High-titer rheumatologic markers in serum of veterans with severe pulmonary complications 25-30 years after sulfur mustard exposure.

Sulfur mustard (SM), known as the "king of toxic agents," continues to pose a potential danger due to its ability to cause widespread damage, including ongoing corrosive effects. We aimed to determine the rheumatologic markers in SM veterans suffering from severe pulmonary manifestations. The serologic markers, including ANA, anti-DNA, rheumatoid factor (RF), and CRP, between SM-exposed veterans (n = 229) with severe problems and not-SM-exposed residents with no pulmonary disease history (n = 63), 25-30 years after SM exposure were compared.

Predicting maternal healthcare seeking behaviour in Afghanistan: exploring sociodemographic factors and women's knowledge of severity of illness.

Background: Little is known whether women's knowledge of perceived severity of illness and sociodemographic characteristics of women influence healthcare seeking behavior for maternal health services in Afghanistan. The aim of this study was to address this knowledge gap.

Methods: Data were used from the Afghanistan Health Survey 2018.

Direct nano-imaging of light-matter interactions in nanoscale excitonic emitters.

Strong light-matter interactions in localized nano-emitters placed near metallic mirrors have been widely reported via spectroscopic studies in the optical far-field. Here, we report a near-field nano-spectroscopic study of localized nanoscale emitters on a flat Au substrate. Using quasi 2-dimensional CdSe/CdZnS nanoplatelets, we observe directional propagation on the Au substrate of surface plasmon polaritons launched from the excitons of the nanoplatelets as wave-like fringe patterns in the near-field photoluminescence maps.

Long-term Health Outcomes Among Survivors Exposed to Sulfur Mustard in Iran.

Importance: The prevalence and severity of long-term health complications after exposure to sulfur mustard are unknown.

Objective: To investigate the long-term health outcomes among survivors exposed to sulfur mustard during the Iran-Iraq War.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this retrospective cohort study, late-onset health complications of 64 190 Iranian survivors exposed to sulfur mustard during the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988 were investigated using descriptive statistics.

National and subnational estimates of coverage and travel time to emergency obstetric care in Afghanistan: Modeling of spatial accessibility.

In Afghanistan, the risk of maternal death is among the highest in the world, with wide variation across the country. One explanation may be wide geographic disparities in access and use of maternal health care services. This study describes the spatial distribution of public facilities providing maternal health care in Afghanistan, specifically emergency obstetric care (EmOC), and the differences in travel time estimates using different transportation modes from 2010 to 2015 at the national and subnational levels.

Quality of care in prevention, detection and management of postpartum hemorrhage in hospitals in Afghanistan: an observational assessment.

Background: Hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide and accounts for 56% of maternal deaths in Afghanistan. Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is commonly caused by uterine atony, genital tract trauma, retained placenta, and coagulation disorders. The purpose of this study is to examine the quality of prevention, detection and management of PPH in both public and private hospitals in Afghanistan in 2016, and compare the quality of care in district hospitals with care in provincial, regional, and specialty hospitals.

Tear and serum interleukin-8 and serum CX3CL1, CCL2 and CCL5 in sulfur mustard eye-exposed patients.

Background: The serum and tear levels of four inflammatory chemokines were evaluated in sulfur mustard (SM)-exposed with serious ocular problems.

Materials And Methods: In this study, 128 SM-exposed patients and 31 healthy control participants participated. Tear and serum levels of chemokines were assessed by ELISA method.

Quality of essential newborn care and neonatal resuscitation at health facilities in Afghanistan: a cross-sectional assessment.

Objective: To assess readiness and quality of essential newborn care and neonatal resuscitation practices in public health facilities in Afghanistan.

Design: Cross-sectional assessment.

Setting: 226 public health facilities in Afghanistan, including 77 public health facilities with at least five births per day (high-volume facilities) and 149 of 1736 public health facilities with fewer than five births per day (low-volume facilities).

Chronic musculoskeletal pain, phantom sensation, phantom and stump pain in veterans with unilateral below-knee amputation.

Background And Aims: Many individuals with lower limb loss report concerns about other musculoskeletal symptoms resulting from amputation. The objective of this study was to assess chronic musculoskeletal pain in Iranian veterans with unilateral below-knee amputation.

Methods: The participants agreed to take part in a health needs assessment and were interviewed face-to-face by trained interviewers.

Altered levels of GST activity, Vit C, TPX and Cu in individuals with long-term sulfur mustard-induced lung complications.

Context: Sulfur mustard (SM) as a cytotoxic and blistering agent can alkylate a variety of cellular components, causing the incidence of ongoing oxidative stress.

Objective: The present study was conducted to assess oxidative stress index (OSI) in SM-exposed veterans with long-term pulmonary complications.

Methods: Participants consisted of 289 SM-exposed individuals with pulmonary complications (classified into three groups: mild, moderate and severe) and 66 healthy individuals as the control group.

Assessment of orthotic needs in Iranian veterans with ankle and foot disorders.

Background: War-related traumas can lead to orthopedic and neurological disorders in victims. However, the scope of such disorders may expand months or even years after the trauma. Orthotic treatment as a rehabilitation process aims to enable people with disabilities to reach and maintain their optimal physical, sensory, intellectual, psychological, and social functional levels.

MicroRNA expression in serum samples of sulfur mustard veterans as a diagnostic gateway to improve care.

Sulfur mustard is a vesicant chemical warfare agent, which has been used during Iraq-Iran-war. Many veterans and civilians still suffer from long-term complications of sulfur mustard exposure, especially in their lung. Although the lung lesions of these patients are similar to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), there are some differences due to different etiology and clinical care.

Assistive technologies for pain management in people with amputation: a literature review.

The prevalence of limb amputation is increasing globally as a devastating experience that can physically and psychologically affect the lifestyle of a person. The residual limb pain and phantom limb pain are common disabling sequelae after amputation surgery. Assistive devices/technologies can be used to relieve pain in people with amputation.

DNA damage and repair proteins in cellular response to sulfur mustard in Iranian veterans more than two decades after exposure.

Delayed effects of sulfur mustard (SM) exposure on the levels of five important damage/repair proteins were investigated in 40 SM-exposed veterans of Iran-Iraq war and 35 unexposed controls. A major DNA damage biomarker protein - phosphorylated H2AX - along with four DNA repair proteins in cell response to the genome damage MRE11, NBS1, RAD51, and XPA were evaluated in blood lymphocytes from the veterans and controls using western blotting. Mean levels of XPA, MRE11, RAD51 and NBS1 were lower in SM-exposed patients and the decrease in NBS1 was significant.

Antibacterial Efficacy of Different Concentrations of Sodium Hypochlorite Gel and Solution on Biofilm.

Introduction: This study compared the antibacterial efficacy of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite gel and 2.5% and 5.

Down-regulation of TGF-b1, TGF-b receptor 2, and TGF-b-associated microRNAs, miR-20a and miR-21, in skin lesions of sulfur mustard-exposed Iranian war veterans.

Sulfur mustard (SM) affects divergent cellular pathways including cell cycle, apoptosis, necrosis, and inflammatory responses. SM-induced lesions in skin include late-onset hyper-pigmentation, xerosis, and atrophy. It seems that TGF-b signaling pathway is a major player for SM pathogenesis.

Identification of Reliable Reference Genes for Quantification of MicroRNAs in Serum Samples of Sulfur Mustard-Exposed Veterans.

Objective: In spite of accumulating information about pathological aspects of sulfur mustard (SM), the precise mechanism responsible for its effects is not well understood. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are promising biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis. Accurate normalization using appropriate reference genes, is a critical step in miRNA expression studies.

Epidemiological Study of Child Casualties of Landmines and Unexploded Ordnances: A National Study from Iran.

Background: Despite landmine-risk education programs and extensive demining activities on the Western border of Iran, landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) still cause civilian and child casualties three decades after the Iraq-Iran war (1980-1988). The objective of this study was to understand the epidemiological patterns and risk factors of injury in child casualties of landmines and UXOs in Western and Southwestern Iran.

Methods: Children who were 18 years old or younger at the time of study and who sustained injuries from landmines and UXOs were identified through a search at the Iranian National Veterans Registry.

Detection of legionella contamination in tabriz hospitals by PCR assay.

Purpose: The present study was designed to evaluate the occurrence of Legionella contamination in the tap water of Tabriz hospitals, Azerbaijan, Iran.

Methods: One hundred and forty water samples from diverse water supply systems of 17 hospitals were collected and analyzed for the presence of Legionella spp. by PCR assay.

Comparison of in Vitro Activity of Doripenem versus Old Carbapenems against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Clinical Isolates from both CF and Burn Patients.

Purpose: The antimicrobial activity of doripenem in comparison of imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem among Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burn and Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients were determined.

Methods: Metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) genes in imipenem non susceptible P. aeruginosa isolates were detected using PCR method.

Study of the carbapenem resistance mechanisms in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii: comparison of burn and non-burn strains.

We examined the prevalence of various carbapenem resistance mechanisms in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii collected from hospitalized burn and non-burn patients. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for 43 burn and 32 non-burn isolates. Carbapenem resistance genes were identified and repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP-PCR) was used to define clonal relatedness.

Long-term effects of sulfur mustard on civilians' mental health 20 years after exposure (The Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study).

Background: Sulfur mustard (SM) is an alkylating agent that induces short and long term toxicity on various organs. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term psychological symptoms among samples of exposed to sulfur mustard gas compared with unexposed civilians 20 years after exposure.

Methods: This historical cohort study was conducted on 495 civilians of Sardasht and Rabat in two age matched groups, including 367 sulfur mustard exposed participants from Sardasht and 128 unexposed subjects from Rabat.

Long term impact of sulfur mustard exposure on peripheral blood mononuclear subpopulations--Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study (SICS).

The most important long-term morbidity problem of sulfur mustard (SM) toxicity is pulmonary complications but the pathogenesis of these complications is not clearly understood. This study evaluates the peripheral blood mononuclear sub-sets and their correlation with pulmonary function in SM exposed civilian cases 20 years post-exposure as gathered in the context of the Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study (SICS). Samples were randomly selected from two groups, SM-exposed (n=372) and control (n=128), with the same ethnicity, culture, and demography.