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BACKGROUND: Repeated administration of certain drugs could result in an enhancement of the behavioral effects of those drugs. In the present study, the effect of repeated administration of histamine on amnesia induced by post-training administration of the drug was examined. METHODS: A single trial step-down inhibitory (passive) avoidance task was used for memory assessment in male NMRI mice. RESULTS: The results showed that post-training administration of different doses of histamine (5, 10, and 20 microg/mouse, i.c.v.) decreased the step-down latency on the test day. Repeated pretreatment of histamine (10 and 20 microg/mouse) for three days followed by five days of no drug treatment prevented amnesia due to post-training histamine (20 microg/mouse). In contrast, repeated administration of histamine H1 receptor antagonist, pyrilamine (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) or histamine H2 receptor antagonist, ranitidine (12.5 and 25 mg/kg) 10 minutes prior to histamine injections, decreased the effect of repeated histamine administration. Moreover, a similar pattern was seen in animals which received dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390 (0.025, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg) or dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, sulpiride (0.2, 1, and 5 mg/kg) 10 minutes prior to histamine injections during the repeated pretreatment. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that both the histamine and dopamine receptor mechanisms may be involved in the effects of repeated pretreatment of histamine on drug induced amnesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quality of life (QOL) and mental health among marginalized populations, including people experiencing homelessness in Iran, are understudied. We assessed the QOL and mental health status as well as their associated factors among youth experiencing homelessness in Kerman, Iran., Method: We recruited 202 participants using a convenience sampling method from 11 locations, including six homeless shelters, three street outreach sites, and two drop-in service centers, from September to December 2017. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire that included QOL, mental health, demographics, drug use, and sexual behaviors questions. Scores in each domain were indexed with a weight of 0-100. The higher score indicated a higher QOL and mental health status. Bivariable and multivariable linear regression models were performed to examine correlates of QOL and mental health., Result: The mean (SD) score of QOL and mental health were 73.1 (25.8) and 65.1 (22.3), respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that youth experiencing homelessness who were aged 25-29 years old (β = -5.4; 95% CI: -10.51; -0.30), and lived on the streets (β = -12.1; 95% CI: -18.19; -6.07) had a lower mental health score. Moreover, those who had higher education (β = 5.4; 95% CI: 0.58; 10.38), had no history of carrying weapons (β = 12.8; 95% CI: 6.86; 18.76), and had a higher QOL score (β = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.31; 0.50) had a higher mental health score., Conclusion: This study highlights that QOL and mental health among youth experiencing homelessness in Iran are concerning, particularly among those who were older, were less educated, were living on the street, and had a history of carrying a weapon. Community-based programs, including mental health care and affordable housing are needed to improve QOL and mental health among this population in Iran., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and its association with HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Kerman province, southeast Iran. A convenience sample of 104 PLHIV was recruited. Data on QoL were collected using the HIV/AIDS-Targeted QoL instrument. Internal and external stigma were measured using an instrument developed by UNAIDS. The average QoL score was 52.5 ( SD =13.9). In multivariable model, PLHIV who experienced higher external stigma score (B = -1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.6 to -1.1) and higher internal stigma score (B = -1.1; 95% CI: -1.5 to -0.6) had lower level of QoL. The low level of QoL among PLHIV in Iran indicates the need for initiatives to increase QoL among this population. Our data suggest that QoL in PLHIV could be improved by interventions aimed at reducing stigma in both community and health care settings., (Copyright © 2022 Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.)

Background: The first-birth interval directly influences family size and maternal and child mortality. The objective of this study is to investigate factors associated with the time of the first-birth after the first marriage among women in Iran., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the first birth history of 1350 women aged 15-49 years was collected in Kerman (southern Iran) in 2018. To assess the predictor variables of the first-birth interval and calculate the adjusted hazard ratios, multivariate Cox regression was used. The P-value < 0.05 was considered as significant. The statistical analysis of data was performed using SPSS version 22., Results: The average of the first-birth interval was 2.5 ∓ 0.8 years. Woman's age at marriage (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.32-2.48), husband's age at marriage (HR 1.88, 95% CI 1.62-2.03), age at the first menstruation (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.24-2.53), being rural residents (HR 2.041, 95% CI 1.26-2.95), and having engagement period (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.52-3.05) were associated with short first-birth interval, and woman's BMI (HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.54-2.77), woman's university educational level (HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.35-2.57), husband' s university educational level (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.32-2.51), contraception use (HR 2.28, 95% CI 1.12-2.86) and income sufficiency (HR 2.25, 95% CI 1.12-2.96) were associated with long first-birth interval., Conclusions: Being a rural resident is the most influential predictor of short first-birth interval and income sufficiency is the most influential predictor of long first-birth interval., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Optimal pregnancy spacing is an important incidence in reproductive women's health. Short or long pregnancy spacing leads to the greatest health, social and economic problems such as increase in maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess the mean of pregnancy spacing and associated factors of pregnancy spacing among women of reproductive age group with recurrent event analysis., Methods: The fertility history of 1350 women aged 15-49 years was collected in this cross-sectional study. The women were selected through multistage random sampling method from a list of clinics in 2018. Some predictors were collected from their records and others were collected by face-to-face interview. The recurrent event survival analysis was used to explore the effect of predictors on pregnancy spacing. The R software program was used for analysis., Results: There were nine predictors that had significant effect on pregnancy spacing. These predictors included the age of mother at marriage, mother's BMI, contraception use, breast feeding duration of the previous child, the education level of husband, the sex preference of the mother, presence of abortion or stillbirth in the preceding pregnancies, income sufficiency, and mother's awareness of optimum pregnancy interval. The most influential predictors; contraception use (HR = 2.34, 95%CI = 1.23 to 2.76, P < 0.001) and income sufficiency (HR = 2.046, 95%CI = 1.61 to 3.02, P = 0.018) lead to longer and son preference of mother (HR = 2.231, 95%CI = 1.24 to 2.81, P = 0.023) lead to shorter pregnancy spacing., Conclusion: The up to date contraception tool should be at hand for couples to manage their pregnancy intervals. The unfavorable economic situation of a family leads to long pregnancy spacing. Despite the relative equality of the status of girls and boys in today's societies, the desire to have a son child is still an important factor in shorter pregnancy spacing. The benefit of optimal pregnancy spacing should be more announced.

Objective: Non-obstructive azoospermia is mostly irreversible. Efforts to cure this type of infertility have led to the application of stem cells in the reproduction field. In the present study, testicular cell-mediated differentiation of male germ-like cells from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in an in vitro indirect co-culture system is investigated., Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, mouse BM-MSCs were isolated and cultured up to passage three. Identification of the cells was evaluated using specific surface markers by flow-cytometry technique. Four experimental groups were investigated: control, treatment with retinoic acid (RA), indirect co-culture with testicular cells, and combination of RA and indirect co-culture with testicular cells. Finally, following differentiation, the quantitative expression of germ cell-specific markers including Dazl, Piwil2 and Stra8 were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)., Results: Molecular analysis revealed a significant increase in Dazl expression in the indirect co-culture with testicular cells group in comparison to the control group. Quantitative expression level of Piwil2 was not significantly changed in comparison to the control group. Stra8 expression was significantly higher in RA group in comparison to other groups., Conclusion: Indirect co-culture of BM-MSCs in the presence of testicular cells leads to expression of male germ cell-specific gene, Dazl, in the induced cells. Combination of co-culture with testicular cells and RA did not show any positive effect on the specific gene expressions., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest in this study., (Copyright© by Royan Institute. All rights reserved.)

Primary Objective: Essential oil (EO) of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff, whose main composition is Z-ligustilide, has been shown to have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and potent neuroprotective properties., Research Design: This study examined whether or not the EO could ameliorate brain damage and behavioural dysfunction in a thromboembolic model of stroke in rats and compare its effects to that of the purified Z-ligustilide., Methods and Procedures: Stroke was induced in rats by middle cerebral artery occlusion using an autologous pre-formed clot. EO (10 mg kg(-1) and 45 mg kg(-1)) and Z-ligustilide (20 mg kg(-1)) were injected intraperitoneally 1 h prior to embolization. Behavioural scores, infarct size and brain oedema, as well as the level of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), malondialdehyde, glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase activity were determined in the ipsilateral cortex 24 hours following stroke induction., Main Outcomes and Results: EO (45 mg kg(-1)), statistically similar to Z-ligustilide (20 mg kg(-1)), curtailed brain infarction and oedema, improved behavioural scores and prevented enhanced oxidative stress and TNF-α level in the ischaemic brain tissues., Conclusions: The findings provide the first evidence of effectiveness of the extract in a thromboembolic model of stroke, whose action can be mediated, at least in part, by the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Effects of morphine- or apomorphine-induced sensitization on histamine state-dependent memory of passive avoidance task were examined in mice. Pre-training intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of histamine (20 microg/mouse) decreased the learning of a one-trial passive avoidance task. Pre-test administration of histamine (10 and 20 microg/mouse) reversed amnesia induced by pre-training of histamine, with maximum response at 20 microg/mouse. Pre-training histamine-induced amnesia was also reversed in morphine- or apomorphine-sensitized mice that had previously received once daily injections of morphine (20 and 30 mg/kg) or apomorphine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) for 3 days. The reversion of histamine-induced amnesia in morphine-sensitized mice was decreased by once daily administration of naloxone (0.5 and 1 mg/kg), SCH 23390 (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) or sulpiride (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) prior to injection of morphine (30 mg/kg/day, 3 days). Furthermore, once daily administration of sulpiride (50 and 100 mg/kg) but not SCH 23390 (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) prior to apomorphine (1 mg/kg, for 3 days) decreased the reversion of pre-training histamine-induced amnesia by apomorphine. The results suggest that apomorphine or morphine sensitization affects the impairment of memory induced by histamine and thus it is postulated that opioid and dopamine receptors may play an important role in this effect.