Anxiety, a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease: what is the best index.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is known as the leading cause of disability and death globally. Anxiety disorders are also recognized as common types of mental disorders that substantially impact global health. Iran ranks among the countries with a high incidence of CAD and anxiety disorders. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the potential association and epidemiological aspects of anxiety and CAD within the population of Mashhad, the second most popoulos city in Iran. METHODS: The present study is based on extracted data from the Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) study which is a 10-year prospective cohort study intended to assess the effects of various CAD risk factors among Mashhad city residents. Anxiety scores were assessed at the baseline using Beck Anxiety Inventory and individuals were classified based on the BAI 4-factor structure model which included autonomic, cognitive, panic, and neuromotor components. Accordingly, the association between baseline anxiety scores and the BAI four-factor model with the risk of CAD events was analyzed using SPSS software version 21. RESULTS: Based on the results, 60.4% of the sample were female, and 5.6% were classified as having severe forms of anxiety. Moreover, severe anxiety was more prevalent in females. Results showed a 1.7% risk of CAD (p-value < 0.001) over 10 years with one unit increase in anxiety score. Based on the 4-factor model structure, we found that only panic disorder could significantly increase the risk of CAD by 1.1% over the 10-year follow-up (p-value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Anxiety symptoms, particularly panic disorder, are independently and significantly associated with an increased overall risk of developing CAD over a 10-year period. Therefore, further studies are warranted to investigate the mechanisms through which anxiety may cause CAD, as well as possible interventions to mitigate these processes.

The Comparison of Two Types of Relaxation Techniques on Postoperative State Anxiety in Candidates for The Mastectomy Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety among patients after surgery can affect their physiological and psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of Benson's relaxation and rhythmic breathing techniques on postoperative anxiety in candidates for the mastectomy surgery. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial study was conducted with ninety patients in 2013. The patients were hospitalized for the mastectomy surgery in three surgical wards in a teaching hospital, Tehran, Iran. They were randomly assigned into three groups: Benson's relaxation including the cognitive relaxation technique type, rhythmic breathing including the somatic relaxation technique type and control groups. According to the Davidson and Schwartz multi-process theory, the Benson's relaxation and the rhythmic breathing techniques have cognitive and somatic effects, respectively. One day before the surgery, the patients in the intervention groups were trained regarding relaxation and breathing techniques and were asked to perform the techniques under the supervision of the researcher in the night before the surgery. The cognitive somatic anxiety questionnaire was used to measure anxiety before the intervention and half an hour after recovery of consciousness after the surgery. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis via the SPSS v.21 software. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics. The application of both techniques reduced the level of patients' anxiety after the surgery. The patients in the Benson's relaxation technique group reported only the relief of somatic anxiety. However, the breathing technique patients reported a reduction in both cognitive and somatic anxiety. CONCLUSION: The Benson's relaxation and rhythmic breathing techniques can reduce postoperative anxiety in patients after the mastectomy surgery. Trial Registration Number: IRCT2014042017350N1.

Intravenous transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells promotes neural regeneration after traumatic brain injury.

To investigate the supplement of lost nerve cells in rats with traumatic brain injury by intravenous administration of allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, this study established a Wistar rat model of traumatic brain injury by weight drop impact acceleration method and administered 3 × 10(6) rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via the lateral tail vein. At 14 days after cell transplantation, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells differentiated into neurons and astrocytes in injured rat cerebral cortex and rat neurological function was improved significantly. These findings suggest that intravenously administered bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can promote nerve cell regeneration in injured cerebral cortex, which supplement the lost nerve cells.

Assessing the micronutrient and macronutrient intakes in female students and comparing them with the set standard values.

BACKGROUND: Healthy nutrition particularly the energy intake and the essential nutrients in female students is very important. This study aims to assess micro- and macronutrient intakes in female students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 100 female students aged between 18 and 25 years in 2008-2009. Anthropometrics measures were performed and two 24-hours food recalls were used to collect the dietary information and were analyzed using food processor 2 and compared with the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) 2008. FINDINGS: As many as 61.1% of subjects resided in dormitories; 12.7% were married. Prevalence of overweight or obesity and abdominal obesity in the subjects studied were 6.9% and 46.1%, respectively. The mean (±SD) systolic blood pressure was 105.2 ± 15.6 mmHg and the diastolic was 62.2 ± 10.4 mmHg. Totally, 3.9% of the subjects had hypertension. Food intake analysis indicated that B12, folate, magnesium, potassium, and calcium were below the recommended level, and vitamin C, E, pantothenic acid, B1, B3, phosphate, and zinc were above, and energy intake, macronutrient, vitamin A, pyridoxine, iron, and selenium were, in general, adequate. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study indicated that macronutrients intake was appropriate, but the problem mainly existed in the consumption of micronutrients. It is recommended to increase the intakes of important food groups such as dairy, vegetable, and fruit that are proper sources of micronutrients, and it is also suggested to improve strategies and the competence in this area of nutrition.