Strategic planning for exchanging treated urban wastewater for agricultural water with the approach of supplying sustainable urban water: a case study of Mashhad, Iran

Considering the increasing demand for urban water and the low water-use efficiency in the agricultural sector, an exchange of treated urban wastewater for agricultural water could be a fundamental solution for administering sustainable management of water resources. However, implementing the intersectoral water exchange project is influenced by the economic, social, and environmental conditions of each region, especially in developing countries. Therefore, this study sought to identify the best possible strategies for exchanging treated urban wastewater for agricultural water in Mashhad city, located in Iran, a country that suffers from decreased urban water resources. Based on the interviews conducted with the experts and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis, 28 influential factors were identified for the water exchange project, and eleven strategies were developed for its implementation. The results of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and F-TOPSIS indicated that organizing educational and awareness campaigns regarding the exchange project’s goals, devising an appropriate organizational structure, enhancing treated wastewater’s quality according to the WHO standards, taking the necessity of conducting social, cultural, and economic studies into account, developing consumers’ awareness programs, and supporting, training, and counseling the farmers and setting the required incentives for them were among the main factors involved in the implementation of the water exchange project in Mashhad

Prevention and control of health care–associated infections in Iran: A qualitative study to explore challenges and barriers

Background: Globally, the health and economic burden posed by health care–associated infections (HAIs) remains wide and severe. To curb the burden associated with HAIs, countries, including Iran, aim at HAI prevention and control. This study explores the challenges faced by the Iranian health system in addressing the issues associated with the prevention and control of HAIs. Methods: A qualitative research method was adopted in exploring the phenomenon. We used the purposive sampling approach in reaching 24 key informants at the national and subnational levels. The thematic framework analysis was conducted for analyzing the interviews. Results: Five main themes emerged from our study demonstrating the obstacles toward the prevention and control of HAIs. They include governance and stewardship, resources, safety culture, monitoring and surveillance systems, and inappropriate prescription of antibiotics. Conclusions: Strengthening of reporting and surveillance systems for HAIs coupled with proper governance and stewardship are crucial in order to improve the health and safety of patients. However, the availability of resources, through an intersectoral approach, is essential to achieve sustained output. © 2016 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Association for Professionals in Infection Control an

Eliminating Healthcare-Associated Infections in Iran: A Qualitative Study to Explore Stakeholders’ Views

Abstract Background: Although preventable, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) continue to pose huge health and economic burdens on countries worldwide. Some studies have indicated the numerous causes of HAIs, but only a tiny literature exists on the multifaceted measures that can be used to address the problem. This paper presents stakeholders’ opinions on measures for controlling HAIs in Iran. Methods: We used the qualitative research method in studying the phenomenon. Through a purposive sampling approach, we conducted 24 face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Participants were mainly key informants, including policy-makers, health professionals, and technical officers across the national and subnational levels, including the Ministry of Health (MoH), medical universities, and hospitals in Iran. We performed thematic framework analysis using the software MAXQDA10. Results: Four main interdisciplinary themes emerged from our study of measures of controlling HAIs: strengthening governance and stewardship; strengthening human resources policies; appropriate prescription and usage of antibiotics; and environmental sanitation and personal hygiene. Conclusion: According to our findings, elimination of HAIs demands multifactorial interventions. While the ultimate recommendation of policy-makers is to have HAIs among the priorities of the national agenda, financial commitment and the creation of an enabling work environment in which both patients and healthcare workers can practice personal hygiene could lead to a significant reduction in HAIs in Iran

Histological Evaluation of the Effect of Cucurbita pepo L. fruit on Seminiferous Tubules induced by Ethanol Administration in Rats

Introduction: According to previous research, Cucurbita pepo L. increases sex hormones in males. The purpose of this study was to survey the effect of Cucurbita pepo on the histomorphometrical changes of testes induced by ethanol administration in male Wistar rats.   Materials & Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of five as follows: 1- Control group, 2- Experimental group1 (received 20% ethanol  [1 mg/gr, i.p.] for 30 days), 3- Experimental group2 (received 20% ethanol [1 mg/gr, i.p.] along with Cucurbita pepo as 20% of their meal for 30 days), and 4- Experimental group3 (received 20% ethanol (1 mg/gr, i.p.) along with Cucurbita pepo as 80% of their meal for 30 days).   Findings: Results showed that seminiferous tubule wall thickness, weight of the testes, and the number of spermatogenic cells were decreased in the Experimental group1. However, all these parameters were increased in the Experimental group3 compared to the Experimental group1. These reductions in the Experimental group1 in comparison with the control group were significantly different. However, all these parameters had increased in the Experimental group3 compared to the control group with no significant difference, while they were significantly different from experimental groups 1 and 2.   Discusion & Conclusions: It is concluded that high doses of Cucurbita pepo (80%) may prevent reduced number of spermatogenic cells caused by the consumption of alcohol. However, low doses of Cucurbita pepo (20%) cannot impede the destructive effects of alcohol

Eliminating Healthcare-Associated Infections in Iran: A Qualitative Study to Explore Stakeholders’ Views

Background Although preventable, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) continue to pose huge health and economic burdens on countries worldwide. Some studies have indicated the numerous causes of HAIs, but only a tiny literature exists on the multifaceted measures that can be used to address the problem. This paper presents stakeholders’ opinions on measures for controlling HAIs in Iran. Methods We used the qualitative research method in studying the phenomenon. Through a purposive sampling approach, we conducted 24 face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Participants were mainly key informants, including policy-makers, health professionals, and technical officers across the national and subnational levels, including the Ministry of Health (MoH), medical universities, and hospitals in Iran. We performed thematic framework analysis using the software MAXQDA10. Results Four main interdisciplinary themes emerged from our study of measures of controlling HAIs: strengthening governance and stewardship; strengthening human resources policies; appropriate prescription and usage of antibiotics; and environmental sanitation and personal hygiene. Conclusion According to our findings, elimination of HAIs demands multifactorial interventions. While the ultimate recommendation of policy-makers is to have HAIs among the priorities of the national agenda, financial commitment and the creation of an enabling work environment in which both patients and healthcare workers can practice personal hygiene could lead to a significant reduction in HAIs in Iran

The effect of povidone-iodine 2% eye drops in the treatment of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis

BACKGROUND: Keratoconjunctivitis is one of the most common pathologies worldwide, caused by several infectious and noninfectious factors. This study aimed to determine the effect of povidone-iodine 2% eye drops in treating adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis. METHODS: This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted on patients referred to Farabi Eye Hospital Records of patients with adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis, more than 12 years of age, and no allergy to iodine who were treated by povidone-iodine 2% eye drops four times a day were assessed. Data included demographic characteristics, family history of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis, follicular conjunctivitis, petechial conjunctival hemorrhages, periauricular lymphadenopathy, and the presence of conjunctival pseudomembrane were collected from the records. Discharge decrease, injection decrease, swelling decrease, pseudomembrane formation, periauricular lymphadenopathy, and subepithelial infiltration on the 7th day of assessment by physical examination were reported. RESULTS: Patients with a mean (±standard deviation) age of 33.77 (11.01) years were assessed. At the baseline, 95 (99.0%) follicular conjunctivitis, 94 (97.9%) petechial conjunctival hemorrhages, 29 (30.2%) periauricular lymphadenopathy, and 5 (5.2%) conjunctival pseudomembrane were recorded. On the 7th day of treatment, the discharge decreased in 92.7% of patients, and the injection decreased in 90.6%. The swelling decrease was also detected in 79.2% of patients. Subepithelial infiltration was only seen in 21.9% of the study population. Results showed that 2.1% of patients had periauricular lymphadenopathy, and only 13 out of 96 patients (13.5%) had pseudomembrane formation after 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the safety, availability, and tolerability of povidone-iodine and its promising effects on patients with adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis, further clinical trials assessing the impact of this drug in a longer duration of follow-up can be recommended

The Effect of Synthesized Triazole and Ciprofloxacin Conjugated Peptide Compounds on Biological systems: Biological effects of Triazole and Ciprofloxacin Conjugated Peptide.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and only second in terms of cancer-related death in women. Finding new approaches to treat such cancers is critically important anti-cancer peptides (ACPs) offer the possibility of efficient-cancer drugs, and therefore, the development of drug delivery systems using ACPs as a synergism factor is an attractive strategy to address the current drawbacks of cancer therapeutics. This work investigated the cytotoxicity for a series of synthesized compounds based on triazole or ciprofloxacin conjugated peptides against T-47D breast cancerous cells and possible antibacterial effects. Wang resin was used for constructing peptide sequences on a solid support using the method of solid-phase peptide synthesis (spps) with the Fmoc strategy. Cytotoxicity of the synthesized peptide compounds was evaluated by MTT assay. The antimicrobial effect of synthesized peptide compounds was evaluated by agar well diffusion and Broth microdilution method. Most of the peptide compounds showed a cytotoxic effect toward T-47D cells. The antimicrobial effect of the peptide compounds was examined by agar well diffusion test and broth microdilution method. E. coli and S. aureus strains have shown the least amount of resistance. In the end, we suggest a new design based on these compounds and modifications to gain better anti-cancer agent

Clinical Breast Cancer Registry of IR. Iran (CBCR-IR):Study Protocol and First Results

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC), as a significant global health problem, is the most common cancer in women. Despite the importance of clinical cancer registries in improving the quality of cancer care and cancer research, there are few reports on them from low- and middle-income countries. We established a multicenter clinical breast cancer registry in Iran (CBCR-IR) to collect data on BC cases, the pattern of care, and the quality-of-care indicators in different hospitals across the country.METHODS: We established a clinical cancer registry in 12 provinces of Iran. We defined the organizational structure, developed minimal data sets and data dictionaries, verified data sources and registration processes, and developed the necessary registry software. During this registry, we studied the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with cancer who were admitted from 2014 onwards.RESULTS: We registered 13086 BC cases (7874 eligible cases) between 1.1.2014 and 1.1.2022. Core needle biopsy from the tumor (61.25%) and diagnostic mammography (68.78%) were the two most commonly used diagnostic methods. Stage distribution was 2.03% carcinoma in situ, 12% stage I, 44.65% stage II, 21.32% stage III, and 4.61% stage IV; stage information was missing in 1532 patients (19.46%). Surgery (95.01%) and chemotherapy (79.65%) were the most common treatments for all patients.CONCLUSION: The information provided by this registry can be used to evaluate and improve the quality of care for BC patients. It will be scaled up to the national level as an important resource for measuring quality of care and conducting clinical cancer research in Iran.</p