There is a traditional belief among Eastern people that opium may have ameliorating effects on cardiovascular risk factors, especially diabetes; thus, it is widely used among diabetic patients. We attempted to investigate the association of opium consumption with coronary artery disease (CAD) in diabetic patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted on diabetic patients undergoing coronary angiography in our center. Out of 1925 diabetic patients included in the study, 228 were opium users, and the remaining 1697 non-opium users were used as a pool of potential comparators. Propensity scores were used to match the 228 opium consumers with 228 matched comparators for age, sex, and smoking status. The Gensini score and extent score were respectively used to assess the angiographic severity and extent of CAD. The mean Gensini score (86.9 ± 62.7 vs. 59.6 ± 43.4, p < 0.0001) and extent score (7.1 ± 2.9 vs. 5.9 ± 2.9, p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in opium user diabetic patients than in non-opium users. After adjustment for potential confounders, a dose-response relationship was observed between dose of opium and the Gensini score ( β = 0.27, p = 0.04). There were no significant differences between the routes of opium administration (inhalation vs. oral) regarding the severity and extent of CAD. In conclusion, exposure to opium in diabetic patients may be positively associated with the risk of CAD, and with the angiographically determined severity and extent of the disease. Furthermore, dosage of opium consumption may correlate with severity of CAD.

Muscle strength, an independent predictor of metabolic disorders, disability, and mortality, reduces gradually with advancing age. Little is known about the influence of nutritional intervention on muscle strength in middle-aged. The aim of the present study is to examine whether magnesium could improve body composition and muscle strength in middle-aged overweight women. In this double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, a total of 74 healthy middle-aged overweight women (25 ≤ BMI ≤ 30 kg/m(2)) received either 250 mg magnesium in the form of magnesium oxide or placebo daily for 8 weeks. Body composition was assessed using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). Handgrip strength and knee extension strength were measured with isometric dynamometry. Functional mobility was assessed using Time Get Up and Go Test (TGUG). A significant increase in mean lean body mass was observed (P = 0.05) accompanied with a significant decrease in fat mass (P = 0.02) solely in the magnesium group at the end of 8 weeks compared to baseline values but the changes did not reach significant as compared to placebo group. Handgrip strength and TGUG improved in the magnesium group compared to baseline but they were not significant compared to placebo. There were no significant differences in increasing knee extension strength in the magnesium group as compared with placebo. Baseline values of serum magnesium and muscle strength of participants did not indicate any influences on response to magnesium supplementation. Our findings indicate that magnesium as magnesium oxide, 250 mg/day, for 8 weeks do not lead to a significant greater gain in muscle strength and function compared to placebo.

Background: The impact of environmental factors and host on Hyalomma spp. community structure and abundance in the main Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) foci of Iran is largely unknown. Methods: Biotic and abiotic factors, including host, temperature, humidity, altitude, Köppen-Geiger climate types, sea­son, and precipitation on Hyalomma spp. community structure and abundances in 11 provinces of Iran were investigat­ed. Additionally, the possible infection of ticks with CCHF virus was evaluated using reverse transcription PCR tech­nique. Results: Species analyses demonstrated the presence of Hyalomma anatolicum, H. marginatum, H. dromedarii, H. asi­aticum, H. detritum and H. schulzei in the study area. Hyalomma anatolicum was the dominant species in the southern and northern parts, whereas H. dromedarii was distributed mostly in central parts of the country. The highest tick infestation was recognized in hot season. Spatial variation in tick relative density was observed between habitat types where more ticks were collected in deserts, semi-deserts, and Mediterranean habitats. Except for H. dromedarii, which was more preva­lent on camel (P= 0.044), there were no significant variations in the frequencies of other Hyalomma species on different hosts. Hyalomma anatolicum, H. dromedarii frequencies had significant positive and negative asso­ciation with tempera­ture and precipitation respectively. Also humidity has positive impact on H. asiaticum frequency. Conclusion: Data presented here will help improve ecological models to forecast the distribution of Hyalomma spp. ticks, to evaluate the risk of CCHF and other tick-borne diseases, and to design proper vector control measures to sup­press Hyalomma populations in Iran.

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are one of the leading causes of illness and death among community members worldwide. Viral infections are the most common agents estimated to be involved in these patients. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) among children with ARIs. This study evaluated the presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 and hRSV in 168 throat and nasopharyngeal swab samples using real‐time RT‐PCR. All samples were collected from children under 5 years old with ARIs who attended Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran, and sent to the Iranian National Influenza Center with appropriate conditions in 2021. Chi‐square and Fisher's exact tests were used for comparison of the data of the prevalence of hRSV and SARS‐CoV‐2 infections among children. Of 168 patients examined, 95 (57%) were male and 73 (43%) female. Out of them, 47 (28%) cases were younger than 1 year old and 121 cases (72%) were 1–5 years old. The most common clinical manifestations of patients were cough (78%), nausea (31%), diarrhea (27%), and fever (18%). Among 168 patients, no hRSV was detected, while the SARS‐CoV‐2 genome was identified in 16 (9.5%) patients. Among 16 positive cases of SARS‐CoV‐2, 8 (50%) were under 1 year old and 8 positive cases were 1–5 years old. This study was performed at cold months of the year but due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and adherence to health protocols, school closures, and virtual classes, no cases of hRSV infections were identified.

No abstract