Personal Protective Equipment for Endoscopy in Low-Resource Settings During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Guidance From the World Gastroenterology Organisation.

Performance of endoscopic procedures is associated with a risk of infection from COVID-19. This risk can be reduced by the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). However, shortage of PPE has emerged as an important issue in managing the pandemic in both traditionally high and low-resource areas.

Opium use and the risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Scant evidence exists to support the association of opium use with head and neck cancer, limited to the larynx and oral cavity. In a multicenter case-control study-Iran Opium and Cancer study, we recruited 633 cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) (254 lip and oral cavity, 54 pharynx, 327 larynx and 28 other subsites within the head and neck) and 3065 frequency-matched controls from April 2016 to April 2019. Odds ratios (ORs) for opium use and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were obtained using mixed-effects logistic regression because of heterogeneity among centers.

Effectiveness of Polypill for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (PolyPars): Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in Iran. A fixed-dose combination therapy (polypill) was proposed as a cost-effective strategy for CVD prevention, especially in lower-resource settings. We conducted the PolyPars trial to assess the effectiveness and safety of polypill for prevention of CVD.

Joint effect of diabetes and opiate use on all-cause and cause-specific mortality: the Golestan cohort study.

Background: Many diabetic individuals use prescription and non-prescription opioids and opiates. We aimed to investigate the joint effect of diabetes and opiate use on all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

Methods: Golestan Cohort study is a prospective population-based study in Iran.

A simple risk-based strategy for hepatitis C virus screening among incarcerated people in a low- to middle-income setting.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is among the highest priority diseases in custodial settings; however, the diagnosis remains suboptimal among people in custody. This study aimed to validate a short survey for identifying people with HCV infection in a provincial prison in Iran.

Methods: Between July and December 2018, residents and newly admitted inmates of Gorgan central prison completed a questionnaire, including data on the history of HCV testing, drug use, injecting drug use, sharing injecting equipment, and imprisonment.

Shielding characteristics of nanocomposites for protection against X- and gamma rays in medical applications: effect of particle size, photon energy and nano-particle concentration.

In recent decades, nanomaterials have been extensively investigated for many applications. Composites doped with different metal nanoparticles have been suggested as effective shielding materials to replace conventional lead-based materials. The use of concretes as structural and radiation protective material has been influenced by the addition of nanomaterials.

Metalation of a rice type 1 metallothionein isoform (OsMTI-1b).

The simultaneously functions of Metallothioneins (MTs) are relied on their metalation mechanisms that can be divided into non-cooperative, weakly cooperative and strongly cooperative mechanisms. In this study, we recombinantly synthesized OsMTI-1b, N- and C-terminal Cys-rich regions as glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-fusion proteins in E. coli.

The profile of Rafsanjan Cohort Study.

Owning the largest human-made jungle of pistachio, the second largest copper mine, and being located on the trade route of opium transit, distinguish Rafsanjan from many other cities in Iran. The environmental exposures and lifestyle factors associated with these characteristics of Rafsanjan, have raised concern about possible health outcomes for individuals living in and around this city. Thus, local health authorities initiated the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS), as part of the prospective epidemiological research studies in IrAN (PERSIAN).

Proactive agenda setting in creation and approval of national action plan for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Iran: The use of multiple streams model.

Objectives: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are the largest and fastest growing threat to human health. Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) established the Iranian Non-Communicable Diseases Committee (INCDC) in 2015 to tackle the high burden of NCDs. In line with the WHO's Global Action Plan, the INCDC developed "The National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of NCDs" and the related risk factors in Iran, 2015-2025", which was then revised to cover until 2030.

Prediction of Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in a Middle Eastern Country: Performance of the Globorisk and Score Functions in Four Population-Based Cohort Studies of Iran.

Background: Considering the importance of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction for healthcare systems and the limited information available in the Middle East, we evaluated the SCORE and Globorisk models to predict CVD death in a country of this region.

Methods: We included 24 427 participants (11 187 men) aged 40-80 years from four population-based cohorts in Iran. Updating approaches were used to recalibrate the baseline survival and the overall effect of the predictors of the models.

Assessment of Genetic Aspects of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver and Premature Cardiovascular Events.

Recent evidence has demonstrated a strong interplay and multifaceted relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is the major cause of death in patients with NAFLD. NAFLD also has strong associations with diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Household Fuel Use and the Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancers: The Golestan Cohort Study.

Background: Three billion people burn nonclean fuels for household purposes. Limited evidence suggests a link between household fuel use and gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between indoor burning of biomass, kerosene, and natural gas with the subsequent risk of GI cancers.

Ethical predictability of patient safety in Iranian hospitals.

Background: Receiving safe health care services is among the first rights of patients. Ethical predictability is influential to identify the patient safety concerns in hospitals.

Objective: This study aimed to ascertain and compare ethical predictability of patient safety in selected hospitals in Mazandaran Province in Iran.

Recent cancer incidence trends and short-term predictions in Golestan, Iran 2004-2025.

Background: We examine recent trends in the major cancers occurring in the Golestan province, a high-risk region for upper gastrointestinal cancers in Northern Iran, and provide short-term cancer predictions of the future cancer burden.

Methods: New cancer cases diagnosed in Golestan 2004-2016 were obtained from the Golestan population-based cancer registry (GPCR) database, and age-standardized rates by cancer site, year and sex calculated per 100,000 person-years. Using IARC's DepPred package we fitted time-linear age-period models to the available GPCR data to predict the cancer incidence burden in the year 2025.

Trends in the Incidence of Stomach Cancer in Golestan Province, a High-risk Area in Northern Iran, 2004-2016.

Background: We aimed to present the temporal and geographical trends in the incidence of stomach cancer in the Golestan province, a high-risk area in Northern Iran.

Methods: This study was conducted on stomach cancer cases registered in the Golestan Population-based Cancer Registry (GPCR) during 2004-2016. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) per 100000 person-years were calculated.

Fruits and vegetables intake and gastric cancer risk: A pooled analysis within the Stomach cancer Pooling Project.

A low intake of fruits and vegetables is a risk factor for gastric cancer, although there is uncertainty regarding the magnitude of the associations. In our study, the relationship between fruits and vegetables intake and gastric cancer was assessed, complementing a previous work on the association betweenconsumption of citrus fruits and gastric cancer. Data from 25 studies (8456 cases and 21 133 controls) with information on fruits and/or vegetables intake were used.

The Utility of rRT-PCR in Diagnosis and Assessment of Case-fatality rates of COVID-19 In the Iranian Population. Positive Test Results are a Marker for Illness Severity.

The utility of PCR-based testing in characterizing patients with COVID-19 and the severity of their disease remains unknown. We performed an observational study among patients presenting to hospitals in Iran who were tested for 2019-nCoV viral RNA by rRT-PCR between the fourth week of February 2020 to the fourth week of March 2020. Frequency of symptoms, comorbidities, intubation, and mortality rates were compared between COVID-19 positive vs.

Prevalence of drug use, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and measure of socioeconomic-related inequalities of drug use among Iranian people: findings from a national survey.

Background: Drug use can lead to several psychological, medical and social complications. The current study aimed to measure and decomposes socioeconomic-related inequalities in drug use among adults in Iran.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study The PERSIAN Cohort is the largest and most important cohort among 18 distinct areas of Iran.

Effect of Storage Temperature and Time on Stability of Liver Enzymes in Blood Serum.

Background: It is increasingly common to collect and store specimens for future unspecified research. However, the effects of prolonged storage on the stability and quality of analytes in serum have not been well investigated. We aimed to determine whether the stability of liver enzymes extracted from frozen bio-samples stored at the baseline is affected by storage conditions.

Smoking Water-Pipe, Opium Use and Prevalence of Heart Disease: A Cross-sectional Analysis of Baseline Data from the Pars Cohort Study, Southern Iran.

Background: Associations between hookah and opium use and an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) have been suggested in a few studies, but more research is needed on the nature of these associations. We aimed to investigate the association between hookah and opium use and the prevalence of IHD in a population with relatively high prevalence of these exposures in Iran.

Methods: Using baseline data from the Pars Cohort Study (PCS), a prospective study of individuals aged 40-75 years in Fars province, southern Iran, we calculated adjusted and crude odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the independent association of hookah and opium use with prevalence of IHD.

Opium use and subsequent incidence of cancer: results from the Golestan Cohort Study.

Background: Evidence is emerging for a role of opiates in various cancers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between regular opium use and cancer incidence.

Methods: This study was done in a population-based cohort of 50 045 individuals aged 40-75 years from northeast Iran.

Development of Evaluation System for Iranian Health Research Networks: Challenges and Lessons Learned.

Background: Health research networks (HRNs) are critical components of large-scale systems of production and validation of scientific evidence. As evaluation of research systems is a reliable process to measure efficiency and effectiveness of their activities, we aimed to report the processes of development of evaluation indicators' for Iranian health research networks and the results of conducted assessment.

Methods: In 2017, for the first time, aim to develop the evaluation framework for national HRNs, following the qualitative approach to assess the quality of research we designed the peer review method as one of the most important tools.

Ethical issues in cluster randomized trials conducted in low- and middle-income countries: an analysis of two case studies.

Background: Cluster randomized trials are common in health research in low- and middle-income countries raising issues that challenge interpretation of standard ethical guidelines. While the Ottawa Statement on the ethical design and conduct of cluster randomized trials provides guidance for researchers and research ethics committees, it does not explicitly focus on low- and middle-income settings.

Main Body: In this paper, we use the lens of the Ottawa Statement to analyze two cluster randomized trials conducted in low- and middle-income settings in order to identify gaps or ethical issues requiring further analysis and guidance.