Genetic Variations of Angiotensinogen, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, and Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor with the Risk of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

There is little data regarding the impact of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) gene polymorphisms on tuberculosis. The current study designed to survey the possible association between RAS polymorphisms and the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in a sample of the southeast Iranian population. This case-control study was done on 170 PTB patients and 170 healthy subjects. The AGT rs699 C>T, ACE rs4341 C>G and AT1R rs5186 C>A variants were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and ACE rs4646994 (287bp I/D) variant by PCR method. Regarding AT1R rs5186 A>C polymorphism, the findings revealed that AC genotype and C allele significantly decreased the risk of PTB (OR=0.39, 95% CI=0.22–0.67, p=0.001, and OR=0.53, 95% CI=0.25–0.72, p=0.002, C vs. A, respectively). The TC genotype and C allele of AGT rs699 T>C significantly associated with decreased the risk of PTB (OR=0.45, 95% CI=0.28–0.74, p=0.002, TC vs. TT and OR=0.51, 95% CI=0.32–0.80, p=0.005, C vs. T, respectively). The ID genotype of ACE 287bp I/D significantly increased the risk of PTB (OR=1.88, 95% CI=1.12–3.17, p=0.017). Our finding did not support an association between ACE rs4341 C>G variant and the risk of PTB. In summary, the findings revealed an association between AT1R rs5186 A>C, AGT rs699 T>C and ACE 287bp I/D polymorphisms and the risk of PTB in a sample of the southeast Iranian population. Further investigation with higher sample sizes and diverse ethnicities are required to confirm our findings

The effect of an education program based on the family-centered empowerment model on addiction severity among methamphetamine users

Introduction: In the process of treatment and prevention of relapsing to drug use, it is important to pay attention to mental health and supportive training interventions based on empowerment models. The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of training intervention based on the family - centered empowerment model upon the severity of damages caused by addiction among methamphetamine (MA) users. Material and methods: This study was a randomized trial. Subjects were divided into the intervention (95 individuals) and control (95 individuals) groups, randomly. The data collection tools included a demographics checklist and the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) standard questionnaire which were completed before, and three and six months after the educational intervention. The educational intervention was conducted in nine 90-minute sessions using the 5As method, group discussion and distribution of educational pamphlets. Statistical tests like the independent and paired t-test were used to analyze data. Results: The research findings indicated that the average scores of ASI subscales including family status, mental status and use of drugs were significantly different between before and three months after the training intervention in the intervention group (P < 0.05). The results also showed that the average scores of ASI subscales including medical status, employment, income, family, mental status, legal status and use of drugs were significantly different before and six months after the training intervention in the intervention group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: It was feasible to implement the family-centered empowerment model among MA users and it improved the severity of damages caused by drug abus