• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.11
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• pp.575-581
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• 2021

Background: Toxocariasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati in humans. Various types of T. canis are important. Purpose: The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Toxocara spp. in pediatrics in the context of a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: The MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Sciences, Embase, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed studies published between January 2000 and December 2019 that report the prevalence of Toxocara spp. in pediatrics. The evaluation of articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria was performed by 2 researchers individually. Results: The results of 31 relevant studies indicated that the prevalence of Toxocara spp. was 3%-79% in 10,676 cases. The pooled estimate of global prevalence of Toxocara spp. in pediatrics was 30 (95% confidence interval, 22%-37%; I²=99.11%; P=0.00). The prevalence was higher in Asian populations than in European, American, and African populations. Conclusion: Health policymakers should be more attentive to future research and approaches to Toxocara spp. and other zoonotic diseases to improve culture and identify socioeconomically important factors.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.233-249
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• 2020

To date, there is no central wastewater (WW) treatment plant in Erbil city, Kurdistan region, Iraq. Therefore, raw WW disposes to the environment and sometimes it used directly for irrigation in some areas of Erbil city. Disposal of the untreated WW to the natural environment and using for irrigation it causes problems for the people and the environment. The aims of the current work were to study the characteristics, design of primary and different secondary treatment units and reusing of produced WW. Raw WW samples from Ashty city-Erbil city were collected and analyzed for twenty three quality parameters such as Total Suspended Solids (TSS), total dissolved solids, total volatile and non-volatile solids, total acidity, total alkalinity, total hardness, five-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), biodegradability ratio (BOD5/COD), turbidity, etc. Results revealed that some parameters such as BOD5 and TSS were exceeded the standards for disposal of WW. Design and calculations for primary and secondary treatment (biological treatment) processes were presented. Primary treatment units such as screening, grit chamber, and flow equalization tank were designed and detailed calculation were illustrated. While, Conventional Activated Sludge (CAS), Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) and Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBR) were applied for the biological treatment of WW. Results revealed that MBBR was the best and economic technique for the biological treatment of WW. Treated WW is suitable for reusing and there is no restriction on use for irrigation of green areas inside Ashty city campus.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.128-144
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• 2023

Objectives: The health system reform process is highly political and controversial, and in most cases, it fails to realize its intended goals. This study was conducted to synthesize factors underlying the failure of health system reforms. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-synthesis, we searched 9 international and regional databases to identify qualitative and mixed-methods studies published up to December 2019. Using thematic synthesis, we analyzed the data. We utilized the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist for quality assessment. Results: After application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 40 of 1837 articles were included in the content analysis. The identified factors were organized into 7 main themes and 32 sub-themes. The main themes included: (1) reforms initiators' attitudes and knowledge; (2) weakness of political support; (3) lack of interest group support; (4) insufficient comprehensiveness of the reform; (5) problems related to the implementation of the reform; (6) harmful consequences of reform implementation; and (7) the political, economic, cultural, and social conditions of the society in which the reform takes place. Conclusions: Health system reform is a deep and extensive process, and shortcomings and weaknesses in each step have overcome health reform attempts in many countries. Awareness of these failure factors and appropriate responses to these issues can help policymakers properly plan and implement future reform programs and achieve the ultimate goals of reform: to improve the quantity and quality of health services and the health of society.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.602-616
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• 2023

Fifteen types of rice collected from Kurdistan region-Iraq were investigated by principal component analysis (PCA) in terms of physical properties and cooking characteristics. The dimensions of evaluated grains correspond to 5.05-8.75 mm for length, 1.54-2.47 mm for width, and 1.37-1.95 for thickness. The equivalent diameter was in the range of 5.23-10.03 mm, and the area took 13.30-28.25 mm². The sphericity analysis values varied from 0.32 to 0.56, the aspect ratio from 0.17 to 0.39, and the volume of the grain was measured in the range from 4.48 to 17.74 mm³, hectoliter weight values were 730-820 kg/m³, and true density from 0.6 to 0.96 g/cm³. The broken grain ratio was 1.5-18.3%, thousand kernel weight corresponded to 15.88 to 22.42 g. The water uptake ratios for 30 min of soaking were increased at 60℃ compared to 30 and 45℃. The PCA was used to study the correlation of the most effective factors. Results of PCA showed that the first (PC1) and second (PC2) components retained 63.4% and 34.8% of the total variance, which PC1 was mostly related to hectoliter, broken ratio, and moisture content characteristics while PC2 was mostly concerned with hardness and true density. For cooking properties, the PC1 and PC2 retained 88.5% and 9.3% of the total variance, respectively. PC1 was mostly related to viscosity, spring value, and hardness after cooking, while PC2 was mostly concerned with spring value, hardness before cooking, and hardness after cooking.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.93-122
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• 2024

One well-known reason for using Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites is to improve concrete strength and strain capacity via external confinement. Hence, various studies have been undertaken to offer a good illustration of the response of FRP-wrapped concrete for practical design intents. However, in such studies, the strength and strain of the confined concrete were predicted using regression analysis based on a limited number of test data. This study presents an approach based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) to develop models to predict the strength and strain at maximum stress enhancement of circular concrete cross-sections confined with different FRP types (Carbone, Glass, Aramid). To achieve this goal, a large test database comprising 493 axial compression experiments on FRP-confined concrete samples was compiled based on an extensive review of the published literature and used to validate the predicted artificial intelligence techniques. The ANN approach is currently thought to be the preferred learning technique because of its strong prediction effectiveness, interpretability, adaptability, and generalization. The accuracy of the developed ANN model for predicting the behavior of FRP-confined concrete is commensurate with the experimental database compiled from published literature. Statistical measures values, which indicate a better fit, were observed in all of the ANN models. Therefore, compared to existing models, it should be highlighted that the newly developed models based on FRP type are remarkably accurate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1249-1255
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• 2011

This study examined the effect of CLA, flaxseed oil and fish oil and their combination forms on crude fat of liver and fatty acid profiles of liver, breast and thigh meat in broiler chicks. A total of 72, 1-day-old Cobb broilers were assigned to 6 groups, and fed an experimental diet supplemented with 5 different fat sources; conjugated linoleic acid (2% CLA), flaxseed oil (2% FXO), fish oil (2% FHO), CLA and flaxseed oil combination (1:1; 2% CXO), and CLA and fish oil combination (1:1; 2% CHO). Eight birds per treatment were processed, and liver, breast and thigh samples were investigated at 21 d of age. As a result of this study, most fatty acids of liver, breast and thigh meat were influenced by fat sources supplemented in the diet (p<0.05). CLA addition resulted in an increase of crude fat and saturated fatty acid (SFA) content but a concomitant decrease in n-3 to n-6 fatty acid ratio was observed in liver (p<0.05). Moreover, the same trends of SFA and n-3 to n-6 fatty acid ratio were also observed in breast and thigh meats of birds fed CLA alone. In the CXO-fed group or CHO-fed group, n-3 and n-3 to n-6 fatty acid ratio in both breast and thigh meat increased compared with CLA group, while SFA content decreased (p<0.05). FHO fed-groups had the lowest proportion of n-6 fatty acid in both breast and thigh meats compared to other fat source treatments (p<0.05). In conclusion, the increased levels of crude fat and SFA in liver and meats obtained by feeding CLA could be reduced by its combination with FXO or FHO. In addition, the combination of CLA and FXO or FHO fed to broiler chicks could increase the n-3 to n-6 fatty acid ratio of their meat along with the deposition of CLA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.11-15
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• 2016

Gastrointestinal cancers remain the most prevalent cancers in many developing countries such as Iran. The aim of this study was to estimate incidence, prevalence and mortality, as well as time trends for gastrointestinal cancers in Isfahan province of Iran for the period 2001 to 2010 and to project these estimates to the year 2020. Estimates were driven by applying the MIAMOD method (a backward calculation approach using mortality and relative survival rates). Mortality data were obtained from the Ministry of Health and the relative survival rate for all gastrointestinal cancers combined was derived from the Eurocare 3 study. Results indicated that there were clear upward trends in age adjusted incidence (males 22.9 to 74.2 and females 14.9 to 44.2), prevalence (males 52.6 to 177.7 and females 38.3 to 111.03), and mortality (males 14.6 to 47.2 and females 9.6 to 28.2) rates per 100,000 for the period of 2001 to 2010 and this upward state would persist for the projected period. For the entire period, the male to female ratio increased slightly for all parameters (incidence rate increased from 1.5 to 1.7, prevalence from 1.4 to 1.6, and mortality from 1.5 to 1.7). In males, totals of 2,179 incident cases, 5,097 prevalent cases and 1,398 mortality cases were predicated to occur during the study period. For females the predicted figures were 1,379, 3,190 and 891, respectively. It was concluded that the upward trend of incidence alongside increase in survival rates would induce a high burden on the health care infrastructure in the province of Isfahan in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.33-37
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• 2016

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, including in Iran. Variations in its incidence rate among geographical areas are due to various contributing factors. Since there has been a lack of studies on this topic in our country, the present spatial analysis of skin cancer incidence in Iran in 2009 was conducted using data from the cancer registry system for the country. The reported incidences of the disease were standardized on the basis of the World Health Organization population and the direct method. Then the data were inserted into the GIS software, and finally, using the analysis of hot spots (Getis-Ord Gi), high-risk areas were drawn. Provinces that were 1.9 SD higher or lower than the national average were considered hot spots or cold spots, with significance at the level of 0.05. In 2009, a total of 9,964 cases of skin cancer occurred, 3,696 in women and 6,268 in men (standardized incidence rates of 15.8 and 22.6, respectively). The results of the study showed that in men and women, the disease demonstrated high incidence in the central provinces and desert regions. In women, Yazd Province and in men, Qom Province had significant hot spots (p <0.05). While Isfahan, Markazi, Tehran and Kurdistan provinces were expected to be hot spots, the differences from the national average were not significant at the 0.05 level. As well, the provinces of Sistan Va Baluchistan, Kerman, and Hormozgan were identified as cold or low-risk disease regions (p <0.05). The central provinces of the country due to hot weather conditions, more solar radiation, and closer vicinity to the central desert of Iran demonstrated higher incidence rates for skin cancer, so further epidemiological studies into the etiology and early detection are essential in these areas.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2021

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a clonal bone marrow stem cell disorder, primarily involving the megakaryocytic lineage. The WHO 2016 guidelines include the molecular detection of JAK2, MPL, and CALR mutations as a major diagnostic criterion for ET. This study aimed to determine the frequency of JAK2 V617F, MPL W515L, and CALR mutations in Iraqi Kurdish patients afflicted with ET, and to analyze their clinical and hematological features. A total of 73 Iraqi Kurdish patients with ET were enrolled as subjects, and analysis was achieved utilizing real-time PCR. The frequency of JAK2 V617F, CALR, and MPL W515L mutations was determined to be 50.7%, 22%, and 16.4%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was obtained when considering the age and gender among different genotypes. The JAK2 V617F mutated patients had significantly higher white blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels than the CALR-positive patients (P-value=0.000, 0.007, respectively), MPL W515L-positive patients (P-value=0.000, 0.000, respectively), and triple negative patients (P-value=0.000, 0.000, respectively). Also, the JAK2 V617F mutated patients showed higher platelet count as compared to the MPL W515L-positive patients (P-value=0.02) and triple negative patients (P-value=0.04). Furthermore, significantly lower white blood cell count and hemoglobin levels were associated with CALR positivity (P-value=0.000, 0.01, respectively), MPL W515L-positivity (P-value=0.001, 0.000, respectively), and triple negativity (P-value=0.000, 0.000, respectively), as compared to patients with combined mutations. In conclusion, apart from a relatively high frequency of MPL W515L mutation, our data is comparable to earlier reports, and highlights the importance of genotyping the JAK2 V617F, MPL W515L, and CALR mutations for accurate diagnosis of patients with ET.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) with genetic origin is common (1/2000 births). ARNSHL can be associated with mutations in gap junction protein beta 2 (GJB2). To this end, this cohort investigation aimed to find the contribution of GJB2 gene mutations with the genotype-phenotype correlations in 45 ARNSHL cases in the Kurdish population. Subjects and Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from a total of 45 ARNSHL families. The linkage analysis with 3 short tandem repeat markers linked to GJB2 was performed on 45 ARNSHL families. Only 9 of these families were linked to the DFNB1 locus. All the 45 families who took part were sequenced for confirmation linkage analysis (to perform a large project). Results: A total of three different mutations were determined. Two of which [c.35delG and c.-23+1G>A (IVS1+1G>A)] were previously reported but (c.299-300delAT) mutation was novel in the Kurdish population. The homozygous pathogenic mutations of GJB2 gene was observed in nine out of the 45 families (20%), also heterozygous genotype (c.35delG/N)+(c.-23+1G>A/c.-23+1G>A) were observed in 4/45 families (8.8%). The degree of hearing loss (HL) in patients with other mutations was less severe than patients with c.35delG homozygous mutation (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our data suggest that GJB2 mutations constitute 20% of the etiology of ARNSHL in Iran; moreover, the c.35delG mutation is the most common HL cause in the Kurdish population. Therefore, these mutations should be included in the molecular testing of HL in this population.