Background & aim: Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A are among the most common mycotoxins in food products, including grains such as rice, whose entry into the human body can endanger consumer health.Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine and investigate the contamination of raw and cooked rice with Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A in restaurants of Yasuj, Iran. Methods:The present is a cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020.In the present research, 48 samples of raw and cooked rice, including 5 and 4 different Iranian and foreign commercial brands were randomly collected from restaurants in Yasuj, respectively.At that point, to measure the levels of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A, subsequently digesting the rice samples using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), the test was conducted based on Iranian National Standard No. 12004, which is a guideline for sampling agricultural products to identify and quantify mycotoxins.The obtained results were analyzed using SPSS and Excel software, and statistical tests including independent t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were applied. Result:The contamination levels of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A were determined to be 87% and 95.8% of the rice samples, respectively.Only two samples of Iranian rice (brand 5) and one sample of foreign rice (brand 3) contained Aflatoxin B1 amounts exceeding the standard limit set by Iran (5 nanograms per gram).The levels of Ochratoxin A in all samples were below the permissible limit set by the Iranian National Standard Organization.The rice cooking process significantly reduced the concentrations of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A (p<0.05).The reduction rates of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A in Iranian and foreign rice were 33.52%, 29% and 23.32%, 25.62%, respectively.It was determined that the draining cooking method had a greater effect on reducing these mycotoxins in rice. Conclusion:The contamination levels of the rice samples examined in the present study with Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A did not pose a health risk to humans.The cooking process was effective in reducing these fungal toxins, and the draining method was more effective compared to the absorption method by removing toxins through discarded water.

Background & aim:The knowledge of the biochemical composition of salivary stones (sialoliths) is necessary for their aetiology and formation mechanism.A small number of studies have investigated sialoliths' elemental composition and clinical symptoms, probably due to the unknowingness and uncertainties of their formation.The purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence, physicochemical characteristics and clinical symptoms of salivary stones (sialoliths).Methods: This is a semi-experimental study that was conducted in Shiraz medical centers in 2023.Sialoliths' physical properties (colour, size, weight and hardness) and elemental composition (using an SEM-EDS) after non-randomly collecting from available samples in Shiraz health centres in 2022 for 9 months were determined.The target population included male and female patients of different age ranges.Statistical tests of Shapiro-Wilk and Mann-Whitney were applied to identify the data normality and find significant differences between the distribution of elements and individual factors, respectively.Results: Salivary stones comprised white to light brown colours and a 1 to 40 mm size range, with a mean weight of 0.65 g and hardness of 2 to 4. Salivary stones dominantly constitute oxygen (O), carbon (C), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl), respectively (98%).No significant difference was found between the distribution of elements and the individual factors (gender and age).A strong positive correlation between Ca and P (r = 0.86) and a good positive correlation between Ca and P with sialoliths' physical parameters (35 < r < 0.60) reflected that Ca and P comprise biomineral phases similar to carbonated calcium phosphates. Conclusion:The results of the present study provided a good insight into sialoliths' elemental composition, physicochemical properties and clinical symptoms.The high weight percentage of O, C, Ca and P suggested phosphorated carbonate compounds.Ca and P were two important explanatory factors for the weight and size of salivary stones.Also, age and gender were not considered the main factors controlling elements in sialoliths.

Background & aim: Thalassemia is the most common hereditary blood disease, and patients with thalassemia major need continuous blood transfusions to survive. Continuous blood transfusion in these patients is associated with iron. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between personality traits and iron overload in these patients . The present descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 thalassemia patients who were dependent on blood transfusion in the thalassemia department of Bu Ali Sina Hospital in Sari in 2021. The clinical and laboratory information of the patients were collected using the medical record. At that point, the patients answered the 5-factor neo personality questionnaire, which is a 60-question questionnaire. To analyze the collected data, descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were used in case of normal distribution of the main outcome, and median and IQR indices were used otherwise. The results indicated that the personality characteristic of conscientiousness was more in people with regular visits than in people with irregular visits (P=0.021). In the study of the relationship between liver iron overload and the regularity of visits, it was perceived that iron overload had a significant relationship with the regularity of visits (P=0.018), so that moderate and severe iron overload was more in people who had irregular visits. But cardiac iron overload had no significant relationship with regular visits (P=0.910). The use of chelators had a significant relationship with the characteristic of neurosis (P=0.021), so that the score of neurosis in patients who took chelators was higher than those who did not use chelators. The findings of the present study indicated that there was no significant relationship between any of the personality traits with iron overload in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia, except for conscientiousness, which was more in people with regular visits than in people with irregular visits.

Background & aim: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children, the prevalence of which is steadily increasing all over the world. to ten percent of patients suffer from severe disease which leads to limitation in daily activities and sleep disorder as well as repeated attacks. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine and investigate the relationship between asthma risk factors and disease severity in children with asthma aged between 7 and 12 years of age . The present cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 200 asthmatic children aged 7-12 years of age referred to the Asthma and Allergy Clinics of Urmia University of Medical Sciences during 2019-2020 using a simple random sampling method. The data collection checklist included four sections; demographic information, birth, body mass index and asthma. According to the National Asthma of Australia, the severity of asthma was divided into three categories: mild, moderate and severe. Clinical symptoms included: shortness of breath, cough during day and at night, as well as daily symptoms were considered. Frequency of use of inhaled beta agonists were recorded. Forced expiratory volume was as well calculated. Collected data were analyzed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, chi-square and Spearman tests. The mean age of the participants was 8.8±2.1, 53.5% of children had mild asthma, 34.5% had moderate asthma, and 12% had severe asthma. There was a significant relationship between the severity of asthma and body mass index, age of birth and type of delivery in girls and boys with asthma (p>0.001). The most common clinical symptoms were cough (48.06%) and shortness of breath(9.95%) that 16.28% of these symptoms were reported during walking and at night and 13.83% on a daily basis. The use of inhaled beta agonist was reported in 32% of cases as less than 2 times a week. 53.5% of children had forced expiratory volume above 80% . Asthma severity is high among children with high body mass index and born by caesarean section, and correspondingly in children born prematurely, the severity of asthma was moderate or severe. Therefore, it is recommended to consider the mentioned factors in the clinical examinations of children and to consider methods to reduce obesity for obese children with asthma.

Background & aim: Unhealthy diet -as one of the main risk factors of non-communicable diseases and responsible for most chronic diseases and their mortality, which affects people's health regardless of age, gender and social cultural conditions. The healthy eating index is one of the developed methods to evaluate the diet status and predict the chance of chronic diseases, considering the fact that no study had been done on the food quality of the residents of Yasuj, Iran. In the present study the status of the healthy eating index, fat intake, Cholesterol and sodium were investigated in residents over 19 years of age in Yasuj, Iran, in 2020. The present descriptive study was conducted in 2020 on 300 residents of Yasuj randomly sampled at their houses. The food intake collection tool was the food frequency questionnaire with 168 questions, which was developed and used by previous researchers. The healthy eating index was calculated and reported using the scoring of this index in the 1995 healthy eating index tool. The collected data were analyzed using chi-square test. Examining the status of the healthy nutrition index calculated based on the pattern of food intake indicated that in 82.7% (248 people) cases, the overall nutrition index of people was favorable and in 17.3% (52 people) it needed to be changed and modified, while that none of the examined people had a poor nutrition index. In total, with a 95% confidence level, 13-22% of the people examined have nutritional index that needs correction, also 78.9% of daily cholesterol intake is above 300 mg, 15.7% of sodium intake is above 2300 mg, and 29.3% of fat is above 30%. had received between the status of socio-economic indicators such as; Literacy, occupation and home ownership did not have a significant relationship with the healthy eating index. Based on the obtained information, the status of cholesterol and sodium intake in the residents of Yasuj, as well as the intake of calories and the status of the nutrition index in some of the surveyed people, was unfavorable, which is the need to pay attention to the nutritional status, calorie intake and cholesterol intake. and sodium, which cause the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Background & aim:In recent years, the pollution of the environment with all kinds of biological, chemical, poisons, pesticides and other compounds has accelerated and are considered as one of the most important challenges of the present age.Different pollutants can be measured with the use of physical, chemical or biological methods.However, a lot of information has been provided in the field of the ability of biological indicators to detect different pollutants in recent years.Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine and examine the characteristics and capabilities of biomarkers in environmental applications. Methods:In the present review study conducted in 2023, different methods of using living organisms as an indicator in determining environmental changes were investigated.Biomonitoring by searching in PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus databases using keywords "biological control", "bioindicator", "biomonitoring", "monitoring by microorganism", "bio detection", "biological index" and "biological indicator" in published articles until 2023.Results: : The results show that many living organisms are used as bioindicators in environments.The use of various living organisms such as macrophytes, crustaceans, phytoplankton's, protozoa and larger living organisms such as fish, canaries and insects has been common in the detection and monitoring of pollutants in the environment.These organisms with different methods can help to detect or continuously monitor the presence of pollutants and determine their concentration levels in the environment such as aquatic environments. Conclusion:In the biological monitoring by using of living organisms such as mosses to measure heavy metals, killer trout in mountain streams to assess water temperature, canaries in coal mines to assess the amount of carbon monoxide and methane gas and many other organisms known as bioindicators, are used to detect the effects of disturbances and stresses.With mechanisms such as bioaccumulation, biochemical changes, behavioral and morphological changes, and population changes, these living organisms enable the ability to detect and determine the amount of pollutants.

Background & aim:The role of artificial sweeteners in the occurrence of cancer risk has been widely discussed during the last few decades.Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the dynamic and molecular simulation of the interaction of saccharin(SA) with human p53 protein. Methods:The present bioinformatics study was conducted in 2023.The interaction of SA and sodium saccharin (SSA) with the human p53 gene promoter (Pp53g) has already been published in 2019 in two theoretical and experimental sections.But in the present study, the binding ability and the binding site of SA ligand as a synthetic sweetener with human p53 protein (receptor) as a tumor suppressor was theoretically performed.The amino acid residues involved in the interaction, energy free binding and binding constant were determined.Molecular docking was used for molecular interaction calculations.More detailed information about the binding method of the ligand-receptor complex was obtained by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation.The structure and topology file for the human p53 protein extracted from the protein database was created based on the AMBER 99 force field with the GROMACS 5.3.1 program.Acpype/Antechamber program with General AMBER Force Field (GAFF) was used to create structure file and ligand topology in MD simulation.This force field was compatible with the AMBER 99 force field.The simulation time in explicit solvent was 50 ns for SA-p53 protein complex.The collected data were analyzed using different software and compared with the results of related articles. Results:The results of molecular docking indicated that the SA compound was bound to human p53 protein with a binding energy of -4.55 kcal/mol and a binding constant of 462.18 M.A hydrogen bond was formed between SA and amino acid Leu137.The conformational changes resulting from MD simulation for the ligand-protein complex showed that SA can bind to Arg196 and His179 as key amino acids of p53 protein in the DNA binding region through two hydrogen bonds.SA can also be placed in the adjacent of amino acids Leu137, Ala138, His179, Asp184 and Met237 through hydrophobic bonds.The values of the plots of root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), radius of gyration (Rg) for free p53 protein and in the presence of SA ligand show the stable binding of SA to p53 protein. Conclusion:The present study could provide valuable information about the binding mechanism of SA to human p53 protein as a macromolecule at the molecular level with subatomic details.The results can be useful in determining the potential carcinogenic risk of this sweetener due to its high consumption and the design and synthesis of newer and safer artificial sweeteners.

Background & aim: Appendicitis is the most common condition of emergency surgery. Complications after appendectomy include skin complications, infection, postoperative pain, hernia and obstruction. There is a difference of opinion among surgeons on peritoneal repair after abdominal surgery. Therefore, we aimed here to evaluate the effect of peritoneal repair versus nonrepair in appendectomy patients in terms of postoperative complications. The present clinical trial study that was conducted on 126 patients who underwent open appendectomy at Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Yasuj, Iran, from 2019 to 2020 who had the inclusion criteria. In the present study, randomization was performed systematically. Clinical observations and follow-up of patients was one week, three months and six months after surgery. After collecting and forming the data file in the computer, the information was analyzed using descriptive analytical statistics (including frequency distribution table, analysis of variance, T-test, chi-square) through SPSS software. Results: Out of 126 candidates for appendectomy, 60 were male and 66 were female. Among them, 64 (50.8%) underwent surgery with peritoneal repair and 62 (49.2%) underwent surgery without peritoneal repair. The mean age of this population was 26.88 13 13.82 years and ranged from 5 to 65 years. The results indicated that in both the peritoneal repair and non-peritoneal repair groups, 62 patients (69.9%) had no infection and 2 patients (3.1%) had purulent drainage, symptoms of infection, and SSI. Moreover, in the group with peritoneal repair, 42 patients (65.6%) had moderate pain, 16 patients (25.0%) had mild pain and 6 patients (9.4%) had moderate pain. In the non-peritoneal repair group, 50 patients (80.6%) had no pain, 11 patients (17.7%) had mild pain and 1 patient (1.6%) had moderate pain. There was no marked difference between the two groups of appendectomy with peritoneal repair and without peritoneal repair, in the presence of infection, hernia and obstruction, as well as pain intensity, but the presence of pain in patients without peritoneal repair was significantly less. The results of the present study revealed that the appendectomy surgical methods, including open and closed peritoneum, did not indicate a significant difference for wound site infection. On the other hand, the amount of postoperative pain was lower in the open peritoneum group. Therefore, it is suggested to use appendectomy without peritoneal repair in patients with appendicitis.

The Effect of Interval Training and Omega-3 on Mitochondrial Biogenesis in the Liver Tissue of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)Rats

The Effectiveness of Compassion-focused Therapy on the Severity of Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms, Post-Traumatic Growth and Studying Changes in Hippocampal and Amygdala's Volume in Improved Post-Covid Patients