Hojjat Sayyadi

Background and Aims: Intentional poisoning is a major public health challenge requiring rapid emergency intervention. This study aimed to identify demographic, psychiatric, and toxicological factors associated with intentional poisoning among patients presenting to a hospital emergency department. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross‐sectional analysis of 658 poisoning cases recorded in a hospital emergency department poisoning registry in Ilam, Iran (March 2022–March 2023), with linked medical‐record data reviewed after the index encounter. The primary outcome was a final binary classification of intentional versus unintentional poisoning. Categorical associations were examined using Pearson chi‐square tests or Fisher exact tests as appropriate. A multivariable logistic regression model included five prespecified clinical/psychiatric variables and estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Analyses used Stata version 11.0 ( α = 0.05, two‐sided). Results: Of 658 patients, 367 (55.8%) were classified as intentional poisoning and 291 (44.2%) as unintentional. Intentional poisoning was more frequent among women than men (194/279, 69.5% vs. 173/379, 45.6%; p < 0.001) and among urban than rural residents (295/476, 62.0% vs. 72/182, 39.6%; p < 0.001). In the multivariable clinical model, previous suicide attempt showed the strongest association with intentional poisoning (aOR 4.69, 95% CI 2.55–8.61, p < 0.001), and psychiatric disorder history remained associated (aOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.02–3.12, p = 0.043); current psychiatric disorder did not remain independently associated after mutual adjustment (aOR 0.91, 95% CI 0.59–1.40, p = 0.669). Among specific agents, high intentional‐use proportions were observed for aluminum phosphide (17/18, 94.4%), antibiotics (13/15, 86.7%), and acetaminophen (35/43, 81.4%). Conclusions: Intentional poisoning was associated with distinct demographic patterns and psychiatric vulnerability, particularly a history of previous suicide attempts. These findings support systematic mental health assessment in emergency poisoning care and prevention strategies focused on patients with established self‐harm history and access to highly lethal agents.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women worldwide. Thus, this retrospective cohort study aimed to identify prognostic factors for BC-specific survival using parametric accelerated failure time models. Methods: Data were collected from 820 female patients diagnosed between 2014 and 2020 at Shahid Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in Ilam, Iran, with follow-ups through 2023. Survival time was defined from diagnosis to BC death or censoring. The Kaplan-Meier method, along with log-rank tests, was applied in the model. Results: Among 798 patients, 72 BC deaths occurred (9.0%). The goodness of fit in the log-normal model was evaluated using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC=574.2) and the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC=607.0). Moreover, histological type was the only significant independent predictor of survival. Compared with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, lobular carcinoma was associated with shorter survival (time ratio=0.613; 95% confidence interval: 0.401–0.939; P=0.024). Nonetheless, age, tumor topography, diagnostic method, and tumor grade were not statistically significant predictors. Conclusion: Histological type is a key prognostic factor for breast cancer survival, with non-ductal tumors indicating poorer outcomes. The log-normal model provides the best statistical fit for this analysis.

Background and Aims: Several factors influence the response to the vaccine, including age, gender, pregnancy, microbiota composition, immune function, sex hormones, and micronutrients (such as vitamin D). This study aimed to evaluate antibody responses induced by the BBIBP‐CorV vaccine in pregnant women and investigate its association with serum vitamin D levels. Methods: Serum samples were collected from 140 pregnant women 1–2 months after administering the second dose of the BBIBP‐CorV vaccine from August 2021 to April 2022. IgG antibody titers against RBD and serum vitamin D levels were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The relationship between vitamin D levels and anti‐RBD IgG antibody titer was investigated with linear regression analysis. Results: Anti‐RBD IgG antibodies were detected in 17% (24 out of 140) of the population studied. A positive correlation was observed between serum vitamin D level and anti‐RBD IgG antibody titer ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that two doses of the BBIBP‐CorV vaccine elicited antibody responses against COVID‐19 in only a small proportion of pregnant women, suggesting that higher doses or alternative vaccine platforms may be required to protect pregnant women. Despite the existence of a relationship between vitamin D levels and antibody response in our study, prospective clinical trial studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions regarding the effect of vitamin D on antibody response.

Objective(s): The present study was a quasi‑experimental study. The study population consisted of 80 pregnant women under the comprehensive health service centers of Ahvaz city, they were selected using cluster sampling and randomly divided into two groups: experimental (N = 40) and control (N = 40). Data collection was done using a researcher -made ...

Introduction: Heavy metals tend to accumulate in fish tissues, making fish effective biological indicators for environmental contamination. As fish occupy higher levels in the food chain and represent a key component of the human diet, monitoring their health is critical for food safety. This study aimed to evaluate the concentrations of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in native fish species from the Saimareh River and farmed rainbow trout in Ilam Province, western Iran. Methods: A total of 30 randomly selected samples, including native fish from the Saimareh River and farmed rainbow trout from Ilam Province, were collected for analysis. Samples were washed with distilled water, dried at 105°C for 24 hours, and weighed. Heavy metal concentrations were measured in dry weight using a PG Instruments AA990F atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using STATA version 18. Results: In farmed rainbow trout, the mean concentrations of lead, mercury, and cadmium were 0.079, 0.033, and 0.037 mg/kg, respectively, with standard deviations of 0.05, 0.03, and 0.05. The average weight of these fish was approximately 1400 grams. In native fish, the mean concentrations of lead, mercury, and cadmium were 0.1, 0.023, and 0.013 mg/kg, respectively, with standard deviations of 0.03, 0.01, and 0.01. The average weight of native fish was about 1314 grams. The overall mean concentrations for lead, mercury, and cadmium across all samples were 0.089, 0.028, and 0.025 mg/kg, respectively, with an average weight of around 1350 grams. Overall, native fish had higher lead levels compared to farmed trout, while farmed trout showed higher concentrations of mercury and cadmium. Conclusion: The concentrations of Pb, Hg, and Cd in both farmed and native rainbow trout from Ilam Province were within acceptable safety limits, posing no significant health risk to consumers. These findings support the safety of consuming these fish species from a heavy metal contamination perspective.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an important zoonotic disease that can cause severe complications in human, especially among residents of rural areas. In this experimental study, 80 rural women were selected in Iran, by multi-stage cluster sampling method and randomly assigned into two intervention (n = 40) and control (n = 40) groups. A CCHF prevention education program was developed and implemented for the intervention group. Data were collected in both pretest and posttest groups (3 months after intervention), using a researcher-made questionnaire to measure knowledge, attitudes and practices effective in the prevention of CCHF. The data were analyzed in SPSS-27 software test at a significance level of 0.05. The mean age of participants was 32.5 ± 7.76 year. Based on the pretest results, the average knowledge (P = .001) and attitude (P = .001) in the control group was significantly higher than those of the intervention group, but the difference was not significant for the practice (P = .210). After 3 months of follow-up, the mean of knowledge, attitude and practice in the intervention group increased significantly, compared to that of the control group (P = .001). Educational interventions can improve the rural women’s preventive behaviors toward CCHF. It is suggested to design and implement similar extensive educational interventions to empower rural women’s first, and then whole society.

The world is still faced with widespread dissemination and many unanswered questions related to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Several candidate vaccines have been introduced against COVID-19, mostly requiring the injection of two doses and some with nearly 90-95% efficacy. All strategies against the spread of infection have focused on breaking the chain of virus transmission through protective public health measures and mass vaccination. The current situation emphasizes the global need for carefully designed policies to maximize vaccine access and uptake. The risk compensation theory (Peltzman Effect) states that the decrease in perceived risk through access to preventive measures may lead to increasing frequency of risky behaviors. The current pandemic has exposed people to the sense of risk compensation and behavior change in response to the perceived risk. Risk compensation phenomenon may significantly reverse the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, especially if the vaccine is not sufficiently effective in real life or among high-risk populations. Recognition and awareness of Peltzman risk compensation are of high importance in counteracting and neutralizing the false complacency of the community, which also lends more weight to public health efforts. The public health messages and practices should be clearly expressed, straightforward, reliable and applicable. It is important to encourage mass vaccination of the population, and other NPIs must be re-established and implemented to ensure education to live with COVID-19 in parallel with daily activities and job tasks.