Relationship between blood group and risk of infection and death in COVID-19: a live meta-analysis.

The relationship between ABO blood group and the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and death has been investigated in several studies. The reported results were controversial, so the objective of the present study was to assess the relationship between different blood groups and the onset and mortality of COVID-19 infection using a meta-analysis method. We searched relevant databases using appropriate MeSH terms. We screened articles on the bases of titles, abstracts and full text, and articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected. Quality assessment was done with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale checklist. The estimated frequency of COVID-19 infection and death in terms of ABO blood group and the overall estimate of the odds ratio between blood group with COVID-19 infection and death was calculated with 95% confidence interval. The pooled frequency of blood groups A, B, O and AB among COVID-19-infected individuals was estimated as 36.22%, 24.99%, 29.67% and 9.29% respectively. The frequency of blood groups A, B, O and AB among patients who died of COVID-19 infection was estimated as 40%, 23%, 29% and 8% respectively. The odds ratio of COVID-19 infection for blood group A versus the other blood groups was estimated as 1.16 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-1.33). The corresponding figures for blood groups O and AB versus other blood groups were estimated as 0.73 (95% CI, 0.60-0.88) and 1.25 (95% CI, 0.84-1.86) respectively. This meta-analysis showed that individuals with blood group A are at higher risk for COVID-19 infection while those with blood group O are at lower risk. Although the odds ratio of death for AB blood group was nonsignificant, it was considerable.

Cryptococcus and cryptococcosis in Iran during 1969-2019: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Limited data are available on the epidemiology and etiology of cryptococcal infections in the Middle East. We aimed to conduct the systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the epidemiological data on prevalence of Cryptococcus species complexes in trees and their surroundings, bird guano and secretions, animals, and highlight the reported episodes of cryptococcosis in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Proquest, Google Scholar, Embase, and the ISI Web of Science, as well as the national databases, from January 1969 to October 2019 were searched. Furthermore, gray literature (e.g., thesis, congress abstracts) was evaluated using Iran Doc and www.thesis. RESEARCH: ac.ir. Search process was accomplished on English or Persian language articles using the following keywords: "Cryptococcus", "Cryptococcosis", "invasive fungal infection", "Humans", "Birds", "Pigeon", "Animals", "Tree", "Eucalyptus", and "Iran", both alone and in combination. RESULTS: Overall 36 studies were eligible regarding Cryptococcus and cryptococcosis in Iran. The total prevalence rates of Cryptococcus species in the tree was 4.7% (95% CI: 2.3-7.8), and in bird guano was 20.4% (95% CI: 10.7-32.2). Cryptococcosis in animal, and human were 1.7% (95% CI: 0.01-5.1), and 2.8% (95% CI: 0.7v6.1), respectively. The highest prevalence of Cryptococcus in the trees (14.6%), and bird guano (89.4%) in Khorasan, animals (8.9%) in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and human (4.4%) in Mazandaran provinces were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Given the significant risk of Cryptococcus species for susceptible humans, mainly HIV-infected patients, it seems quite necessary to adopt concrete preventive strategies to pinpoint the environmental habitats of this yeast.

Prevalence of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Its Related Factors in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease in developing and developed countries. Estimating the total prevalence of NAFLD by means of appropriate statistical methods can provide reliable evidence for health policy makers. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of NAFLD in Iran using a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: We identified relevant studies by searching national and international databases. Standard error of the prevalence reported in each study was calculated assuming a binomial distribution. The heterogeneity between the results of the studies was determined using Cochran's Q and I square indices. We used a random effect model to combine the prevalence rates reported in the studies. RESULTS: We entered 23 eligible studies in this systematic review investigated NAFLD among 25,865 Iranian people. The total prevalence of NAFLD, prevalence of mild, moderate and severe fatty liver disease were estimated at 33.9% (95% CI 26.4%-41.5%), 26.7% (95% CI 21.7%-31.7%), 7.6% (95% CI 5.7%-9.4%), and 0.5% (95% CI 0.1%-0.9%), respectively. The majority of studies reported that NAFLD was more common among men (seven of eight studies), obese person (15 of 15 studies), older people (10 of 10 studies), patients with systolic hypertension (5 of 8 studies), patients with diastolic hypertension (7 of 9 studies), patients with hypertriglyceridemia (14 of 16 studies), patients with high HOMA level (4 of 4 studies), patients with metabolic syndrome (4 of 4 studies), and those with elevated serum ALT (8 of 12 studies). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the prevalence of NAFLD in Iran was relatively high and male gender, old age, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, systolic/diastolic hypertension, high serum ALT, and hypertriglyceridemia may be determinants of NAFLD.

The relationship between the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and serum levels of vitamin B12 in women 10-49 years.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum vitamin B12 and Helicobacter(H.) pylori prevalence in women between 10-49 years. METHODS: This cross-sectional (descriptive and analytical) study was conducted in the city of Samirom located in Isfahan, Iran in 2013. The population studied consisted of 100 women between 10-49 years and they were selected by convenience sampling. Data collection tools was checklist in which its content validity and reliability were confirmed. The data were entered into SPSS 16 software and were analyzed using descriptive statistics methods and univariate and multivariate inferential statistics methods. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 29.5 ± 1.04. Also 29% of the population studied was infected with H. pylori, and prevalence of serum vitamin B12 less than 160 was 47%. After adjusted the effect of confounder variables with multivariate logistic regression analysis, the odds of infected with H. pylori in peoples with vitamin B12 less than 160, was 4.8 times the peoples with vitamin B12 normal (Equal and greater than 160) that this different was statistically significant (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results showed that serum levels of vitamin B12 is a determinant factor in the prevalence of H. pylori.

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.