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Background: Given the importance of using the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in the control and prevention of this disease, the aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of Iranian medical and healthcare professionals regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2020. The target population was professors and researchers of Iranian universities of medical sciences. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed in a study on mapping global trends in vaccine confidence. The participants were invited through an online invitation to respond to the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and compared using the Chi-square test. Results: Out of 16500 invitations, 918 subjects participated in the study. Most of the participants were female (55.7%). Almost 51% of participants had a PhD degree. The results showed that 46.3% were not sure about the effectiveness and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. The majority of participants (67.2 %) responded that the country has to provide the vaccine for free rather than paying the cost of the vaccine. Moreover, 73.0 % preferred the COVID-19 vaccine made in a foreign country to the COVID-19 vaccine made in their own country. The United States followed by Germany have been selected by most Iranian researchers to produce the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: This study showed the high importance of creating a culture and raising the level of awareness and knowledge of the people before the preparation and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in the community.

Noise and toluene can have significant adverse effects on different systems in the human body, but little is known about their combination. The aim of this study was to see how their combined action reflects on serum levels of inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), body weight, and pathological changes in the heart, lung, stomach, and spleen tissues. To do that we exposed New Zealand rabbits to 1000 mg/L toluene and 100 dB of white noise in a chamber specifically designed for the purpose over two consecutive weeks. Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas Bax and Bcl-2 expressions in tissues were determined with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Noise and toluene changed TNF-α and IL-1β serum levels on different days following the end of exposure and significantly increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the lung and spleen. In addition, they induced different pathological changes in the heart, lung, spleen, and stomach tissues. This study has confirmed that exposure to noise and toluene can induce a range of toxicopathological changes, probably by inducing inflammatory pathways and apoptosis, but their combined effects look weaker than those of its components, although histopathological findings suggest the opposite.

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Introduction: Numerous physical and chemical agents can induce destructive effects on the brain tissue. Noise and toluene, which are some of these harmful agents, have significant adverse effects on the brain tissue. This work aims to investigate the neurotoxic changes induced by co-exposure to toluene and noise. Methods: Totally, 24 male white New Zealand rabbits were randomly segregated into 4 groups including toluene exposure, noise exposure, co-exposure to noise and toluene, and control. This in-vivo study tested the neurotoxic effects of exposure to 1000 ppm toluene and 100 dB noise during two weeks (8 h/day). The serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-α (BDNF-α) and malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase levels in the brain tissue were measured. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin staining was utilized for brain pathological analysis. Results: Exposure to noise increased TAC level in the cerebral cortex. Co- exposure to toluene and noise increased the serum level of BDNF-α. Nevertheless, exposure to noise decreased the level of BDNF-α in serum. On the other hand, hispathological examinations using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) exhibited that different signs of inflammation such as lymphocyte infiltration, pyknosis, vacuolization, and chromatolysis were induced by exposure to noise and toluene in the cerebellum, hippocampus, and frontal section in the brain tissue. In addition, simultaneous exposure to toluene and noise induced antagonistic and synergistic changes on some neurotoxic parameters. Conclusion: Exposure to noise and toluene, which caused inflammation in the brain tissue cells, could be a noticeable risk factor for neurological system.

BACKGROUND: Job analysis is one of the most important and widely used processes to determine job duties, identify and reduce potential risks, and specify the skills and facilities required for each job at the highest level of occupational safety and health. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to perform psychometric analyses of the Persian version of the Fleishman Job Analysis Survey (FJAS). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 31 drivers. Participants were selected by random sampling. Ten occupational health and ergonomics experts confirmed the validity of the survey. First, we calculated the survey’s CVR and CVI. Then, we used ICC and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients to evaluate the survey’s reliability. Data analysis utilized SPSS 21. RESULTS: 78% of the participants were male and 22% were female. The mean age±SD of the participants was 39.1±11.82 years. The reliability and validity of the short version survey showed that the value of ICC and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.96, and CVR was 0.75. Moreover, the values of CVI for simplicity, clarity, and relevance were 0.87, 1, and 0.73, respectively. The long version’s ICC and CVR were 0.96 and 0.97, respectively. Simplicity, clarity, and relevance CVI scores were 0.9, 0.94, and 0.95. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the Persian version of the Fleischman Job Analysis Survey has the necessary validity and reliability for job analysis, so it can be used for driving professional or research purposes. Moreover, this survey is an effective tool for obtaining accurate and complete knowledge of job tasks and requirements.