Lead poisoning among opium users in Iran: an emerging health hazard

Background Lead (Pb) poisoning among people using opium has been an increasing problem in Iran. The present study highlights the clinical effects of lead toxicity associated with opium use in Iran, Kerman province. Methods Between January 2016 and June 2016, patients with signs and symptoms of Pb poisoning were questioned to assess whether they had a history of opium dependency. In total, 249 patients were enrolled onto this cross-sectional study, all were opium dependent. Para-clinical data including blood lead level (BLL), demographic information, user preferences, and symptoms were obtained. Results The patients used either opium (83.9%), refined opium (6.4%) or a combination of both (9.7%) via ingestion (71.9%), smoking (8.4%) or a combination of both (19.7%). The overall median BLL was 80.0 μg/dL [IQR: 51.7–119.0]. The median BLL did not differ significantly between opium and refined opium users. Further, BLL was not significantly affected by the type of substance, route of use, duration of use, or daily quantity consumed. Common symptoms included abdominal pain (86.9%), constipation (75.8%), anorexia (71.5%) and nausea (54.7%). Linear regression analysis showed log of BLL was significantly associated with abdominal pain, myalgia and anorexia. Conclusions The study unravelled an increase in opium-related Pb poisoning in the Kerman province. Raised awareness of this emerging Pb source and investigation of its aetiology is recommended. Pb poisoning should be considered among the primary differential diagnosis of opium users with gastrointestinal symptoms.publishedVersio

The Relationship between Burnout and Mental Health of Employees Working in Khorshid Educational and Therapeutic Complex, Isfahan, Iran

Background: Promotion of workplace mental health is one of the most important aspects of human resource improvement and development, and in recent decades, organizations' attention to healthy physical and intellectual forces in economic, educational, service, and industrial institutions has had an undeniable role in increasing productivity. This study was conducted with the aim to investigate the relationship between burnout and mental health at Khorshid Educational and Research Complex, Iran. Methods: This study was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive correlational in terms of the data collection method. The study population included all employees working in Khorshid Hospital in 2020 who had at least a diploma and 3 years of work experience. From among them, 255 individuals were selected as the sample. The participants were selected through convenience sampling and non-contingent methods. The participants were selected from among the staff who met the inclusion criteria through an easy sampling method. The required information in this study was collected using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and the ‎Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R)‎. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and chi-square test in SPSS software. Results: There was a significant relationship between personality and neuroticism with burnout (P < 0.001). There was a significant relationship between burnout and overall mental health and decreased mental health (P<0.001). There was no significant relationship between "poor social performance" with burnout; ‎"physicalization", "anxiety and insomnia", and "degree ‎of depression had a significant relationship with ‎burnout (P < 0.001). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, there was a relationship between burnout, and mental health and personality traits in the educational and therapeutic complex. Employees with higher burnout and neuroticism personality traits showed reduced mental health

Sleep Duration as the Main Indicator of Self-Rated Wellness and Health among Healthcare Workers Involved in the COVID-19 Pandemic

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed during the COVID-19 pandemic to better understand the indicators of self-rated wellness and health among healthcare workers. METHODS: Sleep pattern, mood status, nutritional condition, physical activity, habits and the subjective wellness and health index of the healthcare workers of a university affiliated hospital were surveyed. Paired RESULTS: Of the 200 healthcare workers who participated in this study, 119 (60%) were female and 81 (40%) were male, with a mean (SD) age of 28.8 (5.9) years. We found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed many lifestyle factors compared to the pre-pandemic states. The scores of sleep quality, mood status, pre-planned physical activity and social activity were reduced by 30%, 40%, 50% and 70%, respectively. The average night sleep duration before the pandemic was 7 h and 22 min, whereas during the pandemic it decreased to 6 h and 44 min, a debt of 38 min in sleep duration every night. As found by multivariable regression modelling, self-reported wellness and health before the pandemic period was associated with wake-up time, mood status, physical activity and diet. During the pandemic period, in addition to these variables, night sleep duration (β = 0.049, CONCLUSION: COVID-19 has detrimentally affected healthcare workers\u27 well-being and quality of life. Sleep duration was the main factor correlated with subjective wellness and health index during the current COVID-19 pandemic

Skin manifestations in sulfur mustard exposed victims with ophthalmologic complications: Association between early and late phase

Context: Sulfur mustard (SM) was used during the Iraq-Iran war (1980–1988). Exposed veterans continue to suffer from its ocular, skin, and respiratory complications. Objective: We aimed to evaluate associations between early (at the time of acute exposure) and decades later skin manifestations in individuals with severe ophthalmologic complications secondary to sulfur mustard exposure. Materials and methods: One hundred forty-nine veterans with severe ocular injuries were evaluated for acute and chronic skin complications. Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between early and late skin manifestations. Results: Late skin complaints were observed in nearly all survivors who had early skin lesions (131 out of 137; 95.62%). Seven out of 12 patients (58.33%) who did not have early skin lesions ultimately developed late skin complications. There was a significant relationship between the presence of lesions at the time of exposure and developing late skin complaints (two-sided Fisher's exact test, OR = 15.59, p < 0.001). There was an association between having at least one early skin lesion and occurrence of late skin complications. Survivors with blisters at the time of chemical exposure were more likely to complain of itching (95% CI: 3.63–25.97, p < 0.001), burning (OR = 11.16; 95% CI: 2.97–41.89, p < 0.001), pigmentation changes (OR = 10.17; 95% CI: 2.54–40.75, p = 0.001), dryness (OR = 6.71, 95% CI: 1.22–37.01, p = 0.03) or cherry angioma (OR = 2.59; 95% CI:1.21–5.55, p = 0.01) during the late phase. Using multivariate logistic models, early blisters remained significantly associated with latent skin complaints. Of note, the genitalia and great flexure areas were the most involved anatomical sites for both early and late skin lesions in SM exposed survivors. Conclusion: According to this study, the presence of blisters at the time of exposure to SM is the most important predictor of developing dermatologic complications decades later in patients with severe ophthalmologic complications from sulfur mustard exposure. Keywords: Skin manifestations, Ophthalmologic complications, Sulfur mustar

Lead poisoning among opium users in Iran: an emerging health hazard

Background Lead (Pb) poisoning among people using opium has been an increasing problem in Iran. The present study highlights the clinical effects of lead toxicity associated with opium use in Iran, Kerman province. Methods Between January 2016 and June 2016, patients with signs and symptoms of Pb poisoning were questioned to assess whether they had a history of opium dependency. In total, 249 patients were enrolled onto this cross-sectional study, all were opium dependent. Para-clinical data including blood lead level (BLL), demographic information, user preferences, and symptoms were obtained. Results The patients used either opium (83.9%), refined opium (6.4%) or a combination of both (9.7%) via ingestion (71.9%), smoking (8.4%) or a combination of both (19.7%). The overall median BLL was 80.0 μg/dL [IQR: 51.7–119.0]. The median BLL did not differ significantly between opium and refined opium users. Further, BLL was not significantly affected by the type of substance, route of use, duration of use, or daily quantity consumed. Common symptoms included abdominal pain (86.9%), constipation (75.8%), anorexia (71.5%) and nausea (54.7%). Linear regression analysis showed log of BLL was significantly associated with abdominal pain, myalgia and anorexia. Conclusions The study unravelled an increase in opium-related Pb poisoning in the Kerman province. Raised awareness of this emerging Pb source and investigation of its aetiology is recommended. Pb poisoning should be considered among the primary differential diagnosis of opium users with gastrointestinal symptoms