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OBJECTIVES@#The effect of age, sex, and other demographic factors on the relationship between smoking and dry mouth remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of demographic characteristics on the relationship between dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, and smoking. @*METHODS@#This case-control study included 5,640 randomly-selected subjects from the second phase of the Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors Study, which observed 10,000 participants from 2014 to 2018. A checklist was used to record the participants’ demographic characteristics and smoking frequency. Each participant completed a six-item Fox questionnaire to measure dry mouth as a dependent variable. The interaction terms of daily cigarette smoking with sex, age, educational level, and marital status were entered into the model. Non-significant terms were removed using hierarchical model selection. @*RESULTS@#Of the sample, 3,429 (60.8%) did not have dry mouth and were analyzed as controls, whereas 2,211 (39.2%) had xerostomia and were deemed to be cases. Smokers were more likely to have dry mouth in all ages and both sexes (p < 0.001). As male became older, the chance of having dry mouth increased more rapidly than among female smokers (p < 0.001). In addition, female smokers were more likely to have dry mouth than male smokers (p < 0.001). @*CONCLUSIONS@#The likelihood of dry mouth among daily smokers depended on age and sex. Female smokers were more likely to have dry mouth, and its likelihood increased with age in daily smokers of both sexes, though more rapidly in males.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES@#The effect of age, sex, and other demographic factors on the relationship between smoking and dry mouth remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of demographic characteristics on the relationship between dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, and smoking. @*METHODS@#This case-control study included 5,640 randomly-selected subjects from the second phase of the Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors Study, which observed 10,000 participants from 2014 to 2018. A checklist was used to record the participants’ demographic characteristics and smoking frequency. Each participant completed a six-item Fox questionnaire to measure dry mouth as a dependent variable. The interaction terms of daily cigarette smoking with sex, age, educational level, and marital status were entered into the model. Non-significant terms were removed using hierarchical model selection. @*RESULTS@#Of the sample, 3,429 (60.8%) did not have dry mouth and were analyzed as controls, whereas 2,211 (39.2%) had xerostomia and were deemed to be cases. Smokers were more likely to have dry mouth in all ages and both sexes (p < 0.001). As male became older, the chance of having dry mouth increased more rapidly than among female smokers (p < 0.001). In addition, female smokers were more likely to have dry mouth than male smokers (p < 0.001). @*CONCLUSIONS@#The likelihood of dry mouth among daily smokers depended on age and sex. Female smokers were more likely to have dry mouth, and its likelihood increased with age in daily smokers of both sexes, though more rapidly in males.
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Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent in type 2 diabetics and is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in such patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the three criteria of ATPIII, IDF and the new criteria for metabolic syndrome diagnosis in Kerman, Iran. This cross-sectional study was performed on 950 diabetic type 2 patients. Data was analyzed by independent t-test, chi-square and logistic regression using the SPSS [revision 20] software. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Kerman was 73.4, 64.9, and 70.4%, according to the above criteria. Fasting blood sugar, gender, triglyceride, HDL, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure were related to the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the abovementioned criteria.The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is high in type 2 diabetic patients and the above-mentioned factors exacerbate the situation
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Accidents are the second reason for mortality and morbidity in Iran. Among them, brain injuries are the most important damage. Clarification of the effects of brain injuries on different body systems will help physicians to prioritize their treatment strategies. In this study, the effect of pure brain trauma on the cardiovascular system and lungs 24 hours post trauma was assessed. Male Wistar rats [n = 32] were divided into sham control and traumatic brain injury [TBI] groups. In TBI animals, under deep anesthesia, a blow to the head was induced by the fall of a 450 g weight from 2 m height. Twenty four hours later, heart electrocardiogram and functional indices, cardiac troponin I, IL-6, TNF-oc, IL-I[3 in tissue and serum, and the histopathology of heart and lung were assessed. The results showed that none of the functional, biochemical, inflammatory, and histopathology indices was statistically different between the two groups at 24 hours post TBI. Indices of impulse conduction velocity in atrium [P wave duration and P-R interval] were significantly longer in the TBI group. Overall, no important functional and histopathologic disturbances were found in heart and lung of TBI group after 24 hours. If the data is reproduced in human studies, the medical team could allocate their priority to treatment of brain disorders of the victim in the first 24 hours of pure TBI and postpone extensive assessment of heart and lung health indices to later time, thus reducing patient and health system expenditures
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The effect of opium addiction on the appearance of different types of arrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction [AMI] has been assessed in few studies. This study is aimed to determine the effect of opium on post-MI arrhythmia and also to address the differences in the appearance of different types of arrhythmias after AMI between opium addicted and non-addicted patients. In this comparative study, participants were classified into two groups with opium addiction [n=94] and without opium addiction [n=106]. Post-MI arrhythmias were determined among each group. Study populations were included all patients with first AMI admitted within 6 hours of the onset of chest pain to coronary care units [CCU] of two teaching hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences [KUMS] in the city of Kerman, Iran. Opium addicted subjects had significantly more frequency of arrhythmia than non-opium addicted subjects [80.9% vs. 22.6%, respectively; P<0.001]. Opium addiction was a strong predictor for the occurrence of post- MI arrhythmias in two models of crude analysis [crude OR=14.4, P<0.001] and after adjusting for potential confounder factors [adjusted OR = 21.9, P<0.001]. The prevalence of sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia and atrial fibrillation in opium addicts were significantly higher than non opium addicts [P<0.05]. The results of our study showed that opium addiction is a potential and strong risk for occurring post-MI arrhythmias
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The number of research misconduct cases seems to be increasing so the need for developing a disciplinary charter of research misconduct is felt more than ever. This study was aimed to propose and develop a charter to determine types of research misconduct and dealing with them. In this qualitative study, three consensus rounds were conducted. Each round consisted of five to six qualified experts with related specialties. They included one member of academic staff with sufficient experience in research management, two experts in professional ethics, and two experts in legal affairs. Each session lasted for 1.5 to 2 hours. Based on an extensive literature review and personal experiences, the different types of research misconduct were extracted in the first two sessions and in the third round, agreement on classification of research misconduct was made In general, 49 types of research misconduct were explored and defined including 17 mild, 22 moderate and 10 severe ones. Based on the severity of each type, an appropriate penalty like "verbal warnings and summons" to "early retirement with reduced payment base" was determined. Finally the expert panel made some comments. The results of this study revealed different types of research misconduct and dealing with them. Such an understanding can lead to a better design of national charters compatible with Iranian culture and it can also be as a base for preventive interventions
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Humans , Teaching Rounds , Fraud , Biomedical Research , Ethics, ProfessionalABSTRACT
Angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE] upregulation in stromal cells of joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis may lead to higher tissue angiotensin II that is a vasoconstrictor and mitogen factor. To date, the role of angiotensin II on regulating blood flow in inflamed joints has not been studied. Acute and chronic joint inflammation was induced in rabbits by intra-articular injection of carrageenan and antigen-induced arthritis method, respectively. The ACE level of synovial fluid and the response of joint blood flow to angiotensin II, angiotensin II receptor antagonist, and the role of nitric oxide [NO] in modulation of the effects of angiotensin II on joint blood vessels were examined The synovial fluid level of ACE was significantly increased during the process of inflammation and angiotensin II increased joint vascular resistance dose-dependently in both acute and chronically inflamed joints. The angiotensin 1 receptor antagonist losartan completely blocked the vasoconstrictor effect of angiotensin II on joint blood vessels and induced vasodilatation. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-omega -nitro L- arginine methyl ester [L-NAME] increased joint vascular resistance and augmented vascular response of inflamed joints to angiotensin II. Angiotensin II receptors in joint blood vessels are angiotensin -1 subtype, and inflammation significantly increases the activity of synovial fluid ACE. Nitric oxide plays a significant role on regulating joint blood flow and in modulation of angiotensin 1 receptor-mediated vasoconstriction of inflamed joint blood vessels