Concurrent and Discriminant Validity of the Farsi Translation of the Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2) and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ).

Objective: Early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can lead to earlier intervention and greater improvement of children's quality of life and performance; hence, the use of screening tools is essential to facilitate the diagnosis process. The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical and differential validity of Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2) and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) in a group of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder compared to a normal developmental group. Method : The study was conducted in Roozbeh Hospital involving 52 children with ASD and 53 typically developing (TD) children, aged between 4-12 years. Their parents completed the SRS-2 and SCQ. These children were also interviewed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, 2nd Edition (CARS-2) and Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale (ASDS). After completion, the results were analyzed using the SPSS Version 18 software and a significant level of 0.05. Results: The average age of children in the autism group was 7.5 ± 2.7 years, while in the typically developing (TD) children group, it was 7.7 ± 2.3 years (P = 0.656). A positive correlation coefficient was observed between the CARS questionnaire score, the SRS questionnaire score, the SCQ questionnaire score, and the ASDS (P < 0.01). In the SRS questionnaire, the area under the ROC curve was 0.976, and in the SCQ questionnaire it was 0.953, both of which had a good and significant diagnostic value (P < 0.001). A sensitivity of 0.942 and specificity of 0.811 for the cut-off point of 62.5 were obtained in the SRS questionnaire. Additionally, a sensitivity of 0.865 and specificity of 0.925 for the cut-off point of 15.5 were achieved in the SCQ questionnaire. Conclusion: The SRS-2 and the SCQ are sensitive and specific tools for identifying and discriminating children with autism spectrum disorder.

The effects of melatonin supplementation on mental health, metabolic and genetic profiles in patients under methadone maintenance treatment.

This investigation was designed to determine the effect of melatonin supplementation on mental health parameters, metabolic and genetic profiles in patients under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial was conducted among 54 patients under MMT. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either 10 mg melatonin (2 melatonin capsules, 5 mg each) (n = 26) or placebo (n = 28) once a day, 1 hour before bedtime for 12 weeks. Melatonin supplementation significantly decreased Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (ß -4.08; 95 percent CI, -5.51, -2.65; P < 0.001), Beck Depression Inventory index (ß -5.46; 95% CI, -8.92, -2.00; P = 0.003) and Beck Anxiety Inventory index (ß -3.87; 95% CI, -5.96, -1.77; P = 0.001) and significantly increased International Index of Erectile Functions (ß 5.59; 95% CI, 1.76, 9.42; P = 0.005) compared with the placebo. Subjects who received melatonin supplements had significantly lower serum insulin levels (ß -2.53; 95% CI, -4.48, -0.59; P = 0.01), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (ß -0.56; 95% CI, -1.03, -0.09; P = 0.01) and higher quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (ß 0.01; 95% CI, 0.004, 0.02; P = 0.009) and HDL-cholesterol levels (ß 3.71; 95% CI, 1.77, 5.64; P = 0.002) compared to placebo. Additionally, melatonin intake resulted in a significant reduction in serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (ß -0.15; 95% CI, -0.27, -0.02; P = 0.02), malondialdehyde (ß -0.31; 95% CI, -0.57, -0.05; P = 0.02) and protein carbonyl (ß -0.06; 95% CI, -0.09, -0.04; P < 0.001). This trial indicated that taking melatonin supplements for 12 weeks by patients under MMT had beneficial effects on their mental health metabolic profiles.

Admission creatine phosphokinase in acute poisoning: is it a predictive factor for the treatment outcome?

BACKGROUND: Poisoning has reported to be a major cause of death and burden of disease in low- and middle-Income countries. Rhabdomyolysis is a common consequence of many poisoning cases and serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) is a marker for it. The aim of the study was to assess whether the admission creatine phosphokinase in comatose patients with acute poisoning is a predictive factor for the treatment outcome. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, eighty poisoned comatose patients who were admitted with a serum CPK > 250 IU/L (not due to muscular trauma in accidents, myocardial ischemia and infarction, infections, hyperthermia, electrolytic disorders and diabetic ketoacidosis) were included. The severity of poisoning was assessed using Poisoning Severity Score. The admission CPK level; and outcome (survived with and without complication and death) for all patients were recorded. Patients were divided based on CPK levels into three categorizes: Low, medium and high. RESULTS: Seventy five percent of the patients in high CPK level group, 29.5% in medium CPK level group and 35% in low CPK level group developed complications or death. Binary logistic regression results indicated that the chance of complications is much higher for patients with high admission CPK levels (more than 10000 IU/L) [OR, 5.57; 95% CI (1.29-23.93)] than whom with low levels. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the admission serum CPK level for a poisoned patient, seems to be an acceptable predictor for the outcome in poisoned patients. Further studies are still needed.