Background: Natural compounds including flavonoids like genistein (GE) are able to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. GE is the main representative of these groups. GE inhibits carcinogenic tumors such as colon, stomach, lung, and pancreas tumors. The aim of the present study was to analyze the apoptotic effect of GE in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) PLC/PRF5 cell line. Methods: Cells were treated with various doses of GE (1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 μM/L) at different times (24, 48, and 72 h) and the MTT assay was commonly used. Furthermore, cells were treated with single dose of GE (25 μM) at different times and flow cytometry was performed. Results: GE inhibited the growth of liver cancer cells significantly with a time- and dose-dependent manner. The percentage of living cells in GE treatment groups with a concentration of 25 μM at different times were 53, 48 and 47%, respectively (P < 0.001). Result of flow cytometry demonstrated that GE at a 25 μM concentration induces apoptosis significantly in a time-dependent manner. The percentage of apoptotic cells at different times were 44, 56, and 60%, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusions: GE can significantly inhibit the growth of HCC cells and plays a significant role in apoptosis of this cell line.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the additive effects of socio-economic factors, number of psychiatric disorders, and religiosity on suicidal ideation among Blacks, based on the intersection of ethnicity and gender. Methods: With a cross-sectional design, data came from the National Survey of American Life, 2001-2003, which included 3570 African-American and 1621 Caribbean Black adults. Socio-demographics, perceived religiosity, number of lifetime psychiatric disorders and lifetime suicidal ideation were measured. Logistic regressions were fitted specific to groups based on the intersection of gender and ethnicity, while socioeconomics, number of life time psychiatric disorders, and subjective religiosity were independent variables, and lifetime serious suicidal ideation was the dependent variable. Results: Irrespective of ethnicity and gender, number of lifetime psychiatric disorders was a risk factor for lifetime suicidal ideation (odds ratio [OR] ranging from 2.4 for Caribbean Black women to 6.0 for Caribbean Black men). Only among African-American men (OR = 0.8, 95% confidence interval = 0.7-0.9), perceived religiosity had a residual protective effect against suicidal ideation above and beyond number of lifetime psychiatric disorders. The direction of the effect of education on suicidal ideating also varied based on the group. Conclusions: Residual protective effect of subjective religiosity in the presence of psychiatric disorders on suicidal ideation among Blacks depends on ethnicity and gender. African-American men with multiple psychiatric disorders and low religiosity are at very high risk for suicidal ideation.

Background: Methylphenidate (MPH) is a neural stimulant agent, which its neurochemical and behavioral effect remain unclear. Venlafaxine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressant, which was used for management of depression and anxiety. In this study, protective effects of venlafaxine on MPH induced anxiety, depression and cognition impairment were investigated. Methods: Forty-eight adult male rats were divided randomly to 5 groups. Group 1, received normal saline (0.2 ml/rat) for 21 days and served as control group. Group 2, received MPH (10 mg/kg) for 21 days. Groups, 3, 4, 5 and 6 concurrently were treated by MPH (10 mg/kg) and venlafaxine at doses of 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg respectively for 21 days. On day 22, elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were used to investigate the level of anxiety and depression in animals. In addition, between days 17 and 21, Morris water maze (MWM) was used to evaluate the effect of MPH on spatial learning and memory. Results: MPH caused depression and anxiety in a dose-dependent manner in FST, OFT, EPM and TST, which were significantly different compared with control group. Furthermore, MPH can significantly attenuate the motor activity in OFT. Venlafaxine in all doses can attenuate MPH induced anxiety, depression and motor activity alterations. MPH also can disturb learning and memory in MWM, but venlafaxine did not alter this effect of MPH. Conclusions: We conclude that venlafaxine can be protective in the brain against MPH induced anxiety and depression.

Background: Urban family physician program has been launched as a pilot in Fars and Mazandaran provinces of Iran since 2012. Attitudes of policy makers and people toward urban family physician program have become challenging. This study shows what people know and practice toward this program. Methods: This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted by a multistage randomized sampling in Shiraz, Southern Iran. Knowledge and practice of adults toward urban family physician program were queried through filing the questionnaires. Single and multiple variable analyzes of data were performed. Results: Participation rate was 1257 of 1382 (90.9%), and the mean age of the respondents was 38.1 ± 13.2 years. Of 1257, 634 (50.4%) were men and 882 (70.2%) were married. Peoples' total knowledge toward urban family physician program was 5 ± 2.7 of 19, showed that 1121 (89.2%) had a low level of knowledge. This was correlated positively and in order to being under coverage of this program (P < 0.001), being under coverage of one of the main insurance systems (P = 0.04) and being married (P = 0.002). The mean score of people's practice toward the program was 2.3 ± 0.9 of total score 7, showed that 942 (74%) had poor performance, and it was correlated positively and in order to being under coverage of this program (P < 0.001) and having higher than 1000$ monthly income (P = 0.004). Correlation of people's knowledge and practice toward the program was 24%. Conclusions: Current evidences show a low level of knowledge, poor practice and weak correlation of knowledge-practice of people toward urban family physician program.

Background: Health services for those in need. Inpatient care shows a more serious side of individual care and patients and their family members perceive a high level of stress and urge. We conducted this study to determine inequalities of in-patient health care utilization in Iranian people and to assess factors that influence utilization. Methods: In each province, the sample was comprised of 380 urban and 380 rural households that were recruited by a systematic random sampling method. A total of 23,560 households, which included around 102,000 individuals were recruited. We used the questionnaire for data collection. Met admission need (MAN) was the main variable and was considered household assets for determining the economic status. We did all analyses using the STATA version 9.1. Results: The rates of MAN for urban and rural areas were 83% and 81.3% respectively. The rate of MAN was significantly higher in patients with higher educational level. Patients with primary health insurance coverage had significantly higher rate of MAN. Conclusions: Meeting admission needs was estimated around 84% and it seems that modifying insurance coverage is the most feasible intervention for increasing utilization of health services.