A comprehensive review on human health effects of chromium: insights on induced toxicity.

The growing use of heavy metals in most industrial activities has led to it being considered as the most important environmental pollutant that may cause harm and toxicity to animals and humans. Chromium has been found in the environment in different oxidation states such as Cr0, Cr(III), and Cr(VI) and is released from a variety of anthropogenic and natural activities. At among, trivalent and hexavalent chromium are the most stable forms. Considerably, Cr(VI) is frequently more toxic than Cr(III) because of its particular solubility and high mobility. Chronic exposure and bioaccumulation of chromium, as a heavy metal, can cause toxicity and numerous pathophysiological defects, including allergic reactions, anemia, burns, and sores especially in the stomach and small intestine, damage to sperm along with the male reproductive system, and affect various biological systems. Chromium pollution can have severe consequences for water and the soil environment. This article reviews the toxicological effects of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) and their mechanisms of toxicity and carcinogenicity.

Different applications of telemedicine - assessing the challenges, barriers, and opportunities- a narrative review.

Telemedicine (TLM) is a technique of telecommunication used to create, promote, or accelerate health services. Because of its societal significance, the current study attempted to demonstrate its essential applications in the health sector and the challenges, obstacles, and opportunities that lie ahead. Various studies and reports were received based on the subject of the current study, first using MeSH terms related to the subject in authentic and available international databases. After that, 30-related articles were selected based on the study criteria, and then the required results were extracted from the selected studies. The study results showed that TLM has a significant role in more than 13 major areas of health and treatment, and in most of these areas, it has made the relevant affairs easier for both patients and medical staff. Although TLM has many advantages, it still has obstacles and challenges requiring further studies to manage this technology better. Given the high importance of the TLM in the health sector in most countries worldwide, efforts are needed to promote this technology and remove the obstacles in front of it. Therefore, further evaluations of TLM efficiency in terms of economics, speed of action, effectiveness, and the provision of infrastructure are necessary to overcome the obstacles highlighted based on the results of these studies and improve the efficiency of using this technology.

Prevalence of Osteoporosis Among Iranian Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objectives: Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease. It is considered the silent epidemic, with high prevalence after menopause, in the current time. Different studies conducted in Iran have reported different prevalence. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to estimate the overall prevalence of osteoporosis in Iranian postmenopausal women. Methods: The national scientific databases Scientific Information Database and MagIran and the international scientific databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for related articles without any time limitation. The keywords osteopenia, osteoporosis, post menopause, OP, bone mineral density, and Iran along with their combinations were used in the search. The inconsistency in the data was examined using I 2 test. The data were analyzed using the meta-analysis method and the random-effects model in Stata software, version 14. Results: The analysis of 26 articles with a sample size of 6735 showed that the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in Iranian postmenopausal women is, respectively, 33.70% (95% CI [confidence interval]: 22.68-44.73) and 47.60% (95% CI: 32.88-62.32). The pooled prevalence of osteoporosis in the spine and in the femur bone was 31.99% and 15.93%, respectively. Also, the prevalence of osteopenia in the spine and in the femur bone was 22.48% and 39.88%, respectively. Conclusion: Osteoporosis and osteopenia are highly prevalent in Iranian postmenopausal women to the extent that one-third of women suffer from osteoporosis and nearly half of them suffer from osteopenia. It seems essential to teach a healthy lifestyle to these women to reduce the prevalence of these issues.

Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and its Related Factors among Students in Iran: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Smoking is a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality with an increasing prevalence in developing countries. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of smoking among college and high school students in Iran. Materials and Methods: Databases of Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, SID, and MagIran were searched with no time limitation. Observational studies published in Persian or English were included in the analysis. Time frame of the searches was from inception until 1 January 2021. The data was analyzed using random effects model, subgroup analysis, and meta-regression analysis. Heterogeneity among studies was examined using Cochran's Q test and I2 statistic. Results: A total of 63 articles with a sample size of 58742 were analyzed. The pooled smoking prevalence was found to be 13.56% (95% CI: 11.65-15.47). There was a significant increase in the prevalence of smoking among female students between 1998 and 2020. Regions 1 of Iran had the highest prevalence rates of smoking (Provinces of Alborz, Tehran, Qazvin, Mazandaran, Semnan, Golestan, and Qom). Smoking was more prevalent among college students (15.62%, 95% CI: 13.14-18.10) than in high school students (9.77%, 95% CI: 7.19-12.35). Conclusion: Given the relatively high prevalence of smoking among Iranian college and high school students, it is necessary to inform them about the harmful effects of smoking through training programs.

Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in Iranian children under 6 years of age: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Iron deficiency anemia is a prevalent condition among children in developing and developed countries that leads to impaired development, activity intolerance, behavioral changes, irritability, and reduced learning ability. The studies conducted in Iran have reported different prevalence rates for this condition. This systematic review and meta-analysis were aimed at estimating the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in Iranian children under 6 years of age. Methodology: Persian and English articles published from 2001 to 2018 were collected. The search process was conducted in national and internationals databases, including SID, MagIran, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, using the following keywords and their combinations: Iron, Iron deficiency, Iron deficiency anemia, Ferritin, Child, Children, and Iran. The data were analyzed using the meta-analysis and random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 statistic. All analyses were performed using the STATA software, version 12. Results: Analysis of six selected articles with a total sample size of 1,700 showed that the prevalence rates of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in the Iranian children under 6 years of age were 27.7% (95% CI: 11.9-43.5) and 18.2% (95% CI: 14.3-22), respectively. In addition, the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was higher in boys (17.7% with 95% CI: 5.9-29.5) than in girls (14.4% with 95% CI: 4.5-24.2). Conclusion: About one-fifth of Iranian children under the age of 6 years suffer from iron deficiency anemia. Identification of those at risk of developing this condition with the goal of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment seems to be an important and necessary task.