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Background: Seafood allergy is potentially severe, but the prevalence of this group of food allergies in Iran, has not been determined. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of seafood allergy in student living in Bushehr and Borazjan. Materials and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional, random school survey by using a questionnaire in 2012-13. A total of 608 (36% male, and 64%) female) were asked questions about personal and family history of allergies, food and seafood allergy. Results: The overall prevalence of food allergy was 12% (Total 73 subjects, 69.8% male and 30.2% female), and seafood allergy was 4.4% (Total 27 subjects, 36.6% male, 43.4% female). Fish allergy (1.4%) and shrimp and shellfish allergy (3.5%) were reported. The most frequently reported symptoms were skin (49.3%), gastrointestinal (28.7%), and respiratory reactions (2.7%). Seafood allergy was not associated with subjects reporting atopic diseases, significantly (P> 0.05), while the other food allergy was positively associated (P=0.00). Conclusion: Our study is the first report on prevalence estimates for seafood allergy in Bushehr province. Findings indicated high prevalence of seafood allergy in student, therefore further studies and significant health concern is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: There are annually millions of work-related accidents leading to either loss of life or disability. Coal mine workers, due to the nature of their work, are at a higher risk of work accidents. With regard to the importance of health statue of skilled workers and prevention of work-related injuries, in this study work-related injuries in Kerman Coal Mines during 1991-2006 were analyzed. Methods: In this descriptive study, the recorded and approved data of accidents occurred during 1991-2006 were collected from the documents of Kerman coal mines office and Safety indices (frequency, severity and frequency- severity of accidents) were extracted and analyzed. Results: There were a total of 3642 accidents during 16 years and an average of 228 accidents per year. From all accidents, 51 cases had resulted in death of which most cases were related to the year 1993 (13 cases) and the least cases were related to the years 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997 (each year one case). Mean frequency percent, severity and frequency-severity were 31.3 ±25.9, 4739.8 ±11275.1 and 9.3 ±12.4 respectively. According to the results of chart control, accident frequency percent except for the years 2002 and 1994 which were respectively a little more and less than the expected rates, in the other years was in the expected range. Severity and frequency-severity of accidents during the 16-year period were in the expected range. Conclusion: In whole, safety indices during the 16 years were stable and in the expected range. In other words, there has been no change for the improvement of safety conditions. Therefore, in order to achieve the required standards and to provide more safety for coal mines workers, it is required that all related organizations take efficient coordinated measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, 18 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds were measured in marine sediments collected from 49 offshore stations in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in 2019. After the last oceanographic cruise in 2006, no study has been performed on the offshore sediments of this region, and this is the first study on the PCBs in this area. The total amount of PCB compounds in the sediment samples ranged from 74.38 ng kg -1 (near Abu Musa Island) to 1212.98 ng kg -1 (near Siri and Kish Island). The maximum and minimum values of the individual detected PCB compounds were 175.88 ng kg -1 (PCB52) and 2.09 ng kg -1 (PCB156), respectively. The levels of total PCBs detected in sediments were lower than the Canadian interim sediment quality guideline value of 21500 ng kg -1 for marine sediments. The sedimentary mass inventories for Σ 18 PCBs were 0.6 and 0.2 mt for the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, respectively., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Background: This study aims to investigate international measures for pandemic control in the workplace based on guidelines from international organizations to learn from their experiences., Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using content analysis. The search method involved reviewing published guidelines on preventing and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in workplaces. After the screening process, ten guidelines were included in the content analysis. During the analysis, 200 meaning codes, 49 subcategories, and eleven categories were identified. Trustworthiness criteria were utilized to ensure the accuracy and strength of the findings., Results: Eleven categories of international content during the COVID-19 pandemic were legal requirements and duties of employees and employers, structural and program changes, risk assessment, risk communication, information and training, internal and external consultation and cooperation, provision of facilities and tools for workplace hygiene, special conditions, special groups, closing and reopening workplaces, reducing contact and exposure and mental health., Conclusions: Protecting employees during a pandemic requires a multifaceted approach and strong advocacy. The operational plan for pandemic control should be developed based on the level of risk, with support tailored to employees' conditions and needs. Cooperation among international organizations is essential to develop a standardized plan and issue comprehensive guidelines in response to health emergencies with a global perspective and local implementation, drawing from the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Drought, characterized by the limited water availability in the atmosphere and hydrological systems, is one of the most destructive natural calamities. Defining droughts based on a single variable/index (e.g., precipitation, temperature, TCI, VCI) may not be sufficient for describing intricate conditions, impacts, and decision-making. Therefore, an integrated set of variables and indices is necessary to capture various aspects of intricate drought conditions. This paper has developed an Integrated Geographically Weighted Dryness Index (IGWDI) to model the drought. In this index, climatic parameters (CP) (i.e., precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration) and remote-sensing-based drought indices (RSDI) (i.e., PCI, VCI, TCI, SMCI) were inputted into a GWR (Geographically Weighted Regression) model to predict the TVDI as independent variables in two distinct models, IGWDI-CP and IGWDI-RSDI, respectively. In this study, the proposed IGWDI is utilized to characterize the drought conditions in the Iranian plateau on a monthly scale from April to September over 20 years, including 2003-2022. According to adjusted R 2 and AICc values, the findings revealed that IGWDI-CP is the best-fitting model for drought monitoring in all months. The IGWDI-CP model demonstrated that over the 20 years, from April to September, nearly 90 % of the examined study area experienced a range of drought severity levels. The warmest month, July, stood out, with approximately 71 % of the regions facing severe and extreme drought conditions. These adverse conditions were predominantly observed in scattered locations within Iran's middle and southern regions. Overlay, throughout all studied months, the southwestern regions of Iran emerged as the focal point for the most severe drought conditions. In most regions, an inverse relationship was discovered between TVDI and precipitation and evapotranspiration, while a positive correlation was observed between TVDI and temperature. This study employed the GWR model to combine several crucial climatic parameters and remote sensing-based indices to derive a novel index for monitoring a wider range of droughts. Consequently, these findings benefit decision-makers and authorities responsible for environmental sustainability, agriculture, and addressing the consequences of climate change., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Younes Khosravi reports a relationship with University of Zanjan that includes: employment and funding grants. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Workplaces are high-risk environments for epidemic transmission, and the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the significant impacts that health emergencies can have on both the healthcare system and the economy. This study presents executive and hierarchical models for participatory response to health emergencies in the workplace, with a focus on COVID-19., Methods: The study was conducted in three phases. Content analysis of interviews with 101 stakeholders and national documents was used to identify key themes and dimensions for an executive model. A focus group discussion and review of international documents were then used to refine and expand the executive and hierarchical models. The alignment and trustworthiness of the final models, as well as feedback, were gathered from 117 informants working in various workplaces., Results: The executive model highlighted that context understanding, management commitment, and participation play critical roles in developing tailored prevention and response plans, and adequate support is necessary for successful plan implementation. Monitoring and review processes should be established to ensure proper functioning. The hierarchical model emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts from various stakeholders to effectively implement pandemic prevention and participatory response plans., Conclusion: Overall, the executive and hierarchical participatory models presented in this study provide a framework for effectively controlling pandemics and other health emergencies in the workplace, enhancing both health resilience and the sustainability of economic activities., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Nutritional factors in developing some malignancies have been investigated recently., Objective: In this study, we evaluated the role of vitamin D in advanced laryngeal cancer and its association with the development of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) following total laryngectomy., Study Design: A cross-sectional, case-control study was conducted., Methods: Fifty-five patients with advanced laryngeal cancer referred for total laryngectomy were included. We also considered 55 healthy individuals after matching age and sex as a control group. Serum levels of 25(OH)D 3 were measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The association of serum 25(OH)D 3 with PCF following total laryngectomy was also determined., Results: Vitamin D was significantly lower in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer than in the control group ( p < 0.001). Moreover, our results showed that a mean serum concentration of 25(OH)D 3 in patients with PCF was significantly lower than in patients without PCF ( p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in advanced laryngeal cancer, most pronounced in those who develop a PFC following total laryngectomy., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Evidence suggests that train drivers experience a high level of fatigue and mental workload. The present study aimed to assess overall, physical, and mental fatigue levels and their correlations with the mental workload in the metro train operation. Study Design: A cross-sectional study., Methods: This study was conducted on all 1194 train drivers in the Tehran Metro. The train drivers completed the Samn-Perelli Fatigue Scale and the Fatigue Assessment Scales at the beginning and end of the shift. In addition, they completed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index in the middle and at the end of the shift. Correlation and regression analyses were performed on the data to test the study hypothesis., Results: Overall, physical, and mental fatigue levels increased significantly at the end of the shift compared to the onset of the shift ( P <0.001). The mental workload and related dimensions were significantly increased at the end of the shift compared to the middle of the shift ( P <0.001). Mental demand was the most important workload problem among the train drivers. The highest correlation was found between overall workload and time pressure (R=0.68, P <0.001)., Conclusion: The mental workload had a significant correlation with work fatigue in the train drivers. Control measures should be focused on the mental workload and related dimensions, especially mental demand and time pressure., (© 2023 The Author(s); Published by Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. 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.)

Mechanical cleaning remains the standard of care for maintaining oral hygiene. However, mechanical cleaning is often augmented with active therapeutics that further promote oral health. A dentifrice, consisting of the "Dual Zinc plus Arginine" (DZA) technology, was found to be effective at controlling bacteria using in vitro laboratory studies, translating to clinical efficacy to deliver plaque and gingivitis reduction benefits. Here, we used biophysical analyses and confocal laser scanning microscopy to understand how a DZA dentifrice impacted the mechanical properties of dental plaque biofilms and determine if changes to biofilm rheology enhanced the removal of dental plaque. Using both uniaxial mechanical indentation and an adapted rotating-disc rheometry assay, it was found that DZA treatment compromised biofilm mechanical integrity, resulting in the biofilm being more susceptible to removal by shear forces compared to treatment with either arginine or zinc alone. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that DZA treatment reduced the amount of extracellular polymeric slime within the biofilm, likely accounting for the reduced mechanical properties. We propose a model where arginine facilitates the entry of zinc into the biofilm, resulting in additive effects of the two activities toward dental plaque biofilms. Together, our results support the use of a dentifrice containing Dual Zinc plus Arginine as part of daily oral hygiene regimens. IMPORTANCE Mechanical removal of dental plaque is augmented with therapeutic compounds to promote oral health. A dentifrice containing the ingredients zinc and arginine has shown efficacy at reducing dental plaque both in vitro and in vivo . However, how these active compounds interact together to facilitate dental plaque removal is unclear. Here, we used a combination of biophysical analyses and microscopy to demonstrate that combined treatment with zinc and arginine targets the matrix of dental plaque biofilms, which destabilized the mechanical integrity of these microbial communities, making them more susceptible to removal by shear forces.

Background: In recent years, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have greatly affected the safety of life and the economy. Taking rapid measures to reduce these problems requires effective and efficient decisions by various departments and headquarters in a country. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and responsibilities of the National Anti-Corona Headquarters (NACH) in the workplace during the pandemic., Methods: This study was a qualitative study conducted using a triangulation approach. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 18 participants with a purposive sampling technique as well as the review of related documents and records in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The inductive and deductive approach was used for the content analysis of data in the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model of the ISO45001 management system., Results: Based on the results, four themes (plan, do, check, and act) were considered as the main domains. Subthemes include understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties; specific policy-making for organizations/workplaces; leadership and organizational commitment; addressing risks and opportunities; providing resources; competence of individuals and organizations; awareness; communication; information documentation; emergency response; monitoring, analyze, and evaluate performance; management review; non-compliance and corrective action; and improvement in pandemic control., Conclusion: To ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of organizations to deal with pandemics, the NACH must implement these responsibilities and play a pivotal role in responding to pandemics and using the participation of other government agencies and society. The findings of this study can be useful from national to local levels., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background and Aim: The coronavirus disease 209 (COVID-19) pandemic has been affecting various strata of society including different guilds. Each of these segments has its role to play in controlling epidemics. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore trade unions' roles and responsibilities in the prevention and emergency response to epidemic, including the COVID-19 pandemic., Materials and Methods: The present qualitative research was conducted using directed content analysis. Participants were selected by a purposeful sampling method. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and field notes and validated through Lincoln and Guba's (1985) evaluative criteria. Data were analyzed by MAXQDA software., Results: Data analysis, constant comparison, and class integration provided a total of seven main themes, which were extracted into four domains of Plan, Implementation, Review, and Action. The main themes were categorized into the dimensions of each domain, so that the Plan domain included three dimensions of union/guild contexts, leadership and staff participation, and planning. The Implementation domain included two dimensions of support and operations. The Assessment domain had a performance evaluation dimension, and the Action domain was made up of an improvement dimension., Conclusion: Relying on their organizational and social capacities, trade unions can facilitate the leadership and participation of employees and communities for appropriate policies and making resilient decisions to control epidemics and other roles and responsibilities related to health.

Aims: We present a dynamic typodont biofilm model (DTBM) incorporating (1) human dentition anatomy, (2) fluid flow over intermittently fluid bathed tooth surfaces and (3) an oxic headspace to allow aerobic and anaerobic niches to develop naturally, as a screening tool to assess the effect of stannous fluoride (SnF 2 ) toothpaste against a simulated human plaque biofilm (SPB)., Methods and Results: First, hydroxyapatite (HA) coupons were inoculated with human saliva/plaque and cultured at 37°C under air. Selected species representative of common commensal and anaerobic pathogens were quantified for relative abundance changes over 4 days by PCR densitometry to confirm the culture conditions allowed the proliferation of these species. A continuous culture DTBM reactor on a rocker table was inoculated with saliva/plaque and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Tooth shear stress was estimated by particle tracking. A SnF 2 toothpaste solution, or a sham rise was administered twice daily for 3 days to mimic routine oral hygiene. SPB biomass was assessed by total bacterial DNA and methylene blue (MB) staining. Early colonizer aerobes and late colonizer anaerobes species were detected in the HA and DTBM, and the trends in changing abundance were consistent with those seen clinically., Conclusions: Treatment with the SnF 2 solution showed significant reductions of 53.05% and 54.4% in the SPB by MB staining and DNA, respectively., Significance and Impact of Study: The model has potential for assessing dentition anatomy and fluid flow on the efficacy of antimicrobial efficacy against localized SPB and may be amenable to the plaque index clinical evaluation., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Applied Microbiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Background: Occupational cancers can be avoided by removing dangerous chemicals from the workplace or limiting occupational exposure. Approximately, 10 major risk factors account for 85% of all occupational cancers. This scoping review study aimed to determine the most important chemical carcinogens related to 5 known occupational cancers. Methods: In this scoping review, we followed Arksey and O'Malley's 5-step framework. Four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus) were systematically reviewed for relevant published papers from January 2000 to September 2021. Studies were included in this scoping review, which examined the effect of carcinogenic (definite and probable) chemical exposures on 5 known occupational cancers (lung, bladder, laryngeal, leukemia, and liver). We reported the types of occupational carcinogens, the geographical diversity of studies, extraction of relative risks (RRs), hazard ratios (HRs), or odds ratios (ORs), and identified gaps in the existing literature. Results: The highest number of studies was related to lung cancer (LC) (n = 26), bladder cancer (BC) (n = 11), laryngeal cancer (LaC) (n = 8), leukemia (LeC) (n = 3), and primary liver cancer (PLC) (n = 2), respectively. Most studies were performed in France and Canada (n = 8), Germany (n = 4), Finland (n = 3), Netherlands (n = 2), and Finland (n = 2), respectively. Furthermore, the most common occupational chemical carcinogens associated with the 5 known occupational cancers were asbestos, benzene, crystalline silica, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and diesel motor exhausts (DME). Conclusion: Although the attributable risk of occupational cancers in developing countries is much higher, a small proportion of studies were performed in these countries., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2022 Iran University of Medical Sciences.)

Background and Objectives: Genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates from tuberculosis patients in the multiethnic province of Alborz, Iran was assessed., Materials and Methods: A total of 17 isolates in the period of 2012-2013 were collected and subjected to a Multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) consisted of 6 variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTRs) including ETR-A, ETR-B, ETR-C, ElTR-D, ETR-E, ETR-F, 5 Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Units including MIRU10, MIRU16, MIRU26, MIRU39, MIRU40, and 1 Queen University of Belfast locus, QUB11., Results: This classified all isolates into 17 distinct MIRU-VNTR types, a reflection of a highly heterogenic population. Within the 12 used VNTR loci, ten proved highly or moderately discriminant according to the calculated HGDI scores. No cluster of isolates was identified in the study panel, giving a clustering rate of 0%, several events of SVL (N=5) and DVL (N=4) and TVL (N=3) were detected., Conclusion: The greater heterogeneity observed here by MLVA-VNTR analysis is most likely due to limited background data in the study region rather than a genuine more heterogeneous population compared to other provinces of the country., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)

Study Objective: Malodor is a multifactorial condition with oral pathology representing the main culprit and the tongue being the first to second contributor to the malodor. Bacterial load can represent a quantifiable measure regardless of the original pathology. We hypothesize that reduction in malodor can be represented by tongue changes both in appearance, bacterial and biofilm load reduction (measured by CFU and volatile gases measurement), organoleptic measurement and subjective improvement., Methods: A randomized controlled prospective study under IRB approval. Diagnostic criteria for enrollment and follow up were organoleptic test by 2 judges, Halimeter reading, tongue colors changes HALT questionnaire and direct aerobic and anaerobic tongue cultures measured by CFU. Patients were treated with laser tongue debridement (LTD) with an Er,Cr:YSGG solid state laser has been shown to be effective in biofilm reduction., Results: 54 patients recruited with 35 available for follow up. Improvement was observed on all objective and QOL subjective parameters. Treatment was tolerated well with minimal discomfort., Conclusions: The tongue is proven to be a major contributor to oral malodor and must be addressed in treatment protocol. LTD significantly reduces malodor by subjective and objective criteria. While impossible to determine whether the tongue serves as a bacterial reservoir or is the origin for oral bacteria it is clear that LTD improves oral hygiene and reduces malodor. LTD is safe and easy to perform. We encourage LTD to be a crucial part of any oral malodor treatment protocol., Trial Registration: clinical trials, NCT04120948. Registered 25 September 2019 - Retrospectively registered, https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S00098SX&selectaction=Edit&uid=U0000W0Y&ts=51&cx=-elnx7e., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) and electric shocks occurs in many workplaces and occupations but it is unclear whether any of these exposures cause Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to explore whether occupational exposure to ELF-MF and/or electric shocks are risk factor for ALS. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases up to the end of 2019. Pooled risk estimates were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis including exploration of the sources of heterogeneity between studies and publication bias. Twenty-seven publications fulfilled the inclusion criteria. We found a weak, significant, association between occupational exposure to ELF-MF and the risk of ALS (RR Pooled estimate : 1.20; 95%CI: 1.05, 1.38) with moderate to high heterogeneity (I 2 =66.3%) and indication of publication bias (P Egger's test =0.03). No association was observed between occupational exposure to electric shocks and risk of ALS (RR Pooled estimate : 0.97; 95%CI: 0.80, 1.17) with high heterogeneity (I 2 =80.5%), and little indication for publication bias (P Egger's test =0.24). The findings indicate that occupational exposure to ELF-MF, but not electric shocks, might be a risk factor for ALS. However, given the moderate to high heterogeneity and potential publication bias, the results should be interpreted with caution., (© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

Background: Dental plaque biofilms are the causative agents of caries, gingivitis and periodontitis. Both mechanical and chemical strategies are used in routine oral hygiene strategies to reduce plaque build-up. If allowed to mature biofilms can create anoxic microenvironments leading to communities which harbor pathogenic Gram-negative anaerobes. When subjected to high velocity fluid jets and sprays biofilms can be fluidized which disrupts the biofilm structure and allows the more efficient delivery of antimicrobial agents., Methods: To investigate how such jets may disrupt anoxic niches in the biofilm, we used planar optodes to measure the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration at the base of in-vitro biofilms grown from human saliva and dental plaque. These biofilms were subject to "shooting" treatments with a commercial high velocity microspray (HVM) device., Results: HVM treatment resulted in removal of much of the biofilm and a concurrent rapid shift from anoxic to oxic conditions at the base of the surrounding biofilm. We also assessed the impact of HVM treatment on the microbial community by tracking 7 target species by qPCR. There was a general reduction in copy numbers of the universal 16S RNA by approximately 95%, and changes of individual species in the target region ranged from approximately 1 to 4 log reductions., Conclusion: We concluded that high velocity microsprays removed a sufficient amount of biofilm to disrupt the anoxic region at the biofilm-surface interface.

Introduction . Occupational safety in general, and construction safety in particular, is a complex phenomenon. This study was designed to develop a new valid measure to evaluate factors affecting unsafe behavior in the construction industry. Methods . A new questionnaire was generated from qualitative research according to the principles of grounded theory. Key measurement properties (face validity, content validity, construct validity, reliability and discriminative validity) were examined using qualitative and quantitative approaches. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to estimate the discriminating power and the optimal cutoff score. Results . Construct validity revealed an interpretable 12-factor structure which explained 61.87% of variance. Good internal consistency (Cronbach's α  = 0.94) and stability (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.93) were found for the new instrument. The area under the curve, sensitivity and specificity were 0.80, 0.80 and 0.75, respectively. The new instrument also discriminated safety performance among the construction sites with different workers' accident histories ( F  = 6.40, p  < 0.05). Conclusion . The new instrument appears to be a valid, reliable and sensitive instrument that will contribute to investigating the root causes of workers' unsafe behaviors, thus promoting safety performance in the construction industry.

Organisations can have a significant impact (positive or negative) on society through their actions and decisions. Given this reality, it is important that they are held responsible and accountable for the consequences of their actions. This concept is often referred to as 'social responsibility'. However, 'social responsibility', as currently conceived in the literature, neglects a specific focus on health as a social goal. Additionally, there are no practical tools to capture this concept in a holistic way to facilitate implementation and monitoring of organisational improvement. This paper reports on the process of developing a more holistic conceptual framework and tool for assessing organisational social responsibility and accountability for health (OSRAH). We conducted a review of the published and grey literature and engaged in expert consultation and focus group discussions. The initial OSRAH framework and the self-assessment tool were finalised for implementation and used by 95 organisations at a national event in Iran in February 2017. The results of the assessment data collected at the event showed organisations scored lowest in the domain of community health and highest in the domain of employee health. The OSRAH framework and assessment tool represents a new understanding of health and its determinants in organisations outside the health sector. It integrates health within the existing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) culture of organisations. The process of creating the tool and implementing it at the national festival of OSRAH in Iran created momentum for intersectoral action. This experience can inspire researchers and practitioners in other countries, especially in developing countries, to develop their own local definition and practical assessment framework for responsibility and accountability.

Firefighters are exposed to both known and suspected carcinogens. This study aims to systematically review the literature on the association of firefighting occupation and cancer incidence and mortality, overall and for specific cancer sites. A systematic review using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science was performed up to January 1, 2018. We extracted risk estimates of cancers and calculated summary incidence risk estimates (SIRE), summary mortality risk estimates (SMRE), and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Publication bias and risk of bias in individual studies were assessed using Begg's and Egger's tests and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS), respectively. We included 50 papers in the review and 48 in the meta-analysis. We found significantly elevated SIREs for cancer of the colon (1.14; CI 1.06 to 1.21), rectum (1.09; CI 1.00 to 1.20), prostate (1.15; CI 1.05 to 1.27), testis (1.34; CI 1.08 to 1.68), bladder (1.12; CI 1.04 to 1.21), thyroid (1.22; CI 1.01 to 1.48), pleura (1.60; CI 1.09 to 2.34), and for malignant melanoma (1.21; CI 1.02 to 1.45). We found significant SMREs of 1.36 (1.18 to 1.57) and 1.42 (1.05 to 1.90) for rectal cancer and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, respectively. Considering the significantly elevated risk of some cancers in this occupational group, we suggest improving preventive measures and securing adequate and relevant medical attention for this group. Further studies with more accurate and in-depth exposure assessments are indicated., (© 2019 UICC.)

Amounts of heavy metal elements (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, and Fe) in surficial sediments at four regions (coastline, estuaries, rivers discharging into the sea, and Gorgan Bay) along the southern coastline of the Caspian Sea were investigated in summer 2015. Collected data was applied to appraise the sediment contamination degree and the origin of pollutants based on the Geo-accumulation Index. Pollution status was assessed via the Enrichment Factor (EF) and the Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI, the Hakanson index). Heavy metal contents in sediments in mg g -1  dw varied from 3000 to 39,500 for Fe, 166.66 to 2000 for Mn, 11 to 4198 for Zn, not detected (ND) to 822.83 for Pb, ND to 40.66 for Cd, 6.16 to 37.16 for Cu, 11.66 to 69 for Ni, and 6.33 to 33.00 for Co. Higher amounts of Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Fe were determined in rivers discharging sediments into the sea. In Gorgan Bay, Zn, Ni, and Co were highest. Greater potential ecological risk levels were detected along the coastline as well as rivers discharging into the sea. Among heavy metals considered, Zn and Cd had the highest enrichment factors. The Geo-accumulation Index proved that the investigated region could be classified as Zn- and Cd-polluted area.

Proper envelope biogenesis of Streptococcus mutans , a biofilm-forming and dental caries-causing oral pathogen, requires two paralogs ( yidC1 and yidC2 ) of the universally conserved YidC/Oxa1/Alb3 family of membrane integral chaperones and insertases. The deletion of either paralog attenuates virulence in vivo , but the mechanisms of disruption remain unclear. Here, we determined whether the deletion of yidC affects cell surface properties, extracellular glucan production, and/or the structural organization of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) matrix and biophysical properties of S. mutans biofilm. Compared to the wild type, the Δ yidC 2 mutant lacked staining with fluorescent vancomycin at the division septum, while the Δ yidC1 mutant resembled the wild type. Additionally, the deletion of either yidC1 or yidC2 resulted in less insoluble glucan synthesis but produced more soluble glucans, especially at early and mid-exponential-growth phases. Alteration of glucan synthesis by both mutants yielded biofilms with less dry weight and insoluble EPS. In particular, the deletion of yidC2 resulted in a significant reduction in biofilm biomass and pronounced defects in the spatial organization of the EPS matrix, thus modifying the three-dimensional (3D) biofilm architecture. The defective biofilm harbored smaller bacterial clusters with high cell density and less surrounding EPS than those of the wild type, which was stiffer in compression yet more susceptible to removal by shear. Together, our results indicate that the elimination of either yidC paralog results in changes to the cell envelope and glucan production that ultimately disrupts biofilm development and EPS matrix structure/composition, thereby altering the physical properties of the biofilms and facilitating their removal. YidC proteins, therefore, represent potential therapeutic targets for cariogenic biofilm control. IMPORTANCE YidC proteins are membrane-localized chaperone insertases that are universally conserved in all bacteria and are traditionally studied in the context of membrane protein insertion and assembly. Both YidC paralogs of the cariogenic pathogen Streptococcus mutans are required for proper envelope biogenesis and full virulence, indicating that these proteins may also contribute to optimal biofilm formation in streptococci. Here, we show that the deletion of either yidC results in changes to the structure and physical properties of the EPS matrix produced by S. mutans , ultimately impairing optimal biofilm development, diminishing its mechanical stability, and facilitating its removal. Importantly, the universal conservation of bacterial yidC orthologs, combined with our findings, provide a rationale for YidC as a possible drug target for antibiofilm therapies., (Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.)

Introduction: Safe behavior and work conditions are a major concern in construction projects. However, accidents occur due to system failures, not a single factor such as unsafe behavior or condition. Construction safety should be investigated by a systematic view capable of illustrating the complex nature of accidents., Method: The present research aims to detect and categorize behavior patterns recurring in construction safety management continuously. Content analysis and ground theory method (GTM) were adopted to achieve the study objectives. In total, 90 articles were reviewed to explore the factors influencing safety in construction projects all over the world. Furthermore, 20 interviews were conducted on participants with rich experience in construction health and safety. Four archetypes were identified from data collection process, including delay in design, number of subcontractors, cost and safety of project, and supervisors and safety. Each archetype is completely discussed at different steps of dynamic complexity, behavior over time, and the leverage point to show how to deal with the archetype., (Copyright © 2018 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

1. Today, diamond nanoparticles have several industrial applications. Nano diamond (ND) as a carbon allotrope diffuses in the air easily during producing and processing procedures. 2. In this study, we investigated sub-acute exposed to ND at the exposure chamber in mice. The animals were divided into two groups (control and exposed group to ND at the concentration of 3 µg/m 3 for 3 h/day, 5 days/week for 30 days) in a whole-body inhalation chamber. 3. Our results showed that exposure to ND induced the hematological and biochemical changes. The target organs for ND were the lungs, brain and heart in the mice, respectively. Also, ND increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lipid peroxidation (LPO), the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), decreased a level of reduced glutathione (GSH) and finally increased a level of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) in lung, brain and heart tissues. Our results suggest that exposure to ND can induce oxidative stress in the tissue mentioned. 4. These results suggest that exposure of researchers and workers with diamond nanoparticles probably increase a risk of respiratory, cardiovascular and cerebral disorders through oxidative stress. However, good ventilation, appropriate personal protective equipment and using of anti-oxidant compounds in daily diet of worker are suggested.