Effect of exercise and morphine on psychological and physical dependencies, BDNF and TrkB gene expression in rat's hippocampus

Objectives: To compare the effect of exercise and morphine on abstinence syndrome and hippocampal gene expression in rat model

Methods: Thirty adult male rats were exposed to voluntary wheel exercise [low, medium, high] for 28 days. The subjects entered Conditioned Place Preference [CPP] apparatus and experienced morphine [low, medium, high] CPP and followed by naloxone test. Correlation between exercise level, morphine injection, concurrent morphine administration and exercise with morphine CPP, BDNF and TrkB genes was determined. Rats were euthanized, decapitated and the hippocampus was removed. The expression of BDNF and TrkB genes were evaluated by real time PCR

Results: Active rats ran an average of 839.18 m/d. A significant [P<0.001] correlation between exercise level, morphine injection, concurrent morphine administration and exercise with morphine CPP and BDNF and TrKB gene expressions was found

Conclusion: Voluntary exercise in different levels potentiates the brain rewarding system, CPP scale, and hippocampal BDNF and TrKB expressions. High range of voluntary exercise demonstrated an increase in the likelihood of developing addictive and drug-seeking behavior

Epidemiologic study of suicidal attempt cases in Fars province, south of Iran, 2010-2011

Background: The reduction of suicidal attempts as one of the most important goals is improvement of societies' health status. The present study aimed to assess the epidemiologic aspects of suicide cases in Fars province in 2010-2011

Methods: A total of 9714 suicide cases in Fars province, south of Iran, in 2010-2011 were enrolled in this cross-sectional study through census. The study data were collected using suicide registry forms in the health centers affiliated to Fars province department of health services and analyzed using SPSS, version 17

Results: The rate of suicide attempts was 116.5 per 100,000 population in Fars province [93per 100,000 among men and 141.5 per 100,000 among women]. The results showed significant differences between the suicide rates based on sex, age group, place of living, and season of the year [P<0.001]. Most of these cases were female [59.4%], single [52.9%], 15-24 years old [56.4%], had high school education [25.8%], lived in urban areas [69.6%] and were female homemakers [30.3%]. Based on the data, however, the largest number of suicide deaths resulted from self-immolation [56.7%]

Conclusion: The present study findings revealed different rates of suicidal attempts based on sex and age group. Also, the importance of education and mental support, especially among women and singles, and also preventive measures in the context of uncontrolled immigration from the countryside to the large cities seems to essential more than ever. Yet, defects in some findings, particularly information about etiology, suggest that more researches should be conducted and suicide data registry and reporting systems should be improved

[Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection and related risk factors among injective substance abusers in Shiraz, Southern part of Iran]

As substance abusers are prone for human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection, this study was established to estimate the prevalence of HIV infection and related risk factors among injective substance abusers in Shiraz. In this cross sectional descriptive study, we studied 360 male intravenous substance abusers in a random "time location sampling" method all around Shiraz. During September to December 2008, participants were asked by standard structured questionnaire of behavioral study. We obtained three blood spots from their fingers to evaluate HIV infection. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods such as mean, variance, tables and schemas. The mean age of participants were 33 +/- 7.26 years [range 19-64]. The average age of initial substance use and first intravenous substance use were 18.6 +/- 1.63 and 25 +/- 6.32 years. 30.2% of the participants were homeless and the most prevalent method of abuse was injection. The most abused illicit drug in the last month was Tamgizak [41.1%]. During last month, 15% had used contaminated syringes and 15.6% had used shared syringes; 62.8% of participant had sex with permanent partners such as wife, 36.3% had sex to earn money or drugs, 54% had sex with other partners [not for money or drugs] and 49.4% were homosexual. During last year, prevalence of unprotected sexual intercourse without condom in four mentioned sexual patterns were 49.7%, 31.7%, 43.3%, 75.6% respectively. In addition, 24.7% [89 cases] were infected with HIV. The prevalence of HIV[+] cases and high risk behaviors among intravenous drug abusers are high