This study aims to improve understanding of the financial barriers that UIs face in utilizing health services and provide policy options to ensure financial protection to enhance progress towards UHC in Iran. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted in 2022. A triangulation approach, including interviews with key informants and comparing them with other informative sources to find out the complementary findings, was applied to increase data confirmability. Both purposive and snowball sampling approaches were used to select seventeen participants. The data analysis process was done based on the thematic content analysis approach. RESULTS: The findings were explained under two main themes: the financial challenges in accessing health services and the policy solutions to remove these financial barriers, with 12 subthemes. High out-of-pocket payments, high service prices for UIs, fragmented financial support, limited funding capacity, not freeing all PHC services, fear of deportation, and delayed referral are some of the barriers that UIs face in accessing health care. UIs can get insurance coverage by using innovative ways to get money, like peer financing and regional health insurance, and by using tools that make it easier, like monthly premiums without policies that cover the whole family. CONCLUSION: The formation of a health insurance program for UIs in the current Iranian health insurance mechanism can significantly reduce management costs and, at the same time, facilitate risk pooling. Strengthening the governance of health care financing for UIs in the form of network governance may accelerate the inclusion of UIs in the UHC agenda in Iran. Specifically, it is necessary to enhance the role of developed and rich regional and international countries in financing health services for UIs.

The effect of zoledronic acid on hip geometry in renal transplant recipients: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study.

BACKGROUND: In renal transplant patients, bisphosphonates may prevent bone loss, but little is known about their effects on bone microarchitecture and geometrical hip parameters, as the key factors of bone stability. This study aimed to analyze the effect of zoledronic acid on the mentioned parameters in kidney transplant patients. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized trial, 33 patients were followed for six months after administering either 4mg of zoledronic acid or a placebo. Bone mineral density (BMD) measurement of the spine, hip, radius, and whole body was obtained, and trabecular bone score (TBS) was evaluated using the software. Geometric assessment at the proximal femur was performed by the HSA program. RESULTS: Eighteen patients in the intervention group and 15 in the control group completed the study. The mean percentages of the changes in the BMD at the lumbar spine and whole body were significantly different between the placebo and intervention groups (-0.23% vs. 4.91% and -2.03% vs. 1.23%) (P < 0.05). Zoledronic acid appeared to enhance the subperiosteal diameter, endocortical diameter, and cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI) at the narrow neck in comparison with placebo (P < 0.05); however, no difference in TBS was observed between both groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that a single administration of zoledronic acid might ameliorate bone loss at the lumbar spine and the whole body and maintain the subperiosteal diameter, endocortical diameter, and CSMI as parameters of bone strength at the narrow neck of the proximal femur after six months in renal-transplant recipients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in IRCT (ID: IRCT20181202041821N1) on 04-05-2019.

Effective factors of improved helmet use in motorcyclists: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Road traffic injuries (RTI) are one of the most prominent causes of morbidity and mortality, especially among children and young adults. Motorcycle crashes constitute a significant part of RTIs. Policymakers believe that safety helmets are the single most important protection against motorcycle-related injuries. However, motorcyclists are not wearing helmets at desirable rates. This study systematically investigated factors that are positively associated with helmet usage among two-wheeled motorcycle riders. METHODS: We performed a systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane library with relevant keywords. No language, date of publication, or methodological restrictions were applied. All the articles that had evaluated the factors associated with helmet-wearing behavior and were published before December 31, 2021, were included in our study and underwent data extraction. We assessed the quality of the included articles using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for observational studies. RESULTS: A total of 50 articles were included. Most evidence suggests that helmet usage is more common among drivers (compared to passengers), women, middle-aged adults, those with higher educations, married individuals, license holders, and helmet owners. Moreover, the helmet usage rate is higher on highways and central city roads and during mornings and weekdays. Travelers of longer distances, more frequent users, and riders of motorcycles with larger engines use safety helmets more commonly. Non-helmet-using drivers seem to have acceptable awareness of mandatory helmet laws and knowledge about their protective role against head injuries. Importantly, complaint about helmet discomfort is somehow common among helmet-using drivers. CONCLUSIONS: To enhance helmet usage, policymakers should emphasize the vulnerability of passengers and children to RTIs, and that fatal crashes occur on low-capacity roads and during cruising at low speeds. Monitoring by police should expand to late hours of the day, weekends, and lower capacity and less-trafficked roads. Aiming to enhance the acceptance of other law-abiding behaviors (e.g., wearing seat belts, riding within the speed limits, etc.), especially among youth and young adults, will enhance the prevalence of helmet-wearing behavior among motorcycle riders. Interventions should put their focus on improving the attitudes of riders regarding safety helmets, as there is acceptable knowledge of their benefits.

Association of risky driving behavior with psychiatric disorders among Iranian drivers: A case-control study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the possible association between psychological disorders and risky driving behavior (RDB) in Iran. METHODS: This case-control study conducted in Shiraz, Iran in 2021. The case group included drivers with psychological disorders and the control group included those without any disorders. The inclusion criteria for selecting patients were: active driving at the time of the study, being 18 - 65 years old, having a driving license, having a psychological disorder including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety spectrum disorder, or psychotic disorder spectrum confirmed by a psychiatrist, and completing an informed consent form. The exclusion criterion was the existence of conditions that interfered with answering and understanding the questions. The inclusion criteria for selecting the healthy cases were: active driving at the time of the study, being 18 - 65 years old, having a driving license, lack of any past or present history of psychiatric problems, and completing an informed consent form. The data were gathered using a researcher-made checklist and Manchester driving behavior questionnaire. First, partition around medoids method was used to extract clusters of RDB. Then, backward logistic regression was applied to investigate the association between the independent variables and the clusters of RDB. RESULTS: The sample comprised of 344 (153 with psychological disorder and 191 without confirmed psychological disorder) drivers. Backward elimination logistic regression on total data revealed that share of medical expenditure ≤ 10% of total household expenditure (OR = 3.27, 95% CI: 1.48 - 7.24), psychological disorder (OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.67 - 5.70), and substance abuse class (OR = 6.38, 95% CI: 3.55 - 11.48) were associated with high level of RDB. CONCLUSION: Substance abuse, psychological illnesses, and share of medical costs from total household expenditure were found to be main predictors of RDB. Further investigations are necessary to explain the impact of different psychological illnesses on driving behavior.

Probabilistic prediction of segmental body composition in Iranian children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents' body composition is considered an important measure to evaluate health status. An examination of any of the segmental compartments by anthropometric indices is a more usable method than direct methods. OBJECTIVES: To propose a method based on the network approach for predicting segmental body composition components in adolescent boys and girls using anthropometric measurements. METHODS: A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) dataset in the south of Iran, including 476 adolescents (235 girls and 241 boys) with a range of 9-18 years, was obtained. Several anthropometric prediction models based on the network approach were fitted to the training dataset (TRD 80%) using bnlearn, an R add-in package. The best fitted models were applied to the validation dataset (VAD 20%) to assess the prediction accuracy. RESULTS: Present equations consisting of age, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and hip circumference accounted for 0.85 (P < 0.001) of the variability of DXA values in the corresponding age groups of boys. Similarly, reasonable estimates of DXA values could be obtained from age, weight, height, and BMI in girls over 13 years, and from age, weight, height, BMI, and waist circumference in girls under 13 years, respectively, of 0.77 and 0.83 (P < 0.001). Correlations between robust Gaussian Bayesian network (RGBN) predictions and DXA measurements were highly significant, averaging 0.87 for boys and 0.82 for girls (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that, based on the present study's predictive models, adolescents' body composition might be estimated by input anthropometric information. Given the flexibility and modeling of the present method to test different motivated hypotheses, its application to body compositional data is highly appealing.

Association between prenatal period exposure to ambient air pollutants and development of postpartum depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

There is body of evidence supporting a role for maternal exposure to ambient air pollutants and postpartum depression (PPD). We attempted to review the literature systematically to assess the association between exposure to both ambient air particulate matters within pregnancy and PPD. The effect estimates extracting across each study were standardized to a 10 µg/m3 change. The random-effects model was applied to pool odds ratios. According to the three included cohort articles, exposure to PM10 within second trimester (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.15-1.37) was significantly associated with higher odds of PPD. However, there was no significant association between having exposure to other ambient air pollutants and PPD. This meta-analysis showed that air pollutants could be associated with an increased risk of PPD.

Gestational diabetes mellitus and inflammatory biomarkers of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between two inflammatory biomarkers of neutrophil -lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Systematic search was performed up to June 2020 in databases such as PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google scholar. The random-effects model was utilised to combine the weighted mean differences (WMDs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Out of a total of 849 articles, sixteen studies were eligible. Our findings indicated higher NLR (WMD = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.71) and PLR (WMD = 8.22, 95% CI: -0.50, 16.94) values in pregnancies diagnosed with GDM compared with non-GDM control pregnancies. However, the difference in PLR value did not reach a statistically significant level (Z = 1.85, p = 0.065). In meta-regression analysis, we found no significant influence of total sample size [for NLR (B= -0.0, p = 0.13), for PLR (B= -0.02, p = 0.55)] and publication year [for NLR (B= -0.02, p = 0.61), for PLR (B = 0.89, p = 0.75)] on association between NLR and PLR with GDM. CONCLUSION: The current meta-analysis is the first, to our knowledge, to show that NLR value is significantly associated with GDM. However, PLR showed no significant association with GDM.

Recommendations to improve insurance coverage for physiotherapy services in Iran: a multi criteria decision-making approach.

BACKGROUND: High toll of traffic-related injuries, climate change, natural disasters, population aging, as well as chronic diseases have all made considerable demands on receiving physiotherapy services in Iran. Nevertheless, there is an assortment of complications facing utilization of such services, particularly poor insurance coverage. Therefore, the present study investigated and identified gaps in insurance coverage in order to inform future policy reforms and the design of a more comprehensive and universal benefits package for physiotherapy services in Iran. METHODS: This project was carried out in Iran, using a mix-methods (viz. qualitative-quantitative) approach. Within the first phase, a qualitative study was completed to find policy recommendations. Such recommendations were then prioritized through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), in the second phase, based on effectiveness, acceptability, cost, fairness, feasibility, and time. RESULTS: Within the first phase, a total number of 30 semi-structured interviews with health policy-makers, health insurers, faculty members, rehabilitation experts, and physiotherapists were completed. Several policy recommendations were also proposed by the study participants. Following the second phase, prioritized recommendations were provided to promote stewardship (e.g., informing policy-makers about physiotherapy services), collection of funds (e.g., placing value-added taxes on luxury goods and services), pooling of funds (e.g., moving allocated resources towards insurance (viz. third-party) mechanism), purchasing (e.g., using strategic purchasing), and benefit package (e.g., considering preventive interventions) as the main components of insurance coverage. CONCLUSION: The study findings provided a favorable ground to improve insurance coverage for physiotherapy services in Iran. As well, decision- and policy-makers can place these recommendations on the agenda in the health sector to protect population health status, especially that of groups with disabilities.

Temperament and character of patients with alcohol toxicity during COVID - 19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Corona virus epidemic may be acts as a stressor or trauma that affects both physical health and mental health. People exhibited various reactive behaviors to confront with this stressful situation. In Iran, one of the common motives for alcohol consumption is to scape problems and cope with stresses. It has been shown that personality factors influence alcohol consumption, since they are associated with drinking motives. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between temperament and character and alcohol abuse. METHODS: This cross-section study was conducted on 135 alcohol intoxicated patients admitted to emergency room in March 2020 and 255 participants who were randomly selected from public in Shiraz. A questionnaire consisted of TCI (Temperament and character inventory) and several questions about COVID-19 pandemic. It was completed by a trained interviewer using the matched answer technique. Demographic factors were self-reported. RESULTS: Among the alcohol intoxicated group, 117 (86.7%) were males and 18(13.3%) were females. The mean age of the participants was 32.43 ± 10.81 years. Among control group, 99 (38.8%) were males and 156 (61.2%) were females. The mean age of control group was 33.12 ± 14.77 years. Alcohol toxicity was mostly observed among the young males (male/female ratio was 6.45). According to temperament and character index, mean scores of novelty seeking, harm avoidant, and self-transcendence were higher in the alcohol toxicity group than normal population (P < 0.01). Mean scores of reward dependent, cooperativeness, and self-directedness were higher in normal population than the alcohol toxicity group (P < 0.001). The mean score of persistence was not significantly different between methanol intoxicated and normal population groups (P = 0.718). CONCLUSION: Alcohol intoxicated patients had higher scores of novelty-seeking and self-transcendence and lower scores of reward-dependency scores, cooperativeness and self-directedness. These scores are associated with higher likelihood of personality disorders.

Expectations of citizens from the government in response to COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The government is the main body in charge of controlling epidemics; hence, expectations from the intention and capacities of the government would affect the flexibility and behaviors of citizens. Given the severity of COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent need for cooperation of people in the prevention and combat processes, understanding the public perspectives would be crucial and instructive. This study aimed to explore such perspectives towards the current pandemic among the Iranian. Indeed, we sought to provide a favorable platform for effective policies in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic through recognizing public expectations. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey used an open-ended online questionnaire to investigate the common perspectives of the Iranian towards the response of government to COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were selected using snowball and convenient sampling techniques across the country. The collected data were analyzed and described using a thematic analysis. RESULTS: In general, 2547 participants agreed to participate in this study and completed the online questionnaire. According to the findings, the Iranian exhibited several expectations regarding the response of the government to COVID-19 pandemic. Three main themes were extracted based on these expectations: (1) health-related expectations, (2) policy-related expectations, and (3) Information-related expectations. In this study, a majority of participants highlighted the need to consider and follow-up the patients and their families, providing the financial and hygiene support during the pandemic, applying strict restrictions, and using close monitoring and controlling procedures. Furthermore, they mentioned that authorities and news agencies should observe the principals honesty and transparency. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that people expect the government and other responsible institutions to minimize the burden of this pandemic through adopting effective policies. Also, they could help policy-makers become aware of the expectations of people and develop better strategies.

Public sphere attitudes towards the rumor sources of the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from community perceptions in Iran.

BACKGROUND: In the COVID-19 pandemic, rumors travel far faster than the outbreak itself. The current study aimed to evaluate the factors affecting the attitudes of individuals towards the rumors-producing media in Iran. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in Iran in March 2020 on the source of information and rumors, along with the perception of individuals regarding the reasons for rumors propagation during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Results showed that the majority of the participants (59.3%) believed that social media were the main source of rumors. The lack of a reliable and formal news resource was also considered the most common cause of rumoring by the participants (63.6%). An evaluation was carried out to identify the main source of misinformation and rumors. Results showed that Retired participants considered foreign media (P < 0.001) as the main resource. The middle-income level participants believed that social media (P < 0.001) were the main source. In this regard, the highly educated participants (P < 0.001), government employees, and middle-income individuals (P = 0.008) believed that national media produced rumors. CONCLUSION: Although findings were achieved during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authorities immediately introduced the national media as a reliable news resource, which allowed both media and its journalists to reduce the gap between themselves and the public sphere. It was suggested that social networks and foreign media be more accountable in pandemics.

The effect of risk communication on preventive and protective Behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak: mediating role of risk perception.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 outbreak is a global pandemic, during which the community preventive and protective behaviors play a crucial role in the containment and control of infection. This study was designed to contribute to the existing knowledge on how risk communication (RC) and risk perception (RP) affect protective and preventive behaviors (PPB) during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS: The required data were extracted from a national online survey of Iranian adults aged 15 and older during March 15-19, 2020 (n=3213). Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: The study findings reveal that RC has direct and indirect positive effects on PB. Furthermore, this study also provides new evidence indicating that RP mediates the relationship between RC and PB and there is a two-way relationship between RC and RP. These interactions may have impact on risk communication strategies which should be adopted during this pandemic. CONCLUSION: The study findings have remarkable implications for informing future communications as well as interventions during this ongoing outbreak and subsequent national risk events.

The effects of quercetin supplementation on lipid profiles and inflammatory markers among patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aims: This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to determine the effect of quercetin administration on lipid profiles and inflammatory markers among patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and related disorders.Methods: We searched systematically online databases including Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science to identify the relevant RCTs until November 2018. Q-test and I2 statistics were applied to assess heterogeneity among included studies. Data were combined using fixed- or random-effects model and presented as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI).Results: Out of 591 citations, 16 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled findings showed that quercetin consumption significantly decreased total-cholesterol (SMD = -0.98; 95% CI, -1.48, -0.49; p < 0.001; I2: 94.0), LDL-cholesterol (SMD = -0.88; 95% CI, -1.35, -0.41; p < 0.001; I2: 92.7) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (-0.64; 95% CI, -1.03, -0.25; p = 0.001; I2: 90.2). While, quercetin supplementation did not significantly affect triglycerides (TG) (SMD = -0.32; 95% CI, -0.68, 0.04; p = 0.08; I2: 84.8), HDL-cholesterol (SMD = 0.20; 95% CI, -0.20, 0.24; p = 0.84; I2: 70.6), interleukin 6 (IL-6) (SMD = -0.69; 95% CI, -1.69, 0.31; p = 0.17; I2: 94.5) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels (SMD = -0.06; 95% CI, -0.25, 0.14; p = 0.58; I2: 35.6)Conclusions: In summary, the current meta-analysis demonstrated that quercetin supplementation significantly reduced total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and CRP levels, yet did not affect triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, IL-6 and TNF-α among patients with MetS and related disorders.

Electrocardiographic findings of methanol toxicity: a cross-sectional study of 356 cases in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Methanol is widely used in industry; however, methanol poisoning is not common. In this regard, a number of outbreaks have been recently reported due to inappropriate processing of alcoholic beverages. Shiraz, a city located in the southern part of Iran, faced one of such outbreaks in 2020 during COVID-19 pandemic. There is no sufficient literature on the electrocardiographic findings in methanol toxicity. This study aimed to address this gap in the literature. METHOD: A total of 356 cases with methanol toxicity referred to Shiraz University of Medical Science Tertiary Hospitals (Faghihi and Namazi) in March and April, 2020. The clinical findings of blindness and impaired level of consciousness, lab data such as arterial blood gas, electrolytes, and creatinine, and the most common findings from ECGs were collected. RESULTS: The most common ECG findings were J point elevation (68.8%), presence of U wave (59.2%), QTc prolongation (53.2% in males and 28.6% in females), and fragmented QRS (33.7%). An outstanding finding in this study was the presence of myocardial infarction in 5.3% of the cases. This finding, to the best of our knowledge, has only been reported in a few case reports. Brugada pattern (8.1%) and Osborn wave (3.7%) were the other interesting findings. In multivariate analysis, when confounding factors were adjusted, myocardial infarction, atrioventricular conduction disturbances, sinus tachycardia, and the prolonged QTC > 500 msecond were four independent factors correlated with methanol toxicity severity measured with arterial blood PH on arterial blood gas measurements, with odds ratios of 12.82, 4.46, 2.32 and 3.15 (P < 0.05 for all), respectively. CONCLUSION: Electrocardiographic variations during methanol intoxication are remarkable and well-correlated with poisoning severity. Myocardial infarction was an egregious and yet a common concerning finding in this sample, which need to be ruled out in methanol toxicity.

Efficacy of oral supplementation of whey protein in patients with contact dermatitis: A pilot randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Whey protein is a popular dietary product that has numerous health benefits such as immune modulation. In this study, we assessed efficacy of whey protein in management of patients with contact dermatitis (CD) through a double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial in Emam Reza clinic, Shiraz, Iran. Twenty-five patients in each group were randomly assigned to receive whey protein or placebo powder, 30 g in 200 mL warm water at fasting time for 4 weeks. Outcome measures were Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire and the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score. Furthermore, subjective total improvement (assessed by visual analogue scale) was set as the other primary outcome measure. A significant decrease was observed in the scores of EASI, DLQI, and subjective total improvement in the drug group after the intervention compared with the baseline. However, no changes were seen in the placebo group. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the scores of EASI (P = .002) and subjective total improvement scores (P = .039) over the study period in the drug group compared with the placebo group. According to the results of this study, it seems that oral supplementation of whey protein could improve the symptoms of CD compared with placebo.

Mental health status during COVID-19 pandemic in Fars Province, Iran: timely measures.

BACKGROUND: The current corona virus pandemic is acting as a stressor or trauma, which not only threats physical health status, but also threats mental health status and well-being of people. Currently, COVID-19 pandemic is a life-threatening unpredictable condition accompanied with a large number of uncertainties. The present study has mainly aimed to assess mental health and the relevant social factors during this pandemic in Fars province. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 922 participants in Fars province, Iran, using internet-based data collection technique. All the included participants filled out the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Moreover, demographic variables and some social factors were evaluated by asking some questions. All the participants were ensured of the confidentiality of the collected data, and willingly completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the participants, there were 629 women (68.2%) and 293 men (31.2%). The mean age of the participants was 36.98 ± 11.08 years old. Four hundred twenty-five subjects (46.1%) obtained GHQ-28 scores above the cut-off point, and accordingly, they were suspected of having poor mental health statuses. Women, in comparison to men (OR = 2.034, 95%:1.62-3.28), and individuals aged < 50 years old, in comparison to those aged > 50 years old (OR: 4.01 95%:2.15-7.50), have poorer mental health statuses. Trusting on media, health authorities, and cooperation with policy makers, as well as having uncertainty on information about Coronavirus pandemic were also shown to be associated with poor mental health condition (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that the number of those people with suspected poor mental health in Fars province significantly increased compared to a previous study using the same questionnaire. Furthermore, the participants who had less trust in media and policymakers were more prone to mental health problems. Therefore, it can be concluded that supporting people in these life-threatening pandemic crises is of great importance, so the policy makers and media must present reliable and valid information to people as soon as possible.

Hookah Smoking: A Potentially Risk Factor for First-Ever Ischemic Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: Hookah consumption, as a common non-cigarette tobacco product, is wrongly considered as less harmful. Moreover, little is known about hookah consumption and risk of ischemic stroke. The current study aimed to assess the association between hookah consumption and first-ever ischemic stroke (FEIS). METHODS: This case-control study was performed on individuals admitted at a tertiary referral center in Shiraz, Southern Iran between October 1, 2018 and September 20, 2019. We compared FEIS patients with randomly selected stroke-free individuals as a control group. Using a multiple logistic regression analysis, we assessed the association between hookah consumption and FEIS. RESULTS: A total of 208 FEIS patients (mean age 65.2 ± 15.9 years) and 212 age and sex-matched controls (mean age 63.2 ± 14.4) were recruited. The prevalence of vascular risk factors and comorbidities including ischemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation, cigarette smoking, and sleep apnea was higher in patients with FEIS than their control counterparts. After adjusting for a wide range of confounders, including socioeconomic factors, hookah consumption was still an independent risk factor for FEIS (odds ratio: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.7-6.1). CONCLUSION: Hookah consumption is associated strongly with FEIS. Public awareness about risk of hookah consumption should be raised.

The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in among coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress significantly contribute in developing coronary artery disease (CAD). This systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to determine the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress among patients with CAD. METHODS: The electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched until Oct 2018. The quality assessment and heterogeneity of the selected randomized clinical Trials (RCTs) were examined using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool, and Q and I2 tests, respectively. Given the presence of heterogeneity, random-effects model or fixed-effect model were used to pool standardized mean differences (SMDs) as summary effect sizes. RESULTS: A total of 13 clinical RCTs of 912 potential citations were found to be eligible for the current meta-analysis. The pooled findings for biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress demonstrated that CoQ10 supplementation significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) (SMD 2.63; 95% CI, 1.17, 4.09, P < 0.001; I2 = 94.5%) and catalase (CAT) levels (SMD 1.00; 95% CI, 0.57, 1.43, P < 0.001; I2 = 24.5%), and significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) (SMD - 4.29; 95% CI - 6.72, - 1.86, P = 0.001; I2 = 97.6%) and diene levels (SMD - 2.40; 95% CI - 3.11, - 1.68, P < 0.001; I2 = 72.6%). We did not observe any significant effect of CoQ10 supplementation on C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD - 0.62; 95% CI - 1.31, 0.08, P = 0.08; I2 = 87.9%), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (SMD 0.22; 95% CI - 1.07, 1.51, P = 0.73; I2 = 89.7%), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (SMD - 1.63; 95% CI - 3.43, 0.17, P = 0.07; I2 = 95.2%), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels (SMD 0.14; 95% CI - 0.77, 1.04, P = 0.76; I2 = 78.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this meta-analysis demonstrated CoQ10 supplementation increased SOD and CAT, and decreased MDA and diene levels, but did not affect CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and GPx levels among patients with CAD.

The Effects of Folate Supplementation on Diabetes Biomarkers Among Patients with Metabolic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Although several studies have evaluated the effect of folate supplementation on diabetes biomarkers among patients with metabolic diseases, findings are inconsistent. This review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to summarize the evidence on the effects of folate supplementation on diabetes biomarkers among patients with metabolic diseases. Randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) published in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases up to 1 September 2017 were searched. Two review authors independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data, and evaluated risk of bias of included studies. Heterogeneity was measured with a Q-test and with I2 statistics. Data were pooled by using the fix or random-effect model based on the heterogeneity test results and expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of sixteen randomized controlled trials involving 763 participants were included in the final analysis. The current meta-analysis showed folate supplementation among patients with metabolic diseases significantly decreased insulin (SMD -1.28; 95% CI, -1.99, -0.56) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (SMD -1.28; 95% CI, -1.99, -0.56). However, folate supplementation did not affect fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (SMD -0.30; 95% CI, -0.63, 0.02) and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) (SMD -0.29; 95% CI, -0.61, 0.03). The results of this meta-analysis study demonstrated that folate supplementation may result in significant decreases in insulin levels and HOMA-IR score, but does not affect FPG and HbA1c levels among patients with metabolic diseases.