Background: The current study aimed to measure and decompose socioeconomic-related inequalities in DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index among adults in Iran. Methods: The study data were extracted from the adult component of Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN) from 17 centers in 14 different provinces of Iran. DMFT score was used as a measure of dental caries among adults in Iran. The concentration curve and relative concentration index (RC) was used to quantify and decompose socioeconomic-related inequalities in DMFT. Results: A total of 128,813 adults aged 35 and older were included in the study. The mean (Standard Deviation [SD]) score of D, M, F and DMFT of the adults was 3.3 (4.6), 12.6 (10.5), 2.1 (3.4) and 18.0 (9.5), respectively. The findings suggested that DMFT was mainly concentrated among the socioeconomically disadvantaged adults (RC = − 0.064; 95% confidence interval [CI), − 0.066 to − 0.063). Socioeconomic status, being male, older age and being a widow or divorced were identified as the main factors contributing to the concentration of DMFT among the worse-off adults. Conclusions: It is recommended to focus on the dental caries status of socioeconomically disadvantaged groups in order to reduce socioeconomic-related inequality in oral health among Iranian adults. Reducing socioeconomicrelated inequalities in dental caries should be accompanied by appropriate health promotion policies that focus actions on the fundamental socioeconomic causes of dental disease.

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between being beta globin gene carrier and developing insulin resistance.MethodsThis study was conducted on 164 subjects including 82 healthy ones and 82 patients with beta thalassemia minor (microcytosis (MCV <80 fl) and hypochromia (MCH <25 pg) and HbA2 ≥ 3.5% using HPLC). Fasting blood glucose (FBS) values of 100–125 mg/dl were considered as impaired fasting glucose, and above 125 mg/dl as diabetes mellitus. Two hours After 75 gram glucose load(GTT), blood sugar level of 140–199 mg/dl was considered as impaired glucose tolerance and above 199 mg/dl as diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance was diagnosed based on homeostasis model assessment method (HOMA).ResultsAccording to FBS and BS2hPG values, the percentages of diabetes mellitus, pre diabetes, and normal glucose tolerance in case group was 8.5%, 9.8% and 81.7%, respectively. There was no case of diabetes mellitus in control group and 6.1% of this group were pre diabetic and 93.9% of them had normal glucose tolerance test (P = 0.02). Relative risk for diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance in the cases with minor thalassemia was 2 (95% CI: 1.8-2.5) and 2.02 (95% CI: 1.7-2.4), respectively.ConclusionThe risk of developing diabetes and insulin resistance in patients with thalassemia minor is two times greater than the general population. Considering the high serum levels of CRP in these cases, the inflammation noted in liver cells could be considered as the underlying cause of insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes in these patients.

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Aim Given the prolongation of the newly emerging COVID-19 pandemic and the significance of caring for the patients by nursing staff, investigating and planning for the different psychological dimensions of this group is of paramount importance. Hence, this study investigated the role of spiritual intelligence in predicting nurses' empathizing with COVID-19 patients. Methods This descriptive-correlation study was conducted in 2021 on nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in three public hospitals. The researchers used two standard questionnaires, including the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) and Spiritual Intelligence (SI), for data collection. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS16 using descriptive statistics and the following: The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Regression, chi-square test, and Pearson and Spearman correlations. Results The statistical population consisted of 338 nurses with an average age of 34 and ten years of work experience. There was a significant positive relationship between the empathy scores and spiritual intelligence scores of the nurses caring for COVID-19 patients (P<0.05). It was also concluded from the regression analysis that, spiritual intelligence affect empathy. Mean score of empathy was higher in hospitals where more nursing staff had MSc degrees. There was a significant difference between the empathy scores of the three hospitals (P<0.05). Conclusion The results indicated that there is a positive relationship between empathy and spiritual intelligence. Therefor improving spiritual intelligence is the appropriate strategy to ameliorate empathy during the COVID19 pandemic. At the same time, study indicated attention to the issue of nurses' mental health. Hence, it was suggested to incorporate these issues in the training programs and national/international decisions.

Background: Fasting has certain effects on metabolic and anthropometric parameters in diabetic patients. It is, therefore, necessary for patients to receive proper education related to their physical activities, eating habits, blood glucose monitoring, and medications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ramadan fasting on metabolic and anthropometric indices in type ΙΙ diabetic patients.Methods: This prospective observational study was performed during Ramadan 2018. The study population consisted of diabetic patients who desired to fast and received information on physical activity, eating habits, blood glucose monitoring, and taking their medications before Ramadan. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood sugar 2-hour postprandial (BS2hpp), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), and the lipids profile were assessed before and after Ramadan month. FBS and BS2hpp were also evaluated on the fifteenth day of Ramadan. The significance level for data analysis was considered p<0.05.Results: Out of 40 diabetic cases who completed the study, 6 (15%) were male and 34 (75%) were female. The mean age of participants was 55.2 ± 9.3 years. The anthropometric variables, including weight, BMI, waist, and blood pressure, decreased significantly after Ramadan fasting (p<0.05). FBS decreased significantly (125.1 ± 27.4 vs 105.2 ± 21.4, p<0.0001) and serum triglyceride increased significantly (127.5 ± 45.5 vs 166.5±53.5 mg/dl, p<0.001) after fasting compared to pre-Ramadan measurement. Other variables remained unchanged.Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that type II diabetic patients who have controlled blood sugar and received information based on clinical guidelines about their lifestyle and medications can fast safely during the holy month of Ramadan.

Background: The current study aimed to measure and decomposes socioeconomic-related inequalities in DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index among adults in Iran. Methods: The study data was drawn from the adult component of Perspective Epidemiological research studies in IrAN (PERSIAN) from 17 centers in 14 different provinces of Iran. DMFT score was used as a measure of oral health among adults in Iran. The relative and generalized (absolute) concentration index (RC and GC, respectively) was used to quantify and decompose socioeconomic-related inequalities in DMFT among Iranian adults (35 years and older). Results: A total of 128813 adults aged 35 and older, who are enrolled in the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN), were included in the study. The mean score of DMFT of the adults was 6.01 (SD=3.17). The findings suggested that DMFT was mainly concentrated among the poor in the 14 provinces included in the study (RC = -0.064; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.066 to -0.063 and GC = -0.387; 95% CI, 0.397 to -0.377). In addition, SES, being male, older age and being widow or divorced were identified as the main factors contributing to the concentration of DMFT among the worse-off in Iran. Conclusions: It is recommended to focus in the oral health status of socioeconomically disadvantaged groups in order to reduce socioeconomic-related inequality in oral health among adults in Iran. Moreover, it should be noted that reducing socioeconomic-related inequalities in oral health should be accompanied by appropriate health promotion policies that focus actions on the fundamental socio-economical causes of dental disease.

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Introduction: Fasting has certain effects on metabolic and anthropometric parameters in diabetic patients. It is therefore, necessary for patients to receive proper instructions about their physical activities, eating habits, blood glucose monitoring and medications. Aim: To investigate the effects of fasting on metabolic and anthropometric indices in type II diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was performed during Ramadan 2018. The study population consisted of 40 type II diabetic patients (33 females and 7 males) who wished to fast. They started to follow given instructions on their physical activity, eating habits, blood glucose monitoring, and medications before Ramadan. Anthropometric variables were measured pre and post-Ramadan. Fasting Blood/Plasma Glucose (FBG/FPG), Glucose 2 Hour Postprandial (2h PPG), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and the lipids profile were assessed before and after Ramadan. FPG and 2h PPG were also evaluated on the fifteenth day of Ramadan. Data were presented as mean±SD. Paired t-test was employed and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: After completion of the study, anthropometric variables of patients, including weight (74.9±12.7 vs. 73.0±13.1 kg, p<0.001), BMI (29.9±5.2 vs. 29.0±5.1 kg/m2, p=0.042), waist circumference (106.2±11.8 vs. 105.3±11.6 cm, p<0.001), conicity index (9.94±0.96 vs 9.80±0.99, p=0.085), systolic blood pressure (118.5±10.6 vs. 113.8±9.4 mmHg, p=0.018), Diastolic blood pressure (72.0±7.9 vs. 68.3±7.0 mmHg, p=0.02) and FPG (125.1±27.4 vs. 105.2±21.4 mg/dL, p<0.001) decreased significantly. However, serum triglyceride increased significantly (127.5±45.5 vs. 166.5±53.5 mg/dL, p<0.001) after fasting compared to pre-Ramadan measurements. Changes in other variables were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that fasting had beneficial effect on fasting blood glucose level and anthropometric parameters in type II diabetic patients.