Ali Bijani

• MD, PhD
• Babol University of Medical Sciences

Background Considering the importance of tobacco use surveillance in different age-groups, this research was carried-out to investigate the prevalence of tobacco smoking and related predicting factors among older adults in northern Iran. Methods This observational study as part of the Amirkola Health and Ageing prospective cohort Project (AHAP) wa...

Background: Congenital anomalies can pose challenges during electrophysiology (EP) procedures in patients with tachyarrhythmias, making diagnosis and management of these cases quite difficult. An interrupted inferior vena cava, an uncommon congenital defect, is especially rare without associated congenital heart disease. In this setting, catheter a...

Background The WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan has set an overarching global target of achieving a 10% reduction in the prevalence of oral conditions by 2030. Robust and up-to-date information on the global burden of oral conditions is paramount to monitor progress towards this target. The aim of this systematic data analysis was to produce glob...

Background The WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan has set an overarching global target of achieving a 10% reduction in the prevalence of oral conditions by 2030. Robust and up-to-date information on the global burden of oral conditions is paramount to monitor progress towards this target. The aim of this systematic data analysis was to produce glob...

Background Calretinin is a 29 kilodalton (KDa) calcium-binding protein that is expressed in normal and tumoral tissues. The expression of calretinin has been shown in the dental epithelium during odontogenesis and in different odontogenic cysts and tumors such as ameloblastoma. Since the epithelium of calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) is similar to...

Background — Menopause age is a potential mediator of subsequent mortality, morbidity, and quality of life after menopause. Objective — Since limited studies have reported an association between age at menopause and chronic diseases in the elderly population, this study aimed to investigate this association. Methods — This retrospective cohort stud...

Objectives Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are major contributors to global morbidity and mortality. Many PAD patients remain asymptomatic for CAD, which often leads to undetected coronary artery involvement. This hidden coronary disease poses significant risks, particularly following peripheral revascularization...

Background Calretinin is a 29 kilodalton (KDa) calcium-binding protein that is expressed in normal and tumoral tissues. The expression of calretinin has been shown in the dental epithelium during odontogenesis and in different odontogenic cysts and tumors such as ameloblastoma. Since the epithelium of calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) is similar to...

Breast cancer, the most prevalent malignancy in women, has witnessed an increased incidence alongside the rising use of port catheters and chemotherapy. Despite the conventional practice of contralateral port placement, the impact of side selection on complications remains unclear, necessitating a nuanced investigation. This prospective cross-secti...

Objective The demand for esthetics has increased in today's world and most parents prefer to preserve their children's primary anterior teeth until their natural exfoliation. However, an intracanal post is required to provide retention for reconstruction of severely damaged anterior teeth due to caries or trauma. Various materials and methods may b...

Background Breast cancer commonly occurs in women, and male breast cancer makes up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer. The limited prevalence of male breast cancer has led to decreased attention being paid to this condition, resulting in its diagnosis occurring at later ages and at more severe disease stages. Objectives This study evaluate...

People can become prone to addiction due to the interaction between nature and nurture. Opioids are one of the addictive substances that have reached an epidemic level worldwide. For the large proportion of patients, hospitalizations for medical reasons, is one of few interactions patients have with the healthcare system and potentially the only op...

This article discusses a new system called the "Smart Emergency Medical System-Health Internet of Things" (SEMS-HIOT), designed for monitoring patients with cardiac issues, particularly those with cardiac arrhythmias. The SEMS-HIOT system can wirelessly transmit various parameters, such as heart rate, pulse rate, oxygen saturation, body temperature...

Background This study aimed to measure light transmittance (LT) through various thicknesses of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing bleach shade ceramics and to assess the Vickers microhardness (VMH) of underlying light-cured resin cement. Materials and Methods In this in vitro study, a total of 90 ceramic discs (VITA Mark II [VM], V...

Background Early diagnosis and control of risk factors affecting frailty syndrome (FS) in older adults may lead to changes in the health/disease process, prevention of disability and dependency in the older adults, and reduction of health care costs and mortality rates. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive role of CVD risk factors...

Purpose Atherosclerotic disease of the forearm arteries can impede the maturation of distal fistulas in diabetic patients. The goal of this study was to look at the maturity of diabetic hemodialysis patients’ distal forearm (radiocephalic snuffbox or distal forearm) arteriovenous fistulas. Materials and Methods Patients with chronic renal failure...

Background Self -rated health (SRH) is a subjective assessment of health status that results from asking a question as “How do you assess your health?”. The aim of this study was to determine the value of SRH for survival of older adults. Materials and Methods This cohort study was conducted among a population aged 60 years and over living in the...

Introduction For older adults, maintaining muscle strength and balance is crucial to preserve an upright posture and independently manage their basic activities of daily living (ADL). This study aimed to examine whether muscle strength and balance mediate the relationship between frailty syndrome (FS) and osteoporosis in a large sample of community...

The elderly population is more prone to chronic diseases, leading to polypharmacy, influenced by various factors. This study examined the relationship between education, socio-economics, and polypharmacy. As part of the initial phase of a cohort on the health status of the elderly in Amirkola City (northern Iran) initiated in 2011, this descriptive...

Background Appendicitis is a common surgical emergency that poses a large clinical and economic burden. Understanding the global burden of appendicitis is crucial for evaluating unmet needs and implementing and scaling up intervention services to reduce adverse health outcomes. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the global, re...

Summary Background Appendicitis is a common surgical emergency that poses a large clinical and economic burden. Understanding the global burden of appendicitis is crucial for evaluating unmet needs and implementing and scaling up intervention services to reduce adverse health outcomes. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the gl...

Background Given the high prevalence of hypertension in older adults, this study was conducted to identify the factors affecting the 5-year survival of older people with hypertension. Materials and Methods In this cohort study, individuals aged 60 and over living in Amirkola, north of Iran who were diagnosed with hypertension were followed up for...

Background Vitamin D is a modifiable risk factor in cancer and prostate diseases. In this study, we investigate the relationship between vitamin D and serum PSA in elderly men of Amirkola City. Methods The current cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on elderly men participating in the cohort study in Amirkola. Demographic information i...

Background Dialysis cuffed catheter dysfunction results in inadequate dialysis, increased sepsis risk, and a shortened catheter life. It may be possible to prolong catheter function by identifying the causes of cuffed catheter dysfunction. Methods This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in 2021-2022 on hemodialysis patients wi...

Background Coronary heart disease (CHD) is an underlying cardiac condition contributing to increased COVID-19 mortality and morbidity which can be assessed by several diagnosis methods including coronary artery calcification (CAC). The goal of this study was to find out if there were potential links between CAC, clinical findings, severity of COVID...

Background — Gastrointestinal (GI) medications are among the most common drugs used in old age. Recent studies reported heterogeneous association between proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) with neurological complications such as memory impairment. Objective — This research was conducted to assess the effect of different categories of GI drugs on cogniti...

Background In recent years cognitive frailty has emerged as an important predictor of adverse health outcomes in older adults. Herein, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of cognitive frailty in a population of community-dwelling older adults in Iran. Method This cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the second c...

Objectives The angiosome concept has significantly impacted diabetic foot ulcer management by highlighting the vascular anatomy’s role in wound healing. However, its clinical applicability and validity remain debated due to complexities in foot blood supply and ulcer location determination. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 84 indiv...

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE), a severe and economically impactful condition, lacks substantial epidemiological data in the North Africa and Middle East (NAME) region. This study focused on analyzing the trends and burden of IE in NAME from 1990 to 2019, taking into account factors like age, gender, and socio-demographic index (SDI). Me...

Background: Disorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditi...

Background Disorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditio...

Purpose Patients undergoing hemodialysis often experience changes in cardiac function when they have a high-flow arteriovenous fistula (AVF). This study aimed to assess the effect of high-flow AVFs on cardiac function in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Materials and Methods A longitudinal study was conducted on hemodialysis patients with high-fl...

Background In the present study, we examine the prevalence of phylogenetic groups, O-serogroups, adhesin genes, antimicrobial resistance, the level of gene expression associated with biofilm formation, and the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) in UPEC strains isolated from both pediatric and adult patients. Methods In this cross-...

Sleep disorders are more common in diabetes mellitus (DM) cases rather than normal ones. In addition, this condition could be associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) development with more inflammatory indices in circulation. In the present study, we have evaluated the association between DR and sleep quality. This cross-sectional study is a part...

Background Because migraine is a common headache, finding ways to approach it better would be useful. So, studying the relation of dimensions of general health and personality types and pain severity in patients with migraine will be useful for fulfilling this aim. Methods In this cross-sectional study, the number of patients with migraine headach...

Background Introduction: Mizaj is the basis of attention to individual differences in Persian Medicine (PM). Regarding the importance of Mizaj for health preservation and treating diseases, it is necessary to achieve a standard tool for Mizaj identification. The purpose of this study was to design a standard self-reporting Mizaj identification ques...

Treatment failure after intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin immunotherapy (BCG) for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (BCa) occurs frequently. The exact effects of BCG on cellular redox status and gene expression remain unclear. We assessed oxidative stress biomarkers and changes in miR-155-5p expression in response to BCG. Twent...

Background Sleep quality is one of the most important factors to improve the quality of life in older adults and physical and mental health plays an essential role in better sleep quality. This study aimed to determine the impact of social support, and physical and psychological performance on sleep outcomes in Iranian older adults. Methods In thi...

The aim of this study is to investigate drug use disorders which are a major cause of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). This article is a part of the global burden of diseases (GBD), injuries, and risk factors 2019 study. The GBD modeling approach was used to estimate population-level prevalence of dr...

Background Musculoskeletal disorders include more than 150 different conditions affecting joints, muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and the spine. To capture all health loss from death and disability due to musculoskeletal disorders, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) includes a residual musculoskeletal category...

Objectives: Mucous retention cyst (MRC) is a benign and self-limited lesion that can be caused by many risk factors, including anatomical variations of the sinonasal region. This study aims to investigate the relationship between anatomical variations and the presence of MRC. Materials and Methods: In total, 2109 sinonasal cone beam computed tomogr...

Background Rapid economic progress and cultural-social changes have led to lifestyle changes and increased risk of breast cancer all around the world, including Iran. This study aims to investigate the 30-year incremental pattern of breast cancer in patients of Shahid Rajaei Radiation Therapy Center in Babolsar, North of Iran.‌‌ Methods In this cr...

Background Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is a common complaint involving about a 3-5% cases in a community. Non-surgical treatment is effective in 80% of cases. Recent studies have shown the effect of autologous blood on improving the pain and function of affected patients. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of steroid and...

Background and purpose: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is commonly used in the treatment of psychiatric patients. However, it may cause cognitive disorders in patients undergoing the procedure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of memantine on the alleviation of cognitive impairments in patients undergoing ECT. Materials and meth...

Background Obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness with a chronic coarse and waxing and waning of symptoms. Treatment of OCD in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) remains challenging. Objectives The present study aims to compare the safety and effectiveness of Risperidone and Aripiprazole as adjunctive therapy with valproate sodiu...

Background Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in adults, characterised by chronic pain and loss of mobility. Osteoarthritis most frequently occurs after age 40 years and prevalence increases steeply with age. WHO has designated 2021–30 the decade of healthy ageing, which highlights the need to address diseases such as osteoarthriti...

Background Although meningitis is largely preventable, it still causes hundreds of thousands of deaths globally each year. WHO set ambitious goals to reduce meningitis cases by 2030, and assessing trends in the global meningitis burden can help track progress and identify gaps in achieving these goals. Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases,...

Background: Although meningitis is largely preventable, it still causes hundreds of thousands of deaths globally each year. WHO set ambitious goals to reduce meningitis cases by 2030, and assessing trends in the global meningitis burden can help track progress and identify gaps in achieving these goals. Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases...

Background and purpose The global incidence of breast cancer is the highest among all cancers and is the primary reason for cancer-related fatalities. Our study aimed to assess the predictors of quality of life (QOL) and mental health in breast cancer survivors in Northern Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was done on 96 female breast cance...

Background Asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD) are chronic allergic conditions, along with allergic rhinitis and food allergy and cause high morbidity and mortality both in children and adults. This study aims to evaluate the global, regional, national, and temporal trends of the burden of asthma and AD from 1990 to 2019 and analyze their association...

Background: Given the importance of chest computed tomography (CT) to differentiate congestion from COVID-19 pneumonia, and considering the association of chest CT findings with cardiac biomarkers in patients with concomitant COVID-19 and heart failure, this study was conducted to identify the correlation between plasma NT-proBNP level and radiogr...

Background To date, few studies have compared the accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and ultrasonography in measuring the soft tissue thickness of the maxillary and mandibular gingiva. Aims To compare the accuracy of ultrasonography and CBCT in measuring the soft tissue thickness of the maxillary and mandibular gingiva in a sheep mod...

Introduction: Given the high prevalence of poor sleep quality in late adulthood, older adults might be involved with different physical, mental and social consequences of this disorder. Current research was conducted to examine the association between sleep quality and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This cross-secti...

Background: Communicable disease control has long been a focus of global health policy. There have been substantial reductions in the burden and mortality of communicable diseases among children younger than 5 years, but we know less about this burden in older children and adolescents, and it is unclear whether current programmes and policies rema...

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate diagnostic accuracy of two different CBCT scan modes and digital bitewing radiography for detection of recurrent caries under five different restorative materials, and determine the relationship between the types of restorative materials. Materials and methods: In this in vitro study,...

Background Age-related eye diseases and cognitive frailty (CF) are both important predictors of adverse health outcomes in older adults, however, little is known about their association. Aims To demonstrate the association between age-related eye diseases and cognitive frailty in a population of Iranian older adults. Methods In this cross-section...

Background & Aims: One of the problems affecting elderly people's quality of life is sleep problems which has an adverse impact on their social, occupational and other activities. This study was conducted aiming to determine the prevalence of poor sleep quality among the elderly in …, northern Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study is part of th...

Background Low back pain is highly prevalent and the main cause of years lived with disability (YLDs). We present the most up-to-date global, regional, and national data on prevalence and YLDs for low back pain from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021. Methods Population-based studies from 1980 to 2019 identified i...

Background: Low back pain is highly prevalent and the main cause of years lived with disability (YLDs). We present the most up-to-date global, regional, and national data on prevalence and YLDs for low back pain from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021. Methods: Population-based studies from 1980 to 2019 identified...

Background: Air pollution is the sixth highest risk factor for attributable disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in North Africa and the Middle East, but the relative importance of different subtypes of air pollution and any potential differences in their health effects by population demographics or country-level socioeconomic factors have not b...

Background Vitamin D is best known as a key regulator of bone metabolism and calcium and phosphate homeostasis. This study aimed to assess the effect of different factors on the five-year changes in serum vitamin D concentration among older adults. Methods This cohort study was conducted on adults aged ≥60 years living in Amirkola, in the North of...

Background and purpose The global incidence of breast cancer is the highest among all cancers and is the primary reason for cancer-related fatalities. Our study aimed to assess the predictors of quality of life (QOL) and mental health in breast cancer survivors in Northern Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was done on 96 female breast cancer...

Introduction. Due to the prevalence of dysphagia in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and its complications such as aspiration pneumonia, which is the main cause of death in these patients, PD-related disability can be prevented by early diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia. Objective. The present study was aimed at investigating the frequenc...

Background and objective: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)-induced neuroplasticity to induce trans-synaptic transmission at a site away from the stimulus site is one of the recent possible strategies for brain rehabilitation in patients with stroke. This study aimed to determine the effect of rTMS on the primary visual cortex of...

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical, histological, and histomorphometrical outcomes of CenoBone® allograft with and without plasma rich in growth factor (PRGF) for the preservation of edentulous ridge in the dental sockets. Materials and methods: This study is experimental clinical trial that 14 dental sockets were incl...

Background Universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities is an essential human right, recognised in the Sustainable Development Goals as crucial for preventing disease and improving human wellbeing. Comprehensive, high-resolution estimates are important to inform progress towards achieving this goal. We aimed to produce high-res...

Background and Objective: Stability is one of the major issues in orthodontics. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy on the rate of relapse of mandibular incisors. Methods: This Single-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial consisted of twenty patients (aged 12-18 years) seeking orthodontic treatment. The s...

Background: Zinc oxide (ZnO) and graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles (NPs) have antimicrobial properties. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of incorporating these NPs and their chemical and physical blends on abrasion, translucency, and microhardness of flowable composite resin. Materials and methods: In the present in vitro...

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of intraocular pressure (IOP) and assess its association with age, sex, systemic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, body mass index (BMI) and tobacco smoking in Iranian elderly population. Methods: This cohort-based, cross-sectional study assessed elderly individuals aged 60-90...

Access the full text version of the article here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(23)00098-X/fulltext

Background: Knowledge about the associated factors with epilepsy in the elderly in Iran is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of epilepsy and associated factors in Amirkola elderly patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study is a part of a comprehensive and cohort research of "The Amirkola Health and Ageing Projec...

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is still among the leading causes of disease burden and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and the world is not on track to meet targets set for ending the epidemic by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Sustain...

Background Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is still among the leading causes of disease burden and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and the world is not on track to meet targets set for ending the epidemic by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Sustaina...

Despite substantial declines since 2000, lower respiratory infections (LRIs), diarrhoeal diseases, and malaria remain among the leading causes of nonfatal and fatal disease burden for children under 5 years of age (under 5), primarily in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The spatial burden of each of these diseases has been estimated subnationally across S...

Introduction: Due to discrepancy of the relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and bone mineral density (BMD), this study was performed to determine the relationship between BMD and VAT in the elderly. Methodology: This cross-sectional study is part of the second wave of Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP), including 1,200 peop...

Background: During the past three decades, neonate, infant, and child mortality declined in North Africa and Middle East. However, there is substantial heterogeneity in mortality rates across countries. Methods: This study is part of the Global Burden of Diseases study (GBD) 2019. We report the number as well as mortality rates for neonates, inf...

Background: Health-care needs change throughout the life course. It is thus crucial to assess whether health systems provide access to quality health care for all ages. Drawing from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 (GBD 2019), we measured the Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index overall and for select age gr...

Snakebite envenoming is an important cause of preventable death. The World Health Organization (WHO) set a goal to halve snakebite mortality by 2030. We used verbal autopsy and vital registration data to model the proportion of venomous animal deaths due to snakes by location, age, year, and sex, and applied these proportions to venomous animal con...

Background: Due to physiological changes and co-existing chronic diseases, the elderly has to take various drugs with different mechanisms that may increase the risk of drug interactions and side effects of medications. This study was performed to evaluate the profile of drug interactions of Amirkola elderly patients. Methods: This cross-section...

Background: One of the principles of Persian medicine (PM) is the individualized approach that is presented with the concept of Mizaj. In this viewpoint, on the whole body, Mizaj is determined for every person based on 10 criteria, which is a result of the Mizaj of the main organs, including the brain, liver, and heart. There is no standard diagno...

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most prevalent cancer among men worldwide. This study presents estimates of PCa prevalence, incidence, death, years-of-life-lost (YLLs), years-lived-with-disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted-life-years (DALYs), and the burden attributable to smoking during 1990-2019 in North Africa and Middle East...

Background and Objective: With increasing age, the burden of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases. Education seems to be effective in controlling the risk factors for cardiovascular disease to prevent the disease and to control the disease after its development. The burden of cardiovascular disease and its associated risk...