Relationship between self-esteem and subjective vitality among older people in Iran.

Today, aging of the population is considered one of the most fundamental challenges worldwide. One of the important factors in active aging is paying attention to psychological variables and related factors. This study was conducted aimed to determine the relationship between self-esteem and subjective vitality of the older people in Iran, Sirjan in 2020. In this descriptive-analytical study, 200 older people aged 60 years and older were selected from comprehensive health centers in Sirjan by a two-stage random sampling method. The data were collected using the validated Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and validated Subjective Vitality Scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20 using descriptive and inferential statistics, including the Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Post Hoc tests, and Spearman correlation coefficient. The mean age of the older people was 65,66±3,9 years. The the mean and standard deviation of self-esteem score was 36,34±4,62 and 21,80±2,85 for subjective vitality score. There was a positive and significant correlation between self-esteem and subjective vitality R=0,58 (p˂0,001 ). Also, gender, marital status and employment status were associated with subjective vitality (p˂0,05). Therefore, planners and policymakers should consider self-esteem and subjective vitality in designing and prioritizing interventions related to improving the health of the older people.

Review of school fires in Iran: the causes, consequences and lessons learned.

Fire in Iranian schools has led to death, serious injury and disability for dozens of students and teachers. The aim of this study was to explore the causes, consequences and lessons learned from school fires in Iran. The available literature, including scientific texts, previous research and media reports, was searched using English and Persian keywords. The keywords were: "students, school, Iran, fire, burn and incidents". No time limitation was imposed. Results showed that 62 school and student dormitory fires have been reported in Iran, of which 14 school fires and 2 student dormitory fires led to human injuries or casualties (25.8%). In these incidents, thirty students (19 girls and 11 boys) and one teacher died. More than 60 students, 8 teachers, and 2 staff suffered burn injuries or disabilities. The main causes of the fire incidents were use of non-standard kerosene heaters (38.7%) and faulty electrical wiring (35.4%). Lack of knowledge about dealing with accidents, inappropriate physical conditions of the school building, lack of fire extinguishers in the building, and carelessness were the main reasons for the deaths and injuries. In conclusion, it is essential to reduce the incidence of fire and prevent its casualties with proper management and standardization of school buildings.

Les incendies dans les écoles iraniennes ont tué, gravement blessé et handicapé de nombreux enfants et enseignants. Cette étude a pour but d'explorer les causes, conséquences et implications de ces accidents. Nous effectué une recherche bibliographique, dans les revues scientifiques comme générales, à partir des mots « élèves, école, Iran, incendie, brûlure, accident ¼, sans limite temporelle. Nous avons ainsi trouvé 62 incendies d'école ou de dortoir dont 25,8% responsables de victimes (14 écoles et 2 dortoirs) parmi lesquelles 30 élèves (19 filles, 11 garçons) et 1 enseignants sont morts. Plus de 60 élèves, 8 enseignants et 2 autre membres de l'encadrement ont été brûlés ou handicapés. Les 2 origines les plus fréquentes sont les chauffages à kérosène (38,7%) et les réseaux électriques défectueux (35,4%). Les accidents corporels étaient le plus souvent liés à la méconnaissance des consignes en cas d'incendie, à la vétusté de l'école, à l'absence d'extincteurs, au défaut d'entretien général des bâtiments. La réduction de l'incidence des incendies d'école passe par une réglementation appropriée sur la construction et l'entretien des bâtiments.

Effect of personal risk factors on the prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders among workers of an Iranian rubber factory.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are among the most common occupational disorders in many countries and have an increasing trend. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence rate of MSDs in different body regions and the effect of personal factors on the prevalence rate of MSDs among rubber industry workers. METHODS: This analytical and cross-sectional study was performed on 206 workers of an Iranian rubber factory in 2014. The samples were randomly selected. Data were gathered by means of personal information form, the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). The results were analyzed using SPSS16; by descriptive and analytical statistics. RESULTS: The mean age and work history of subjects were 34.54±6.36 and 12.34±6.28 years, respectively. The highest prevalence rate of MSDs in the last twelve-months was related to the lower back region with a prevalence rate of 62.1%. Based on logistic regression, a significant correlation was found between MSDs and the final REBA score so that for a one-unit increase in score, the risk or complaint of neck and low back pain increased by 48.5% and 37.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Many rubber factory workers experience MSDs especially in the lower back region as a consequence of occupational risk factors. Therefore, detecting the occupational risk factors, work position standards and following ergonomic interventions are highly recommended.

Predictive factors of death in patients with tuberculosis: a nested case-control study.

Tuberculosis is one of the main causes of death worldwide. This study aimed to determine predictive factors for death in patients with tuberculosis to set priorities for public heath interventions to reduce mortality in these patients. This nested case-control study was carried out in Mazandaran province of Islamic Republic of Iran among tuberculosis patients who were treated during 2002-2009. Each deceased patient was individually matched with a control patient according to sex, age, area of involvement and time of follow-up. Potential risk factors for death were evaluated using multivariate conditional logistic regression models. From 2206 patients 376 cases and 376 matched controls were selected. Only positive serology for HIV (OR = 19.1), history of kidney disease (OR = 6.81) and use of immunosuppressant drugs (OR = 3.96) significantly increased the risk of death in tuberculosis patients. These potentially modifiable risk factors could be taken into account in preventive interventions for tuberculosis patients in our country.

Predictive factors of death in patients with tuberculosis:a nested case-control study

Tuberculosis is one of the main causes of death worldwide. This study aimed to determine predictive factors for death in patients with tuberculosis to set priorities for public heath interventions to reduce mortality in these patients. This nested case–control study was carried out in Mazandaran province of Islamic Republic ofIran among tuberculosis patients who were treated during 2002–2009. Each deceased patient was individually matched with a control patient according to sex, age, area of involvement and time of follow-up. Potential risk factors for death were evaluated using multivariate conditional logistic regression models. From 2206 patients 376 cases and 376 matched controls were selected. Only positive serology for HIV (OR = 19.1), history of kidney disease (OR = 6.81) and use of immunosuppressant drugs (OR = 3.96) significantly increased the risk of death in tuberculosis patients. These potentially modifiable risk factors could be taken into account in preventive interventions for tuberculosis patients in our country.

La tuberculose est l'une des principales causes de décès dans le monde. La présente étude avait pour objectif de déterminer les facteurs prédictifs de décès chez des patients atteints de tuberculose afin de fixer des priorités pour les interventions de santé publique visant à réduire la mortalité chez ces patients. Laprésente étude cas-témoin nichée dans une cohorte a été menée dans la province de Mazandaran (République islamique d’Iran) auprès de patients tuberculeux ayant été traités entre 2002 et 2009. Chaque patient décédé a été individuellement apparié à un patient témoin pour le sexe, l'âge et le site de la lésion ainsi que la période de suivi. Des facteurs de risque potentiels de décès ont été évalués à l'aide de modèles de régression logistique conditionnelle multivariée. Sur un total de 2206 patients, 376 cas et 376 témoins appariés ont été sélectionnés. Seuls une sérologie positive pour le VIH (OR = 19,1), des antécédents d'insuffisance rénale (OR = 6,81) et le recours à des immunosuppresseurs (OR = 3,96) augmentaient ignificativement le risque de décès chez ces patients atteints de tuberculose. Ces facteurs de risque potentiellement modifiables pourraient être pris en compte dans des interventions préventives visant les patients atteints de tuberculose dans notre pays.

The toxic effects of silver nanoparticles on blood mononuclear cells.

BACKGROUND: Nanoparticles have become one of the leading technologies over the past two years. The extensive use of nanoparticles has raised great concern about their occupational fate and biological effects. With an increase in the production and use of nanomaterial, it is more likely to get exposed to them occupationally and environmentally. OBJECTIVE: To assess the toxicity of silver nanoparticles on human mononuclear cells. METHODS: In this in vitro experimental study, suspensions of blood mononuclear cells from 10 young healthy men were incubated with 10-nm silver nanoparticles in different concentrations (range: 1-500 µg/mL) for 6 and 24 hours by MTT assay. Positive and negative controls were used for comparison. RESULTS: After 6 hours of exposure, 10.9% to 48.4% of the cells died. After 24 hours of exposure, the rate ranged from 56.8% to 86.3%. Regardless of the exposure time, the maximum cytotoxicity was observed at the concentration of 500 µg/mL of silver nanoparticles. By increasing the exposure time to 24 hours, the cytotoxicity of nanoparticles substantially increased at all concentrations. Cell death was significantly higher when compared to the controls (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Silver nanoparticles possess both time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity and can thus be considered as very toxic for mononuclear cells.

Maternal contamination with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and reproductive outcomes in an Australian population.

Persistent organochlorine pesticides, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), are lipophilic environmental pollutants which accumulate in the food chain. These chemicals have long half-lives and can be detected in human milk, serum, and some other tissues. These chemicals have recently been under scrutiny for their possible health hazards such as cancer and reproductive outcomes including low birth weight. The aim of our study was to investigate whether mothers with a higher contamination of pesticides were different from mothers with low contamination in relation to their offspring's birth outcomes such as birth weight, small for gestation age, prematurity, head circumference, sex ratio, and previous miscarriage or still birth. We used data collected as part of a cross-sectional study of organochlorines in breast milk. This study did not show any association between low birth weight or small for gestation age and organochlorine contamination when comparing the higher to the low exposure group. Weak, significant correlations (-0.1) were detected between low birth weight and contamination levels of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) only in female offspring. There was a decrease in the percentage of female offspring for all chemicals in the high-contamination group. The baby's head circumference increased as the mother's contamination increased but the adjusted difference in means was not significant. We did not see any association between either miscarriage or stillbirth in the mother's previous pregnancies or prematurity of the first live (recent) baby when comparing the higher to the low exposure mothers. The organochlorines DDT and DDE were not found to be associated with adverse birth outcomes in contaminated mothers in the range of contamination of our population (<7.5 mg/kg lipid in maternal milk), although there is weak evidence that sex ratio may be affected.