A versatile ratiometric fluorescence nanoprobe for the determination of clonazepam in patients' plasma samples.

Despite the necessity of the study of therapeutic drug monitoring of clonazepam (CLZ), there are only a few fast detection methods available for determining CLZ in biological media. This study aims to develop a cost-effective and ratiometric probe for the quantification of CLZ in plasma samples. Fluorescent polydopamine nanoparticles were produced through a self-polymerization process at a pH of 8.5. Rhodamine B molecules were employed as a fluorescent reference material, emitting stable fluorescence in the visible range. The fabricated probe exhibited a specific detection capability for CLZ. The fluorescence emission of the probe was enhanced in two concentration ranges: from 50 ng/mL to 1.0 µg/mL and from 1.0 to 15.0 µg/mL with a lower limit of quantification of 50 ng/mL, indicating the sensitivity of the probe for detecting CLZ plasma levels. The accuracy of the probe is favorable which could be recommended for CLZ monitoring in the biological media. Furthermore, this probe is highly specific towards CLZ in the presence of various interfering agents which is mainly caused by its ratiometric nature. The developed platform showed high reliability in quantifying CLZ concentrations in patients' plasma samples. Hence, the fabricated probe could be recommended as a reliable method for the routine detection of CLZ in clinical settings.

The effect of educational intervention based on the behavioral reasoning theory on self-management behaviors in type 2 diabetes patients: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes self-management education is necessary to improve patient outcomes and reduce diabetes-related complications. According to the theory of behavioral reasoning, the likelihood of performing a behavior is predicted by the link between beliefs, motivation, intention, and behavior. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an educational intervention based on the Behavioral Reasoning Theory (BRT) on self-management behaviors in patients with Type 2 Diabetes. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial based on BRT was conducted on 113 patients with type 2 diabetes, with a control group and an intervention group followed for 3and 6 months. Data were collected using a researcher-made demographic questionnaire based on the constructs of BRT and behaviors related to self-management in patients with type 2 diabetes. In the intervention group were provided, 8 sessions of diabetes self-management education based on BRT. The control group only received the usual training of the center. Data was analyzed using SPSS26 software. RESULTS: After the educational interventions in the intervention group, there were statistically significant changes observed in the mean scores of all constructs, fasting blood sugar, and glycosylated hemoglobin. On the other hand, no statistically significant change was observed in the mean grades of the control group. All the observed changes were significant at the 0.05 level. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study were in favor of the effectiveness of an educational intervention that promotes diabetes self-management behaviors, using the principles of the behavioral reasoning theory. Which can be used in the design of health promotion programs for patients with diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), IRCT20131014015015N21.

Effects of inulin supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers and clinical symptoms of women with obesity and depression on a calorie-restricted diet: a randomised controlled clinical trial.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is regarded as an inflammatory disorder. Gut microbiota dysbiosis, observed in both MDD and obesity, leads to endotoxemia and inflammatory status, eventually exacerbating depressive symptoms. Manipulation of gut microbiota by prebiotics might help alleviate depression. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of inulin supplementation on psychological outcomes and biomarkers of gut permeability, endotoxemia, inflammation, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in women with obesity and depression on a calorie-restricted diet. In a double-blind randomised clinical trial, forty-five women with obesity and MDD were allocated to receive 10 g/d of either inulin or maltodextrin for 8 weeks; all the patients followed a healthy calorie restricted diet as well. Anthropometric measures, dietary intakes, depression, and serum levels of zonulin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α, IL-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, toll-like receptor-4 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), and BDNF were assessed at baseline and end of the study. Weight and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores decreased in both groups; between-group differences were non-significant by the end of study (P = 0·333 for body weight and P = 0·500 for HDRS). No between-group differences were observed for the other psychological outcomes and serum biomarkers (P > 0·05). In this short-term study, prebiotic supplementation had no significant beneficial effects on depressive symptoms, gut permeability, or inflammatory biomarkers in women with obesity and depression.

Evaluation of factors related to maternal anxiety during pregnancy among women referred to Tabriz primary care centers.

BACKGROUND: Maternal anxiety during pregnancy is sometimes considered a normal mechanism to overcome the mother's mental preoccupation with having a child. However, stress and anxiety might become a medical condition, becoming so severe as to affect the mother's mental health. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate factors related to maternal anxiety during pregnancy in women referring to prenatal primary care centers in Tabriz. METHODS: The target population in the present cross-sectional study was the pregnant women referring to primary care centers affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 2018-2019 (n = 533). Sampling was carried out using the random cluster technique (separately for municipal centers). The data were collected using the study tools, including a questionnaire on demographic data, prenatal anxiety screening scale (PASS), and researcher-made questions on maternal anxiety during pregnancy. RESULTS: In the present study, 37.5% of pregnant women had anxiety. Of all the demographic and background variables, income (P = 0.015), a history of preterm delivery (P = 0.018), and unintended pregnancy (P = 0.022) were significantly related to anxiety. Of the variables of income, a history of preterm delivery, and unintended pregnancy in the regression model, the odds of anxiety were 41% lower in pregnant women with somewhat adequate income than those with inadequate income after correcting for other variables (P = 0.011). In addition, the variable of unintended pregnancy increased the odds of anxiety up to 49% after correcting for other variables (P = 0.023). CONCLUSION: The present study showed that income and unintended pregnancy significantly affect maternal anxiety during pregnancy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The protocol of the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences under the code (IR.TBZMED.REC.1398.161).

The effect of counseling with stress management approach on postpartum anxiety and distress and breastfeeding self-efficacy during COVID-19 pandemic: a ramdomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Successful breastfeeding is related to the psychosocial conditions of the mother. Covid19 pandemic resulted in psychological consequences in women during postpartum period. Maternal anxiety and distress reduce the chances of exclusive breastfeeding. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of counseling with stress management approach on postpartum anxiety and distress and breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) during COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 64 breastfeeding mothers referred to health care centers in Tabriz, Iran in 2021. Participants were assigned into the intervention and control groups in a ratio of 1: 1 using block randomization in a block size of 4 and 6. The intervention group participated in six individual 60-90 min sessions. Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), postpartum distress (PMD), and BSE questionnaires were completed before and 4-week after the intervention by the control and intervention groups. Independent t-test and ANCOVA were used to compare the outcomes between two groups. RESULTS: According to the ANCOVA results by controlling the baseline values and after the intervention, the mean score of anxiety in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group [Adjusted Mean Difference (AMD): -13.82, 95%, confidence interval (CI): -12.35 to -15.29, (p < 0.001)]. Further, the mean score of postpartum distress after intervention was lower in the intervention group compared with that in the control group [AMD:5.31 95% CI: -3.00 to -7.37 (p < 0.001)]. After the intervention, the mean score of BSE in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group [AMD: 25.57, 95% CI: 22.85 to 28.29 (p < 0.001)]. CONCLUSION: Stress management counseling can improve postpartum anxiety and distress and BSE and increase breastfeeding. However, more studies are needed for a definitive conclusion. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20171007036615N6. Date of registration: 15/09/2021.

Dispersive solid-phase extraction of risperidone from plasma samples using graphene oxide aerogels and determination with liquid chromatography.

A graphene oxide-based aerogel was synthesized and applied to the extraction and the determinations with the high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detector. After the characterization of the produced graphene-aerogel, it was utilized as a dispersive solid-phase extraction sorbent for risperidone extraction from plasma samples. Aerogels are materials with a large surface area-to-mass ratio and plenty of core with functional groups which can easily attach to the analytes to extract them to the second phase. The suggested method determined risperidone in plasma samples in the wide dynamic range from 20 ng/ml to 3 µg/ml. The limits of detection and quantification of the developed method were calculated as 2.4 and 8.2 ng/ml, respectively. As a novel feature, the developed method has no need to precipitate plasma proteins, improving the analytical performance of the analysis. Also, for the first time, the produced materials were utilized for the extraction of risperidone from the plasma samples. The obtained results revealed that the developed approach could be employed as an accurate method for the quantification of risperidone in real plasma samples.

Cytotoxic Physalins from Aeroponically Grown Physalis acutifolia.

Aeroponically grown Physalis acutifolia afforded five new and six known withanolides including 10 physalins. The structures of the new withanolides, acutifolactone (1), 5ß,6ß-epoxyphysalin C (2), 5α-chloro-6ß-hydroxyphysalin C (3), and an inseparable mixture of 5ß,6ß-epoxy-2,3-dihydrophysalin F-3ß-O-sulfate (4) and 5ß,6ß-epoxy-2,3-dihydrophysalin C-3ß-O-sulfate (5), were elucidated by analysis of their spectroscopic data and chemical interconversions. The known withanolides were identified as physalins B (6), D (7), F (8), H (9), I (10), and U (11) by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported. Evaluation of 1-11 and the derivatives, 13 and 13a, obtained from 4 and 5 against a panel of four human cancer cell lines [NCI-H460 (non-small-cell lung), SF-268 (CNS glioma), PC-3 (prostate adenocarcinoma), and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma)] and normal human lung fibroblast (WI-38) cells revealed that physalins 2, 3, 8, and 9 exhibited selective cytotoxic activity to at least one of the cancer cell lines tested compared to the normal cells and that 7, 10, and 11 were inactive up to a concentration of 10.0 µM. These data provided some preliminary structure-activity relationships and suggested that the mechanism of cytotoxic activity of physalins may differ from other classes of withanolides.

Calorie restriction in combination with prebiotic supplementation in obese women with depression: effects on metabolic and clinical response.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disorder, closely associated with obesity. This study aimed to assess the effects of prebiotics combined with calorie restriction on clinical and metabolic response in obese women with MDD. METHODS: In an 8-week double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, 62 obese women with MDD were equally allocated into either prebiotic (10 g/day Inulin) or placebo (10 g/day Maltodextrin) group. In addition, all the participants were also prescribed a 25% calorie-restricted diet (registration ID: IRCT20100209003320N15). Depression was assessed by Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) and Beck depression inventory (BDI-II) pre- and post-intervention. Anthropometric measures, fasting serum levels of glucose, insulin and lipid profile were assessed, and dietary assessments were performed pre- and post-intervention. Insulin resistance was estimated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: 45 patients completed the trial. There were no significant between-group differences for MDD symptoms and other study outcomes, post-intervention. Weight, waist and hip circumferences, systolic blood pressure, and HDRS score significantly decreased in both groups, while fat mass and total cholesterol (TC) declined only in the prebiotic arm. Those who had ≥1.9 kg weight loss showed significantly improved HDRS score, compared to women with <1.9 kg weight reduction, irrespective of the supplement they took. CONCLUSION: Although prebiotic supplementation had some beneficial metabolic effects, calorie restriction and weight loss seem to play a more important role in improving depressive symptoms among obese women with MDD.

Psychometric properties of the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale-Persian version (TPDS-P).

BACKGROUND: Given the importance of screening pregnant women's distress, it was intended to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS-P) for screening pregnancy distress. METHODS: This methodological psychometric study was conducted with participation of 360 pregnant women. The TPDS was translated into Persian. Factor analysis was used to investigate the construct validity. The results of the correlation test between the results of the two questionnaires, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and TPDS-P, were used to determine the criterion validity of TPDS-P. Internal consistency of the items was calculated by the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Stability of the results was examined by test-retest method and Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was calculated. Examining the structure of the factors derived from exploratory factor analysis, fitness of the model was done through confirmatory factor analysis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. RESULTS: Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) was 0.846 (p = 0.001). Sixteen items of TPDS-P accounted for 51.42 percent variances. The TPDS-P exhibited appropriate fitness. There was poor to moderate but significant direct correlation between the subscales of DASS-21 and TPDS-P. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the TPDS-P was 0.81 and ICC was 0.70. CONCLUSIONS: TPDS-P, with appropriate validity and reliability, can be used as a practical scale to evaluate women's distress during pregnancy in Farsi-speaking societies.

Psychometric properties of the Persian version of postpartum distress measure scale.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to determine psychometric properties of the Persian version of Postpartum Distress Measure Scale (PDM Scale). METHODS: In this psychometric explorative study, the data were collected using a questionnaire containing demographic information, PDM Scale, and Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The content, face and construct validity of the questionnaire was examined with participation of ten experts, 10 and 150 women referring to health care centers, who were under common care during their postpartum period, respectively. The concurrent validity of the tool was evaluated using DASS-21. The reliability of the items was evaluated with the participation of 30 women, calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intra-class correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The Content Validity Index, Content Validity Ratio and Impact Score of the Persian version of the PDM were 0.94, 0.73, and 2.97, respectively. The ten items of the questionnaire were loaded in two factors (general distress and obsessive compulsive symptoms subscale). Those two factors explained 50.78% of the total variance of women's distress. Internal consistency of the items and stability of the results were confirmed by Cronbach's alpha of 0.72 and Intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.75. CONCLUSION: According to the study results, the Persian version of PDM Scale has acceptable psychometric properties. Care providers and researchers can use it as a tool for screening anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder in women.

Relationship of Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy with Self-Esteem and General Health in Breastfeeding Mothers Referred to Health Centers of Falavarjan City-Iran, 2015.

This study aimed to examine the relationship of breastfeeding self-efficacy with self-esteem and general health. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 547 breastfeeding mothers in Falavarjan-Iran. Participants were selected randomly, and questionnaires of socio-demographic characteristics, breastfeeding self-efficacy, self esteem, and the GHQ-28 were completed through interview. The mean score (SD) of breastfeeding self-efficacy was 134.5 (13.3) from the score range of 33-165. The mean score of self-esteem was 5.89 (4.0) from - 10 to + 10 score range, and the mean score of general health was 19.7 (9.13) from the 0-84 score range. Self-esteem, general health and its dimensions showed a significant relationship with breastfeeding self-efficacy. According to the multivariate linear regression, physical symptoms, social dysfunction, age, education, spouse's job, economic status, duration of previous breastfeeding, and receiving breastfeeding education were related to breastfeeding self-efficacy. The results indicated that with an improvement in self-esteem and general health, breastfeeding self-efficacy escalates significantly.

A high-fat diet induced NMRI mouse model of metabolic syndrome: focus on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

The association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a member of neurotrophin family and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been proposed, however basic evidence necessary to prove (or disprove) this association in non-genetic animal model is rare. Therefore, we investigated the alteration of encephalic BDNF gene expression in a mouse model of high-fat diet (HFD) induced MetS. To translate MetS, male NMRI mice (9 weeks old; N = 13) fed on a HFD including suet powder (37.50%) and granulated sugar (19.85%) while control mice were fed a diet contained suet powder (6.25%) and granulated sugar (49.09%). We monitored the development of MetS by measuring fasting blood sugar (FBS) and lipid (total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerol (TGs)) and lipoprotein (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C)) profiles, atherogenic index (AI), and somatic indices after 1 and 3 months of dietary interventions. The HFD intake led to increased body weight, liver weight, FBS, TC, and decreased HDL-C as compared to chow diet in mice after first month of dietary intervention. The increased FBS, body weight, abdominal fat mass, TGs, TC, and VLDL-C and decreased HDL-C were observed in HFD-fed mice as compared to those of chow-fed mice at 3th month. The statistical comparison of two HFD groups in two time intervals of 1st and 3th month confirmed that our HFD-induced MetS model was reliable because FBS, TGs and VLDL-C, TC, and AI have been increased significantly during selected time intervals. The AI increased significantly in HFD-fed mice compared to chow-fed mice after 3 months. The AI in HFD-fed mice treated with HFD for 3 months was increased significantly as compared to mice fed HFD for 1 month. Our diet-induced model more closely mimics the changes observed in human MetS and showed that encephalic BDNF gene in mice fed HFD was under-expressed by 0.30 fold with respect to chow-fed mice after 3 months of dietary intervention.

Trapped like a butterfly in a spider's web: Experiences of female spousal caregivers in the care of husbands with severe mental illness.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the experiences of female spousal caregivers in the care of husbands with severe mental illness. BACKGROUND: Family involvement in the care of patients with chronic illness is essential to provide a backbone of support for them. However, little is known about how female spousal caregivers are confronted with challenges while taking care of their husbands with severe mental illness. DESIGN: An exploratory qualitative study. METHODS: Fourteen female spousal caregivers of people with severe mental illness (defined here as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders and bipolar affective disorders) were recruited using purposive sampling and were interviewed using a semistructured in-depth interview method. Data were analysed by conventional content analysis until data saturation was achieved. RESULTS: Care of a husband with severe mental illness had a disruptive influence on the emotional relationships of the family and resulted in emotional detachment over time. Despite the caregivers' struggle to protect their families, the lack of supportive resources caused emotional exhaustion. Caregiving tasks interfering with their many other responsibilities, along with being a reference for family matters, led to loss of self. Consequently, they experienced psychological distress because of the transition to a caregiver role without any supportive resources. CONCLUSION: Constant caring, without supportive resources, forced them to do various roles and manage other issues within the family. Being unprepared for a caregiving role led to the psychological distress of female spousal caregivers. Therefore, adequate information, education and supportive resources must be provided for spouses to facilitate their transition to caregiving roles. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: It is necessary to pay close attention to the spousal caregivers' own mental health problems while they care for their mentally ill husbands. Mental health professionals should adopt a new approach to the prioritisation and planning of policies that support both family caregivers and patients.

Barriers to Family Caregivers' Coping With Patients With Severe Mental Illness in Iran.

The broad spectrum of problems caused by caring for a patient with mental illness imposes a high burden on family caregivers. This can affect how they cope with their mentally ill family members. Identifying caregivers' experiences of barriers to coping is necessary to develop a program to help them overcome these challenges. This qualitative content analysis study explored barriers impeding family caregivers' ability to cope with their relatives diagnosed with severe mental illness (defined here as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, and bipolar affective disorders). Sixteen family caregivers were recruited using purposive sampling and interviewed using a semi-structured in-depth interview method. Data were analyzed by a conventional content analytic approach. Findings consisted of four major categories: the patient's isolation from everyday life, incomplete recovery, lack of support by the mental health care system, and stigmatization. Findings highlight the necessity of providing support for caregivers by the mental health care delivery service system.

The impact of psychological distress, socio-demographic and work-related factors on coping strategies used by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: This study aimed to determine factors associated with coping strategies used by nursing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A convenience sample of 365 nurses were selected from referral hospitals for COVID-19 patients in Tabriz, Iran between February 2022 and July 2022. An online self-administered questionnaire was distributed through social media platforms, including WhatsApp and Instagram. The survey package included a modified Brief COPE scale, socio-demographic and work-related questions, and a measure of psychological distress. Multiple regression analysis examined associated factors with coping strategies in SPSS. The study adhered to the STROBE guidelines for reporting. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 31.2 (7.3) years old. Of the 365 participants, 209 (58.9%) used maladaptive coping strategies, and 214 (57.6%) reported experiencing psychological distress. Psychological distress was the strongest predictor of maladaptive coping strategies (ß = 4.473, p < 0.001). Female nurses (ß = 3.259, p < 0.05), nurses who were under 35 years of age (ß = 3.214, p < 0.05), nurses with fewer than ten years of experience (ß = 2.416, p < 0.001), those who worked in COVID-19 ICUs (ß = 4.321, p < 0.001), floor nurses (ß = 2.344, p < 0.001), and those who worked two or more years in COVID-19 settings (ß = 3.293, p < 0.001) had higher mean scores in maladaptive coping strategies. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contributions.

The Effect of Psychological Interventions on the Anxiety and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Maternal anxiety has been accompanied by many unfavorable effects on breastfeeding in the postpartum period. We aimed to provide scientific evidence in identifying effective interventions for anxiety and breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: All published studies with inclusion criteria by 2022 were searched in Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Sciences, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, SID and Magiran. The literature search was performed using PRISMA instructions. Further, 20 eligible interventional studies (RCT and pre-posttest) and one case study were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Publication bias was checked with Eggers test and funnel plot methods. The collected data were analyzed using stata version16. Results: It is not possible to provide an explicit and accurate conclusion about the effective intervention method in reducing anxiety and increasing BSE among lactating women during the covid19 pandemic. The results indicated a significant increase in BSE among lactating women after educational and psychological interventions (4.20, 95% CI: 3.61 to 4.80, I2 = 26.38%). Conclusion: It is recommended to conduct further studies with a strong methodology and based on intervention methods during the postpartum period, especially in the first month of birth to reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety in the mother, establish better mother-child attachment, and improve BSE and maternal performance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Effects of Vitamin Therapy on ASD and ADHD: A Narrative Review.

The effects of a sufficient amount of vitamins and nutrients on the proper function of the nervous system have always been regarded by scientists. In recent years, many studies have been done on controlling or improving the symptoms of neurological and behavioral disorders created by changes in the level of vitamins and other nutrition, such as omega-3 and iron supplements. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that disrupts individual communication, especially in social interactions. Its symptoms include anxiety, violence, depression, self-injury, trouble with social contact and pervasive, stereotyped, and repetitive behavior. ASD is most noticeable in early childhood. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a lasting pattern of inattention with or without hyperactivity that causes functional disruption in daily life. ADHD symptoms included; impulsivity, hyperactivity, inattention, restlessness, talkativeness, excessive fidgeting in situations such as sitting, meetings, lectures, or at the movies, boredom, inability to make decisions, and procrastination. The exact etiology of ADHD has not yet been found, but several observations have assumed the reduced function of the brain leads to deficits in motor planning and cognitive processing. It has been shown that Pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress biomarkers could be increased in both ASD and ADHD. Several studies have been done to illustrate if vitamins and other dietary supplements are effective in treating and preventing ASD and ADHD. In this review, we aim to evaluate the effects of vitamins and other dietary supplements (e.g., melatonin, zinc supplements, magnesium supplements) on ASD and ADHD.

The impact of emotional intelligence and intelligence quotient (IQ) on child anxiety and behavior in the dental setting.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of IQ and EQ on child's anxiety and behavior in the dental setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seven children (age range 7-12 years) were selected. BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version (Baron EQ-I: YV) and the Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices (RCPM) tests were administered on the first examination session. Children's anxiety and behavior were evaluated using the modified child dental anxiety scale (MCDAS) and the sound, eye and motor (SEM) scales, respectively, during the second session. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of subjects was 8.48 (1.41) years old. The result revealed a significant negative correlation between children's behavior and total EQ score (p < 0.01) but there was no relationship found between children's behavior and IQ score. A significant positive correlation was found between anxiety scores on MCDAS and SEM (p < 0.01), but no relationship was found between EQ and MCDAS scores. Both anxiety (p < 0.01) and EQ score (p < 0.01) were effective variables in predicting the child's SEM score. CONCLUSION: The major finding of this research suggested that a high EQ may be more effective than a low EQ in moderating the level of cooperation during dental treatment of children. IQ scores, on the other hand, were related to the child's EQ score (r = 0.20) and age (r = - 0.29).

Can psychobiotics "mood" ify gut? An update systematic review of randomized controlled trials in healthy and clinical subjects, on anti-depressant effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Depression is a major debilitating health problem with high global prevalence. Gut microbiota dysbiosis might be implicated in pathophysiology of depression. Hence, probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics (psychobiotics) have been administered in clinical trials in attempt to relieve depressive symptoms. This update systematic review aimed to evaluate the current body of research concerning the effects of psychobiotics on depression. METHODS: PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed in this review. Search was performed in MEDLINE, ProQuest, EMBASE, PsycNET, and Scopus databases for randomized clinical trials which assessed the effects of psychobiotics on depressive symptoms among adults, and were published in English language, since inception until September 2018. RESULTS: Out of 3374 records screened, 32 articles met the study criteria; only seven studies reported significant anti-depressant effects of psychobiotics. Some probiotic strains showed beneficial effects on depressive symptoms; the results were inconsistent, though. Few studies investigated the effects of prebiotics or synbiotics on depression, and did not come up with much promising results The overall risk of bias was judged to be unclear across the included studies, and major confounding factors were not considered in their design. CONCLUSION: Since probiotics may affect depression in strain-specific manner, the current evidence is not sufficient to either support or decline anti-depressant effects of probiotics; results of studies on prebiotics and synbiotics are not conclusive, either. More well-designed studies with emphasis on specific probiotic strains, inter-individual gut microbiota variations, and depression subtypes are warranted. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42018107356.