Objective: The present study is one of the few population-based studies that have been conducted in the Middle East, aimed to determine the incidence of stroke in Qom, one of the central provinces of Iran. Methods: The Qom province includes an estimated at-risk population of about 1 million. During a twelve-month period (November 2018–November 2019), all first-ever strokes occurring in the target population were registered. Hospitalized cases were ascertained by discharge codes. Out-of-hospital cases were ascertained by a prospective screening of EMS services, emergency departments, ambulances records, primary care clinics, rural and urban public health centers, primary care physician offices, and neurologists' offices. Crude and age-adjusted incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) were calculated using the direct method with the world standard population. Results: During the study period, 1462 first-ever strokes occurred with a mean age of 68.1 (17-103) years, of these, 45.2% were female (661 cases). The crude annual incidence rate per 100,000 at-risk populations was 145.4 (95% CI, 138.1 to 153.0) for all types of stroke (156.5 for male and 134.3 for female), 26.4 (95% CI, 23.5 to 29.8) for hemorrhagic stroke, and 114 (95% CI, 105 to 121) for ischemic stroke. The incidence rate adjusted to the world population was 201.4 (95% CI, 193-210) per 100,000 at-risk populations (adj incidence, 218.5 for male vs 187.4 for female). The total fatality rate during the first 28 days, was 19.6%. Conclusion: This study confirms the higher incidence of stroke and at a younger age, in this region, accompanied by the higher prevalence of underlying stroke risk factors than the global average.

Exposure to mobile phone radiation causes deleterious health effects on biological systems. The objects of this study were to investigate the effect of 900-MHz radiofrequency waves (RFW) emitted from base transceiver station antenna on intrapancreatic homocysteine (Hcy), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nerve growth factor (NGF) as predisposing factors involved in pancreatic beta cell damage. Thirty male rats (Sprague-Dawley, 200 ± 10 g) were randomly divided into the control (without any exposure) and exposed groups: short time (2 h/day), long time (4 h/day), and exposed to 900-MHz RFW for 30 consecutive days. On the last days of the experiment, animals were killed and pancreas tissue was dissected out for evaluation of serotonin, Hcy, TNF-α, and NGF. There was a significant decrease in the serotonin and NGF levels in the pancreatic tissue of exposed groups compared to the control group ( p < 0.05). Also, the levels of serotonin and NGF in the long-time exposure were significantly lower than the short-time exposure ( p < 0.05). However, levels of Hcy and TNF-α were significantly increased in the pancreas of exposed groups compared to the control groups ( p < 0.05). Exposure to 900-MHz RFW decreased pancreatic NGF and serotonin levels and increased the proinflammatory markers (Hcy and TNF-α), which can be a predisposing factor for type 2 diabetes.

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Introduction: Spondyloarthropathies (SpAs) are inflammatory diseases with symptoms such as spinal pain, sacroiliac, and peripheral involvement. The prevalence of SpAs is reported from 0.2% to 1.6%. SpAs can cause significant disabilities for patients. Its medical treatment is mainly with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) and anti-TNF drugs. Objectives: The primary purpose of this study is to carefully detect the clinical manifestations of patients, demographic characteristics, and the effectiveness of common medications in this disease. Patients and Methods: The present study is a retrospective descriptive study. The statistical population is 101 patients with SpA who have demographic information and items related to clinical conditions, radiographic findings and response to treatment. Results: One hundred one patients with SpA [46 (45.5%) female] with the age of 36.83± 10.45 years were studied. Around 66 patients (64.7%) had ankylosing spondylitis (AS), with the highest prevalence of AS. The most common clinical symptoms in patients were axial and peripheral/ extra-articular symptoms. The response to patients’ treatment were 61 patients (60.4%) had responded to the first stage of treatment, since only one patient needed to change the treatment steps in five times. Conclusion: We found, most patients with SpA were young patients. The most common radiological finding was Sacroiliitis. The most common clinical finding was extra-articular manifestations. Peripheral manifestations of the disease in women and axial images in men were common. The highest response to treatment was observed with the combination of indomethacin, sulfasalazine (SSZ) and indomethacin (alone).