Health impact assessment of air pollution in Shiraz, Iran : a two-part study

We aimed to assess health-impacts of short-term exposure to the air pollutants including PM10, SO2, and NO2 in Shiraz, Iran in a two-part study from 2008 to 2010. In part I, local relative risks (RRs) and baseline incidences (BIs) were calculate using generalized additive models. In part II, we estimated the number of excess hospitalizations (NEHs) due to cardiovascular diseases (CDs), respiratory diseases (RDs), respiratory diseases in elderly group (RDsE-people older than 65 years old), and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPDs) as a result of exposure to air pollutants using AirQ model, which is proposed approach for air pollution health impact assessment by World Health Organization. In part I, exposure to increase in daily mean concentration of PM10 was associated with hospitalizations due to RDs with a RR of 1.0049 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0004 to 1.0110]. In addition, exposure to increase in daily mean concentration of SO2 and NO2 were associated with hospitalizations due to RDsE and COPDs with RRs of 1.0540 [95% CI, 1.0050 to 1.1200], 1.0950 [95% CI, 1.0700 to 1.1100], 1.0280 [95% CI, 1.0110 to 1.0450] and 1.0360 [95% CI, 1.0210 to 1.0510] per 10 μg/m3 rise of these pollutants, respectively. In part II, the maximum NEHs due to CDs because of exposure to PM10 were in 2009-1489 excess cases (ECs). The maximum NEHs due to RDs because of exposure to PM10 were in 2009-1163 ECs. Meanwhile, the maximum NEHs due to RDsE and COPDs because of exposure to SO2 were in 2008, which are 520 and 900 ECs, respectively. In conclusion, elevated morbidity risks were found from acute exposure to air pollutants

The Effects of Body Acupuncture on Obesity: Anthropometric Parameters, Lipid Profile, and Inflammatory and Immunologic Markers

A randomized controlled clinical trial in 196 obese subjects was performed to examine the effectiveness of body acupuncture on body weight loss, lipid profile and immunogenic and inflammatory markers. Subjects received authentic (cases) or sham (controls) acupuncture for 6 weeks in combination with a low-calorie diet. In the following 6 weeks, they received the low-calorie diet alone. Subjects were assessed at the beginning, 6 and 12 weeks later. Heat shock protein (Hsps)-27, 60, 65, 70 antibody titers and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were also assessed. A significant reduction in measures of adiposity and improvement in lipid profile were observed in both groups, but the levels of anti-Hsp-antibodies decreased in cases only. A reduction in anthropometric and lipid profile in cases were sustained in the second period, however, only changes in lipid profile were observed in the control group. Anti-Hsp-antibodies and hs-CRP levels continued to be reduced in cases but in controls only the reduction in hs-CRP remained. Changes in anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, and anti-Hsp-antibodies were more evident in cases. Body acupuncture in combination with diet restriction was effective in enhancing weight loss and improving dyslipidemia

Fast free of acrylamide clearing tissue (FACT) for clearing, immunolabelling and three-dimensional imaging of partridge tissues

Fast free of acrylamide clearing tissue (FACT) is a modified sodium dodecyl sulfate-based clearing protocol for the chemical clearing of lipids that completely preserves fluorescent signals in the cleared tissues. The FACT protocol was optimized to image translucent immunostained brain and non-nervous tissues. For this purpose adult male Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) was used as a model. After clearing the tissues, 1 or 2 mm-thickness sections of tissues were immunolabeled. The paraventricular nucleus in the hypothalamus (2-mm section) was cleared with FACT, and then was stained with gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) antibody and Hoechst. Simultaneously, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of cryosectioned brain (30 μm) was done by GnIH-antibody. The FACT protocol and staining of cell nuclei of nine other tissues were done by a z-stack motorized fluorescent microscope. GnIH-immunoreactive neurons were found by FACT and IHC during the breeding season in male partridges. Deep imaging of the kidney, duodenum, jejunum, lung, pancreas, esophagus, skeletal muscle, trachea, and testis were also done. The FACT protocol can be used for the three-dimensional imaging of various tissues and immunostained evaluation of protein markers

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

Editors’ Choice—Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Electrochemical Biosensors with Commercialization Potential in the Point-of-Care Diagnostics Market

There is a plethora of electrochemical biosensors developed for ultrasensitive detection of clinically relevant biomarkers. However, many of these systems lose their performance in heterogeneous clinical samples and are too complex to be operated by end users at the point-of-care (POC), prohibiting their commercial success. Integration of biosensors with sample processing technology addresses both of these challenges; however, it adds to the manufacturing complexity and the overall cost of these systems. Herein, we review the different components of a biosensor and avenues for creating fully integrated systems. In the context of integration, we focus on discussing the trade-offs between sensing performance, cost, and scalable manufacturing to guide the readers toward designing new electrochemical biosensors with commercialization potential

The Incidence of Lung Cancer and Smoking in Iran, Turkey, England, and the USA: A Comparative Study

Objectives: Lung cancer is the deadliest and the costliest cancer in the world. In this study, we compared the situation of this disease in several countries by considering the most important risk factor of lung cancer (smoking). Methods: This is a comparative study, a comprehensive one which was done on lung cancer rates in four countries: Iran, Turkey, England, and the USA, during the past twenty years (2002-2021). Age-standardized rate (ASR) index and the percentage of smokers were extracted from available information in the World Health Organization (WHO) databases, The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Health Statistics 2021, and other valid related articles. After comparison, control procedures were examined. Results: England, with an ASR of 46, has the highest rate of lung cancer, and Iran, with an ASR of 21, has the lowest rate. Turkey has the highest percentage of smokers (29.3%), and the lowest percentage belongs to Iran (20%). Regarding the increasing trend of the ASR index, lung cancer in Iran and Turkey has had an upward trend, and England and the United States have a downward trend. Taxes on cigarettes are a significant factor in smoking reduction. Among these 4 countries, the lowest cigarette tax belongs to Iran (4.83%). Discussion: The result of this study shows that the incidence of lung cancer in Iran is rising, so following successful countries in imposing cigarette taxes can be an effective step to reduce smoking. Training programs, cultural improvement, and new diagnostic methods can also be useful in reducing lung cancer ASR

Rodents as vehicle for delivery of transgenic bacteria to make paratransgenic sand fly vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in field condition

Abstract Vector-borne diseases, among them leishmaniasis, cause more than 700,000 deaths annually. The lack of an effective vaccination and the increasing resistance of sand flies to insecticides require the urgent development of innovative approaches to contain the disease. The use of engineered bacteria that express anti-parasite molecules (paratransgenesis) shows much promise. However, a challenge for implementation of this strategy is to devise means to introduce modified bacteria into sand flies in the field. In this study, we use rodent food bait as a delivery strategy to introduce two mCherry-fluorescent bacteria, Serratia AS1 and Enterobacter cloacae, into adult sand flies in field settings. Bacteria-infected food was provided to Rhombomys opimus rodents. These bacteria transiently pass through the rodent alimentary tract and are delivered to larval habitats with the rodent feces. The feces are ingested by sand fly larvae and, in the case of Serratia AS1, are trans-stadially transmitted to adults. This is the first report of targeting delivery of Serratia AS1 in a paratransgenic system to control transmission of leishmaniasis under field condition. This novel strategy shows promise for delivering transgenic bacteria to Leishmania vectors in the field