The Relationship between Science and Democracy in the Contemporary Studies and Philosophy of Science

Modern science and democracy, as the main elements of modernity, had been compounded by the strengthening of each other's components. But the late decades of the twentieth century, for beginning of social protests against the science policy, in the same time, the formation of historical and social turns in the philosophy of science, - Which undermined the realism and objectivity of scientific knowledge- led to the formation of tension between science and democracy. On the one hand, Democrats wanted to interfere in scientific activity by contributing to the definition of goals, trends, and policy-making; and on the other hand, by elaborating the aspects of science, the elites demanded that the public not be involved.      This paper seeks to apply the conceptual framework derived from the dual meaning of science, including institutional science and scientific knowledge, and democracy, including democracy as method and as value, to describe and explain the interactions of science and democracy. In order to do, after looking at the history of the tension, the most important works on science and democracy have been studied; and through the conceptualization, the systematic and comprehensive categorization and explanation of these relationships has been presented. We will end the paper by concluding that despite the triumph of democracy in the field of institutional science, still, with the supremacy of realism in scientific knowledge, the democratic method does not enter into scientific knowledg

Cancer and Its Treatment in Main Ancient Books of Islamic Iranian Traditional Medicine (7th to 14th Century AD)

ABSTRACT: Islamic medicine is regarded as a comprehensive medical school with a long, glorious and worldwide reputation. Some of the physicians of this school are famous worldwide and have contributed valuable services to the scientific world. Given the dramatically increasing prevalence of cancer and the relative inefficacy of current medications, there is a great demand for the introduction of effective therapeutic approaches. To this end, integration of traditional medicine with modern medical treatments represents a promising option. In this essay, methods of diagnosis and treatment of cancer have been mentioned from the viewpoint of five famous physicians before the Mongolian attack who used Islamic medicine, namely Rhazes, Akhaveyni, Ahwazi, Avicenna and Jorjani. The ideas discussed dates back to a period between the eighth and fourteenth centuries

Survival of GEJ and gastric adenocarcinoma patients admitted at Imam Khomeini and Aram oncology clinic and treated with preoperative EOX chemotherapy

Abstract Objective: We aimed to investigate safety and efficacy of preoperative chemotherapy using EOX regime in patients with locally advanced gastric and GEJ cancer who were admitted at Imam-Khomeini Oncology clinic and Aram clinic. Method: We performed a mix-cohort study in 51 gastric cancer patients. In the beginning, we performed contrast thorax and abdominal CT scan or ECO cardiograph to determine cancer staging. After that, each patient received 3-weeks EOX regime in 6 cycle. After each three cycles follow-up CT scan was performed to assess any possible progression. Response to the treatment, Overall survival, and Progression-Free Survival were the main outcomes that we evaluated in the current study. We used Kaplan-Meier approach and Cox regression to address survival rate and its prognostic factors. Results: Overall, 72.5% percent were male and mean age of study participants was 57.6. Complete response rate was observed in 11.1%, while 51.1% showed partial response. Median of overall survival and Progression-Free Survival was estimated 35.0 and 28.0 month, respectively. The 5-year overall survival was 74.2% and for PFS it was estimated at 57.7%. Conclusion: Preoperative chemotherapy using EOX regime could increase survival rate among patients with gastric and GEJ cancer

Low Level Laser Therapy in Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis: Prophylaxis or Treatment?

INTRODUCTION: Chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (COM) is a common, debilitating complication of cancer therapy. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of low level laser therapy (LLLT) on prevention of COM in patients with hematologic malignancies.METHODS: Fifty-five patients hospitalized to undergo chemotherapy in Imam Hospital were included into the study. These patients were divided into two groups. The oral cavity of the patients were illuminated by continues laser beam using a GaAlAs laser device with wavelength of 630 nm, power output 30 mW, and dose of 5 J/cm2 for six days (LLLT group). The patients in the second group underwent placebo irradiation (power output equal to zero) with the similar protocol. The severity of the COM was clinically evaluated based on WHO grading scale. The patientys’quality of life was assessed before and after the intervention according to EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire.RESULTS: The incidence of COM in LLLT group (31%) was less than the placebo group (41%). Mean duration of COM healing was 4.8 and 12 days in LLLT and placebo groups, respectively (p=0.03). Xereostomia was significantly less severe in LLLT group in comparison with the placebo group (p=0.007).CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that LLLT significantly reduced the incidence of oral mucositis of WHO grade 3 and 4 as the most debilitating form of oral mucositis,in which oral alimentation is impossible. Also, LLLT could reduce duration of oral mucositis, decreased the risk of secondary infection, and accelerated return to normal nutrition.

Are Iranians Aware of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Symptoms and Its Prevention Strategies?

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is still a health problem all over the world. Informing users about symptoms and suggesting annual inspection of CO producing devices will result in CO poisoning reduction. The goal of this study was to evaluate awareness about CO poisoning symptoms and its prevention ways in Iranian population. In this study, a total of 700 patients' family members attended Imam Khomeni hospital were asked to enroll in the study. A structured questionnaire was used including demographic characteristics, devices which were used at home, awareness of CO poisoning symptoms, awareness of CO detectors, the last time that tubal patency of devices are checked, if it is helpful to open the window to fix gas leak and if surveying devices by an expert at the beginning of the cold season is recommended. A total of 635 participants completed questionnaires. The most used device was gas water heater followed by gas heater. Five hundred and nine reported that they are aware of CO poisoning symptoms (80.1%), 398 (62.6%) stated that it is possible to detect CO leak and 566 (89.1%) told CO detectors would be helpful for reduction of mortality from CO poisoning. Fifty percent of participants had not checked their devices since they have bought their devices. Five hundred and thirty-six (84.4%) reported that opening window could help CO leak, and 596 (93.8%) agreed that an expert checked their fuel-burning devices at the beginning of the winter. Iranian people are not aware of all CO poisoning symptoms. Developing a national strategy for CO surveillance and people education will be helpful

Phytochemicals as Modulators of Paraoxonase?1 in Health and Diseases

Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), atherosclerosis, chronic liver disease, and neurodegenerative diseases are major causes of mortality. These diseases have gained much attention due to their complications, and therefore novel approaches with fewer side effects are an important research topic. Free radicals and oxidative stress are involved in the molecular mechanisms of several diseases. Antioxidants can scavenge free radicals and mitigate their adverse effects. One of the most important antioxidant enzymes are paraoxonases (PONs). These enzymes perform a wide range of physiological activities ranging from drug metabolism to detoxification of neuroleptics. Paraoxonase?1 (PON1) is produced in the liver and then transferred to the bloodstream. It has been demonstrated that PON1 could have beneficial effects in numerous diseases such as atherosclerosis, CVD, diabetes mellitus, and neurodegenerative diseases by modulating relevant signalling pathways involved in inflammation and oxidative stress. These pathways include peroxisome proliferator?activated receptor gamma (PPAR??) and protein kinase B/nuclear factor kappa?light?chain?enhancer of activated B cells (AKT/NF??B)?dependent signalling pathways. Increasing PON1 could potentially have protective effects and reduce the incidence of various diseases by modulating these signalling pathways. Several studies have reported that dietary factors are able to modulate PON1 expression and activity. This review aimed at summarizing the state of the art on the effects of dietary phytochemicals on PON1 enzyme activity and the relevant signalling pathways in different diseases

The unfinished agenda of communicable diseases among children and adolescents before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Communicable disease control has long been a focus of global health policy. There have been substantial reductions in the burden and mortality of communicable diseases among children younger than 5 years, but we know less about this burden in older children and adolescents, and it is unclear whether current programmes and policies remain aligned with targets for intervention. This knowledge is especially important for policy and programmes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to use the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 to systematically characterise the burden of communicable diseases across childhood and adolescence. METHODS: In this systematic analysis of the GBD study from 1990 to 2019, all communicable diseases and their manifestations as modelled within GBD 2019 were included, categorised as 16 subgroups of common diseases or presentations. Data were reported for absolute count, prevalence, and incidence across measures of cause-specific mortality (deaths and years of life lost), disability (years lived with disability [YLDs]), and disease burden (disability-adjusted life-years [DALYs]) for children and adolescents aged 0-24 years. Data were reported across the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and across time (1990-2019), and for 204 countries and territories. For HIV, we reported the mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) as a measure of health system performance. FINDINGS: In 2019, there were 3·0 million deaths and 30·0 million years of healthy life lost to disability (as measured by YLDs), corresponding to 288·4 million DALYs from communicable diseases among children and adolescents globally (57·3% of total communicable disease burden across all ages). Over time, there has been a shift in communicable disease burden from young children to older children and adolescents (largely driven by the considerable reductions in children younger than 5 years and slower progress elsewhere), although children younger than 5 years still accounted for most of the communicable disease burden in 2019. Disease burden and mortality were predominantly in low-SDI settings, with high and high-middle SDI settings also having an appreciable burden of communicable disease morbidity (4·0 million YLDs in 2019 alone). Three cause groups (enteric infections, lower-respiratory-tract infections, and malaria) accounted for 59·8% of the global communicable disease burden in children and adolescents, with tuberculosis and HIV both emerging as important causes during adolescence. HIV was the only cause for which disease burden increased over time, particularly in children and adolescents older than 5 years, and especially in females. Excess MIRs for HIV were observed for males aged 15-19 years in low-SDI settings. INTERPRETATION: Our analysis supports continued policy focus on enteric infections and lower-respiratory-tract infections, with orientation to children younger than 5 years in settings of low socioeconomic development. However, efforts should also be targeted to other conditions, particularly HIV, given its increased burden in older children and adolescents. Older children and adolescents also experience a large burden of communicable disease, further highlighting the need for efforts to extend beyond the first 5 years of life. Our analysis also identified substantial morbidity caused by communicable diseases affecting child and adolescent health across the world. FUNDING: The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence for Driving Investment in Global Adolescent Health and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Global, regional, and national progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 for neonatal and child health: all-cause and cause-specific mortality findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 has targeted elimination of preventable child mortality, reduction of neonatal death to less than 12 per 1000 livebirths, and reduction of death of children younger than 5 years to less than 25 per 1000 livebirths, for each country by 2030. To understand current rates, recent trends, and potential trajectories of child mortality for the next decade, we present the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 findings for all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality in children younger than 5 years of age, with multiple scenarios for child mortality in 2030 that include the consideration of potential effects of COVID-19, and a novel framework for quantifying optimal child survival. Methods We completed all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality analyses from 204 countries and territories for detailed age groups separately, with aggregated mortality probabilities per 1000 livebirths computed for neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and under-5 mortality rate (USMR). Scenarios for 2030 represent different potential trajectories, notably including potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of improvements preferentially targeting neonatal survival. Optimal child survival metrics were developed by age, sex, and cause of death across all GBD location-years. The first metric is a global optimum and is based on the lowest observed mortality, and the second is a survival potential frontier that is based on stochastic frontier analysis of observed mortality and Healthcare Access and Quality Index. Findings Global U5MR decreased from 71.2 deaths per 1000 livebirths (95% uncertainty interval WI] 68.3-74-0) in 2000 to 37.1 (33.2-41.7) in 2019 while global NMR correspondingly declined more slowly from 28.0 deaths per 1000 live births (26.8-29-5) in 2000 to 17.9 (16.3-19-8) in 2019. In 2019,136 (67%) of 204 countries had a USMR at or below the SDG 3.2 threshold and 133 (65%) had an NMR at or below the SDG 3.2 threshold, and the reference scenario suggests that by 2030,154 (75%) of all countries could meet the U5MR targets, and 139 (68%) could meet the NMR targets. Deaths of children younger than 5 years totalled 9.65 million (95% UI 9.05-10.30) in 2000 and 5.05 million (4.27-6.02) in 2019, with the neonatal fraction of these deaths increasing from 39% (3.76 million 95% UI 3.53-4.021) in 2000 to 48% (2.42 million; 2.06-2.86) in 2019. NMR and U5MR were generally higher in males than in females, although there was no statistically significant difference at the global level. Neonatal disorders remained the leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years in 2019, followed by lower respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, congenital birth defects, and malaria. The global optimum analysis suggests NMR could be reduced to as low as 0.80 (95% UI 0.71-0.86) deaths per 1000 livebirths and U5MR to 1.44 (95% UI 1-27-1.58) deaths per 1000 livebirths, and in 2019, there were as many as 1.87 million (95% UI 1-35-2.58; 37% 95% UI 32-43]) of 5.05 million more deaths of children younger than 5 years than the survival potential frontier. Interpretation Global child mortality declined by almost half between 2000 and 2019, but progress remains slower in neonates and 65 (32%) of 204 countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, are not on track to meet either SDG 3.2 target by 2030. Focused improvements in perinatal and newborn care, continued and expanded delivery of essential interventions such as vaccination and infection prevention, an enhanced focus on equity, continued focus on poverty reduction and education, and investment in strengthening health systems across the development spectrum have the potential to substantially improve USMR. Given the widespread effects of COVID-19, considerable effort will be required to maintain and accelerate progress. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd