RESUMO
Due to its accessibility, efficacy, and affordability, traditional medicine (TM) is the main source of health services for many people in the world. Nevertheless, in spite of its benefits, there are still many issues about the principles of TM which demand further declaration. One of the essential principles of Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) is temperament (mizaj), which efficiently applied in diagnosis and therapy of illnesses. In this study we aimed to explore the association of GSTM1/T1, and SOD1 50 bp Ins/Del polymorphisms with combined groups of temperament. The study was conducted in 217 healthy males from Fars province, southern Iran. The self-reported mizaj questionnaire was applied to identify the participants' temperament. Then individuals with temperate, warm/moist, and warm/dry temperament were entered in the study. To determine the genotype of GSTM1, GSTT1, and SOD1, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method was performed. As the results of χ2 analysis showed, the frequency of GSTT1, GSTM1, and SOD1 polymorphisms in temperate group was not significantly differ from that in each of warm/moist and warm/dry groups. Further research with larger samples are suggested to clarify the association between temperament and biomolecular features.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine (Meth) is a highly addictive and hallucinogenic agent which is used as the second most common illicit drug globally. Meth could affect the retina and optic nerve by inducing the release of vasoconstrictive agents such as endothelin 1 and induction of severe oxidative stress with accumulation of reactive oxygen species. AIM: To evaluate the effects of chronic Meth abuse on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL) and the Bruch's membrane opening minimum rim width (MRW). METHOD: In this case-control study, we recruited 55 Meth abusers and 49 healthy individuals with mean age of 44.63 ± 0.97 and 43.08 ± 0.91 years, respectively. RNFL thickness, GCL thickness and MRW were evaluated using optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: We found statistically significant decrease in RNFL, MRW thickness in Meth abusers (P: 0.002 and P: 0.006, respectively). We did not detect statistically significant difference regarding GCL thickness between the groups (P = 0.320). Our results showed a weak but statistically significant correlation of Meth dose increment and decrement of RNFL thickness ((P: 0.005, r = -0.193) and MRW (P: 0.013, r = -0.174). We found no correlation between duration of Meth consumption with RNFL and MRW thickness (P: 0.205, r= -0.124; P: 0.771, r= -0.029, respectively). CONCLUSION: We found a statistically significant adverse association in meth abusers with RNFL thickness and MRW. These two parameters were also statistically associated with the meth dose as measured by daily dose of Meth. Although we found a decrease in the GCL thickness, it did not reach statistical significance.
