Evaluation of life expectancy in Kurdistan Province, Iran, during the years 2006 and 2016

BACKGROUND: Life expectancy index is used in assessing changes in the health status of Kurdistan Province community, Iran, especially among the elderly, the difference in the health levels of women and men, and also the economic levels and the desired changes. This study aimed to evaluate the life expectancy in the age groups in Kurdistan Province using demographic information and mortality based on age and sex during the years 2006 and 2016.METHODS: In this study, life expectancy was used for calculating life table according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Death information was extracted based on age groups and using demographic data of the statistical centers; in addition, the raw mortality rate was extracted according to age groups and calculated using Chiang method in the stage of life expectancy by sex and location. To analyze the data, Stata 12 and Excel software packages were used for calculations.RESULTS: Life expectancy at birth in Kurdistan Province in the whole population was equal to 74.56 and 78.31 years in 2006 and 2016, respectively, and this rate was higher among women compared to men.CONCLUSION: Extensive factors including medical and health status, well-being, nutrition status and quality, etc., affect the life expectancy index in different societies, and promotion of each criterion increases the life expectancy. It is necessary to establish required fields for establishing these indicators at the provincial level by creating a complete and accurate record of mortality and illness

Spatial Relations Between Climatic Variables and Wheat Yield in Iran

In this study relation between average minimum and maximum of temperature and rainfall as independent variables of 223 synoptic meteorological stations in Iran and wheat yield as dependent variable in 223 regions during the statistical period of 2017-2017 in the monthly time scale of the growing season and the total growth period was investigated. In data analysis, spatial statistics analysis methods in Arc/GIS 10.4.1 software were used, using Moran autocorrelation test, and geographic weighted regression their spatial relationships were tested. The result of Moran index showed that spatial distribution of wheat yield follows cluster pattern. Analysis Geographic weighted regression has showed rainfall has remarkable effect on wheat yield. In addition, analysis showed rainfall has positive effects on wheat yield especially in dry and warm regions of Central, and Southeastern. The results showed the positive effect of temperature increase on wheat yield, which gradually decreased toward the southern parts in proportion to the decrease in altitude and increase in temperature. So that the effect of increasing daily temperatures (maximum) in cold mountainous areas is positive, while in east, central and southern parts of Iran negative effects of temperature over wheat yield were seen due to heat stress. Therefore, in hot and semi-warm regions of the country, increasing the temperature along with increasing rainfall can have a positive effect on wheat yield. In these areas, it is better to cultivate wheat in the highlands or in cold weather and used irrigation systems to reduce drought stress at critical stages of wheat growth

High frequency of BRAF V600E mutation in Iranian population ameloblastomas

Ameloblastoma is a common locally invasive but slow-growing neoplasm of the jaws with an odontogenic origin. Association between BRAF V600E mutation and clinicopathologic features and behavior of ameloblastoma remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate BRAF V600E gene mutation and expression of its related proteins with clinicopathologic parameters in conventional ameloblastoma. 50 Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks were included in this study. Immunohistochemistry was done using rabbit monoclonal BRAF V600E mutation-specific antibody VE1. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was used for evaluating of BRAF V600E mutation. Expression of BRAF V600E antibody was Positive in 42 out of 50 cases (84%). 46 (92%) out of 50 specimens showed BRAF V600E mutation. There were 13 cases of recurrence (26%). 3 out of 4 cases with negative mutations did not show recurrence. We report the highest frequency (92%) of BRAF V600E mutation in ameloblastomas in the Iranian population. Although there was not a significant association between BRAF V600E?positive immunoexpression and recurrence and clinicopathologic parameters, its high frequency could emphasize its role as a therapeutic marker in the future

Evaluation of life expectancy in Kurdistan Province, Iran, during the years 2006 and 2016

BACKGROUND: Life expectancy index is used in assessing changes in the health status of Kurdistan Province community, Iran, especially among the elderly, the difference in the health levels of women and men, and also the economic levels and the desired changes. This study aimed to evaluate the life expectancy in the age groups in Kurdistan Province using demographic information and mortality based on age and sex during the years 2006 and 2016. METHODS: In this study, life expectancy was used for calculating life table according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Death information was extracted based on age groups and using demographic data of the statistical centers; in addition, the raw mortality rate was extracted according to age groups and calculated using Chiang method in the stage of life expectancy by sex and location. To analyze the data, Stata 12 and Excel software packages were used for calculations. RESULTS: Life expectancy at birth in Kurdistan Province in the whole population was equal to 74.56 and 78.31 years in 2006 and 2016, respectively, and this rate was higher among women compared to men. CONCLUSION: Extensive factors including medical and health status, well-being, nutrition status and quality, etc., affect the life expectancy index in different societies, and promotion of each criterion increases the life expectancy. It is necessary to establish required fields for establishing these indicators at the provincial level by creating a complete and accurate record of mortality and illness

Role of three dimensional (3D) printing in endourology: An update from EAU young academic urologists (YAU) urolithiasis and endourology working group

The management of nephrolithiasis has been complemented well by modern technological advancements like virtual reality, three-dimensional (3D) printing etc. In this review, we discuss the applications of 3D printing in treating stone disease using percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). PCNL surgeries, when preceded by a training phase using a 3D printed model, aid surgeons to choose the proper course of action, which results in better procedural outcomes. The 3D printed models have also been extensively used to train junior residents and novice surgeons to improve their proficiency in the procedure. Such novel measures include different approaches employed to 3D print a model, from 3D printing the entire pelvicalyceal system with the surrounding tissues to 3D printing simple surgical guides.publishedVersio

Proinflammatory Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms in Bullous Pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare autoimmune skin blistering disease, characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against hemidesmosomal autoantigens. Cytokine expression is altered in BP patients, and several of these differently expressed cytokines, including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α, contribute to disease pathogenesis. Since genetic polymorphisms in the genes of these cytokines might be implicated in susceptibility to BP disease, we aimed at testing this implication in susceptibility to BP in an Iranian cohort. Blood samples were collected from the subjects and genomic DNA was extracted. To detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), IL-1α (rs1800587), IL-1β (rs1143627, rs16944, rs1143634), IL-8 (rs4073), and TNF-α (rs1799964, rs1800630, rs1799724, and rs361525) genes were genotyped in BP patients and healthy controls as well as IL-8 (rs4073) in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) patients. Quantitative gene expression was evaluated by RT-PCR analysis. A significant difference was observed in the distribution of genotypes or alleles of IL-8 SNP between the BP patients and controls. The A-allele of IL-8 SNP is significantly more prevalent in the control individuals compared to the BP patient. To further validate this observation, we included PV patients as an additional control. Again, the A-allele of IL-8 SNP is significantly more prevalent in the PV compared to the BP patients. While we observed a trend toward significant differences regarding alleles of TNF-α rs1799724 as well as alleles of TNF-α rs1799964, this difference was, however, not evident after correction for multiple analysis. There was no significant difference in all other studied SNPs. In contrast to IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF-α, IL-8 gene expression levels were significantly higher in the patients than that of controls. The minor allele in IL-8 SNP might play a protective role in susceptibility to BP in Iranian patients. Although higher expression levels of IL-8 gene was found in the patients compared with healthy controls, these levels, however, suggest no association with the examined polymorphism. Moreover, further investigation revealed an elevation in gene expression between wild and polymorphic genotypes of IL-1α rs1800587 and TNF-α rs361525 in the patient group and these SNPs are therefore associated with altering the levels of gene expression

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

Interrelationships between nitrogen rate and wild oat density on oilseed rape yield components

In order to evaluate the effect of nitrogen on oilseed rape yield and yield component under wild oat densities, a field experiment was conducted in Shiraz University, Iran, during 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 growing seasons. The experimental design was split plot with three replications. Treatments included four nitrogen levels (zero, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1 ) and four densities of wild oat (zero, 15, 30, and 45 plants m 2 ). The result showed that number of pods per main stem and secondary branches, number of seeds per main and secondary pods, 1000-seed weight, grain and biological yield was significantly increased by enhancement of nitrogen levels from zero to 150 kg ha-1 at weed-free treatments. Also, weed interference significantly reduced grain yield up to 41% under 50 and 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen application in comparison 150 kg ha-1 . Regardless of oilseed rape yield, weed dry weight was significantly increased with increasing the nitrogen levels, suggesting that high levels of nitrogen favor the crop over the weeds. This experiment suggested that oilseed rape grain and biological yield was affected more by high nitrogen levels at maximum weed density

Effect of a care programme based on the comfort theory on physiological indicators in paediatric candidates for endoscopy: a randomised clinical trial

Background/Aims Endoscopy is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure used in paediatrics. This invasive procedure is anxiety-inducing, a natural response that can affect physiological indicators. Today, the use of nursing theories in the form of a comprehensive nursing care model plays a significant role in improving patient health. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the comfort-based care model on the physiological indicators of children undergoing endoscopy. Methods This clinical trial study was conducted on 56 paediatric patients referred to the endoscopy unit of Hajar Hospital (affiliated with the Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Iran). Children were enrolled by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to either the intervention (28 participants) or control group (28 participants). The intervention, which was based on comfort theory, was carried out 2 hours before endoscopy, encompassing four dimensions: physical, psycho-spiritual, socio-cultural and environmental. The control group received routine care. Physiological indicators were recorded in both groups before and immediately after endoscopy. Data were analysed with the Chi-square, independent t-test and paired t-test. Results Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of their mean pulse or systolic and diastolic blood pressures. After the intervention, the mean pulse and systolic blood pressure in the intervention group was significantly decreased compared to the control grou

Professional roles of female urologists: A webinar-based survey of perceptions and obstacles to career development

Background: Urology, traditionally a maledominated specialty, keeping pace with the quickly changing gender landscape, has been characterized by waves of feminization. This study aims to understand the perspectives of women urologists on the obstacles to their career development, and the impact of such hurdles on their professional roles in urological education, practice, and leadership. Methods: 119 female urology residents/consultants were surveyed via a webinar-based platform, covering relevant questions on domains of Academia, Mentorship, Leadership, Parenting, and Charity. Statistical analysis was done using frequency distribution based on the responses. Results: 46.8% of the respondents felt that there is an under-representation of women in academia. 'Having a good mentor' was the most important factor for a novice to succeed in academia (68%). The most important trait in becoming a good leader was 'good communication skills' (35%), followed by 'visionary' (20%). The greatest challenge faced by leaders in the medical field was considered as 'time management' (31.9%). Only 21.2% of the participants felt difficulty in having a work-personal life balance, whereas 63.8% of them found it difficult only 'sometimes'. As a working parent, 'the guilt that they are not available all the time' was considered the most difficult aspect (59.5%), and 'more flexible schedule' was needed to make their lives as a working parent easier (46.8%). 34% of the respondents were affiliated with some charitable organizations. The biggest drive to do charity was their satisfaction with a noble cause (72.3%). Conclusions: Need for increased encouragement and recruitment of females into urology, and to support and nurture them in their career aspirations