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Abstract Iodized salt serves as an effective intervention strategy, combating iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and promoting overall health. This study aimed to assess the household salt consumption status and its relationship with urinary iodine (UI) levels among school-aged children. This is a descriptive-cross-sectional study that was selected by cluster-random sampling from 5 girls’ schools (182) and 5 boys’ schools (169), with a total of 351 primary school students (8–10 years old) of Darab. To explore the relationship between independent variables and dependent variable, urinary iodine (UI) levels, linear regression model was applied. A significance level of 0.05 was adopted for all analyses. The median UI level was 138 µg/L (IQR = 111). Our findings revealed that 66% of used iodized salt. A significant majority of participants properly stored their salt in containers with lids. Nearly half of the students in Darab have insufficient iodine intake. Despite controlling for the effect of iodized foods consumption, no significant association (P-value = 0.693) was observed between the storage method and iodized foods. Our study showed that students do not receive enough iodine or have received more than the required amount of iodine. Therefore, efforts should be focused on increasing awareness of diseases caused by iodine deficiency.

Background: Tourism is an industry whose development requires knowledge and enough understanding of the issues and factors affecting the economy, culture, and environment. This study aimed to identify the impact of tourist attractions in the county of Tiran and Karvan, Isfahan, to increase the economic, cultural, and environmental benefits of tourism development; it would be possible to minimize its negative impacts. Methods: This is a descriptive-analytic study that was conducted using a standard questionnaire in 2013. In this study, 400 tourists, 400 native people, and 50 experts in tourist places in the country of Tiran and Karvan, Isfahan, were included using a randomized sampling method. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: The region’s most potential tourist attractions are suitable natural attractions and recreational attractions, and the climate of the region with an average temperature of 5 ℃. The tourists’ satisfaction rate with the tourism facilities and equipment of the county was at a low level. The role of tourism is effective in creating jobs and increasing the income of residents of the region. Conclusion: The creation of employment grounds including increasing the income level of indigenous families, organizations related to tourism activities, and institutionalization of the culture of environmental protection are the most important economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts of tourism in this area. The most important factor in the weaknesses in the lack of development of country tourism was the lack of management and planning.

Dietary patterns (DPs) are a combination of nutrients which are determined through feeding behaviors of a particular population. Paying attention to DPs gives us a good picture of the diet and eating habits of people in the community. DPs help identify people at risk of chronic nutrition-related illnesses and give them nutritional advice. In the present study, the authors determine the DPs of people in Kashan city, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the DPs of the Kashan population from September 2019 to March 2020. A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect sociodemographic and dietary data. Then, DPs were assessed using principal component analysis. Results: The results showed that the average consumption of food items in cereals and products based on cereals, fruits and fruit products, vegetables and their products, meat and meat products, and milk and dairy products were 282.38±65.71, 287.58±8.89, 364.17±21.05, 34.48±3.81, and 456.65±39.16 g/day, respectively. The identified DPs included: 1) Unhealthy and processed, 2) fruit and fruit-based products, 3) Kashan traditional food, 4) Healthy diet, and 5) Mixed diet. Conclusion: Findings of the present study reveal that sociodemographic factors and lifestyle are associated with food choices. In addition, the authors found the low consumption of grains, fruits, vegetables, and meat and their products in the studied population. The researchers call for nutritional interventions to modify the consumption pattern for these food items

Dengue fever, an arboviral disease primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, poses a significant public health concern globally. Key vectors, such as Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Aedes cinereus, are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, affecting over 140 countries. These species are also found in Iran, particularly in the southern, southeastern, and northern regions. Diagnosing dengue fever presents challenges, including differentiating it from other febrile illnesses and recognizing early warning signs of severe dengue. Symptoms typically include acute fever, warning signs of severe illness, and potential complications. The clinical progression of dengue includes three phases: the febrile phase, critical phase, and recovery phase. A comprehensive understanding of clinical manifestations, prognostic indicators, diagnostic algorithms, and laboratory methods is crucial for accurate diagnosis, risk assessment, and effective disease management. Given the absence of specific antiviral treatments or vaccines for dengue, supportive care and symptomatic treatment remain essential. This narrative review discusses the management of dengue fever, focusing on supportive care, fluid management, antipyretic and analgesic medications, and antiviral treatments. Additionally, it reviews potential future treatment strategies and emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and prompt medical intervention in improving patient outcomes. The study also explores immunological targets, vaccine platforms, clinical trials, and future prospects for dengue vaccination. Furthermore, it presents prevention strategies targeting Aedes mosquitoes and outlines the challenges that lie ahead. By adopting a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach, we can pave the way for advancements in the prevention and control of dengue fever related to Aedes mosquito transmission. Continued research efforts, innovative collaborations, and public health training are vital to combat dengue fever and reduce its burden on affected populations worldwide.

The lack of accurate understanding of the environment and its surrounding fauna has led to the spread of misconceptions about the behaviors of certain animals, such as lizards. This is evident even in articles that lack scientific rigor. For instance, one article claims that the painful bites of lizards can cause fear and infection.[1]Additionally, many people believe that lizards possess poisonous tails, leading to the erroneous assumption that if they were to fall into cooking pots and be consumed, it could result in death due to cyanide poisoning. Such beliefs, particularly regarding Iranian lizards, are unfounded. This fear is largely rooted in superstition; it is important to note that lizards do not pose a threat to human life. They are completely harmless creatures, and even when captured or trapped, they do not endanger humans. Over the past 35 years, various species of Iranian lizards-ranging from 2 to 80 centimeters in size-have coexisted in both natural environments and traditional and modern homes without causing any harm [Figure 1].This fear is entirely baseless and primarily stems from cultural misconceptions that should be addressed through public awareness initiatives. Lizards are not merely pests; they are also among the best biological pest control agents.[2,3] They can effectively hunt mosquitoes for hours behind window screens in homes. As some of the most efficient insectivores, lizards have adapted well to a variety of habitats, including deserts, mountains, forests, and both urban and rural residential areas, without causing any harm or damage. They play a vital role in controlling pests such as cockroaches and mosquitoes.[4] However, awareness of the benefits of these creatures in Iran remains low.Having a lizard in the house is akin to hiring someone to tirelessly combat household pests day and night-without incurring any expenses, chemical pollution, or the need for management and supervision.[5]While some lizards are venomous, they belong to specific families. The Iguanidae family includes the green iguana (Iguana iguana), which has a weak venom and is found from Mexico to Brazil. The Helodermatidae family features well-known venomous species such as the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum), which inhabits areas in the southern United States-including Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico-and parts of Mexico such as Sonora and Sinaloa, as well as Guatemala's borders. Human bites from these lizards are rare, with the last reported death occurring in 1939.[6,7]A significant number of venomous species have been reported within the Varanidae family. Among them is the West African Nile monitor, Varanus niloticus stellatus, which possesses mild and harmless venom. The Crocodile monitor, Varanus salvadorii, native to the islands of New Guinea, is known for its invasive nature. Another notable species is the Malayan water monitor, Varanus salvator, which has been reported in regions such as Bengal, Sri Lanka, and China. The Komodo dragon, Varanus komodoensis, is one of the largest lizards in the world and inhabits the Komodo Islands of Indonesia.[8,9] Recent studies have identified 171 lizard species in Iran, three of which belong to the Varanidae family. While many of the world's venomous lizard species are part of this family, no venomous species have been documented in Iran to date.[10,11To date, there has been no documented evidence indicating that Iranian lizards are poisonous or venomous. Many individuals mistakenly believe that lizards shed their tails to distract predators, leading to the predator's demise due to toxins such as cyanide or other harmful substances. Occasionally, we hear unfounded claims that people have died after a lizard fell into a pot of food or a milk churn.Some researchers have demonstrated that ingesting domestic lizards in Iran does not result in any poisonous effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, high fever, chills, loss of appetite, headaches, irritability, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), breathing difficulties, excessive salivation, skin rashes, cyanosis (blue lips and skin), burns around the nose or mouth, double vision or blurred vision, mental confusion, seizures or convulsions, loss of consciousness, or coma.[12]The fear or phobia of lizards, similar to apprehensions regarding other phenomena, is widespread globally and manifests in hundreds of phobia types across various cultures and geographical regions. The role of researchers is not to endorse or validate these unfounded fears stemming from ignorance but rather to educate the public about the true nature of these creatures. Education should begin at the earliest stages of life. It is notable that while most members of society may enjoy seeing a sheep's head in a pot, they often express concern about having a lizard in their home. This reaction is not inherent but rather a set of cultural behaviors passed down through generations. If this fear and discomfort regarding lizards become widespread, it could exacerbate the situation. Certainly, we know individuals who may have sensitivities or aversions to certain foods or fruits; however, these sensitivities often diminish over time with increased experience or knowledge.Lizards play a crucial role in ecosystems, particularly in controlling rodent populations. By preying on rodents, they help maintain balance within the food web and contribute to the overall health of their environments. This ecological function is especially important in agricultural settings, where rodent infestations can cause significant crop damage and economic losses.The reliance on chemical pesticides for pest control has raised numerous environmental concerns. Pesticides can have detrimental effects on non-target species, including beneficial insects, birds, and aquatic life. Additionally, the need to change pesticide formulations over time often leads to the use of more potent chemicals, further harming ecosystems and potentially impacting human health.In contrast, biological control methods-such as using natural predators like lizards, rodents, and predatory birds-offer a more sustainable approach to pest management. This method not only reduces reliance on chemical pesticides but also promotes biodiversity and enhances ecosystem resilience. By integrating lizards into pest management strategies, farmers can harness their natural predation abilities, resulting in healthier crops and improved public health outcomes.Furthermore, fostering lizard populations in agricultural areas can decrease the prevalence of pests that transmit diseases to humans and livestock, underscoring their importance in maintaining ecological balance. As awareness of these benefits grows, more agricultural practices are likely to incorporate biological control methods, recognizing the invaluable contributions of lizards and other natural predators to sustainable farming and environmental health.Lizards primarily feed on rodents, making them a vital natural control factor for rodent populations.[9] Consequently, they hold significant ecological value within the energy pyramid. By removing lizards from the natural ecosystem, humans would eliminate one of the key players in maintaining population balance.Experts in agricultural and environmental sciences have concluded that the use of pesticides for pest control should be minimized due to their harmful effects on the environment. Furthermore, every few years, the types of pesticides used must be changed to maintain their effectiveness against pests, often resulting in the application of stronger chemicals that exacerbate environmental damage.In response to these challenges, humans have increasingly turned to breeding and utilizing various natural predators, such as lizards, rodents, and predatory birds, to combat agricultural pests. This approach, known as biological control, is now widely adopted in many countries. By controlling populations of both agricultural and health-related pests, lizards play a crucial role in enhancing public health and increasing crop yields.[5,9]

Introduction: Phytoremediation is a sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly process that utilizes plants and microorganisms for purification of the polluted land. In this study, the fast-growing species Salix acmophylla from the Salicaceae family was selected for phytoremediation purposes. Materials and Methods: With the aim of exploring the potential of Salix acmophylla in wastewater purification, a research initiative was launched in 2020, Following initial land preparation on a 5-hectare site next to a wastewater treatment plant, 60,000 Salix acmophylla cuttings were planted. By 2022, the trees had matured to a height of 3-4 meters. Wastewater samples were then collected and analyzed for pollutant levels both before entering the planted area and after passing through drainage channels built among the trees. This allowed researchers to calculate the average efficiency of Salix acmophylla in reducing wastewater pollutants. Results: The results regarding the impact of Salix acmophylla trees on the reduction of wastewater Characteristics in the cultivation area were the following: COD, BOD5, TSS, TDS, EC, and turbidity exhibited reductions of 38%, 42%, 17.5%, 79%, 52.2%, and 45.6%, respectively. Additionally, the estimated income from the cultivation of these trees was approximately $49,000. Conclusion: Planting Salix acmophylla trees significantly contributes to the reduction of wastewater pollutant parameters, suggesting the recommendation of this species for similar climates.

Abstract Phytoremediation is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method, offering a suitable alternative to chemical and physical approaches for the removal of pollutants from soil. This research explored the phytoremediation potential of Alhagi camelorum, a plant species, for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and heavy metals (HMs), specifically lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd), in oil-contaminated soil. A field-scale study spanning six months was conducted, involving the cultivation of A. camelorum seeds in a nursery and subsequent transplantation of seedlings onto prepared soil plots. Control plots, devoid of any plants, were also incorporated for comparison. Soil samples were analyzed throughout the study period using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‒OES) for HMs and gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry (GC‒MS) for TPHs. The results showed that after six months, the average removal percentage was 53.6 ± 2.8% for TPHs and varying percentages observed for the HMs (Pb: 50 ± 2.1%, Cr: 47.6 ± 2.5%, Ni: 48.1 ± 1.6%, and Cd: 45.4 ± 3.5%). The upward trajectory in the population of heterotrophic bacteria and the level of microbial respiration, in contrast to the control plots, suggests that the presence of the plant plays a significant role in promoting soil microbial growth (P 0.8). These results collectively suggest that phytoremediation employing A. camelorum can effectively reduce pollutants in oil-contaminated soils.

In this study, the decomposition of BTA was examined using a photocatalytic process (UV/Fe2O3@Alg-TiO2). The effects of various operational parameters such as the initial pH(3-7-10), catalyst dosage (0.05, 0.1, 0.15 g/L), BTA initial concentration (15–45 mg/L), UV intensity ( 2, 4, and 6 watts), and detention time (15,30, and 45 minutes) on the decomposition of BTA in the reactor with Batch conditions and in deionized water, real wastewater (three different matrices saline water, and real raw wastewater after activated sludge and after stabilization ponds) were investigated. SEM, XRD, and FTIR determined the synthesized catalyst's specifications. The results showed that 73.5% of BTA and 30% TOC was removed during the UV/Fe2O3@Alg-TiO2 photocatalytic process at the optimal condition (BTA=30 mg/L, pH = 3, UV = 4 Watt and catalyst dosage = 0.15 g/L) in deionized water. Also, the efficiency of the process in removing contaminants from the Saline, real raw sewage after activated, and after activated sludge and stabilization ponds was 23%, 47%, and 51%, respectively. The results showed that the toxicity decreased in 200 minutes that if sufficient time is provided to complete the reaction toxicity can be reduced. The results related to the amount of electrical energy consumed showed that considering both the advantages of BTA removal efficiency and energy consumption, the best performance was obtained in optimum conditions.

Background: Using cosmetics is common in different groups, especially women in Iran. Considering the importance of the usage rate and the possibility of confronting its unsought effects, the cosmetics usage rate by women is studied as the aim of this review. Methods: This is a non-systematic review study. Data were collected from international databases including Web of Science, Google Scholar, Elsevier, and Pub Med, and local databases including Civilica, Medline Iran Medex, SID, and Scirus, without language and time limitations and by using keywords. In the initial search, 187 articles were retrieved. Then, after omitting the irrelevant and unrelated articles, 51 articles were chosen for the final review. Results: The highest rate of permanent use of cosmetics is observed in women aged 20-29 year, while the lowest rate belongs to the age group of 50 years and older. Media are very effective in the rate of using cosmetics. The permanent use of cosmetics is related to social, economic, and cultural factors. Using cosmetics causes allergy in 1/3 of women. Conclusion: Age, economic-social status, education, and social media are effective factors in the use of cosmetics. Enhancing beauty and being seen are the major reasons for using cosmetics among women. Skin allergies are the unsought effects of drug development and cosmetics.

Objectives: In recent years, due to the inappropriate quality of distributed water by the public water network in many parts of Iran, especially in the central areas, the use of desalinated water has been widely developed. Therefore, for any planning and intervention, it is very important to have information about the current situation and social, cultural and economic factors affecting this development. As a result, this study was conducted with the aim of Investigating the rate and factors of approach to desalinated water in Kashan and Aran-Bidgol cities in 2018.Methods: This study is an ecological study on the samples of Kashan and Aran-Bidgol people. The tool is a questionnaire completed over the phone. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS16 software.Results: About 83.2% of the samples in Kashan and Aran-Bidgol cities use desalinated water for drinking, cooking and tea making, 44.2% of the samples use a small household water purifier and 39% buy purified water from sales centers. The filtration technology in both categories is reverse osmosis.Conclusion: In the studied cities, the salty taste of water taken from the public network and samovar sediments are the most important reasons for consumers to switch to purified water, and demographic characteristics such as age, gender, educational and economic level, etc. did not play a significant role in this approach.

Introduction: The COVID-19 epidemic has polluted millions of people and has caused millions of deaths worldwide. Therefore, this study aims to review the effects of COVID-19 on global air pollution. Materials and Methods: In this narrative review, articles related to the objectives of the study were selected in reliable scientific databases such as Web of Science, Ovid, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. A total of 294 browsing sources and ultimately 90 sources were selected. Results: In the COVID-19 pandemic, NO2 dropped from 53 to 11% in most countries, and PM2.5 and PM10 from 91 to 6% in some countries. CO dropped from 92 to 5% and SO2 had a decreasing trend from 77 to 7% in most countries, except for the largest cities in Britain, Poland, Taiwan, and Iran. Unlike other pollutants, O3 in most countries increased from 0.3 to 63%, but O3 decreased in some countries. Conclusion: In the lockdown period, the reduction of most air pollutants except O3 was observed in many countries. But after restarting, polluting activities have incresed again. Therefore, the rules implemented during lockdown time can be introduced as an appropriate option in emergencies to reduce air pollution.

The realm of diazinon reduction from polluted water has witnessed a surge in the significance of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in recent times. However, there is a dearth of research focusing on the mitigation of its toxicity through AOPs. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Electro-Fenton process (EFP) in the eradication and detoxification of diazinon in aqueous solutions. Synthetic wastewater samples with concentrations of 2, 2.5 and 3 mg/L were prepared. A total of 27 samples were determined using Box Behnken Design. Reaction time, pH and iron to hydrogen peroxide ratio (Fe2+/H2O2) were examined as operational parameters under a constant current of 5.4 amps. The quantification of diazinon concentration was performed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). To evaluate the detoxification of diazinon, the Daphnia magna bioassay was employed as a methodology in this study. According to the results, the EFP could reduce the diazinon to zero and the LC50 values are increased by applying the process. The LC50 values for diazinon were determined using the Daphnia magna bioassay, considering initial concentrations of 2, 2.5, and 3 mg/L at a pH of 5, a reaction time of 15 min, and an iron to hydrogen peroxide molar ratio of 2. The recorded LC50 values were 3.039, 3.076, and 3.106, respectively, indicating the lowest frequency of cumulative death in Daphnia magna. In this case, after 96 h, only 3 cases (30%) of Daphnia magna death were observed. However, for all the mentioned concentrations of diazinon, after 96 h of exposure to samples without applying the Daphnia Magna death process, it was observed between 60 and 100%. Reducing the diazinon concentration and increasing the 96-h LC50 showed that the EFP can reduce the toxicity of diazinon on Daphnia Magna at the same time. Therefore, EFP can be considered a superior method with low ecotoxicity.

Background: Scorpion sting is one of the medical health problems in tropical and subtropical regions of Iran. This study deals with the frequency of complications of scorpion sting, in patients referred to Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman.Methods: This retrospective descriptive-analytical study was performed using the census sampling method of patients, who referred to Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman following scorpion sting. The statistical population included all patients from 2016 to 2018. After collecting and extracting the data, the results were analyzed by SPSS software.Results: A total of 111 stings were reported, 61 females (55%) and 49 males (45%). Local signs included pain (55), swelling (15.3), erythema (21.6), skin ecchymosis (18.9), tenderness (10.8), and bleeding (1.8%). Systemic symptoms included nausea and vomiting (9), pain (1.8), numbness and paresthesia (3.6), weakness (9) and (86.5) without systemic symptoms. The average number of hospitalization days was 1.77.Conclusion: Clinical manifestations of patients show that species belonging to two families, Buthidae and Hemiscorpidae, are the cause of stings in this province. Stings has been more common in women and in the age group of 21 to 40 years old and more in July. Due to different species with neurotoxic and hemotoxic poison, the development of treatment protocols by trained physicians, who are familiar with clinical manifestations of these arthropods, are essential.

Introduction: Maintaining hospital air quality is very important, especially in intensive care units (ICUs), where patients undergo invasive procedures. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining the relationship between particulate matters (PMs) and bioaerosols in pediatric ICU (PICU), neonatal ICU (NICU), and ICU open heart (ICU OH) of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted for six consecutive months, i.e., autumn and winter of 2021. PM samples were taken using a Grimm Dust Monitor and microbial samples were taken using a Quick Take 30 sampler. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for analysis and then ANOVA and LSD were used for further tests. Results: The maximum and minimum PM10 concentrations in the PICU and ICU OH were 59.19 and 9.71 μg/m3, respectively; and the maximum and minimum PM2.5 concentrations were 20.23 μg/m3 in the NICU and 4.69 μg/m3 in PICU. The mean PM concentration and the number of bacterial and fungal colonies were consistent with the WHO and EPA guidelines. Gram-positive Staphylococcus were the most abundant bacteria (90.96%). The most abundant fungi were Aspergillus (54.23%), Penicillium (15.64%), and Cladosperium (12.17%) species. There was also no significant relationship between PMs and bioaerosols. Conclusion: The mean concentrations of PMs and bioaerosols match with the guidelines, which can be attributed to more observance of health protocols and restrictions on the movement of people into ICUs due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Background: Snakebite is a medical emergency that frequently occurs in different countries. Considering the incidence of annual snakebite in Iran, this study deals with the epidemiology of snakebite in hospitalized patients. Epidemiological data of patients can improve proper and timely treatment of snakebiteMethods: This retrospective descriptive-analytical study was performed using census sampling of snakebite patients. The statistical population included all patients referred to Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman from 2016 to 2018. After collecting data, the results were analyzed using chi-square and paired t-test.Results: A total of 36 snake bites were reported, 28 males and 8 females. The highest frequency was in the age range of 21-40 years. Local complications included pain 55.5, swelling 36.9, erythema 36.1, skin ecchymosis 13.9, tenderness 8.3, and bleeding 1%. Systemic symptoms included nausea and vomiting 16.6, headache 2, drowsiness 2, and 72.4 without symptoms. Out of 36 patients, 8 had compartment syndrome and 4 patients required fasciotomy. Chi-square test showed a significant relationship between bite and sex, bite and season.Conclusion: Local and systemic symptoms of patients indicate that Viperidae snakes are more likely to cause bites in this province. Snakebites have been more commonplace among men and in the age group of socially active people and more in summer. The development of treatment protocol by experienced and eager physicians with Local and systemic manifestation of venom caused by venomous snakes in the region is essential.

Background: Students are a very important part of young society whose awareness affects the health of family and friends. At the same time as the COVID-19 pandemic, the present study was conducted to investigate the level of Knowledge, Preventive Behaviors and Risk Perception of students of Kashan University of Medical Sciences towards COVID-19.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022. 330 students from the Kashan University of Medical Sciences were selected by random sampling method. Data collection tools were a questionnaire including 4 sections of demographic information, awareness (15 questions) and preventive behaviors (9 questions) and risk perception (2 questions). The Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for data analysis.Findings: The knowledge of students of Kashan University of Medical Sciences about the ways of transmission, origin, symptoms, incubation period, treatment, how to diagnose, the importance of using a mask and hand hygiene has been between 60 to 98% and very good. The students' preventive behaviors towards all the mentioned items were between 65 and 95% and were very good. About half of the university students had a high risk of COVID-19.Conclusion: Due to the high prevalence of this virus and the lack of completely effective medicine in the treatment of this disease, it is necessary to raise the level of awareness of students with appropriate training, so that we can see an increase in preventive behaviors and understanding of risk among students.

Background: Considering the importance of scorpions and recognizing the mechanisms of toxicity caused by their medically important species in Iran and adopting the best therapeutic approach based on these mechanisms, this study was performed by reviewing the clinical manifestations of scorpion stings. Methods: The research was conducted by searching for articles and researches in related websites (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL) and using domestic and international authoritative journals using the keywords of scorpion, clinical manifestations, in a review method. Finally, 104 qualified sources were selected and after review­ing and criticizing these studies, the author's point of view was presented. Results: Clinical manifestations of Scorpion sting toxicity vary due to the existence of two toxic classes of neurotoxins and cytotoxins or hemotoxins in these arthropods in Iran. The number and distribution of species with neurotoxic ven­om are higher than the scorpions with cytotoxic venom and are reported throughout Iran. Scorpions with cytotoxic ven­om are mostly widespread in south and southwest of Iran. Conclusion: Treatment and prevention of scorpion stings in Iran and neighboring countries in the Middle East should be planned based on the mechanism of toxicity and the presence of toxic classes with neurotoxic or cytotoxic venoms.

Snakes are among the predatory reptiles in the wild. Due to the importance of knowing the habitats of these reptiles and their distribution, this study has been done. During the study, the specimen snake was found in the garden of a house in the region of Afus, of Fereydan County, in the west of Isfahan province. The city of Afus is 2800 meters above the sea level, on the roof of Iran. Afus is located at 50°5’, 646 East longitude, and at 33°1’, 464 North Latitude. Afus is a mountainous region with a moderate climate, its winters are cold and snowy while its summers are mild and pleasant. The mountainous nature of Afus and the sudden changes in temperature cause seasonal winds to blow. Temperature changes in this city are such that in winter and especially in January reaches minus 30°C and in summer and on the hottest day of the year will be 31°C. This suitable climate and soil type cause the growth of varieties of herbaceous plants and medicinal herbs in this region. The presence of these plants causes Afus land to be green and fertile in the hot season. After initial identification of this species according to the available sources, its photos and videos were presented to a high expert herpetologist who confirmed the identity of the snake. On the basis of morphological characters, the specimen was Platyceps ventromaculatus belong to the Colubridae family and is considered as a non-venomous snake.

Objective: Snakes are among the predators of any ecosystem and have been seen in different parts of Iran. The report on their distribution in Isfahan province was taken into consideration because of the importance of regional knowledge of these animals. Case report: During this survey, a sample of snakes was collected from north of Isfahan province, Kashan city, the University site of Medical Sciences and the sample was studied. The snake was identified by morphological and habitat characteristics and compared to other photos and data. The specimen belonged to the Colubridae family and non-venomous snakes. This species is distributed in the tropical climatic zone of the province. The species of the tropical region of Kashan city was identified as Platyceps karelini. or spotted snake Conclusion: We identified the habitat of this animal in Kashan city in Isfahan province. By identifying the species of Spotted Desert Racer from the Colubridae family, the number of non-venomous snakes in Kashan reached eight species.

Background: Mosquitoes are responsible for spreading devastating parasites and pathogens causing some important infectious diseases. The present study was done to better understand and update the fauna of Culicidae and to find out the distribution and the type of their larval habitats in Kashan County. Methods: This study was done in four districts of Kashan County (Central, Qamasr, Niasar and Barzok). Mosquito lar­vae were collected from 23 active larval habitats using a standard 350ml capacity mosquito dipper from April to late December 2019. The collected larvae were transferred to containers containing lactophenol, and after two weeks indi­vidually mounted in Berlese's fluid on a microscope slide and identified to species by morphological characters and valid keys. Results: In this study, a total of 9789 larvae were collected from urban and rural areas in Kashan County. The identified genera were Anopheles, Culiseta and Culex. In this study larvae of An. turkhudi, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. mimeticus, Cx. deserticola and Cs. subochrea were collected for the first time from Kashan County. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the presence and activity of different mosquito species in Kashan County that some of them are vectors of arbovirus and other vector-borne diseases.

Sandfly fever is a febrile emerging arboviral illness which is a huge threat posed to public health. Sandfly fever viruses (Sicilian, Naples, and Toscana) are endemic to the Mediterranean region. Evidence suggests an increase in the activity of sandfly-borne phleboviruses and their extension to other places. The infection is relatively benign but may cause severe clinical manifestations and complications. Sandfly fever viruses belongs to the genus Phlebovirus (family Bunyaviridae), and the four main serotypes include sandfly fever Sicilian virus, sandfly fever Naples virus, sandfly fever Cyprus virus, and Toscana virus. Sandfly fever has flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, photophobia, malaise, myalgia, and retro-orbital pain. The incubation period of the disease is 4-8 days, and the patient usually recovers within a week. The first infection provides the host with immunity. Sandfly fever viruses are transmitted through the bites of infected female sandflies, thus, the epidemiology of sandfly fever is closely related to the presence and activity of sandfly species that act as the vectors for transmission. Cases and outbreaks of the disease have been reported worldwide for more than 100 years. All in all, this disease is important for non-endemic countries because it is a travel-related and/or imported illness.

Aims: The aim of this study was to monitor mosquito activity with emphasis on Aedes species in Kashan County. Materials and Methods: This investigation was carried out in Kashan County, from April to late September 2019. The location coordinates of the sampling sites were marked and registered with Global Positioning System deviceand mapped using Arc Map 10.5 software. In this study, mosquitos' larvae were collected from 120 standard ovitraps, which had been placed in 15 locations in Kashan, Qamsar, and Niasar. Cyndon dactylon at 50% concentration was used as an oviposition attractant (250 ml/trap). Ovitraps were visited regularly to check for eggs or larvae. The mosquito's larvae were identified using a systematic key. Results: A total of 535 mosquitos' larvae were collected from ovitraps and were identified under two genera Culex and Culiseta. The collected species were Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (72.4%), Culex theileri Theobald, 1903 (18.3%), Culex torrentium Martini, 1925 (0.2%) and Culiseta longiareolata (Macquart, 1838) (9.1%). This is the first report of present Cx. torrentium Martini, 1925 in Kashan County. Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 was found at 13 locations from 15. In this study, there were 4.46 larvae per ovitrap. Conclusions: Although no samples of Aedes mosquitoes were captured in this preliminary study, further investigations using different methods of mosquito collection should be done to accurately comment on the current fauna of Kashan Aedes.

Aims: A large part of Iran is located in an arid area that is exposed to the influx of quicksand. This research has been done to investigate the environmental situation of Haloxylon plantations in Aran and Bidgol deserts. Materials and Methods: This research is a descriptive study. First, 31 plots with Haloxylon and two plots without Haloxylon were selected in Aran and Bidgol deserts, and the parameters of cover density, tree height, wind, humidity, and temperature in those plots were measured. Results: The results showed that 80% of the Haloxylon in the study area was green and 20% of them were dried. Temperatures and wind speed were lower in plots that had Haloxylon and higher humidity than plots without Haloxylon. Conclusion: The data from this study show that the greenness of the Haloxylon was related to the altitude. Moreover, the temperature, humidity, and wind speed had a remarkable relationship with the presence of Haloxylon and the greenness and their height.

Aims: Landfill leachate contains many pollutants including chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand, ammonia nitrogen, organic matter, minerals, and toxins. Given the importance of COD removal from landfill leachate, this study was conducted to evaluate and compare different methods used for the removal of COD from leachate. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a narrative review using keywords of leachate, COD, landfill in related journals issued in scientific databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, SID, and Google Scholar. We reviewed different aspects of COD removal from leachate to find better options in this respect. Results: The highest rate of COD removal was observed for batch reactor methods of anaerobic and aerobic granular activated carbon and electro Fenton by 98.4% COD removal, and the lowest one was 22.7% for the electro-Fenton method. The most commonly used methods for removing COD from solidwaste leachate have been physical and chemical methods. Conclusion: This study showed that a wide range method has been used to remove COD from leachate. It seems that combined methods are more effective to reduce the content of leachate COD. Besides, methods such as Fenton and absorption are more preferable because of simple application and low energy consumption.

Background: Aggressive behaviors in human and experimental animals have previously been described following induced pain. Aggression in rodents has been attributed to genetic and environmental factors, such as pain. A major complication of scorpion envenomation is severe pain in animals and humans. Considering that envenomation by black scorpion (Androctonus crassicauda) induces severe pain, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of the venom on inducing aggressive behaviors in rats due to the pain from stinging. Methods: Rats in the control (n=20) and experimental groups (n=20) were injected with 0.5ml physiological serum or 1µg/ml of black scorpion venom dissolved in 0.5ml physiological serum, respectively, in the dorsal vein near the tail. Changes in behaviors were monitored photographically among the rats in both groups. Results: Following the injection of the scorpion venom, considerable agitation and fights occurred among the experimental rats, presumably due to the severe pain induced by the venom. However, there was no such abnormal behavior observed in the control rats and in the experimental rats before the venom injection. Conclusion: The induced pain post envenomation in rats caused violent changes in their behaviors, which were highly likely associated with the venom injection.

Background and Objectives: Scorpion’s sting has created one of the most significant health and medical issues in Iran. Lack of sufficient knowledge of the fauna and the seasonal activity of scorpions in an area poses a serious challenge to the control programs. Each year, several cases of scorpion sting are reported in Qaenat county. In this regard, the present study aimed to identify and determine the fauna and scorpions of this region. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on the scorpions that were caught using Ultra-Violet (UV) light, pitfall traps, and hand-catching methods every month in Qaenat City in South Khorasan Province in Iran during 2017. After their capture, the scorpions were stored in plastic containers of glycerin and 70% ethanol and were identified using a valid morphological key. Results: A total of 912 scorpion specimens from the buthidae family were collected, including six species of Mesobuthus eupeus, Androctonus crassicauda, Orthochirus scrobiculosus, Compsobuthus matthiesseni, Mesobuthus caucasicus, and Odontobuthus doriae. M. eupeus and O. doriae had the highest (60.96%) and lowest (0.88%) frequencies, respectively. Moreover, most of the scorpions were collected in December in rural areas, while the least number of them were collected in May. Conclusion: Due to the diversity of scorpion species in the studies region, it is essential to educate and raise the awareness of individuals living in this region about methods of preventing scorpion stings.

Objective: A Scorpion sting is one of the most important health and medical problems in most parts of Iran. Case Presentation: This case report occurred in Chaharmahal Bakhtiari province of Bazoft city. The injured person was a 48-year-old woman, weighing about 69 kg. Two documentary filmmakers were on their way to work and suddenly one of them felt pain caused by a sting in the thigh area of her lower limb. The patient was referred to the medical center with the ‘scorpion’ sample, where she was examined by a doctor. The doctor prescribed some medicine for the patient. The pain from the sting lasted for about three hours. The patient recovered after taking the medication and received counseling three days after the sting. A photo of the dorsal and ventral surface of the scorpion specimen was sent to the animal identification specialist along with the size and color record. Scorpion specimen with a size of 4 cm was identified as Compsobuthus matthiesseni. Conclusion: According to the findings of this report, the clinical signs of C. matthiesseni sting are mild in the injured person and comparable to the stings of yellow bees Vespa germania. There is local pain two to three hours after the sting. Other systemic clinical manifestations can improve after a maximum of 2 to 3 days.

West Nile virus (WNV) is found in 26 provinces of Iran in humans, horses, and birds. Due to lack of vaccines, the only method to reduce the risk of the disease in communities is to increase people’s awareness. Lack of killing and overhunting of animals does not alter the infected-blood transmission from animals to humans by mosquito bites, but can reduce disease transmission risks including the transmission of West Nile fever (WNF) to humans. WNV is an enveloped Flavivirus that in nature has an enzootic cycle between mosquitoes and birds. The virus has occasional epizootic spillover causing disease in humans and horses. WNV-transmitting mosquitoes are widespread around the world, and the geographical range of transmission and the disease has increased over the past seven decades. Most human infections with WNV are asymptomatic, but severe neurological disease may develop resulting in long-term complications or death. Given the increasing trend of reported human WNF cases, it is necessary to implement surveillance programs and increase awareness of people and health staff about the function of biological factors including carnivores in the hunting of infected animals and collecting their carcass from nature. Hunting and killing of birds and dogs living near humans increase both the risk of deviation of blood-feeding of the zoophilic mosquitoes to humans and the outbreak of the disease.

The five main arbovirus families that cause diseases in humans and other animals are Bunya viridae, Togaviridae, Flaviviridae, Reoviridae, and Rhab doviridae. Chikungunya arbovirus (Togaviridae: Alphavirus), an arbovirus transmitted by Aedes spp., is a well-known global health threat. It has been recognized in more than 60 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Pakistan, the eastern neighborhood of Iran, is one of the endemic foci of this disease. As the largest province of Iran, Sistan- Baluchestan has always been threatened by infectious diseases from abroad due to its geographical location and neighborhood with Afghanistan and Pakistan. Contagious diseases are more likely to occur in the eastern borders of Iran arising from (1) lack or limited jobs due to deprivation of the area, the harsh weather conditions, unbearable conditions, traditional society, and lack of industry development; (2) Lack or limited facilities due to the distance from the center of the country and high percentage of illiteracy or low literacy, and traffic to neighboring countries to trade goods and get a job. Therefore, health authorities should pay more attention to trafficking of illegal aliens, traveling of people to high-risk countries, smuggling of livestock, and strengthening of quarantine posts across borders, especially in the eastern borders of Iran. The first case of chikungunya disease was confirmed in Sistan-Baluchestan province in 2019, where most of the cases have been reported. The findings of the present study provide evidence of chikungunya virus in Iran and emphasize the urgency to increase the preventive standards and surveillance system.

Introduction and purpose: Scorpion stings can threaten human health. The investigation of the epidemiologic factors affecting scorpion stings plays an important role in the prevention of this public health issue. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the epidemiology of scorpionism in Qaenat city, South Khorasan Province, Iran. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on all the stung people residing in Qaenat city of South Khorasan Province during 2011- 2016. The epidemiology of patients and demographic data were collected in a checklist and data were analyzed in SPSS (version 20). Results: A total of 164 cases stung by scorpion were enrolled in the present study, including 75 males (45.7%) and 89 females (54.3%). The most and least frequent cases of stung were observed among individuals within the age range of 25-34 and 55-64 years, respectively. Hands, head, and face were the most prevalent sting sites with the occur-rence rates of 56.7, 37.8, and 5.5%, respectively. Scorpion stings occurred mostly during spring and summer with the highest rate of 30% in July. Out of total cases, 46.3% were residing in urban areas and 53.7% in rural areas. Conclusion: Considering the fact that the highest occurrence rate of scorpion sting was observed in rural areas, educa-tional programs for all health and medical personnel as well as physicians of centers, promotion of public aware-ness in the city and village, improvement of places and rural roads can play an important role in the prevention of scorpionism and mortality.

Background and purpose: Scorpionism is a public health problem in Darmian City. This study was conducted to determine the biodiversity and faunistic of scorpions in order to discover the health preventive features of scorpion sting among the residents of these regions. Methods: A nightly and daily actively searching on distribution and biodiversity of scorpions was carried during April 2015 to March 2016 in Darmian, Iran. Results: A total of 685 scorpions including five species belonging to buthidae family were identified. The highest abundance was observed in warmer months, and Mesobuthus eupeus (54.5%) was the most abundant species. The researchers found a positive correlation between abundance and temperature and a negative correlation between abundance and humidity. The scorpions were observed with more nocturnal activity and were well-adapted with more abundance to the plain, rural, and outdoors environments. Regarding constancy index, all species except A. crassicauda were classified as constant species (C=100). There was no significant difference in the richness of scorpions in different time collections (day or night), geographical areas (plain or mountainous), regions collected (urban or rural), and places (indoors or outdoors). The Shannon and dominant indices were found to be not significantly different between mentioned sites except in time collection. Conclusions: Species composition of scorpions revealed that scorpions were constantly active throughout the year which can play an important role in sting events. So, familiarity of healthcare experts and indigenous people with existing species and their seasonal activities can largely reduce the risk of scorpion stings.

Objective: To study earthquake planning and crisis management with an emphasis on the facilities, utilities, and services of the health care centers of Tiran and Karvan County, Isfahan Province. Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical survey based on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Tiran and Karvan County Health Care Centers(HCCs). Twenty quantitative and qualitative indicators were derived from the studied HCCs and analyzed using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis technique. The top crisis management strategies were identified and a number of strategies and solutions were proposed. Results: The HCC utilities such as water, electricity, gas, and heating and cooling systems were in average condition, whereas the facilities of the majority of HCCs were in vulnerable-to-average condition. In addition, they sustained relatively high degree of instability which calls for reassessment and effective policies to minimize weaknesses and eliminate threats using strengths and opportunities. Conclusions: It is recommended that the condition of Tiran and Karvan County HCCs be enhanced by distributing new HCCs based on the population density, expanding the road network and creating vast, wide-open spaces to enable field hospital construction in times of crisis.

Aims: The tourism industry is one of the world's top three industries with an annual growth of 4%. This research was conducted with the aim of determining the environmental health indicators of hotels and lodging houses in the city of Kashan in the winter of 2015 and the spring of 2016. Materials and Methods: This research is a descriptive study carried out on all hotels and guesthouses in Kashan city. The information was collected through direct referral and health visit with the environmental health expert of the health centers of Kashan. Information was gathered by in the form of completion of Article 13 of the Code of Conduct and then analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Having a medical examination card by all the staff, improvement the walls of the building at 14.3%, and improvement the ceiling in 28.6% of the hotels, the use of a depreciated bed in a hotel and a guesthouse, the lack of an appropriate ventilation in 50% of the guesthouses, the lack of attention to the provision of health cards by drivers of food-carrying vehicles was observed in more than 50% of the places. Conclusion: The health status of the hotels and inns (lodging house) of the city of Kashan is in a relatively favorable situation. Considering the many tourism attractions in Kashan and the presence of tourists, it is important to pay attention to the safety and improvement of buildings of residential centers to maintain the health and comfort of tourists and also to prevent earthquake hazards.

Aims: The trend of withdrawal from groundwater resources in Kashan plain has been increased during the recent 40 years. For example, the number of deep wells has been increased from 67 in 1965 to 927 in 2003. As a result, the well discharges and water quality have been diminishing. Hence, this research was aimed to study the salinity variation modeling in Kashan plain groundwater resource. Materials and Methods: This descriptive research was done based on recorded data for some wells in Kashan plain. First, the data from 112 wells were considered then, 16 wells with more complete data were selected for analysis. Total dissolved solids (TDSs) were considered as the salinity index. Results: The results showed that, in Kashan plain, the mean of salinity has been increased from 1190 mg/L to more than 1400 mg/L during 7 years. Although the salinity has been somewhat less after each annual precipitation, the trend is upward. Minimum and maximum of TDS were identified taken samples from wells number 27 and 47, respectively. Maximum rate of salinity was found in wells number 53 and 55, while the minimum was related to well number 54. Conclusions: The groundwater salinity in Kashan plain has an upward trend. The groundwater salinity can be related to some major factors such as distance from Salt Lake, less annual precipitation, and more withdrawal from the aquifer in the recent decades. Since the later can be managed withdrawal, especially for agricultural activities have to be minimized as the most effective way for prevention of the groundwater quality degradation.

Formaldehyde is used in many industries for its different chemical characteristics. The wastewater in these industries contains large amounts of formaldehyde which is dangerous and toxic for human and environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficiency of Fe2+/H2 O2 /O3 process in degradation of formaldehyde from synthetic wastewater. This experimental bench-scale study in batch system was conducted on the synthetic wastewater in primary concentration of formaldehyde (500 mg/L). The maximum percentage of formaldehyde removal was 72.5% that was observed in molar ratio of 2.4 [H2 O2 ]/[Fe2+]. After determining optimum [H2O2]/[Fe2+], the effects of pH variables, function time, and ozone concentration were studied in formaldehyde removal. In this process, the maximum degradation efficiency of formaldehyde in 0.7 mg/L ozone concentration and in 2.4 of molar ratio for [H2 O2 ]/[Fe2+] was 85.84% after 20 minutes. Moreover, the effect of pH and ozone concentration was significant in degradation efficiency (P

Background and purpose: Scorpions have always received attention in Iran because of their frequency and venom. In the past 50 years many aspects of scorpion biology have been studied in Iran, including venom. Identifying the species of these predators are of great interest to researchers. This study presents the latest checklist of species of scorpions in Iran. Materials and methods: Electronic databases including Web of Science, Ovid, PubMed, Systematic Review, SID, Iran Medex, Scirus, Google Scholar, and Medline were searched using scorpion, species, family, systematic, and Iran as keywords. Articles published with emphasis on Iran and fauna of scorpion in 1985 to 2016 were investigated. A total of 150 studies was found from which 75 were selected that were mainly about different species of scorpion in Iran. Results: So far, 64 species of scorpions are reported in Iran belonging to Buthidae family (86%), Hemiscorpiidae family (9.5%), and Scorpionidae family (4.5%). These species were found most in tropical regions of Iran. Conclusion: Scorpion species have considerably increased in last three decades, therefore, researchers are expected to provide latest checklist of species of scorpions regularly in Iran.

The use of cosmetics is very common among women in Iran. Given the importance of the use of mass media and the impact on the consumption of cosmetics, this study attempted to consider the influence of mass media on the use of cosmetics among women in Kashan. Using a standard designed questionnaire, the data were obtained from 800 women. Multi-stage cluster sampling was randomly carried out. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. The findings showed that 59.9% of the participants believed that satellite programs have the greatest impact on the use of cosmetics. 33% of the participants who believed that mass media had significant influence in this regard; they had a constant tendency to use cosmetics. Mass media advertisements encourage women to consume cosmetics; therefore, introducing the real and appropriate cultural models via advertisements on mass media may have positive impacts on women to consume cosmetics properly.

Background and Aim: Due to the high prevalence and worldwide distribution of Enterobius vermicularis and its readily transmission among children, parents' knowledge and health education have an important role in restriction and infection control. This study was performed to evaluate the girl students' knowledge about transmission, symptoms, and prevention of oxyuriasis in 2012–2013 in Kashan, Central Iran. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 500 students in three levels of middle schools were studied. To evaluate the students' knowledge level of oxyuriasis, the standardized questionnaire was distributed and completed. Data were analyzed using statistical software SPSS. Results: Among three levels of students of middle schools, 67.6% of students had average awareness (information), 17.4% had weak information, and 15% had high information. In the assessment of the level of awareness in the first-level students, 23.41% of the students had weak information, 66.4% had average information, and 10.12% had high information. In the second-level students, 12.57% had weak information, 73.14% had average information, and 14.28% had high information. In the third-level middle-school students, 16.76% of students had weak knowledge, 62.87% had average knowledge, and 20.35% had high knowledge. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that knowledge of middle-school students about this infection is good but not sufficient, and it is necessary for teachers and health officers in schools to increase hygienic knowledge of the students and to train about this infection to decrease the damage of personal and social problems.

Background: Scorpions are one of the most important venomous animals in Iran. Their sting has more prevalence in the south and southwest areas. The aim of this study was to introduce their sting agent species in the country. Methods: Data were extracted by a mini review on scorpion stinging articles in Iran until early 2018 and then the sting agent species in each area were studied. Geographical and provincial distribution of each species also was provided. Results: Twelve scorpion species are causative agents of sting. According to their deadly rate and clinical symptoms, some of them are considered the most dangerous venomous animals in Iran. Some death cases have been reported be­cause of the sting of 3 species of Hemiscorpius lepturus, H. acanthocercus and Androctonus crassicauda. Remaining species have not deadly sting but because of their frequency, they encounter the individuals and cause the stinging. Conclusion: The highest number of sting agents is in Khuzestan, however Gilan and Mazandaran have the lowest fre­quency. Because of the high prevalence of sting agent species in that province, the necessity of providing control and prevention programs is very important.

Abstract Scorpions are distributed throughout Iran and the genus Hemiscorpius is particularly important in this region. Hemiscorpius lepturus is the most significant species within the genus in the country. Since scorpionism provoked by Hemiscorpius comprises a medical emergency, the present study is focused on this important issue. In order to perform the present work, a review of the medical and health-related literature was carried out in several databases. The current findings indicate that six species of Hemiscorpius are found in 15 states of Iran, mainly in the south and southwest. Deaths caused by stings were reported only for two species. The morphological characteristics and geographical distribution of H. lepturus in Iran, its venom and the toxic compounds, epidemiologic data and clinical manifestations of envenomation as well as treatment for affected people are herein reviewed and described. H. lepturus venom toxicity differs from other Iranian scorpions regarding duration and severity. Scorpionism is an important public health problem in Iran, especially in southwest and south regions and in urban areas. It is more prevalent in children and young people. H. lepturus venom is primarily a cytotoxic agent and has hemolytic, nephrotoxic and to some extent hepatotoxic activity. The use of polyvalent antivenom to prevent scorpion sting symptoms is recommended. A well-planned health education program might be useful in preventing scorpionism.

Due to the medical and therapeutic importance of scorpions in Iranian traditional medicine, this review was conducted on the treatment of scorpion sting as performed by traditional healers in order to realize complications, clinical manifestations, diversities, and deficiencies in the prevention, control, and treatment as mentioned in the pertained literatures. This study tried to make known and investigate attitudes of the Iranian national and traditional medicine towards controlling these venomous animals. Keywords and articles were searched through relevant sites on the Internet. We investigated different journals and references for the Iranian traditional medicine. Based on the articles and books found, we tried to find suitable solutions to problems from the viewpoint of traditional medicine. Scorpion sting dates back to ancient Iran and has been widely reflected in the resources of Iranian traditional medicine. The traditional medicine offers various guidelines that can be beneficial in this respect. New attitude towards scorpion sting with regard to traditional medicine resources can enhance control and prevention of scorpion stings. Consequently, this attitude leads authorities and researchers to a decreased level of scorpion stings or related consequences.

Reply to Urbanization Theory for Growing Trend of Multiple Sclerosi

Background: Scorpions are among the world’s venomous arthropods, they sting humans every year, suffering pain­ful symptoms or losing their lives because of the venom. Odontobuthus doriae Thorell 1876 (Arachnida: Scorpi­onida: Buthidae) is a scorpion of medical importance and therefore its geographical distribution in Isfahan Province has been studied. Methods: This descriptive cross–sectional study was designed between Mar and Jun in 2012 and 2013 in Province of Isfahan, central Iran. Overall, 164 O. doriae scorpions were collected from their natural habitat by identifying the dug burrows. This arthropod’s burrows were identified based on the presence of tumuli, particularly between May and Jun at the sloping foothills of pristine embankments. The sampling data was categorized and compared. Results: The relative frequency of collected O. doriae for the counties was Mobarakeh (13.5%), Shahinshahre (11.5%), Borkhar (9%), Shahreza (7.5%), Kashan (7.5%), Naeen (6%), Natanz (5.5%), Isfahan (4.8%), Najafabad (4.8%), Aran and Bidgol (4.8%), Dehaghan (4.8%), Flavarjan (3.7%), Khomeinishahr (3.7%), Tiran (3.7%), Gol­payegan (3.7%), Ardestan (3.7%) and Lenjan (2.5%). No O. doriae was collected from other counties of the prov­ince. Conclusion: The habitats of O. doriae are more often located in central, eastern and northern regions of the province compared to other regions. Counties of southern and western regions are among cold parts of the province.

Background: Scorpion sting is a common medical emergency in Iran. The epidemiological features and control of such cases vary from south to north. This review will provide new information about the epidemiology of scorpion stings in different provinces of Iran. Methods: In this descriptive retrospective study, data on scorpionism including incidence rates, mortality as well as locality from 2002 to 2011were collected. Results: Overall, 433203 victims of scorpion stings had been referred to health centers from of all of the 31 prov­inces. The incidence of scorpion stings in 100000 populations was from 54.8 to 66. The highest rate of scorpion stings occurred among the 25–34 yr old group. The highest incidence of scorpion stings during 2011 was observed in Khuzestan Province and the lowest number in Mazandaran Province. The peak number of human cases (scorpion stings) was recorded during May to August. Conclusion: Scorpion stings in Iran are high. It is necessary that physicians and health care professionals should be familiar with local scorpions, especially those that are potentially more dangerous than others, the effective treatment protocols, and supportive care as well as their control of scorpionism

Background: Information on the epidemiology of venomous snake species responsible for envenomation to humans in Iran has not been well documented. In the Kashan city, venomous snakebite remains a recurring medical problem. Information providing the correct identification of snake species responsible for envenomation in this geographic region would be useful to regional medical clinics and personnel for the effective and optimal management of the patients. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all patient data was collected from Kashan city and its suburbs. The specific data relating to the taxonomic identification of snakes responsible for envenomation were evaluated. A general approach to the diagnosis and management of patients was also provided. Snakes responsible for bites were transported to a laboratory, where their taxonomic classification was confirmed based on key anatomical features and morphological characteristics. Results: A total of 46 snakes were examined. Of these, 37 (80%) were non-venomous species, and 9 (20%) were identified as venomous. Seven of the nine venomous snake species (78%) were of the family Viperidae, and two specimens (22%) were in the family Colubridae. Specifically, the viperid species were Macrovipera lebetina obtusa, Pseudocerastes persicus, Pseudocerastes fieldi, and Echis carinatus. The two colubrid species were Malpolon monspessulanus insignitus and Psammophis schkari. Conclusion: Five different species of venomous snakes responsible for envenomation in the Kashan city region were confirmed. The viper, P. fieldi, was reported for the first time in the central part of Iran.

Contamination of human and animal body tissues with flies’ larvae and diptera cause myiasis. A 26 yr old female patient refers to Kashan Shahid Beheshti Hospital, central Iran because of urogenital infection, pain in the right part of stomach, smelly and reddish vaginal discharge and frequent urination. In the first checking, urine sample was taken. In the sample, active and alive larvae were seen. The live samples were taken to the Environmental Health Department Lab of Kashan University of Medical Sciences in clean glass jars. In the morphological survey, Psychoda sp larvae were identified. In Iran, this study is the first report of this species of larva that causes urinary myiasis. This fly larva is not carnivore or bloodsucker and feeds on bacterial agents. Observance of personal hygiene especially during defecation and urination is essential to prevent contamination of this type of myiasis.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Hemiscorpius lepturus venom on leukocytes and the leukocyte subgroups in peripheral blood of rat. Methods: In this experimental study, sixty N-Mari rats were divided into three groups of 20 rats. Then the rats in each group were divided into four subgroups based on the blood sampling time that was 2, 6, 24 and 48 hours after the venom injection, respectively. The control group did not receive anything, however, the first and the second ex­perimental groups received 0.1 and 0.01mg/kg of venom, subcutaneously. In accordance with a designated four sam­pling times, the blood sampling was carried out in three groups. After RBC lysis, the leukocytes and leukocyte sub­populations were determined and counted using appropriate hematological standard methods. Results: The leukocyte and the neutrophil count at two (P

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease with unknown factor. The prevalence and incidence rate of this disease had an upward trend in many regions in the world such as Middle east and consequently in Iran over the recent years. As the risk factors of this increased trend and high-prevalence is unknown in Iran, the current study has been designed to evaluate the correlation between MS dispersal with urbanization, life style and industry, as an ecological research. Methods: This retrospective study was designed as an ecological approach in 2011. Data were collected from three databases by high precision (CI95%) from national registry plans. The subjects of study were provinces of Iran (n=31). The linear regression was used to perform statistical analyses. Results: The obtained results indicated an ascendant trend of MS during the recent years, as the incidence of this dis-ease reached from 26.24/100000 (CI95%) people in 2006 to 44.53/100000 (CI95%) in 2011. There is a direct correla-tion (P