Background: Welding processes expose workers to a range of occupational hazards, including chemical pollutants, noise, and non-ionizing radiation, which can compromise health. Effective selection and consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE), along with engineering and management controls, are essential for mitigating these risks. Objectives: The present study aimed to identify occupational hazards in welding operations and propose strategies to enhance worker safety and health through optimized PPE use and workplace risk management. Methods: Hierarchical task analysis (HTA) was applied to systematically decompose the tasks of argon arc welding (TIG) and submerged arc welding (SAW). Other roles and activities within the workshop were examined to assess potential cross-exposures. Workplace hazards were evaluated using a combined qualitative and quantitative approach, including field observations, interviews with workers and technical experts, and analysis of technical and safety documentation. Environmental measurements included noise, airborne pollutants, and radiation levels. Results: The HTA identified multiple stages in welding processes where workers are exposed to hazards such as metal fumes, hazardous chemicals, noise, non-ionizing radiation, and molten metal spatter. Noise levels frequently exceeded recommended limits, while elevated concentrations of manganese and crystalline silica fumes were detected. Shared workspaces led to secondary exposure to hazards from adjacent tasks. Proper use of PPE, including hearing protection, respiratory masks, flame-resistant clothing, and welding helmets, was shown to effectively mitigate these risks. Conclusions: Welding hazards are cumulative and influenced by both task-specific and environmental factors. Continuous and correct use of PPE, combined with engineering controls and management measures such as task rotation, is critical to protect workers’ health. Ongoing training, supervision, and workplace monitoring are recommended to ensure compliance and reduce occupational risks in welding environments.

Background: Recent studies suggest a possible link between Helicobacter pylori infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia, miscarriage, and preterm labor. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and preterm labor in pregnant women admitted to Ali Ibn Abi Talib Hospital in Zahedan. Methods: A case-control study was conducted among 120 pregnant women (60 with preterm labor and 60 with term deliveries) between 2020 and 2022. Demographic and clinical data were collected using structured questionnaires, and H. pylori infection was assessed via stool antigen testing. Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was similar in preterm (65.0%) and term (61.7%) delivery groups (P = 0.705). Stratified analyses suggested potential differences in infection rates among women with low education levels (P = 0.013) and poor financial status (P = 0.008); however, these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to small subgroup sizes. Multivariate logistic regression indicated maternal education level as an independent factor associated with preterm labor (OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.10 - 0.60, P = 0.001). Conclusions: Although no overall significant difference was found in H. pylori infection prevalence between preterm and term deliveries, subgroup analyses suggest that sociodemographic factors, such as low education and poor financial status, may increase the risk of preterm labor associated with H. pylori infection.

Background: A sustainable environment plays a crucial role in mitigating musculoskeletal disorders, visual fatigue, stress, and exhaustion. Consequently, it enhances productivity and promotes greater work efficiency, contributing to workers' overall well-being. While ergonomic risk studies are widely documented in the literature, most focus on the industrial sector, with limited ergonomic assessments available in the educational sector. Objectives: Evaluate ergonomic risk factors among teachers to foster a sustainable environment. Methods: A quantitative study employed an observational, cross-sectional design to measure the ergonomic risk between April and June 2023. The Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) method was employed using the ERGONIZA software to assess full-time professors (FTP) in a university in Sonora, Mexico, through a statistically representative survey applied with 92% reliability and a maximum allowed error (α) of 0.08. Results: The results indicated that out of 158 FTP, 48.7% are at very high risk, 23.1% at high risk, and 28.2% at improvable risk. Conclusions: A sustainable environment contributes to improving worker well-being, combating absenteeism and medical costs, increasing productivity, and, therefore, leading to greater work efficiency. The ROSA method does not consider some parameters like environmental elements (lighting and temperature).

Background: Welding is an essential industrial process that poses risks such as vision, hearing, and respiratory problems. Ensuring compliance with safety standards is critical to reducing these hazards. Objectives: The present study aimed to identify welders’ training needs to reduce workplace safety violations. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 in the metal equipment manufacturing industry in Isfahan. Data were collected through occupational health evaluations, analysis of welding-related accidents over the past five years, and observations of welders’ safety behavior. Results: Vision impairments affected approximately one-third (34%) of welders, while nearly half (46%) experienced hearing loss. Respiratory issues were reported by 38% of welders. Major causes of accidents included eye injuries from grinding, burns, radiation exposure, and falling objects, with failure to use personal protective equipment (PPE) being a key factor. Conclusions: Occupational hazards largely stem from inadequate safety training and inconsistent use of PPE. Targeted training and strengthening safety culture are vital to reducing violations and improving workplace safety. The failure to use PPE was identified as a major cause of workplace accidents. Inadequate protective measures and poor workplace organization further increased these risks.

Background: The World Health Organization emphasizes the critical role of medical equipment in patient care, noting an increasing demand due to population growth and aging. This study explores the factors influencing out-of-pocket (OOP) payments for medical equipment, examining both households that have made payments and those unable to do so due to financial or geographical limitations. Objectives: The present study aims to explore the factors influencing OOP payments among households that have made payments for medical equipment and supplies, as well as those that could not due to financial and geographic constraints. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two stages, utilizing household budget data from 2023. In the first stage, the Delphi method was employed to reach a consensus among experts on the influencing factors. In the second stage, a double hurdle model was used to assess the impact of these factors on household expenditures. Analyses were conducted using Excel 2019 and Stata 14 software, with a significance level set at 0.05 for all tests. Results: In the third round of the Delphi method, a panel identified 13 factors affecting household OOP expenditures based on a study of 37,883 predominantly urban, male-headed households. Gamma regression indicated that income and health insurance costs slightly increased health expenditures. The double hurdle model revealed that the gender of the household head significantly influenced participation in medical equipment payments, with female-headed households experiencing a negative impact (B = -0.117, P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that socioeconomic factors such as income, health insurance, gender of the household head, and rural residence significantly affect both the decision to participate in the healthcare market and the level of expenditures on medical equipment and supplies. These findings highlight the need for targeted policies to enhance equity in health financing.

Background: Pollakiuria is a lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) characterized by frequent daytime urination in children without an identifiable cause. Objectives: The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the relationship between eating habits and the incidence of pollakiuria in children. Methods: The demographic features of 64 children aged 5 - 7 years affected with pollakiuria were gathered using a questionnaire and compared with the data of 64 healthy controls. Dietary data of children were collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Logistic regression was employed to calculate the odds ratio (OR) of pollakiuria related to the frequency of consumption of meat, dairy products, vegetables, caffeine, and salt. Results: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). Among various food categories, children with pollakiuria consumed salt (P = 0.003) and caffeine (P < 0.001) more frequently than healthy children. Regarding the relationship between pollakiuria development and the consumption of certain foods, a statistically significant relationship was found only for salt (OR = 1.24; P = 0.002) and caffeine (OR = 1.038; P < 0.001). Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, restricting the use of salt and caffeine may be effective in reducing the risk of pollakiuria in children. It seems necessary to conduct more studies to assess the role of other dietary habits, as well as confounding factors such as blood pressure, fluid consumption, exposure to tobacco smoking, and physical activity, in the development of pollakiuria.

Background: Patient safety dashboards are increasingly used to monitor and improve patient safety in healthcare. However, their effective development faces significant challenges. This qualitative study explores these challenges and identifies potential solutions. Methods: A phenomenological approach was used to investigate the experiences of healthcare managers, patient safety officers, quality improvement specialists, and information technology professionals involved in patient safety dashboard development within healthcare facilities of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Tabriz, Iran. Participants were selected via purposive sampling. Inclusion criteria were direct experience with patient safety dashboard development within the past 5 years; exclusion criteria included no direct involvement or roles unrelated to patient safety. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify challenges and solutions. Results: A total of 20 individuals participated in this study. The study identified two main themes: Challenges and solutions in developing patient safety dashboards. Within these themes, five sub-themes related to challenges were identified: Data integration complexities, disparate data sources, lack of standardized metrics, resource constraints, and varying levels of digital maturity. Similarly, five sub-themes related to solutions were identified: Interoperability solutions, standardized metrics development, resource allocation, capacity building initiatives, and digital transformation strategies. A total of 72 individual codes were generated from the data, representing specific examples of challenges and solutions. Conclusions: Addressing challenges and providing solutions for developing patient safety dashboards is vital for enhancing patient safety practices and driving quality improvement initiatives toward delivering high-quality, safe care to patients. By prioritizing data integration, standardized metrics, resource allocation, capacity building, and digital transformation efforts, organizations can develop dashboards to strengthen patient safety practices and continuously improve patient care.

Background: Dental diseases and disorders are reported to affect specific ages, genders, and races of patients. Therefore, epidemiological investigations are necessary for understanding dental diseases and disorders. Objectives: This cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence and potential risk factors of chronic pulpitis, dental caries, and periapical disease in adults seeking treatment at the Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, Tianjin, a major referral center in the Northern region of China. Methods: A total of 3,245 males and females visited the Department of Adult Dentistry and the Department of Endodontics of the Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, Tianjin, China, for oral health concerns from January 17, 2020, to November 18, 2023. Among these patients, 615 (19%) were receiving treatment for chronic pulpitis, dental caries, and/or periapical diseases at the institute. Demographic parameters and clinical examination results of 496 patients (119 patients were excluded due to missing information) who were being treated for chronic pulpitis (long-term inflammation of the dental pulp), dental caries (a biofilm-mediated, sugar-driven, multifactorial, dynamic disease), and/or periapical disease (inflammation around the tooth root) with varying severity (moderate or severe) were included in the study. Results: Of the 496 patients, 300 (60%) were females, 328 (66%) were aged 60 years or older, and 295 (59%) had issues with mandibular teeth. Among the patients, 250 (50%), 301 (61%), and 151 (30%) were diagnosed with dental caries, chronic pulpitis, and periapical disease(s), respectively. Female gender (P = 0.041), age ≥ 60 years (P = 0.045), and issues with mandibular teeth (P = 0.046) were found to be associated with chronic pulpitis, dental caries, and periapical diseases in the patients. Conclusions: The prevalence of dental diseases and disorders in Han Chinese adults is 19% in the Northern regions of China. Chronic pulpitis and dental caries are the most prevalent dental diseases, while periapical diseases occur less frequently among Han Chinese adults in the Northern regions of China. Females, individuals aged ≥ 60 years, and issues with mandibular teeth are independent risk factors for the development of chronic pulpitis, dental caries, and periapical disease in adult patients in Northern regions of China. Policymakers in China should consider the findings of this study to reduce dental diseases and disorders in Chinese adults, especially in the Northern regions of China.

Background: Microplastics (MPs) exposure can affect humans in various ways, with tap water being one of the potential sources. Microplastics can absorb other pollutants and pose risks to both humans and the environment. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of MPs in tap water from the drinking water distribution system of Isfahan, Iran, and to determine the exposure to MPs from drinking tap water. Methods: Samples were collected from different points in the drinking water distribution system of Isfahan, Iran. Samples were prepared for analysis through filtration and chemical digestion. The MPs were counted using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the composition of MPs was analyzed using a micro-Raman spectrometer. Results: The concentration of MPs in tap water was found to be 287.0 ± 65.9 MPs/l. MPs ≤ 10 µm were the predominant sizes, and fibers were the predominant shape. Polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, and polypropylene were the most frequently identified MPs, respectively. Conclusions: Considering that the Iranian population consumes 7 - 15 liters of water daily for drinking and cooking, it is estimated that the average intake of MPs through cooking and drinking water is 2009 - 43,051 particles per day.

Background: Bipolar disorder type I (BD-I) is marked by periodic mood swings, including episodes of mania and depression. Factors such as family stress and cognitive impairments are crucial in the relapse of this disorder. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of family-focused therapy (FFT) and social cognition and interaction training (SCIT) in preventing relapses of BD-I and enhancing patients' interpersonal relationships and social functioning. Methods: This experimental study featured a controlled, pretest-posttest design with a three-month follow-up, conducted from 2019 to 2020. Sixty primary caregivers of patients with BD-I in Zahedan, Iran, were purposively selected and randomly assigned to three groups. The SCIT group (only patients) and the FFT group (patients with primary caregivers) each underwent 15 sessions of group interventions. Research tools were administered before and after the intervention, as well as in the follow-up. Baseline differences in outcomes were assessed using independent samples t-tests for completers vs. non-completers and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the three intervention groups. Results: Results indicate that both SCIT and FFT significantly improved relapse prevention and enhanced social functioning, except in the domain of interpersonal relationships. Here, SCIT proved more effective than FFT in post-tests (β = 3, P = 0.034) and follow-up (β = 5.043, P = 0.001). Conclusions: Given that FFT is an evidence-based treatment for BD-I, integrating SCIT can further enhance intervention effectiveness, particularly in improving interpersonal relationships and social functioning by addressing environmental factors and social cognitive deficits.