مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی ایلام
سال بیست و نهم شماره 4 (پیاپی 129، مهر 1400)

Heroin dependence is a chronic relapsing disorder caused by a combination of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. The genetic contribution in the vulnerability to heroin dependence is 40%-60%. Alterations in dopamine transport in the CNS are implicated in drug and alcohol dependence, and according to linkage studies, the HTR2A rs6313 single nucleotide polymorphism plays an important role in drug dependence and abuse. This case-control study aimed to investigate the association between HTR2A rs6313 and heroin dependence among a population from Northwest Iran.

The study included a sample of 100 heroin-dependent patients and 102 control subjects. After DNA extraction from blood samples, the genotype of HTR2A rs6313 polymorphism was investigated among patients and controls using the PCR-RFLP method. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS software to explore a significant association.
(Ethic code: 5/4/12152)

Frequencies of CC, CT, and TT genotypes were 23%, 50%, and 27% in the patient group and 32.35%, 44.12%, and 23.53% in the control group. According to statistical analysis, there were no significant differences between case and control groups in this regard (P>0.05).

The results of the study could not support a significant association between HTR2A rs6313 polymorphism and heroin dependence in the Azeri population of Northwest Iran. This indicates the need to investigate other candidate genetic polymorphisms in the study population.

Human error plays a significant role in the occurrence of industrial accidents. Displacement and unloading operations are operations in which the occurrence of human error may lead to plenty of human and financial losses. The present study aimed to investigate the possibility of human error occurrence in overhead crane operators in a Steel Company in Hormozgan, Iran.

This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted using the Standardized Plant Analysis Risk-Human Reliability Analysis (SPAR-H) technique. In this study, the job tasks of overhead crane operators were firstly analyzed using the hierarchical task analysis (HTA) technique. Subsequently, the probability of human error in job tasks was assessed using the SPAR-H technique.
(Ethic code: IR.ACECR.JDM.REC.1399.005)

Generally, five main tasks and 16 sub-tasks have been analyzed in this study. The highest probability of error was related to the three sub-tasks of longitudinal motion, transverse motion, and high and low motion (0.3975). The lowest probability of error was under the duty of recording shift reports, transmitting information orally, and writing (0.05). The results of this study clearly showed the effect of interdependence on increasing the probability of error occurrence.

Based on the results of the present study, some preventive measures were proposed to reduce the possibility of human error, including identifying and controlling job stressors, correcting the ergonomic status of crane cabins, preparing work instructions, as well as training and monitoring their proper implementation.

Ethephon is an organophosphorus that used to stimulate plant growth. Royal Jelly is a substance with antioxidant properties and is effective for strengthening the immune system. This study aimed to determine the effect of Royal Jelly on sperm parameters, in vitro fertilization, and oxidative stress indicators in mice.

In this experimental study, 20 adult male mice (NMRI strain) were divided into four control and experimental groups. The experimental group received Ethephon at 480 mg/kg. Royal Jelly was then administered orally and daily at a concentration of 200 mg/kg alone and in combination with Ethephon. After treatment, sperm samples were collected from the tail of epididymis to investigate sperm parameters and in vitro fertilizing potential; moreover, the testis tissue was taken for oxidative stress examination. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. (Ethic code: IR-UU_AEC-811/پد/3)

A decrease in the sperm motility and viability, fertilization rate, blastocyst, and hatching embryos, as well as an increase in DNA damage, lack of nuclear maturation, and blocked embryos was observed in the experimental groups, compared to the control group. Moreover, Total Antioxidant Capacity and Malondialdehyde in the groups receiving Ethephon decreased and increased, respectively. However, Royal Jelly can prevent the adverse effects of oxidative stress (P<0.05).

According to the results of this study, royal jelly can have an amelioration effect on epididymal sperm and in vitro fertilizing potential.

The Ministry of Health influences the executive organizations through the high councils and the decision-making system. It is necessary to adopt an inter-sectoral cooperation approach, seek appropriate support for interacting with these councils, focus on the health taken decisions, and analyze their current situation. This study aimed to investigate the challenges and barriers to the interaction of high councils of health with the Iran Ministry of Health.

The present study is a field-based qualitative study that was conducted to analyze the current situation of the High Councils. Data were collected through interviews, group discussion sessions, and document analysis. To collect the data, 23 interviews and 2 focus group sessions were conducted using purposive sampling. The obtained data were then analyzed using MAXQDA software (version 10).
(Ethic code: 162432750)

The results of the study showed that in terms of activity, the elected high councils are divided into three categories of active, semi-active, and inactive. Challenges facing these councils include lack of financial and human resources, inadequate structure and organization, non-transparent rules and regulations, lack of executive guarantees, poor planning and cross-sectoral coordination, lack of monitoring and evaluation system, low level of awareness and attitude of policy makers and managers about health, poor leadership of the Ministry of Health, and finally the lack of a health appendix in approvals. The improvement of the performance of high councils in applying the health appendix to approvals can be achieved through such interventions as 1. Policy interventions, 2. Executive structure interventions, and 3. Culture building and advocacy.

According to the results of the study, it is necessary for the health system to develop inter-sectoral cooperation and seek appropriate support from high councils in order to fairly improve community health indicators, take action to reduce barriers to interaction through policy, executive, culture-building, and advocacy interventions.

Suicide is caused by the interaction of many factors; however, most suicides are preventable. If suicide does not lead to death, there is concern that the behavior may be repeated. Teaching life skills based on participatory and practical learning is very effective in increasing health and early prevention of problems, as well as helping adolescents to learn positive behaviors and maintain their mental health. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of life skill training in ego power, temperament, and suicidal thoughts among the girls and boys who attempted to commit suicide in Ilam province, Iran.

This semi-experimental study was conducted based on a pretest-posttest design with control and follow-up groups. The statistical population of the research included all boys and girls aged 18 to 24 (n=212) in Ilam province who for the first time over the past six months in 2018-2019 committed suicide and were referred to the medical centers of this province. In total, 80 cases were purposefully selected as an accessible sample and were matched and assigned into (based on education status) the experimental (20 girls and 20 boys) and control groups (20 girls and 20 boys). The data were collected using the temperament scale, ego scale, and suicidal thought scale. The data were analyzed through variance analysis with frequent measurements.
(Ethic code:10120705972003)

The results of analysis of variance showed a significant difference in pre-post life skill training test among girls and boys who attempted to commit suicide in Ilam province in the experimental, control, and follow-up groups in terms of the level of temperament, ego power, and suicidal thoughts. Similarly, multivariate analysis of variance showed that life skill training in group type and test status had an effect on temperament and its dimensions, ego power, and suicidal thoughts of boys and girls who attempted to commit suicide in Ilam province.

According to the findings it can be concluded that life skills training has been effective in ego power, temperament, and suicidal thoughts of girls and boys who attempted suicide both in the post-test and follow-up stages.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are compounds with antimicrobial properties that are studied widely due to the development of resistance of pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics. In the present study, the toxicity and antimicrobial effects of two natural monomeric peptides (S3 and S∆3) were compared with S3-S∆3 hybrids and S3 tetramers.

Protein hybrids (S∆3S3-2mer-GS) S3-S∆3 and tetramer protein S3 (S3-4mer-GS) were expressed in E. coli. BL21 (DE3). Following that, the presence of mutant peptides was confirmed, and their antimicrobial activity was compared and evaluated with S3 and S∆3 monomers. Finally, the toxicity of tetramer and hybrid made on the MDA-MB-231 cell line was evaluated and compared.

The toxicity of the hybrid was slightly increased, compared to the tetramer for eukaryotic cells; however, this increase was negligible at the active concentration of this protein. Cell survival for hybrids was lower for S3 and SΔ3; nonetheless, cell survival for each sequence decreased with increasing time. Furthermore, the inhibition of hybrid microbial growth was improved and compared with tetramer and S3-SΔ3. It was found that an increase in the positive charge of the hybrid protein did not have a toxic effect on the host bacteria.

Due to the appropriate expression and increased antimicrobial activity and negligible cytotoxicity, the hybrid peptide S3-S∆3 and tetramer S3 can be considered an effective production strategy to obtain AMPs.

Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a member of the cytokine family and an important regulator of inflammatory reactions. Due to the severe and irreversible complications of this disease in the advanced stages, timely treatment, especially with herbal medicines, can be considered an important strategy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of grapefruit extract on the IL-18 gene expression in mice with fatty liver.

In this study, 24 male Wistar rats weighing 180±20 g were divided into four groups (positive control, negative control, first treatment, and second treatment). The two treatment groups received grapefruit extract 4 and 8 ml/kg by gavage for 5 weeks, respectively. Finally, the rats were anesthetized with chloroform, and after dissection, the liver tissue and blood samples were collected. Subsequently, RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis were performed using the relevant kits according to the protocol, and finally the expression of IL18 gene was performed using Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, and the relevant analyzes were performed.
(Ethic code: IR.IAU.SHK.REC.1399.049)

In the present study, the results showed that grapefruit extract at a dose of 8 ml/kg could further reduce the expression of IL-18 gene, compared to a dose of 4 ml/kg in rats with fatty liver. This decrease in the rate expression was significant in the patient group (P<0.05). The results of biochemical tests confirmed liver improvement in treated rats at a dose of 8 ml/kg.

Grapefruit juice seems to reduce various symptoms of inflammation due to its orange content by reducing the expression of the IL-18 gene in rats with a fatty liver that can be considered a therapeutic target in fatty liver disease.

The Atrogin-1 gene is selectively expressed only in muscle tissue. Considering the importance of the Kelussia and Atrogin-1 gene, this study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise and Kelussia on the expression of Atrogin-1 gene in the heart tissue of obese rats.

In total, 30 adult male Wistar rats weighing 180 to 200 g were selected and divided into five groups of control, negative control (obese mice), two treatment groups receiving doses of 400 and 800 mg/kg of Kelussia extract, and a group of obese mice along with exercise. It should be noted that a rat treadmill was used in which the rats were placed on the device five days a week for one hour. Atrogin-1 gene expression was assessed using Real-time (RT)-PCR technique, and finally, the results were analyzed using SPSS software through an independent t-test. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
(Ethic code: IR.IAU.SHK.REC.1399.050)

The results showed that Kelussia extract at a dose of 800 mg/kg could significantly reduce the expression of Atrogin-1 gene (1.15±0.33b), compared to 400 (1.27±0.50ab) and the obese group. On the other hand, the group of mice with exercise also had a significant decrease in Atrogin-1 gene expression, compared to the obese group (1.75±0.84ab). The results of biochemical tests also confirmed the improvement of the heart of obese mice with 800 mg/kg.

Kelussia due to compounds, such as flavonoids, can reduce the expression of Atrogin-1 gene. If it is confirmed in future studies, it can be a therapeutic target in the hearts of obese people.

The ACE gene encodes the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which is characterized by the presence of allele I or the absence of allele D of a 287-bp fragment. The D allele is associated with higher ACE activity and increased angiotensin II levels and performance in strength-oriented exercise tasks. This study aimed to compare the genetic profile of rs4646994 single nucleotide polymorphism of the ACE gene in the elite male weightlifters and non-athletes.

In total, 30 elite male weightlifters (league, country, national team, Asian, world, and Olympic champions) living in Isfahan province along with 43 healthy non-athlete volunteers who were matched in age, height, and weight to the elite group formed the subjects of the study. After completing the consent form, saliva samples were collected from the participants, and after DNA extraction, ACE genotypes were determined using PCR-RLFP and electrophoresis techniques. Data analysis was performed using independent t-test, chi-square, and logistic regression in SPSS software (version 20).
(Ethic code: 7993)

The results showed that the prevalence of D allele in elite weightlifters and non-athletes was significantly higher than allele I in their groups (P<0.05). Moreover, in the genotyping distribution, D/I was most common both in the study population (7.50%), as well as weightlifters (7.56%) and non-athletes (5.46%). However, there was no significant difference in the elite weightlifters and non-athletes regarding the distribution of D/I ACE genotyping (χ2=0/31).

The study showed a positive relationship between Iranian elite weightlifters and the ACE D allele, which probably distinguishes it as one of the effective genetic factors in creating a strength phenotype of Iranian weightlifters.

The study of the effects of synthetic peptides with antibacterial properties can provide more effective antibiotics. This study designed, expressed, and investigated the Sushi 3 tetramer peptide. Subsequently, it was compared in terms of changing antibacterial properties with another Sushi3 tetramer peptide the aspartic acid and proline amino acids of which were replaced with glycine and serine amino acids.

First, the mentioned Sushi3 tetramer peptide sequences were designed, constructed, and named Mer1 and Mer 2, respectively, and cloned separately into plasmid pET-26b (+) and finally transferred to E.coli BL21 host (DE3). After the expression of the peptides, the presence of peptides was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Afterward, the antimicrobial activity of Mer1 and Mer 2 was evaluated and compared. Finally, the toxicity of the two tetramers made on the MDA-MB-231 cell line was evaluated and compared.

Mer1 and Mer 2 had similar protein expression, and the toxic effect of both peptides on the cell line was not significantly different. however, Mer 2 had more effective antimicrobial effects than Mer1 at the same concentrations.

Evaluation of the effect of amino acid replacement with less negatively charge on increasing the antimicrobial activity of peptides is a suitable strategy. The above results increase the possibility of designing and producing antimicrobial peptides against antibiotic-resistant strains as the next generation of antibiotics.