Metabolic syndrome: a population-based study of prevalence and risk factors.

The association between personal habits and metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of MetS among youths and its association with cigarette, tobacco, opium, and alcohol consumption in the Rafsanjan Youth Cohort Study (RYCS). The current cross-sectional study was based on data from RYCS, as part of the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS). RCS is a branch of the prospective epidemiological research studies in Iran (PERSIAN). In the present study, 2843 youths aged 15-35 were included. MetS was diagnosed using the international diabetes federation (International IDF), National Cholesterol Education Panel- Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII), and Iranian criteria (IDF Iranian). Binary logistic regression models were performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs). The prevalence of MetS was 7.67%, 7.14%, and 10.13% based on NCEP-ATPIII, IDF Iranian, and International IDF criteria respectively. The odds of MetS according to international IDF and Iranian IDF in the alcohol-drinking group in the last 12 months (OR: 1.51, 95%CI 1.02-2.21, OR: 1.66, 95%CI 1.11-2.48 respectively) were greater compared with the non-drinking group. The odds of having high TG in the alcohol-drinking group in the last 12 months was 1.53 times higher than the control group (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.20-1.94). Furthermore, the odds of having high waist circumference (WC) according to IDF International was significantly higher in the tobacco-smoking group in the last 12 months and in the tobacco-smoking group in the last 12 months daily (OR: 1.23, 95%CI 1.01-1.49 and OR: 1.41, 95%CI 1.01-1.98 respectively) compared to the control groups. The prevalence of MetS was 7.67%, 7.14%, and 10.13% based on NCEP-ATPIII, IDF Iranian, and International IDF criteria respectively. The odds of MetS and high TG were greater in the alcohol-drinking group in the last 12 months compared with the non-drinking group. The odds of high WC in the last 12 months, were greater in the tobacco-smoking group compared with the non-smoking group. However, more longitudinal studies are needed to verify the associations observed in the current study.

Hookah is the enemy of health campaign: a campaign for prevention of hookah smoking among youth.

Hookah smoking is now a serious health threat especially for adolescents. Implementation of planned interventions can help reduce hookah smoking. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a campaign Hookah is the Enemy of Health Campaign (HEHC) based on the protection motivation theory to prevent hookah smoking among the youth in Sirjan city, in 2018. This was a pre- and post-intervention study. Participants were 280 male and female youth who were selected randomly through the health centers of Sirjan. The educational campaign was conducted during 3 months and participants were trained through interpersonal, group, organizational and community channels and mass media. Data were collected by filling out a questionnaire (containing 64 questions) by the participant before the intervention and 3 months after. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage), chi-square and Wilcoxon signed-rank test by SPSS20 software. The prevalence of hookah smoking was 44.3% in the target group. There was a significant change in the mean scores of knowledge and perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, response efficiency, self-efficacy, rewards, fear and protection motivation after the HEHC (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the structure of perceived cost (p > 0.05). Also, the prevalence of hookah smoking among the target group for those who had ever consumed decreased from 8.9 to 4% and for those who used it occasionally decreased from 35 to 19.4%. The HEHC was effective in reducing hookah smoking, raising knowledge and improving the constructs of the protection motivation theory among the youth of Sirjan.

Predictive factors for preventing hookah smoking and health promotion among young people based on the protection motivation theory.

BACKGROUND: Smoking hookahs is one of the most preventable risk factors for non communicable diseases. It is also considered as the gateway to youth addiction. Planning and training to prevent this health problem is considered an important priority. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive factors for preventing hookah smoking (PHS) in the youth of Sirjan city, based on the protection motivation theory (PMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2018, and participants were chosen by simple random sampling. Data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire which was valid and reliable and was designed based on the PMT constructs. This questionnaire was completed by 280 young people in Sirjan, Iran. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and linear regression. RESULTS: Pearson correlation coefficients showed that there was a significant correlation between protection motivation and the structures of the PMT, except for the response cost structure. The strongest correlation was between protection motivation and self-efficacy (r = 0.502) and fear (r = 0.470). The structures of the PMT predicted 36.5% of PHS, and fear (ß =0.27) was the strongest predictor of PHS. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the constructs of the PMT can partially predict PHS. This theory can be used as a tool for designing and implementing educational interventions to prevent hookah smoking among the youth.

Impact of opium dependency on clinical and neuropsychological indices of multiple sclerosis patients.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of opium on clinical and neuropsychological parameters in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with substance dependency. A cross-sectional study was conducted on MS patients in Rafsanjan, Iran. Forty opium-addict MS patients (10 males and 30 females) aged between 18 and 50 years were compared with 40 MS patients with no addiction. Word-Pair Learning, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Wisconsin Card-Sorting Test (WCST), Depression, Anxiety, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Fatigue, and the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) were measured and compared in the two groups. The comparison of two groups showed a significant increase trait anxiety (P < 0.001), fatigue (P = 0.009) and significant decrease in the executive function (P = 0.003), MMSE (P = 0.003), and working memory (P < 0.001) in addicted MS. It indicates the better efficiency of processing in the non-addicted MS patients. The MSFC z-score also was significantly higher in the non-addicted group (P < 0.001). The opium addiction has a negative impact on the clinical and neuropsychological outcome in MS patients.

Riluzole for treatment of men with methamphetamine dependence: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Riluzole is a glutamate regulator and effective in treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions. AIMS: We assessed riluzole for treatment of methamphetamine dependence. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, male outpatients with methamphetamine dependence who were 18-65 years old received either 50 mg riluzole ( n=34) or placebo ( n=54) twice daily for 12 weeks. Patients were excluded in case of comorbid serious medical conditions or neurologic disorders, comorbid psychiatric disorders other than methamphetamine dependence requiring specific treatment interventions, simultaneous positive urine test result for substances of abuse other than methamphetamine, smoking >3 days per week, simultaneous consumption of medications which are contraindicated or have interaction with riluzole. RESULTS: Concerning primary outcomes, the cumulative mean number of attended weekly visits was higher in the riluzole arm compared with the placebo arm approaching a statistically significant difference (riluzole, median (range)=13.00 (2.00-13.00); placebo=4.00 (2.00-13.00); Mann-Whitney U=505.00, p-value=0.073), and the weekly measured rate of positive methamphetamine urine test results was significantly lower in the riluzole arm by the end of the study (riluzole=1 (5.00%), placebo=9 (45.00%), p-value=0.004). Patients in the riluzole arm experienced significantly greater improvement on all the craving, withdrawal, and depression measures regarding mean score changes from baseline to endpoint. No significant difference was detected between the two arms in terms of incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSION: Future randomized clinical trials are needed to investigate proper dosing strategy in a more inclusive sample.

Aloysia citriodora Palau (lemon verbena) for insomnia patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of efficacy and safety.

Aloysia citriodora (A. citriodora) has a long history of traditional use for sedation and treatment of insomnia in different societies. This study was carried out to assess the efficacy of A. citriodora in patients with insomnia. One hundred patients were randomly divided into two groups of A. citriodora (total essential oil 1.66 mg/10 ml and total amount of flavonoid in terms of quercetin 3.22 mg/10 ml of the syrup) and placebo. They were advised to use 10 cc of the syrups; an hour before the bedtime for a period of 4 weeks. Participants were assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaires at the baseline and then 2 and 4 weeks after the enrollment. Mean scores of global PSQI and its four components including sleep latency, habitual sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction, and subjective sleep quality and also ISI score in the A. citriodora group improved significantly after 4 weeks of treatment when compared with the placebo group (p < 0.001, for all of them). Also, improvement of global score of PSQI and ISI was observed in the intervention group as compared with the placebo group, 2 weeks after the enrollment (p < 0.001). The results of this study showed that oral intake of A. citriodora can be suggested as a complementary treatment for patients with insomnia.

Serum Levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and TGF-ß in Chronic HBV-Infected Patients: Effect of Depression and Anxiety.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of depression and anxiety on serum cytokine levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 60 healthy control individuals and 60 patients with CHB participated after filling out standard questionnaires. We examined their serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and TGF-ß levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. RESULTS: In patients with CHB compared with healthy controls, serum levels of IL-8 were significantly increased, whereas IL-6 and TGF-ß levels were significantly decreased. Serum levels of TGF-ß were significantly decreased in the patients with CHB who had mild depression, compared with patients with CHB without depression and with moderate and severe depression. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of IL-8 and TGF-ß, respectively, is a corresponding mechanism for induction of chronic inflammation in patients with CHB. Depression also seems to induce inflammation via downregulation of TGF-ß in these patients.

Accidental Chronic Poisoning with Methotrexate; Report of Two Cases.

Methotrexate has been used widely in dermatology, oncology and rheumatology fields. However, methotrexate-induced mucocutaneous lesions may occur in rare cases. In this case presentation, we report two cases of accidental poisoning with methotrexate. They had accidentally used methotrexate instead of digoxin. This case report emphasizes that early diagnosis and appropriate management is critical in order to improve outcome.

Intermittent Hemiplegia in a Boy with Primary Moyamoya Disease: A Case Report from Iran.

Moyamoya is a rare chronic progressive occlusive cerebrovascular disease. Its manifestation varies from stroke, progressive learning impairment and transient ischemic attack to headache and seizure. There is no accepted medical treatment and surgery usually, is needed. We report here a case of 8 yr old boy referred to psychiatrist outpatient. An eight yr old boy with intermittent hemiplegia was brought to Imam Ali Clinic, Yazd, Iran in 2015 because his headache and medical problem began from 6 yr old. Stress and excitement exacerbated his condition. His first attack was at the age of 6 yr old. During attack, he had incontinence, severe headache, alogia, pallor, claudication and left hemiplegia (Left lower limb). Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was done and our diagnosis was moyamoya disease. Moyamoya is a mysterious disease and psychiatrists should consider it in differential diagnosis of alogia and plegia. Acute management of this disease is mainly symptomatic. Nowadays, surgery is a good choice and early diagnosis of this disease can change our patient's life.

Effect of Oral Clonidine on Shoulder Tip Pain and Hemodynamic Response After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Double Blind Study.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder tip pain is a common problem after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There are a few clinical trial studies on the effect of clonidine on post laparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP). This study aimed at evaluating the effect of oral clonidine on PLSP in semi-sitting position and post-operative hemodynamic response of patients undergoing LC surgery. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 60 patients, who were candidates for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery under general anesthesia, and were randomly allocated to clonidine and placebo groups. Patients in the clonidine group received 0.2 mg oral, 90 minutes prior to induction. Patients in the placebo group received vitamin C tablets during the same time. Postoperative pain intensity was assessed, using a visual analog scale at the emergence from anesthesia, 4 and 8 hours after the operation by an anesthetist, who was blinded to the patient group. Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were recorded before clonidine administration and in post-operative period. RESULTS: The mean age was 36.85 ± 10.93 years and the mean Body Mass was 26.34 ± 3.46 kg/m2. Two groups were not comparable with respect to occurrence of PLSP (P = 0.739). There was a significant difference in intensity of PLSP between the 2 groups at emergence from anesthesia (P = 0.012), 4 and 8 hours after the operation (P = 0.001) between 2 groups. The clonidine group showed a larger reduction of pain intensity at these phases. The result of independent t test indicated significant differences in the MABP value between the 2 groups at the time of emergence from anesthesia (P = 0.031). The clonidine group demonstrated a lower MABP level at this time. CONCLUSIONS: Oral clonidine is not effective in preventing the PLSP. However, it alleviates PLSP intensity in the patient under LC procedure on the first post-operative hours.

Intestinal Perforation Due to Foreign Body Ingestion in a Schizophrenic Patient.

INTRODUCTION: Ingestion of foreign bodies has been previously reported in some patients with schizophrenia. This behavior may be a manifestation of delusional beliefs or a response to command hallucinations and can lead to severe complications. CASE PRESENTATION: This paper reports a patient with schizophrenia who, as a manifestation of his illness, ingested a metallic skewer to kill ademon inside his abdomen that he believed was controlling him. As a result, he developed an acute intestinal perforation and underwent surgery. CONCLUSIONS: It is of a great importance to closely monitor the therapy compliance of patients suffering from mental illnesses. This will benefit them by preventing some of the serious complications of their disease, which may include life-threatening conditions such as intestinal perforation that needs surgical intervention.

Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder: Mismanagement, Misdiagnosis, Chronic Cough Following Sexual Abuse: A Rare Case Report.

Objective Conversion disorder (CD) is a mental disorder in which patient displays neurological symptoms such as blindness, mutism, paralysis and seizure. It starts when our mind converts our mental stress into a physical symptom. A 15-year-old single white female with chronic cough, which had begun 5 months ago, was brought to our clinic. She had no history of hospitalization. His daily cough was without sputum production or fever, rhinorrhea and stopped during sleep. There was no recent exposure to tobacco smoke or a person with a chronic productive cough. Laboratory tests were normal. She had engaged 4 months ago. Doing sex during engagement is prohibited in her culture but and had anal sex, because of her spouse's trend. Psychotherapy was done and complete recovery was accomplished.

The effectiveness of group positive psychotherapy on depression and happiness in breast cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in women in the world. It causes fear, despair, and takes a tremendous toll on psychological status. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of group positive psychotherapy on the depression and happiness of breast cancer patients. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted with 42 breast cancer patients in The Oncology Center at Kermanshah, Iran in 2015. The Data were gathered before intervention and ten weeks afterwards. The data were collected using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Oxford's happiness Inventory (OHI). The data were analyzed by SPSS-16, Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S), chi-squared, and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). RESULTS: The results showed a significant reduction in the depression of the group on positive psychotherapy compared with the control group. Also the positive psychotherapy group experienced a significant increase in the patients' happiness, while there was no significant increase in the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this research showed the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy on the reduction of mental pressure and the improvement of the mental status of breast cancer patients. This economical therapy can be used to increase patients' psychological health. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRST) with the identification number IRCT2013101410063N4. FUNDING: The authors received financial support for the research from Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences.

Are RIG-1 and MDA5 Expressions Associated with Chronic HBV Infection?

Melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) and retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 (RIG-1) as the pattern recognition receptors play important roles in viral mRNA recognition. Chronic HBV-infected (CHB) patients are unable to properly respond to hepatitis B virus (HBV). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the mRNA levels of MDA5 and RIG-1 in the peripheral blood immune cells of CHB patients in comparison to healthy controls. In this cross-sectional study, the mRNA levels of MDA5 and RIG-1 were examined in 60 CHB patients and 60 healthy controls using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Our results showed that mRNA levels of MDA5 and RIG-1 were significantly decreased and increased, respectively, in CHB patients when compared to healthy controls. Our results also revealed that mRNA levels of MDA5 and RIG-1 were not altered among CHB patients with various states of e-antigen of hepatitis B and HBV-DNA viral loads. According to the results presented here, it may be concluded that downregulation of MDA5 may be a responsible mechanism from several reasons, which leads to HBV persistence in CHB patients.

Mismanagement of a hypochondriacal patient.

Hypochondriasis is a persistent preoccupation that despite appropriate medical evaluations and assurance of patient's physical health, the patient insists on having a serious disease. The case which is discussed in this article is a 39-years-old woman that hospitalized for half of her life and no one can perceive her disorder according to her assertions. The mentioned case is a "difficult patient" with fear of oxygen shortage and being choked (Pnigophobia) which leads to continuous tendency to wear oxygen device even during sleep. There is no benefit in exaggerating her condition for herself so there is no fictitious disorder considered. During the therapy she has been assured that she does not have a serious disease and she has learnt to decrease oxygen intake and breath with his mouth. The point that makes this study different from the others is that most of hypochondriacal patients have a fear of getting HIV, cancers, hepatitis and MS but our patient has phobia of pulmonary embolism.

Familial characteristics of street children in tehran, iran.

OBJECTIVE: The phenomenon of street children is one of the most important concerns facing global community. Identifying risk factors in such children could lead to crucial investigations to find their essential needs by intervention programs. The present study examined the family profile of street children in Tehran, Iran. METHODS: The sample consisted of 576 street children who were evaluated by 15 examiners. Using multi-stage sampling, twenty-seven different areas of Tehran were divided into 5 clusters and the children were selected randomly from each cluster. The two questionnaires applied included a demographic questionnaire and a questionnaire about high-risk behaviors such as substance use, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, etc. RESULTS: There was a statistical significant association between the length of work time and two variables: sex and economic status of family (p < 0.05). Incarceration history of street children who had lost both their parents and their parents had been divorced was significantly higher than others (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The street children's lifestyle is a risk factor for affecting them to variety types of socio-mental problems. Statistical significant association between parental divorces or the loss of both parents with a history of conviction mentions the important role of parents in transmitting moral and social values to children.

Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study is planned to obtain a better understanding of the correlation between sudden sensorineural hearing loss and cardiopulmonary bypass. There are many causes for sudden hearing loss which include infectious, circulatory, inner ear problems like meniere's disease, neoplastic, traumatic, metabolic, neurologic, immunologic, toxic, cochlear, idiopathic (unknown cause) and other causes. One of the less common cause is surgery include cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a self controlled clinical trial on 105 patients that was carried out in chamran Hospital, Esfahan, Iran. Participants were including all those patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery in the hospital who fell under the criteria for inclusion. Patients underwent audiometric testing at our hospital on three or two different occasions during the course of this study, Initially before the procedure to test the baseline hearing capacity; then two week after the procedure to assess any changes in hearing ability following the surgery. Data analysis performed by co-variance analysis. RESULTS: In our study the changes in the threshold of hearing in frequency of 1000 in right ear and in frequencies of 2000 and 4000 in left ear were significant, but this changes were about 2-3 db and were not noticeable. The difference in degree of SNHL, before and after surgery in different frequencies were been shown. CONCLUSION: As loss of the patients with symptomatic sensory neural hearing loss in this study, It isn't commanded the routin auditory assessment pre and post surgery was been done.

Exposure to Second-hand Smoke During Pregnancy and Preterm Delivery.

BACKGROUND: Prematurity is an issue related to increasing the neonatal morbidity and mortality and smoking pregnant women cause the risk of low birth weight and prematurity increase, compared to non-smoking ones. OBJECTIVES: This study investigates second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure's effects over pregnant women on gestational age and birth weight. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive-analytic study, 205 women referred to both public and private hospitals in the third trimester were questioned about second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure during pregnancy. In addition to birth weight and gestational age, other variables including mother's education and job and sex of the newborns were also assessed. RESULTS: Of all 205 women, 43 (20.97%) women exposed to SHS during pregnancy and 162 (79.02%) women did not. In SHS exposure group, 11 infant (25.6%) and in non- SHS exposure group, 17 infant (10.5%), were born prematurely (< 37 weeks) (P = 0.01). Also birth weight of newborn in non-SHS exposure group was 118 gram more than other group but the differences were not significant (P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that the secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure of pregnant women may be significantly associated with early preterm delivery.