The Prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to update the pooled prevalence of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Two researchers independently and systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and google scholar. They also searched for references of the included studies, and conference abstracts that were published up to September 2021. Results: The literature search revealed 5719 articles, after deleting duplicates 3616 remained. Finally, 17 studies were included. The pooled prevalence of IBD in MS was 1% (I2 = 96.3%, P < 0.001). The pooled odds ratio of developing IBD in MS cases was 1.36 (95% CI: 1.1-1.6) (I2 = 58.3, P = 0.01). Conclusions: The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis show that the pooled prevalence of IBD in MS patients was 1% and the pooled odds ratio of developing IBD in MS cases was 1.36.

Burden of adult neurofibromatosis 1 questionnaire: translation and psychometric properties of the Persian version.

BACKGROUND: The notion of "burden" has taken a key place in the evaluation of care, particularly in the case of rare diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the burden of neurofibromatosis 1 questionnaire (BoN) and to determine the perceived disease burden. RESULTS: The 15-item BoN was translated into Persian, and no items were removed based on content validity. The adequacy of the sample was acceptable (KMO = 0.902), and Bartlett's test of sphericity revealed statistically significant results (P < 0.001). Exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors. The reliability of the scale was good (Cronbach's alpha: 0.90), and the intraclass coefficient was 0.85. The severity of the burden of neurofibromatosis was moderate, and the total mean burden score was 33.12 ± 16.12. CONCLUSIONS: The Persian version of the BoN is an acceptable tool in terms of structure and content, and it specifically assesses the practical aspects of daily activities for patients with neurofibromatosis.

The Prevalence of Cancer in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who were Under Treatment with Natalizumab (Tysabri): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: To determine the pooled prevalence of cancer in subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS) who received Natalizumab. Methods: Two researchers systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, google scholar, and gray literature including references of the included studies. The search strategy which was used in PubMed was ("Disseminated Sclerosis" OR "multiple sclerosis" OR "MS" OR "Acute Fulminating") AND ("Cancer" OR "Neoplasia*" OR "Neoplasm*" OR "Tumor*" OR "Malignancy" OR "Benign Neoplasm" OR "Malignant neoplasm") AND ("Tysabri" OR "Antegren" OR "natalizumab" OR "Modifying Therapy"). Results: We found 1,993 articles by literature search, and 1,573 studies remained after removing duplicate studies. For metaanalysis, we used the extracted data of eight studies. The pooled prevalence of cancer in patients who received Natalizumab was 2% (95%CI: 1-3%; I2: 99.4%, P < 0.001). The pooled prevalence of basal cell carcinoma in patients with cancer was 12% (95%CI: 5-20%; I2:50.3%, P = 0.13). Conclusions: The main finding of this systematic review and metaanalysis is that the pooled prevalence of cancer in subjects who suffer from MS and received natalizumab was 2%.

Relationship of serum homocysteine and vitamin D with positive, negative, and extrapyramidal symptoms in schizophrenia: a case-control study in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a devastating condition characterized by frequent recurrences, cognitive decline, and emotional and functional disabilities. This condition includes positive and negative symptoms and cognitive impairments resistant to drug treatment. According to studies, many biomarkers can affect this disorder. However, there is little information about vitamin D and homocysteine levels in patients with disease complications. We aimed to investigate this relationship in schizophrenia. METHOD: In this case-control study, 33 patients with schizophrenia and 33 healthy individuals were enrolled from Golestan, the north of Iran, in 2021. Blood samples were taken from all participants to assess vitamin D and homocysteine serum levels. In addition, schizophrenic patients completed the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Simpson-Angus Extrapyramidal Side Effects Scale (SAS). Data analysis was performed at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS 16 software. RESULTS: Of the 66 participants, 66.7% had vitamin D deficiency, and 71.2% had normal homocysteine levels. However, the serum level of vitamin D was lower in schizophrenic patients than in controls (p = 0.035), and serum homocysteine levels were higher in the schizophrenic group than in controls (p < 0.001). Vitamin D levels in patients with schizophrenia were significantly correlated with the overall assessment of extrapyramidal symptoms (r = 0.35, p = 0.04). However, no significant relationship existed between vitamin D and homocysteine levels and PANSS results (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum levels of vitamin D and homocysteine were significantly lower and higher in schizophrenic patients than in the control group. Improvement of extrapyramidal symptoms in schizophrenic patients had a direct and significant relationship with serum vitamin D.

Does Motivational Interviewing Prevent Early Childhood Caries? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Statement of the Problem: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a serious public health concern in the world. Motivational interviewing (MI) has been used to prevent ECC as a scientifically tested method for advising patients. Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MI on prevention of ECC and identify factors shaping outcomes. Materials and Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted using MI as the intervention and the decay-missing-filled index (dmfs) report as result. Databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library were systematically searched to recognize relevant RCTs evaluating the effects of MI on prevention of ECC from the beginning of 1989 to April 2020. Mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were summarized using a fixed-effect model. Visual inspection of Egger's test was used for potential publication bias in this study. Results: Six studies comprising 2776 contributors showed that MI had a significant effect on preventing ECC. There was no significant publication bias in the meta-analysis. A sensitivity analysis demonstrated that deleting any of the studies could not affect the significance of pooled results. This meta-analysis showed that MI might prevent ECC. Conclusion: MI will be effective at any age, whether it is a baby or a child, and more than the number of interview sessions, the quality of the sessions should be considered. Moreover, follow-up for at least 3 years will be very effective.

Iranian future healthcare professionals' knowledge and opinions about rare diseases: cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Rare diseases are a new global health priority, requiring evidence-based estimates of the global prevalence of diseases to inform public policymakers and provide a serious challenge to the healthcare system that must not be ignored. The purpose of this study is to investigate Iranian future healthcare professionals' knowledge and opinions about rare diseases. RESULTS: A total of 6838 students responded to the questionnaire. Nursing and medical students had the highest participation. Almost 85% of participants rated their knowledge about rare diseases as poor or insufficient. While nearly 70 percent of participants took courses about rare diseases at university. Finally, 72.7% of future healthcare professionals did not feel ready to take care of a patient with a rare disease. CONCLUSION: The present study has indicated a gap in Iranian medical students' knowledge of rare diseases. The researchers believe that health science policymakers should make a joint effort to improve knowledge about rare diseases. Including courses with regard to rare diseases would be of benefit to future healthcare professionals.

The Relationship Between Death and Do Not Resuscitation Attitudes Among Intensive Care Nurses.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between death and DNR attitudes among ICNs. This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 156 ICNs in 2018. All nurses were enrolled in the study; data collection instruments included Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R) and the DNR attitude questionnaires. The mean scores of DAP-R and DNR items were 150.89/ ± 23.59 and 91.82 ± 11.41, respectively. There was a significant relationship between death attitude and DNR attitude Famong ICNs. All dimensions of DAP-R significantly predicted attitude toward DNR (P < 0.05). Among those, "neutral acceptance" (1.17 [95% CI (0.68--1.65)] was the strongest predictor and "death avoidance" was the weakest predictor (0.36 [95% CI (0.09--0.62)]. There was a significant relationship between the ICNs' work experience and attitude toward DNR (p = 0.03). The findings can be used in formulation of the national guideline for DNR order.

People's attitudes towards the use of quarantine in the Covid-19 pandemic in Iran: Validity and reliability study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was first to translate (into Persian) and evaluate the psychometric properties of the attitudes towards the use of quarantine questionnaires (PAQ). METHODS: This methodological study was conducted on 1000 adults' participants in Iran, using convenience sampling. Based on permission from the developer of the scale, it was back-translated. Content validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were tested. Reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated with test-retest and internal consistency. RESULTS: The adequacy of the sample was acceptable because of the results of the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test (0.788), and Bartlett's test of sphericity revealed statistically significant results (P < .001). Exploratory factor analysis showed the 4-factor structure of the instrument. The reliability of the scale was 0.77 based on internal consistency. Also, the intra-class reliability of the scale was 0.9. The attitude of the maximum number of respondents towards quarantine is positive and they support a quarantine in the pandemic of COVID-19 in Iran. CONCLUSIONS: Current study showed that the Persian version of attitudes towards the use of quarantine (PAQ) in the Iranian population including 17 items could be used as a valid and reliable instrument.

Two distinct mechanisms of fluoride enrichment and associated health risk in springs' water near an inactive volcano, southeast Iran.

Groundwater fluoride contamination is a major issue of water pollution in the world with health hazards such as dental and skeletal fluorosis. This research focused on exposure to the high concentration of fluoride in the springs water in the Bazman volcanic area, southeast Iran. The combination of chemical/isotopic analysis, geochemical modeling, health risk assessment and multivariate statistical methods were applied to investigate the contamination and sources of fluoride in the samples. Groundwater samples were collected from cold and thermal springs. Major ions, fluoride, trace elements and stable isotopes δ18O and δD were measured in the samples using standard methods, ICP-MS and OA-ICOS, respectively. Fluoride content in springs varied from 0.5 to 3.75 mg/L with an average value of 1.66 mg/L. The highest fluoride concentrations were observed in the eastern cold springs while thermal springs showed the minimum fluoride contents. The majority of samples showed F contents higher than the calculated optimal concentration of fluoride (0.75 mg/L). Reaction of fluorite mineral with HCO3 and replacement of F in clay minerals and metal oxy-hydroxides with OH- in water were likely cause fluoride enrichment in the eastern springs. Whereas, in the western springs and thermal springs, origin of fluoride was related to weathering of muscovite, cryolite, apatite and fluoroapatite minerals. The δ18O and δ2H of the water samples displayed the impact on evaporation on fluoride enrichment in all spring water samples. The average value of contamination index (Cd) in the water samples was 1.94 categorizing medium risk level while springs S7, S8, S9 and S4 were above the threshold value of Cd index. The fluoride hazard quotient (HQ) showed that 25%, 44%, 56% and 0% of springs' water resources had high risk level for age group of adults, teenager, children and infants, respectively. Therefore, health risk of fluoride in drinking water resources were in the following order: children > teenager > adults > infants.