Study on age-related bioaccumulation of some heavy metals in the soft tissue of rock oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) from Laft Port – Qeshm Island, Iran

Heavy metals widely enter into aquatic ecosystems, and cause various environmental problems due to bioaccumulation and biomagnification in food chains. The accumulation of heavy metals in bivalve tissues is affected by a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as physiological conditions, growth, seasonal changes, pH, salinity, temperature, genera and age. The present study investigated the effects of age of the rock oyster Saccostrea cucullata on the accumulation of Ni, Cd and Pb in the Laft Port coast located on the Qeshm Island. 200 oysters were collected and their age was determined, then they were classified into four age categories and 15 oysters from each category were selected. Samples were dry digested and the metal concentrations were measured by an ICP-OES (PerkinElmer, USA) instrument. Results revealed that the accumulation of Ni and Pb in one year old oysters (immature) was more than those in mature oysters (two, three and four year old oysters). Significant differences were observed between concentrations of Ni and Pb in mature and immature oysters. The results suggested that aging has a negative effect on bioaccumulation of Ni and Pb in S. cucullata; while it has no effect on bioaccumulation of Cd

Assessing breast cancer risk among Iranian women using the gail model

Background: Breast cancer risk assessment is a helpful method for estimating development of breast cancer at the population level. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants consisted of a group of 3,847 volunteers (mean ± SD age: 463 ± 7.59 years) in a convenience sample of women referred to health centers affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. The risk of breast cancer was estimated by applying the National Cancer Institute's online version of the Gail Risk Assessment Tool. Results: Some 24.9 of women reported having one first-degree female relative with breast cancer, with 8.05 of them having two or more first-degree relatives with breast cancer. The mean five-year risk of breast cancer for all participants was 1.61±0.73, and 9.36 of them had a five-year risk of breast cancer > 1.66. The mean lifetime risk of breast cancer was 11.7±3.91. Conclusions: The Gail model is useful for assessing probability of breast cancer in Iranian women. Based on the their breast cancer risk, women may decide to accept further screening services

Relationship of Internet addiction with self-esteem and depression in university students

Background. The aim of the study was to investigate the rela- tionship of self-esteem and depression with Internet addiction in university students. Methods. The present descriptive-analytic correlation study involved 408 students (150 female and 258 male) who had been selected by means of a cluster sampling method from among all the students studying in Birjand Islamic Azad University. Students were evalu- ated through the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Cooper Smith Self-Esteem Inventory (CSEI) and Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Results. The results indicated that 40.7% of the students had Internet addiction. A significant correlation emerged between depression, self-esteem and internet addiction. Regression analy- sis indicated that depression and self-esteem were able to predict the variance of Internet addiction to some extent. Conclusions. It may be important to evaluate self-esteem and depression in people with Internet addiction. These variables should be targeted for effective cognitive behavioral therapy in people with Internet addiction

A Survey on the Effects of Hatha Yoga Training (Asana and Relaxation) on Reduction of Anxiety among the Woman of 20-49 Years Old

Abstract: Aim: This study designed and conducted with the aim of specifying the Hatha Yoga effects on anxiety reduction among the women of age 20-49 years. As mental health is an inevitable part of public health, attention to it is one of the World Health Organization (WHO) plans. The organization has been considered anxiety as the most prevalent mental disorder around the world. Since women face more anxiety than men, concentrating on the women mental health is an ever-increasing social concern. Method: This is a quasi-experimental study conducted before and after intervention. The place has been Eqbal sport complex in Tehran-district 12. Samples were selected using random method among the patients with different anxiety levels. The samples were thought Hatha Yoga including one hour Asana and half an hour relaxation at each session by an experienced trainer. The intervention was done for 3 months and three 90-min sessions each week. Data collection instruments were demographic and anxiety questionnaires distributed before and three months after the intervention. The mean score of anxiety was calculated and then the collected data were analyzed using SPSS-16 software, descriptive statistical test, pair t-test and chi square test. Results: There was a significant difference between the mean score of anxiety among the samples, before and after the intervention (p<0.05) Conclusion: Conducting cheap, simple and fun exercises of Hatha Yoga reduces anxiety among women and as a result leads to increase society mental health and perhaps population quality of life. Therefore, it seems applying such exercises can reduce anxiety, efficiently

Prediction and Topological Models in Neuroscience

In the last two decades, philosophy of neuroscience has predominantly focused on explanation. Indeed, it has been argued that mechanistic models are the standards of explanatory success in neuroscience over, among other things, topological models. However, explanatory power is only one virtue of a scientific model. Another is its predictive power. Unfortunately, the notion of prediction has received comparatively little attention in the philosophy of neuroscience, in part because predictions seem disconnected from interventions. In contrast, we argue that topological predictions can and do guide interventions in science, both inside and outside of neuroscience. Topological models allow researchers to predict many phenomena, including diseases, treatment outcomes, aging, and cognition, among others. Moreover, we argue that these predictions also offer strategies for useful interventions. Topology-based predictions play this role regardless of whether they do or can receive a mechanistic interpretation. We conclude by making a case for philosophers to focus on prediction in neuroscience in addition to explanation alone

The global, regional, and national burden of stomach cancer in 195 countries, 1990-2017 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease study 2017

Background: Stomach cancer is a major health problem in many countries. Understanding the current burden of stomach cancer and the differential trends across various locations is essential for formulating effective preventive strategies. We report on the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to stomach cancer in 195 countries and territories from 21 regions between 1990 and 2017. Methods: Estimates from GBD 2017 were used to analyse the incidence, mortality, and DALYs due to stomach cancer at the global, regional, and national levels. The rates were standardised to the GBD world population and reported per 100 000 population as age-standardised incidence rates, age-standardised death rates, and age-standardised DALY rates. All estimates were generated with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). Findings: In 2017, more than 1·22 million (95% UI 1·19–1·25) incident cases of stomach cancer occurred worldwide, and nearly 865 000 people (848 000–885 000) died of stomach cancer, contributing to 19·1 million (18·7–19·6) DALYs. The highest age-standardised incidence rates in 2017 were seen in the high-income Asia Pacific (29·5, 28·2–31·0 per 100 000 population) and east Asia (28·6, 27·3–30·0 per 100 000 population) regions, with nearly half of the global incident cases occurring in China. Compared with 1990, in 2017 more than 356 000 more incident cases of stomach cancer were estimated, leading to nearly 96 000 more deaths. Despite the increase in absolute numbers, the worldwide age-standardised rates of stomach cancer (incidence, deaths, and DALYs) have declined since 1990. The drop in the disease burden was associated with improved Socio-demographic Index. Globally, 38·2% (21·1–57·8) of the age-standardised DALYs were attributable to high-sodium diet in both sexes combined, and 24·5% (20·0–28·9) of the age-standardised DALYs were attributable to smoking in males. Interpretation: Our findings provide insight into the changing burden of stomach cancer, which is useful in planning local strategies and monitoring their progress. To this end, specific local strategies should be tailored to each country's risk factor profile. Beyond the current decline in age-standardised incidence and death rates, a decrease in the absolute number of cases and deaths will be possible if the burden in east Asia, where currently almost half of the incident cases and deaths occur, is further reduced. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Epidemiology of injuries from fire, heat and hot substances : global, regional and national morbidity and mortality estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 study

Background Past research has shown how fires, heat and hot substances are important causes of health loss globally. Detailed estimates of the morbidity and mortality from these injuries could help drive preventative measures and improved access to care. Methods We used the Global Burden of Disease 2017 framework to produce three main results. First, we produced results on incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability, deaths, years of life lost and disability-adjusted life years from 1990 to 2017 for 195 countries and territories. Second, we analysed these results to measure mortality-to-incidence ratios by location. Third, we reported the measures above in terms of the cause of fire, heat and hot substances and the types of bodily injuries that result. Results Globally, there were 8 991 468 (7 481 218 to 10 740 897) new fire, heat and hot substance injuries in 2017 with 120 632 (101 630 to 129 383) deaths. At the global level, the age-standardised mortality caused by fire, heat and hot substances significantly declined from 1990 to 2017, but regionally there was variability in age-standardised incidence with some regions experiencing an increase (eg, Southern Latin America) and others experiencing a significant decrease (eg, High-income North America). Conclusions The incidence and mortality of injuries that result from fire, heat and hot substances affect every region of the world but are most concentrated in middle and lower income areas. More resources should be invested in measuring these injuries as well as in improving infrastructure, advancing safety measures and ensuring access to care.Peer reviewe