Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Persian version of Mentalized Affectivity Scale

Background and Aims: Mentalized affectivity is a new approach that expresses the process of emotion regulation through a dynamic perspective. Since social-cognitive variables and cultural context play a major role in the process of mentalized affectivity, the present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Mentalized Affectivity Scale in Iran. Materials and Methods: A total of 447 students were selected via the convenience sampling method. The Persian version of Mentalized Affectivity Scale was administered simultaneously with other scales. exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses was used to evaluate the validity of the scale. Moreover, convergent validity and divergent validity of this scale were assessed with other scales. The reliability of the scale was calculated by Cronbach's alpha, coefficient theta, and composite reliability. Results: The results of exploratory factor analysis showed four factors of emotion recognition, emotion processing, emotion tracing, and emotion expression. The significant correlation of factors with the used scales pointed to the content validity and divergent validity of the scale. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire scale was 0.93. The composite reliability of the factors was in the range of 0.82-0.89, and the coefficient theta of the scale was reported as 0.98. With respect to average variance extracted (AVE) greater than 0.5 and composite reliability greater than 0.8, the convergent validity of the factors was confirmed. Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the Persian version of the Mentalized Affectivity Scale is a valid scale in the field of emotion regulation and social cognition that can be used for Iranian populations. The factor structure includes four factors.

Effect of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff extract on PNPLA3 gene expression in non-alcoholic fatty liver and control rats

Background and Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with such symptoms as steatosis, fibrosis, and liver cirrhosis. Kelussia has attracted assiduous attention due to its protective effects on the liver. The PNPLA3 gene is mainly expressed in the liver and plays a major role in the degradation rate of hepatic triglycerides. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effect of Kelussia extract on PNPLA3 gene expression in rats with fatty liver and healthy rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 24 male Wistar rats in the control group (no treatment), obese group (which received a high-fat diet), treatment group 1 (which received a high-fat diet with Kelussia extract 400 mg/kg) and treatment group 2 (a high-fat diet with Kelussia extract 800 mg/kg) for six weeks. Blood samples were taken from rats and the factors of (LDL, HDL, Cholesterol, Triglyceride, and fasting sugar) were measured. After sampling the rat liver, the effect of Kelussia on PNPLA3 gene expression was investigated using the Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique and analyzed in SPSS software (version 22). Results: Based on the results, Kelussia extract at a dose of 800 mg/kg resulted in a more dramatic decrease in PNPLA3 gene expression in rats with fatty liver, compared to a dose of 400 mg /kg, and this reduction was statistically significant, compared to the fatty liver group (P<0.05). The results of biochemical tests confirmed liver improvement in the rats treated with Kelussia extract at a dose of 800 mg/kg. Conclusion: It can be said that Kelussia had a beneficial effect on the reduction of blood lipids; moreover, it reduces the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver and improves the tissue structure of the liver by reducing the expression of PNPLA3 gene; therefore, with more studies, it can be considered a supplement to reduce blood lipids.

The protein-nanoparticle interaction (protein corona) and its importance on the therapeutic application of nanoparticles

Nanobiotechnology has provided promising novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies which capable to create a broad spectrum of nano-based imaging agents and medicines for human administrations. Several studies have demonstrated that the surface of nanomaterials is immediately coated with suspended proteins after contact with plasma or other biological fluids to form protein corona-nanoparticle complexes. Cells react after exposure with these complexes. since, the biological fate and functions of nanomaterials are determined by physiological responses to protein -nanoparticle complexes in this article, we aimed to review some studies about the effects of the protein profiles and physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles in the biological environment on the formation of protein corona and subsequent the biological responses upon exposure to nanoparticles. Also, some used methods for of protein corona analysis has been reviewed. It has been shown that the biological impacts of protein corona may be both constructive and/or destructive in the biomedical applications of nanomaterials. The protein corona–cell interactions can facilitate targeted delivery and cellular absorption of therapeutic nanomaterials and also, they mitigate the unfavorable cytotoxic effects of nanoparticles. On the other hand, these interactions may cause rapid clearance of nanoparticles from the body as well as the activation of undesirable inflammatory responses. Hence, the study of the formation mechanism and biological effects of protein corona plays an important role in the design of nanoparticles with specific physicochemical properties proportional with their intended biological activity.

Comparison of antioxidant and antibacterial activities of various herbal essential oils: An In vitro study

Background and Aims: Herbal essential oils (EOs) have antimicrobial and antioxidant activities due to the high amount of bioactive compounds; therefore, they are considered good candidates for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The present study aimed to assess the total phenolic content and in vitro comparative study of the biological activities of EOs from different plants (e.g., clove, common sage, savory, and organum). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, total phenolic content in EOs was determined, and their antioxidant capacity was measured by the DPPH free radical scavenging method. The components of essential oil were identified using a Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) device. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of EOs was evaluated by the disk diffusion method, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated by the broth macro dilution method. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's multiple range test. Results: The highest content of total phenol (157.07±2.37 mg GAL/g dry weight) was recorded for EO of organum. Moreover, the highest percentage of free radical scavenging was determined at 98.142% for organum. The results of GC/MS analysis depicted that monoterpenes were the main compounds of Eos of organum, and the highest value was obtained for the alpha-pinene (74.04%). Furthermore, the results of antibacterial activity of EOs demonstrated that the highest zone of inhibition with a diameter of 44±0.81 mm was observed for the EO of organum. The lowest values of MIC and MBC were reported as 0.275 and 0.55 mg/mL for the EOs of organum and savory against gram-positive Bacillus cereus, respectively. Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of the current study, the assessed Eos, specifically those of organum, have effective antioxidant and antibacterial activity against bacteria strains, especially gram-positive ones, and can be used as safe antimicrobial compounds in food and health products.

Prevalence and factors related to infection and mortality due to COVID-19 among patients of Shohada Ghaen Hospital, Ghaen, Iran, 2020

Background and Aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging disease, whose first case was reported in December 2019, and rapidly affected the world. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the frequency and factors associated with morbidity and mortality due to COVID -19 in Ghaen, Iran. Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive-analytical study used the information sources of the portal of Shohada Ghaen Hospital, Gaen, Iran, from March 2020 to December 2021, which was collected from 1,124 patients with suspected respiratory infection referring to the hospital. Data using Chi-square and Fisher's exact test for univariate relationships. Moreover, two-way logistic regression was used to investigate the causal relationships, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In this study, the mean age of participants (n=1,124) was obtained at 51.6±24.5 years, and 546 (48.6%) subjects had a positive COVID-19 test by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, among whom 65 (11.9%) cases passed away. Clinical symptoms of body aches, coughs, diarrhea, and shortness of breath were associated with a positive COVID-19 test. It was also revealed that habitat, diabetes, cardiovascular and lung diseases, age, and job were risk factors of COVID-19 infection, and hospitalization in the ICU and age were identified as risk factors for COVID-19-caused death (P<0.05). Conclusion: In the present study, cough and shortness of breath were found to be the most frequent symptoms among patients and deceased individuals. Since these symptoms may be associated with a worse prognosis, they require the special attention of medical staff. The findings of this study also showed that the elderly were more at risk of death from this disease than other age groups, which increased the need for more education and attention to this group of society.

Effects of hepatitis C virus NS3 protein on expression of heat shock protein 70 and Glypican3 as the markers of hepatocellular carcinoma

Background and Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important risk factor for the development of liver cancer. The HCV NS3 protein plays a key role in the virus life cycle and can affect normal cellular activities, such as cell proliferation, cell death, and cell signaling pathways. Moreover, it may influence malignancy development. Two cellular genes, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and Glypican3 (GPC3), that are assessed in this study, play important roles in the regulation of the cell signaling pathways, including cell proliferation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of HCV NS3 protein on the expressions of these two genes in the Balb/C mouse model. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on three groups of male mice of Balb/C (n=8). The first group received NS3 plasmid, the second group received hepatitis B virus HBx plasmid, and the negative control group received distilled water. Two injections were administered via the tail vein, and after the last injection, RNA was extracted from the liver tissue. Next, the cDNA synthesis and real-time polymerase chain reaction for relevant genes were performed. Results: Findings revealed that the relative expression of the selected genes in the NS3 group was significant in comparison with the negative control group (P=0.0229 for GPC3 and 0.0020 for HSP70). However, there was no significant difference between the NS3 group and the HBx group (P=0.4516 for GPC3 and 0.6740 for HSP70). Conclusion: Results showed that NS3 protein may affect the increasing expression of the mentioned genes. Nevertheless, for more precise understanding, much more studies should be performed, such as evaluation of the effect of NS3 on other involved proteins in cell signaling pathways, studying other domains of NS3, performance of pathological and histological tests, usage of various experimental methods, assessment of the role of NS4A as a cofactor for NS3, and usage of vectors with more stability.

Evaluation of the observance of health protocols and requirements of the environmental and occupational health center against COVID-19 in men’s hairdresser salons of Birjand, Iran, in 2020

Background and Aims: The Coronavirus has become a global pandemic that has affected most countries in the world. Hairdresser salon as a public place can transmit infectious diseases, such as AIDS, hepatitis as well as viral, fungal, and skin diseases that are often due to non-compliance with hygiene principles. This study aimed to investigate the observance of health instructions regarding the prevention and control of Coronavirus disease in men's hairdresser salons in Birjand, Iran, in 2020. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 145 hairdresser salons in Birjand were selected through the random sampling method. The data collection tool was a checklist that was prepared according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 18) using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests at a significance level of ≤ 0.05. Results: The findings showed that the total mean score of the observance of workplace health and hygiene guidelines was 24.28±2.52 and the average observance of health instructions in the field of health and personal protection, building hygiene, tool and equipment hygiene, and food hygiene were 13.73±2.08, 2.31±0.68, 7.22±0.64, and 1.01±0.11, respectively. Observance of health instructions was found to have a significant relationship with age and geographical region (P≤0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, it seems necessary to train hairdressers in terms of observing health instructions. Moreover, men’s hairdresser salons should be continuously monitored by health experts.

Comparison of the effect of exercise with Kelussia Odaratissma Mozaff on FoxO1 Expression level in cardiac tissue of obese rats

Background and Aim: The FoxO1 gene is an important regulator of cellular metabolism in heart tissue. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Kelussia extract and exercise on FoxO1 gene expression in vascular tissue. Materials & Methods: In the present study, 30 adult male Wistar rats weighing 180 to 200 g were selected and divided into five groups of control, negative control, one group of obese rats with exercise and two treatment groups with doses of 400 and 800 mg / Kg of Kelussia extract were divided. Molecular tests were performed on the hearts of 30 rats using Real Time RT PCR. Finally, expression test was performed using SPSS software and ANOVA TEST and LSD tests with a significance level of P <0.05. Results: Kelussia extract at a dose of 400 mg / kg can significantly reduce the expression of FoxO1 gene (0.61 ± 0.14 ab) compared to the 800 dose (0.70 ± 0.25 ab) compared to the obese group. Statistically significant was significant (p <0.05). Also, in the group of rats with exercise, we had a decrease in gene expression compared to the obese group (0.54 ± 0.13 b). On the other hand, the results of biochemical tests confirmed the reduction of factors in the hearts of obese rats in rats treated with 400 mg / kg of Kelussia. Discussion and Conclusion: Exercise as well as Kelussia extract can reduce the expression of the FoxO1 gene and, if confirmed in future studies, could be a therapeutic target in heart disease.

Effect of Spirulina platensis green-blue algae consumption, and circuit resistance training (CRT) on lipid profile in overweight and obese middle-aged men

Background and Aims: Researchers have recently considered the impact of herbal supplements combined with exercise on weight control. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Spirulina platensis green-blue algae consumption, and circuit resistance training (CRT) on lipid profile in overweight and obese middle-aged men. Materials and Methods: This was a single-blind, quasi-experimental, and applied study. The study population included 60 overweight and obese men in the age range of 30-55 years with a body mass index of more than 25 (kg/m2). The participants were purposefully selected and randomly divided into four groups of training plus spirulina (N=15); training plus placebo; spirulina; and Placebo. The intervention and placebo groups took two 500 mg spirulina capsules, and placebo capsules daily for eight weeks, respectively. The CRT was performed for eight weeks and three sessions per week based on a flexible timing pattern, with the observation of the principle of overload with rest intervals between stations and sets. Results: There was a significant difference between the study groups in terms of the levels of triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) of the participants (P<0.05). Moreover, in the intra-group investigation, there was a significant reduction in the values of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride (TG), in the groups of training plus spirulina and training plus placebo, cholesterol (TC), and (Aspartate aminotransferase) AST in the groups of training plus spirulina had a significant decrease, Moreover, a significant increase was observed in the levels of HDL and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the group of training plus spirulina. Conclusion: It seems that the consumption of Spirulina platensis green-blue algae combined with CRT can be effective in controlling weight and obesity and preventing obesity-related diseases through the improvement of some indices of metabolic profile and body composition.

Effect of grapefruit juice on CYP2E1 gene expression in obese and control rats

Background and Aims: The CYP2E1 gene encodes cytochrome P450 enzymes that play an essential role in liver fat metabolism. Additionally, grapefruit reduces plasma lipids in the body. Therefore, herbal medicines can be considered as an important treatment strategy. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of grapefruit juice on CYP2E1 gene expression in obese and control rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was performed on 24 male Wistar rats weighing 180±20 g. Rats were divided into four groups: control (no treatment), high-fat diet group, treatment group 1 (high cholesterol diet with grapefruit juice 4 ml/kg), and treatment group 2 (high-fat diet with grapefruit juice) (8 ml/kg). They also gavaged for 6 weeks and CYP2E1 gene expression was finally determined. Statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS software (version 22). Results: The results of CYP2E1 gene expression indicated that grapefruit juice at a dose of 8 ml/kg can further reduce the expression of CYP2E1 gene in rats with fatty liver (1.09 ±0.038) than the dose of 4 ml/kg (1.27 ±0.24). This reduction in expression was statistically significant compared to that of the high-fat diet group (3.61 ±0.25) (P=0.003). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that grapefruit juice reduces the expression of the CYP2E1 gene in obese rats due to naringin and recovers the disease by reducing the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver. Therefore, grapefruit juice can be considered as a therapeutic target in fatty liver disease and obesity.