Estimation of conservation value of myrtle (Myrtus communis) using a contingent valuation method: a case study in a Dooreh forest area, Lorestan Province, Iran

Background: Around 2000 plant species occur naturally in Lorestan Province of which 250 species are medicinal and myrtle is one of them. Myrtle is a shrub whose leaves and fruits have medicinal value and thus, if managed and harvested properly, could produce sustained economic benefits. In recent years, however, over half of the myrtle site areas was destroyed, due to inappropriate management and excessive harvesting practices. Thus, coming up with a practical harvesting approach along with identifying those factors damaging the sites, seems to be very crucial. Methods: In our investigation, we calculated the conservation value per hectare of myrtle in the Dooreh forest area in Lorestan Province. Using the Contingent Valuation (CV) and Double Bounded Dichotomous Choice (DBDC) methods, we determined the willingness to pay (WTP) for myrtle conservation. The WTP was estimated with a logit model for which indices were obtained based on a maximum precision criterion. Results: The results showed that 86.67 per cent of people were willing to pay for the conservation of these myrtle sites. Average monthly WTP per family was calculated as $0.79. The annual conservation value in terms of WTP for the preservation of the myrtle sites in Dooreh was estimated as$102,525. Among the variables of the model presented, education had a positive impact, while the amount proposed for payment and family size had a negative impact on the WTP. Conclusions: Our estimate of the value of myrtle conservation should provide justification for policy makers and decision making bodies of natural resources to implement policies in order to conserve the natural sites of this species more effectively. Keywords: Conservation value, Myrtle, Contingent valuation method, Double Bounded Dichotomous method, Logit mode

Two different concentrations of propofol and ketamine combinations in pediatric patients under intrathecal injection of chemotherapy drugs

Background: Intrathecal injection of chemotherapy drugs in leukemic children is a painful procedure that needs sedation and analgesia. Different combinations of ketamine and propofol (ketofol) are used for this purpose. In this study we compared two different concentrations of ketofol    (combination of 1/3 and 1/5 of ketamine and propofol). Methods: In this randomized double blinded controlled clinical trial, 80 Children were studied in two groups. Group 1 received a combination of 1/3 of ketamine and propofol and group 2 received a combination of 1/5 for procedure of Intrathecal injection of chemotherapy drugs. Hemodynamic parameters, recovery time, and drug side effects were compared between two groups.Results: In this study 80 children age 4-12 years old underwent Intrathecal injection of chemotherapy drugs were studied. There were no significant differences in age, weight between groups.  Recovery time was significantly shorter in group 2 (p = 0.001). Also heart rate was lower in group 2 significantly (p = 0.001), but mean arterial pressure was not different between two groups (p = 0.287). SPO2 was > 95% in all the children during the procedure (p = 0.74).Conclusions: Combination of 1/5 of ketamine and propofol (ketofol) for sedation in the children undergoing intrathecal injection of chemotherapy drugs is better than a combination of 1/3 because of shorter recovery time and lower heart rate.

High-Barrier and Light–protective Bionanocomposite Film Based on Rye Starch/nanorod-ZnO for Food Packaging Applications

Improving food quality, nutritional value and biodegradability are the reasons for developing edible films. Fine-dispersed starch-based nanobiocomposites were provided by adding nanorod-ZnO as fillers to aqueous starch. In this work, the impact of ZnO nanorod (ZnO-N) filler on the barrier properties and UV transmission of biofilms based on rye starch was studied.The solutions containing nanoadditives were homogenized by ultrasound waves and embedded in rye starch at various levels(1 - 5% w/w dried solid). Starch films were prepared by casting method with nanoparticles and plasticizers. Biofilms containing 5% ZnO-N had 0% UV transmittance. Active films were able to absorb Near Infrared spectra. After applying ZnO-N to the bionanocomposite film no new bond has emerged. Regarding barrier characterization, rye starch film with 5% ZnO-N showed better barrier properties than neat films, mainly by the gravimetric method, starch films containing 5% ZnO-N and control samples were 1.6 ± 0.02 and 1.18± 0.01 g/mPah, respectively

Non-Pharmacologic Interventions in COVID-19 Pandemic Management; a Systematic Review

Introduction: Different countries throughout the world have adopted non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce and control SARS - CoV-2. In this systematic approach, the impact of non-pharmacologic interventions in management of COVID-19 pandemic was assessed. Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, systematic search was carried out on the basis of a search strategy on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and WHO databases on COVID-19. The impact of travel ban, personal protective equipment, distancing, contact tracing, school closure, and social distancing and the combined effect of interventions on COVID-19 were assessed. Results: Of the 14,857 articles found, 44 were relevant. Studies in different countries have shown that various non-pharmacological interventions have been used during the COVID-19 pandemic. The travel ban, either locally or internationally in most of the countries, movement restriction, social distancing, lockdown, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), quarantine, school closure, work place closure, and contact tracing had a significant impact on the reduction of mortality or morbidity of COVID-19. Conclusion: Evidence shows that the implementation of non-pharmacologic interventions (NPIs), for example, social distancing, quarantine, and personal protective equipment’s are generally effective and the best way to prevent or reduce transmission. However, this study suggests that the effectiveness of any NPI alone is probably limited, thus, a combination of various actions, for example, social distancing, isolation, and quarantine, distancing in the workplace and use of personal protective equipment, is more effective in reducing COVID-19

Rate and Risk Factors of Reinfection, Recurrence, and Hospital Readmission Among SARS-Cov-2 Hospitalized Patients; a National Cohort Study

Introduction: Reinfection and hospital readmission due to COVID-19 were significant and costly during the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the rate and risk factors of SARS-Cov-2 reinfection, recurrence, and hospital readmission, by analyzing the national data registry in Iran. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort conducted from March 2020 to May 2021. A census method was used to consider all of the possible information in the national Medical Care Monitoring Center (MCMC) database obtained from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education; the data included information from all confirmed COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized and diagnosed using at least one positive Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test by nasopharyngeal swab specimens. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the factors related to each studied outcome. Results: After analyzing data from 1,445,441 patients who had been hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Iran, the rates of overall reinfection, reinfection occurring at least 90 days after the initial infection, recurrence, and hospital readmission among hospitalized patients were 67.79, 26.8, 41.61, and 30.53 per 1000 person-years, respectively. Among all cases of hospitalized reinfection (48292 cases), 38.61% occurred more than 90 days from the initial SARS-Cov-2 infection. Getting infected with COVID-19 in the fifth wave of the disease compared to getting infected in the first wave (P<0.001), having cancer (P<0.001), chronic kidney disease (P<0.001), and age over 80 years (P<0.001) were respectively the most important risk factors for overall reinfection. In contrast, age 19-44 years (P<0.001), intubation (P<0.001), fever (P<0.001), and cough (P<0.001) in the initial admission were the most important protective factors of overall reinfection, respectively. Conclusion: Reinfection and recurrence of COVID-19 after recovery and the rate of hospital readmission after discharge were remarkable. Advanced or young age, as well as having underlying conditions like cancer and chronic kidney disease, increase the risk of infection and readmission.

Global, regional, and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-Adjusted life-years for 29 cancer groups, 1990 to 2017 : A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study

Importance: Cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are now widely recognized as a threat to global development. The latest United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs reaffirmed this observation and also highlighted the slow progress in meeting the 2011 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the third Sustainable Development Goal. Lack of situational analyses, priority setting, and budgeting have been identified as major obstacles in achieving these goals. All of these have in common that they require information on the local cancer epidemiology. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study is uniquely poised to provide these crucial data. Objective: To describe cancer burden for 29 cancer groups in 195 countries from 1990 through 2017 to provide data needed for cancer control planning. Evidence Review: We used the GBD study estimation methods to describe cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-Adjusted life-years (DALYs). Results are presented at the national level as well as by Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income, educational attainment, and total fertility rate. We also analyzed the influence of the epidemiological vs the demographic transition on cancer incidence. Findings: In 2017, there were 24.5 million incident cancer cases worldwide (16.8 million without nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC]) and 9.6 million cancer deaths. The majority of cancer DALYs came from years of life lost (97%), and only 3% came from years lived with disability. The odds of developing cancer were the lowest in the low SDI quintile (1 in 7) and the highest in the high SDI quintile (1 in 2) for both sexes. In 2017, the most common incident cancers in men were NMSC (4.3 million incident cases); tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer (1.5 million incident cases); and prostate cancer (1.3 million incident cases). The most common causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for men were TBL cancer (1.3 million deaths and 28.4 million DALYs), liver cancer (572000 deaths and 15.2 million DALYs), and stomach cancer (542000 deaths and 12.2 million DALYs). For women in 2017, the most common incident cancers were NMSC (3.3 million incident cases), breast cancer (1.9 million incident cases), and colorectal cancer (819000 incident cases). The leading causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for women were breast cancer (601000 deaths and 17.4 million DALYs), TBL cancer (596000 deaths and 12.6 million DALYs), and colorectal cancer (414000 deaths and 8.3 million DALYs). Conclusions and Relevance: The national epidemiological profiles of cancer burden in the GBD study show large heterogeneities, which are a reflection of different exposures to risk factors, economic settings, lifestyles, and access to care and screening. The GBD study can be used by policy makers and other stakeholders to develop and improve national and local cancer control in order to achieve the global targets and improve equity in cancer care. © 2019 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe