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Climate change influences the agricultural sector by reducing available water resources, thereby influencing income, consumer and producer surplus, and crop prices. So, it is necessary to have a comprehensive integrated method to measure the effects of these changes on natural resources and social conditions. The present study aims to use the positive mathematical programming method to discover the trend and conditions of groundwater resources, agricultural water use, food security, and economic welfare of the agricultural sector in Iran. To this end, data for the period 2000–2015 was used under four different scenarios of normal climate change, climate change, climate variability, and concurrent climate change The results showed that the mean agricultural water use will amount to 35,103.6, 26,533.8, 35,216, and 26,510.7 million m3 and the mean decline in the reserves of aquifers will amount to 4422.22, 11,165.6, 4438.25, and 11,267.4 million m3 under the scenarios, respectively. With respect to food security, the net farm revenue will be 314,560, 248,753, 315,427, and 248,574 billion IRR, respectively. The mean crop price per ton will reach 905.3, 1141.8, 904, and 1142.8 million IRR, respectively. The mean consumer surplus will be 172,107.7, 166,450, 172,024, and 166,403 billion IRR and the mean producer surplus will be 419,959.2, 395,380, 419,751, and 395,204 billion IRR, respectively. Based on the results, to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change on different studied aspects, it is necessary to change policymaking in the water and agricultural sectors, especially regarding the shift from traditional agricultural water allocation to its market-based allocation and to change planting pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations proposed that genetic polymorphisms within proteins in methadone pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics are critical factors in determination of methadone dose in methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). This study aimed to assess the associations between two polymorphisms, CYP3A4 (rs2740574) and OPRM1 (rs1799971), with dose of methadone in Iranian patients undergoing MMT. A total of 124 Iranian male subjects aged 18–65 years old who were confirmed to be addicted by the addiction diagnostic tests and underwent MMT were assessed. Patients were divided into three groups of low (less than 40 mg/day), moderate (more than 40 mg/day and less than 110 mg/day) and high (more than 110 mg/day) methadone dose consumption. DNAs of included patients were extracted from their blood samples and were assessed for CYP3A4 and OPRM1 polymorphisms. Results showed that there was no significant association between the studied polymorphisms and methadone dose in Iranian addicted patients underwent MMT (P > 0.05). CYP3A4 and OPRM1 single variations cannot explain variability in methadone dosage in MMT. Studying the interactions of more genetic factors in larger samples may elucidate factors influencing the required dose of methadone and better individualized therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Factor XI (FXI)-deficiency is a rare coagulation disorder inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, which is most common in Ashkenazi Jews, but also found in other groups like Moslems. We have reviewed for the first time cases of FXI deficiency in southern Iran in order to analyze their mutations related to factor XI, the main clinical and biological features, levels of circulating factor XI, and bleeding history. All 15 exons and exon–intron boundaries of F11 were polymerase chain reaction amplified using sets of primers designed on the basis of the known genomic sequence of the gene. Among bleeding disorder cases, five were FXI-deficient. FXI clotting activity ranged 0.39–16%. All were severely deficient. In all analyzed patients, functional level of FXI was markedly reduced, confirming the diagnosis of quantitative FXI deficiency. Sequencing of F11 identified three mutations: (1) a highly prevalent type II nonsense mutation (Glu117stop) in a homozygous patient, (2) a previously reported missense (Glu547Lys), and (3) novel missense (Gly372Ala) mutation. No causative mutation was found in the sequenced regions of other patients. One novel mutation and two previously described mutations were identified in patients living in southern Iran. No recurrent mutation was found, perhaps because there is a more intense population mixing in southern Iran. Screening a higher number of FXI-deficient patients will also be necessary to reveal the existence of a founder effect for these mutations in the Iranian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The changes in concentration of trace elements have effects on many organ systems, including the immune system. There have been conflicting reports on serum trace element levels in heroin users. This study was carried out to compare serum trace element concentrations in opium, heroin, and methamphetamine users., Methods: The study was done on 90 chronically illegal drug users (n = 30 per group) and 30 controls of the similar sex and age range (from 20 to 40 years). The control group was healthy subjects with no lifetime history of substance abuse or dependence. All of the substance users were selected from among those who had a history of substance use, for a minimum of 1 year. Serum zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and magnesium (Mg) were measured spectrophotometrically using chemistry analyzer., Results: Serum Fe concentration was decreased in heroin (P = 0.026) and methamphetamine (P = 0.0001) users compared with healthy subjects, whereas serum Cu was higher in opium, heroin, and methamphetamine users (P < 0.01). Copper was negatively and significantly correlated with Fe in all groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between drug users and healthy subjects in serum concentrations of Zn and Mg., Conclusions: This study showed decreased in serum concentration of iron and increase in serum copper in drug users when compared with controls.