Determining the relationship between depression and brain waves in depressed subjects using Pearson correlation and regression

Background and aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between brain waves and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) score in clinical cases with depression. Methods: In this study, EEG was taken using neurofeedback device at the point F4 of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of the brain of 60 depressed patients referred to psychiatric clinic. At the same time, Beck Depression Inventory was performed to assess the severity of depression. With the condition of artifact lower than 50, fourty one EEG related to the 41 subjects were remained after eliminating artifact. Results: The findings of this study confirm the mean decrease in alpha and theta waves and increase beta wave in the brain waves of depressed patients. Comprehensive analysis of the data with a multi-regression indicates a predictable BDI score at F4, based on two variables (mean beta and mean alpha) which reflects the depression increase by increased mean beta and decreased mean alpha according to the following equation: Depression based on Beck at F4 point is equal to: Beck’s depression score= mean beta (0.532)+mean Alpha (0.412). Conclusion: Due to rapid growth of the elderly population in the country as well as Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, considering the needs of this age group is an important necessity

Comparing diagnosis of depression in depressed patients by EEG, based on two algorithms :Artificial Nerve Networks and Neuro-Fuzy Networks

Background and aims: Depression disorder is one of the most common diseases, but the diagnosis is widely complicated and controversial because of interventions, overlapping and confusing nature of the disease. So, keeping previous patients’ profile seems effective for diagnosis and treatment of present patients. Use of this memory is latent in synthetic neuro-fuzzy algorithm. Present article introduces two neuro-fuzzy and artificial neural network algorithms as an aid for psychologists and psychiatrists to diagnose and treat depression. Methods: Neuro-fuzzy has been carried out using data evaluated by psychiatrists and scholars in Tabriz city with the convenience sampling method. Sixty-five patients were studied from whom 40 patients were taught feed forward, back propagation by artificial neural network algorithm and 14 patients were tested. An inductive neuro-fuzzy intervention created neuro-fuzzy rules to decide about depression diagnosis. Results: The proposed neuro-fuzzy model created better classifications. Reaching maximum accuracy of 13.97is appropriate in diagnosis prediction. The results of the present study indicated that neuro-fuzzy is more powerful than artificial neural network with accuracy 76.88. Conclusion: Findings of the research showed the depression scores of beck inventory can be predicted and explained with the accuracy of 87 using EEG in F4 and alpha peak frequency. It can be said that such accuracy in predicting can’t be obtained by any regression or route analysis method. The research can be the first step to predict and even identify depression using taking the data directly from the brain. So, there is no need for inventory and even a specialist diagnosis

Optimization and Construction of Human Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Gene related to human health

Background: Laron syndrome, is a disease that treated by IGF-1. This protein is a single chain and has three disulfide bonds. People with Laron syndrome have low rates of cancer and diabetes, although they appear to be at increased risk of casual death due to their stature. IGF-1 is synthesized by many tissues and is secreted from liver as an endocrine hormone which is transmitted to other tissues. IGF-1 is responsible for cell differentiation, transformation, suppression of apoptosis, cell cycle progression, cell proliferation and differentiation. Expression system, the igf-1 gene, codon adaptation index (CAI) and GC contents are very critical for the large scale production of this protein. Current study was aimed to Optimization and Construction of human Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Gene in E. coli DH5α. Material and Methods: we used DNA2 and ProtParam softwares for designing the best form to produce IGF-1. First the coding sequence was verified and then synthesized. For confirmation of the pUC18-IGF-1, sequencing test was carried out using M13 reverse primer. Finally it was inserted into the cloning site of pUC18. vector. Results: After coding optimization, the CAI rate was increased from 84 to 90 and GC content from 55.07 to 56.62. The presence of the band near 225bp resulted from enzymatic digestion with two restriction enzymes demonstrates the correct cloning of the recombinant vectors in the cloning site of pUC18 cloning vector. Conclusion: According to software and experimental analysis, the designed sequence probably in the best form could be used for production of recombinant protein

Occupational stress among male employees of esfahan steel company, Iran: Prevalence and associated factors

Background: Lack of data on occupational stress among Iranian industrial employees persuaded us to design and conduct this study to evaluate the prevalence and associated parameters of occupational stress among male employees of the Esfahan Steel Company (ESCO), one of the biggest industrial units in Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 400 male employees were sampled from the operational divisions of the company. Socio-demographic data and stress-related variables were entered into a logistic regression to determine significant associated factors of occupational stress among the participants. Results: From all samples, 53 were found as stressful. A monthly salary of less than 600 (OR = 1.88, 95 confidence interval CI = 1.21-2.94), family-related problems (OR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.22-6.21), work environment (OR = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.78-5.33) and having a second job (OR = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.78-6.78) were significantly associated with the outcome. Conclusions: Attention to some variables, especially economic problems and the work environment of employees, might play a protective role against the prevalence of occupational stress, not only among the employees of ESCO but also among all industrial employees in Iran

Evaluation of the effectiveness of nutritional education based on Health Belief Model on self-esteem and BMI of overweight and at risk of overweight adolescent girls

Background Due to significant increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents in developed countries, much attention has been focused on this issue. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of nutritional education based on Health Belief Model (HBM) on self-esteem and body mass index (BMI) of overweight and at risk of overweight adolescent girls. Materials and Methods: The study subjects consist of 140 female students recruited from two high schools, who were randomly allocated to the intervention (n=70) and control (n=70) groups. The data collection instrument included sections on socio-demographic status, transportation method, physical status, and knowledge and attitudes of the students towards nutrition, which was designed according to HBM. As the intervention, model-based educational program was implemented through six 60-minute sessions, focusing on the overweight and at-risk students. Results were compared in the beginning, and three months after the intervention to find the possible impacts. Results: Average score of model structures and self-esteem of students in both groups had no significant difference at baseline, but immediately after the intervention and 3 months after treatment, the mean component scores were significantly higher in intervention group than controls (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the control group between the mean scores of model structures and self-esteem at different times. There was a significant difference at different times in component scores in the experimental group (P<0.05). The mean score of BMI in the control group had no significant difference in different time. Significant difference in BMI scores was seen at different times in experimental group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The positive effect of this program was seen among the participants. Therefore such interventions in schools for developing effective long-term healthy behaviors have preventive and controlling effects on overweight

Analysis of occupational stress and the related issues among employees of ٍEsfahan steel company (ESCO), Iran (2009)

زمینه و هدف: استرس شغلی زمانی بروز می کند که بین نیازهای شغلـــی با توانایی ها و قابلیت ها و خواسته های فرد هماهنگی وجود نداشته و می تواند مشکلات بهداشتی و ناهنجاری های اقتصادی به همراه داشته باشد. این مطالعه به منظور تعیین عواملی که منجر به استرس شغلی در کارکنان ذوب آهن اصفهان می گردد انجام شده است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعــــه توصیفی-تحلیلی 400 نفر از کارکنان ذوب آهن اصفهان به صورت تصادفی انتخاب شــــدند. داده ها با استفاده از پرسشنامه مشخصات دموگرافیک و پرسشنامه DASS (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales) جمع آوری و به کمک آزمون های آماری کای دو و آنالیز رگرسیون لجستیک تجزیه و تحلیل شدند. یافته ها: بر اساس نتایج، 53 از کارکنان دارای استرس شغلی بودند. بین سن، وضعیت تاهل، تجربه کاری، سواد و نوبت کاری کارکنان با استرس آنان رابطه معنی داری وجود نداشت. اما میزان استرس در کارکنان دارای مشکلات فرزندان، محیط کاری سخت تر، داشتن شغل دوم و حقوق ماهیانه کمتر از شش میلیون ریال بیشتر بود (05/0

Occupational stress among white collar employees in Esfahan Steel Company, Iran

Occupational stress is one of the major health hazards among blue and white-collar workers. However there is no data on occupational stress among white-collar workers in Iran. Aim of this study was to investigate occupational stress among white collar employees in Esfahan Steel Company organization (ESCO), Iran. A cross- sectional survey was conducted through face to face interview using validated standardized questionnaire on occupational stress among 200 white-collar workers from ESCO who agreed to participate in the study, the response rate of participation was 100. The logistic regression test was used to determine significant associated factors of occupational stress among the study sample.. It is found that among the six items measuring source of stress, the highest source of stress related to economic problem, 117 (59.7). The statistical analysis showed sources of stress such as task type (p=0.0001), economic problem (p=0.0001), work environment (p=0.0001) and children problem (p=0.05) were significantly associated with having stress among the workers. We found that around half of the white collar workers were under stress at ESCO. Main sources of the occupational stress of white colour workers related to their work environment, economic problem; task type, and related their children

Magnesium status and the metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: To systematically review the published evidence regarding the association between Mg intake and serum concentrations with MetS and, if possible, to summarize the results using a meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to identify related articles. Fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of MetS in participants with the highest intake of Mg compared with those who had the least consumption, and the mean difference in serum Mg levels between patients with MetS and their controls were extracted for the meta-analysis. Results: In total, 9 articles with 31 876 participants were included in the meta-analysis regarding the association between dietary Mg intake and MetS, and 8 studies that assessed the mean level of serum Mg in 3487 individuals with and without MetS were eligible. Our analysis found that higher consumption of Mg is associated with lower risk of MetS (OR = 0.73; 95% confidence interval: 0.62, 0.86; P < 0.001); we also could find a significant but heterogeneous association between serum Mg and MetS (mean difference: -0.19; 95% confidence interval: -0.36, 0.03; P = 0.023). Conclusions: The present systematic review and meta-analysis found an inverse association between Mg intake and MetS. However, the inverse association for serum Mg levels was highly heterogeneous and sensitive. The link between Mg status and MetS should be confirmed by prospective cohort studies controlling the association for other nutrients related to MetS risk. © 2016 Elsevier Inc

Assessing the Phenylketonuria Screening Program in Newborns, Iran 2015-2016

Phenylketonuria is one of the most important congenital disorders and an autosomal recessive metabolic disease that can cause irreversible brain damages, mental retardation, and cognitive disorders if left untreated. In order to reduce the genetic abnormalities caused by this metabolic disease, screening programs are implemented. The quality of the program must be properly assessed to achieve the objectives of this program if promoting children's health is of concern. The descriptive-analytic method is adopted here to assess the phenylketonuria screening program in practice in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province since 2012 and analyze the incidence and program coverage. The quality of the screening program is assessed through analyzing the time of diagnosis, beginning of the treatment and the healthcare centers' facilities with checklists. The parental and the staff awareness is assessed through knowledge measuring questionnaires. Cumulative incidence of phenylketonuria in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province from 2012 to 2015, is 1 in every 6662 live births. The program coverage across the region is 100%. The recorded on-time sampling index before 5 days of age, indicate 84.6 % in 2015 from 80% in 2012. The treatment begun before the newborn 4 weeks was over in all cases. Program sensitivity was 100 %, and its specificity was 99.9%. Staff awareness is fair with no impact on parental awareness. General quality of the screening program is appropriate, and as to sensitivity and on-time curing specificity, higher staff and parental awareness supervision are recommended as well