International Archives of Health Sciences
Volume:11 Issue: 3, Jul-Sep 2024

The lack of accurate understanding of the environment and its surrounding fauna has led to the spread of misconceptions about the behaviors of certain animals, such as lizards. This is evident even in articles that lack scientific rigor. For instance, one article claims that the painful bites of lizards can cause fear and infection.[1]Additionally, many people believe that lizards possess poisonous tails, leading to the erroneous assumption that if they were to fall into cooking pots and be consumed, it could result in death due to cyanide poisoning. Such beliefs, particularly regarding Iranian lizards, are unfounded. This fear is largely rooted in superstition; it is important to note that lizards do not pose a threat to human life. They are completely harmless creatures, and even when captured or trapped, they do not endanger humans. Over the past 35 years, various species of Iranian lizards-ranging from 2 to 80 centimeters in size-have coexisted in both natural environments and traditional and modern homes without causing any harm [Figure 1].This fear is entirely baseless and primarily stems from cultural misconceptions that should be addressed through public awareness initiatives. Lizards are not merely pests; they are also among the best biological pest control agents.[2,3] They can effectively hunt mosquitoes for hours behind window screens in homes. As some of the most efficient insectivores, lizards have adapted well to a variety of habitats, including deserts, mountains, forests, and both urban and rural residential areas, without causing any harm or damage. They play a vital role in controlling pests such as cockroaches and mosquitoes.[4] However, awareness of the benefits of these creatures in Iran remains low.Having a lizard in the house is akin to hiring someone to tirelessly combat household pests day and night-without incurring any expenses, chemical pollution, or the need for management and supervision.[5]While some lizards are venomous, they belong to specific families. The Iguanidae family includes the green iguana (Iguana iguana), which has a weak venom and is found from Mexico to Brazil. The Helodermatidae family features well-known venomous species such as the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum), which inhabits areas in the southern United States-including Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico-and parts of Mexico such as Sonora and Sinaloa, as well as Guatemala's borders. Human bites from these lizards are rare, with the last reported death occurring in 1939.[6,7]A significant number of venomous species have been reported within the Varanidae family. Among them is the West African Nile monitor, Varanus niloticus stellatus, which possesses mild and harmless venom. The Crocodile monitor, Varanus salvadorii, native to the islands of New Guinea, is known for its invasive nature. Another notable species is the Malayan water monitor, Varanus salvator, which has been reported in regions such as Bengal, Sri Lanka, and China. The Komodo dragon, Varanus komodoensis, is one of the largest lizards in the world and inhabits the Komodo Islands of Indonesia.[8,9] Recent studies have identified 171 lizard species in Iran, three of which belong to the Varanidae family. While many of the world's venomous lizard species are part of this family, no venomous species have been documented in Iran to date.[10,11To date, there has been no documented evidence indicating that Iranian lizards are poisonous or venomous. Many individuals mistakenly believe that lizards shed their tails to distract predators, leading to the predator's demise due to toxins such as cyanide or other harmful substances. Occasionally, we hear unfounded claims that people have died after a lizard fell into a pot of food or a milk churn.Some researchers have demonstrated that ingesting domestic lizards in Iran does not result in any poisonous effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, high fever, chills, loss of appetite, headaches, irritability, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), breathing difficulties, excessive salivation, skin rashes, cyanosis (blue lips and skin), burns around the nose or mouth, double vision or blurred vision, mental confusion, seizures or convulsions, loss of consciousness, or coma.[12]The fear or phobia of lizards, similar to apprehensions regarding other phenomena, is widespread globally and manifests in hundreds of phobia types across various cultures and geographical regions. The role of researchers is not to endorse or validate these unfounded fears stemming from ignorance but rather to educate the public about the true nature of these creatures. Education should begin at the earliest stages of life. It is notable that while most members of society may enjoy seeing a sheep's head in a pot, they often express concern about having a lizard in their home. This reaction is not inherent but rather a set of cultural behaviors passed down through generations. If this fear and discomfort regarding lizards become widespread, it could exacerbate the situation. Certainly, we know individuals who may have sensitivities or aversions to certain foods or fruits; however, these sensitivities often diminish over time with increased experience or knowledge.Lizards play a crucial role in ecosystems, particularly in controlling rodent populations. By preying on rodents, they help maintain balance within the food web and contribute to the overall health of their environments. This ecological function is especially important in agricultural settings, where rodent infestations can cause significant crop damage and economic losses.The reliance on chemical pesticides for pest control has raised numerous environmental concerns. Pesticides can have detrimental effects on non-target species, including beneficial insects, birds, and aquatic life. Additionally, the need to change pesticide formulations over time often leads to the use of more potent chemicals, further harming ecosystems and potentially impacting human health.In contrast, biological control methods-such as using natural predators like lizards, rodents, and predatory birds-offer a more sustainable approach to pest management. This method not only reduces reliance on chemical pesticides but also promotes biodiversity and enhances ecosystem resilience. By integrating lizards into pest management strategies, farmers can harness their natural predation abilities, resulting in healthier crops and improved public health outcomes.Furthermore, fostering lizard populations in agricultural areas can decrease the prevalence of pests that transmit diseases to humans and livestock, underscoring their importance in maintaining ecological balance. As awareness of these benefits grows, more agricultural practices are likely to incorporate biological control methods, recognizing the invaluable contributions of lizards and other natural predators to sustainable farming and environmental health.Lizards primarily feed on rodents, making them a vital natural control factor for rodent populations.[9] Consequently, they hold significant ecological value within the energy pyramid. By removing lizards from the natural ecosystem, humans would eliminate one of the key players in maintaining population balance.Experts in agricultural and environmental sciences have concluded that the use of pesticides for pest control should be minimized due to their harmful effects on the environment. Furthermore, every few years, the types of pesticides used must be changed to maintain their effectiveness against pests, often resulting in the application of stronger chemicals that exacerbate environmental damage.In response to these challenges, humans have increasingly turned to breeding and utilizing various natural predators, such as lizards, rodents, and predatory birds, to combat agricultural pests. This approach, known as biological control, is now widely adopted in many countries. By controlling populations of both agricultural and health-related pests, lizards play a crucial role in enhancing public health and increasing crop yields.[5,9]

This study aims to evaluate maternal and paternal attachment in planned versus unplanned pregnancies. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the pregnancy information clinic and gynecology clinic in the Çerkezköy district of Tekirdağ province from March 2022 to March 2023. The sample size was calculated to be 360 participants, consisting of 180 pregnant women and 180 prospective fathers, using a known population sampling method. Data collection tools included a Descriptive Information Form, the Prenatal Attachment Scale (PAS), and the Intrauterine Father Attachment Scale (IFAS). The mean PAS score was 96.62±2.62 for planned pregnancies and 76.86±17.72 for unplanned pregnancies. The mean IFAS score for prospective fathers was 76.70±8.09 for planned pregnancies and 69.04±6.99 for unplanned pregnancies. A statistically significant difference was observed between planned and unplanned pregnancies concerning mean PAS and IFAS scores. Planned pregnancies positively influence maternal and paternal attachment. We recommend developing institutional protocols to foster healthy prenatal and paternal attachment, which is essential for raising healthy generations.

This study investigates how physicians in Iran's Social Security Organization outpatient clinics utilize EPS functionalities to optimize the system and enhance patient care. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Iran in 2020, involving a population of 118 physicians working in outpatient clinics of the Social Security Organization. A researcher-developed questionnaire was employed to assess five different functionalities of the EPS. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were established through expert evaluation and Cronbach's alpha calculations. Participants' responses were scored on a scale from 0 to 4 (never=0, rarely=1, sometimes=2, often=3, always=4). Physicians most frequently utilized the EPS functionalities for: "Recording and displaying patient medication history" (86.5%), "Selecting drugs from the medication list" (86.3%), "Providing pre-defined doses for selection by the physician" (66.6%), and "Alerts for repetitive treatments" (65.3%). Additionally, they reported using "Viewing and verifying prescribing information before sending electronically" (83.9%) and "Patient laboratory results" (82.2%). While features related to patient identification and data access were widely used, functionalities pertaining to alerts and decision support were utilized less frequently. Physicians demonstrated a strong reliance on the core functionalities of EPS, particularly for managing medication histories, drug selection, and reviewing prescriptions prior to transmission. This reliance underscores the importance of these functionalities in streamlining workflows, reducing errors, and improving patient care. Further development of EPS can enhance their potential benefits.

This study aims to conduct a quantitative risk analysis and evaluate control measures for workplace exposure to aliphatic amines, focusing on a case study in the foundry sector. The study comprised four main phases: risk analysis, determination of weight coefficients for reducing exposure probability, uncertainty analysis, and evaluation of implemented risk control measures. During the risk analysis phase, air samples were collected and analyzed to identify the presence of aliphatic amines and assess associated risk levels. Weight coefficients for reducing exposure probability were established using the Full Consistency Method (FUCOM), where a panel of experts ranked workplace, administrative, and individual controls. Uncertainty analysis utilized the Monte Carlo (MC) method to generate triangular distributions for the weight coefficients, enabling a comprehensive evaluation of potential uncertainties. Environmental monitoring in the industry revealed the presence of five aliphatic amines, with specific units (B and C) showing exposure risks to tri-ethylamine above the adjusted TLV. Additionally, the risk of exposure to mixed aliphatic amines was significant across all units. Deterministic weighting using the FUCOM method allocated the highest importance (0.66) to workplace controls for reducing risk probability. Uncertainty analysis using MC adjusted the weighted coefficients to 0.78 for workplace controls, 0.18 for administrative controls, and 0.13 for individual controls, with confidence levels of 85-95%. Evaluation of implemented controls in the industry indicated specific effectiveness across different control levels, with experts estimating risk reduction levels of 10.4% for individual controls, 9% for administrative controls, and 7.8% for workplace controls. These findings highlight the critical importance of implementing and evaluating control measures for workplace exposure to aliphatic amines in the studied industry.

The current study aims to investigate the impact of pandemic fatigue on anxiety and quality of life in patients visiting physical therapy and rehabilitation outpatient clinics.

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 303 patients over the age of 18 who had not previously contracted COVID-19. These patients sought treatment at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic for musculoskeletal disorders and reported experiencing symptoms of pandemic fatigue for at least one month.

A low-level positive significant relationship was identified between COVID-19 anxiety and pandemic fatigue. Additionally, perceived health status demonstrated a low-level negative significant relationship with both behavioral fatigues, a sub-dimension of pandemic fatigue, and COVID-19 anxiety. Furthermore, a significant effect of COVID-19 anxiety on pandemic fatigue was observed, as well as a reciprocal significant effect of pandemic fatigue on COVID-19 anxiety.

The findings provide empirical evidence for policymakers, decision-makers, and clinicians studying pandemic fatigue and anxiety. It is recommended that stakeholders develop their plans and programs based on this evidence and draw appropriate conclusions from these findings.

This research aimed to investigate the impact of ozone on Leishmania major. Leishmania major promastigotes were exposed to ozone flow at varying concentrations (5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 ppm) for different durations (5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes). The DNA of the treated promastigotes was extracted to evaluate DNA fragmentation. Apoptosis induction in the treated L. major promastigotes was analyzed using a specific kit. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy was employed to observe ultrastructural changes in the treated promastigotes. The highest fatality rate (100%) occurred after 30 minutes of exposure to 40 ppm ozone gas, while the lowest fatality rate was 16.14% after 5 minutes of exposure to 5 ppm ozone gas. The DNA of the treated parasites was degraded, and significant morphological changes were observed in the body and flagella of the promastigotes. Induction of apoptosis was also noted. Ozone exhibits anti-Leishmania activity and induces apoptosis in Leishmania major. Furthermore, clear ultrastructural changes were observed in Leishmania major following ozone exposure. These findings suggest that ozone warrants further investigation as an anti-leishmanial agent.

This study aimed to develop an effective model for achieving universal health insurance coverage in Iran utilizing the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) approach.  This mixed-method study was conducted between 2022 and 2023. A literature review and comparative analysis were performed to design a researcher-developed questionnaire. A total of 400 participants, including insurance program executives and health insurance managers from across the country, were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-26 and AMOS-24 software, employing exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis methods, as well as goodness-of-fit indices such as chi-square, relative chi-square, mean square error of estimation, and other relevant metrics.  The financial factors had the highest impact, while customer factors had the lowest impact in the proposed model for universal health insurance coverage based on the BSC approach in Iran, with standard coefficients of 0.680 and 0.601, respectively. The final model for achieving universal health insurance coverage in Iran was deemed suitable across four dimensions: activity/process, financial, growth/learning, and customer.  To successfully achieve universal health insurance coverage, policymakers and planners in the country's health sector should prioritize factors related to the financial dimension. However, it is essential not to overlook the other three dimensions, given the overall suitability of the proposed model.

This study aimed to assess the predictors of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) among administrative employees of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in Rafsanjan, Iran. A cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study was conducted from July to September 2022, involving 171 employees from the administrative departments of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences. Participants did not possess academic qualifications in biomedical fields but met other inclusion criteria. Data were collected on demographic information, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure (BP), fasting blood sugar (FBS), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The mean age of the 171 employees (88 men, 51.46%) was 42.7 ± 8.2 years, with ages ranging from 25 to 64 years. MetS was identified in 12.9% (n=22) of the employees. Participants with MetS exhibited significantly higher mean values for age (p=0.005), FBS (p<0.001), TG (p<0.001), systolic BP (p=0.007), diastolic BP (p=0.002), waist circumference (p<0.001), and BMI (p<0.001) compared to those without MetS. However, no significant differences were found in serum levels of LDL-C (p=0.742), HDL-C (p=0.333), and TC (p=0.415) between the two groups. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that four variables—BMI, waist circumference, FBS, and age—were significant predictors for MetS among the study participants. Given the significant predictors of MetS identified in this study, it is crucial to develop and implement interventions that promote a healthy lifestyle among administrative employees at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences. Prioritizing strategies to reduce waist circumference and BMI, as well as controlling FBS levels, is recommended for this population.

This study aims to evaluate the levels of heavy metals and aflatoxins in Kermanshahi oil and grape pekmez (a concentrated grape product) from the central provinces of Iran, as well as to assess how processing affects their fatty acid profiles. Twenty samples of Kermanshahi oil and grape pekmez were randomly collected from production centers in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Isfahan provinces in Iran. The aflatoxin levels in both Kermanshahi oil and grape pekmez were within acceptable limits. Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in Kermanshahi oil and grape pekmez ranged from 0.001 to 0.1 ppb and 0.001 to 0.04 ppb, respectively. Traditional butter and Kermanshahi oils were found to contain high levels of SFAs, including palmitic (C16) and myristic (C14) acids, as well as unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid (C18:1). The composition of saturated, unsaturated, and trans fatty acids in Kermanshahi oils derived from traditional butter was measured at 77.075%, 16.34%, and 4.82%, respectively. Following the addition of grape pekmez to Kermanshahi oil, a decrease in short-chain fatty acids was observed, while palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linolenic acid levels increased. Additionally, the concentration of TFAs decreased. The incorporation of grape pekmez into Kermanshahi oil positively influenced the fatty acid composition, enhancing its overall quality.

This study aims to investigate the role of religious orientation in relation to pornography use. This research was a cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study conducted among students at Kashan University of Medical Sciences during the 2022-2023 academic year. A total of 201 participants from various faculties were selected through a cluster sampling method. Each participant completed the Allport Religious Orientation Questionnaire and the Problematic Pornography Use Scale (PPCS). A total of 201 students participated in this study, comprising 125 (62.2%) males and 76 (37.8%) females. All participants reported having access to the internet, with 67.7% using it for 2 to 5 hours per day. The results indicated that 88.4% of the students reported watching pornography, with 11.9% exhibiting problematic viewing behaviors. Additionally, the findings revealed a significant negative correlation between pornography viewing and internal religious orientation among students (r=-0.155, p=0.028). However, no significant relationship was found between pornography viewing and external religious orientation (r=-0.043, p=0.543). Given the relatively high rate of pornography use among students, possessing internal religious beliefs may play a role in reducing pornography use.