Frequency of cataract in Iran: A meta-analysis and systematic review

PURPOSE: Cataract is the leading cause of blindness and the second cause of low vision in the world. In the world, Asia has the highest number of blind population. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the frequency of clinical cataracts in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The frequency of clinical cataract was defined based on the international criteria and the measured outcome of the disease. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. We explored PubMed, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Science, and national databases (scientific information database, Magiran) to evaluate the clinical cataract of cataract in the Iranian populations from 1995 to July 2017. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 14.0 software. RESULTS: Of 283 studies, 27 studies utilized meta-analysis. In 2017, the pooled overall frequency of clinical cataract in 59668 people was 9.27 (95 confidence interval CI: 8.09, 10.45, I2 = 98.82%). Based on subgroup analysis, in the random effect method, the frequency of clinical cataract in males and females were 8.03% (CI: 6.78, 9.28) and 8.32% (CI: 7.08, 9.55), respectively. CONCLUSION: Regarding the high frequency of clinical cataract in Iran, it seems that paying attention to the results of the current study and the application of international policy plans may contribute to better cataract control in Iran. © 2018 Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology

Atypical pityriasis rosea with unilateral presentation

Pityriasis Rosea (PR) is a common skin disease and characterized by generalized scaly eruptions typically on the trunk and proximal extremities. Atypical presentations of PR are common and can be a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Here we present a case of a 26-year-old female who presented with a sudden onset of several asymptomatic, erythematous and scaly plaques on her trunk. Plaques sized 0.5-1cm in diameter that were distributed unilaterally (right side) on her chest, back and axilla. Atypical cases of PR are fairly common and less readily recognized. Careful history, clinical evaluation and follow-up are important to avoid misdiagnosis of PR and physicians should be aware of PR variants so that appropriate management and reassurance can be offered. For atypical eruptions without a definite diagnosis, it is safer to consider lesional skin biopsy. © 2016, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. All rights reserved

Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in Eastern Mediterranean region: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the costly challenges in the health field. Despite the individual studies in the Eastern Mediterranean, there is no comprehensive study in this regard. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of GDM in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Methods: In this meta-analysis and systematic review, three international databases (PubMed, Web of science and Scopus) were searched from inception until 30 December 2018. The Hui tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Results: Thirty-three studies performed on 887166 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Based on the results of random effect method, the overall prevalence of GDM was 11.7%. Between six country with have three or more study, pooled prevalence for Saudi Arabi it was 3.6 times more than Israel (17.6 vs. 4.9%), and for Pakistan, Qatar, Bahrain and Iran were 15.3%, 14.7%, 12.2%, and 8.6%, respectively. Conclusion: Despite the high diversity of methods, the results of the present study indicate a high prevalence of GDM in the Eastern Mediterranean region, indicating more policymakers’ interest in timely screening and proper management

Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990–2017 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Health system planning requires careful assessment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemiology, but data for morbidity and mortality of this disease are scarce or non-existent in many countries. We estimated the global, regional, and national burden of CKD, as well as the burden of cardiovascular disease and gout attributable to impaired kidney function, for the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017. We use the term CKD to refer to the morbidity and mortality that can be directly attributed to all stages of CKD, and we use the term impaired kidney function to refer to the additional risk of CKD from cardiovascular disease and gout. Methods The main data sources we used were published literature, vital registration systems, end-stage kidney disease registries, and household surveys. Estimates of CKD burden were produced using a Cause of Death Ensemble model and a Bayesian meta-regression analytical tool, and included incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability, mortality, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). A comparative risk assessment approach was used to estimate the proportion of cardiovascular diseases and gout burden attributable to impaired kidney function. Findings Globally, in 2017, 1·2 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1·2 to 1·3) people died from CKD. The global all-age mortality rate from CKD increased 41·5% (95% UI 35·2 to 46·5) between 1990 and 2017, although there was no significant change in the age-standardised mortality rate (2·8%, −1·5 to 6·3). In 2017, 697·5 million (95% UI 649·2 to 752·0) cases of all-stage CKD were recorded, for a global prevalence of 9·1% (8·5 to 9·8). The global all-age prevalence of CKD increased 29·3% (95% UI 26·4 to 32·6) since 1990, whereas the age-standardised prevalence remained stable (1·2%, −1·1 to 3·5). CKD resulted in 35·8 million (95% UI 33·7 to 38·0) DALYs in 2017, with diabetic nephropathy accounting for almost a third of DALYs. Most of the burden of CKD was concentrated in the three lowest quintiles of Socio-demographic Index (SDI). In several regions, particularly Oceania, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, the burden of CKD was much higher than expected for the level of development, whereas the disease burden in western, eastern, and central sub-Saharan Africa, east Asia, south Asia, central and eastern Europe, Australasia, and western Europe was lower than expected. 1·4 million (95% UI 1·2 to 1·6) cardiovascular disease-related deaths and 25·3 million (22·2 to 28·9) cardiovascular disease DALYs were attributable to impaired kidney function. Interpretation Kidney disease has a major effect on global health, both as a direct cause of global morbidity and mortality and as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. CKD is largely preventable and treatable and deserves greater attention in global health policy decision making, particularly in locations with low and middle SDI

Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017

Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2—to end preventable child deaths by 2030—we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends. Here we quantified, for the period 2000–2017, the subnational variation in mortality rates and number of deaths of neonates, infants and children under 5 years of age within 99 low- and middle-income countries using a geostatistical survival model. We estimated that 32% of children under 5 in these countries lived in districts that had attained rates of 25 or fewer child deaths per 1,000 live births by 2017, and that 58% of child deaths between 2000 and 2017 in these countries could have been averted in the absence of geographical inequality. This study enables the identification of high-mortality clusters, patterns of progress and geographical inequalities to inform appropriate investments and implementations that will help to improve the health of all populations

Global, regional, and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-Adjusted life-years for 29 cancer groups, 1990 to 2017 : A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study

Importance: Cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are now widely recognized as a threat to global development. The latest United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs reaffirmed this observation and also highlighted the slow progress in meeting the 2011 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the third Sustainable Development Goal. Lack of situational analyses, priority setting, and budgeting have been identified as major obstacles in achieving these goals. All of these have in common that they require information on the local cancer epidemiology. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study is uniquely poised to provide these crucial data. Objective: To describe cancer burden for 29 cancer groups in 195 countries from 1990 through 2017 to provide data needed for cancer control planning. Evidence Review: We used the GBD study estimation methods to describe cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-Adjusted life-years (DALYs). Results are presented at the national level as well as by Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income, educational attainment, and total fertility rate. We also analyzed the influence of the epidemiological vs the demographic transition on cancer incidence. Findings: In 2017, there were 24.5 million incident cancer cases worldwide (16.8 million without nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC]) and 9.6 million cancer deaths. The majority of cancer DALYs came from years of life lost (97%), and only 3% came from years lived with disability. The odds of developing cancer were the lowest in the low SDI quintile (1 in 7) and the highest in the high SDI quintile (1 in 2) for both sexes. In 2017, the most common incident cancers in men were NMSC (4.3 million incident cases); tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer (1.5 million incident cases); and prostate cancer (1.3 million incident cases). The most common causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for men were TBL cancer (1.3 million deaths and 28.4 million DALYs), liver cancer (572000 deaths and 15.2 million DALYs), and stomach cancer (542000 deaths and 12.2 million DALYs). For women in 2017, the most common incident cancers were NMSC (3.3 million incident cases), breast cancer (1.9 million incident cases), and colorectal cancer (819000 incident cases). The leading causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for women were breast cancer (601000 deaths and 17.4 million DALYs), TBL cancer (596000 deaths and 12.6 million DALYs), and colorectal cancer (414000 deaths and 8.3 million DALYs). Conclusions and Relevance: The national epidemiological profiles of cancer burden in the GBD study show large heterogeneities, which are a reflection of different exposures to risk factors, economic settings, lifestyles, and access to care and screening. The GBD study can be used by policy makers and other stakeholders to develop and improve national and local cancer control in order to achieve the global targets and improve equity in cancer care. © 2019 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Effects of Seed Priming on Germination and Seedling Growth of Cucurbit (Cucurbita pepo) Medical Plants under Salinity Stress

In order to investigate the Cucurbit seed germination and seedling vigor improvement affected by different salinities in Yasouj University in 2011. A factorial experiment was conducted in base of complete randomized design. The first factor was osmopriming by KNO3 and KH2PO4 (1 & 3%) and (-5 & -10 bar) and hydro priming by distilled water and control with out priming. The second was five levels of salinities (0, 50, 100,150 and 200 mM NaCl). Data variance analysis of this research showed that the interaction between priming and salinity stress had more significant effect on all seed germination traits, seedling growth and some physiological characteristics. Results showed that Cucurbit was not saline sensitive in germination stage. Furthermore Cucurbit seed priming by PEG (-5 bar) in saline stress improved shoot dry weight. Osmopriming by PEG (-5 bar) and hydro priming increased total chlorophyll in 150 mM NaCl rather than control significantly. Generally, we could recommend PEG (-5 bar), KNO3 (1%) and hydro priming on Cucurbit for good germination and seedling growth of in saline conditions among the priming types that studied in this research

The Effect of Planting Date on Some Quantitative and Qualitative Traits of Nine Grain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) Cultivars in Yasouj Region

In order to investigate the effect of planting date on yield and yield components of grain sorghum cultivars, a factorial experiment was conducted at Research Farm of Yasouj University, in 2010, based on randomized complete blocks design and three replications. The studied factors included nine sorghum cultivars (SOR 1003, SOR 834, SOR 808, SOR 1008, SOR 1011, SOR 1009, SOR 1006, SOR 857 and SOR 838) and three planting dates (20 May and 5 and 20 June). The results showed that the interaction effects of cultivar and planting date on yield and yield components and some of the studied physiologic and morphologic traits were significant (P≤0.01). The highest yield (863 g/m2), chlorophyll content, panicle length and number of grains per panicle (2191) were obtained from the planting date of 5 June in SOR 834 cultivar. The highest number of fertile tillers (10), carotenoid and chlorophyll b was produced by SOR 1003 cultivar and planting dates of 5 June, 20 June and 20 May, respectively. The SOR 834 cultivar and planting date of 20 June produced the highest 1000-seed weight (28.55 g). According to the results, planting date of 5 June and SOR 834 sorghum cultivar is recommendable in Yasouj region and similar agro-climatic conditions

Quality of life of diabetic patients with smear positive PTB in southeastern Iran: A cross-sectional study in a poor region of Iran

Background: The quality of life is an important indicator of quality of care in chronic diseases such as diabetes and TB. The present research is conducted with an aim to assess the Quality of Life of Diabetic Patients with Smear Positive PTB. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 62 diabetic patients with smear positive PTB from January to May 2016 in a diabetes clinic in Zahedan city (southeast of Iran). A simple random sampling method was used in this study. Instrument for data collection was quality of life (SF-36) questioner. Results: Total quality of life score was 48 that showed an average level of quality of life. Sixty-five patients with diabetes and affected by smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) with the average age of 51.30 ± 10.84 years participated in this research. Four patients (0.06) suffered from type 1 diabetes and 58 (94) from type 2 diabetes, and all of them were smear positive PTB patients. Study of their quality of life revealed that, in general, the average scores for quality of life in the two main subgroups of physical health and mental health were lower than the average and, among the eight studied dimensions, the highest scores were those for physical activity (60 ± 14.23) and the lowest (31.42 ± 12.14) for general health in the subgroup of physical health. Conclusion: Results indicated that the patients had a low quality of life although they received the care and treatments that are effective in patients with diabetes and suffering from smear-positive PTB. © 2017 Tuberculosis Association of Indi