COVID-19 and Comparative Health Policy Learning; the Experience of 10 Countries.

BACKGROUND: Since December 2019, the world has been facing one of the most critical health threats of the last decades. In March 2021, the official number of deaths passed 2.6 million worldwide. Most countries have developed policies to control the disease. Nevertheless, countries have experienced different outcomes related to their various adapted policies. Complementing our first report, in this article, we report our findings of comparing the policies adopted to combat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Iran, with those from nine selected countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy, to draw evidence-informed policy lessons. METHODS: This is a qualitative study conducted based on document analysis related to COVID-19 policies in Iran and nine selected countries. Using a deductive approach, data were extracted and analyzed based on the components of the WHO Building Blocks Framework. Finally, we compared the Iranian policies with the nine selected countries. RESULTS: Documents analysis revealed a spectrum of policies, which have led to a variety of outcomes. Based on our findings, three main strategies (widespread testing, comprehensive contact tracing, and timely measures) were the most effective directions to combat COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The experience of the first and second waves of COVID-19 showed that the risk of coronavirus is serious and will continue until a vaccine or decisive treatment is achieved. Therefore, countries are required to adopt appropriate and tailored policies to deal with this crisis effectively. Applying the experiences from the previous waves is essential for more efficient performance in the likely upcoming waves.

Effect of magnesium supplementation on depression status in depressed patients with magnesium deficiency: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of magnesium supplementation on the depression status of depressed patients suffering from magnesium deficiency. METHODS: Sixty depressed people suffering from hypomagnesemia participated in this trial. The individuals were randomly categorized into two groups of 30 members; one receiving two 250-mg tablets of magnesium oxide (MG) daily and the other receiving placebo (PG) for 8 wk. The Beck Depression Inventory-II was conducted and the concentration of serum magnesium was measured. RESULTS: At the end of intervention, 88.5% of the MG and 48.1% of the PG (P = 0.002) had a normal level of magnesium. The mean changes of serum magnesium were significantly different across the two groups. After the intervention, the mean Beck score significantly declined. However, in the MG, this reduction was more significant than in the PG (P = 0.02), so that the mean changes in this group experienced 15.65 ± 8.9 reduction, but in the PG, it declined by 10.40 ± 7.9. CONCLUSIONS: Daily consumption of 500 mg magnesium oxide tablets for ≥8 wk by depressed patients suffering from magnesium deficiency leads to improvements in depression status and magnesium levels. Therefore, assessment of the magnesium serum and resolving this deficiency positively influence the treatment of depressed patients.

Comparison of hematological parameters, iron levels, and oxidative stress in women with and without breast cancer: A case- control study.

Background: Iron is one of the nutrients that has recently received considerable attention because of its dual role in the incidence of breast cancer. The present study aimed at comparing hematological parameters, iron levels, and oxidative stress in women with and without breast cancer. Methods: The participants in this case-control study were 55 women, of whom 26 were new cases of breast cancer (confirmed by biopsy) as the case, and 29 without cancer (confirmed by mammography) as the control group. All participants underwent blood testing for complete blood count (CBC (free iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity) TIBC (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and Malondialdehyde (MDA). Results: The mean±SD age of the participants was 44.25±9.82 years, and there was no significant difference between groups. Also, no statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups in variables, except the mean corpuscular volume of red cells (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH). The use of iron supplements was significantly higher in the control than in the case group (p= 0. 01), with an odds ratio of 0.19% (95% CI: 0.45-0.7). The mean serum DPPH was significantly higher in the control than in the case group (p= 0. 006), but comparison of serum MDA showed no significant difference between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia was greater in patients with breast cancer than in those without it. Moreover, iron supplementation appears to have a protective effect against breast cancer incidence. In addition, serum DPPH, as a total antioxidant index, was significantly higher in the control group.

Serum Magnesium Status in Patients Subjects with Depression in the City of Yazd in Iran 2013-2014.

Depression is the most common mental disorder and involves many factors. The regulatory effects of magnesium on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) channels make it a factor in the treatment of depression. The present study investigated the level of serum magnesium in subjects diagnosed with depression in the city of Yazd in Iran. This cross-sectional study was done from January 2013 to January 2014 on 650 patients with depression who agreed to participate in this study. Diagnosis was made using the Beck Depression Inventory test (BDI-II); those scoring higher than 11 were sent to the medical school laboratory for further testing of serum magnesium levels. The mean age of the patients was 34.16 ± 9.12 years. Of the 650 subjects, 195 were male (30 %) and 455 were female (70 %). The total mean serum magnesium was 2.1 ± 0.26 mg/dl. The prevalence of hypomagnesemia 13.7 %, hypermagnesemia 8.3 %, and sub-optimal magnesium levels was 26.5 %. Sub-optimal prevalence in women (28.1 %) was higher than in men (26.2 %). A significant relationship was observed between depression and serum magnesium level (p = 0.02). The results indicated that the prevalence of hypomagnesemia in subjects diagnosed with depression is high compared to non-depressed individuals. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between hypomagnesemia and intensity of depression that suggests a role for this element in the pathogenesis of the disorder. The high sub-optimal prevalence among women indicates that increased attention should be paid to this group.