The incidence of permanent congenital hypothyroidism: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: One of the most prevalent endocrine disorders is congenital hypothyroidism (CH). The most important complication of this disorder is mental retardation. This study was carried out to evaluate CH prevalence based on newborn screening of CH in different countries through a meta-analysis study.METHODS: The researchers in this study searched the literature among PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Sciences and Web of Knowledge, and Science Direct databases. The evaluations were carried out using a researcher-made checklist including goals and research questions. Meta-regression with the Mantel-Haenszel method was performed using a random effects model and Egger’s test (ET) and Begg’s test (BT) by the STATA software.RESULTS: A total of 10875 studies were found in the initial literature search related to CH. Ultimately, based on the eligibility criteria considered in the present study, 25 studies were categorized as qualified for systematic review and meta-analysis. The estimate of the CH prevalence among the screened neonates in the studies based on the random effects model was 4.85 per 10000 [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.04- 5.66].CONCLUSION: Due to the importance of CH related diseases especially for detection of type of hypothyroidism, it is necessary more surveillance be carried out in all countries. Based on Different studies, recognition of the most CH patients is before age 1 year so it helps to reduction the risks of developmental delay, and delayed physiological development and mental retardation

Prevalence of Depression among Iranian Elderly: Systematic Review and M

Objective: depression is one of the most serious and prevalent mood disorders. Aging population is an important economic, social, and health challenge of the 21st century. The present study aimed at estimating the prevalence of depression among the Iranian elderly through meta-analysis method. Method: Studies were searched in ISI, Scopus, Pub Med, Google Scholar, and in Iranian databases including Iran Medex, Magiran, SID, and Med Lib using the following keywords: "depression", "prevalence", and "elderly". Data were analyzed using meta-analysis (random effects model). Heterogeneity among the results of the studies was examined by "I2" index. Beck, DASS-21, GHQ-28, and G DS questionnaires were used in this study, and analyses were performed using STATA Ver.11. Results: A total of 26 studies in Iran with a sample size of 5781 individuals had been found during 2001 and 2015. Prevalence of depression among Iranian elderly was estimated to be 43% (95% confidence interval (CI):30% - 55%). The findings showed that the prevalence of depression among Iranians were49% in women, 48% in men, 37% in unmarried, and 45%in the married. In addition, the prevalence of very severe, severe, moderate, and mild depression levels were estimated to be 5%, 19%, 33%, and 38% of the participants, respectively. No significant difference was observed between married and unmarried individuals. Most of Iranian elderly suffered from mild depression. Conclusion: There was high level of depression prevalence among Iranian elderly, and women were more depressed than men. So, policy makers must design and run mental health programs to decrease the prevalence of depression among Iranian elderly

Solar Repowering of PCC-retrofitted Power Plants

The integration of concentrated solar thermal technology with PCC-retrofitted power plants has the potential to recover the power plant penalty while capturing carbon through the PCC plant. The main contribution of this thesis is showcasing such synergy between solar and PCC-retrofitted power plants through development of a model investigating the solar plant dynamic behaviour and response to external disturbances including climatic changes for the Australian context. Firstly, the potential of solar thermal and/or power energy to compensate for both PCC penalties is investigated. The mode of integrated solar energy with the PCC-retrofitted power plant and the integration point in the superstructure, result in a number of possible configurations among which, three are shown to have a higher potential to meet the operational objective, maintaining the original output rate while PCC is operating. The basic sizing data, a preliminary size of each configuration, operational capability and complexity level involved in the integration of each configuration are established. A limitation was faced in assessing the performance of each option using levelised cost of energy due to the lack of a dynamic profile of high-pressure side feed water preheaters of the PCC-retrofitted power plant. Additionally, a dynamic study on the superstructure was required using the annual dynamic profile of PCC load requirements, carbon price and power demand. Despite these, this work has shown near optimal values for solar multiple and number of full load hours of thermal storage for each configuration. These results are used to select one option for a dynamic model. A comprehensive dynamic study is performed on Option 2 using TRNSYS modelling package. The main operating and control schemes are identified and details of the modelling are provided followed by an analysis of performance results and conclusion and a note for future directions

The Emergence of City and Urbanization in the Medieval Europe: from Craftsmen’s Desire for Equality Till Rule of Trade Guilds

With Germanic invasion of Western Roman Empire and its consequent fall, monetary-exchange economy and urbanization reached its nadir in Western Europe. In Western society, economy and production began to rely on agricultural products and a system of barter. Villages became the central arena for political, social, and economic life, as urban life began to lose its central position of political and economic importance. Nonetheless, from the twelfth century onward, a set of developments happened in Western Europe which led to re-establishment of cities and their gradual rise in political power. This paper aims to illustrate a systematic and comprehensive picture of the logic and developments that led to reemergence of cities in the medieval Europe via relying on documents and using historical methods. From the twelfth century, as a result of developments in geographical conditions and productive tools and techniques, the production increased so much that it could feed a very greater population than before. Population, therefore, rose exponentially and a surplus of agricultural workers emerged who inhabited newly-built cities and turned to crafts and services. By the end of the medieval ages, the cities began to fight feudalism while claiming their freedom and independence and seeking the support of the monarchs

Occupational and Environmental exposure to mercury in Iran: a systematic review

Introduction: Mercury is one of the three heavy metals which are listed on top of the US EPA,s list for toxic and hazardous material with priority for human health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the situation of environmental and occupational human contamination with mercury in Iran. Method: All studies conducted in Iran which had measured mercury levels in humans in Iran, were searched by electronic databases including Iranmedex, SID, Magiran, Google Scholar, Web of Knowledge, Science Direct and PubMed. Due to the heterogeneity of the study results, meta analysis was not performed on the results. Results: After searching the databases, fourty seven articles were found. From these, 44 were chosen and evaluated. Although contamination with mercury is not high in Iran, but occupational exposure is considerable and contamination in specific groups such as dentists is high. Conclusion: Considering the high exposure to mercury in some occupational groups, using personal protective equipment and proper ventilation at workplaces should be emphasized. Also periodic monitoring of mercury exposure and medical examination of related workers is necessary. In order to decrease environmental exposure, it is suggested that legislations for routine monitoring of mercury in food and using composites without mercury be practiced. Key­words: Mercury, Iran, Environmental exposure, Occupational exposur

The Survival Rate of Childhood Leukemia and Its Related Factors in Kerman, Iran

Background and Purpose: Leukemia is the most prevalent type of cancer in children and its prognostic factors vary in different geographic locations. The aim of this study was to estimate the 5 years survival rate of children suffering from leukemia in Kerman, Iran and to investigate the factors which might influence it. Materials and Methods: This was a cohort study conducted on patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Cases were all younger than 15 years old admitted to Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran between 1998 and 2009, and included 219 patients. Survival rates were estimated by applying the Kaplan–Meier method. Log-rank test was used to estimate the statistical difference in survival probability and the effect of independent variables on survival was examined using Cox regression. All analyses were performed using STATA-12. Results: The cumulative 5 years rate of survival in this study was 58% and 43% for ALL and AML, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.0030). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that white blood cell (WBC) &ge 50,000 &mul (P = 0.0100) and relapse (P = 0.0060) of ALL patients has a significant effect on survival. In AML due to the small number of patients significant results were not achieved. The cumulative survival rate at the end of 1 year for low, medium and high-risk patients were estimated 97%, 94%, and 78%. Conclusion: Leukemia patients with and WBC &ge 50,000 &mul and a history of relapse had less survival

Prevalence of Depression among Iranian Elderly: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective: depression is one of the most serious and prevalent mood disorders. Aging population is an important economic, social, and health challenge of the 21st century. The present study aimed at estimating the prevalence of depression among the Iranian elderly through meta-analysis method. Method: Studies were searched in ISI, Scopus, Pub Med, Google Scholar, and in Iranian databases including Iran Medex, Magiran, SID, and Med Lib using the following keywords: “depression”, “prevalence”, and “elderly”. Data were analyzed using meta-analysis (random effects model). Heterogeneity among the results of the studies was examined by “I2” index. Beck, DASS-21, GHQ-28, and G DS questionnaires were used in this study, and analyses were performed using STATA Ver.11. Results: A total of 26 studies in Iran with a sample size of 5781 individuals had been found during 2001 and 2015. Prevalence of depression among Iranian elderly was estimated to be 43% (95% confidence interval (CI):30% - 55%). The findings showed that the prevalence of depression among Iranians were49% in women, 48% in men, 37% in unmarried, and 45%in the married. In addition, the prevalence of very severe, severe, moderate, and mild depression levels were estimated to be 5%, 19%, 33%, and 38% of the participants, respectively. No significant difference was observed between married and unmarried individuals. Most of Iranian elderly suffered from mild depression. Conclusion: There was high level of depression prevalence among Iranian elderly, and women were more depressed than men. So, policy makers must design and run mental health programs to decrease the prevalence of depression among Iranian elderly

Prevalence of Depression among Iranian Elderly: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: depression is one of the most serious and prevalent mood disorders. Aging population is an important economic, social, and health challenge of the 21(st) century. The present study aimed at estimating the prevalence of depression among the Iranian elderly through meta-analysis method. Method: Studies were searched in ISI, Scopus, Pub Med, Google Scholar, and in Iranian databases including Iran Medex, Magiran, SID, and Med Lib using the following keywords: "depression", "prevalence", and "elderly". Data were analyzed using meta-analysis (random effects model). Heterogeneity among the results of the studies was examined by "I(2)" index. Beck, DASS-21, GHQ-28, and G DS questionnaires were used in this study, and analyses were performed using STATA Ver.11. Results: A total of 26 studies in Iran with a sample size of 5781 individuals had been found during 2001 and 2015. Prevalence of depression among Iranian elderly was estimated to be 43 (95 confidence interval (CI):30 - 55). The findings showed that the prevalence of depression among Iranians were49 in women, 48 in men, 37 in unmarried, and 45in the married. In addition, the prevalence of very severe, severe, moderate, and mild depression levels were estimated to be 5, 19, 33, and 38 of the participants, respectively. No significant difference was observed between married and unmarried individuals. Most of Iranian elderly suffered from mild depression. Conclusion: There was high level of depression prevalence among Iranian elderly, and women were more depressed than men. So, policy makers must design and run mental health programs to decrease the prevalence of depression among Iranian elderly

The importance of mental health considerations for critical care burns patients

Mental health issues for critical care patients have important consequences for care, recovery and follow-up (Kornhaber, Childs, & Cleary, 2017; Kornhaber, Haik, Sayers, Escott, & Cleary, 2017). Burn injuries and treatment can be both physically and psychologically traumatic. Patients are often confronted by adjustments to physical capacity and body image (O'Donnell, Bryant, Creamer, & Carty, 2008), with the distress affecting not only the patient but also their families (Johnson, Taggart, & Gullick, 2016) and even burns clinicians (Haik et al., 2017). Treatments, such as debridement and wound dressings, often add additional pain and distress (McLean, Chen, Kwiet, Vandervord, & Kornhaber, 2017) and the process of recovery can be protracted, intrusive and dehumanizing (Horridge, Cohen, & Gaskell, 2010)