Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:28 Issue: 4, Apr 2023

Increasing incidence rates of diabetes related to air pollution have been reported in high‑income countries. However, few studies evaluated air pollution effect on plasma glucose indices, in addition to diabetes and prediabetes incidence in developing countries. This study investigated the association between exposure to common air pollutants and the changes plasma glucose indices over time. The incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes in future were also examined in association with exposure to air pollution.

A total of 3828 first‑degree relatives of patients with T2D who were prediabetes or had normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were enrolled in this study. Cox regression was used to assess the relationships between particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxides, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone exposure and the incidence of T2D and prediabetes. We also applied a linear mixed model to assess the association between exposure to these air pollutants and changes in plasma glucose indices over time.

Air pollutants showed a significant positive association with changes in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and 2 h oral glucose tolerance (OGTT) in participants with NGT and prediabetes. The maximum increase in plasma glucose indices was associated with NO concentration. Our study also showed exposure to all air pollutants except SO2 was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing T2D and prediabetes (Hazard ratio > 1, P < 0.001).

According to our results, exposure to air pollution increases the risk of T2D and prediabetes incidence in our population. The exposure to air pollutants was also associated with increasing trend in FPG, HbA1c, and OGTT levels in both groups of NGT and prediabetic participants.

The present study aimed at providing comprehensive epidemiological data about the prevalence of psychological and emotional problems in a representative sample of Iranian children and evaluates the major and common determinants of parents and family environment of these problems.

The epidemiology of emotional and psychological problems in Iranian children is a cross‑sectional study was conducted on 786 families and their 800 children during 2019–2021 in Isfahan, Iran. Personality traits, psychological health, marital satisfaction, individual’s perceptions of his/her family and quality of life of parents were evaluated using Iranian‑validated questionnaires. Various aspects of emotional, general, psychological, and sleep health as well as physical activity levels and nutritional habits of children also have been assessed using Iranian validated instruments. Data on sociodemographic characteristics representing parents and family status also have been collected.

The mean age of parents and children was 39.5 ± 5.5 and 10.20 ± 1.90 (years), respectively. The mean duration of marriage was 16.1 ± 5.1 years and majority of parents his or her wife were at bachelor degree while parents with other degrees of education were sufficiently available in our study. The participated children were nearly equally distributed in terms of gender. A large portion (81.9%) of questionnaires about children was filled by mothers. Majority of children (62.2%) were first birth order.

The current study provides comprehensive data about various psychological, emotional, and educational problems of Iranian children and new insights about family environment and parental interrelationship as key risk factors for the aforementioned problems in which may have implications for both clinical and preventive psychological health to improve individual educational and treatment efficacy and problem‑solving in problematic children.

The estimated prevalence of mental health disorders in children and adolescents is between 10% and 20%. Furthermore, a quarter of very premature infants exhibit socioemotional delays in infancy and childhood. The objective of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of Greenspan social‑emotional growth chart (GSEGC) in Persian children aged 1–42 months.

After translation procedures, the face validity, content validity, construct validity, test–retest reliability, and internal consistency of the GSEGC questionnaire were evaluated. The quality of translating items was obtained using the suggestions of the research group. The face validity of the GSEGC was performed by interviewing with 10 mothers in the target group. To evaluate content validity quantitatively, content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) were used after reviewing the face and content validity and pilot study, 264 parents of children aged 1–42 months completed the GSEGC questionnaire to assess the construct validity and internal consistency. In order to determine the test‑retest reliability, after 2 weeks, 18 parents completed the questionnaire again.

Eleven questions were changed according to the interviews (questions 1–6, 9–11, and 15–16). The lowest CVR was related to items 30 and 20 (0.636), and other items had an acceptable CVR. The lowest CVI value was related to item 1 of clarity and simplicity (0.818), and other items had an acceptable CVI. Intra‑class correlation coefficient was 0.988 for all items of questionnaire. Furthermore, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.952 for all items. In factor analysis, two factors were extracted from the items in questionnaire.

The Persian version of GSEGC questionnaire has acceptable face, content and, constructs validity, test‑retest reliability and high internal consistency in the target population. Therefore, the Persian version of the GSEGC can be used as a tool to assess 1–42 months sensory processing and socio‑emotional development.

There is a lack of evidence on the therapeutic efficacy of topical tranexamic acid (TA) for the treatment of acne‑related postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). The current study aimed to assess the efficacy of twice‑daily administration of 20% azelaic acid (AZA) cream versus 5% TA solution for the treatment of PIH in patients with acne vulgaris.

Patients in the present single‑blinded randomized clinical trial were randomized into AZA or TA groups for 12 weeks. The rate of healing was assessed by scoring recorded photographs based on postacne hyperpigmentation index (PAHI) at baseline, 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks. The frequency of side effects was examined and recorded at each study time point.

Thirty volunteers in each treatment group completed the intervention. PAHI score in both AZA and TA groups improved during the study course (Ptime < 0.001, for both groups). However, mean PAHI scores were comparable in the two groups (Pgroup = 0.05). No significant interaction was also found between time and treatments in terms of PAHI score (Ptime × group = 0.66). The frequency of treatment‑related side effects was significantly higher in the AZA group compared to the TA group at week 4 of treatment (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the frequency of reported side effects at weeks 8 and 12 of the treatment (P > 0.05).

Topical administration of 20% AZA cream and 5% TA solution was comparably efficient in the treatment of acne‑related PIH with a significantly better safety profile of TA in the 1st month of the treatment.