Showing 21 results for Gene
P Yavari, Ma Pourhosseingholi,
Volume 2, Issue 1 (3-2006)
Abstract
Background and objectives: There is growing interest in assessing gene-environment interaction in the course of case-control studies. Difficulties related to the sampling of controls have led to the development of a range of non-traditional methods that do not require controls for estimating gene-environment interaction. One of these new modalities is the case-only approach, in which the assessment of gene-environment interaction is based on information from the cases only. The present article describes the application of this approach to data from breast cancer patients and compares its efficacy with that of a traditional case-control analysis.
Methods: We used age at first pregnancy, number of live birth, menopause and the total number of post-menopausal years as the "environment" factors and family history of breast cancer as the "gene" factor. We computed standard errors, 95% confidence intervals and (-2 log likelihood) to compare efficiency between case-control and case-only analyses.
Results: We observed significant interaction between menopause and family history of breast cancer by both methods (OR=4.32 CI: 1.10-16.90 for case-control analysis & OR=3.40 CI: 1.17-9.87 for case-only analysis). There was also a significant interaction effect between total years after menopause and family history of breast cancer (OR=1.07 CI: 0.98-1.16 in case-control analysis & OR=1.07 CI: 1.01-1.12 in case-only analysis).
The case-only approach yielded narrower confidence intervals for the odds ratio, and the (-2 log likelihood) values computed by this method were correspondingly smaller.
Conclusions: Comparison of confidence intervals and (-2 log likelihood) values shows that the estimation of gene-environment interaction in breast cancer would be more efficient with the case-only approach than with the traditional case-control analysis.
N Zare, M Sayadi, E Rezaeyan Fard, H Ghaem,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (6-2010)
Abstract
Background & objectives: statistical modeling explicates the observed changes in data by means of mathematics equations. In cases that dependent variable is count, Poisson model is applied. If Poisson model is not applicable in a specific situation, it is better to apply the generalized Poisson model. So, our emphasis in this study is to notice the data structure, introducing the generalized Poisson regression model and its application in estimates of effective factors coefficients on the number of children and comparing it with Poisson regression model results.
Methods: Besides introducing Poisson regression model, we introduced its application in fertility data analysis. A sample of 1019 women in rural areas of Fars was selected by cross sectional and stratified sampling methods. The number of children of family was determined as a count response variable for model validation.
Results: The sample mean and sample variance of the response variable Y, the number of children, are respectively 4.3 and 8.3 (over-dispersion). Log-likelihood was -1950.93 for Poisson regression and -1946.93 for generalized Poisson regression model.
Conclusions: The results revealed that this data have over-dispersion. According to selection criteria, the suitable model for this data analysis was generalized Poisson regression model. It can estimate effective factors coefficients on the number of children exactly.
A Ahmadvand, Z Sepehrmanesh, F Ghoreyshi, F Assarian, Gh A Moosavi, R Saee, F Etesam,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (9-2010)
Abstract
Background & Objectives: Mental health is one of the most important public health issues, and it has major contribution in decreasing global burden of diseases .the objective of this study was to estimate the point prevalence rate of mental disorders in the population aged 18 years and over in Kashan city in 2009.
Methods: A classified- randomized sampling method was used. The General Health Questionnaire and clinical interview were employed to determine of mental disorders. data were analyzed by using Spss v. 16 and OR, and Chi-square test.
Results: The overall prevalence rate of mental disorders in Kashan was estimated (29%) (Female= 35/5%). The most prevalent disorders were mood disorders and anxiety disorders (9/3%) and (4/7%) respectively. In total five hundred-five (505) individuals with mental disorders, 32.1% had mood disorders, 25.6% had anxiety disorders, 4.2% had psychotic disorders, 3.4 % had neurological disorders, 3.4% dissociative disorders and 23.7% had other disorders. In this study 7.8% of subject had one mental disorder at least. The prevalence rate was high in people aged 56-65 years (35/8%) and widow (35/8%), illiterate (42/8%) and unemployed (38/8%). There were statistically significant differences between genders, education, and occupation and marital status.
Conclusion: Mental disorder has a priority for any intention intervention by health policy makers. It should be taken into account for any future agenda by ministry of health.
Aa Haghdoost, A Pourkhandani, Sh Motaghipisheh, B Farhoudi, N Fahimifar, B Sadeghirad ,
Volume 6, Issue 4 (3-2011)
Abstract
Background & Objective: the number of people with HIV/AIDS in Iran is increasing. Populations' knowledge and awareness are crucial steps to prevent HIV/AIDS epidemic. This systematic review aimed to assess the level of knowledge and attitude toward HIV/AIDS in Iranian population.
Methods: Reviewing related titles in national and international databanks resulted in 62 eligible studies published between 1998 and 2008. To explore the source(s) of heterogeneity, meta-regression model was used.
Results: Due to the methodological diversity of included studies (e.g. their sampling or data collection methods) pooled estimation of the results were hard to be applied. The mean for knowledge score among 24 eligible studies (including 24,011 individuals) varied between 14.7 and 84.0 out of 100. Among those 16 eligible studies (including 11,104 individuals), the reported mean for attitude varied between 32.6 and 78.4 out of 100.
Conclusion: In overall, it seems that the knowledge and attitude in Iranian population still need to be improved however, the results from our systematic review showed a considerable heterogeneity among the results that can be originated from the diversity of target populations and/or their methodology of included studies. Planning for further targeted programs and modifying public education for more effective schemes are necessary to be emphasized, as there was not a significant change in the level of knowledge or attitude based on the included studies.
A Khorrami Rad, M Karami, Z Abedini,
Volume 7, Issue 4 (3-2012)
Abstract
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Background & Objectives: Epidemiological
surveillance of infectious diseases through the mandatory-reporting system is
crucial for disease prevention program and success in it related to physician,
partnership. The aim of this study was to identify statues of notification
system among general practitioners (physicians) in Qom.
Methods: In this analytical cross section study
a self-administered questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and attitude of
notifiable diseases, self-reported practices, reasons for noncompliance with
reporting requirements, and suggestions to improve compliance. A total 140
general physicians completed the questionnaire. Appropriate statistical
analyses were performed.
Results: 14/3% and 13/6% had a good knowledge
and attitude about notification and only 47% had good performance. There was
significant association between the participants' self-reported practices and
knowledge total scores and participating in continuing medical education. The
major barrier of reporting notifiable diseases was poor knowledge of the list
of reportable diseases and reporting requirements. The most frequent
suggestions for improving physicians' compliance with disease reporting were to
simplify the reporting process and giving awareness about list of notifiable
diseases.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest inappropriate
knowledge, attitude and practices about disease notification requirements among
GPs. Modifying physisicans' knowledge and motivation, eliminating barriers to
disease reporting, and promoting some facilitating factors could help reduce
the underreporting of notifiable diseases.
A Saki Malehi, E Hajizadeh, R Fatemi,
Volume 8, Issue 2 (9-2012)
Abstract
Background
& Objectives: Identifying
the important influential factors is a great challenge in oncology studies.
Decision tree is one of methods that could be used to evaluate the prognostic
factors and classifying the patients' homogeneously. This method identifies the
main prognostic factors and then determines the subgroups of patients based on
those prognostic factors. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic
factors and homogeneous subgroups of colorectal patient through survival tree.
Methods: Data collected from an observational
of 739 colorectal patients registered in the cancer registry affiliated to the
center of Research Center of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease (RCGLD), Shahid
Beheshti Medical University, Tehran, Iran. Death was the interested event and
the survival time was calculated from date of diagnosis until occurrence of
event (or censoring) in months. Finally we used decision tree based method for
classifying and analyzing the data.
Results: Based on our result, decision tree
identified four covariates as important prognostic factors in 0.05 significant
levels: general stage of cancer, age of diagnosis, histology of tumor and
morphology type of tumor. Also patients based on these prognostic factors
divided into five homogeneous subgroups. The greater values of measure of
separation (SEP) criterion support the appropriateness of this model for such
the data.
Conclusion:
Decision tree is powerful and intuitive method. It has a key feature that is in
addition to evaluate the prognostic factors, provides the homogeneous subgroups
for future analysis.
A Souresrafil, M Hadian, H Ghaderi,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (9-2014)
Abstract
Background & Objectives : In recent years, the World Health Organization has paid more attention to the relationship between health and social conditions as determining the factors affecting people's health in the society. Social health factors (conditions in which people are born, grow up, work, and become old, and also the health system available for them) have caused inequalities in health and require more attention in health development. The purpose of this research was to identify the determining social and economic factors which are effective in mortality in these selected countries during 1998-2009.
Methods: Countries were divided into 3 groups based on the human development index and 10 countries out of each group were studied randomly. The dependent variable in this research was overall mortality and the explanatory variables were Gini coefficient, unemployment rate, per capita Health expenditure, and also the result of multiplication of per capita income and Gini coefficient. To evaluate and assess the data, the generalized method of moment by Eviews 6 was used.
Results: The findings showed that the most determining elements affecting the mortality rate in countries with a very high human development index were Gini coefficient (0.02), unemployment rate (0.0001), and the variable obtained by multiplying the Gini coefficient by per capita income (-8.1*10-6). In countries with a high human development index, the most determining elements affecting the mortality rate were unemployment rate (0.005), per capita expenditure (-0.0002), and the variable obtained by multiplying Gini coefficient by per capita income (-3.22*10-6). Also, in countries with a medium human development index, the most determining elements affecting the mortality rate were per capita expenditure (-0.0008), and multiplication of Gini coefficient and per capita income (1.47*10-6).
Conclusion: It can be concluded that based on the level of development of the countries, various economic and social factors can affect the mortality and health level of those countries. Therefore, it is necessary for the countries to plan for their health system if they wish to eradicate or reduce inequalities and injustices. This plan should be based on their level of development, the factors determining mortality, and the health system of those countries.
A Bahmanimehr, F Nikmanesh, L Yepiskoposyan,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (12-2014)
Abstract
Background & Objectives: Zagros Mountains, which are between the flatlands of Mesopotamia and the Iranian plateau, surround the western border of the country. This region was the cradle of great civilizations like Mesopotamia and Elam. This study aimed to test the boundary role of the Zagros Mountains in the genetic structure of the region through evaluating the paternal lineages inheritance and patterns of genetic polymorphisms.
Methods: Two hundred and ninety seven blood samples were collected from unrelated men of the different local areas of the northwest of Iran. Haplogroup frequencies were used to calculate and compare the population genetic parameters as genetic distance and genetic diversity.
Results : In this research distribution time and entrance of the haplogroup G2-M406 estimated around 8800 years before present, the age of first human residential in the Zagros mountains area, Frequency of central Asian lineages in the eastern side of the mountains observed notable more than west side. While, European paternal lineages in the western side was more than eastern side of the mountains.
Conclusion : This research emphasized the westward distribution and migration from Iranian plateau to the Europe through Turkey and Caucasus. This research has drown reliable phylogenetic tree of the surrounding population and showed an important geographic barrier role for these mountains to gene flow from neighboring regions and free movements of the local people. Moreover, the important role of the Zagros Mountains as a geographic barrier to gene flow from neighboring regions clearly highlighted in this research
M Jahani, J Rezaenoor, E Hadavandi, I Salehi, H Tahsini,
Volume 11, Issue 2 (9-2015)
Abstract
Background & Objectives: In recent years, different decision support systems (DSS) have been used to predict and diagnose diseases. The purpose of this paper was to compare some DSSs and to evaluate their accuracy in predicting diabetes.
Methods: In this research, determination and optimization of the weights of the neural network were undertaken using genetic algorithm and Levenberg-Marquardt (GALM). Traditional and K-Fold Cross Validation were used to verify the models. Finally, the proposed model (i.e. GALM) was compared using logistic regression and genetic algorithm based on area under curve (AUC), and Confusion Matrix.
Results: After evaluating the results, the model based on the GALM algorithm showed better sensitivity and specificity in comparison with models based on the logistic regression (LR) and genetic algorithm (GA). Furthermore, among other models, the proposed model had a high sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), and a small negative likelihood.
Conclusion: The results showed that the GALM model with a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and AUC of 98.7, 90.01, 91.8, 98.3 and 0.979 respectively was an appropriate model for predicting diabetes in comparison with models of GA and LR.
S Namroodi , H Staji, E Mazandarani,
Volume 12, Issue 3 (10-2016)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Salmonella spp. are one of the most important zoonotic agents with a worldwide distribution. Asymptomatic cats which may excrete Salmonella. spp for weeks can play important role in environmental contamination. The aim of this study was to access the role of rural cats in dissemination of Salmonella. spp.
Methods: Salmonella excretion was evaluated in 170 samples (rectal swabs) of apparently healthy rural cats from Golestan and Mazandaran provinces using PCR and conventional microbial culture tests. After serotyping, the presence of spv R and spv B genes and the antibiotic resistance pattern of isolated Salmoella spp. were surveyed.
Results: Out of 170 samples, 25 (14.7%) cases with Salmonella spp., including: 13 (52%) cases of S enteritidis, 7(28%) cases of S Dublin, and 5 (20%) cases of S typhymurium were recovered.
The presence of spv R and spv B genes was detected in 5 out of 25 isolated Salmonella spp. The highest resistance of isolated Salmonella spp. was to Streptomycin, Lincospectin, and Tetracycline. The rate of Salmonella isolation was similar in male and female rural cats and also Golestan and Mazandaran provinces.
Conclusion: Detection of zoonotic serotypes of Salmonella spp with spv R and spv B genes and multidrug antibiotic resistance in apparently healthy rural cats make them a potential significant threat to public health. Similar studies on different populations of cats must be taken in consideration when prevention, control or eradication programs of salmonellosis are going to be carried out.
M Haji Aghajani , Aa Haghdoost, S Noori Hekmat , Gh Janbabaee, A Maher, Am Javadi, R Rahimisadegh, Mr Rajabalipour, H Haghighi, R Dehnavieh, S Emadi,
Volume 13, Issue 0 (3-2018)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The imbalance between the existing human resources and future needs of the health system disturb the service delivery process. The present study aimed at determining human resources needs in the health sector for a 10-year planning program. For this purpose, the researchers examined the geographical distribution of different groups of health system staff in 2016 and 2026.
Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was carried out in 2016. The population of this study included 46 universities of medical sciences. Data of the number and distribution of health care staff working in public, private, charity, and semi-public sectors of medical departments of medical universities were collected. The Qlik View software was used for data integration and designing information dashboards.
Results: At the beginning of 2016, the ratio of nurses, nursing groups, midwives, pharmacists, dentistry and general physician per 100,000 individuals was 133, 199, 32, 17, 22, and 53 respectively, which are estimated to reach 223, 272, 37, 26, 27, and 79 in 2025, respectively. The coefficient of dispersion variation of the above was 39%, 32%, 43%, 33%, 43%, and 44% in 2016, respectively, which are estimated to reduce by 2026 if the Iran medical roadmap is implemented.
Conclusion: The high dispersion index of the medical personnel relative to the population in the cities covered by medical universities indicates unbalanced distribution. If the estimates of the Iran's 2026 medical roadmap are implemented, more appropriate distribution of the medical staff is expected.
R Dehnavieh, Aa Haghdoost, Sr Majdzadeh, S Noorihekmat, H Ravaghi, Mh Mehrolhasani, O Barati, H Salari, A Masoud, A Poursheikhali, N Mirshekari , S Ghasemi, A Esfandiary,
Volume 13, Issue 0 (3-2018)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Universal health coverage will have a problem in achieving it’s goals if it doesn’t consider the quality. This study aimed to Background and Objectives: Universal health coverage cannot achieve it’s goals if it doesn’t consider the quality. This study wants to assess the quality of health services in Iran, identify existing challenges and provide solutions.
Methods: This study was a mixed qualitative and review study. In the first stage, the national main indicators of the quality of services were reviewed. Then, the orientation of the available upstream documents on the quality of services was explained. The most important challenges, trends, and recommendations of health quality improvement were extracted via interviews.
Results: Proper observation of the Iran health care quality requires appropriate framework and indicators. Upstream documents strongly emphasized on the government's responsibility to play a key role as stewardship and that the health system should provide the necessary structural, procedural, and consequential requirements besides determining appropriate model. Quality management programs had obstacles in some aspects like the performance of managers and human resources, structural/communicational requirements, education, payment system, culture, use of quality management indicators and models, financial, information, and equipment resources, laws and regulations, and supervision.
Conclusion: Improving the quality of health services in Iran requires strategies in organizing, resource generation, payment, laws and regulations, and behavior of policy makers and planners. Quality tools should be used without haste and should pay attention changes in the nature of diseases, expectations of stakeholders, and increased global attention to this issue in designing related plans.
Mh Mehrolhassani, M Emami, Ss Pourhosseini,
Volume 14, Issue 0 (1-2019)
Abstract
Concurrent with globalization, some changes have been created in the performance of the universities in developed countries that have turned them into a power source for economic development. In this study, generation changes of Iranian universities in the health sector were analyzed by the layer analysis (CLA) framework. The results showed that the status of universities in Iran is moving from the first and second university generations (i.e. education and research oriented) to the third generation (wealth creation). Too much concentration on indexes such as expert human resources training and number of papers and citations in the Iranian universities has led to stagnation in litany and structural layers. Obtaining scientific authority and technology development requires fundamental evolutions of sciences in deeper layers such as Islamic world view, governance of valuable contexts and evolution in the relationship among higher education and the research and technology system with other sectors.
S Heidari, A Kavousi, V Rezaei Tabar,
Volume 14, Issue 2 (9-2018)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Iran. It can be prevented by rapid diagnosis of the disease. Thus, it is necessary to determine the causal relationships between variables related to breast cancer. Bayesian network is a data mining tool that shows the causal relationship between different variables. In this paper, a Bayesian network was applied to find causal relationships between breast cancer variables using a genetic algorithm in a graphical model.
Methods: in this applied study, data were collected from 900 breast cancer patients in Kerman Province from 1999 to 2008. For data analysis, we used a probabilistic graphical model representing the causal relationship between variables.
Results: The results showed that surgery was the most important treatment for breast cancer. Based on the conditional and marginal probabilities, the women who underwent surgery had higher hopes of living longer. Moreover, 81% of the patients who did not undergo surgery only received chemotherapy or radiotherapy were less likely to have long lives.
Conclusion: People aged 40-65 years are more likely to have breast cancer. Moreover, the variables of age, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy had a direct effect on the status of the patients and there were direct edges from these variables to the status of the patients.
A Ahmadabadi, H Aghajani, M Khadem Rezaiyan , M Zanganeh, Sh Tavousi, A Hadianfar,
Volume 15, Issue 3 (11-2019)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Burns are tragic events with considerable mortality rates. This study was conducted to analyze the spatial pattern of burns and identify the factors associated with the burn injuries in Mashhad, Iran.
Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in patients hospitalized in Imam Reza Hospital Burn Center, Mashhad, which is the only referral burn center in the northeast of Iran. Spatial generalized linear models (Poisson and negative binomial) were used to model the association between socio-economic characteristics and the incidence of burn injury.
Results: A total of 1044 acute burn patients (69.9% male, 30.1% female) were reviewed. Most of the burned patients were in the age group 20-29 years (41.4%). The most common cause of burn injury was flame (64.6%). The local test of spatial autocorrelation confirmed that the burns had cluster pattern in the central areas of the city and the worn-out urban texture was at higher risk of burns. The results of model showed that the percentage of worn-out urban texture (IRR =1.007; 95%CI 1.005-1.008), literacy (IRR =0.98; 95% CI 0.95-0.99), percentage of employed women (IRR =0.96; 95%CI 0.92-0.99), unemployment rate (IRR =0.92; 95%CI 0.85-0.99) and percentage of margination (IRR =1.006; 95%CI 1.005-1.008) were associated with burns.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, socio-economic and environmental characteristics are associated with the incidence of burn injuries in different areas. The results of this study could be used to design burn prevention strategies, especially in the high-risk areas and groups.
A Arshadi, P Yavari, Mh Elyasi, A Abadi, A Kolahi,
Volume 16, Issue 3 (11-2020)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Studies investigating life skills and general health have mainly focused on some skills or parts of health. In this study, ten components of skills and three components of general health were examined in patients presenting to veterans’ health and counseling centers in Tehran and the relationship between each skill and multiple levels of general health was assessed.
Methods: this cross-sectional study was performed on 600 randomly selected service users. Data were collected using two standard questionnaires and analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Tukey post hoc and multivariate regression. Lisrel-8 path analysis and software were used to investigate the causal relationships between variables and the way a skill affected general health.
Results: The highest mean scores of skills were related to emotion management, critical thinking, social support and creative thinking, decision making, stress management, self-awareness, empathy and effective communication and problem solving. The results of path analysis showed a strong link between overall life skills and general health. The effect of skills on social performance was more than other components of health.
Conclusion: The contribution of emotion management, creative thinking, effective communication, and stress management skills to the prediction of general health was more than other life skills. Considering the importance of general health, it is recommended that educational programs be implemented with focus on these population subgroups to improve their skills and general health level.
Z Naghibifar, H Soori, S Eskandari, A Razzaghi, S Khodajarim,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (5-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Quality of life is a valuable indicator for measuring people's health. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of quality of life in the staff of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran using the path analysis model.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on subjects participating in the Health Cohort Study of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran in 2018. A demographic information form and standard quality of life, general health, physical activity and burnout scales were used for data collection. The SPSS version 24 and Amos version 24 were used for data analysis.
Results: A total of 770 individuals were selected for the study, of whom 345 (44.8%) were male. The mean age ± standard deviation of the participants was 42.6±8.4. Analysis of the quality of life pathway of the participants showed an appropriate model (RMSEA= 0.014, CFI=0.999, NFI = 0.991, TLI = 0.994, CMIN/DF = 1.146). In addition, general health (0.560) and physical activity (0.078) had a direct correlation and occupational burnout (-0.178) and age (-0.082) had an inverse correlation with quality of life.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that factors such as general health, physical activity, and burnout have an impact on the participants. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the factors affecting the quality of life.
A Bagheri, M Saadati, N Zanjari, A Shabak,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (5-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Considering the growing trend of aging in Iran, it is necessary to study the factors affecting the health of elderly people. The main purpose of this study was to investigate demographic, social, and economic determinants of self-assessed health of elderly people in Tehran using generalized structural equation model (GSEM).
Methods: The data of the present study was obtained from a cross-sectional study in which 598 elderly people aged 60 years and over were selected from 22 districts of Tehran in 20151394 using stratified multi-stage sampling method and a researcher-made questionnaire was completed for them. The reliability of the questionnaire was also confirmed using and time consistency. To study the determinants of self-assessed health of elderly people, WLSMV and ULSMV estimators of GSEM were compared in Mplus (7.3).
Results: Based on the goodness-of-fit indices, the ULSMV estimator was selected to evaluate factors affecting the self-assessed health of elderly people (RMSEA=0.02, CFI=0.951 and TLI=0.962). The self-assessed health ranks of married and employed elderly people were higher than single (P-value=0.022) and unemployed (P-value=0.048) ones, respectively. An increase in spirituality (P-value=0.016), physical and mental health (P-value=0.001), and health-oriented behavior (P-value=0.016) increased the standard score of self-assessed health of elderly people. Physical and mental health played a complete mediating role in relationships of gender (P-value=0.014), marital status (P-value=0.040), education level (P-value=0.039), self-reported socio-economic status (good/ P-value=0.013 and middle/P-value=0.017) and number of diseases (P-value=0.001) with self-assessed health of elderly people.
Conclusion: According to the results, for policy-making in the field of geritrics, special attention should be paid to structural variables like gender, marital status, education level, and self-reported socio-economic status in addition to physical and mental health.
Zahra Hamidi, Mehdi Ranjbaran, Fateme Qotbi Nia, Akram Bahojb, Hamid Karyab,
Volume 18, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Chromium is a heavy metal that toxic to humans in small concentrations. This study aimed to evaluate the cancer risk of exposure to chromium in drinking water in rural areas of Qazvin province.
Methods: Water sampling was performed according to the standard methods for water and wastewater examination and chromium analysis was performed with ICP-OES. Exposure factors were determined using a validated questionnaire. Finally, the risk assessment of oral and dermal exposure to chromium was performed using the risk assessment technique. Monte Carlo simulation was also used to determine the uncertainty caused by point risk estimation.
Results: The mean concentration of chromium in drinking water was 2.8±5.04 μg/l. The excess lifetime cancer estimated by the Monte Carlo simulation was 30.8 cases per 100,000 in the studied population, indicating 100 cases of cancer in the population living in rural areas of the Qazvin province.
Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that although the concentration of chromium was lower than the maximum allowed in the national standard (0.05 mg/l), the risk of carcinogenesis was higher than the acceptable risk level of WHO (1 case per 100,000). Also, using the results obtained from the Monte Carlo simulation instead of point estimation provides higher confidence in risk management decisions.
Elham Davtalab Esmaeil, Ali Hossein Zeinalzadeh, Leila R. Kalankesh, Alireza Ghaffari, Saeed Dastgiri,
Volume 20, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and familial aggregation pattern of alcohol consumption among father-offspring, mother-offspring, siblings, and spouses in Tabriz city, and to investigate the associated risk factors.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 on 860 individuals in Tabriz city. The heads of households were selected as proband individuals. Conveniently, probands were recruited from daily visitors, and upon agreeing to participate, their first-degree relatives (spouse and children) were also invited to join in. Data were collected using standard self-reported questionnaires. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were employed to assess family aggregation among father- offspring, mother-offspring, and siblings.
Results: No significant of familial aggregation alcohol consumption was observed between spouses (OR=0.54 (0.16-1.8)). Although familial aggregation was observed between mothers and children, this was not statistically significant (OR=1.54 (0.8-2.94)). There was a significant familial aggregation of alcohol consumption between fathers and children (OR=1.98 (1.08-2.5)). Among siblings, familial aggregation was not statistically significant (OR=1.38 (0.41-4.63)).
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, family members play an important role in influencing the alcohol consumption behaviors of other family members. Additionally, individuals with lower socioeconomic status, those who are divorced, and singles may be more appropriate targets for alcohol consumption screening programs.
