An online global survey and follow-up expert groups on the scope and needs related to training, research, and mentorship among early-career addiction medicine professionals.

Addiction medicine is a rapidly growing field with many young professionals seeking careers in this field. However, early-career professionals (ECPs) face challenges such as a lack of competency-based training due to a shortage of trainers, limited resources, limited mentorship opportunities, and establishment of suitable research areas. The International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) New Professionals Exploration, Training & Education (NExT) committee, a global platform for early-career addiction medicine professionals (ECAMPs), conducted a two-phase online survey using a modified Delphi-based approach among ECAMPs across 56 countries to assess the need for standardized training, research opportunities, and mentorship. A total of 110 respondents participated in Phase I (online key informant survey), and 28 respondents participated in Phase II (online expert group discussions on three themes identified in Phase I). The survey found that there is a lack of standardized training, structured mentorship programs, research funding, and research opportunities in addiction medicine for ECAMPs. There is a need for standardized training programs, improving research opportunities, and effective mentorship programs to promote the next generation of addiction medicine professionals and further development in the entire field. The efforts of ISAM NExT are well-received and give a template of how this gap can be addressed.

A checklist for assessing the methodological quality of concurrent tES-fMRI studies (ContES checklist): a consensus study and statement.

Low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), including alternating or direct current stimulation, applies weak electrical stimulation to modulate the activity of brain circuits. Integration of tES with concurrent functional MRI (fMRI) allows for the mapping of neural activity during neuromodulation, supporting causal studies of both brain function and tES effects. Methodological aspects of tES-fMRI studies underpin the results, and reporting them in appropriate detail is required for reproducibility and interpretability. Despite the growing number of published reports, there are no consensus-based checklists for disclosing methodological details of concurrent tES-fMRI studies. The objective of this work was to develop a consensus-based checklist of reporting standards for concurrent tES-fMRI studies to support methodological rigor, transparency and reproducibility (ContES checklist). A two-phase Delphi consensus process was conducted by a steering committee (SC) of 13 members and 49 expert panelists through the International Network of the tES-fMRI Consortium. The process began with a circulation of a preliminary checklist of essential items and additional recommendations, developed by the SC on the basis of a systematic review of 57 concurrent tES-fMRI studies. Contributors were then invited to suggest revisions or additions to the initial checklist. After the revision phase, contributors rated the importance of the 17 essential items and 42 additional recommendations in the final checklist. The state of methodological transparency within the 57 reviewed concurrent tES-fMRI studies was then assessed by using the checklist. Experts refined the checklist through the revision and rating phases, leading to a checklist with three categories of essential items and additional recommendations: (i) technological factors, (ii) safety and noise tests and (iii) methodological factors. The level of reporting of checklist items varied among the 57 concurrent tES-fMRI papers, ranging from 24% to 76%. On average, 53% of checklist items were reported in a given article. In conclusion, use of the ContES checklist is expected to enhance the methodological reporting quality of future concurrent tES-fMRI studies and increase methodological transparency and reproducibility.

A comparison of dietary intake between personnel of a gas processing company and a sample population of public employees from Mashhad.

INTRODUCTION: An imbalanced dietary pattern may result in a number of non-communicable disorders that include: obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and subsequently impaired quality of life (QOL). Micro- and macro-nutrients play some important roles in maintaining human health. The objective of this study was to compare dietary intake of employees of a gas processing company, who were provided with meals by their employee, with staff from other public employers from Mashhad, in northeastern Iran. METHODS: Twenty-four-hour food recall and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) were used to evaluate dietary intakes of 654 male employees of Shahid Hasheminejad Gas Processing (SHGP) Company (case group), and 681 randomly selected male public employees from Mashhad as control subjects in this observational, analytic, longitudinal, prospective cohort study. The analysis of the dietary intakes was performed using Dietplan6 software. RESULTS: Dietary macro and micro-nutrients were evaluated: including total energy, fat, MUFA, PUFA, trans fatty acids, cholesterol, starch, fiber, protein, total nitrogen, zinc, phosphor, potassium, calcium, manganese, selenium, iodine, sodium, copper, retinol, carotene, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothen, vitamin B6, biotin, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin C and vitamin D. The intake of macro-nutrients, including: energy, fat, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, starch, and protein; minerals including zinc, iron, selenium; and vitamins including niacin and vitamin D were higher in the SHGP group, compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The dietary intake of the SHGP group contained lower amounts of several mineral and vitamins, which included: iodine, sodium, carotene, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, biotin, folic acid, and vitamin C, in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we suggest it will be important to evaluate the composition of meals provided by companies and organizations, especially those that provide their employees with the majority of their food intake.

Abdominal and auricular acupuncture reduces blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is an important risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is associated with premature death, myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and renal disease. The goal of the present study was to use a randomized controlled clinical trial to explore and compare the effectiveness of abdominal and auricular acupuncture on blood pressure in 440 subjects with and without obesity. METHODS: Four hundred participants were recruited and randomized to one of four groups: cases and controls receiving auricular acupuncture (204 subjects) and cases and controls receiving abdominal electroacupuncture (196 subjects). Blood pressure and anthropometric parameters were measured before and after the intervention period. In order to match the initial diet of the groups, participants were required to follow an isocaloric diet for two weeks before the trial, and a low-calorie diet for 6 weeks during the intervention period. RESULTS: We observed a significant time dependent improvement in the systolic blood pressure measurements in the abdominal intervention group, although this improvement was more pronounce in the first period of study. Of note, in the auricular intervention group, a significant increasing in the level of SBP was detected. Importantly no statistically significant changes were found in the corresponding sham groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that abdominal electro-acupuncture for 6 weeks reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and auricular acupuncture had a short-term adverse effect on both SBP and DBP.

Obese subjects have significantly higher serum prooxidantantioxidant balance values compared to normal-weight subjects.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that obesity is associated with higher levels of oxidative stress. We aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that pro-oxidant antioxidant balance (PAB) values could be affected by adiposity and to assess the association between PAB levels and indices of obesity. METHODS: Subjects (n = 733) were recruited and tlen were divided into 3 groups of normal-weight (BMI < 25, n = 207), overweight (25 < BMI < 30, n = 375), and obese (BMI > 30, n = 151). PAB values were measured in all participants. RESULTS: There was a significant association between PAB values and weight when the correlation was determined for all subjects (p < 0.05). Obese subject had significantly higher levels of PAB values [40.8 (34.3 - 51.1) HK unit] compared with overweight [37.5 (29.7 - 47.3) HK unit] and normal-weight subjects [37.2 (29.6 - 45.2) HK unit] (p < 0.05 in each case). However, there was no significant difference in PAB values between normal and over-weight subjects (p > 0.05). On performing the analysis of covariance, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was found to have a significant independent association with PAB values (j = 0.046, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The high levels of PAB values in obese subjects without overt signs/symptoms of cardiovascular disease may be related to a heightened state of oxidative stress associated with obesity.

Down syndrome and consanguinity.

BACKGROUND: Among the genetics disorders, Down syndrome (DS) is the major cause of mental retardation, congenital heart and intestinal disease. So far, no certain therapeutic method has been suggested for the treatment of this syndrome. The aim of the current survey was to investigate the frequency of parental consanguinity, maternal age in the patients with DS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 38 consecutive patients with clinically and laboratory confirmed DS who referred to the genetic lab of a referral University Hospital. The G-banding method for karyotyping was employed. RESULTS: The patients were 21 males and 17 females within the age of 16 days to 28 years old. Free trisomy (92.1%, n = 35) was the most common chromosomal abnormality. The frequency of DS was higher among the non-consanguine marriages (71.1%) in comparison with the consanguine marriages (28.9%). Mean age of the mothers in the consanguine marriages (mean = 27.1 ± 6.3) was lower than in the non-consanguine marriages (mean = 31.1 ± 7.7). CONCLUSION: Higher frequency of DS among the non-consanguine marriages in comparison with the consanguine marriages, may suggest that DS diagnostic tests might be done on all embryos regardless of the parents' familial relationship.