IntroductionCurrently, needlestick injuries (NSIs) are one of the most important occupational hazards among healthcare workers (HCWs) globally. According to WHO, more than two million occupational exposures to sharp injuries occur among 35 million HCWs annually [1].NSIs increase the risk of over 20 types of infectious diseases among HCWs, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV [2]. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) reports, there are more than 385,000 and 1,000,000 NSIs cases annually among hospital HCWs in the United States and Europe, respectively [3,4]. WHO statistics also show that NSIs cause 16,000, 66,000, and 1,000 cases of HCV, HBV, and HIV per year among HCWs, respectively [5]. The prevalence of various infectious diseases due to NSIs among HCWs is not a single and integrated phenomenon, rather is affected by several factors, such as vaccination rates among HCWs, access to appropriate worker protection

Background: Depression and anxiety are common problems with multiple complications in hemodialysis patients. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effect of acupressure and reflexology on anxiety and depression in hemodialysis patients. Methods: A clinical trial was carried out on 60 patients who had referred to the Special Patients Clinic, Zabol, between January and March 2017. Patients were randomly divided into three groups, acupressure group (n = 20), reflexology group (n = 20), and control group (n = 20). Data collection tools included the Spielberger State-Trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and the Beck depression inventory-II (BDI-II). Data were analyzed in SPSS-19 using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of depression (P = 0.051) and anxiety (P = 0.11). The comparison of the mean scores of depression and anxiety between the three groups after the intervention revealed a significant difference between the three groups in terms of both variables (P < 0.001). Statistical analysis indicated that the depression and anxiety scores differed significantly after the intervention between the two experimental groups and the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions:The results demonstrated that acupressure and reflexology could have positive impacts on mitigating the patients' depression and anxiety. Thanks to the ease of application, these methods can be used by nurses to reduce anxiety and depression in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

PURPOSE:Cataract is the leading cause of blindness and the second cause of low vision in the world. In the world, Asia has the highest number of blind population. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the frequency of clinical cataracts in Iran.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The frequency of clinical cataract was defined based on the international criteria and the measured outcome of the disease. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. We explored PubMed, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Science, and national databases (scientific information database, Magiran) to evaluate the clinical cataract of cataract in the Iranian populations from 1995 to July 2017. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 14.0 software.RESULTS:Of 283 studies, 27 studies utilized meta-analysis. In 2017, the pooled overall frequency of clinical cataract in 59668 people was 9.27% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.09, 10.45, I2 = 98.82%). Based on subgroup analysis, in the random effect method, the frequency of clinical cataract in males and females were 8.03% (CI: 6.78, 9.28) and 8.32% (CI: 7.08, 9.55), respectively.CONCLUSION:Regarding the high frequency of clinical cataract in Iran, it seems that paying attention to the results of the current study and the application of international policy plans may contribute to better cataract control in Iran.

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