Impacts of organizational arrangements on conservation agriculture: insights from interpretive structural modeling in Iran

Conservation agriculture (CA) has been promoted worldwide as an approach to sustainable resource management and better productivity. Promotion and adoption of CA in Iran have been receiving increased attention from the national government over recent years. Therefore, to speed up development of CA as a basis for sustainable development, drivers that influence the development of CA need to be identified and modeled. The main aim of this study is to present a comprehensive model for CA development in Iran by identifying the institutional drivers that influence its promotion and determining the relationship between drivers. At first, the drivers identified from the literature and interviews with experts, and the relationships among the drivers were explored and clarified using Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM). A cross-impact matrix multiplication was applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis, which was then used to categorize the drivers in four sub-groups. The results showed that creating a suitable organizational structure is a very significant driving factor for CA development in Iran. Strong driving power and weak dependence associated with this factor should be treated as a critical driver. If CA shall expand more rapidly in future, then Iran’s government should invest in an appropriate organizational structure for it

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

Comparison of the Effects of Three Music on the Immune Cells of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

Background and objectivesThe effects of music on blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate and other physiological functions have been proven for several years. The effects of the music on human system have also been studied in several populations. But, this effect has not been studied in Iranians. So, we have decided to research on this matter.MethodsIn this experimental interventional study, 28 patients with allergic rhinitis (12-36 years old, with the mean age of 25) were included after application of a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were divided into four groups, three interventional groups (traditional Persian, western classic, and pop music) and one control group. Seven subjects were allocated to each group based on their favorite music. Each group underwent a period of intervention for one month and blood samples were obtained before the start and after the end of intervention. Samples were examined immediately by flow cytometry according to the standards and six cellular parameters of CD3+ T cells (CD4+ and CD8+) Natural killer cells (CD16+), B cells (CD19+), and activated T cells (HLA-DR+) were measured. ResultsWe found significant difference between interventional groups and the control group. The differences are as follows: CD3+ cells: atopic pop versus atopic control (Pvalue = 0.03, increase), atopic Persian classic versus atopic control (Pvalue =0.04, increase). CD4+ cells: atopic pop versus atopic control (Pvalue =0.03, increase), atopic Persian classic versus atopic control (Pvalue = 0.03, increase). Non-atopic allergic pop versus non-atopic control (Pvalue =0.01, decrease). CD8+ cells: atopic pop versus atopic control (Pvalue = 0.05, increase), non-atopic allergic pop versus non-atopic control (Pvalue =0.02, decrease), western classic non-atopic allergic versus non-atopic control (Pvalue = 0.02, decrease). CD16+ NK cells: atopic pop versus atopic control (Pvalue =0.014, increase), non-atopic allergic pop versus non-atopic control (Pvalue = 0.02, decrease) CD 19+ B cells (Pvalue = 0.07, noticeable increase).ConclusionEvaluation of immune cells in atopic patients who listened to pop music showed significant increase in CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and NK cells, and a noticeable decrease in B cells. Therefore, it can be concluded that pop music had positive effects on atopic subjects. But, apparently, the effects of this music on non-atopic subjects are opposite i.e. CD4+, CD8+ and CD16+ cells were significantly decreased in these patients. In contrast, humoral immunity was strengthened and B cells were significantly increased.Keywords: Music; Rhinitis; Flow Cytometry; B- Lymphocyte