Chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major liver disease worldwide and its clinical manifestations are linked to immune response. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship ...between selenium, copper, and zinc in comparison with transaminase level in chronic HBV patients. Serum samples of the HBV infected patients were obtained from Tooba medical center, Sari, Iran. Sixty patients were enrolled in this study (36 men and 24 women), mean age: 39.6 ± 12.2 years. The concentration of zinc, selenium, copper and transaminases were determined using an autoanalyzer system. Concentrations of selenium (0.273 ±0.056 μg/dl) and zinc (2.1±0.037) was elevated in patients with low transaminase levels as were significantly different in comparison with patients with high transaminase level (P<0.05). Serum copper concentration was similar in two groups of patients. Elevated levels of transaminase concentrations were independently associated with low zinc and selenium concentrations in chronic HBV patients. It is concluded that serum zinc and selenium levels are associated with less hepatic damage in chronic HBV patients and might have a protective role during liver injury.
Association between the serum vitamin D level and disability of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been investigated during several researches. However, these studies reported different ...results. The current study aims to estimate the correlation between the concentrations of 25 (OH) vitamin D and the level of disability among MS patients. Using Mesh and non-Mesh terms related to MS, disability level and vitamin D, different data banks were searched. Required information was extracted from the selected eligible primary articles. Stata version 11 software was applied for combining the primary correlation coefficients using random effect model. The effect of MS type and patients' age was assessed using meta-regression models. Sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the role of each primary study in the pooled estimate. Egger test was applied to find any publication bias. Of 14 eligible studies, the total correlation coefficient (95% confidence interval) between 25 (OH) vitamin D level and disability in both sexes as well as among female was estimated as of -0.29 (-0.40, -0.17) and -0.35 (-0.46, -0.24) respectively. Two articles carried out among male did not report significant results. Our meta-analysis showed a significant negative correlation between 25 (OH) vitamin D level and disability of MS patients so that the disability reduces with increasing the 25 (OH) vitamin D level.
Association between the serum vitamin D level and disability of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been investigated during several researches. However, these studies reported different ...results. The current study aims to estimate the correlation between the concentrations of 25 (OH) vitamin D and the level of disability among MS patients. Using Mesh and non-Mesh terms related to MS, disability level and vitamin D, different data banks were searched. Required information was extracted from the selected eligible primary articles. Stata version 11 software was applied for combining the primary correlation coefficients using random effect model. The effect of MS type and patients' age was assessed using meta-regression models. Sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the role of each primary study in the pooled estimate. Egger test was applied to find any publication bias. Of 14 eligible studies, the total correlation coefficient (95% confidence interval) between 25 (OH) vitamin D level and disability in both sexes as well as among female was estimated as of −0.29 (−0.40, −0.17) and −0.35 (−0.46, −0.24) respectively. Two articles carried out among male did not report significant results. Our meta-analysis showed a significant negative correlation between 25 (OH) vitamin D level and disability of MS patients so that the disability reduces with increasing the 25 (OH) vitamin D level.
Tuberculosis is still a public health concern in Iran. The main challenge in monitoring epidemiological status of tuberculosis is to estimate its incidence accurately.
We used a newly developed ...approach to estimate the incidence of tuberculosis in Sistan, an endemic area in southeast of Iran in 2012-13.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on school children aged 6-9 years. We estimated a required sample size of 6350. Study participants were selected using stratified two-stage cluster sampling method and recruited in a tuberculin skin test survey. Indurations were assessed after 72 hours of the injection and their distributions were plotted. Prevalence and annual risk of tuberculosis infection (ARTI) were estimated using the Bayesian mixture model and some traditional methods. The incidence of active disease was calculated using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique.
We assumed weibull, normal and normal as the best distributions for indurations due to atypical reactions, BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) reactions and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, respectively. The estimated infection prevalence and ARTI were 3.6% (95%CI: 3.1, 4.1) and 0.48%, respectively. These estimates were lower than those obtained from the traditional methods. The incidence of active tuberculosis was estimated as 107 (87-149) per 100000 population with a CDR of 54% (40%-68%).
Although the mixture model showed slightly lower estimates than the traditional methods, it seems that this method might generate more accurate results for deep exploration of tuberculosis endemicity. Besides, we found that Sistan is a high endemic area for tuberculosis in Iran with a low case detection rate.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in Iran, the control and management of the epidemic were headed by the National Headquarter for the Control of COVID-19 ...Epidemic through setting up different scientific committees, including the COVID-19 National Epidemiology Committee. The present study reviews the missions, structures, achievements, and challenges of the Epidemiology Committee.
A rapid review .
All relevant reports, documents, guidelines, published literature, and surveillance data related to the establishment, visions, missions, roles, activities, and outputs of the COVID-19 Epidemiology Committee were critically reviewed in this study.
The efforts of the committee's working groups may have impacted improvements in data registration/usage, provincial data quality at provincial levels, and perception of the epidemic situation in the provinces. The committees have also played role in informing the policies in different stages of the epidemic through routine or problem-based data/evidence analyses, epidemic investigations, and mathematical modeling.
The structure and experience gained by the committee can be used in similar situations within and outside the country. To further improve the impacts of our activities, it is essential to have effective interaction, collaboration, and data flow between the committee and a broad range of organizations within and outside the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.
B
ackground:
Familial history of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been considered as one of the etiologic factors of MS by several studies. It is valuable to combine the results of these studies. The aim ...of this study is to estimate the pooled prevalence of familial MS in Iran using meta-analysis.
Methods:
Using relevant keywords, national and international databanks were searched. Considering the significant heterogeneity between the results, random effect model was utilized to estimate the pooled prevalence of familial MS using Stata software.
Results:
After screening the selected articles, 15 studies with total sample size of 6248 (from 60 to 1718) were identified eligible for final meta-analysis. Overall prevalence of familial MS in Iran was estimated as of 11.4% 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.7-14.1. Point prevalence varied between 3.3% and 26.7%.
Conclusion:
Our study showed that the familial prevalence of MS among Iranian people is relatively high. More studies are warranted to investigate the effect of familial history as a risk factor for MS.
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