The risk factors and related hospitalizations for cases with positive and negative COVID-19 tests: A case-control study

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for hospitalizations of cases with positive and negative COVID-19 tests. Methods: In this case-control study, the case and control groups consisted of 292 COVID-19 patients and 296 non-COVID-19 patients. Patients who referred to a reference laboratory in Tehran (Iran) in March 2020 were selected and interviewed. The patients were contacted by telephone and data were recorded through a questionnaire. Results: The sample of this study consisted of 588 patients (349 59% females, 239 41% males) with a mean age of 42 ± 15. The results of this study showed that comorbidities like diabetes (OR = 7.42), hypertension (OR = 4.85), asthma and respiratory diseases (OR = 5.64) in addition to symptoms including fever (OR = 6.67), chills (OR = 11.2), anorexia (OR = 11.3), dyspnea (OR = 4.8), weakness and lethargy (OR = 5.7) were the most predictive variables for hospitalization of non-COVID-19 cases. Furthermore, demographical variables like male gender (OR = 3.71), high age (>50; OR = 3.12), BMI (>25; OR = 2.37), travel (OR = 2.79), comorbidities including diabetes (OR = 5.26), hypertension (OR = 3.7) and underlying immunosuppressant patients receiving corticosteroid therapy (OR = 3.62) in addition to symptoms like anorexia OR = 2.55 and dyspnea (OR = 6.99) tend to increase the risk of hospital admission in COVID-19 patients, suggesting their predictive values for hospitalization of COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: Our results indicated that different factors tend to increase the odds of hospital admission in patients with positive and negative COVID-19 tests, suggesting their predictive values for hospitalization. © 202

Scientometric study on non-communicable diseases in Iran: A review article

Background: Non-Communicable disease (NCDs) is a killer of people that needs to urgent actions across the world. Scientific evidence is the critical arm for effective interventions. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the trend of four main NCDs� scientific publication in a 17-yr period, and reflect international collaboration. Methods: This scientometric study on four main NCDs; cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases were carried out through the narrative review in international databases of Scopus from 2000 to 2016. In this way, the number of articles, citations, and international collaboration were assessed, and the frequently used terms on non-communicable diseases were mapped by VOSviewer software. Results: Over the 17 years, 25827 articles about four main NCDs by Iran indexed in Scopus have increasing trend steadily. However, chronic obstructive respiratory publications have slow trend. The number of articles, citations, and h index of cancer-related publications was higher than the others. Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic respiratory diseases scientometrics indicators state in next positions, respectively. The most collaborative country was USA in the four areas, and there was not seen region countries� collaboration in top ten levels. The frequently used terms in NCDs� articles in order were diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and breast cancer. Conclusion: Iran provides appropriate face of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases publications in the mirror of NCDs� scientometry. However, there is need for more effort in chronic respiratory diseases researches, and strengthen collaboration with regional countries. © 2018, Iranian Journal of Public Health. All rights reserved

Relationship between spirituality and death anxiety in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy

Background and purpose: Cancer is a highly prevalent disease that could cause psychological and emotional complications such as death anxiety. On the other hand, spiritual well-being is an inherent element of health and may enhance patients’ adaptability to cope with their disease and associated anxiety. This study was done to determine the effect of spirituality in predicting death anxiety in patients with cancer. Materials and methods: This descriptive-correlational study was done in patients (n=100) with cancer in Sari, Iran 2017. The participants were selected using convenience sampling in Imam Khomeini Hospital. Data was collected by a demographic questionnaire, Templer Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), and Spirituality Questionnaire (SQ). The data was analyzed using Pearson correlation and Regression analysis. Results: The death anxiety score in 49 of the patients was high (higher than 8). The mean score for death anxiety and spirituality was 8.39±2.96 and 85.44±11.59, respectively. There was no relation between death anxiety and spirituality (P>0.05), but there were relations between death anxiety and dimensions of spirituality. Death anxiety level was highly correlated with spiritual practices dimension but had the least correlation with spiritual needs. Higher levels of spiritual practices can decrease the level of patient’s death anxiety. Conclusion: According to findings, spiritual practices dimension is a suitable predictor of death anxiety in patients with cancer, therefore, spirituality training might decrease the incidence or level of their death anxiety. © 2018, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Does vitamin E mitigate cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in cancer patients: Results from a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

Background: Cisplatin (CP) is a potent antineoplastic agent in the treatment of wide a range of cancers, but it is accompanied with nephrotoxicity, a major limiting side effect. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of vitamin E in the prevention of CP-induced nephrotoxicity. Method: In this randomized clinical trial, a total of 51 patients treated with CP chemotherapy were randomly assigned to receive vitamin E supplementation (400 Iu/ daily) (N=26) or placebo (N=25). Serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin were measured prior to each chemotherapy cycle and one month after the cessation of the cycles. Result: Compared to the baseline, a significant decrease was observed in the blood levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and serum creatinine in the vitamin E group (P=0.001). GFR was not reduced in the vitamin E group (P=0.001), and vitamin E was generally tolerated well. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that vitamin E exert protective effects against CP-induced nephrotoxicity, a finding which requires larger studies for confirmation. © 2020, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Identification of uncommon oral yeasts from cancer patients by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Background: Opportunistic infections due to Candida species occur frequently in cancer patients because of their inherent immunosuppression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the epidemiology of yeast species from the oral cavity of patients during treatment for oncological and haematological malignancies. Methods: MALDI-TOF was performed to identify yeasts isolated from the oral cavity of 350 cancer patients. Moreover, antifungal susceptibility testing was performed in according to CLSI guidelines (M27-A3). Results: Among 162 yeasts and yeast-like fungi isolated from the oral cavity of cancer patients, Candida albicans was the most common species (50.6%), followed by Candida glabrata (24.7%), Pichia kudriavzevii (Candida krusei (9.9%)), Candida tropicalis (4.3%), Candida dubliniensis (3.7%), Kluyveromyces marxianus (Candida kefyr (3.7%)) and Candida parapsilosis (1%). In addition, uncommon yeast species i.e., Saprochaete capitata, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Clavispora lusitaniae (C. lusitaniae) and Pichia kluyveri (C. eremophila) were recovered from oral lesions. Oral colonization by C. albicans, non-albicans Candida species and uncommon yeasts were as follow; 55%, 44% and 1%, whereas oral infection due to C. albicans was 33.3%, non-albicans Candida species 60.6%, and uncommon yeasts 6.1%. Poor oral hygiene and xerostomia were identified as independent risk factors associated with oral yeast colonization. The overall resistance to fluconazole was 11.7% (19/162). Low MIC values were observed for anidulafungin for all Candida and uncommon yeast species. Conclusions: This current study provides insight into the prevalence and susceptibility profiles of Candida species, including emerging Candida species and uncommon yeasts, isolated from the oral cavity of Iranian cancer patients. The incidence of oral candidiasis was higher amongst patients with hematological malignancies. The majority of oral infections were caused by non-albicans Candida species which were often more resistant to anti-fungal agents. Our findings suggest that anidulafungin should be used as antifungal of choice for prophylaxis in clinically high-risk patients with documented oral colonization or infection

Determinants of glycemic control: Phase 2 analysis from nationwide diabetes report of National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes (NPPCD-2018)

Background: Diabetes is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially among middle and low income nations. Many diabetic complications and comorbidities are attributable to poor glycemic control. The aim of this study was to update and extend the national diabetes reports on the status of comorbidities, diabetes care and complications in Iran. Moreover, we investigated the risk factors of poor glycemic control in the Iranian population. Methods: National database of 99,651 patients with diabetes who attended university-affiliated clinics between April 1, 2017 and February 30, 2018 was used to carry out a cross-sectional study. Stepwise backward selection logistic regression model was used to examine the associated factors of glycemic control. Results: In this study 73.0 and 56.5 of the enrolled population with diabetes, had hypertension and hyperlipidemia, respectively. The prevalence of patients who received education for nutrition therapy or diabetes self-management was 16.3 and 23.3 respectively. Poor glycemic control was associated with male gender (OR = 1.06, p = 0.001), obesity (OR = 1.03, p = 0.05), duration of diabetes (OR = 1.018, p < 0.001), smoking (OR = 1.08, p = 0.041), hypertension (OR = 1.53, p < 0.001), hyperlipidemia (OR = 1.15, p < 0.001), insulin therapy (OR = 1.26, p < 0.001) and combination of insulin and oral anti-diabetic agents compared to oral anti-diabetic agents alone (OR = 2.36, p < 0.001). Conclusion: We demonstrated that the prevalence of diabetes comorbidities is high in Iranian population and that a great proportion of Iranian patients with diabetes had not reached the goal of glycemic control. Our findings provide a starting point from which to investigate the obstacles that prevent patients with diabetes from reaching metabolic targets. © 2019 Primary Care Diabetes Europ