Lead and arsenic contamination in henna samples marketed in Iran.

Since ancient times, people around the world have used natural cosmetics to improve or change the appearance of their nails, skin, and hair. Henna is a plant-based dye that has been used over the centuries for medical and cosmetic purposes. The present work was aimed to investigate the presence of lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) in various types of commonly consumed henna samples in Iran. A total of thirty-nine henna samples from both local and imported products (3 colors in 13 brands) were randomly collected from popular and herbal medicine markets. The atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) technique was used for the analysis of the samples. The amount of Pb and As in 100% samples was higher than the calculated limit of quantitation (LOQ). The concentrations of Pb and As in the samples were at the ranges of 9.56-16.94 µg/g and 0.25-1.12 µg/g, respectively. The mean level of Pb was higher in black and red products, compared with the green henna. The levels of Pb and As in 53.85% and 7.7% of the henna samples exceeded the permissible limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), respectively. In addition, the mean levels of Pb and As contamination in the imported samples were significantly higher, in comparison to the local henna samples. To our knowledge, this is the first study assessing Pb and As contamination in the henna samples consumed in Iran. Our study demonstrated that there is a potential risk of exposure to Pb through henna in the Iranian consumers.

Contamination of breast milk with lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Breast milk is a complete food for the development of the newborn, but it can also be an important route for environmental pollutants transmission to the infants. This study was aimed to evaluate the status of heavy metals including lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in the breast milk of Iranian mothers. The international databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and the Persian electronic databases including Scientific Information Database, IranMedex and Magiran were examined to find relevant articles published until July 2021. A total of 23 studies examined the levels of toxic metals in Iranian breast milk samples. According to the findings, the pooled average concentrations (µg/L) of Pb, Cd, Hg and As were 25.61, 2.40, 1.29 and 1.16, respectively. The concentration of Hg and Pb in colostrum milk was more than twice of mature milk. The Hg mean concentration in the breast milk of mothers with at least one amalgam-filled tooth was approximately three times that of mothers without amalgam-filled teeth. Risk assessment analysis indicated that the intake of Pb and Hg by infants through breastfeeding can be considered a health concern in Iran. It seems necessary to reduce the Pb exposure of pregnant and lactating women in Iran. However, more extensive studies are needed to clarify the toxic metals' exposure status of infants through breast milk in other parts of the country.

Evaluation of blood lead among painters of buildings and cars.

Exposure to lead-based paints is a major threat to the health of painters. This study aimed to evaluate the blood concentration of lead (Pb) in painters of buildings and cars. The present study was a cross-sectional study in which a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the socio-demographic information. Lead concentration in blood samples was determined using the atomic absorption spectrometry method. A total of 32 male painters were selected based on inclusion criteria. The mean blood lead level (BLL) in the painters was 8.1 ± 4.93 µg/dL. Pb levels in car and building painters were 9.42 ± 5.5 µg/dL and 6.7 ± 1.85 µg/dL, respectively. Pb concentration in none of the blood samples was more than 30 µg/dL. The prevalence of BLL ≥ 5 µg/dL and BLL ≥ 10 µg/dL was 97% and 19%, respectively. According to the findings, the rate of BLL among car painters was higher than building painters. Considering the presence of Pb in all blood samples, it seems necessary to increase the awareness of painters about the adverse effects of lead exposure even in low concentrations. However, the sample size in this study was small and more investigations are required in this regard.

Anesthesia technique and serum cytokine concentrations in the elective cesarean section.

BACKGROUND: Anesthesiologists should obtain the best technique for cesarean section (CS). This study designed to compare the effect of general anesthesia (GA) and spinal anesthesia (SA) on immune system function in elective CS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive study was performed on forty candidates for elective CS. They were randomly divided into GA and SA groups. The serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were measured using ELISA method prior to anesthesia (T0), immediately after the uterine incision (T1), 2 h post CS (T2), and 24 h post CS (T3). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square, independent t-test, and repeated measures. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the GA and SA groups regarding the serum levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IFN-γ. The serum levels of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) in the SA group were significantly (P = 0.003) more than that of the GA group at T3. CONCLUSION: According to the angiogenesis properties of TGF-ß, it seems that SA probably affects the rate of recovery more than that of the GA.

Hookah is the enemy of health campaign: a campaign for prevention of hookah smoking among youth.

Hookah smoking is now a serious health threat especially for adolescents. Implementation of planned interventions can help reduce hookah smoking. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a campaign Hookah is the Enemy of Health Campaign (HEHC) based on the protection motivation theory to prevent hookah smoking among the youth in Sirjan city, in 2018. This was a pre- and post-intervention study. Participants were 280 male and female youth who were selected randomly through the health centers of Sirjan. The educational campaign was conducted during 3 months and participants were trained through interpersonal, group, organizational and community channels and mass media. Data were collected by filling out a questionnaire (containing 64 questions) by the participant before the intervention and 3 months after. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage), chi-square and Wilcoxon signed-rank test by SPSS20 software. The prevalence of hookah smoking was 44.3% in the target group. There was a significant change in the mean scores of knowledge and perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, response efficiency, self-efficacy, rewards, fear and protection motivation after the HEHC (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the structure of perceived cost (p > 0.05). Also, the prevalence of hookah smoking among the target group for those who had ever consumed decreased from 8.9 to 4% and for those who used it occasionally decreased from 35 to 19.4%. The HEHC was effective in reducing hookah smoking, raising knowledge and improving the constructs of the protection motivation theory among the youth of Sirjan.

Opium and risk of gastrointestinal cancer: a case-control study

Background/aim: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are among the most common cancers in the world. Many risk factors may increase the chance of developing GI cancers. In recent years, a number of epidemiological studies have reported evidence of carcinogenic effects of opium in humans. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between opium use and GI cancer. Materials and methods: This case-control study was performed on 95 patients with GI cancer and 190 healthy individuals (matched for age, sex, place of residence, and smoking) in Rafsanjan, Iran, in 2018. Diet information, as well as history of smoking, the use of hookah, opium, and its derivatives was collected using a checklist in interview sessions. Conditional logistic regression was performed to investigate the proposed relationship and to estimate odds ratios (OR). Results: After adjusting the confounding variables, the use of opium was significantly associated with an increased risk of GI cancer development (OR = 5.95, 95% CI: 2.4­14.9). Also, a dose-response association was found between the cumulative use of opium and the risk of GI cancers. Consumption of fruit and vegetables reduced the risk of developing GI cancers in opium users (OR = 4.9 and 4.7, respectively). Conclusion: Opium, in the form used among drug users in this area, can lead to an increased risk of GI cancers. Fruit and vegetables have a protective and modifying effect on the risk of GI cancer development caused by opium consumption.

Effectiveness of self-help mobile telephone applications (apps) for suicide prevention: A systematic review.

Background: According to the expansion of suicide prevention applications in recent years, the aim of this study was to review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and pretest-posttest studies that evaluated the effectiveness of suicide prevention applications. Methods: In this systematic review, we searched online databases including Pubmed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Chocrane Database, and Google Scholar to find randomized controlled trials and pretest-posttest studies published up to Jul 18, 2019. Randomized controlled trials and pretest-posttest of efficacy self-guided telephone applications that reported any primary and secondary outcome of suicidal thoughts and behaviors were included in the review. We evaluated the articles using the CONSORT 2010 checklist. Results: After screening articles, 7 studies were included in this review. Four studies focused on the effectiveness of applications on suicide thoughts and attempt, 2 on effectiveness of applications on self-injury, 4 on depression and anxiety, 1 on impulsivity, and 2 on adaptive strategies. Overall, mobile phone applications were associated with reductions in suicidal ideation scores at post intervention, and enhancement of adaptive skills; however, no evidence of reduction was reported in impulsivity after use of applications. Conclusion: Despite the differences in studies, this review showed that the use of mobile applications had an overall positive effect on reducing the risk of suicide and improving performance and health of patients.

Image-based spatio-temporal model of drug delivery in a heterogeneous vasculature of a solid tumor - Computational approach.

The solute transport distribution in a tumor is an important criterion in the evaluation of the cancer treatment efficacy. The fraction of killed cells after each treatment can quantify the therapeutic effect and plays as a helpful tool to evaluate the chemotherapy treatment schedules. In the present study, an image-based spatio-temporal computational model of a solid tumor is provided for calculation of interstitial fluid flow and solute transport. Current model incorporates heterogeneous microvasculature for angiogenesis instead of synthetic mathematical modeling. In this modeling process, a comprehensive model according to Convection-Diffusion-Reaction (CDR) equations is employed due to its high accuracy for simulating the binding and the uptake of the drug by tumor cells. Based on the velocity and the pressure distribution, transient distribution of the different drug concentrations (free, bound, and internalized) is calculated. Then, the fraction of killed cells is obtained according to the internalized concentration. Results indicate the dependence of the drug distribution on both time and space, as well as the microvasculature density. Free and bound drug concentration have the same trend over time, whereas, internalized and total drug concentration increases over time and reaches a constant value. The highest amount of concentration occurred in the tumor region due to the higher permeability of the blood vessels. Moreover, the fraction of killed cells is approximately 78.87% and 24.94% after treatment with doxorubicin for cancerous and normal tissues, respectively. In general, the presented methodology may be applied in the field of personalized medicine to optimize patient-specific treatments. Also, such image-based modeling of solid tumors can be used in laboratories that working on drug delivery and evaluating new drugs before using them for any in vivo or clinical studies.

The application of geographic information systems (ArcGIS) in selecting locations for installing banners and billboards in a health campaign.

In recent years, the geographic information system (GIS) application has used the latest spatial data to help researchers make the right decisions in the shortest time. This study was conducted with the aim of using geographic information systems (ArcGIS) for selecting the best location for installing banners and billboards in a health campaign. This research was an analytical and applied research conducted in Sirjan city, Iran in 2018. In this research, GIS and fuzzy logic methods were used. In order to implement the fuzzy operator in the GIS environment, initially, the main influencing criteria in location selection were determined. Then the weighted layers were put on top of each other and, by considering the sub criteria, the most suitable places to install banners and billboards were identified in the final map. The final map showed the best places to install billboards and educational banners for the 'hookah is the enemy of health' campaign. The final number of these places was 30 according to the main criteria, and the number was reduced to 25 places, after considering the sub criteria. ArcGIS can be used in selecting the best locations for installing banners and billboards in a health campaign.

Suicidal Thoughts, Attempts and Motives Among University Students in 12 Muslim-Majority Countries.

There is a scarcity of research on suicidal phenomena in the Muslim world. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the self-reported prevalence of suicidal thoughts, attempts and motives in 12 Muslim countries. A total of 8417 (54.4% women) university students were surveyed by means of a self-report questionnaire. Overall, 22% of the participants reported suicidal ideation and 8.6% reported attempting suicide. The odds of suicidal thoughts were elevated in Azerbaijan, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, while reduced ORs were recorded in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Malaysia. While odds of suicide attempts were high in Azerbaijan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia reduced odds ratios (OR) were detected in Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia and Tunisia. Taking drugs and using a sharp instrument were the two most frequently used methods to attempt suicide. Only 32.7% of attempts required medical attention. Escape motives were endorsed more than social motives by participants who attempted suicide. Suicidal behaviors were more frequent in women than in men. Compered to men, fewer attempts by women required medical attention. Moreover, our results show that making suicide illegal does not reduce the frequency of suicidal behavior. Results from this comparative study show that suicidal thoughts and attempts are frequent events in young adults in countries where religious scripture explicitly prohibit suicide and the frequencies of nonfatal suicidal behavior show large variation in nations adhering to the same religion.

Validity and reliability of Persian version of Listening Styles Profile-Revised (LSP- R) in Iranian students.

Background: Individuals' listening styles differs based on their characters, professions and situations. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of Listening Styles Profile- Revised (LSP- R) in Iranian students. Methods: After translating into Persian, LSP-R was employed in a sample of 240 medical and nursing Persian speaking students in Iran. Statistical analysis was performed to test the reliability and validity of the LSP-R. Results: The study revealed high internal consistency and good test-retest reliability for the Persian version of the questionnaire. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.72 and intra-class correlation coefficient 0.87. The means for the content validity index and the content validity ratio (CVR) were 0.90 and 0.83, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) yielded a four-factor solution accounted for 60.8% of the observed variance. Majority of medical students (73%) as well as majority of nursing students (70%) stated that their listening styles were task-oriented. Conclusion: In general, the study finding suggests that the Persian version of LSP-R is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing listening styles profile in the studied sample.

CXC chemokines CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL12 are variably expressed in patients with sickle cell disease and carriers: are they predictive tools for disease complications?

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell hemoglobinopathies are amongst a group of genetic disorders resulting from a single base-pair DNA mutation at the beta chain of hemoglobin. Chemokines and cytokines play a part in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and infectious diseases. They are also involved in balancing angiogenesis/angiostasis processes to form new vascular networks. We aimed the present study to measure the circulating CXC chemokines CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL12 in the plasma of sickle cell patients (SCD). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Kerman Special Disease Center and Rafsanjan Molecular Medicine Research Center during 2010 to 2011. Peripheral blood specimens were collected from 77 children with SCD and 70 controls. Serum samples were isolated and CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL12 were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: The findings of this study demonstrated that serum concentrations of CXCL1 and CXCL12 were elevated in SCD patients when compared with controls. Results also showed that the circulating levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 were decreased in SCD patients in comparison to control subjects. However, we found increased levels of CXC chemokines in SCD patients suffering from pain crisis but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study it can probably be concluded that the balance between angiogenesis/angiostasis CXC chemokines is an important predictive factor for initiation of complications in SCD patients. The elevated level of pro-inflammatory CXC chemokines may also be related to inflammatory responses associated with SCD complication.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on marriage, divorce, birth, and death in Kerman province, the ninth most populous province of Iran.

This study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marriage, divorce, birth, and death rates using the Poisson regression model and an interrupted time-series Poisson regression model. Before the pandemic, marriage and birth rates were decreasing, while divorce and death rates were increasing, with only the trend in birth rates being statistically significant. The immediate effect of the pandemic was a significant decrease in the divorce rate, but there were non-significant effects on birth and marriage rates. However, in the months following the onset of the pandemic, there was a statistically significant sustained effect on increasing death and divorce rates. Forecasts based on pre-pandemic data showed that by the end of 2020, marriage, divorce, death, and birth rates were higher compared to pre-pandemic levels. In conclusion, the pandemic has greatly impacted society, particularly in terms of death and divorce rates. Birth rates were not immediately affected to the time lag between decisions and actual births. Fear of COVID-19 may have increased death rates as people avoided seeking medical help. Vaccination and effective treatment strategies are vital in reducing the pandemic's impact on mortality. Supporting families financially is important due to the role of economic issues in couples' decisions.

The effect of iron supplementation on menstrual bleeding volume and hemoglobin level during menstrual bleeding : A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Many women around the world avoid taking iron supplements during their menstrual bleeding, thinking that menstrual bleeding will increase after taking these supplements. Due to the lack of relevant scientific evidence in this regard, this study was performed to determine the effect of iron supplementation on menstrual blood volume and hemoglobin level during menstrual bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this three-blind randomized clinical trial, 160 non-anemic female students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences were selected through a public call and then they were randomly assigned to two intervention and control groups. The intervention group was given a ferrous sulfate tablet containsing 50 mg of elemental iron daily in the first four days of bleeding for three consecutive menstrual cycles, and the control group received a placebo simultaneously. Before and after the intervention, the level of hemoglobin was measured and the Higham chart was completed in each menstrual cycle by the participants of the two groups. The obtained data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 21 and Chi-square, independent t-test, paired t-test, analysis of variance with repeated measures, and nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Before performing the intervention, the mean Higham score and hemoglobin level of the two groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.307, P = 0.670). The mean Higham score after each intervention was not statistically significant between the two groups over time or when considering the interaction of the time group (P = 0.77, P = 0.916). The hemoglobin level of these two groups did not change significantly after the intervention compared with that before the intervention (P = 0.444). CONCLUSION: Compared with a placebo, taking iron supplements containing 50 mg of elemental iron during the first four days of menstrual bleeding in non-anemic women did not change the volume of menstrual bleeding and hemoglobin level.

Investigation of the trend and related factors of suicide attempts and suicide deaths in southeast Iran during 2018-2022.

Suicide is a major public health challenge worldwide with an increasing trend. Identifying risk factors for suicide attempts and suicide deaths may help find useful ways to prevent suicide. We aimed to determine the trend and related factors of suicide attempts and suicide deaths in Rafsanjan. This retrospective study included all suicide cases from 2018 to 2022 in Rafsanjan, a city in the southeast of Iran. The information was extracted from the suicide registration system of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences. Univariable and multivariable logistics regression models were used to investigate factors affecting suicide death. A total of 2039 cases of suicide, including 1932 cases (94.75%) of suicide attempts and 107 cases (5.25%) of suicide deaths were recorded during the study period. The frequency of suicide deaths and suicide attempts per 100,000 people increased in 2022 compared to 2018 in both genders. In the adjusted model, the odds of suicide deaths in males was 6.48 (95% CI 3.39-12.42) times higher than in females. Also, the odds of suicide deaths in unemployed subjects and housewives were 2.64 (95% CI 1.50-4.67) and 7.45 (95% CI 3.08-18.07) times higher than employed subjects respectively. Finally, people with education less than a diploma had 10.85 (95% CI 1.48-79.54) times higher odds of suicide deaths compared to people with university education. The present research showed that the pattern of suicide has been increasing since 2018, and we may see an upward trend in the coming years, which requires further investigation and preventive measures. Male gender, low education level, unemployment, and being a housewife were associated with the highest frequency of suicide death.

Exploring suicidal ideation prevalence in multiple sclerosis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study on the relationship between drug use and suicidal ideation.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated psychological challenges, leading to increased rates of clinically significant depression and suicidal ideation among MS patients. Despite advancements in MS treatments, there remains a need to investigate the impact of different drugs on the prevalence of suicidal ideation, particularly in the context of the pandemic. METHOD: This cross-sectional study, conducted in 2021, received ethics approval from the Ethics Committee of Kerman University of Medical Science. The study involved 234 MS patients selected from the MS Association in Kerman Province. Questionnaires were prepared and distributed via Google Drive and WhatsApp, with participants providing informed consent. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. Inclusion criteria encompassed adults diagnosed with MS according to specific criteria and willing to complete the questionnaires, while exclusion criteria included unclear diagnostic criteria and lack of cooperation. The instruments included a demographic questionnaire, medication checklist, and the Beck Suicidal Thought Scale questionnaire, which has been validated in Iran. RESULTS: 202 MS patients completed the questionnaires, most of whom were women and married. The prevalence of Suicidal Ideation was 46.5 %, with 8.9 % at high risk. Factors such as gender, marital status, education, occupation, and city did not show statistically significant differences in SI. Patients with SI had a longer duration of illness and were more likely to have seen a psychiatrist. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the necessary care for 44.6 % of patients and worsened symptoms in 28.7 %. Additionally, 30.2 % of patients had seen a psychiatrist, and the prevalence of SI was significantly higher in this group. The study also explored the prevalence of SI with comorbidities and types of drugs used, finding no statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: The study revealed a high prevalence of suicide ideation among MS patients, emphasizing the need for tailored comprehensive support. Factors contributing to SI included limited healthcare access, fear of COVID-19 complications, social isolation, and heightened anxiety. Recommendations for healthcare providers stress early diagnosis, personalized treatment plans, and collaborative efforts to enhance the well-being of individuals with MS in Iran post-COVID-19.

A Multicenter Registry Experience for Suicidal Behaviors in Iran (2019-2022).

BACKGROUND: Considering the limited information on suicide determinants, especially in low- and middle-income countries, the establishment and promotion of a suicide registration system are among the prominent strategies for suicide prevention programs around the world. The multicenter suicide registry is designed to collect standardized data from the two provinces of Iran according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. METHODS: The Suicidal Behavior Registration Program is a multicenter study designed in five stages, including literature review, infrastructure establishment, database design, training, data analysis, and examining opportunities and challenges. The research samples cases of suicide attempts and self-harm from hospitals in the provinces of Tehran and Ilam. RESULTS: The multicenter suicide registration program was carried out for 8 months in the two provinces of Tehran and Ilam. During the study period, data of 1382 people were registered, of which 7 cases in Ilam resulted in death. The study uncovered significant differences in socio-demographic, psychological status, and suicide characteristics in the two provinces. CONCLUSION: The design and implementation of the suicide registration program help researchers and policymakers make more innovative and effective interventions to prevent suicide by creating a comprehensive database of suicidal behavior determinants.

Increased circulating levels of CXC chemokines is correlated with duration and complications of the disease in type-1 diabetes: a study on Iranian diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Type-1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized as a heterogenous autoimmune disease. Immune system factors are important in the pathogenesis of T1D. Chemokines as crucial members of the immune system are key factors in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases, including T1D. They are potent chemotactic cytokines with various functions varied from maturation, trafficking of leukocytes, to angiogenesis, angiostasis, and homing of stem cells. Therefore, the current study was aimed to examine if the expression of pro-angiogenic CXC chemokines like CXCL1 and anti-angiogenic chemochines such as CXCL9 are associated with duration and complications of T1D in Iranian diabetic patients. METHODS: In this experimental study, blood samples were collected from 209 T1D patients and 189 healthy controls. The serum levels of CXCL1 and CXCL9 were measured by ELISA. Demographic data were also collected on a questionnaire which was designed specifically for this study. RESULTS: Increased plasma levels of chemokines studied (CXCL1 and CXCL9) were observed in T1D patients compared to controls. Current findings also demonstrated that there was a close association between chemokines and complications of T1D and chemokines were elevated in T1D patients suffering complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our results probably suggest that the serum levels of CXCL1 and CXCL9 play important roles in T1D pathogenesis. It is also worth noting that these factors are useful prognostic and/or diagnostic biological markers in T1D patients.

Expression of CC chemokines CCL2, CCL5, and CCL11 is associated with duration of disease and complications in type-1 diabetes: a study on Iranian diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Type-1 diabetes (T1D) is defined as a heterogeneous autoimmune disease. Immune system related factors are important in the pathogenesis of T1D. Chemokines are important factors in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases, including T1D. They are potent chemotactic cytokines with various functions such as maturation, trafficking of leukocytes, angiogenesis, and homing of stem cells. Therefore, the current study was aimed to examine whether expression of CC chemokines CCL2, CCL5, and CXCL11 is associated with disease duration and complications in Iranian T1D patients. METHODS: In this experimental study, blood samples were collected from 108 T1D patients and 189 healthy controls in EDTA pre-coated tubes. The serum levels of CC chemokines were measured by ELISA. Demographic data were also collected along with experimental examinations in a questionnaire which was designed specifically for this study. RESULTS: Results of the present study demonstrated that the expression of CCL2 was decreased while CCL5 and CCL11 were increased in T1D patients in comparison to controls. These results demonstrated that CCL2, CCL5, and CCL1 were elevated in T1D patients with duration of disease. Again, our findings demonstrated that CCL2, CCL5, and CCL11 were elevated in T1D patients with age. But there was not a significant difference between circulating level of CC chemokines studied in T1D patients regarding their gender and they have followed a similar pattern of expression in both genders. Our findings also showed that all three CC chemokines were elevated in TID patients suffering from diabetes complications. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of our study, elevated levels of CCL5 and CCL11 are in parallel with decreased level of CCL2 and are useful tools in the differential diagnosis of T1D from other types of metabolic disorders. Elevated levels of these CC chemokines probably could be implicated as predictive factors for occurrence of T1D complications. These results may also re-emphasize the prominent therapeutic role(s) of these CC chemokines in control of either T1D or its associated complications.