Methyl alcohol poisoning usually happens by use of contaminated ethanol. So, development of an easy and cost-effective method to determine methanol in these products can be helpful to diagnosemethanolintoxication. The aim of this paper is introducing a new kit based on chromotropic acid method for measuring the methanol content of alcoholic beverages. In this study, a new modified chromotropic acid method (as a kit) was used to determine of methanol in 700 self-made samples with diverse ethanol concentration prepared by "add found" technique. Briefly, in the proposed method, produced formaldehyde by methanol oxidation is reacted with chromotropic acid in a high acidic media. The quantification limit of this kit lies below the permitted dose and safe amount of methanol in the beverages regulated by the European Parliament and the Council. The attained results indicate Limit of Quantification of the method is1250 mg/Land all examined samples with more methanol amounts are easily determined with good accuracy and precision. As for the European standard about permitted dose of methanol in beverages (up to 4000 mg/lin 40% v/v of alcohol strength) and gained results, it seems, this proposed method practically enables rapid and easy quantitative determination of methanol in all kind of alcoholic strength with suitable accuracy and precision. However, conclusive conclusions in this area will require further examination in actual samples of alcoholic beverages. But, to the best of our knowledge, there isn't any report about such easy method.

Background: The popularity and use of herbal medicines and supplements are growing worldwide. Herbal anti-obesity products have been considered as suitable alternatives to synthetic pharmaceuticals as they are introduced as harmless natural products. However, some manufacturers often add undeclared synthetic pharmaceuticals to the anti-obesity herbal medicine products to improve their efficacy and potency. The present study aimed to analyze herbal weight loss products collected from the drug market in Bojnurd City, Iran.Methods: Ninety-six herbal drug samples, as weight loss products, were obtained from herb shops and pharmacies in Bojnurd City, Iran. All samples were analyzed to detect undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques.Results: Caffeine, trimethoxyamphetamine, and vitamin E were identified in herbal weight loss products. Caffeine was detected in 21.8% of the obtained samples, as the most common undeclared active pharmaceutical adulterant. Conclusion: Undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients in herbal weight loss products could threaten patients’ health. Thus, it is necessary to create awareness through health authorities in this regard.

Background:The worldwide emergence and rapid expansion of COVID-19 emphasizes the need to assess the knowledge gap and to predict the disease-related behaviors and reactions during this epidemic.Methods and design: COVID19 Population Survey of Iran (COPSIR) is a repeated cross sectional survey that will be conducted in 8 waves. In each wave, 515 Iranian adults aged 18 years or older will be randomly selected and interviewed by phone. The study waves will be performed at approximately weekly intervals. The survey tool is adapted from COSMO (COVID-19 Snapshot MOnitoring) study. This study will provide information on trends of knowledge, risk perception, preventive behaviors, psychological problems, essential needs, and public trust among Iranian adults during COVID-19 epidemic.Discussion:The key findings of each wave will be immediately reported to the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control to set better policies for disease control and prevention. Moreover, if a message is extracted from the results of this study that needs to be communicated to the public, it will be done through the mass media.