Oral supplementation with crocin (a constituent of saffron) in subjects with cigarette smoking: a clinical trial.

Smoking is one of the main causes of death in the world. Cigarette use is related with various components of metabolic syndrome (e.g., insulin resistance, raised blood pressure, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, inflammation state) and psychiatric disorders. This study was conducted to determine the effect of crocin (Cro) supplementation on nicotine dependence, anxiety, depression, and metabolic indices in smokers. A total of 50 smokers were selected and randomly categorized into two groups (crocin and placebo). The intervention group received crocin (30 mg per day; n = 25) and placebo (containing Avicel; n = 25) once a day. The primary (nicotine dependence, depression, and anxiety inventory) and secondary (metabolic indices) outcomes were assessed at the start of the intervention and after the 3 months. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the treatment effects on the outcomes adjusting for confounding variables. The primary outcome results such as nicotine dependence, depression, and anxiety inventory did not have a significant difference among the intervention groups (P > 0.05). Also in the secondary outcomes, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin, and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels did indicate a significant difference by Cro intervention (ß - 3.27 mg/dL; 95% CI, - 5.23, - 1.31; P = 0.002; ß - 0.76 µIU/mL; 95% CI, - 1.38, - 0.15; P = 0.01; ß - 0.18; 95% CI, - 0.29, - 0.07; P = 0.002), respectively. There were also significant reductions in serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (ß - 0.72 mg/L; 95% CI, - 1.37, - 0.07; P = 0.03), compared with the placebo. Cro intake may have favorable effects on the level of FPG, insulin, HOMA-IR, and hs-CRP in smokers. However, due to the small sample size and limited scientific reports on smokers, further studies are necessary. ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: IRCT20170420033551N11.

Novel Chronic Wound Healing by Anti-biofilm Peptides and Protease.

Chronic wounds have made a challenge in medical healthcare due to their biofilm infections, which reduce the penetrance of the antibacterial agents in the injury site. In infected wounds, the most common bacterial strains are Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biofilm disruption in chronic wounds is crucial in wound healing. Due to their broad-spectrum antibacterial properties and fewer side effects, anti-biofilm peptides, especially bacteriocins, are promising in the healing of chronic wounds by biofilm destruction. This study reviews the effects of antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agents, including bacteriocins and protease enzymes as a novel approach, on wound healing, along with analyzing the molecular docking between a bacterial protease and biofilm components. Among a large number of anti-biofilm bacteriocins identified up to now, seven types have been registered in the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) database. Although it is believed that bacterial proteases are harmful in wound healing, it has recently been demonstrated that these proteases like the human serine protease, in combination with AMPs, can improve wound healing by biofilm destruction. In this work, docking results between metalloprotease from Paenibacillus polymyxa and proteins of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa involved in biofilm production, showed that this bacterial protease could efficiently interact with biofilm components. Infected wound healing is an important challenge in clinical trials due to biofilm production by bacterial pathogens. Therefore, simultaneous use of proteases or anti-biofilm peptides with antimicrobial agents could be a promising method for chronic wound healing.

The effect of vitamin D supplementation on tobacco-related disorders in individuals with a tobacco use disorder: a randomized clinical trial.

Vitamin D deficiency in cigarette smokers (CS) might associate with several complications, including metabolic deficits, depression and anxiety. This study evaluated the effects of vitamin D on mental health symptoms, nicotine misuse, and biomarkers of metabolic diseases in individuals with a tobacco use disorder. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 60 CS subjects receiving either 50,000 IU vitamin D supplements (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) every 2 weeks for 24-weeks. Nicotine misuse, mental health scale, and metabolic parameters were measured before and after the intervention in the CS subjects. Compared with the placebo-group, after the 24-weeks intervention, serum 25 (OH) vitamin D levels increased in the intervention group (ß 2.96; 95% CI, 0.91, 5.01; P = 0.006). In addition, vitamin D supplementation significantly improved Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (ß -2.06; 95% CI, -3.84, -0.28; P = 0.02). In addition, vitamin D administration significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (ß -4.56; 95% CI, -8.94, -0.19; P = 0.04), insulin (ß -0.50; 95% CI, -0.88, -0.13; P = 0.009), and homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels (ß -0.21; 95% CI, -0.33, -0.08; P = 0.001). Furthermore, vitamin D resulted in a significant elevation in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (ß 81.20; 95% CI, 18.30, 144.11; P = 0.01), and plasma glutathione (GSH) levels (ß 73.05; 95% CI, 18.56, 127.54; P = 0.01), compared with the placebo-group. Administration of vitamin D for 24-weeks to CS subjects had beneficial effects on symptoms of depression and several metabolic biomarkers. While this preliminary study suggests that vitamin D might have beneficial effects, its clinical efficacy in individuals with a tobacco use disorder should be further validated in future clinical trials.

The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Relapse, Anxiety, and Depression in Patients With Opioid Dependence Under Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients under methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) are susceptible to several complications including mental disturbances and risk of relapse. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of tDCS on relapse, depression, and anxiety of opioid-dependent patients under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). METHODS: It was a randomized-clinical trial that conducted among 27 male patients referred to the outpatient addiction clinic of Ibn-e-Sina psychiatric hospital in Mashhad from July 2018 to May 2019. Participants were allocated to two treatment groups including intervention and sham groups. The intervention group received seven sessions of tDCS, in the F3 (cathode) and F4 (anode) areas of the brain, each one lasts 20 min, in two consecutive weeks. Depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 (DASS-21) were measured before, during, and after the intervention in patients under MMT. Relapse on the morphine, cannabis, and methamphetamine was screened by urine dipstick tests of morphine, cannabis, and methamphetamine. RESULTS: Depression, anxiety, and stress of participants were significantly reduced in the intervention group compared with the control after the seventh session of tDCS (P < 0.001, P=0.01, and P=0.01, respectively). In addition, the relapse rate showed no significant changes between the two groups (P=0.33). CONCLUSION: Overall, our study demonstrated that depression, anxiety, and stress of participants were significantly reduced after the seventh session of tDCS, but did not affect on the relapse rate. Therefore, it can be applied as a safe and effective technique to relieve mental disorder among receiving MMT. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.irct.ir, identifier IRCT20180604039979N1.

Examination and Comparison of Cognitive and Executive Functions in Clinically Stable Schizophrenia Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia (SC), bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD) are associated with various cognitive and executive dysfunctions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare cognitive and executive dysfunctions in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-four schizophrenia patients, 68 bipolar patients, 62 patients with major depressive disorder, and 75 healthy individuals participated in the present study. All participants were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Trial Making Test (TMT), Four-Choice Reaction Time Task, Ruler Drop Method (RDM), Tower of London (TOL) task, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST). Data were analyzed by chi-square, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and independent t-tests; ANOVA; and MANOVA. RESULTS: In the cognitive function, the scores of SC, BD, and MDD patients were lower than those of healthy individuals. Also, the scores of MDD patients were lower than those of other patients, and the scores of BD patients were lower than those of SC patients. In the executive function, the scores of SC, BD, and MDD patients were lower than those of healthy individuals. Moreover, the scores of the MDD group were higher than those of the BD and SC groups, and the scores of the SC group were higher than those of the BD group. CONCLUSION: Patients with SC, BD, and MDD have poorer cognitive and executive functions than healthy individuals, even when these patients are in a stable state. Assessment of cognitive and executive functions in SC, BD, and MDD patients can help in understanding the pathology of these disorders.

Clinical and metabolic responses to crocin in patients under methadone maintenance treatment: A randomized clinical trial.

Patients under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs are susceptible to several complications including metabolic and clinical disorders. This study was designed to determine the effect of crocin supplementation on mental health parameters and metabolic profiles in subjects under MMT. The current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial was conducted among 53 patients under MMT to receive either 15 mg/day of crocin (n = 26) or placebo (n = 27) twice a day for 8 weeks. Crocin administration significantly decreased Beck Depression Inventory score (P = 0.01) and Beck Anxiety Inventory score (P = 0.008) compared with the placebo. In addition, crocin administration resulted in a significant reduction in fasting glucose (P = 0.003), insulin levels (P = 0.01), insulin resistance (P = 0.008), triglycerides (P = 0.001), very low-density lipoprotein (P = 0.001), total cholesterol levels (P = 0.03), and a significant increase in insulin sensitivity (.003) compared with the placebo. Additionally, crocin intake was associated with a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p < .001) and malondialdehyde (P = 0.001) and a significant rise in total antioxidant capacity levels (P = 0.01) compared with the placebo. The findings of this clinical trial indicate that taking crocin for 8 weeks by patients under MMT had beneficial effects on their mental health and improved their metabolic profiles.

Mental health and cognitive function responses to quetiapine in patients with methamphetamine abuse under methadone maintenance treatment.

BACKGROUND: Patients with methamphetamine (MA) abuse under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) are susceptible to several complications including cognitive disturbance and mental health disorder. This trial was designed to determine the impacts of quetiapine administration on cognitive function and mental health scale in patients with MA abuse under MMT. METHODS: This study was carried out in 60 MA abusers under MMT. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 100 mg quetiapine (n = 30) or control (n = 30) daily for 8 weeks. Cognitive function and mental health scale were taken at baseline and post-treatment to evaluate relevant variables. RESULTS: Quetiapine significantly decreased depression (b -3.94; 95% CI, -7.73, -0.16; P = 0.04) and sleep disorder (b -2.18; 95% CI, -2.89, -1.47; P < 0.001). Also, quetiapine administration resulted in a significant reduction in Iowa Gambling Task (b -2.70; 95% CI, -4.69, -0.71; P = 0.009), and significant increases in Verbal Fluency Test (b 3.04; 95% CI, 1.24, 4.85; P = 0.001), Reverse Digit Span (b 2.80; 95% CI, 2.13, 3.47; P = 0.001) compared with the placebo. CONCLUSION: Overall, taking 100 mg quetiapine daily for 8 weeks by patients MA abuse in MMT had favorable effects on some of cognitive functions and mental health parameters.

Morphology of the corpus callosum and schizophrenia: A case-control study in Kashan, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Corpus Callosum (CC) plays a significant role in hemispheric communication and in lateralized brain function and behaviors. Structural abnormalities in the corpus callosum of schizophrenic patients were reported. However, previous studies regarding the relationship between morphology of CC in patients with schizophrenia and healthy people are controversial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the morphological differences of the CC between patients with chronic schizophrenia and healthy people and to examine the relationship between the characteristics of the CC and schizophrenia severity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 63 patients with chronic schizophrenia (the case group) referred to Kargarnezhad Psychiatric Hospital in Kashan, Iran, and 63 healthy people (the control group) between January 2013 and December 2014. All participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging. Shape, anteroposterior length, and area of the CC were measured and compared in both groups. The severity of the symptoms occurring in patients with schizophrenia was evaluated using the positive and negative syndrome scale. In this study, we employed Chi-square test, t-test, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient test, bivariate analysis of variance and logistic regression were used to test the association between different variables using SPSS software version 20. RESULTS: Results showed that the most common shape of the CC in each group was splenial bulbosity. The length and area of the CC in patients with schizophrenia were less than those of the control group and were greater in men compared with women in both groups. Although there was a significant difference in the surface area of the CC between the schizophrenic and control groups (p<0.001), no significant difference was seen regarding the anteroposterior length of CC (p=0.75). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the surface area and anteroposterior length of the CC (p<0.001 and p<0.014, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Morphologic characteristics of the CC can be helpful to anticipate schizophrenia especially in patients' family, and it can be used for suitable and faster treatment to prevent progressive cognitive dysfunction.

Evaluation of emotional intelligence and job satisfaction in employees of kashan hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction and emotional intelligence are two important variables in organizational behavioral studies, and are key factors in promoting the efficiency of organizations. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted in order to determine the job satisfaction and emotional intelligence of employees of Kashan hospitals in 2011. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 121 employees of Kashan hospitals who were selected using random stratified method. In this study, Bar-on emotional intelligence and job satisfaction questionnaires were used. The data were analyzed using statistical methods such as odds ratio, Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The majority of employees (76%) had moderate emotional intelligence while 88.2% of them had moderate job satisfaction. In this study, there were no significant relations between emotional intelligence and variables such as sex, education, and marital and job status (P > 0.05) but significant relations were found between the age and emotional intelligence (P = 0.01). Furthermore, there was no significant relation between job satisfaction and demographic variables. Moreover, no significant relation was found between the emotional intelligence and job satisfaction (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As the majority of the staff had average level of job satisfaction and emotional intelligence and others were lower than average, it seems necessary for authorities to explore the reasons for job dissatisfaction to prevent job burnout, depression and developing a sense of helplessness in the staff. It is also recommended to hold educational workshops for the staff especially who are younger than 40 years to promote their emotional intelligence.

Stigma and its determinants among male drug dependents receiving methadone maintenance treatment.

BACKGROUND: The stigma attached to substance use is considered as a barrier to treatment, resulting in continued dependence and harmful consequences for the health of drug abusers and society. METHODS: In the current study, stigma and its relation with patient characteristics and secrecy was examined in people who were in treatment of drug dependency. Participants were 144 patients from two referral methadone treatment centers who completed a survey containing questionnaires about stigma, secrecy and other measures of drug use. RESULTS: Patients reported high levels of self-stigma and moderate levels of stigma-related rejection and perceived stigma as well as commonly using secrecy, as a way of coping. More experiencing of self -stigma was associated with unemployment, positive history of IV drug use, incarceration and heroin consumption, compared to opium use. IV drug users and unemployed persons also reported more contacts with stigma- related rejection. No association was found between stigma and previous history of treatment for substance abuse. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate stigma in individuals who are in the treatment for substance dependence and highlight the need for more studies to clarify all aspects of drug use stigma.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the general population of Kashan, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Mental health is one of the most important public health issues because of its major contribution in decreasing the global burden of disease and its important role in assurance, dynamism, and efficacy. The present study evaluates the prevalence of mental disorders in the over 18-year-old population in Kashan, Iran during 2008-2009. METHODS: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Subjects were selected via stratified random sampling. The study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, subjects were evaluated using the General Health Questionnaire. In stage two, two psychiatrists used a DSM-IV checklist to conduct clinical interviews. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 16, OR, CI, Chi-square, and Mantel-Heanszel tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of mental disorders in Kashan was 29.2%. In women it was 35.5%, and in men, 21.2%. The most prevalent disorders were mood (9.3%) and anxiety disorders (4.7%). Among the 505 subjects with mental disorders based on clinical interviews, 162 (32.1%) suffered from mood disorders, 129 (25.6%) anxiety disorders, 21 (4.2%) psychotic disorders, 16 (3.4 %) neurologic disorders, 17 (3.4%) dissociative disorders, and 120 (23.7%) had other disorders. In this study, 7.8% of the subjects had at least one mental disorder. In the case of mood disorders, major depression (8.2%) was the most common; as for anxiety disorders, generalized anxiety disorder (7.2%) was the most prevalent. The prevalence was higher in people aged 56-65 (35.8%), widows (35.8%), the illiterate (42.8%), and the unemployed (38.8%). Mental disorder was significantly affected by gender, education, occupation, and marital status. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that psychiatric disorders in Kashan are higher than at the time of the previous research in this region (1999). Therefore, prevention programs and treatment of psychiatric disorders in this city are of great priority.