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The present study aims to examine the impact of different types of income (oil and tax) and government expenditure (current and construction) shocks on inflation under varying inflationary conditions. To achieve this objective, quarterly data from the Iranian economy from 1369 to 1399 was utilized, and a regime switching structural vector autoregression model based on stochastic volatility was employed to analyze. In this approach, inflation was considered as a regime variable, and a threshold value of 21% was estimated for each season. Subsequently, regime switching impulse response functions were employed to explore the effects of shocks in oil and tax income, current and construction expenditures, exchange rate, liquidity, and GDP growth on inflation. The findings of the STVAR-SV model employed in this study demonstrated that the impact of shocks in government revenues (oil and tax) and expenditures (current and construction) on inflation is much stronger in the high inflation regime (inflation above 21% in each season) compared to the low inflation regime (inflation below 21% in each season). Notably, the effect of shocks in government construction expenditures and oil revenues is significant solely in the high inflation regime, while being nonsignificant in the low inflation regime. Conversely, shocks in current government expenditures and tax revenues have a positive and significant effect on inflation in both inflationary regimes.

Background & objectives: Terfezia boudieri (TB) has more than 15 types of proteins, gallic acid, catechins, flavonoids, tannins and other compounds such as beta-carotene and linoleic acid. Some of these compounds have antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemia effects. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the antioxidant and protective effects of this fungus on the liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. Methods: 30 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into 5 groups (each group containing 6). Group 1 (normal control group) and group 2 (control CCl4) were given normal saline for 14 days. Group 3, 4 and 5 received 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/ kg doses of methanol extract of TB for 14 days, respectively before the injection of carbon tetrachloride. In the fourteenth day, all groups except group 1 were given 1.5 ml/kg of carbon tetrachloride (V / V 1: 1 dissolved in olive oil). Group 1, instead of carbon tetrachloride, received 1.5 ml/kg of olive oil on the fourteenth day. Results: Injection of carbon tetrachloride in rats increased serum activity of ALT, AST, ALP and serum degrees of triglycerides, VLDL, LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, glucose, and reduced HDL and total antioxidant capacity (TAC); while pre-treatment with methanol extract of TB significantly reversed the changes. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that methanol extract of TB can protect the liver against oxidants and free radicals produced by carbon tetrachloride metabolism.

Background and Objectives: Microbial safety of the fresh fruits is a global concern. The production of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) in Iran has grown 4.5% from 2016 to 2019. Little information is available about the microbiological quality of strawberry produced in Iran. The objective of this investigation was to assess the fecal Escherichia coli (FEC) contamination of fresh strawberries of south of Kerman province where is the centers of production and supply of strawberries to other parts of Iran. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, the FEC of a total number of 109 strawberry samples, which were collected from green-houses of strawberry of Kerman province during three months, were enumerated using the most probable number (MPN) as described by Iranian National Standards Organization, protocol No.2946, and interpreted using the latest statute released by Iran Veterinary Organization, Executive order number 2946, released in 2011. Results: MPN of FEC counted in strawberries ranged between 110 (n=19) per gram (g) having a mean, mode, and median value of 250.3, 100 MPN/g. Conclusion: Our findings may be resulted from the sanitary quality of the farm and strawberries of the study area, which indicated that the microbial safety of the strawberries in this survey was not satisfactory, alarming public health.

Statement of the Problem: Lichen planus disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of mucosal and cutaneous tissues with yet unclear etiology and pathogenesis. Cytokines play an important role in the initiation, maintenance of inflammatory and intercellular crosstalk. Purpose: We assessed serum levels of IL-22 in patients with oral and cutaneous lichen planus and made comparison with healthy individuals. Materials and Method: In this case-control study, peripheral blood samples of 40 patients with lichen planus disease, included two groups of oral lichen planus (n=20) and cutaneous lichen planus (n=20) were compared with 32 healthy individuals in this case-control study. Serum samples were prepared from patients with lichen planus and IL-22 concentration was measured in each serum sample by using a commercial ELISA Kit. The obtained data were then analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis (one-way ANOVA) test. Results: The IL-22 serum levels were significantly higher in patients with oral lichen planus compared to the healthy control group (p< 0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed in serum levels of IL-22 in cutaneous lichen planus patients compared to the controls (p= 0.183). Conclusion: Increased IL-22 serum levels in patients with oral lichen planus may play an important role in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus. The administration of the recombinant or antagonist of IL-22 could be a new therapeutic opportunity in the treatment of oral lichen planus.

Abstract Introduction Vitiligo is caused by partial or complete destruction of melanocytes in the affected skin area and influences the patient’s quality of life. Besides physical involvement, vitiligo patients experience a high level of stress. Depression and Anxiety are common psychiatric disorders in vitiligo patients. Aim This study, as the first study, evaluates hopelessness, anxiety, depression and general health of vitiligo patients in comparison with normal controls in an Iranian population. Method Hundred patients with vitiligo and hundred healthy controls were examined. General health, depression, hopelessness and anxiety were evaluated based on general health questionnaire. Anxiety, depression and hopelessness levels were analyzed using Chi–Square, and the mean value of general health was evaluated through t-test. Results The results showed that anxiety and hopelessness levels were significantly higher in vitiligo patients than those who are in healthy controls. This significant difference refers to high levels of anxiety and hopelessness among women with vitiligo. It was also found that the single patients were more anxious, hopeless and depressive, while the married patients were only more anxious and hopeless than those who are in the control group, respectively. General health of patients was significantly worse than in healthy controls. The low level of general health in patients was related to poorer level of general health among women with vitiligo. Conclusion It seems that women with vitiligo are more mentally stressed than men with vitiligo. Both singles and married vitiligo patients suffer from anxiety and hopelessness.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Previous studies showed that patients with hypertension are at an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 infection. Therefore, proper blood pressure control in hypertensive patients with COVID-19 is of great importance. In this review, we discussed the effects of different classes of antihypertensive drugs on patients with hypertension and COVID-19.

Lichen planus is considered a chronic inflammatory disease which affects different sites, such as the skin, mucous membranes, hair, and nails. Based on the evidence, a complex cytokine network plays a crucial role in lichen planus pathogenesis. The study was aimed at assessing the serum IL-23 levels in the patients with cutaneous and oral lichen planus compared to healthy controls. Method. The study included 30 cutaneous lichen planus patients, 20 oral lichen planus patients, and 33 control subjects. Five milliliters of peripheral blood was obtained from each patient, and the serum was separated. IL-23 levels were determined using the ELISA kit, and the data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney test. Results. IL-23 levels in the patient serum with oral lichen planus (P value ≤ 0.001) were significantly higher than in controls. Furthermore, there were significant differences in IL-23 serum levels in the patients with cutaneous lichen planus compared to the healthy controls (P value ≤ 0.001). Moreover, IL-23 serum levels were statistically different between patients with cutaneous lichen planus and patients with oral lichen planus (P value ≤ 0.001). Based on the mean concentration of interleukin-23, IL-23 levels were higher in the patients with oral lichen planus than in the patients with cutaneous lichen planus. Conclusions. Elevated serum IL-23 levels in the patients with oral lichen planus may indicate that IL-23 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus. However, more research is needed with a larger sample size.

Abortion of the disabled fetus is among the challenges of medical ethics, and decision-making in this respect is subject to a major controversy between Islam and Western philosophies. One reason is skepticism about the continued existence and evolution of the human soul after death, which has resulted in legitimacy of abortion of disabled fetuses in the West. Islam and Islamic philosophers, however, attribute great importance to the soul and its evolution, and therefore in decisions related to such embryos all aspects of the body and soul are considered, with more emphasis on the latter. Some issues that are raised in the Islamic worldview include: What is the reason behind embryonic defects? And does a disabled fetus also suffer from a defect in the soul? The present paper is a descriptive-analytical non-systematic review that uses a data collection approach. Regardless of the issue of ensoulment, the study intends to examine the evolution of the spirit (nafs) in the fetus during various stages of life (vegetative, animal and human) based on Mulla Sadra and Imam Khomeini's perspectives. It also aims to conduct a philosophical investigation into defects in creation and to find the answer to the important question of whether the soul of a disabled fetus is also imperfect. Findings of this study show that based on Mulla Sadra's views, all living things have been created in the best and most perfect form. The disabled fetus is not an exception and therefore has a perfect soul, but the appearance of the soul in a malformed body is defective. The imperfection may have two causes: first, a wrong choice made by the soul of the disabled fetus in the world before this one, i.e. the Zar world, although the concept is among the unfolded mysteries of creation unfathomable by human knowledge; second, effect of the genes and/or the environment, regardless of the choice made by the soul of the disabled fetus in the world of Zar. However, since decision making regarding abortion of disabled fetuses is still a matter of controversy in medical ethics, further studies from the perspective of Islamic philosophy seem necessary to help resolve the issue and provide ethical guidelines based on Islamic principles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentavalent antimonials, as the 1st choice for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), have various side effects. Also, there are some reports of drug resistance. Due to its safety, cryotherapy can be a good alternative or complementary treatment in CL. The aim of this study was to explore the possible systemic immunological mechanisms of cryotherapy besides its local effects in the treatment of CL. Twenty patients with CL were selected. The disease was confirmed via a direct smear. A venous blood sample was collected to determine IL-10 and IFN-γ levels before starting cryotherapy. Then, 1 week after 8 sessions of cryotherapy were completed (i.e., 63 d), a 2nd venous sample was taken in order to compare the results with the pretreatment levels of these cytokines using the ELISA method. Cryotherapy resulted in no change in the levels of IL-10 and significantly increased the IFN-γ levels in our patients with CL. Given these inconclusive or even mixed results, a larger sample size is needed in order to better assess the systemic immunological effects of cryotherapy.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the highly prevalent endemic diseases in the Middle East and North Africa. Many treatment modalities have been recommended for this condition but success rates remain limited. Herbal remedies have also been used for treatment but evidence-based clinical trials with these products are sparse. In-vitro and in-vivo studies have shown the anti-leishmanial and curative effects of extract of fruits and leaves of Juniperus excelsa (J. excelsa). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of topical J. excelsa M. Bieb extract as an adjuvant to cryotherapy for the treatment of human CL.This study was designed as a two-arm triple-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial using a parallel design. Seventy-two patients with clinical diagnosis of CL confirmed by leishmania smears were allocated to receive either a topical formulation of leaf of J. excelsa extract (group A) or placebo (group B) for 3 months. Both groups received cryotherapy as baseline standard treatment. Patients were evaluated before and weekly after the intervention was initiated until complete cure.Overall, 82% of patients in group A, experienced complete cure and 9% of them had partial cure. On the other hand, 34% in group B reported complete cure, while 14% of them had partial cure at the end of treatment protocol with a significant difference between the two groups (P< 0.001). The mean duration to healing of the lesions in patients who received J. excelsa extract was statistically significantly shorter than the placebo group (p = 0.04). No significant side effect was seen in the J. excelsa extract group except for mild to moderate local irritation after a few weeks in a few numbers of patients.The results of this study showed that topical J. excelsa extract can be used as an adjuvant treatment modality in addition to cryotherapy for accelerating the time to cure in addition to increasing the complete cure rate in CL.ClinicalTrials.gov IRCT2015082523753N1.