Some studies in countries affected by the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have shown that the missions of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rate of death and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has been increased due to the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the process of EMS missions, death, and OHCA.

This cross-sectional study was performed in Tehran, Iran. All conducted missions in the first six months of the three consecutive solar years of March 21 until September 22 of 2018-2020, which were registered in the registry bank of the Tehran EMS center, were assessed and compared. Based on the opinion of experts, the technician’s on-scene diagnoses were categorized into 14 groups, and then death and OHCA cases were compared.

In this study, the data of 1,050,376 missions performed in three study periods were analyzed. In general, the number of missions in 2020 was 17.83% fewer than that of 2019 (P < .001); however, the number of missions in 2019 was 30.33% more than that of 2018. On the other hand, the missions of respiratory problems, cardiopulmonary arrest, infectious diseases, and poisoning were increased in 2020 compared to that of 2019. The raw number of OHCA and death cases respectively in 2018, 2019, and 2020 were 25.0, 22.7, and 28.6 cases per 1,000 missions. Of all patients who died in 2020, 4.9% were probable/confirmed COVID-19 cases. The history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory disease in patients in 2020 was more frequent than that of the other two years.

This study showed that the number of missions in the Tehran EMS in 2020 were decreased compared to that of 2019, however the number of missions in 2019 was more than that of 2018. Respiratory problems, infectious diseases, poisoning, death, and OHCA were increased compared to the previous two years and cardiovascular complaints, neurological problems, and motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) in 2020 were fewer than that of the other two years

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third and second most prevalent cancer in men and women, respectively. Various epidemiological studies indicated that dietary factors are implicated in the aetiology of CRC and its precursor, colorectal adenomas (CRA). Recently, much attention has been given to the role of acid–base balance in the development of chronic diseases including cancers. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to examine the association of diet-dependent acid load and the risk of CRC and CRA.

In this case–control study, potential renal acid load (PRAL) was computed based on dietary intake of participants assessed via a validated FFQ. Negative PRAL values indicated a base-forming potential, while positive values of PRAL implied acid-forming potential of diet. Logistic regression was used to derive OR and 95 % CI after adjusting for confounders.

Tehran, Iran.

A total of 499 participants aged 30–70 years were included in the study (240 hospital controls, 129 newly diagnosed CRC and 130 newly diagnosed CRA). The current study was conducted between December 2016 and September 2018.

After adjusting for potential confounders, a higher PRAL was associated with increased odds of CRC and CRA. The highest v. the lowest tertile of PRAL for CRC and CRA was OR 4·82 (95 % CI 2·51–9·25) and OR 2·47 (95 % CI 1·38–4·42), respectively.

The findings of the current study suggested that higher diet-dependent acid load is associated with higher risk of CRC and CRA.

To assess the association between patterns of nutrient intake and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a large sample of Iranian adults.

Baseline data from the Shahedieh cohort study were used in the current cross-sectional study. Dietary intakes were assessed through the use of a validated semi-quantitative FFQ. Nutrient patterns (NP) were derived using factor analysis. The MetS was defined according to criteria introduced from the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III, modified for Iranian adults.

Yazd, Iran.

A total of 7325 Iranian adults aged between 30 and 75 years.

Three NP were identified. A significant positive association was found between adherence to semi-plant NP (characterised by the high intakes of P; vitamins B1, B3, B6 and B5; Se; Mg; Fe; protein; Cr; Cu; fibre; biotin; Mn; Zn and Na) and odds of MetS (OR 1·68, 95 % CI 1·43, 1·98). However, after adjusting for potential confounders, this association became non-significant. In addition, after taking potential confounders into account, individuals in the highest quintile of the semi-animal NP, rich in Ca; K; vitamins B2, B12, A, D, K and C; SFA; dietary cholesterol and trans-fatty acid, were 26 % more likely to have MetS compared with those in the lowest quintile (OR 1·26, 95 % CI 1·05, 1·51). No significant association was seen between adherence to the high-carbohydrate/low-fat NP and odds of MetS.

We found that adherence to a semi-animal NP was associated with increased odds of MetS.

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a psychiatric syndrome characterised by the inability to control repetitive hair pulling. Psychiatric data reveal that TTM is not usually prevalent among all family members of patients, and so far only one case of familial TTM has been reported.

In this study, we report a case of familial TTM that afflicted four sisters and discuss the importance of genetic factors in this disorder.

This report suggests that, similar to many other psychiatric disorders, TTM can be detected in other family members and that genetic factors not only have a significant role in the development of such disorders but also in determination of the disorder subtype. This report also shows that the comorbidities in one member of the family might predict the existence of comorbidities in other members. On the basis of response to medication.

the authors suggest that a genetic disorder like polymorphism in serotonin receptors or dopamine can cause such a disorder.