An overview of Iran's actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in building health system resilience.

This article is part of the Research Topic 'Health Systems Recovery in the Context of COVID-19 and Protracted Conflict'. The considerable human, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19 have demonstrated a global lack of health system resilience, highlighting gaps in health system capacities due to fragmented approaches to health system financing, planning, and implementation. One of the key actions for ensuring equitable essential health services in all countries in normal situations as well as emergencies is through strengthening the primary healthcare (PHC) system.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Demographics: A Middle Eastern Multinational Cross-sectional Study.

: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most frequent functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the different aspects of IBS among Middle Eastern residents. : During the study period, patients attending gastroenterology clinics of nine tertiary referral centers in four Middle Eastern couturiers (Iran, Egypt, Kuwait, and Turkey) were evaluated by Rome IV diagnostic criteria, and those who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of IBS were asked to fill in a questionnaire covering different demographics and clinical aspects.

Comparative Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Acupuncture and Cupping for Treatment of Patients with Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome: A Double-blinded, Randomized Clinical Trial: Comparison of the Effects of LLL Acupuncture and Cupping.

Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS) is among the most common causes of facial pain. This study compared the efficacy of low-level laser (LLL) acupuncture and cupping for the treatment of MPDS. This double-blind, before-after, randomized clinical trial evaluated 60 MPDS patients that were divided into two groups for LLL acupuncture (808 nm, 0.

The Effect of High-Power and Low-Power Lasers on Symptoms and the Nerve Conduction Study in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. A Prospective Randomized Single-Blind Clinical Trial.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment. Various treatments have been suggested for CTS and there is no consensus on their superiority and the order of their use. Laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment method for many musculoskeletal diseases, including CTS.

Intrarater reliability of musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging of psoas major muscle in patients with subacute low back pain and healthy controls.

Psoas major (PM) is a challenging muscle from the functional and anatomical point of view. The dysfunction of this muscle can result in low back pain (LBP). This study aimed to assess the intrarater reliability of ultrasound imaging (USI) of PM muscle thickness in subacute LBP patients and healthy participants without LBP in rest and during muscle contraction conditions.

Oligopin® Supplementation Mitigates Oxidative Stress in Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Evidence indicates a close association between oxidative stress and the etiopathogenesis of osteopenia. In vitro and animal studies report that Oligopin®, an extract of French maritime pine bark extract, has beneficial effects on oxidative stress.

Purpose: Here, we aimed to determine whether supplementation with Oligopin® affects bone turnover markers, antioxidant enzymes, and oxidative stress markers in these patients.

Correction to: Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae among healthy carriers and clinical patients: a systematic review from Iran.

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-020-04084-3.

Occupational categories and cardiovascular diseases incidences: a cohort study in Iranian population.

Introduction: In spite of traditional cardiovascular risk factor, the different occupations can play an important role in cardiovascular disease (CVDs) incidence. We aimed to assess the correlation between the occupational classes, based on the International Standard Classification of Occupation (ISCO), and CVDs in Iran as a developing country.

Methods: We followed the 2440 men, aged 35-65 years and without history of CVDs over fourteen years; 2001 to 2015 during the Isfahan Cohort Study.

Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae among healthy carriers and clinical patients: a systematic review from Iran.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is associated with high morbidity and mortality in the world. Commercially licensed and available pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) contain 10 (PCV10) and 13 (PCV13) pneumococcal serotypes. The most common serotypes of S.

Balance function after cochlear implant and inner ear anomaly: Comparison of dynamic posturography.

Introduction: Patients with sensorineural hearing loss suffer concomitant vestibular dysfunction that is more prevalent in patients with inner ear anomaly and could be aggravated with cochlear implantation. To assess the vestibular dysfunction in patients with cochlear implantation, we compared their results with those of patients with and without inner ear anomaly.

Materials And Methods: This is a historical cohort study lasting for 20 years on 50 patients with cochlear implantation.

Customized birthweight standard for an Iranian population.

Objective: To produce a customized birthweight standard for Iran.

Method: Retrospective study of a pregnancy database collected from five hospitals across Iran. The cohort consisted of 4994 consecutive term births with complete data, delivered between July 2013 and November 2014.

Effects of Different Frequencies of Whole Body Vibration on Repositioning Error in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain in Different Angles of Lumbar Flexion.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of high and low frequency of whole body vibration (WBV) on repositioning error in 3 different angles of lumbar flexion in patients with chronic low back pain.

Methods: Twenty-four participants with chronic low back pain, aged between 20 and 35 years, were included in this randomized crossover trial study. Participants were randomly assigned into 2 groups as follows: (1) low frequency/high frequency, and (2) high frequency/low frequency.

The Effect of Core Stabilization Exercises on Trunk-Pelvis Three-Dimensional Kinematics During Gait in Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain.

Study Design: Controlled clinical trial study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of core stabilization exercise program (CSEP) on trunk-pelvis kinematics during gait in non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP).

Summary Of Background Data: NCLBP is a major public burden with variety of dysfunction including gait variability.

The effect of dry needling on the active trigger point of upper trapezius muscle: Eliciting local twitch response on long-term clinical outcomes.

Background: Pain from myofascial trigger points is often treated by dry needling (DN). Empirical evidence suggests eliciting a local twitch response (LTR) during needling is essential. Muscle damage after eliciting LTR can increase the risk of tissue fibrosis in some cases.

The Burden of Road Traffic Injuries in Iran and 15 Surrounding Countries: 1990-2016.

Background: The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study provides estimates of deaths, years of life lost (YLL), years of life lived with disability (YLD), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to 249 causes of death, 315 diseases and injuries, and 79 behavioral, environmental, occupational, and metabolic risk factors in 195 countries, territories, and regions by sex and 20 age categories in 195 countries and regions since 1990. In this study, we aimed to present the burden of road traffic injuries (RTIs) in Iran and 15 surrounding countries in 1990-2016.

Methods: The standard Cause of Death Ensemble modeling (CODEm) is used to estimate deaths due to all causes of injury by age, sex, country and year.

Clinical and Radiographic Alterations in Bilateral Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head Following Laser Acupuncture: A Case Report.

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is an increasingly common cause of musculoskeletal disability with unknown etiology. Traumatic and non-traumatic factors can be effective in its occurrence. About 50% of cases are bilateral.

Overuse and underuse of pulmonary CT angiography in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utilization and diagnostic yields of CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA)using the Revised Geneva score and Wells' criteria, in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). One hundred and twelve adult patients underwent CTPA for suspected PE were participated in this study. The outcome was positive or negative CTPA for PE.

Relationships Between Hoffman Reflex Parameters, Trait Stress, and Athletic Performance.

This study evaluated the relationships between trait stress, Hoffman reflex, and performance among 36 healthy amateur male athletes. We first obtained a trait stress questionnaire from participants and then assigned them to high- and low-stress groups. We next recorded Hoffman reflex data from the soleus and lateral gastrocnemius muscles and then examined their athletic performance on testing protocols separated by a 72-hour washout period.

A protocol for clinical trial study of the effect of core stabilization exercises on spine kinematics during gait with and without load in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain.

Background: Non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP) is a major public health and global socioeconomic burden with a variety of symptoms such as gait abnormality. Trunk stiffness and deep trunk muscles dysfunction known as guarding mechanism in gait are factors leading to abnormal movement pattern of the spine. Anterior load carriage task during gait is also challenged the trunk stability and its movement pattern.

Can coenzyme Q10 supplementation effectively reduce human tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 levels in chronic diseases? Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Introduction: Inflammation, as a critical factor, can cause numerous chronic diseases by creating various proinflammatory cytokines. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can potentially exert an anti-inflammatory agent; in turn, this agent can reduce the systemic inflammatory response. The aims of this study are to conduct a comprehensive systematic review and a meta-analysis for the determination of the CoQ10 efficacy on the changes in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in unhealthy subjects.

Determinants of Mortality and the Lethal Area 50 Index (LA50) in Burn Patients Admitted to a Large Burn Center; A Single Center Experience.

Objectives: To investigate the determinants of mortality and the lethal area 50 (LA50) in large series of Iranian burn patients admitted to a single burn center.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shahid Motahari burn center of Tehran, Iran during a 1-year period from 2011 to 2012. We included all the burn patients who were admitted to our center during the study period.

Transected sciatic nerve repair by diode laser protein soldering.

Background And Objective: Despite advances in microsurgical techniques, repair of peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) is still a major challenge in regenerative medicine. The standard treatment for PNI includes suturing and anasthomosis of the transected nerve. The objective of this study was to compare neurorraphy (nerve repair) using standard suturingto diode laser protein soldering on the functional recovery of transected sciatic nerves.

Experience of chronic sorrow in mothers of children with cancer: A phenomenological study.

Purpose: Chronic sorrow is a multidimensional concept experienced by mothers of children suffering with chronic conditions, e.g. cancer.