Effects of health literacy on health status and health ... [28] Health literacy, health status, and healthcare utilization ... Aims Hypertension is one of the most common health problems with significant consequences. Management of hypertension is mainly related to self-care status. Health literacy is one of the factors in accessing information related to health and better self-care. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between health literacy and self-care behaviors of hypertensive patients referred to health centers. Instrument & Methods In this descriptive-analytical study, 240 patients with hypertension referred to Hamadan Comprehensive Health Centers in 2019 were selected by multistage random sampling method and entered the study. The data were collected by interview and based on standard questionnaires of Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA) and self-care questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS 24 software using Pearson correlation tests and linear regression. Findings 29.2% of patients had inadequate health literacy and 42.1% had moderate selfcare. There was a positive significant correlation between all components of health literacy and self-care in patients (p<0.05). The level of education, economic status and self-care had a statistically significant relationship with patients' health literacy (p<0.05). Also, body mass index and health literacy had a statistically significant relationship with self-care (p<0.05). Conclusion Health literacy is one of the important factors in improving the self-care behaviors of patients with hypertension.

Background: Addiction is one of the most important social and health problems in the world. Development of rapid and inexpensive diagnostic methods for identification of patients with addiction to methamphetamine is still a very important challenge. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been introduced as an accurate and reliable biomarker for diagnosis of human disorders. Objectives: In the present study, the expression of miRNA-186 and miRNA-195 was investigated in blood of patients with methamphetamine abuse disorder. Methods: In this case-control study, 60 patients with methamphetamine abuse disorder (case group) and 60 healthy controls (control group) were enrolled. Total RNA was extracted from whole blood of patients and healthy controls, and then cDNA synthesis was performed using reverse transcriptase. Real-time PCR method was employed to investigate miRNA-186 and miRNA-195 expression. Finally, statistical software was used to analyze the obtained data. Results: The results demonstrated that the expression of miRNA-195 significantly increased in blood samples of patients with methamphetamine abuse disorders (8.75-fold change) compared to healthy controls (P < 0.05). However, the expression of miRNA-185 did not significantly increase (1.61-fold change) in patients compared to healthy controls (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Our study suggested that miR-195 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of drug addiction and can be used as an accurate and reliable marker for the identification of patients with methamphetamine abuse disorder.

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Background: Addiction is a personal and social problem worldwide, and has physical and psychological effects on consumers’ health. Recently, miRNAs have been described as noninvasive biomarkers. Currently, methamphetamine abuse (MA) is mainly diagnosed by chromatography. This study aimed to investigate the expression and diagnostic value of miR-127 and miR-132 in blood samples of patients with MA and non-user healthy controls. Methods: A total of 60 patients with MA (case group) and 60 non-user healthy individuals (control group) were selected from Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran. Peripheral blood was obtained and total RNA was extracted. Then, cDNA synthesis was performed and miR-127 and miR-132 expression was evaluated using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Findings: The results of this study demonstrated that miR-127 was significantly lower (0.042-fold change) in patients with MA than in the control group (P<0.05). However, miR-132 was significantly higher (7.1-fold change) in patients with MA than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: In general, expression of miR-127 and miR-132 may alter in patients with MA. Further studies are needed to identify underlying molecular mechanisms in patients with MA.