مجله طب دریا
پیاپی 1 (بهار 1398)

Biochemistry of Algae are interesting for many researchers because they are directly related to the development of new drugs. Algae contain compounds with active groups, among which alkaloids are very interesting because these compounds have medicinal properties. The chemistry of alkaloids in plants has been studied extensively, but the number of studies done on algae is few. In this review, a detailed overview of the macroalgal alcohols, structure and, to some extent, their medicinal properties has presented. The alkaloids found in algae can be divided into three groups, which include phenylethylaminoalkaloids, indole halogen alkaloids, and other alkaloids.

Skin diseases are common complaints in military personnel, and working in conditions of high heat and moisture can increase their prevalence. The aim of current study is to investigate the prevalence of skin disease among navy personnel.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 in south of Iran. Sampling was performed using the census method. Navy personnel (all men) who were exposed to moisture and heat in all or part of their daily activities were included. Data regarding age, work experience in the navy, working hours in conditions of moisture and heat, hygiene, use of sunscreen and moisturizer, smoking, and consumption of fruit and vegetable were recorded. The navy personnel were examined by a dermatologist. Clinical data related to any skin disease (dermatitis, acne, warts, fungal infection etc,) were recorded in a checklist. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18 software.

The prevalence of skin diseases among navy personnel was 38.1% (85 out of 223). The most common skin diseases were dermatitis (9.5%), skin dryness (5.5%), moles (5%), fungal diseases (5%), and acne (4.6%). Increased work hours in hot and wet conditions (p=0.001), increased sun exposure hours (p=0.04), a low number of baths per week (poor hygiene) (0.02), smoking (p=0.04) and lack of consumption of fruits and vegetables (p=0.04) all have a significant relationship on the prevalence of skin diseases in navy personnel. There was no relationship between prevalence and age, work experience, use of sunscreen cream, and use of moisturizer.

The high prevalence of skin diseases in navy personnel was associated with an increase in working hours in the sun, hot and wet conditions, poor hygiene, smoking, and low consumption of fruit and vegetables. Therefore, it is recommended that all navy personnel should be visited periodically by a dermatologist. The need for adequate skincare, personal hygiene and proper diet are emphasized.

Military personnel who work with radar missiles are exposed to electromagnetic waves. The negative effects of these waves on human health have been reported in some studies. The aim of the current study was to determine the relationship between exposures to electromagnetic waves with some clinical disorders in radar device users.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 4 cities near to Persian Gulf, in 2018. All personnel who were exposed to electromagnetic waves due to occupational reasons (radar device users) were included in a census. Demographic data and a self-declaration of clinical disorders (such as headache) were recorded in the checklist. Work experience (years) in the radar section was recorded. The clinical examination was performed by a general practitioner. CBC, diff blood tests and peripheral blood smears were tested in the laboratory, and the results were explained and interpreted by the pathologist. Eye examinations were performed by an ophthalmologist. The association between possible complications with work experience in the radar section and exposure to electromagnetic waves was analyzed.

A total of 161 radar users with mean work experience of 8.6 years (2-22 years) who had long exposure to electromagnetic waves were studied. A total of 113 (70.2%) had more than 5 years of work experience in the radar sector. Only 6 (8.1%) out of 74 were infertile. A total of 7 (0.4%) of the 161 had cataracts, and inflammation and redness of the eye was observed in 13 (8%) of the 161. Headache was recorded in 62 (38.5%) of the 161. No cases of leukemia were recorded. The relationship between the duration of exposure to electromagnetic waves with complications such as infertility, cataracts, inflammation and redness of the eye, and headache was not significant. However, in those who were exposed to electromagnetic waves for more than five years, the frequency of these complications was higher.

The increase in the duration of exposure to electromagnetic waves with complications such as infertility, cataracts, inflammation and redness of the eye, headache in radar users were not significantly related. However, in people working with electromagnetic waves for more than five years, the frequency of these complications was higher. Therefore, general precautions in workplace safety guidance and regular medical examinations for these personnel is recommended.

Military personnel, especially maritime border guards, are often at risk of physical and psychological damage when they work in challenging climates and at a distance from their families. The current study aimed to determine the relationship between mental health and the length of deployment to an Iranian island among deployed military personnel.

This is an analytical study, and the study population consisted of all military personnel deployed to An Iranian Island in 2018. Sampling was performed by census method. Mental health was investigated by use of the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) questionnaire. The length of deployment on the island was recorded in months. The research team visited the island to distribute questionnaires among the military personnel and gather data. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.18 software.

A total of 170 questionnaires were completed by deployed military personnel in an Iranian island. The mean age was 23.2 ± 4.5 years old. The mean (±standard deviation) deployment length was 19.1±30.5 months (range: 1‒50 months). Assessment of mental health by the SCL90 questionnaire showed that on the psychoticism, paranoid ideation, hostility, depression, obsessive-compulsive, somatization, PST (positive symptoms total), and GSI (General Severity Index) scales, respondents had a mean score of more than one (>1).  Therefore respondents were considered to have malaise. None of the scales used indicates a mental disorder. By increasing the duration of deployment to the island, the mean scores for all scales were increased but this finding was not significant.

Increasing length of deployment in an Iranian island had a negative effect on the mental health of military personnel on all scales. Although the deployed military personnel were generally not considered to have mental disorders, greater efforts should be made to improve the mental health of deployed military personnel on an Iranian island and avoid lengthy missions away from their families.

Navy personnel deployed in coastal and sea areas are exposed to many stressors that can lead to job burnout. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the rate of job burnout and its correlation with organizational punishments and encouragments in navy.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in navy personnel in Bandar Abbas in 2018. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, subjects were selected by the simple random method and entered into the study. Demographic data and encouragement and punishment experience in the Navy were recorded using a self-declaration checklist. A standard Goldard questionnaire (GBI) was used to measure job burnout.

A total of 130 navy personnel were surveyed, with an average age of 35.7±6.7 years. The average score of job burnout was 0.44±4.06. This score is level III of job burnout, indicating that individuals are not completely healthy and should receive more control and better support. A total of 86 (65.3%) participants had a moderate to high degree of job burnout. Encouragements and punishments had a significant effect on job burnout of employees. Other organizational variables did not have a significant relationship with job burnout.

The job burnout rate of most of the navy personnel was moderate. Authorities should pay more attention to the causes of job burnout. The reduction of penalties and increasing incentives (organizational factors) can play an effective role in reducing job burnout.

The use of natural compounds derived from plants and animals play important roles in disease therapy. Chronic myeloid leukemia is a blood cancer that can occur in multipotent stem cells. The K562 cell line is considered a cancer type for the study of chronic myeloid leukemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of red alga extract of Laurencia caspica on the K562 cell line.

This experimental study was performed in two separate phases. In the first phase, samples of the Laurencia caspica red algae were gathered from the coast of the Caspian Sea, Iran. Then, hydroalcoholic extraction of the mentioned algae was performed using a rotary evaporator and dry oven. The second phase involved treating the K562 cancer cells with different concentrations of algae extract (25, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 μg/ml). The anti-proliferative and cell cytotoxic properties of the algae extract were evaluated by MTT and apoptosis. In all analysis tests, p <0.05 was considered a significant level.

The results of the MTT assay showed that the extract of Laurencia caspica red algae in the 800 and 200 μg/ml concentrations had the highest and the lowest anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells, respectively. The results of the apoptosis test showed that concentrations of 800 and 200 μg/ml of algae extract had the lowest and the highest survival of cancer cells, respectively. The effectiveness of extract of Laurencia caspica red algae was concentration-dependent which inhibited the growth and proliferation of the K562 cancer cells in all tests.

Regarding the results of this study, extract of Laurencia caspica red alga may be used as a natural compound in cancer treatment. However, further studies are required.

The coastal waters of Hormozgan province are affected by the environmental pollution of the Persian Gulf due to oil and gas industries. The present study aimed to bio-monitor pollutants in Amiantis umbonell (oysters), Fenneropenaeus merguiensis (shrimp), Pseudorhombus elevatus (fish), selected as bioindicators of this area.

Sampling was performed from 8 selected stations on the coast of Hormozgan in summer and winter 2018. Thirty samples of Amiantis umbonella, 15 of Fenneropenaeus merguiensis, and 15 of Pseudorhombus elevatus were collected. Sampling and anlayses were performed according to standard methods of Manual of oceanographic observations and pollutant analyses methods (MOOPAM). Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-Mass) was used to measure the PAHs, and AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry) was used for measuring lead and cadmium.

Finding showed that in fish muscle, there was no lead (0.45±0.1) or cadmium (0.07±0.01) contamination, but that there was moderate contamination of PAH (998 ± 1.0). The muscle and shell of shrimp had high levels of contamination with lead (4.91±0.7), (4.31±0.9) and PAH (1505±1.0), (1335±1.0) and low infection (1.01±0.6) and moderate cadmium levels (2.78 ± 0.6). Oyster soft tissue was moderately contaminated with lead (2‒5) and PAH (380±0.1) but there was no evidence of cadmium contamination (≥0.5). Overall, cadmium contamination (≥0.5) in the samples was low, but contamination with lead (> 3) and PAH (426±1.0) were moderate to high.

The findings of this study indicate that the measured concentrations of heavy metal elements and PAHs in fish, shrimps and oyesters are more than the recommended values and, therefore these species should be consumed with cautioun.