Magnetic yolk-shell structured periodic mesoporous organosilica supported palladium as a powerful and highly recoverable nanocatalyst for the reduction of nitrobenzenes.

A novel palladium-loaded yolk-shell structured nanomaterial with magnetite core and phenylene-based periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) shell (Fe3O4@YS-Ph-PMO/Pd) nanocatalyst was synthesized for the reduction of nitrobenzenes. The Fe3O4@YS-Ph-PMO/Pd was prepared through cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) directed condensation of 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene (BTEB) around Fe3O4@silica nanoparticles followed by treatment with palladium acetate. This nanocatalyst was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), low-angle and wide-angle powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analyses. These analyses showed a magnetic nanomaterial with high chemical and thermal stability for the designed composite. The Fe3O4@YS-Ph-PMO/Pd nanocomposite was employed as a powerful and highly recoverable catalyst in the green reduction of nitroarenes in H2O at room temperature. A variety of nitroarene derivatives were applied as substrate in the presence of 0.9 mol% of Fe3O4@YS-Ph-PMO/Pd catalyst. All nitroarenes were selectively converted to their corresponding amines with high to excellent yields (92-96%) within short reaction times (10-18 min). This catalyst was recovered and reused at least 11 times without significant decrease in efficiency and stability.

Ionic liquid containing high-density polyethylene supported tungstate: a novel, efficient, and highly recoverable catalyst.

Synthesis and catalytic application of polymeric-based nanocomposites are important subjects among researchers due to their high lipophilicity as well as high chemical and mechanical stability. In the present work, a novel nanocomposite material involving ionic liquid and high-density polyethylene supported tungstate (PE/IL-WO4 =) is synthesized, characterized and its catalytic application is investigated. The coacervation method was used to incorporate 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium bromide ([MOIm] [Br]) ionic liquid in high-density polyethylene, resulting in a PE/IL composite. Subsequently, tungstate was anchored on PE/IL to give PE/IL-WO4 = catalyst. The PXRD, FT-IR, EDX, TGA, and SEM analyses were used to characterize the PE/IL-WO4 = composite. This material demonstrated high catalytic efficiency in the synthesis of bioactive tetrahydrobenzo[a]xanthen-11-ones under green conditions. The recoverability and leching tests were performed to investigate the stability and durability of the designed PE/IL-WO4 = catalyst under applied conditions.

Prevalence of dyslipidemias in the Middle East region: A systematic review & meta-analysis study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Dyslipidemia is a known main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and it can be controlled to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of dyslipidemias in the Middle East. METHODS: The relevant published articles between 2000 and 2021 that investigated the prevalence of dyslipidaemias in the Middle East were found through international data sources such as Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of dyslipidemias, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the Middle East were 54.08% (95% CI: 43.83-66.71), 32.51% (95% CI: 28.59-36.43), 29.44% (95% CI: 18.74-40.13), 32.09% (95% CI: 22.17-42.01), 44.71% (95% CI: 37.86-51.57), respectively. During the last two decades, an increasing trend in the prevalence of dyslipidemias was observed overall and in both sexes. Also, the age groups over 30 significantly had the highest prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The increasing trend in the prevalence of dyslipidemias during the last two decades is an alarming and significant concern in the Middle East. Therefore, special measures are needed to deal with dyslipidemias as a health priority in the Middle East.

Prevalence of cigarette and waterpipe smoking and associated cancer incidence among adults in the Middle East.

Background: Smoking is an important risk factor for various diseases, especially cancer. Aims: To estimate the prevalence of cigarette and waterpipe smoking and its association with cancer incidence in Middle Eastern countries. Methods: We searched Medline, Google Scholar, and PubMed for original articles published between 2000 and 2020 using a combination of the terms smoking, cigarettes, waterpipe, hookah, tobacco, prevalence, Middle East, and the names of countries in the Middle East. Data were analysed using STATA version 14. We performed a random-effect meta-analysis to obtain pooled smoking prevalence estimates with 95% CI and used the I² statistic to assess heterogeneity between studies. We conducted subgroup analyses by sex, country, residence, and age to explore the sources of heterogeneity, and used visual examination of the funnel plot and Egger's test to identify publication bias. Results: We included 90 articles in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of current cigarette and waterpipe smoking in Middle East countries was 17.41% and 6.92%, respectively. The prevalence of current cigarette and waterpipe smoking among men was significantly higher than among women. In the past decade, the prevalence of cigarette smoking decreased by 7.21% but the prevalence of waterpipe smoking increased by 7.80%. The highest population attributable risk was shown for oesophageal (35.0%), lung (30.50%), and gastric (8.20%) cancers. Conclusion: Cigarette smoking is still a public health problem especially among adult men in the Middle East. About 30% of oesophageal and lung cancers in this region were attributed to cigarette smoking. The increasing trend in waterpipe smoking during the last decade is of concern. Prevention programmes are needed as a top priority for health interventions.

The prevalence of seat belt use among drivers and passengers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Seat belts might save people's lives in car accidents by preventing severe collision damage and keeping passengers safe from critical injuries. This meta-analysis was performed to assess the prevalence of seat belt use among drivers and passengers. METHODS: The databases of PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), and Google Scholar were searched from the beginning of 2000 to late December 2020 to identify studies that investigated the prevalence of seat belt use among drivers and passengers. The pooled prevalence was calculated using a random-effects model. The STATA-v14 software was used to perform data analysis. RESULTS: Sixty-eight studies that met the inclusion criteria and were suitable for this meta-analysis were identified. The pooled prevalence of seat belt use was 43.94% (95% CI: 42.23-45.73) among drivers, 38.47% (95% CI: 34.89-42.42) among front-seat passengers, and 15.32% (95% CI: 12.33-19.03) among rear-seat passengers. The lowest seat belt use among drivers and passengers was observed in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, while the highest use was reported in Europe and America. Moreover, the prevalence of seat belt use was higher among women drivers [51.47% (95% CI: 48.62-54.48)] than men drivers [38.27% (95% CI: 34.98-41.87)] (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the highest prevalence of seat belt use was seen among drivers (68.9%) and front-seat passengers (50.5%) of sports utility vehicles (SUVs); in contrast, the lowest prevalence was observed among drivers and passengers of public vehicles such as buses, minibuses, and taxis. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the prevalence of seat belt use was not high among drivers and was even lower among passengers. Moreover, drivers and passengers in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa had the lowest prevalence of seat belt usage. Additionally, drivers and passengers of public transportation (buses, minibuses, and taxis) had a lower rate of seat belt use, especially among men. Therefore, effective interventional programs to improve seat belt use should be designed and implemented, particularly among these at-risk populations in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Graphene oxide supported ionic liquid/Fe complex: a robust and highly stable nanocatalyst.

Herein, a lamellar structured nano-graphene oxide supported ionic liquid/Fe complex (NGO/IL-Fe) is prepared through grafting of alkyl imidazolium chloride on the NGO followed by treatment with iron(iii) chloride hexahydrate. The NGO/IL-Fe nanomaterial was characterized by using FT-IR, PXRD, TGA, EDX and SEM techniques. NGO/IL-Fe was used as a robust and efficient nanocatalyst for the synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyrans in water at 25 °C. The desired products were obtained in high yield over a relatively short time. The recoverability, reusability and also leaching tests were performed to study the stability and the nature of the designed catalyst under applied conditions.

Prevalence of Obesity and Overweight among Adults in the Middle East Countries from 2000 to 2020: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has become a significant public health issue worldwide, and it is a major risk factor for many noncommunicable diseases. This systematic review aimed to identify the prevalence of obesity and overweight in the Middle East region and different countries in this region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, Google Scholar, and MEDLINE databases were searched from 2000-2020 to identify relevant studies in the Middle East area. The survey was carried out using combinations of Medical Subject Headings (Mesh) keywords like "body mass index", "obesity", "overweight", "prevalence", "Middle-East", and "Countries in the Middle East area". Analysis of the data was done using STATA-14, and a random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence. RESULTS: A total of 101 studies with 698905 participants have been identified that met inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis. The pooled estimates of the prevalence of obesity and overweight in the Middle East area were 21.17 (95% CI: 17.05-26.29) and 33.14 (95% CI: 26.87-40.87), respectively. The findings showed that obesity prevalence increased with age so that the highest prevalence of obesity and overweight was observed in people >40 years old. Obesity prevalence in the Middle East area remained steady between 2000-2006 and 2014-2020 (23%). During these time intervals, the prevalence of overweight decreased from 34.83 (95% CI: 32.40-37.45) to 32.85 (95% CI: 31.39-34.38). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the relative stabilization of the overweight and obesity trend in the Middle East, current interventions to combat the overweight epidemic need to be maintained and strengthened because the prevalence of overweight and obesity in this region is still very high. The prevalence of obesity increases with age so that people over 40 have the highest percentage of obesity and overweight. Therefore, implementing intervention programs to prevent and control obesity and overweight in the Middle East is essential.

Prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension in the Middle East region: a systematic review & meta-analysis.

Hypertension is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. This study aimed to obtain an overall regional estimate of the prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension and present the disease pattern based on the age and time in the Middle East region. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline for articles on the prevalence of hypertension, pre-hypertension among countries of the Middle East region from 1999 to 2019. STATA-14 was used to analyze the data. Data were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis model, and heterogeneity between studies was assessed using I2 test and subgroup analysis. A total of eighty-three studies with 479816 participants met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis process. The overall prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension in the Middle East region were 24.36% (95% CI: 19.06-31.14) and 28. 60% (95% CI: 24.19-33.80), respectively. An increasing trend in the prevalence of hypertension was observed with the increasing age. The prevalence of hypertension in the ≤ 49-year-old age group was 17.13% (95% CI: 13.79-21.27) and in people over 60 years was 61.24% (95% CI: 55.30-67.81) (P < 0.001). This pattern has been similar among both males and females. On the other hand, a decreasing trend in the prevalence of pre-hypertension was observed with the increasing age. The increasing trend in the prevalence of hypertension and decreasing trend in the prevalence of pre-hypertension with age are significant concerns in the Middle East region. Screening for the prevention and control of hypertension should prioritize public health programs.

The prevalence of anxiety and depression and its association with coping strategies, supportive care needs, and social support among women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Diagnosis of breast cancer and its treatment dramatically affects women's psychological health. This study investigated the prevalence of depression and anxiety and their related factor in breast cancer women. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a sample of 120 women with breast cancer in Zahedan, Iran, 2020. Data were collected using instruments included: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-SF34), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), The adjustment to illness measurement inventory for Iranian women with breast cancer (AIMI-IBC). We analyzed the data using the ANOVA, independent sample t-test, Kruskal Wallis, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression and anxiety in women with breast cancer was 66.6% and 60%, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between anxiety and depression and unmet psychological needs, care/support needs, and emotional turmoil coping strategy, while reasonable efforts and avoidance coping strategies and adjusting to disease were negatively correlated with anxiety and depression. Also, linear regression results indicated unmet psychological needs, emotional turmoil coping strategy, and a high level of depression predicted a high anxiety level. A lower level of depression was indicated by reasonable efforts strategy and less level of anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Women with breast cancer reported a high level of depression and anxiety in Zahedan, and clinicians should pay more attention to these patients' psychological distress. Resolving the unmet need of patients, increasing social support, and using the right coping strategy have an essential role in breast cancer women's psychological distress control.