Northeast Of Iran Research Articles

Investigation of the growth and phytochemical variations for different Salvia species in terms of their transfer and adaptation in Iran

More than 1000 species of Salvia genus are reported all over the world, some of which have high pharmaceutical values for use in food-pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In order to domesticate and breed some endemic Salvia species of Iran, the seeds of 14 species were collected from North, West, Central, and Northeast of Iran, in an altitude ranging from 580 m to 2269 m. To evaluate the diversity of the studied Salvia species without environmental influences, the seeds of the collected species were planted under similar environmental and soil conditions. At flowering stage, the morphological and essential oil content of the grown plants were determined. The assayed species were phenotypically diverse, and there were considerable variations among the species in terms of plant growth and flower characteristics. Furthermore, significant differences were observed among the studied species regarding the quantity of essential oil. The mean essential oil content and yield of different Salvia species were 0.06–1.24% v/w and 0.02–0.19 g per plant, respectively. Among the species, Salvia officinalis and Salvia sclarea showed the highest essential oil content and yield, respectively. Correlation analysis showed a weak relationship between the morphological characteristics and essential oil content. Moreover, the results of Principal Compound Analysis (PCA) based on the assayed traits were partially accordance with the species categorizing by Hierarchical Custer Analysis (HCA). Generally according to the obtained results, Salvia sclarea, Salvia reuterana, Salvia officinalis, and Salvia spinosa can be suggested for further domestication and breeding programs.

Cutaneous Anthrax of the lip: a Case Report in a 1 Year Old Infant

Anthrax is a deadly, contagious bacterial infection. Skin anthrax is most frequent. Anthrax is a work-related illness, so it’s rare among kids. Children’s symptoms are similar to adults. In this article, we introduce a one-year-old infant who developed cutaneous anthrax due to contact with contaminated broth with a sore on the corner of the lip. A 1-yearinfant from a village in Quchan, North-east Iran, with a swollen lesion with dark brown to black crust on its surface on the left side of upper lip presented to Akbar’s Children Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, in January 2021. Bacillus anthracis was seen in direct smear of wounds with Gram staining though the sample culture result was negative. Mortality from cutaneous anthrax can be up to 20%. Therefore, timely use of antibiotics is quite effective in decreasing mortality and reducing the effects of bacterial spread in the blood.

Detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases in clinical isolates of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in the northeast of Iran

PurposeStenotrophomonas maltophilia has emerged as an important pathogen associated with significant mortality in pneumonia and bacteremia of severely immunocompromised, hospitalized patients. The main objectives of the present study are to describe the surveillance of antibiotic resistance and to detect the genes encoding extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemase enzymes in clinical S. maltophilia isolates from blood cultures in the northeast of Iran. MethodsA total of 114 clinical human isolates of S. maltophilia were collected from blood cultures of patients admitted at three teaching hospitals in Mashhad, northeast of Iran. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test. The extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production was confirmed by the combination disk method. The PCR was applied for molecular epidemiology of ESBLs and carbapenemase coding genes. ResultsOverall, 10 % and 8 % of isolates were resistant to co-trimoxazole and levofloxacin, respectively. The prevalence of the blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M-15 genes in the 69 ESBL-producing isolates was 2.9 %, 5.8 %, and 10.14 %, respectively. Moreover, the prevalence of the blaKPC-1, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaNDM, and blaOXA-48 genes was 18.42 % (n = 21), 4.39 % (n = 5), 6.14 % (n = 7), 15.79 % (n = 18), and 14.91 % (n = 17), respectively. ConclusionFor the first time in Iran, ESBLs and carbapenemase coding genes have been identified in human clinical strains of S. maltophilia. Circulation of these resistant strains with transferable genes is a sign of flow of resistome genes from other bacterial genera to S. maltophilia, most probably leading to the evolution of the superbugs of this bacterium.

Harnessing the Power of Remote Sensing and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Comparative Analysis for Soil Loss Estimation on the Loess Plateau

This study explored the innovative use of multiple remote sensing satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles to calculate soil losses in the Loess Plateau of Iran. This finding emphasized the importance of using advanced technologies to develop accurate and efficient soil erosion assessment techniques. Accordingly, this study developed an approach to compare sinkholes and gully heads in hilly regions on the Loess Plateau of northeast Iran using convolutional neural network (CNN or ConvNet). This method involved coupling data from UAV, Sentinel-2, and SPOT-6 satellite data. The soil erosion computed using UAV data showed AUC values of 0.9247 and 0.9189 for the gully head and the sinkhole, respectively. The use of SPOT-6 data in gully head and sinkhole computations showed AUC values of 0.9105 and 0.9123, respectively. The AUC values were 0.8978 and 0.9001 for the gully head and the sinkhole using Sentinel-2, respectively. Comparison of the results from the calculated UAV, SPOT-6, and Sentinel-2 data showed that the UAV had the highest accuracy for calculating sinkhole and gully head soil features, although Sentinel-2 and SPOT-6 showed good results. Overall, the combination of multiple remote sensing satellites and UAVs offers improved accuracy, timeliness, cost effectiveness, accessibility, and long-term monitoring capabilities, making it a powerful approach for calculating soil loss in the Loess Plateau of Iran.

Seroprevalence of VZV and HSV-2 Antibodies among Women of Childbearing Age Referring to Health Centres of Mashhad, Iran: The Need for Consideration of VZV Vaccination Program.

Infections with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are associated with serious maternal and neonatal health consequences. The literature review reveals a research gap regarding the seroprevalence of HSV-2 and VZV among women of reproductive age in Mashhad, Northeast of Iran. The present study aims to evaluate the seroprevalence of these viruses among a group of women in Mashhad, Iran. Sera were collected by health center personnel using a cluster sampling method from healthy women with specific age characteristics residing in three distinct socioeconomic regions of the city. The participants, aged 20-35, were divided into three groups (20-25, 26-30, and 31-35 years). The levels of VZV and HSV-2 IgG antibodies were evaluated using commercial ELISA kits. Subsequently, the results were analyzed using SPSS software. A total of 93 women were included in the study. Anti-HSV-2 IgG antibody was detected in 3 out of 93 participants (7.5%), while anti-VZV IgG antibody was found positive in 80 out of 93 individuals (83.3%). The HSV-2 positive cases were concurrently positive for the VZV antibody. There was no significant difference in the positivity of anti-HSV-2 and anti-VZV antibody positivity within age groups or socioeconomic status (P > 0.05). The high seroprevalence of VZV among nonvaccinated participants indicates a widespread presence of the virus and underscores its potentially serious impact on community health. Therefore, it is recommended that a VZV vaccination program be considered by the health system. Furthermore, the reactivation of latent HSV-2, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, during pregnancy should not be disregarded as a life-threatening threat.

Recognizing Geochemical Anomalies Associated with Mineral Resources Using Singularity Analysis and Random Forest Models in the Torud-Chahshirin Belt, Northeast Iran

Identifying the local geochemical anomalies from stream sediment samples is challenging in regional-scale exploration programs. For this purpose, some robust and reliable techniques must be applied to distinguish the geochemical targets from the background values. In this research, a procedure of several tools, including singularity mapping (SM), random forests (RF), success-rate curves, and the t-Student method, were employed to analyze the geochemical anomalies within the intrusive-plutonic Torud-Chahshirin belt (TCB), northeast Iran. In this regard, the success-rate curves were initially applied to extract efficient geochemical signatures. Then, singularity analysis was used on the selected geochemical elements (Au, Cu, Pb, and Zn), which were transformed via centered log-ratio (clr) transformation. In the next step, due to the complexity of the ore-forming processes in the TCB, the structural factors (e.g., fault intersection and faults with different orientations) were determined. Based on the success-rate curves, NE-trending faults and fault density were distinguished as critical structural criteria. Afterward, the RF model as a robust machine learning algorithm was executed on the four efficient SM-based geochemical layers and two efficient structural factors. The anomaly map derived by the RF model (Accuracy = 98.85% and Error = 1.15%) illustrates a very high relationship with Cu ± Au mineral occurrences. Therefore, the RF algorithm assisted by the singularity method is more trustworthy for highlighting the weak geochemical prospectivity areas in the TCB.

Why healthcare providers are not vaccinated? A qualitative study during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran

BackgroundVaccination has been effective in controlling contagious diseases, especially among high-risk groups such as medical staff. Their unwillingness to be vaccinated might adversely affect individual and public health. This study aimed to explore the factors related to the refusal of COVID-19 vaccines among health service providers.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted on 28 healthcare providers in Mashhad, Northeast of Iran from March to June 2022. The method of data collection was face-to-face interviews. The purposive method was used for sampling. Data collection continued until the saturation was reached. To analyze the data, the content analysis method was applied, and Maxqda (version 10) software was used.ResultsBy analyzing interview transcripts, six themes and ten sub-themes were extracted. Factors that explained employees’ reluctance to be vaccinated against COVID-19 were the opinion of peers, lack of trust in vaccines, fear of vaccination, mistrust to the government and health authorities, low perceived risk of coronavirus disease, and the contradictions of traditional and modern medicine in their approach to controlling the disease.ConclusionsAmong healthcare workers, concerns about the side effects of vaccines were the most influential factors in refusing vaccination. Providing reliable information about vaccines and their safety is key to increasing the trust of health workers in vaccination and facilitating its acceptance.

Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Leishmania major Isolated from Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Foci in Northeast Iran.

Epidemiological studies, classification and genetic studies of Leishmania species are effective in treatment, control and prevention in endemic areas. We aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and phylogeny of Leishmania in Zoonotic foci located in northeastern Iran using nagt gene for the first time. DNA of 100 confirmed positive slides collected from the health centers of Sarkhes, Darghez, Fariman, Esfarayen, and Sabzevar were extracted during 2020-2021. The partial sequence of kDNA was amplified to identify the species. Twenty-five DNA samples were randomly subjected to amplify by nagt gene primes and were sequenced. The sequences were aligned with reference sequences in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Then, the genetic similarities of the sequences were checked using Clustalx2.1 software and the phylogenetic tree was drawn by Mega 7 software. All the positive samples were diagnosed as L. major. Approximately, half of the sequences of species were similar to two reference genes JX103550.1:404-712 L. major Esfahan and KX759012.1:568-807 L. Major Ilam (more than 90% similarity). According to the results of the phylogeny tree, the closest genotype to our study samples was JX103550.1:404-712 L. major Esfahan. The most causative agent CL in these areas was L. major. The genetic diversity of L. major was high such as other zoonotic foci in Iran. Due to the high similarity of the strains in the study areas with the strains of Isfahan and Ilam, similar control and prevention methods is suggested in these areas.

Decomposition-Based Stacked Bagging Boosting Ensemble for Dynamic Line Rating Forecasting

Effective exploitation of overhead transmission lines needs reliable and precise dynamic line rating forecasting. High-accuracy dynamic line rating forecasting, in particular, is an important short-term method for coping with grid congestion, enhancing grid stability, and accommodating high renewable energy penetration. Due to the non-stationarity and stochasticity of the meteorological variables, a single model is often not sufficient to accurately predict the dynamic line rating. Herein, a new stacked bagging boosting ensemble is developed based on multivariate empirical mode decomposition to overcome single models' restrictions and increase the dynamic line rating forecasting performance. The developed ensemble is utilized on the data gathered from a 400 kV aluminum conductor steel-reinforced overhead power line with a length of 32.85 Km between Ghadamgah and Binalood wind farms, located in the northeast of Iran. The simulation results substantiate that the proposed ensemble can capture meteorological variables' non-linear characteristics, yielding more accurate yet to noisy data forecasts than single forecasting models.

Unexpected changes and associated factors of care burden among caregivers of cancer patients one year after COVID-19 outbreak

PurposeThe study aimed to evaluate the changes in the care burden and quality of life of caregivers of cancer patients and correlates of care burden during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsThis cross-sectional study used the census sampling technique with 260 cancer patients and their caregivers during January to March 2020 in northeast Iran. Data collection tools included the Novak and Guest Care Burden Scale, the SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (independent t-test and multiple linear regression analysis). ResultsBaseline scores of care burden and quality of life in caregivers suggested mild to moderate care burden and a reasonable quality of life and moderate levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in patients. The post-outbreak mean scores of care burden and quality of life significantly decreased and increased, respectively (p < .001). Regression analysis showed that 39.3% of the changes in the care burden score during the pandemic could be predicted by studied variables. In exchange for increasing the quality-of-life score and daily care hours, the care burden score decreases and increases. The burden of care in caregivers was also related to the type of cancer. Care burden in the caregivers of patients with breast and neurological malignancies was lower than the caregivers of patients with gastrointestinal cancer (p < .05). ConclusionDespite the results obtained, supportive and educational interventions are needed to reduce the caregiver burden and improve the quality of life of caregivers and measure its impact on levels of psychological distress in their patients clinically.

Sources and Information Needs of Patients with Colorectal Cancer and Physician's Viewpoints in the Northeast of Iran: A Cross‐sectional Study

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common gastrointestinal cancers, and it is the third and fourth most common cancer among Iranian men and women, respectively. Patients suffering from cancer have different information needs, and one of the most important and reliable sources of information for them is their physicians. Providing adequate information will reduce patients' anxiety and empower them, and proper planning in this field requires awareness of patients' needs. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the sources and information needs of patients suffering from colorectal cancer and physicians' viewpoints regarding this issue.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire survey-based study was conducted from May to December 2017. All patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and physicians in oncology outpatient clinics at a specialized cancer hospital and a radiotherapy oncology center in Mashhad, Iran (the only specialized cancer centers in the northeastern part of Iran) were invited to participate in the study using the census technique. The patient questionnaire was about patients' attitudes toward the consultant's information and disease, information leaflets, the treatments and complications of the disease, and information sources for the disease. And the physician questionnaire was about the information the physician would give to the patients regarding their disease, treatment options, side effects, who is considered to inform the patients of their diagnosis, the patient's use of the Internet as a source of information, and training to provide the patient with information.Results: The mean ages of the patients and physicians participating in this study were 50.72 ± 16.15 and 40.03 ± 11.08 years, respectively. Most of the cases (44.8%) wanted to know everything about their illness as much as possible, while 45.5% of the patients needed the information. The majority (85.9%) of the participants were willing to know about all possible therapies regarding their illness, while 63.3% of the physicians provided treatment options that were suitable for the patient in their view, and only 33.3% of the physicians told the patients all possible treatment options. The patients received the most useful information from medical staff, family and friends, the Internet, brochures, magazines, and newspapers. Among all, 37% of the cases said that information on the Internet was highly reliable, while 60% of the physicians believed that if the content of the information on the Internet was carefully selected, it could be useful.Conclusion: Information regarding the illness, diagnosis, and treatment is one of the essential needs for patients suffering from colorectal cancer. It seems that it is necessary to have a good and organized plan to provide the patients suffering from colorectal cancer with the required information and increase their health information literacy as one of their undeniable rights.

Spatio-Temporal Modeling of COVID-19 Spread in Relation to Urban Land Uses: An Agent-Based Approach

This study aims to address the existing gaps in evidence regarding spatio-temporal modeling of COVID-19 spread, specifically focusing on the impact of different urban land uses in a geospatial information system framework. It employs an agent-based model at the individual level in Gorgan, northeast Iran, characterized by diverse spatial and demographic features. The interactions between human agents and their environment were considered by incorporating social activities based on different urban land uses. The proposed model was integrated with the susceptible–asymptomatic–symptomatic–on treatment–aggravated infection–recovered–dead epidemic model to better understand the disease transmission at the micro-level. The effect of various intervention scenarios, such as social distancing, complete and partial lockdowns, restriction of social gatherings, and vaccination was investigated. The model was evaluated in three modes of cases, deaths, and the spatial distribution of COVID-19. The results show that the disease was more concentrated in central areas with a high population density and dense urban land use. The proposed model predicted the distribution of disease cases and mortality for different age groups, achieving 72% and 71% accuracy, respectively. Additionally, the model was able to predict the spatial distribution of disease cases at the neighborhood level with 86% accuracy. Moreover, findings demonstrated that early implementation of control scenarios, such as social distancing and vaccination, can effectively reduce the transmission of COVID-19 spread and control the epidemic. In conclusion, the proposed model can serve as a valuable tool for health policymakers and urban planners. This spatio-temporal model not only advances our understanding of COVID-19 dynamics but also provides practical tools for addressing future pandemics and urban health challenges.

Ammonite biozonation and chronostratigraphy of the Upper Bajocian–Upper Oxfordian of the Dalichai Formation at the Kuh-e-Varvari section (North of Damghan, Alborz and North Iran)

ABSTRACT The Middle–Upper Jurassic strata in the eastern part of the Alborz, North of Iran (Dalichai Formation) were studied based on ammonite fauna to correlate with zonation of other West Tethyan areas (Sub-Mediterranean province). In this section, like other studied sections in North and northeast of Iran, the ammonite assemblages such as Parkinsoniidae, Morphoceratidae, Sphaeroceratidae, Macrocephalitidae and Reineckeiidae mainly show the characteristics of etyan groups. Abundant ammonite fauna in some levels has enabled an accurate chronostratigraphy. The presence of this ammonite fauna that is seen in the epicontinental seas, bordering the northern margins of the western Thetys, led to the identification of some zones in accordance with the standard of Sub-Mediterranean province zonation. The Garantiana and Parkinsoni Zones of the Late Bajocian, the Zigzag and Aurigerus Zones of the Early Bathonian, the Retrocostatum and Discus Zones of the Late Bathonian, the Bullatus and Gracilis Zones of the Early Callovian, the Anceps and Coronatum Zones of the Middle Callovian and the Athleta and Lamberti Zones of the Late Callovian have been recognised and characterised. These assemblages show a relation between these regions with the Sub-Mediterranean province during the Jurassic. Low percentage of Phylloceratidae in this section is an indicative of Sub-Mediterranean affinity. Based on the ammonite fauna, the Dalichai Formation is Late Bajocian-Late Oxfordian in age.

Effects of soil mulches and conditioners on seedling emergence and survival of Astragalus nigricans Barneby in an arid steppe rangeland

Soil mulches and conditioners have been shown to improve soil moisture conservation, infiltration, and seed germination and survival, but their interactive effects with sporadic rainfall and the existing vegetation have rarely been considered. In an experimental field study, we assessed the effects of soil additives (sawdust and hydrogel) and mulches (river sand and plant debris) on seedling emergence and survival of Astragalus nigricans Barneby, in the rangelands of Mashhad, northeast Iran. We also assessed any effects on soil moisture and temperature several days after rain in July 2017 and May 2018 and weed composition, density, and diversity. The most successful treatment was hydrogel, associated with earlier seedling emergence for A. nigricans, greater seedling survival, and biomass production. Sawdust and sand treatments were useful for root proliferation and seedling emergence in the spring of the first season, but they led to high seedling mortality under drought. Debris of Artemisia khorasanica shoots was the most efficient and consistent treatment for soil moisture conservation and temperature stability in both years, but its possible allelopathic effects led to high seedling mortality and a long delay (41 days) on seedling emergence. Plant debris also negatively affected the density, richness, and diversity of nontarget plant species. Despite differences among different rainfall events, mulch treatments have an important role in regenerating degraded rangelands.

A decade-long study on the effect of furrow and subsurface drip irrigation using unconventional water on soil salinity and the growth of pistachio trees

Furrow irrigation is the most common method of irrigating pistachio orchards in Iran. Water use efficiency using this method of irrigation is close to 35%. Ten years ago, a subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) project was initiated with highly saline and alkaline water for the first time in Iran at the Feyzabad pistachio research station, at 34̊ 54ʹ 15ʺ N, 58̊ 45ʹ 37ʺ E, located in the northeast of Iran, at an altitude of 850 meters from the sea. The water salinity and sodium adsorption ratio were 11.5 dS m-1 and 15.5 at the beginning of the project, and they reached 16.25 dS m-1 and 17.7 in 2021. The amount of SDI water consumption in the first year of the project (2012) was 1640 m3 ha-1 yr-1, and as the trees aged, water consumption reached 3000 m3 ha-1 in 2022. The amount of water utilized for furrow irrigation was about 6912 m3 ha-1 in 2022. Salt entering the soil through irrigation water differed by about 41 t ha-1 in 2022 between the two methods. After ten years of project implementation, the root development layer was more than 100 cm and less than 50 cm, respectively, for SDI and furrow. The trend of soil salinity has changed from 2012 to 2022: it went from 34.7 dS m-1 in 2012 to 110 dS m-1 in 2018, and then decreased to 65 dS m-1 in 2022 in the surface layer of the SDI method. In contrast, salinity increased almost twofold within the root development layer (60-140 cm) in the SDI. In the last two years (2021 and 2022), the height, crown width, trunk circumference, and yield of the pistachio trees were not significantly different between the two irrigation methods. However, there was a significant difference in the irrigation treatments during the two last years (2021 and 2022) in the annual growth, the average number of flower buds in the branch, and the average number of flower buds abscised. The branch vegetative growth in 2022 had decreased by almost 50% compared to 2021 in both methods. The results showed that the lowest annual growth was achieved in the SDI in 2022. Overall, the efficiency of water consumption in the SDI and furrow was equal to 0.09 and 0.06 kg m3, respectively. SDI net income was 1284 $ higher after expenses were deducted from 2012 to 2022. Therefore, due to severe climate change and excessive salinity increase in soil and water resources, a well-managed SDI can provide a more sustainable production method for salt-affected soils for pistachio orchards by reducing water consumption and salt entry into the soil.

Spiritual Well-Being and Death Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Iranian Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients experience a tremendous psychological burden, typically in the form of death worry due to acute medical conditions and the possibility of mortality. The unfavourable conditions of ACS patients cause them to reconsider the meaning of life and their spiritual well-being. This study evaluated the association between death anxiety and spiritual well-being in a total of 241 ACS patients in Shahroud, northeast of Iran. The data were collected using the Templer Death Anxiety Scale, and the Spiritual Well-being Scale by convenience sampling method. All patients indicated a high degree of death anxiety, and roughly half reported a moderate level of spiritual well-being. There was a significant and direct correlation between death anxiety and spiritual well-being levels. Older age, single status, and non-smoking were other predictors of good spiritual well-being. A multidisciplinary health team should identify and implement approaches to promote spiritual well-being and reduce mental suffering.

Comparison of Quality of Life in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Healthy Controls in North-East of Iran

Comparison of Quality of Life in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Healthy Controls in North-East of Iran

Survival benefit of maintenance therapy in AML patients after complete remission in northeast Iran oncology centers with limited access to oral azacitidine.

123 Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with high relapse rates even in patients who achieve a complete remission with initial treatment. Maintenance therapy with cytotoxic agents has been considered a strategy to prolong disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The lack of availability of oral Azacitidine in some countries limits its use. This study aimed to compare the DFS and OS rates of AML patients with and without maintenance therapy using subcutaneous cytarabine or oral thioguanine. Methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed the charts of non-m3 AML patients treated in oncology centers in northeast Iran from February 2015 to February 2021. The study included patients aged 15-60 who experienced complete remission following induction and then consolidation chemotherapy and did not receive Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (allo-HSCT). Patients were categorized based on receiving maintenance therapy (MT) after the first-line treatment and those who were only followed up (FU). Patients’ demographic information, pathology and lab findings, date of relapse and/or death, and first-line and maintenance treatments regimens were extracted. For each of the MT and FU groups, the frequency of main outcomes (death and/or relapse) was calculated, and the Median (95%CI) of DFS and OS was estimated. The log-rank test was used to compare the DFS and OS between groups. Results: A total of 100 patients (50 MT and 50 FU) met the study inclusion criteria. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding patients’ demographic characteristics, pathology and lab findings, and ELN’s risk category. The relapse rate in the FU and MT groups was 76% (n=38) and 60% (n=30) respectively (p=0.09). 39 individuals (78%) in the FU group and 26 individuals (54.2%) in the MT group died between complete remission and Feb 2022(p=0.01). The Median (95% CI) of DFS in FU and MT groups were 11 (8.6-13.3) and 18 (7.3 -28.6) months respectively (P=0.03). The median OS (95% CI) was 16 (10.8 - 21.1) months in the FU group and 23 (10.8 - 35) months in the MT group (P=0.04). Further comparisons between patients who received subcutaneous cytarabine and oral thioguanine revealed no significant differences regarding DFS and OS. Conclusions: The study results suggest that maintenance therapy with subcutaneous cytarabine or oral thioguanine after complete remission in non-m3 AML patients is associated with improved DFS and OS. Further randomized controlled trials and cost-utility studies are recommended to consider these available cytotoxic agents as maintenance therapy alternatives in regions where Azacitidine is not available.

Clustering of the causes of death in Northeast Iran: a mixed growth modeling

BackgroundProcessing and analyzing data related to the causes of mortality can help to clarify and monitor the health status, determine priorities, needs, deficiencies, and developments in the health sector in research and implementation areas. In some cases, the statistical population consists of invisible sub-communities, each with a pattern of different trends over time. In such cases, Latent Growth Mixture Models (LGMM) can be used. This article clusters the causes of individual deaths between 2015 and 2019 in Northeast Iran based on LGMM.MethodThis ecological longitudinal study examined all five-year mortality in Northeast Iran from 2015 to 2019. Causes of mortality were extracted from the national death registration system based on the ICD-10 classification. Individuals' causes of death were categorized based on LGMM, and similar patterns were placed in one category.ResultsOut of the total 146,100 deaths, ischemic heart disease (21,328), malignant neoplasms (17,613), cerebrovascular diseases (11,924), and hypertension (10,671) were the four leading causes of death. According to statistical indicators, the model with three classes was the best-fit model, which also had an appropriate interpretation. In the first class, which was also the largest class, the pattern of changes in mortality due to diseases was constant (n = 98, 87.50%). Second-class diseases had a slightly upward trend (n = 10, 8.92%), and third-class diseases had a completely upward trend (n = 4, 3.57%).ConclusionsIdentifying the rising trends of diseases leading to death using LGMM can be a suitable tool for the prevention and management of diseases by managers and health policy. Some chronic diseases are increasing up to 2019, which can serve as a warning for health policymakers in society.

Genetic Diversity of Toxoplasma gondii by Serological and Molecular Analyzes in Different Sheep and Goat Tissues in Northeastern Iran.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by compilation protozoan agent Toxoplasma gondii, leading to significant financial and quality-adjusted life-year losses. Overcooked or raw meat consumption has been a considerable transmission route. The present study was conducted to determine the seropositivity rate of T. gondii in sheep and goats by serological and molecular tests and genotyping of obtained isolates in northeast Iran. Blood and tissue samples (diaphragm, heart) of 296 animals (including 168 sheep and 128 goats) were collected from the slaughterhouse in Quchan Country from august 2016 to April 2017. Modified agglutination test (MAT) and the PCR method performed to detect parasite DNA on tissues.PCR-RFLP method of GRA6 gene was used to determine the genotype of T. gondii. In addition, sequencing analysis was performed to evaluate the Toxoplasma type strains. Serum positive for MAT results were found in 27.4% of sheep and 23.4% of goats. Positive PCR of B1 gene results in diaphragm and heart tissues of sheep and goats was 47.8% and 26.1%, 40% and 23.3%, respectively. PCR of GRA6 gene results were positive in 10 samples that RFLP technique results using MseI enzyme revealed genotype I. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed DNA of all samples was closely related to Toxoplasma type I. Concerning the high seropositivity rate of toxoplasmosis, undertaking an appropriate preventive program for reducing the prevalence of T. gondii infection by raw or undercooked meat consumption of livestock is recommended. Our study supports the notion that these animals' consumption of raw and undercooked meat can be a probable source of human toxoplasmosis.