Iranian Journal of Public Health最新文献

Background: Variations in the distribution and prevalence of pathogens in ticks can have significant consequences for human health. Information on these variables in Transcaucasia is scarce, so the aim of our study was to conduct a large-scale study to detect selected tick-borne infectious agents in Armenia.

Methods: Overall, 209 adult ticks were collected from different hosts including 4 samples from human clothes. We tested ticks using high-throughput microfluidic single-cell real-time PCR to detect 42 genospecies of pathogens. We used GIS to determine biotic and abiotic factors governing the prevalence of pathogens and applied statistical analyses to test the association between prevalence of pathogens depending on hosts, locality and environment.

Results: From 209 samples, 134 were positive to targeted pathogens. Anaplasma phagocytophilum Foggie, 1949 was the most prevalent case (44%). The highest overall prevalence was observed in ticks from sheep (74%), followed by cows (67%) and calves (60%). The highest multiple infection rates were also detected in sheep (40%) and calves (40%) followed by cows (28%). One statistically significant association was found among co-infections (P<0.05). The prevalence of pathogens varied according to locality. The abundance of Anaplasma spp. is significantly correlated with "slope" and "vegetation" factors. Similar patterns were detected for other pathogens.

Conclusion: This was the first large-scale survey of multiple tick-borne pathogens in Armenia and Transcaucasia. The results of this study shed light on spatial variations in pathogen infection rate among adult ticks found on hosts and underline a number of environmental determinants of pathogen distribution among ticks.

Background: Healthcare program monitoring can play a key role in evaluating their implementation and identifying their strengths and weaknesses.

Methods: This study was performed with the exploratory sequential mixed methods design in 2023 at Tehran, Iran. The information was categorized into indicators, refining, analysis, interpretation, reporting, and proposed challenges and recommendations.

Results: Medical Sciences Department of Public Health (TUMSDoPH) evaluation of its public health programs revealed a comprehensive approach covering a wide spectrum from disease management to health promotion, emphasizing electronic health records, targeted disease interventions, and strategies for non-communicable diseases, alongside efforts to enhance community health.

Conclusion: There is a need for initiating "the monitoring committee" under the supervision of the deputy chancellor for public health to monitor key performance indicators and policies to discover the problems of each part of the health system and provide recommendations.

The world is changing rapidly, mainly due to the impact of megatrends that have an impact on the entire human life, particularly in medical sciences. Medical research methodologies such as cohort studies provide very critical information, but it is not clear what would be its destination in the future. In this short article, we have tried to offer a somewhat different perspective on the future of cohort studies by analyzing the texts and their conclusions from the author's viewpoint. According to our assessment, cohorts will play a key role in medical research, but their methodology will significantly change in terms of designing, implementing, analysing, and applying the findings. The new generation of cohort study extracts most of their information from electronic health records, and it is not just restricted to a particular geographic area. With the changes in the levels of occupational exposure, risk factors, and the introduction of Omics, likely, occupational and birth cohorts as well as human diseases will likely undergo fundamental changes in the future. Big data will provide researchers with new opportunities, but information extraction and analysis require a team of specialists from several scientific fields. Furthermore, participants are likely to play a more active role in setting priorities and implementing research findings.

Background: Understanding the general health and well-being of the aged population requires an understanding of several factors, among which the interplay between physical activity and sleep quality are the most efficient determinants. There is still much to learn about the precise ways that different components of sleep quality affect different kinds of physical activity in older persons, accordingly, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between these variables.

Methods: An online questionnaire-based investigation was conducted between August and September 2023. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 1,437 participants aged 50 to 89 years. The questionnaire evaluated levels of physical activity, sleep satisfaction, and demographic data. We used cluster analysis, regression analysis, and factor analysis to investigate the connections between these variables.

Results: Factor analysis revealed a single factor that accounted for 51.95% of the variance in all variables linked to sleep, and this factor represented overall quality of sleep. Regression analysis revealed that gender significantly predicted sleep quality, with females reporting lower sleep satisfaction. While strenuous exercise did not significantly affect sleep quality, moderate exercise was a positive predictor of sleep quality that neared statistical significance. Furthermore, cluster analysis revealed that those who engaged in more physical activity had higher-quality sleep.

Conclusion: These results highlight the significance of encouraging physical activity to improve older adults' sleep quality. Specific programs that promote moderate exercise may enhance this population's general health and sleep quality. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to create causality and modify intervention strategies aimed at promoting healthy aging.

Background: We aimed to identify the factors influencing safety accident management activities for hospitalized children in children's hospitals.

Methods: In August 2022, data were collected from 170 nurses across seven children's hospitals in Gwangju Metropolitan City, Korea. The collected data were analyzed using independent t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis.

Results: Safety accident management activities for hospitalized children differ significantly based on nurses' experience in children's hospitals (P=0.048) . Safety accident management activities were positively correlated with patient safety culture (r=0.47, P<0.001) , critical thinking (r=0.35, P<0.001) , and nursing work environment (r=0.51, P<0.001) . Furthermore, the most influential determinant of safety accident management activities for hospitalized children was the nursing work environment (β=0.42, P<0.001) , followed by nurses' experience in children's hospitals (β=0.20, P=0.004) , and patient safety culture (β=0.17, P=0.041) . These variables had an explanatory power of 34.0 % (adjusted R²=0.34, P<0.001) .

Conclusion: A positive nursing work environment and strong patient safety culture are essential for increasing safety accident management activities among children's hospital nurses. Additionally, children's hospitals should provide support to the nursing staff and implement policies that encourage long-term retention of experienced nurses.

Background: We investigated the changes of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters, which reflect the state of the regulatory mechanisms of cardiovascular system, among medical students during routine academic period and examination session.

Methods: The study was conducted in Jan-Feb 2024, at the IHSM in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, among the healthy 70 students (mean age 19.71 ± 1.54 years) from India and Pakistan. For each student, two ECG recordings were performed: one 3 weeks before the exam and one 10-15 minutes after exam.

Results: The results of study demonstrated that after the exam, students presented significantly higher HR, AMo, SI, VLF, LF and lower SDNN, TP, HF compared before the exam (P<0.05). Distribution of students showed that on a routine academic period 53% of students belonged to sympathotonic, 14% to vagotonic and 33% to normotonic. During the examination period the number of sympathotonic increased to 74%, but the number of vagotonic and normotonic decreased to 4% and 22% respectively.

Conclusion: Each type revealed an individual reaction to exam stress: in the group of vagotonic there was a slight activation of the SNS; in sympathotonic students there was a tension of regulatory mechanisms, leading to depletion of adaptive mechanisms; in the group of normotonic there was a shift in the vegetative balance towards the sympathetic link of ANS.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and infection of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) have appeared as major public health problems. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at determining the relationship between TB and the risk of HCV infection.

Methods: Google Scholar, Embase, Medline, Pubmed, web of sciences (ISI), and Scopus were searched until March 2022. The pooled ORs of HCV in patients with TB were calculated utilizing the random-effect model with a 95% confidence interval (CI). I² test was utilized for evaluating the heterogeneity. To check publication bias Egger and Beggs' tests were used.

Results: From among 1500 articles from 2006 to 2020, 13 studies were examined and analyzed based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The overall risk of HCV infection in patients with TB was (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.10-1.63, P=0.001). According to the type of the countries subgroup analysis, the risk of HCV infection in patients with TB in developing countries was (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.00-3.80), which was higher than the risk in developed countries (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.42-1.52). In addition, the risk of hepatitis C infection in men compared to women (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.75-1.94, P=0.001) and in age groups over 65 yr compared to other age groups (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 0.98-2.16) was significantly higher.

Conclusion: The results of this study emphasized the importance of screening HCV in patients with TB. Being aware of the presence or absence of HCV in these patients can contribute to their effective treatment.

Background: The most important and remarkable aspect of occupational neoplasms is that they are preventable. We aimed to examine the trends and projections of mortality rates attributed to occupational neoplasms (MAON) and occupational tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (MAOLCa) in the world, G7 countries, and Turkey from 1990 to 2040.

Methods: The study was ecological one. Data for the study were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Foresight Visualization. For the study, time points were set every five years. For each time point, the age-standardized MAON, MAOLCa, and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were recorded. Rates were analyzed by joinpoint regression analysis.

Results: Globally, MAON was projected to decrease from 3.81% in 1990 to 2.83% in 2040. According to the joinpoint regression analysis, the joint year for the world was 2020. In Germany, the US, the UK, Italy, Canada and Turkey, the trend for MAON showed a decrease, similar to the global trend. However, MAON was stable in France and increased in Japan. Globally, MAOLCa was expected to decline gradually from 19.44% to 16.82% from 1990 to 2040. In the US, France and Turkey, the trend for MAOLca decreased, similar to the global trend. However, it was stable in the UK, Italy, and Canada and increased in Germany and Japan.

Conclusion: MAON tended to decrease worldwide and in the six countries, except France and Japan. MAOLCa tends to decrease worldwide, in the US, France, and Turkey, increase in Germany and Japan, and remain stable in the UK, Italy, and Canada.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the effectiveness of acupuncture for patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Methods: Nine online databases were searched: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, China Clinical Trial Centre, Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The search period was from the establishment of the database to 1 September 2023. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool, and the data were analyzed using STATA/MP17 and Review Manager 5.3 software.

Results: A total of 221 articles were identified, and 13 studies were included. The total sample size was 899, including 452 and 447 cases in the experimental and control groups, respectively. The meta-analysis showed that acupuncture combined with modern medical treatment was effective in improving urinary albumin excretion rate, 24 h urinary microalbumin, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, fasting plasma glucose, 2 h post-prandial plasma glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 in patients with DN. Adverse events were reported in only one trial; therefore, this review cannot yet conclude on the safety of acupuncture intervention in DN.

Conclusion: The clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with modern medicine in DN is superior to that of modern medicine alone. To better evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture intervention for DN, more rigorously designed large-sample, multicentre, randomized controlled trials are needed to provide evidence support in the future.

Background: Osteoporosis is the most common systemic skeletal disease worldwide. We aimed to review the latest studies related to osteocalcin and osteoporosis to clarify this relationship more precisely.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed to review studies on the effects of osteocalcin on osteoporosis, on studied published between January 2013 and January 2023. We systematically reviewed Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, and Google Scholar.

Results: The search yielded 4903 records, including 1063 from PubMed, 2307 from Scopus, 1084 from Web of Science, 408 from ProQuest, and 41 from Google Scholar, and twelve articles were included for data extraction and quality assessment. A significant increase in the serum level of osteocalcin was observed in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (P<0.05), and there was a negative correlation between bone mineral density and the serum level of osteocalcin.

Conclusion: Osteocalcin could be a promising marker for the diagnosis and screening of patients with osteoporosis.