Background: Post COVID-19 syndrome, also known as "Long COVID," is a complex and multifaceted condition that affects individuals who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to comprehensively assess the global prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder in individuals coping with Post COVID-19 syndrome.Methods: A rigorous search of electronic databases was conducted to identify original studies until 24 January 2023. The inclusion criteria comprised studies employing previously validated assessment tools for depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, reporting prevalence rates, and encompassing patients of all age groups and geographical regions for subgroup analysis Random effects model was utilized for the meta-analysis. Meta-regression analysis was done.Results: The pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety among patients coping with Post COVID-19 syndrome was estimated to be 23% (95% CI: 20%—26%; I2 = 99.9%) based on data from 143 studies with 7,782,124 participants and 132 studies with 9,320,687 participants, respectively. The pooled prevalence of sleep disorder among these patients, derived from 27 studies with 15,362 participants, was estimated to be 45% (95% CI: 37%—53%; I2 = 98.7%). Subgroup analyses based on geographical regions and assessment scales revealed significant variations in prevalence rates. Meta-regression analysis showed significant correlations between the prevalence and total sample size of studies, the age of participants, and the percentage of male participants. Publication bias was assessed using Doi plot visualization and the Peters test, revealing a potential source of publication bias for depression (p = 0.0085) and sleep disorder (p = 0.02). However, no evidence of publication bias was found for anxiety (p = 0.11).Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate a considerable burden of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, among individuals recovering from COVID-19. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive mental health support and tailored interventions for patients experiencing persistent symptoms after COVID-19 recovery.

Background: Obesity is a global health concern, and understanding its prevalence among medical students is crucial for shaping targeted interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to comprehensively assess the prevalence of obesity and overweight among medical students. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, in order to identify relevant studies that evaluated obesity and overweight among medical students. Inclusion criteria encompassed published and peer-reviewed studies reporting the prevalence of obesity among medical students. Results: A total of 1245 studies were screened based on their titles and abstracts, and 99 studies comprised a total sample size of 47,455 medical students across diverse geographical regions were included in this study. The overall pooled prevalence of overweight among medical students was estimated at 18% (95% CI: 17%—20%), with obesity at 9% (95% CI: 7%—11%). The combined prevalence of excess weight (overweight and obesity) was calculated to be 24% (95% CI: 22%—27%). Meta-regression results indicated a significant correlation between study year and overweight/obesity prevalence (p < 0.05), with a trend towards increasing prevalence over time. Male medical students exhibited a higher pooled prevalence, increasing with the percentage of male participants. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis provide a comprehensive overview of the prevalence of obesity among medical students globally. In summary, obesity and overweight present a substantial worldwide health concern, especially among susceptible groups such as medical students, whose prevalence is on the rise. It is crucial to grasp the extent and contributing factors of obesity among medical students to formulate precise interventions aimed at fostering healthier habits and alleviating the adverse impacts of obesity on both physical and mental health.

Garlic can be considered as a useful natural herb in inhibition of inflammation. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of garlic extract in lowering inflammatory markers in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. In this parallel-designed double blind randomized clinical trial, 42 PD patients at the Shafa dialysis center, Tehran in 2017 were included. The primary outcome in this study was systemic inflammation which was evaluated by measuring the concentrations of IL-6 and CRP and ESR in serum. Baseline versus after-intervention median (IQR) of IL-6 (pg/ml), CRP (mg/L) and mean ± SD of ESR (mm) in garlic and placebo groups was 2.2 (0.8, 6.4) versus 0.7 (0.6, 1.2) (p < 0.001) and 2.0 (0.8, 2.1) versus 0.6 (0.6, 0.8) (p = 0.002), 13.0 (5.0, 14.0) versus 2.0 (1.0, 9.0) (p < 0.001) and 7.0 (2.0, 10.0) versus 6.0 (3.7, 7.5) (p = 0.547) and 35.4 ± 21.7 versus 50.7 ± 28.5 (p = 0.021) and 46.0 ± 26.0 versus 45.3 ± 22.3 (p = 0.797). Median (IQR) of Percentage Before-After change in CRP was − 71.4%(− 85.7, − 42.9%) and − 20.0%(− 30.0, 114.3%) in garlic and placebo group respectively. The Mann-Whitney U test indicated this difference is statistically significant (p < 0.001). The results imply that administrating 400 mg of standardized garlic extract twice a day for 8 weeks resulted in a significant reduction in IL-6, CRP and ESR. Since inflammatory state can be a serious life threatening condition in PD patients, we suggest prescribing this safe and well-tolerated natural substance to attenuate the inflammatory state in these patients. However, assessment of these effects in a larger randomized trial is strongly recommended (IRCTID: IRCT2017072535305N1, 2017-10-16).

Saffron, a natural remedy with potential antidepressant and anxiolytic properties, has gained attention as a potential therapeutic option. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of saffron versus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treating depression and anxiety. Electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane database, were searched from inception to April 31, 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing saffron intervention with SSRIs in adults with depression or anxiety were included. Random-effects meta-analysis using standardized mean differences (SMDs) and risk ratio (RRs) with their 95% CIs calculated continuous and binary outcomes, respectively. Meta-analysis of 8 studies assessing depression outcomes revealed a nonsignificant difference between saffron and SSRIs in reducing depressive symptoms (SMD = 0.10l 95% CI: –0.09 to 0.29). Four studies reporting anxiety outcomes showed a nonsignificant difference between saffron and SSRIs in reducing anxiety symptoms (SMD = 0.04; 95% CI: –0.22 to 0.29). With regard to safety, participants receiving saffron had fewer adverse events than the SSRI group (risk difference: –0.06; 95% CI: –0.09, –0.04; I²: 0%). Saffron could be a potential SSRI alternative to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms with fewer adverse events. Further research with larger sample sizes and in diverse populations is warranted to validate these findings and explore potential moderators of treatment response. PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023443236.

Background: Current guidelines used for establishing reference intervals for thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), recommended by the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB), have been a matter of controversy. In the present study, we determined TPOAb reference intervals for different age and sex groups, and the TPOAb cut-off points for subclinical and overt hypothyroidism in an iodine sufficient population Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted within the framework of the prospective Tehran Thyroid Study (TTS), in which 4174 healthy euthyroid individuals were followed for 10 years. Thyroid function tests and TPOAb were assessed. Results: Mean ± SD age of participants was 39.3 ± 15.2 years. Estimated reference intervals for TPOAb corresponding to the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles were 1.5-32.8 and 2.1-35 IU/mL in males and females respectively. There were no significant variations in the different age groups in either sex. The optimal cut-off points for TPOAb were 18.38 and 14.77 IU/mL for predicting clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism, respectively. Conclusions: This study establishes the reference intervals and the optimal cut-off points for TPOAb in an iodine sufficient population.

Background: We sought to conduct this comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance in Iranian medical students and resident physicians. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on 23 December 2023 in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Iranian national databases. We pooled the prevalence of individual studies using the random effect model. Results: Our systematic search showed 36 articles that meet the eligibility criteria. Most included studies were cross-sectional. The most used questionnaire to assess depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance were Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale—21 Items (DASS-21), and The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. The overall prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance among Iranian medical students were 43% (95%CI: 33%–53%%, I2 = 98%), 44% (95%CI: 31%–58%%, I2 = 99%), 48% (95%CI: 39%–56%%, I2 = 97%), respectively. The results of subgroup and meta-regression analyses showed questionnaires used and the place of the medical school were significantly associated with the prevalence of aforementioned outcomes. Funnel plot and Begg’s regression test did not show a significant source of funnel plot asymmetry for depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study showed that nearly half of the medical students had some type of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance problems. To address this serious national public health issue, efficient preventive measures, routine screenings, and prompt interventions are required.