Iranian Brands Research Articles

Availability and affordability of antidiabetic medicines in Herat of Afghanistan in 2023.

This study aims to investigate the availability, affordability, and accessibility of antidiabetic medications in Herat, Afghanistan, in 2023. Adhering to WHO and HAI guidelines, a systematic survey approach was utilized to collect data on the pricing, availability, and affordability of commonly prescribed antidiabetic medications. Data collection spanned a month and involved four investigators using a standardized template. Data on the most-sold generic (MSG) and least expensive generic (LPG) options were compiled from pharmacies, and descriptive statistics were employed. The study reveals a heavy reliance on imported medications, mainly from Pakistan, with limited local production. Availability in pharmacies exhibited notable disparities, with essential medications sometimes lacking consistency. The financial analysis identified affordability challenges, particularly for certain Iranian and Pakistani brands. Notably, Metformin 500mg emerged as the most consumed medication. Sitagliptin 50mg had the highest average consumption when considering Pakistani brands, whereas Insulin Regular topped the list for Iranian brands. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive strategies to address diabetic patients' challenges in Herat, Afghanistan. Strengthening the pharmaceutical supply chain, bolstering local production, and implementing measures to enhance medication affordability are crucial for improving diabetic care and advancing public health in the region. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-024-01444-0.

Investigating nostalgia’s influence on brand love

PurposeThe present study aims to deepen the understanding of the relationship between nostalgic brand positioning, nostalgic brand relationship dimensions and brand love.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on the data collected from 401 citizens of Tehran aged over 18 years old. Respondents admitted that they have felt love for at least one Iranian brand in their lives. The data collected from a questionnaire and the hypothesized relationships were analyzed using the partial least squares approach using Smart PLS.FindingsThe results showed that nostalgic brand positioning positively and significantly impacts nostalgic brand relationship dimensions. Also, there was a positive and significant relationship between nostalgic brand relationship dimensions and brand love. Nostalgic brand positioning has a significant effect on brand love through the mediating role of the nostalgic brand relationship.Originality/valueThe major contribution of this research is that, based on the construal level theory and literature review, the authors developed a conceptual model in which nostalgic brand relationship dimensions, i.e. emotional attachment, brand local iconness, and brand authenticity, explain how nostalgic brand positioning results in brand love.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Ibuprofen from 2 Different Brands in Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure in Preterm Neonates

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common condition in premature babies, with a prevalence rate of 30 - 60%, and often requires medical or surgical intervention. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of 2 different brands of ibuprofen in PDA closure in preterm infants weighing less than 1500 g. Methods: This single-blind clinical trial study was performed on 75 premature neonates with PDA in the pediatric ward of Vali-Asr Hospital in Birjand from March 2014 to March 2019. Patients were treated with two brands of ibuprofen at doses of 10 mg/kg for the first day and 5 mg/kg for the second and third days (24 and 48 hours afterward). Before and three days after the last dose, the children were examined by pediatric cardiologist echocardiography. The data were input into SPSS version 23 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, such as mean and SD. Inferential statistics, such as the chi-square test, were also employed with a significance level of P-value < 0.05. Results: There was a significant difference between the rate of PDA closure, 78.8% in the Pedea group vs. 54.8% in the Ibuprofen group (P = 0.03). In the Ibuprofen group, there was no difference in drug efficacy in PDA closure between male and female neonates (P = 0.663). Also, in the Pedea group, there was a significant difference in terms of efficacy between male and female neonates (P = 0.049). No significant difference was observed in PDA closure between the two medications based on their sizes (P = 0.616 in small size, P = 0.266 in medium size, and P = 0.175 in large size). Conclusions: Pedea is more effective than Ibuprofen. It reduces complications and the need for surgery. However, there was no significant relationship between the two drugs based on the PDA sizes. Therefore, it seems logical to use the Iranian brand of ibuprofen, considering the benefits equal to the foreign one.

The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessment of heavy metals from the butts of smoked and non-smoked cigarettes

Cigarettes are known as the most popular tobacco in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of heavy metals in smoked and non-smoked cigarette butts (CBs) from ten cigarette brands (including five Iranian brands) and human health risk assessment associated with inhalation exposure. Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used for heavy metals measurement after CBs digestion. The results showed that the highest concentrations of heavy metals in non-smoked and smoked cigarette butts are related to Pb (0.63 ± 0.21 µg/g) and Ni (0.81 ± 1.48 µg/g), respectively. The concentration of all heavy metals in smoked CBs is significantly higher than in non-smoked. According to the results, Ni and Cd elements in 60% of Iranian brands and 80% of other brands have HI > 1, which indicates a potential non-carcinogenic risk for consumers. Also, the carcinogenic risk of Cr in all brands is higher than 1.00E-4, which indicates the carcinogenic risk of the consumer in case of continuous exposure to cigarette smoke. Heavy metals in CBs can have potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects on the health of smokers exposed to inhalation. Therefore, continuous monitoring and regulation of the ingredients of domestically produced and imported cigarettes are recommended.

Availability and affordability of cardiovascular medicines in a major city of Afghanistan in 2020.

Affordable access to quality medicines is a critical target of global efforts to achieve universal health coverage. The aim of this study is to measure the affordability and accessibility of cardiovascular medicines in the city of Herat, Afghanistan. The price, affordability, and availability data for 18 most sold generic (MSG) and lowest priced generic (LPG) products were collected from public and private pharmacies located in Herat city in Afghanistan in 2020, which in each area, six pharmacies were randomly selected from a combination of public and private ones based on the standardized methodology developed by WHO/HAI. According to this methodology on Medicine Prices, Accessibility, and Affordability, the minimum daily wage of an unskilled governmental worker, and the price of each type of cardiovascular medicines for one-month use were calculated separately. If the cost of the treatment was more than the minimum daily wage, the medicine was considered unaffordable. The mean availability score for lowest price generic (LPG) in public and private pharmacies and based on the countries of origin including Iran, Pakistan, and India was 60%, 46%, and 31%, respectively. Of the 18 medicines surveyed, just Atenolol (Iranian brand) was found in all 30 pharmacies on the day of data collection. All Indian- brand medicines were less than fifty percent available in any of the surveyed public and private pharmacies. Among the medicines exported to Afghanistan, the population of Herat used more medicines made by Pakistan compared to India and Iran (MSG). Indian medicines were the most expensive ones and the Iranian medicines were the cheapest. A wage of less than one day was enough to afford one-month supply of generic medicines at the lowest price. Access of patients to cardiovascular medicines in Afghanistan was 46% in this study which is regarded as low access. Most of available cardiovascular medicines in the market of this country were made in Iran, Pakistan and India. Although the Iranian ones were the cheapest, but people used more Pakistani medicines. LPG products were affordable to the studied population.

Investigating the pollution of bottled water by the microplastics (MPs): the effects of mechanical stress, sunlight exposure, and freezing on MPs release.

Bottled water is becoming more popular worldwide and possible contamination's need to be analyzed. Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants and have recently been regarded as an important contaminant in bottled water due to oral intake and possible threats to human health. In the present study, MP amounts in 23 popular Iranian brands of bottled water were determined by filtration and counting under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of mechanical stress, environmental factors, and freezing on MP release also were investigated. The average amounts of MPs in water samples were 1496.7 ± 1452.2 particles/L (199.8 to 6626.7 particles/L). The amounts of MPs in different brands was significantly different (p < 0.05). As much as 91.3% of detected particles had the size between 1 and 10μm. The most likely polymers determined by FTIR spectroscopy was polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The freezing of water in the bottles did not show any significant effect on the MPs release, but mechanical stress to the bottles increased MP amounts in the water significantly. Environmental factors including sunlight exposure and the age of bottles showed the most degradative effects on the structure of polymers in the body of PET bottles and release of MPs. Regardless of their type, source and commercial brands, bottled water is contaminated with hundreds to thousands MPs/L. The main portion (above 90%) of these MPs are < 5μm particles with considerable effects on human health.

Two trade names of deferasirox (Osveral® and Exjade®) in reduction of iron overload parameters in major beta-thalassemia patients: A randomized open labeled clinical trial.

Background:Beta-thalassemia major patients typically require chronic transfusion and iron-chelating agents to reduce serum iron overload. Osveral® is an available Iranian brand name of deferasirox used by majority of thalassemic patients. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of Osveral® vs. Exjade® in major beta- thalassemia patients.Methods:In this randomized clinical trial, all patients received a single daily dose of 30 mg/kg either of Osveral® or Exjade® for 6 months. Primary outcome was the mean of bimonthly changes in serum ferritin concentration and secondary outcomes included mean changes of heart and liver MRI T2* after a year.Results:Finally, 80 patients completed the study. The mean serum ferritin level at the end of sixth month significantly decreased in Osveral® and Exjade® groups (p<0.01). After a year, means cardiac MRI T2* in Osveral® group were changed from 25.9±9.6 ms to 25.4±9.7 ms and in Exjade® group from 24.8±9.2 ms to 26.9±5.9 ms, with no significant difference (P=0.43). Mean liver MRI T2* for Osveral® and Exjade® groups were 8.6±6.4 ms (baseline 6.3±4.7) and 6.3±4 ms (baseline 4.9±3.5), respectively and there was no significant difference between two study arms (P=0.1).Conclusion:Osveral® decreased significantly the serum ferritin level and improved heart and liver iron overload as efficient as Exjade®. It can be a suitable cost-effective alternative agent in beta-thalassemia major patients.

Visual Representations of Mythological Depictions and Their Effectiveness on Newly Emerging Contemporary Iranian Brands

Visual Representations of Mythological Depictions and Their Effectiveness on Newly Emerging Contemporary Iranian Brands

Determination of heavy metals in cream foundations and assessment of their dermal sensitivity, carcinogenicity, and non-carcinogenicity

ABSTRACT Lightening creams are among the most frequently used cosmetic products applied to the face to obtain a lighter tone or as an anti-spot. Heavy metals are the most common ingredients in powder creams that are sometimes present in impurities or added to improve the quality and shine.These metals can threaten human health. The presentstudy aimed to determine the concentrations of heavy metals in cream foundations. For this purpose, the concentrations of five heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, and cobalt, were measured in four brands of cream foundations selected from the Iranian market (two domestic and two imported brands). Measurements were performed usinginductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES) in 36 samples in three colours of dark, beige, and light. According to the obtained results, the lead (Pb) concentration was 1.45–398.5, cadmium (Cd) ND-4.77, nickel (Ni) 1.75–16.92, chromium (Cr) 3.52–30.9, and cobalt (Co) 0.45–3.77 µg/g. The total content of heavy metals was higher in the two Iranian brands than the two imported ones. In terms of colour, the results indicated that heavy metals’ distributiondid not follow a certain pattern in different colours. According to the guidelines, all the tested samples were within the safe range in terms of non-carcinogenicity, carcinogenicity, and dermal sensitivity. However, due to the high concentrations of trace elements in the samples, the health consequences of heavy metals for consumers should not be overlooked.

Determination of melamine contamination in chocolates containing powdered milk by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Melamine is widely being reported as a food adulterant. Although its toxicity is currently recognized, melamine adulterations of dairy products are ongoing to apparently increase the amount of protein. The study was conducted to investigate the determination of melamine amounts in chocolates containing powdered milk. In this study, 60 samples of chocolates containing powdered milk, both imported and domestic brands, were collected. The samples were prepared by solid phase extraction (SPE) and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). According to the results, melamine was found in about 94% of imported samples and about 77% of Iranian samples. Melamine concentration in imported samples ranged from 0.032 to 2.692mg/kg, while in Iranian ones it ranged from 0.013 to 2.600mg/kg. The mean melamine concentrations of foreign and Iranian samples were 0.685±0.68 and 0.456±0.73mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of melamine were 0.017 and 0.052μg/ml, respectively. The recovery rate (R%) at fortified levels of 1-2mg/kg was found to be 89.20-95.69% with an RSD (Relative Standard Deviation) of 1.8-2.7%. Based on the study results, melamine was present in 85% of all samples and the melamine level in one Iranian brand and one imported brand was higher than the Codex Organization standard. However, the consumption of chocolates containing these low levels of melamine does not constitute a health risk for consumers.

Quality and quantity of price elasticity of cigarette in Iran.

Effectiveness of tax policies to control cigarette consumption largely depends on the sensitivity of cigarette demand due to price change. Price elasticity is the measurement of this responsiveness. The main objective of this study is to measure quantity, and quality price elasticity of demand (PED) and cross-price elasticity of demand (XED) for Iranian and non-Iranian cigarette brands in Iran. This study used data from the 2017 Iranian household income and expenditures survey conducted in all 31 provinces of Iran. A total of 39,864 households were included in the survey. PED of quantity and quality and XED were estimated using restricted, unrestricted and quintile regression models. Our results s show that the Iranian and non-Iranians brands cigarettes were price inelastic and elastic, respectively. XED between Iranian and non-Iranian brands was positive suggesting households' preference for Iranian brands of cigarettes over non-Iranian brands. Quintile regression results suggest that PED varied between -1.20 and -0.91 across the distribution of quantity demanded. Imposing tax could be a useful policy tool to control smoking initiation and intensity in Iran. However, the effectiveness of such policy would depend on the better governance of taxation imposed on different brands of cigarettes.

Degradation of Bacterial Water Quality in Drinking Water after Bottling

Background: The consumption of bottled water globally, including Iran, has increased tremendously in recent years. This study was designed to assess the bacteriological quality of bottled water and its compliance with the drinking water regulations. In addition, we evaluated bottled waters for the presence of a variety of genera of bacteria and the effect of storage duration on the extent of bacterial contamination. Methods: Four hundred samples of bottled water belonging to ten different Iranian brands with various production dates were purchased from supermarkets in Gorgan, Iran, from 2017 to 2018. Bacterial quality of bottled water was assessed using heterotrophic plate count (HPC) followed by usual biochemical tests for identification of bacterial genera, and by the API system. Results: The average HPC of bottled water was 9974 colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml). Twelve genera were isolated, among which Bacillus spp. and Escherichia coli were the most and least abundant, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that there was a positive association between water quality and storage duration so that the highest microbial load occurred within the first to third months after bottling. Furthermore, the highest rate of contamination was observed in May when ambient air temperatures commonly reached 40 °C. Conclusion: The bacterial quality of bottled water was not according to the standard of drinking water quality. This study demonstrated the variation in bacterial levels after bottling, which indicates the presence of waterborne heterotrophic bacteria, some of which can pose severe health risks to consumers.

Determination of Toxic Metals Content in Iranian and Italian Flavoured Olive Oil

Abstract Cultural practices and control of diseases and insects are widely used for cultivation of Olea europea L. These are considered potential contaminants. Aim of this investigation lies in determination of concentrations of contaminants in several edible olive oils. All test samples were purchased in three consecutive seasons. They were analysed in compliance with standardized international protocols of wet digestion methods. Ion concentrations were determined in three replicates using method of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. We have registered a positive correlation between storage time and heavy metals contents. It was particularly high in Iranian brands and varied significantly. Investigation results show that all obtained heavy metals contents in pepper-flavoured olive oil samples were significantly lower than in other samples. Considering the fungi-flavoured samples, levels of Pb and Cd were prominent and exceeded the maximum permissible level set in the majority of cases. The further monitoring is needed as all these metals are toxic and their detrimental effect becomes obvious only after several years of exposure.

Ethanol and Methanol Concentration in Commonly Used Brands of Ma-al-shaeer in Iran: Estimation of Dietary Intakes and Risk Assessment.

ObjectivesMa-al-shaeer is a popular beverage in Islamic countries. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of methanol and ethanol in most consumed brands of Ma-al-shaeer in Iran.MethodsEighty-one Ma-al-shaeer samples which commonly used in Iran were provided. Methanol and ethanol contents were determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector.ResultsThe mean methanol concentrations in Iranian and foreign brands was 129.84±205.38 mg/L and 110.157±135.98 mg/L, respectively. Although mean ethanol contents of Iranian brands was 1.2±2.41 mg/L, ethanol level in foreign ones was lower than LOQ.ConclusionSince the most Ma-al-shaeer brands had methanol pollution at different levels establishment of a definitive relationship between the methanol content and toxicological effects seem to be vital. EDI of methanol for Iranian people through consumption of Ma-al-shaeer was determined 0.023mg/kg bw/day.

Quality Control of the Migration of Bisphenol a from Plastic Packaging into Iranian Brands of Food Grade Oils

Background: Bis-phenol A (BPA) can migrate into food stuff from packaging materials and accounts for food contamination. This research was designed to measure BPA contamination in the Iranian brands of food grade oils and to find out the possible effect of production date on the amount of BPA migration. Methods: Ten well-known and top selling oils packed in various containers, were selected and sampled according to their batch number and production date stated on the label. Subsequently, BPA was extracted by reverse phase dispersive liquid-liquid extraction (RP-DLLME) method and quantified by HPLC. Results: The measured quantity of BPA in the food grade oil was ranged between 0.5 to 4.37 µg/g of oil samples regardless of the date of production, the Batch Number, and the producing company. Statistical analysis revealed that the difference of BPA content in oil samples did not depend on their production date. Conclusion: According to the amount of allowable migration introduced by European committee, the amount of BPA migration and consequently contamination of almost all tested samples exceeds SML. Considering the toxic effects reported especially in fetus and young children, prompt regulatory interference is needed in this area.

Iranian advertisements: A postcolonial semiotic reading

Abstract This paper is a postcolonial reading of a number of Iranian brands and logos to discover the influence of Western hegemony on the design of Iranian advertisements. The advertising's pivotal role in supporting the brands has made producers employ creative strategies. Benefiting from the tenets of semiotics, we aim to uncover the hidden meanings within different advertisements, brand names, and logos as the paragons of the products' identity and image. The brands and logos discussed in this study belong to different companies and categories (food, cosmetics, airline, clothing, and bank). The measures of their Westernization level is analyzed according to Homi K. Bhabha's definition of mimicry which signifies imitating some famous Western brands (iconic mimicry), using English language (linguistic mimicry), utilizing Western-looking models or celebrities, and displaying female bodies (visual mimicry), and resistance. The results show the effect of Western supremacy, the negotiations of Iranian and Western culture, and cases of resistance in Iranian advertisements.

Assessment of cadmium and lead concentrations in different types of cosmetics products consumed in Iran

Background: A safety assessment of cosmetic is necessary for evaluating the health risks associated with the use of these products. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentrations in different types of cosmetics products consumed in Iran. Materials and Methods: This study was design to evaluate the content of Cd and (Pb) in 11 different types of cosmetics including lipstick, nail polish, eyeliner, eye pencil, eyeshadow, makeup cleaner, mascara, pancake, tattoo, hair dye, and hair gel belonging to German, French, Turkish, Chinese, and Iranian brands, from September 2016 to March 2017. The content of Cd and Pb were measured with a polarograph following nitric acid digestion. Results: Out of 264 sample, the mean and standard error level of Cd and Pb were 3.69 ± 0.72 and 9.07 ± 1.126 μg/g, respectively. The average content of Pb in lipstick, tattoo, and nail polish was higher than the permitted limit of 10 μg/g. The mean content of Cd was also at level above the permitted limit of 3 μg/g for eye pencil, lipstick, and tattoo. The statistical analysis showed a significant difference between Cd (P = 0.038) and Pb (P = 0.013) among different types of the cosmetics. Conclusion: Results indicated that several samples contain high levels of Cd and Pb that can be associated with health effects at sufficiently exposures. Regular monitoring of toxic metals, along with increased public awareness is necessary to provide a level of protection for women, especially for pregnant and lactating women.

The Mediation Roles of Purchase intention and brand trust in Relationship between social marketing activities and brand loyalty

The rise of social media significantly challenges the way of firms managing about introducing their brands. The literature on social media marketing activities (SMMA) has promoted specially in the field of luxury marketing. Building on the basic of web 2.0 social media applications have simplified and facilitated extraordinary growth in customer interaction in modern times. The objective of this study is to examine the role of affecting factors which influence Iranian luxury brands customers' attitude toward purchase intention and brand loyalty. A questionnaire was used for collecting data from a sample of 114 luxury brand customers in social media in Tehran, capital and metropolitan city of Iran. Structural equation modelling was applied to examine the impact of social media marketing activities on brand loyalty. The mediating role of purchase intention and brand trust is considered too. The results indicated that entertainment does not have positive impact on purchase intention, brand trust and brand loyalty. The results of this research enable luxury brands managers to forecast the future purchasing behaviour of their customers and provide a guide to managing their strategies and marketing activities in competitive environment.

A Comparative In-Vitro Study for Evaluation of Physicochemical Properties of the Domestic and Innovator Brands of Sertraline Hydrochloride Tablets Available in the Iranian Market

Background: The present study was aimed to assess the quality of Iranian and innovator sertraline hydrochloride (SER) tablets available in the Iranian market. This study could make it possible to provide adequate evidences confirming the similar physicochemical quality of Iranian and imported SER products and could subsequently decrease the therapy costs owing to the more affordable costs of Iranian medicines compared to the imported ones. Methods: Seven products including one imported and six Iranian SER tablet brands were purchased from local pharmacy stores in Tabriz. Quantification of the amount of active ingredient in assay, uniformity of dosage units and dissolution tests were performed using an HPLC method recommended by USP monograph and other physicochemical properties were assessed in accordance with the USP general recommendations. Results: According to the obtained results, the amount of active ingredient in all the products met the acceptable range (%90 - %110); the content of all the studied products was uniform (AV ≤ 15); and all the products passed the dissolution test at the first stage (Q30 ≥ 85 %); the average weight of all the products was uniform with RSD% of less than 5%; except for one product with friability of 15.8% (due to the coating issue), all products' hardness (≤ 10 Kg) and friability (≤ 1%) were acceptable and all of them completely disintegrated after 30 min. Conclusion: The results of this study illustrated the acceptable quality of the most Iranian brands of SER compared to the innovator brand regarding the studied physicochemical properties.

An In Vitro Aerosolization Efficiency Comparison of Generic and Branded Salbutamol Metered Dose Inhalers

Background: Due to the high rate of pulmonary diseases, respiratory drug delivery systems have been attracted excessive attention for the past decades. Because of limitations and growing drug bill, physicians are encouraged to prescribe generically whenever possible. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there was any significant difference in aerosolization performance between a reference brand Salbutamol (A) Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) and two generic products (B and C). Methods: The aerosolization performance of MDIs was evaluated by calculating aerosolization indexes including fine particle fraction (FPF), fine particle dose (FPD), geometric standard deviation (GSD) and mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMAD) by using the next generation impactor. Results: Although aerosolization indexes of MDI A were superior than the Iranian brands, but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: These results verified that generic MDIs deliver similar quantities of Salbutamol to the reference brand and aerosolization performance parameters of generic Salbutamol MDIs did not differ significantly from the reference brand.