Association between hair dye use and cancer in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies

Background: The use of hair dye for cosmetic purposes appears to be increasing worldwide. As 50-80% of women use hair dye throughout their lifetimes, the possible association between hair dye use and cancer is a public health concern. Method: This systematic review was performed by retrieving studies from PubMed, Scopus, WOS, and ProQuest databases. The inclusion criteria were case-control studies evaluating the association between hair dye use and cancer in women. Women with cancer who have used any hair dye were the focus of our study. Results: The present study combined 28 studies, to assess the association between hair dye use and cancer. The pooled odds ratio (OR) of hematopoietic system cancers among those who have generally ever used any type of hair dyes was 1.10 (95% CI:1.01-1.20) in 17 studies. In 11 studies investigating hair dye made before and after 1980 as a risk factor for cancer, the pooled OR for cancer was 1.31(95% CI:1.08-1.59). Likewise, in the 13 studies that evaluated the association of light and dark hair dye with cancer, the risk among those using dark hair dye increased by 9%, compared to non-users (OR=1.09; 95% CI:0.95-1.25). Conclusion: The present study suggests that, although the use of hair dye may increase the risk of cancer among users, a more detailed evaluation is required to assess the type of hair dye use in terms of guidelines and metrics. Keywords: Hair dye; cancer; meta-analysis

The maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with definite COVID-19

Background: This study aimed to assess the symptoms and clinical laboratory data of pregnant women with COVID-19 in their second or third trimester of pregnancy as well as their maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted on 177 pregnant women with COVID-19 who were admitted to Yas hospital (affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences), and Ali-ibn-Abi-Talib hospital (affiliated with Zahedan University of Medical Sciences). Results: There was significant higher complaints including fever (p-value=0.015), cough (p-value=0.028), fatigue (p-value=0.002), dyspnea (p-value=0.022), and lower hemoglobin level (p-value=0.009) in patients who were in their third trimester compared to those who were in their second trimester. 9.6% (n=17) of the patients had severe disease and needed ICU admission. There was a significant variation regarding gestational age (p-value=0.022) in pregnant women admitted to ICU compared to the other ones. During the study, delivery happened in 108 (61%) pregnant women. Fetal distress following meconium deification (p-value=0.041), need to MGSO4 (p-value=0.001), IUFD (p-value=0.006), need for blood transfusion (p-value=0.004), and neonatal death (p-value<0.001) were significantly higher in patients who needed ICU admission. Conclusion: Higher gestational weeks are the main risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease. Although vertical transmission is rare; due to the higher risk of perinatal outcomes, the delivery should be done in a center with a NICU department

Global burden of chronic respiratory diseases and risk factors, 1990–2019: an update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Updated data on chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are vital in their prevention, control, and treatment in the path to achieving the third UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a one-third reduction in premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2030. We provided global, regional, and national estimates of the burden of CRDs and their attributable risks from 1990 to 2019. Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we estimated mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), prevalence, and incidence of CRDs, i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumoconiosis, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis, and other CRDs, from 1990 to 2019 by sex, age, region, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) in 204 countries and territories. Deaths and DALYs from CRDs attributable to each risk factor were estimated according to relative risks, risk exposure, and the theoretical minimum risk exposure level input. Findings: In 2019, CRDs were the third leading cause of death responsible for 4.0 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval 3.6–4.3) with a prevalence of 454.6 million cases (417.4–499.1) globally. While the total deaths and prevalence of CRDs have increased by 28.5% and 39.8%, the age-standardised rates have dropped by 41.7% and 16.9% from 1990 to 2019, respectively. COPD, with 212.3 million (200.4–225.1) prevalent cases, was the primary cause of deaths from CRDs, accounting for 3.3 million (2.9–3.6) deaths. With 262.4 million (224.1–309.5) prevalent cases, asthma had the highest prevalence among CRDs. The age-standardised rates of all burden measures of COPD, asthma, and pneumoconiosis have reduced globally from 1990 to 2019. Nevertheless, the age-standardised rates of incidence and prevalence of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis have increased throughout this period. Low- and low-middle SDI countries had the highest age-standardised death and DALYs rates while the high SDI quintile had the highest prevalence rate of CRDs. The highest deaths and DALYs from CRDs were attributed to smoking globally, followed by air pollution and occupational risks. Non-optimal temperature and high body-mass index were additional risk factors for COPD and asthma, respectively. Interpretation: Albeit the age-standardised prevalence, death, and DALYs rates of CRDs have decreased, they still cause a substantial burden and deaths worldwide. The high death and DALYs rates in low and low-middle SDI countries highlights the urgent need for improved preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic measures. Global strategies for tobacco control, enhancing air quality, reducing occupational hazards, and fostering clean cooking fuels are crucial steps in reducing the burden of CRDs, especially in low- and lower-middle income countries

Theory of mind in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder compared to controls

Introduction: Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have serious social skill deficits and problems in relation with peers. This study aimed to compare theory of mind (ToM) in drug-naïve children with ADHD with those with no psychiatric disorders at the same age. Methods: This cross-sectional study was established in child and adolescent psychiatry clinic of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (Tabriz, Iran). Drug naïve, male children and adolescents with a diagnosis of ADHD were enrolled as well as age and intelligence quotient (IQ) matched healthy controls. Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version ‎(K-SADS-PL)‎, Child Symptom Inventory-4 ‎(CSI-4)‎, and Conner’s Parents Rating Scales-Revised ‎(CPRS)‎ were used to measure psychiatric disorders and Sally-Anne False Belief Task, and The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task (child) for components of ToM. Results: A total of 30 children completed the study in each group. Half of children with ADHD could not give the expected answer in Sally-Anne False Belief Task, which was significantly lower than controls. They also showed a significantly lower performance in The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task. Severity of ADHD was not correlated with a score of The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task. Conclusion: Children with ADHD have deficits in ToM compared with age and IQ matched controls in terms of social cognition and social sensitivity

Association of G71R Mutation of the UGT1A1 Gen with Neonatal Hyper Bilirubinemia in the Iranian Population

Objective: Jaundice with indirect hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most common neonatal problems that occur in 60% of term and 80% of preterm neonates but the causes are mostly unknown. It is suggested that race plays an important role in the prevalence of hyperbilirubinemia. It is a common problem in Iran that worries both parents and pediatricians. It has been found that a mutation in the UGT1A1 gene is responsible for structural changes in an encoded enzyme which reduces the function of the enzyme. Materials and methods: This is a case-control study carried out in Ghaem Educational Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences from December 2007 for the period of one year. 26 healthy neonates tested for indirect hyperbilirubinemia within first week after full-term delivery and 53 healthy neonates without hyperbilirubinemia as a control group were included. Genomic DNA extracted using 2 cc blood sample followed by RFLP-PCR for detection of G71R mutation of UGT1A1 gene have been performed. SPSS software (version 16), t- test and chi square analysis have been used for statistical analysis of obtained data. Results: 4.3% of the hyperbilirubinemic group was homozygotes for mutation in UGT1A1 and 26.1% were heterozygotes while 69.6% had no mutation. 21.3% of the control group had the mutation with 4.3% being homozygote and 17% being heterozygote. Conclusion: Frequency of G71R mutation in the hyperbilirubinemia group was not significantly more than that in the control group among Iranian newborns. This finding suggests that G71R mutation may not contribute to the development of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Iranian newborns. It is recommended to establish further studies using well-designed inclusion criteria and more specialized mutation analysis techniques which cover all types of probable mutations in G71R gene

Theory of mind in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder compared to controls

Introduction: Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have serious social skill deficits and problems in relation with peers. This study aimed to compare theory of mind (ToM) in drug-naïve children with ADHD with those with no psychiatric disorders at the same age. Methods: This cross-sectional study was established in child and adolescent psychiatry clinic of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (Tabriz, Iran). Drug naïve, male children and adolescents with a diagnosis of ADHD were enrolled as well as age and intelligence quotient (IQ) matched healthy controls. Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version ‎(K-SADS-PL)‎, Child Symptom Inventory-4 ‎(CSI-4)‎, and Conner’s Parents Rating Scales-Revised ‎(CPRS)‎ were used to measure psychiatric disorders and Sally-Anne False Belief Task, and The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task (child) for components of ToM. Results: A total of 30 children completed the study in each group. Half of children with ADHD could not give the expected answer in Sally-Anne False Belief Task, which was significantly lower than controls. They also showed a significantly lower performance in The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task. Severity of ADHD was not correlated with a score of The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task. Conclusion: Children with ADHD have deficits in ToM compared with age and IQ matched controls in terms of social cognition and social sensitivity

Selenium Fortification Alters the Growth, Antioxidant Characteristics and Secondary Metabolite Profiles of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) Cultivars in Hydroponic Culture

Nowadays the importance of selenium for human health is widely known, but most of the plants are poor in terms of selenium storage and accumulation because of the low selenium mineralization potential of the soil. For this purpose, foliar application of different sodium selenate concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 mg/L) was used to treat the cauliflower cultivars “Clapton” and “Graffiti”. Higher yields and other related vegetative attributes were improved at 10 and 15 mg/L sodium selenate application. At a concentration of 10 mg/L sodium selenate, photosynthetic pigments, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were enhanced in both cultivars, but the “Graffiti” cultivar responded stronger than the “Clapton” cultivar. The glucosinolates were accumulated in response to selenium fortification and the highest amounts were found in the “Graffiti” cultivar at 10 mg/L. Selenium accumulated concentration-dependently and rose with higher fertilization levels. In general, foliar application of selenium at 10 mg/L led to an accumulation of secondary metabolites and also positively affected the growth and yield of florets