Alarm of non-communicable disease in Iran: Kavar cohort profile, baseline and 18-month follow up results from a prospective population-based study in urban area.

The PERSIAN Kavar cohort study (PKCS) aims to investigate the prevalence, trends, and relevant prognostic risk factors of non-communicable diseases in participants aged 35-70 years living in the urban area of Kavar County. Kavar County is located at the center of Fars province in the southwest of Iran. Overall, 5236 adults aged 35-70 years old were invited to participate in the PKCS. From whom, 4997 people comprising 2419 men and 2578 women met the inclusion criteria and were recruited in the study (participation rate: 95.4%). This study is aimed to follow participants for at least 10 years; it is designed to perform all procedures similar to the primary phase including biological sampling, laboratory tests, physical examinations, and collecting general, nutritional, and medical data at the 5th and 10th years of follow-up. In addition, participants are annually followed-up by phone to acquire data on the history of hospitalization, any major diagnosis or death. At the enrollment phase, trained interviewers were responsible for obtaining general, nutritional, and medical data utilizing a 482-item questionnaire. The results of the baseline phase of this study show that the overweight category was the most prevalent BMI category among the registered participants (n = 2005, 40.14%). Also, almost one-third of Kavar adult population suffered from metabolic syndrome at the baseline phase (n = 1664, 33.30%). The rate of eighteen-month follow-up response was 100% in the PKCS. Hypertension (n = 116, 2.32%), cardiovascular outcomes (n = 33, 0.66%), and diabetes (n = 32, 0.64%) were the most prevalent new-onset NCDs during eighteen months of follow-up in the participants.

Liver Enzymes and Their Association with Some Cardiometabolic Diseases: Evidence from a Large Kurdish Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: According to reports, liver enzymes might play a role in the incidence and development of cardiometabolic diseases such as metabolic syndrome (MetS), hypertension (HTN), and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We conducted a study to investigate this hypothesis among the Iranian Kurdish population. METHODS: We analyzed data from the baseline phase of the Ravansar noncommunicable disease (RaNCD) cohort. The association between liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALT/AST ratio, GGT, and ALP) with cardiometabolic disease risk factors was investigated by multiple linear regression. The odds ratio of cardiometabolic diseases in each quartile category of liver enzyme concentration was estimated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 47.3 ± 4.1 years (48.1 years in males and 51.8 years in females). In the adjusted model, all enzymes were positively associated with MetS, HTN, and CVD risk factors except for the ALT/AST ratio with SBP and DBP. In the adjusted model, subjects in the fourth quartile for GGT, ALT/AST ratio, ALT, ALP, and AST had 3.29-, 2.94-, 2.45-, 2.00-, and 1.19-fold increased risk for MetS compared with subjects in the first quartile. Increased levels of GGT and ALP were positively associated with the risk of HTN (ORs = 1.33, 95%CI = 1.03-1.71 for GGT; ORs = 1.32, 95%CI = -1.68 for ALP). An increased GGT level was significantly associated with CVD (ORs = 1.54, 95%CI = 1.03-1.68). Within the normal range quartile, ALT had a significant correlation with the incidence of MetS. CONCLUSION: According to the present study, the levels of liver enzymes could be considered for early diagnosis of MetS, HTN, and CVD.

Early and late manifestations of neuropathy due to HSPB1 mutation in the Jewish Iranian population.

OBJECTIVE: Mutations in the HSPB1 gene are associated with a distal hereditary motor neuropathy type 2 (dHMN2) or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2F (CMT2F), usually with autosomal dominant inheritance. This study aimed to describe the phenotype of the HSPB1 c.407G>T (p.Arg136Leu) mutation at early and late stages of the disease course. METHODS: We identified this mutation (previously reported in patients from Italy) in a heterozygous state, among 14 individuals from eight families of Jewish Iranian descent. The clinical, electrophysiological and ultrasonographic features were evaluated during early (less than 5 years, N = 9) or late disease course (N = 5). RESULTS: The majority of subjects were males with a mean age at onset of 43.4 years (range 21-67). Common initial symptoms were gait imbalance, distal (often asymmetric) lower limb weakness and feet numbness. Neurological examination in early disease course showed distal lower extremity weakness in nearly all cases, and absent Achilles tendon reflex in about half. A minority had distal loss of pain, vibration or position sensation. These findings were more prevalent in late disease stage. Electrodiagnostic studies demonstrated a length-dependent axonal motor neuropathy, with typical preferential involvement of the tibial nerve. Muscle ultrasound showed a corresponding length-dependent increase of homogeneous echo-intensity, most noticeably in the gastrocnemius. One patient had a dual diagnosis of CMT2F and CMT2W. INTERPRETATION: The HSPB1 c.407G>G (p.Arg136Leu) mutation causes an adult-onset, predominantly motor, axonal neuropathy in individuals of Jewish Iranian descent. Variable manifestations are noticed, and sensory involvement is more prominent in prolonged disease duration.

Is Cam Morphology Found in Ancient and Medieval Populations in Addition to Modern Populations?

BACKGROUND: Cam morphology is thought to originate near puberty and reflects a response of the peripheral aspect of the proximal femoral physis to increased local load. Participation in particular sports activities has been associated with cam morphology in contemporary patient populations; however, it is unclear whether cam is a recent phenomenon. There are limited data regarding the frequency of its occurrence and the general deviations in femoral anatomy in different historical populations. Such information may help to understand the possible influence of lifestyle and diet on cam morphology. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate femoral morphology in three historical populations. We asked: (1) Was cam morphology present in the three study populations, did those populations differ, and were there differences between sexes? (2) Were there differences in neck-shaft angle, version, or inclination between and among the examined populations? METHODS: We examined 204 adult femurs from the Neolithic population from Iran (n = 37, 3000 BC to 1631 BC), medieval population from Poland (n = 135, 10th to 13th centuries), and contemporary Australian aborigines (n = 32, early 20th century), provided by the Open Research Scan Archive, Museum of the First Piasts at Lednica and the University of Wroclaw, respectively. All three human populations represent different chronologic periods and lifestyles. All bones were scanned using CT and then measured on their three-dimensional (3-D) reconstructions in selected planes. Cam impingement was defined as an alpha angle > 55° measured on the inclination view. To evaluate the differences in anatomy between populations, we measured the true neck-shaft angle on the true AP view, apparent neck-shaft angle on the apparent AP view, the version angle on the version view, and the inclination angle on the inclination view. The prevalence of cam morphology and other anatomic parameters were compared among groups using chi-square test, one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey test, and paired t-test. RESULTS: Cam morphology was present in 5% of the Neolithic population from Iran, in 7% of the medieval population from Poland, and 3% of the contemporary Australian aborigine femurs (OR Neolithic population from Iran/the medieval population from Poland 0.7 [95% CI 0.2 to 3.4]; p = 0.67; OR Neolithic population from Iran/contemporary Australian aborigines 1.8 [95% CI 0.2 to 20.5]; p = 0.65; OR the medieval population from Poland/contemporary Australian aborigines 2.5 [95% CI 0.3 to 20.1]; p = 0.40). There were differences in the presence of cam morphology between the sexes in the medieval population from Poland with both femurs (females: 1% [1 of 76]; males: 15% [9 of 59]; p = 0.002). There was a difference in true neck-shaft angle between the Neolithic population from Iran (121° ± 6°) and contemporary Australian aborigines (131° ± 5°; mean difference 10° [95% CI 7° to 13°]; p < 0.001) and between the medieval population from Poland (124° ± 5°) and the contemporary Australian aborigines (mean difference 7° [95% CI 5° to 9°]; p < 0.001). Apparent neck-shaft angle differed between the Neolithic population from Iran (126° ± 6°) and the contemporary Australian aborigines (134° ± 5°; mean difference 8° [95% CI 6° to 11°]; p < 0.001), and between the medieval population from Poland (126° ± 6°) and the contemporary Australian aborigines (mean difference 9° [95% CI 7° to 11°]; p < 0.001). Moreover, we observed a difference in the version angle between the Neolithic population from Iran (19° ± 7°) and the medieval population from Poland (12° ± 9°; mean difference 7° [95% CI 4° to 10°]; p < 0.001] and in the inclination angle between aforementioned groups (18° ± 7° versus 11° ± 8°; mean difference 7° [95% CI 5° to 10°]; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study found that cam morphology existed in historical populations at rates comparable with a contemporary population. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The presence of cam morphology in historical populations suggests that cam morphology can develop outside of the intense sports activity seen in modern adolescents. Further study will help elucidate the etiology of cam morphology, which may be useful in the development of preventive strategies.

Treatment of women's sexual dysfunction using Apium graveolens L. Fruit (celery seed): A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional manuscripts refer to plants such as Apium graveolens L. Fruit (celery seed), which could be used to improve sexual function among women. Since that time, local herbal shops in Iran continue to provide this herb as a natural aphrodisiac product. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of celery seed for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this parallel, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial, 80 women were assigned to receive either 500 mg of celery seed or placebo 3 times a day for a period of 6 weeks (n = 40 per group). The female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire was used to evaluate women's sexual function before and after treatment. RESULTS: At the end of the sixth week, an improvement in the total FSFI score was significantly greater in celery seed-treated women than those receiving the placebo (P < 0.001). Increased total FSFI score is mainly contributed by improvement in the sexual desire (p < 0.001), arousal (p < 0.001), lubrication (p < 0.001), and pain (p = 0.033) domains at the endpoint of study. No serious side effects were noticed in both groups during the study period. CONCLUSION: It seems that celery seed improved sexual function in women and could be used as a safe, well-tolerated, and effective herbal medicine in women with sexual dysfunction.

Artemisia biennis Willd.: Anti-Nociceptive effects and possible mechanisms of action.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Artemisia biennis Willd. (Dermane in Persian) has been used as an antinociceptive remedy in Iranian folkloric medicine. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-nociceptive effects of Artemisia biennis Willd. aerial part essential oil (ABAEO) on male Swiss mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nociceptive pain techniques including acetic acid-induced writhing (AAIW), formalin-induced paw licking (FPL), glutamate-induced paw licking (GPL), and tail-flick (TF) models were applied. We assessed opioid and L-arginine-NO-cGMP-KATP pathways to detect the possible anti-nociceptive properties of ABAEO. In addition, neuropathic pain was induced by the cervical spinal cord contusion model. RESULTS: ABAEO (120 mg/kg) had a significant anti-nociceptive activities in comparison to the control animals (p < 0.05) in the AAIW, TF, GPL, and FPL assays. The selective opioid antagonist (naloxonazine) administration in the AAIW test alleviated the anti-nociceptive effect of ABAEO (p < 0.05). L-arginine, methylene blue, and glibenclamide treatment prevented the ABAEO anti-nociceptive effects (p < 0.05); however, sodium nitroprusside could profoundly potentiate the ABAEO-associated antinociception in the FPL (phase II) test (p < 0.05). In nociceptive pain models, Cr (one of the main constituents of ABAEO) showed significant anti-nociceptive effects (p < 0.05). Moreover, the von Frey results indicated that ABAEO could attenuate mechanical allodynia in mice. CONCLUSION: Our observation revealed the anti-nociceptive effects of ABAEO in male mice. These effects could include, at least in part, modulating glutamatergic mechanisms via opioid systems. Our data output also indicates activating the L-arginine-NO-cGMP-KATP system in ABAEO anti-nociceptive activities.

Cervical Cancer Screening Participation among Women of Russian, Somali, and Kurdish Origin Compared with the General Finnish Population: A Register-Based Study.

Migrant-origin women are less prone to cervical screening uptake compared with host populations. This study examined cervical cancer screening participation and factors associated with it in the Finnish mass screening program during 2008-2012 in women of Russian, Somali and Kurdish origin compared with the general Finnish population (Finns) in Finland. The study population consists of samples from the Finnish Migrant Health and Well-being Study 2010-2012 and Health 2011 Survey; aged 30-64 (n = 2579). Data from the Finnish screening register linked with other population-based registry data were utilized. For statistical analysis we employed logistic regression. Age-adjusted screening participation rates were Russians 63% (95% CI: 59.9-66.6), Somalis 19% (16.4-21.6), Kurds 69% (66.6-71.1), and Finns 67% (63.3-69.8). In the multiple-adjusted model with Finns as the reference; odds ratios for screening were among Russians 0.92 (0.74-1.16), Somalis 0.16 (0.11-0.22), and Kurds 1.37 (1.02-1.83). Among all women, the substantial factor for increased screening likelihood was hospital care related to pregnancy/birth 1.73 (1.27-2.35), gynecological 2.47 (1.65-3.68), or other reasons 1.53 (1.12-2.08). Screening participation was lower among students and retirees. In conclusion, screening among the migrant-origin women varies, being significantly lowest among Somalis compared with Finns. Efforts using culturally tailored/population-specific approaches may be beneficial in increasing screening participation among women of migrant-origin.

Determinants of Refugee and Migrant Health Status in 10 European Countries: The Mig-HealthCare Project.

In this study, we collect and synthesize information on the health status of the refugee/migrant population in ten European countries in order to map refugee/migrant health needs. With this information, we identify areas of intervention and healthcare system strengthening to provide the basis for future health planning and effective healthcare provision to migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees in the European Union (EU). METHODS: 1407 migrants in ten European Union countries (consortium members of the Mig-HealthCare project) were surveyed on general health, mental health, and specific diseases using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate the risk factors on general quality of life for migrants and refugees in the EU. RESULTS: Mean age was 31.9 (±11.05) years and 889 (63.1%) participants were males. The majority came from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, and Iran. Having a mental health disorder or a chronic disease such as a heart or respiratory disease was associated with worse general health. On the other hand, having permission to stay in the country of interview and being interviewed in the country of final destination was associated with better general health. Access to health care services was fragmented or unavailable for some interviewees because of linguistic, cultural, or administrative barriers. CONCLUSIONS: The management of chronic diseases and mental health conditions in European migrants and refugees is a key priority for health service provision. Further efforts should be made to guarantee healthcare access for migrant and refugee populations.

Living with heart failure: perspectives of ethnic minority families.

BACKGROUND: The family perspective on heart failure (HF) has an important role in patients' self-care patterns, adjustment to the disease and quality of life. Little is known about families' experiences of living with HF, particularly in ethnic minority families. This study describes the experiences of Iranian families living with HF as an ethnic minority family in Denmark. METHODS: In this descriptive qualitative study, we conducted eight face-to-face joint family interviews of Iranian patients with HF and their family members living in Denmark. We used content analysis with an inductive approach for data analysis. RESULTS: We identified three categories: family daily life, process of independence and family relationships. Families were faced with physical restrictions, emotional distress and social limitations in their daily lives that threatened the patients' independence. Different strategies were used to promote independence. One strategy was normalisation and avoiding the sick role; another strategy was accepting and adjusting themselves to challenges and limitations. The independence process itself had an impact on family relationships. Adjusting well to the new situation strengthened the relationship, while having problems in adjustment strained the relationship within the family. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the process of independence as perceived by families living with HF. It is crucial to both families and healthcare professionals to maintain a balance between providing adequate support and ensuring independence when dealing with patients with HF. Understanding patients' stories and their needs seems to be helpful in gaining this balance.

Human platelet antigen 1-6, 9 and 15 in the Iranian population: An anthropological genetic analysis.

Human platelet antigens (HPAs) are membranous glycoproteins considered as alloantigens due to their polymorphisms. HPA-incompatibility in multiple pregnancies or blood transfusion can induce the development of alloantibodies leading to thrombocytopenia. The frequency of HPAs varies among populations, so that deep knowledge of HPA frequencies will help us to reduce those incompatibilities. Herein, we studied the allele and genotype frequencies of HPA1-6, HPA9, and HPA15 among the Iranians with intra- and inter-populations analyses on 36 worldwide populations with diverse ethnicities. The analysis shows that the HPA2 and HPA5 have the greatest differences in genotype distribution between the Iranians and other nations, although similar to other populations, the sole allele found in HPA4, 6, and 9 is "a". Despite other HPAs, the most frequent allele in HPA15 is "b", which is also abundant in HPA3. Hierarchical clustering indicates the highest degree of global similarity in HPA genotype frequency among Iranian, Argentinian, Brazilian, and German Turkish populations. Our findings can be applied to decrease the risk of alloimmunizations and platelet disorders, especially in neonates.

Pregnancy complications in women of Russian, Somali, and Kurdish origin and women in the general population in Finland.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the prevalence of gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders in the most recent pregnancy among women of Russian, Somali, and Kurdish origin and women in the general population in Finland. METHODS: The study groups were selected from population-based samples of 18- to 64-year-old women. The women were of Russian (n = 318), Somali (n = 583), and Kurdish (n = 373) origin or from the general population (n = 243), and had given birth in Finland between 2004 and 2014. The data were obtained from the National Medical Birth Register and the Hospital Discharge Register. Data on gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders were extracted based on relevant International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes. The main statistical methods were logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, parity, body mass index, socioeconomic status, and smoking. RESULTS: The prevalence of gestational diabetes was 19.1% in Kurdish, 14.4% in Somali, 9.3% in Russian, and 11.8% in the general population. The prevalence of hypertensive disorders was 5.4% in the general population, 3.8% in Somali, 3.1% in Kurdish, and 1.7% in Russian. When adjusted for confounders, Kurdish women had two-fold odds for gestational diabetes (odds ratio = 1.98; 95% confidence interval = 1.20-3.32) compared with the general population, but the odds for hypertensive disorders did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: Women of Kurdish origin were more likely to develop gestational diabetes. Studies with larger samples are required to confirm these findings to develop prevention strategies for later development of type 2 diabetes. Future research including other migrant groups is recommended to identify differences in pregnancy complications among the women in migrant and general population.

What are the experiences of education for unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors in the UK?

BACKGROUND: The number of refugees worldwide has increased in recent years, and with this, there has been an increase in the numbers of unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors (UASMs) in the UK. Refugees have been found to experience notable difficulties upon resettlement, and there is evidence to suggest that education can provide a supportive role for young refugees. Although there has been research that has found that UASMs value education, there has been less research that has directly looked at the experiences of education for UASMs. METHODS: In the present study, six UASMs were interviewed and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used as a methodology to analyse the data. RESULTS: Five themes were identified: education facilitating socializing; education and English proficiency leading to a better life in the UK; the impact of transitions; the impact of external stressors; and a desire for additional resources to learn at one's own pace. CONCLUSIONS: Participants within the present research expressed a strong desire for additional resources that would allow them to learn at their own pace. They also emphasized how transitions between different settings and external stressors had an impact on their experiences of education. The links between coping strategies and the participant's asylum status are also discussed with reference to relevant research in the field.

Lead poisoning associated with illicit opium use.

Lead poisoning is an uncommon and challenging diagnosis to make. In 2018, The Victorian Department of Health issued a health warning following four cases of lead poisoning associated with illicit opium use in Melbourne, Australia. We present these cases to highlight clinical features and the relevant investigations leading to diagnosis. All cases occurred in recent immigrants to Australia, who had access to non-traditional sources of opioids. Health care professionals should consider lead poisoning in patients with appropriate symptoms and a history of illicit opium use.

Toxoplasmosis in Nomadic Communities: A Seroepidemiological Study in Southwestern Iran.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is the agent of a zoonotic protozoan infection with worldwide distribution. The rates of infection in different areas are depending on climatic conditions and also social and cultural habits of the people. This cross-sectional study aimed to find out the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in nomadic people in Boyer-Ahmad County, in the southwest of Iran. METHODS: Blood samples (5 mL) were collected from 1005 individuals of nomadic tribes of Boyer-Ahmad County in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province in 2016. A predesigned questionnaire, containing basic epidemiological information was filled out for each subject during the sampling. Sera were evaluated for anti-T. gondii antibodies (both IgG and IgM), using a commercial ELISA kit. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS, using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Out of the 1005 studied subjects, 227 (22.6%) were male and 778 (77.4%) were female. The mean age of participants was 41 years (SD: ±17). The most represented (24.4%) age class was 21-30 years and the least (1.9%) 1-10 years. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 174 (17.3%) of the cases. No statistically significant associations were found between seropositivity to T. gondii and area of residence, age, gender and educational levels of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study show that the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among the nomads of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province is alike to other communities in our country. Further study is required to elucidate the genotype of T. gondii in this community.

Gorgan (Iran) population HLA genetics and anthropology.

Gorgan (Iran) have been studied for HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 genes for the first time. They are Turkmen and originated in East Asia around Altai Mts; they originally spoke a Turk language classified within the Turkish-Oguz group. Peripheral blood samples were collected from Gorgan City (Iran) and HLA typed by standard methodology. HLA allele frequencies were compared with 7984 chromosomes of other World populations and it was shown existence of admixture of Siberian and Mediterranean HLA characters in this population, probably due to longlasting contact with Persians. Three new HLA extended haplotypes were found: A*01:01-B*35:01-DRB1*03:01-DQB1*02:01, A*30:01-B*13:01-DRB1*15:01-DQB1*02:01 and A*31:01-B*35:01-DRB1*15:01-DQB1*03:01. Gorgan (Iran) were most close to Chuvashians (Noth Caspian Sea, Russia) and Siberians, like Tuvinians, Mansi and Buryats in Neighbour Joining and Vista analyses. It is established a relationship of this population with Kurgan (Gorgan, Iran) archaeological mounds culture. However, their kinship with Scythians (2nd century BC) and Sarmatians (4th century AD) is obscure although both of them spoke a Persian language.

Association of CYP2C19 and HSP70 Genes Polymorphism with Aspirin- Exacerbated Respiratory Disease in a Kurd Population.

BACKGROUND: CYP2C19 a metabolizing enzyme and Heat Shock Proteins (HSP) are induced in stress conditions, such as hypoxia and ischemia. Recently, polymorphism in the CYP2C19 and HSP genes has been established in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD). OBJECTIVE: We investigated the polymorphism of these two genes in Kurdish patients with AERD. METHODS: This study involved 306 subjects, referred to the Be'sat hospital in Kurdistan Province, which were divided into three groups, (i) Aspirin Induced Asthma (AIA), (ii) Aspirin Tolerant Asthma (ATA), and (iii) healthy subjects as control. The subjects as control and ATA\AIA groups were verified by the physician. The demographic data of each subject with respect to age, sex, parental education, and residence was collected. Spirometry was performed on subjects and blood samples were collected for serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE) estimation and molecular tests. Genotyping was done for CYP2C19 681G>A، CYP2C19 636G>A, and HSPA1B1267A>G by using PCR- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and for HSPA1B-179C>T by High Resolution Melting (HRM). RESULTS: Demographic statistics were not significantly different between the three groups (p>0.05). Further, genotypes were also not observed to be significantly different in the genes of CYP2C19 681G>A, CYP2C19 636G>A and HSPA1B1267A>G (p>0.05). However, the heterozygote genotype in HSPA1B-179 C>T in AIA group was higher than the control group (p<0.05). Notably, 92.8 % of the subjects showed heterozygote genotype in HSPA1B1267 A>G. In clinical tests, FEV-1, FVC, and asthma severity in the AIA group were higher than control and additionally IgE levels were lower in this group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results confirm the association of polymorphism in the HSPA1B-179C>T and HSPA1B1267A>G with AERD in the Kurdish population.

Differential expression of STAT3 gene and its regulatory long non-coding RNAs, namely lnc-DC and THRIL, in two eastern Iranian ethnicities with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) revealed that variants of STAT3 are associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) risk. There are several studies showing the effect of ethnicity and genetic background on the characteristics of MS. Here, we aimed to investigate STAT3 gene expression status along with its two regulatory long non-coding RNAs, lnc-DC and THRIL, in order to compare the expression of these target genes among two different ethnicities in the east of Iran. METHODS: A case-control study was performed between two groups of MS populations in east of Iran. We recruited individuals with Kurdish ethnicity from North Khorasan and Sistani ethnicity from southeast of Iran. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from all participants, and total RNA was extracted. The gene expression of the selected genes was evaluated by qPCR. RESULTS: The expression of THRIL in North Khorasan MS patients was significantly higher than controls (P = 0.03). The results of simultaneous analysis of expression of the target genes (STAT3, THRIL, and lnc-DC) in both ethnic groups failed to show any significant difference between the MS patients and controls (P > 0.05). In addition, the expression of STAT3 and THRIL genes in Sistani MS patients was statistically meaningful lower than healthy controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study that compared the expression of the STAT3 gene and its regulatory molecules between two ethnic groups of Iranian MS patients. We suggested that STAT3 and its associated molecules might be differentially expressed and regulated in MS patients with different genetic background.

"Moving from uncertainty toward acceptance": a grounded theory study on exploring Iranian women's experiences of encountering menopause.

Purpose: Menopause as a universal phenomenon is influenced by social norms so that women's experiences during menopausal transition are related to the social values and cultural symbols. This qualitative study was conducted to discover the Iranian women's experiences of encountering menopause.Materials and Methods: In this grounded theory study 27 women living in Mashhad and Gonabad, North East of Iran, from May 2013 to July, 2016 were selected using purposive and theoretical sampling. Semi structured in-depth interviews were conducted for data collection until data saturation was achieved. Data was analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's (1998) recommended method through open, axial and selective coding. MAXQDA 2007 software was used for organizing data and managing the process of analysis.Results: The analysis revealed the core category of "moving from uncertainty toward acceptance". The interrelated categories subsumed under the core category included challenging aging, observing the symptoms of menopause, responding to the menopausal symptoms, understanding the need for preparation, and assessing the right time to prepare.Conclusion: Moving from uncertainty toward acceptance was identified as the core concept in the Iranian women's experiences of encountering menopause. Modifying the beliefs of people about menopause and aging as well as increasing their knowledge and information about menopause can help women to experience the menopausal transition with more ease.