Oral candidiasis and cigarette, tobacco, alcohol, and opium consumption in Rafsanjan, a region in the southeast of Iran.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the association between oral candidiasis prevalence and cigarette, tobacco, alcohol, and opium consumption in Rafsanjan, a region in the southeast of Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using the data of Oral Health Branch of Rafsanjan Cohort Study (OHBRCS) as a part of the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS). RCS included in Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN) was begun in 2015 in the Rafsanjan. A full-mouth examination was done by trained dental specialists. Oral candidiasis was diagnosed based on clinical examination. Information about cigarette, tobacco, and opium smoking and alcohol consumption were collected based on data from self-reported questionaries. Univariate and multivariate dichotomous logistics regression were used to assess the association between oral candidiasis and cigarette, tobacco, alcohol, and opium consumption. RESULTS: Among 8682 participants with mean age of 49.94 years, the prevalence of oral candidiasis was 7.94%. There was a direct association between cigarette smoking in current and former cigarette smokers with an increased odds of oral candidiasis (OR: 3.26, 95% CI: 2.46-4.33 and OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.18-2.25 respectively) in fully adjusted models. There was a dose-response relationship between the odds of oral candidiasis and dose (OR: 3.31, 95% CI: 2.38-4.60), duration (OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 2.04-3.95) and number (OR: 3.01, 95% CI: 2.02-4.50) of cigarette smoking in the 4th quartile compared to reference group. CONCLUSIONS: A dose-response relationship was shown between cigarette smoking and increased odds of oral candidiasis.

Pharmaceuticals and modern statecraft in South Africa: the cases of opium, thalidomide and contraception.

This article provides a history of three pharmaceuticals in the making of modern South Africa. Borrowing and adapting Arthur Daemmrich's term 'pharmacopolitics', we examine how forms of pharmaceutical governance became integral to the creation and institutional practices of this state. Through case studies of three medicaments: opium (late 19th to early 20th century), thalidomide (late 1950s to early 1960s) and contraception (1970s to 2010s), we explore the intertwining of pharmaceutical regulation, provision and consumption. Our focus is on the modernist imperative towards the rationalisation of pharmaceutical oversight, as an extension of the state's bureaucratic and ideological objectives, and, importantly, as its obligation. We also explore adaptive and illicit uses of medicines, both by purveyors of pharmaceuticals, and among consumers. The historical sweep of our study allows for an analysis of continuities and changes in pharmaceutical governance. The focus on South Africa highlights how the concept of pharmacopolitics can usefully be extended to transnational-as well as local-medical histories. Through the diversity of our sources, and the breadth of their chronology, we aim to historicise modern pharmaceutical practices in South Africa, from the late colonial era to the Post-Apartheid present.

An unusual case of refractory metabolic acidosis.

Homeopathy is one of the most frequently used systems of complementary and alternative medicine. The patients who seek homeopathic treatment are primarily those suffering from long-standing, chronic diseases. These medicines may have considerable risk of severe side effects. Some homeopathic medicinal preparations use alcohol as a base and are frequently prescribed for common conditions. We hereby report an unusual case of refractory metabolic acidosis after homeopathic medicinal treatment.

Population Size Estimation of People Who Use Illicit Drugs and Alcohol in Iran (2015-2016).

BACKGROUND: Estimating the number of people using illicit drugs and alcohol is necessary for informing health policy and programming. However, it is often challenging to reliably estimate the size of these marginalized populations through direct methods. In this study, we estimated the population size of these groups using the indirect Network Scale-Up (NSU) method in Iran from 2015 to 2016. METHODS: Using a self-administered questionnaire, we asked 15 124 individuals (54% men) about the number of people they know who used different types of drugs at least once in the past 12 months. Prevalence estimates were reported per 100 000 population. The uncertainty level (UL) was calculated using the bootstrap method. RESULTS: The average age of the respondents was 33 years old, and 35.1% of them were unmarried. The most common drugs and their prevalence were as follows: opium (2534 [95% UL: 2467-2598]), hashish (849 [95% UL: 811-886]), stimulants (methamphetamine, ecstasy pills, cocaine, and Ritalin) (842 [95% UL: 802-879]), heroin/crack (578 [95% UL: 550-607]), and drug injection (459 [95% UL: 438-484]). Additionally, we estimated the prevalence of alcohol use as 2797 (95% UL: 2731-2861). On average, substance use was 5.23 times more prevalent among men than women. Opium use was more prevalent among individuals aged >50 years old. Moreover, alcohol use was more prevalent among participants between 18 and 30 years old (5164 per 100 000 population). CONCLUSION: Although opium continues to be the most prevalent illicit drug in Iran, the patterns of illicit drug use are heterogeneous among different age groups, genders, and provinces. Age-gender specific and culturally appropriate interventions are warranted to meet the needs of people in different subgroups.

Prevalence of general and abdominal obesity and its relationship with opium, total opiate drugs, and chronic smoking: Fasa cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obesity and drug use are two major global issues today. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between alcohol and tobacco use with general and central obesity. METHODS: The data of the longitudinal population-based study were collected from the basis of the Fasa Cohort Study (FACS). Participants were 10141 people with 35-70 years old. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software. Binary logistic regression (BLR) was used for modelling. A significance level (α) less than 0.05% was considered for hypothesis testing. RESULTS: Of the total participants (N = 10104), 54.8% (n = 5539) were women. The prevalence of central obesity in terms of waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), and waist to height ratio (WHtR) were calculated 48.20% (N = 4871), 79.50% (N = 8032), and 83.30% (N = 8314). The Odds Ratio (OR) adjusted of Abnormal body mass index (BMI) for Opium and chronic smoking were 0.54 (CI: 0.47-0.63) and 0.47 (CI:0.40-0.56). OR adjusted Abnormal WC for opium and chronic smoking were calculated 0.65 (CI: 0.53-0.80) and 0.57 (CI:0.46-0.72), respectively. Three variables of opium (OR = 0.54, CI: 0.46-0.64), total opiate drugs (OR = 1.46, CI:1.16-1.83) and chronic smoking (OR = 0.58, CI: 0.48-0.70) remained in the modeling for Abnormal WHR. Which were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Significant and inverse relationships were found between obesity and opium, total opiate drugs, and chronic smoking.

Effects of homeopathic mother tinctures on breath alcohol testing.

In some countries, it is illegal to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol in blood; in others, the legal limit is 0.5 g/L or lower. Recently, some defendants charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and have claimed that positive breath alcohol test results were due to the ingestion of homeopathic mother tinctures. These preparations are obtained by maceration, digestion, infusion, or decoction of herbal material in hydroalcoholic solvent. A series of tests were conducted to evaluate the alcoholic content of three homeopathic mother tinctures and their ability to produce inaccurate breath alcohol results. Nine of 30 subjects gave positive results (0.11-0.82 g/L) when tests were taken within 1 min after drinking mother tincture. All tests taken at least 15 min after the mother tincture consumption and resulted in alcohol-free readings. An observation period of 15-20 min prior to breath alcohol testing eliminates the possibility of false-positive results.

Homeopathic potencies of Opium in alcohol dependence: exploratory open-label study / Potências homeopáticas de Opium na dependência do álcool:estudo exploratório e aberto / Potencias homeopáticas de Opium en alcoholismo:estudio exploratorio abierto

The conventional pharmacological options for the treatment of alcoholism are limited, which led to the search for solutions in alternative or complementary medicine (CAM). Homeopathy is a CAM modality recognized as medical specialty in Brazil. According to the clinical experience of the early homeopaths, Opium was used to treat patients with alcohol dependence. Aim: to perform a preliminary assessment of the effectiveness and tolerability of fifty-millesimal potencies of Opium in the treatment of alcohol-dependent patients. Methods: exploratory, prospective, open-label trial, with pre-treatment measures as control. Confidence intervals were used to estimate the magnitude of the clinical differences. Results: a total of 14 patients were included, from which 12 were evaluated (intention to treat analysis - ITT). There was a significant reduction in the average daily alcohol consumption (-29.37 units of alcohol/day; 95% CI=10.63; 48.11) and in the severity of alcohol dependence, measured by the mean score of the Short Alcohol Dependence Data questionnaire (-10.17; 95% CI= 4.12; 16.22). No serious adverse events were reported. Randomized controlled studies with larger samples are needed.(AU)

Contexto: as opções farmacológicas convencionais para o tratamento do alcoolismo ainda são limitadas, contribuindo para a busca de soluções na medicina alternativa ou complementar (CAM). A homeopatia é uma modalidade de CAM reconhecida como especialidade médica no Brasil. Na experiência clínica dos primeiros homeopatas, Opium era usado no tratamento de pacientes com dependência do álcool. Objetivo: avaliação preliminar da efetividade e da tolerabilidade de dinamizações homeopáticas de Opium no tratamento de pacientes dependentes do álcool. Métodos: estudo exploratório, prospectivo e aberto, com medidas pré-tratamento como controle. Intervalos de confiança foram utillizados para se estimar a magnitude das diferenças clínicas. Resultados: 14 pacientes foram incluídos e 12 avaliados (análise segundo a intenção de tratar- ITT). Houve uma redução clinicamente significativa no consumo médio diário de álcool (-29,37 unidades de álcool/dia, 95% CI=10,63; 48,11) e na severidade da dependência do álcool, medida pelo escore médio do questionário Short Alcohol Dependence Data (-10,17 pontos 95% CI= 4,12; 16,22). Não foram relatados ou observados eventos adversos graves. Os resultados justificam estudos maiores, randomizados e controlados.(AU)

Homeopathic potencies of Opium in alcohol dependence: exploratory open-label study / Potências homeopáticas de Opium na dependência do álcool: estudo exploratório e aberto / Potencias homeopáticas de Opium en alcoholismo: estudio exploratorio abierto

The conventional pharmacological options for the treatment of alcoholism are limited, which led to the search for solutions in alternative or complementary medicine (CAM). Homeopathy is a CAM modality recognized as medical specialty in Brazil. According to the clinical experience of the early homeopaths, Opium was used to treat patients with alcohol dependence. Aim: to perform a preliminary assessment of the effectiveness and tolerability of fifty-millesimal potencies of Opium in the treatment of alcohol-dependent patients. Methods: exploratory, prospective, open-label trial, with pre-treatment measures as control. Confidence intervals were used to estimate the magnitude of the clinical differences. Results: a total of 14 patients were included, from which 12 were evaluated (intention to treat analysis - ITT). There was a significant reduction in the average daily alcohol consumption (-29.37 units of alcohol/day; 95% CI=10.63; 48.11) and in the severity of alcohol dependence, measured by the mean score of the Short Alcohol Dependence Data questionnaire (-10.17; 95% CI= 4.12; 16.22). No serious adverse events were reported. Randomized controlled studies with larger samples are needed.

Contexto: as opções farmacológicas convencionais para o tratamento do alcoolismo ainda são limitadas, contribuindo para a busca de soluções na medicina alternativa ou complementar (CAM). A homeopatia é uma modalidade de CAM reconhecida como especialidade médica no Brasil. Na experiência clínica dos primeiros homeopatas, Opium era usado no tratamento de pacientes com dependência do álcool. Objetivo: avaliação preliminar da efetividade e da tolerabilidade de dinamizações homeopáticas de Opium no tratamento de pacientes dependentes do álcool. Métodos: estudo exploratório, prospectivo e aberto, com medidas pré-tratamento como controle. Intervalos de confiança foram utillizados para se estimar a magnitude das diferenças clínicas. Resultados: 14 pacientes foram incluídos e 12 avaliados (análise segundo a intenção de tratar- ITT). Houve uma redução clinicamente significativa no consumo médio diário de álcool (-29,37 unidades de álcool/dia, 95% CI=10,63; 48,11) e na severidade da dependência do álcool, medida pelo escore médio do questionário Short Alcohol Dependence Data (-10,17 pontos 95% CI= 4,12; 16,22). Não foram relatados ou observados eventos adversos graves. Os resultados justificam estudos maiores, randomizados e controlados.

La historia médica de Edgar Alian Poe / The medical history of Edgar Alian Poe

Edgar Allan Poe, one of the best American storytellers and poets, suffered an episodic behaviour disorder partially triggered by alcohol and opiate use. Much confusion still exists about the last days of his turbulent life and the cause of his death at an early age. Different etiologies have been proposed to explain his main medical problem, however, complex partial seizures triggered by alcohol, poorly recognized at the time when Poe lived, seems to be one of the most acceptable hypothesis, among others discussed.

Tratamiento del dolor quirúrgico en Buenos Aires durante la primera mitad del siglo XIX / Treatment of surgical pain in Buenos Aires during the first half of the 19th. Century. Historical Research

El tratamiento del dolor en la cirugía que se practicaba en Buenos Aires en la primera mitad del siglo XIX se basaba en la administración de opio y alcohol (usualmente vino Carlón). Además de estas sustancias, se apelaba a la sujeción, la sorpresa y el engaño, métodos ya empleados durante centurias. Importante era la rapidez del cirujano, que muchas veces operaba aun sin el auxilio de las sustancias mencionadas. Las operaciones se realizaban en los hospitales de la ciudad o en los domicilios de los pacientes.

Treating surgical pain in Buenos Aires during the first half of the 19th century was based on giving the patient opium and alcohol (usually cheap red wine). Also used were centuries-old methods such as binding the patient, taking him by surprise and lying to him. An important factor was the speed of the surgeon who frequently operated even without the help of the mentioned substances. Such surgery was done in the city's hospitals or the patient's home.

O tratamento da dor da cirurgia praticada em Buenos Aires na primeira metade do século XIX tinha como base a administração de ópio e álcool (usualmente vinho Carlón). Além dessas substancias, apelava-se para a sujeição, a surpresa e o engano, métodos já utilizados durante séculos. Era importante a rapidez do cirurgião, que muitas vezes operava até mesmo sem o auxilio das substancias mencionadas. As cirurgias eram feitas nos hospitais da cidade ou domicilios dos pacientes.