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The presence of mineral pollutants, combined with bacterial contamination, has significantly impacted groundwater quality and led to various health-related issues in mining-impacted areas. Therefore, we measured the concentration of fluoride (F - ), phosphate (PO 4 3- ), sulphate (SO 4 2- ), the total coliforms (TCs), and physiochemical characteristics in groundwater samples of South Khorasan, Eastern Iran. For this, we collected water samples from 100 wells in spring and autumn across this mining-impacted area. We then measured the concentrations of mineral pollutants and assessed their associated health risks to children and adults using the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) models and spatiotemporal zoning maps in ArcGIS. The concentrations of PO 4 + ), nitrate (NO 3 - ), the total coliforms (TCs), and physiochemical characteristics in groundwater samples of South Khorasan, Eastern Iran. For this, we collected water samples from 100 wells in spring and autumn across this mining-impacted area. We then measured the concentrations of mineral pollutants and assessed their associated health risks to children and adults using the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) models and spatiotemporal zoning maps in ArcGIS. The concentrations of PO 4 3- , NH 4 + , SO 4 2- , NO 3 - , and F - were 0.70 ± 0.34, 0.82 ± 0.9, 175.45 ± 123, 15.26 ± 9.41, and 0.53 ± 0.68 mg/L in spring, and 0.71 ± 3.18, 4.68 ± 31, 306.72 ± 615.80, 19.30 ± 15.61, and 0.72 ± 0.65 mg/L in autumn, respectively. PO 4 3- , NH 4 + , and SO 4 2- exceeded both the World Health Organization (WHO) and EPA, but NO 3 - exceeded only EPA standards. TCs in both seasons exceeded the standards set by the EPA and WHO. The hazard quotient (HQ) values indicated non-carcinogenic risks for F⁻ and NO 3 ⁻, while posing no risks NH 4 ⁺ and PO 4 3 ⁻ in both adults and children during autumn and spring.Hazard index (HI) was greater than 1 for all minerals in both children and adults in autumn and spring. No correlation was observed between mineral compounds and TCs in the study area, yet the water samples were highly contaminated by coliform with a significant risk to adults and children. In essence, both mineral pollutants and TCs potentially pose serious risks to human, and more efforts are required to improve the quality of water in this area., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Data on the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the Middle East are scarce. We aimed to describe the clinical phenotype, disease course, and medication usage of IBD cases from Iran in the Middle East., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of registered IBD patients in the Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis (IRCC) from 2017 until 2022. We collected information on demographic characteristics, past medical history, family history, disease extent and location, extra-intestinal manifestations, IBD medications, and activity using the IBD-control-8 questionnaire and the Manitoba IBD index, admissions history, history of colon cancer, and IBD-related surgeries., Results: In total, 9746 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (n=7793), and Crohn's disease (CD) (n=1953) were reported. The UC to CD ratio was 3.99. The median age at diagnosis was 29.2 (IQR: 22.6,37.6) and 27.6 (IQR: 20.6,37.6) for patients with UC and CD, respectively. The male-to-female ratio was 1.28 in CD patients. A positive family history was observed in 17.9% of UC patients. The majority of UC patients had pancolitis (47%). Ileocolonic involvement was the most common type of involvement in CD patients (43.7%), and the prevalence of stricturing behavior was 4.6%. A prevalence of 0.3% was observed for colorectal cancer among patients with UC. Moreover,15.2% of UC patients and 38.4% of CD patients had been treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF)., Conclusion: In this national registry-based study, there are significant differences in some clinical phenotypes such as the prevalence of extra-intestinal manifestations and treatment strategies such as biological use in different geographical locations., (© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.)

Background: There are many dimensions regarding autism that are closely connected to social structures, policies, and power dynamics, silently impacting the well-being of individuals within the autism spectrum. This research aims to explore these overlooked aspects using a theoretical framework called "structural violence.", Methods: The study was conducted in Kurdistan, Iran, and a qualitative longitudinal approach was chosen. A purposive sampling method was employed to select the participants, with 11 parents taking part. The study data comprised 29 interviews using a topic guide conducted over a span of 2 years. Thematic analysis and a matrix-based approach were utilized for data analysis. To enhance the scientific rigor of this research, four criteria, including Guba and Lincoln's principles, were implemented to ensure methodological accuracy., Results: The research findings highlight four primary forms through which structural violence impacts children on the autism spectrum and their families: access to healthcare, geographic disparities, awareness and stigma, and poverty and financial burden. Additionally, the study identified 11 subthemes related to structural violence in the context of autism and families., Conclusions: We illustrated how structural forces create barriers to accessing adequate healthcare services, exacerbate discrimination based on ethnicity and geography, perpetuate stigma, and contribute to poverty and the inability to meet basic needs. These factors not only worsen health issues but also deepen existing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes for children on the autism spectrum and families. We emphasize the urgent need for systemic changes to address these issues. It is essential to promote public awareness, provide better access to health and support services, and address economic and political factors that contribute to these inequalities., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: It is unknown if the clinical manifestations and phenotype of disease are comparable between early- and elderly-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to seek differences in disease phenotype, course, complications, and treatment between early- and elderly-onset IBD patients., Methods: This retrospective cohort study on registered IBD patients in the Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis (IRCC) compared demographics, disease phenotype, disease activity, IBD-related surgery and medications between early- and elderly-onset IBD. A generalized linear regression model was used to investigate the relative risk of age at diagnosis adjusted for gender and disease duration for the outcomes., Results: From 10048 IBD patients, 749 with early-onset (7.5%), and 472 (4.7%) elderly-onset IBD were enrolled: 855 (63.1%) ulcerative colitis (UC) and 366 (26.9%) Crohn's disease (CD). Left-sided colitis was more frequent among elderly-onset UC patients ( P <0.001). Ileum and ileocolonic locations were the most common types in elderly-onset and early-onset CD patients, respectively. In comparison with elderly-onset UC, early-onset cases more often used prednisolone (22.1% vs. 11.4%, P =0.001), immunomodulators (44.9% vs 25.2%, P <0.001) and anti-tumor necrosis factors (TNF) (20.1% vs 11.9%, P =0.002). Elderly-onset UC patients had 0.7 times lower risk of aggressive phenotype (95%CI:0.6‒0.9, P =0.005). Early-onset CD was associated with higher use of prednisolone (27.7% vs 8.1%, P <0.001), immunomodulators (58.7% vs 41.8%, P =0.005) and anti-TNF (49.6% vs 35.4%, P =0.006)., Conclusion: Early-onset IBD was associated with a more aggressive phenotype and higher prednisolone, immunomodulators, and anti-TNF use., (© 2023 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.)

Background: Estrogen is involved in the pathogenesis of breast and gynecological cancers. Regular use of aspirin reduces estrogen levels. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of aspirin on estrogen levels in postmenopausal women., Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial was conducted on postmenopausal women referred to an outpatient clinic at a women's hospital in Tehran. Volunteers were randomly assigned to receive aspirin 100 mg/day or placebo for 6 weeks. Estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and testosterone levels at baseline and at the end of the intervention were measured by ELISA. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, independent samples t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test., Results: Twenty-seven and 28 participants were finally analyzed in the aspirin and placebo groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups in body mass index (BMI), age, or menopausal years. There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.002) in the amount of  change in estradiol levels of the intervention group (median=- 3.5 pg/ml) compared to the control group (median=1.5 pg/ml). In contrast, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding testosterone and SHBG levels (p = 0.58, p = 0.32)., Conclusions: Since low doses of aspirin may decrease estradiol levels, it could be considered a promising adjunctive therapeutic candidate in postmenopausal women to decrease BC incidence. However, further studies with larger sample sizes, measurements of estrogen levels and its related compounds in different time points accompanied by long-term follow-ups are needed to better elucidate the potential mechanisms by which nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) negatively affect breast cancer., Trial Registration: IRCT201012195397N1. Date of first registration: 03/01/2011., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: The "Coronavirus Disease 2019" (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major challenge for all healthcare systems worldwide, and besides generating a high toll of deaths, it has caused economic losses. Hospitals have played a key role in providing services to patients and the volume of hospital activities has been refocused on COVID-19 patients. Other activities have been limited/repurposed or even suspended and hospitals have been operating with reduced capacity. With the decrease in non-COVID-19 activities, their financial system and sustainability have been threatened, with hospitals facing shortage of financial resources. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on the revenues of public hospitals in Lorestan province in western Iran, as a case study., Method: In this quasi-experimental study, we conducted the interrupted time series analysis to evaluate COVID-19 induced changes in monthly revenues of 18 public hospitals, from April 2018 to August 2021, in Lorestan, Iran. In doing so, public hospitals report their earnings to the University of Medical Sciences monthly; then, we collected this data through the finance office., Results: Due to COVID-19, the revenues of public hospitals experienced an average monthly decrease of $172,636 thousand (P-value = 0.01232). For about 13 months, the trend of declining hospital revenues continued. However, after February 2021, a relatively stable increase could be observed, with patient admission and elective surgeries restrictions being lifted. The average monthly income of hospitals increased by $83,574 thousand., Conclusion: COVID-19 has reduced the revenues of public hospitals, which have faced many problems due to the high costs they have incurred. During the crisis, lack of adequate fundings can damage healthcare service delivery, and policymakers should allocate resources to prevent potential shocks., Competing Interests: All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Abstract: Visual impairment due to refractive errors and color vision deficiency (CVD) can affect the visual abilities of workers in workplace. Identifying the prevalence of common visual problems helps us to prevent and treat occupational ocular problems.This study was conducted on 2600 males referring from companies for a routine medical exam to Occupational Medicine Center. In all subjects, visual acuity and refraction were measured. Assessment of color vision was performed by Ishihara color test. In present study, right eyes of subjects were selected to statistical analysis.The mean spherical equivalent was -0.19 ± 1.39 diopter with a range of -11.00 to +10.00 diopter. Whereas 71% of persons were emmetropic, 20% and 9% of them were myopic and hypermetropic, respectively. From a total subjects, 164 of them had CVD with prevalence of color blindness of 6.3%. In comparison with normal subjects, CVD had no significant effect on refractive findings of our subjects (P > .05).Our data present the prevalence of refractive errors and color blindness among Iranian industry-workers. Compared with other studies, our subjects have a lower prevalence of refractive errors, and similar rate of prevalence of color blindness., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Objective: Dyslexia is the most common learning disorder that affects 5-10% of school aged children. Eye movement abnormalities and visual processing deficits have been reported in some of dyslexic children. Objective of this study is to compare the eye-movement patterns of Iranian dyslexic children with those of non-dyslexic children as they perform the oculomotor tests and to explore the relationship between their eye-movement patterns and their reading ability., Methods: Binocular eye movements were recorded by oculomotor subtype of videonystagmography (VNG) testing on 30 dyslexic children and 20 non-dyslexic age-matched children (aged 8-12) in both genders. Dyslexic children were diagnosed with DSM-V scale by experts in reading disorder centers. Gain of the pursuit and optokinetic tests and the latency, accuracy and velocity of the saccade test were measured in both groups of dyslexic and non-dyslexic children. The independent samples t-test, Chi-square test and linear regression test in SPSS v. 21 were used to analyze behavioral and eye-movement parameters., Results: Compared to the non-dyslexic group, dyslexic children presented lower gain in pursuit and optokinetic tests, and increased latency with decreased accuracy in saccade test. All behavioral and eye-movement parameters without saccade velocity differed significantly among two groups., Conclusion: The atypical eye movement patterns observed in dyslexic children suggests a deficiency in the visual information processing and an immaturity of brain structures responsible for oculomotor skills., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Antivenom is a gold-standard treatment for snakebite envenoming. However, adverse reactions to snake antivenom are common in many parts., Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the allergic reactions following intravenous administration of antivenom sera., Methods: This was retrospective study conducted on snakebites patients referred to the Rahimi Hospital in Khorramabad. The files of these patients were accessed for demographic data, snakebite-related data, treatment provided, clinical presentation and allergic reaction status as a result of antivenom treatment., Results: 141 cases were investigated, including 73.8% male and 26.2% female patients. The mean age of the patients was 38.1±17.1 years. Age group 30-39 years accounted for the highest number of snakebite cases (24.1%). A majority of victims (89.4%) were from rural areas. Most of the patients (51.8%) were bitten in the spring and highest number of snakebite were reported in May (39.1%). The most common site of snakebite was lower extremities (50.4%) and upper extremities (44.7%). Among clinical feature of snakebite, pain was the most prevalent in 135 cases (95.7%) followed by swelling (83.7%). The mean antivenom vials used were 6.5±3.7 vials. Allergic reactions occurred in 6 patients (4.26%); reactions were mild in 5 patients and severe in 1 patient. The commonest presentation was maculopapular rash (1.4%) and the least common were headache (0.71%), nausea (0.71%), fever (0.71) and hypotension (0.71%)., Conclusion: Snakebite is one of the significant life-threatening environmental events. Immediate antivenom treatment can reduce mortality however, patients should be carefully monitored for adverse allergic reactions., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: The rising burden of premature mortality for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in developing countries necessitates the institutionalization of a comprehensive surveillance framework to track trends and provide evidence to design, implement, and evaluate preventive strategies. This study aims to conduct an organization-based prospective cohort study on the NCDs and NCD-related secondary outcomes in adult personnel of the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) as main target population., Methods: This study was designed to recruit 12,000 adults aged between 30 and 70 years for 15 years. Baseline assessment includes a wide range of established NCD risk factors obtaining by face-to-face interview or examination. The questionnaires consist of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, lifestyle pattern, fuel consumption and pesticide exposures, occupational history and hazards, personal and familial medical history, medication profile, oral hygiene, reproduction history, dietary intake, and psychological conditions. Examinations include body size and composition test, abdominopelvic and thyroid ultrasonography, orthopedic evaluation, pulse wave velocity test, electrocardiography, blood pressure measurement, smell-taste evaluation, spirometry, mammography, and preferred tea temperature assessment. Routine biochemical, cell count, and fecal occult blood tests are also performed, and the biological samples (i.e., blood, urine, hair, and nail) are stored in preserving temperature. Annual telephone interviews and repeated examinations at 5-year intervals are planned to update information on health status and its determinants., Results: A total of 5287 individuals (mean age of 43.9 ± 7.6 and 45.9% male) were included in the study thus far. About 18.5% were nurses and midwives and 44.2% had at least bachelor's degree. Fatty liver (15.4%), thyroid disorders (11.2%), hypertension (8.8%), and diabetes (4.9%) were the most prevalent NCDs. A large proportion of the population had some degree of anxiety (64.2%). Low physical activity (13 ± 22.4 min per day), high calorie intake (3079 ± 1252), and poor pulse-wave velocity (7.2 ± 1.6 m/s) highlight the need for strategies to improve lifestyle behaviors., Conclusion: The PERSIAN Organizational Cohort study in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences is the first organizational cohort study in a metropolitan city of Iran aiming to provide a large data repository on the prevalence and risk factors of the NCDs in a developing country for future national and international research cooperation.

Purpose: Gleason score (GS), as well as other prognostic and diagnostic modalities, can predict the possibility of tumor growth and metastasis during the life of patients with prostate cancer. Based on the prostate biopsy GS, clinicians choose the most appropriate therapy for managing patients. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the discrepancy between needle biopsy and radical prostatectomy GS and to identify its predictive factors among the Iranian population., Materials and Methods: A total of 1147 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy from 2009 to 2019 were initially enrolled in this study. After consideration of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 439 patients were finally included. The demographic variables and clinical data including age, PSA level, prostate volume, PSA density, GS derived from ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy specimen, and GS derived from radical prostatectomy specimen were collected from the medical records of patients with prostate adenocarcinoma and were reviewed by a urology resident. Statistical analysis was done by using the Social Sciences Software version 21., Results: The average age of patients was 64.5 years (range 48-84 years), and the average preoperative PSA level was 14.8 ng/mL. On histopathological examination, no changes in GS were observed in 237 (53.9%) patients, whereas GS was upgraded in 144 (32.8%) patients and downgraded in 58 (13.2%) patients at radical prostatectomy. The number of patients who had extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion and positive lymph nodes was significantly higher in the upgraded group compared with the non-upgraded group.  Conclusion: In this study, there was a steady decrease in GS upgrading with the prostate size extending up to 49.7 g. There was also an association between downgrading and extending prostate size. Due to the greater risk of high-grade disease in men with small prostates, smaller prostate bulks are most probably upgraded after radical prostatectomy. A higher maximum percentage of involvement per core was an independent predictive factor of upgrading from biopsy grade 1 to grade ≥ 2. Our study showed that patients' age was not predictive of upgrading, which is consistent with other studies. Also, we demonstrated a non-significant relationship between PSA level and upgraded GS. Findings in this study did not demonstrate a significant relationship between PSA level and upgrading.

Background : One of the most important effects of age-related declines in neural processing speed is the impairment of temporal resolution, which leads to difficulty hearing in noisy environments. Since the central auditory system is highly plastic, by designing and implementing a temporal processing-based auditory training program, we can help the elderly improve their listening skills and speech understanding in noisy environments. Methods: In the first phase of this research, based on the theoretical framework of temporal processing, an auditory training solution was developed as a software program. In the second phase, which will be described in the present study, the effects of the designed program on the listening skills of the elderly users of hearing aids (age: 60-75 years) will be studied in the control and intervention groups. In the intervention group, the auditory training program will be implemented for three months (36 sessions), and the results of central tests (GIN, DPT, QuickSIN) and the electrophysiological speech-ABR test will be compared in both groups before, immediately and one month after the intervention. Discussion : Since temporal processing is not sufficient in auditory training programs for the elderly with hearing impairments, implementation of a temporal processing-based auditory training program can reduce hearing problems in noisy environments among elderly users of hearing aids. Trial registration: This study was registered as a clinical trial in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials ( IRCT20190921044838N1) on December 25, 2019., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2020 Sattari K et al.)

Background : One of the most important effects of age-related declines in neural processing speed is the impairment of temporal resolution, which leads to difficulty hearing in noisy environments. Since the central auditory system is highly plastic, by designing and implementing a temporal processing-based auditory training program, we can help the elderly improve their listening skills and speech understanding in noisy environments. Methods: In the first phase of this research, based on the theoretical framework of temporal processing, an auditory training solution was developed as a software program. In the second phase, which will be described in the present study, the effects of the designed program on the listening skills of the elderly users of hearing aids (age: 60-75 years) will be studied in the control and intervention groups. In the intervention group, the auditory training program will be implemented for three months (36 sessions), and the results of central tests (GIN, DPT, QuickSIN) and the electrophysiological speech-ABR test will be compared in both groups before, immediately and one month after the intervention. Discussion : Since temporal processing is not sufficient in auditory training programs for the elderly with hearing impairments, implementation of a temporal processing-based auditory training program can reduce hearing problems in noisy environments among elderly users of hearing aids. Trial registration: This study was registered as a clinical trial in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials ( IRCT20190921044838N1) on December 25, 2019., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2020 Rahbar N et al.)

Background: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease which mostly affects skin. Evidences support the role of autoimmune responses in this disorder. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) antisense non coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) has been shown to participate in modulation of immune response and in the pathogenesis of immune-related disorders., Methods: We genotyped four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with this lncRNA (rs1333045, rs1333048, rs4977574 and rs10757278) in 286 patients with psoriasis and 300 age-/sex-matched controls to identify the role of ANRIL as a risk locus for psoriasis., Results: The C allele of rs1333048 SNP was significantly more prevalent among cases compared with controls (OR (95% CI) = 1.56 (1.23-1.97), adjusted P value = 8.31E-4). The A allele of the rs4977574 had a protective effect against psoriasis (OR (95% CI) = 0.63 (0.49-0.81), adjusted P value = 0.001). The G allele of the rs10757278 conferred risk of psoriasis in the assessed population (OR (95% CI) = 1.9 (1.51-2.4), adjusted P value = 2.18 E-7). The C A G A haplotype (rs1333045, rs1333048, rs4977574 and rs10757278, respectively) was reported to be a protective haplotype against psoriasis (OR (95% CI) = 0.5 (0.35-0.71), adjusted P value = 0.001). The C A G G and T C G G haplotypes conferred risk of psoriasis in the assessed population (OR (95% CI) = 2.37 (1.59-3.54), adjusted P value = 2.4E-4; OR (95% CI) = 5.42 (2.88-10.22), adjusted P value = 1.1E-7, respectively)., Conclusion: Consequently, ANRIL can be regarded as a risk locus of psoriasis in the assessed population. Future studies are needed to verify whether this contribution is exerted through modulation of immune responses., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: This study was designed to report epidemiologic findings of polyps in Iranian patients, and predict histology of polyp regarding to demographic and colonoscopic findings. Background: Classification of colorectal polyps had been revised in the past two decades and there is a need for polyp categorization in the Iranian Health System. Patients and methods: In this retrospective study, the medical records of patients with colonoscopic diagnosis of polyp in pathology departments of SBMU affiliated teaching hospitals were reviewed. Patient’s slides evaluated and demographics findings were assessed. The anatomical location, macroscopic appearance including size and histological assessment of all polyps were recorded. Results: From total number of 1106 polyps (detected in 862 patients), adenomatous polyps (638 [57.7%]) were the most prevalent findings, followed by colon mucosal tag (184[16.6%]), hyperplastic and serrated polyps (122[11%]), inflammatory polyps (110[9.9%]), hamartomatous (21[1.9%]), and malignant lesions (13[1.2%]). Multivariate logistic regression showed age (each one year increasing age; odds ratio [OR] = 1.026, 95%confidence interval [CI] = 1.016–1.036, p < 0.0001), location of polyp (right colon; OR = 1.905, 95%CI = 1.366–2.656, p < 0.0001), and polyp size of 5-10 mm (OR = 1.662, 95%CI = 1.214–2.276, p = 0.002), and polyp size of >10 mm (OR = 2.778, 95%CI = 1.750–4.411, p< 0.0001) were independently associated with neoplastic polyps. Also, polyp size of >10 mm (OR= 2.613, 95%CI= 1.083-6.307, p=0.033), tubulovillous pattern of polyp (OR= 3.508, 95%CI= 1.666-7.387, p=0.001) and villous pattern of polyp (OR= 10.444, 95%CI= 4.211-25.905, p<0.0001) were associated with high grade dysplasia in neoplastic polyps. Conclusion: Increased age, location of polyp (right colon), increased size of polyp and villous component of polyp could classify patients in high risk groups.

High prevalence of hepatitis c virus (HCV) infection in some areas necessitates more investigations of the causative factors. Genetic factors that cause disruption in operation or secretion of interleukin 10 (IL-10), an anti-inflammatory cytokine, may play a role in the intensity of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic variants of IL-10 gene polymorphisms in HCV patients and their relationship with HCV disease. Fifty HCV patients and the same number of healthy individuals who were referred to hepatitis clinic in Mashhad, northeast of Iran, were recruited. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood. Genotyping for IL-10 gene promoter polymorphisms in three positions (-1082 G>A, -819 C>T and -592 C>A) was conducted by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction. Haplotype analysis was performed using PHASE software. In a recessive analysis model of the -1082 position (GG vs. AA+AG), GG genotype was more common in patients (adjusted p = 0.02; OR = 4.66 [95% CI 1.31-16.35]). Also, ATA haplotype was more prevalent in HCV patients (adjusted p = 0.061; OR = 1.87 [95% CI 0.97-3.61]). Also, ATC/GCA diplotypes were more common in controls (adjusted p=0.002; adjusted OR = 0.27 [95% CI 0.11-0.63]). Although we found a possible association between IL-10 promoter polymorphisms and HCV infection, certain genotypes or diplotypes may confer a higher risk or susceptibility for developing HCV infection.

Introduction: While many studies support the theory that environmental factors play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), controversy exists as to the contribution of any individual factor. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the associations of T1DM with several environmental factors., Material and Methods: A case-control study was conducted on children £ 16 years old who were diagnosed with T1DM and healthy age and sex-matched controls. Data regarding the socio-demographic status, gestational and neonatal risk factors were evaluated., Results: One hundred and one children with T1DM (41 males and 60 females), and the same number of age- and sex-matched controls, were included in the present study (mean age 10.3 ± 4.5 years). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, maternal age > 35 years at delivery, duration of > 6 months of cow milk feeding, lack of vitamin D supplementation and caesarean delivery were significantly associated with diabetes., Conclusion: In the present case-control study, certain environmental risk factors were associated with the development of T1DM.