NISQ-Compatible Error Correction of Quantum Data Using Modified Dissipative Quantum Neural Networks

Using a dissipative quantum neural network (DQNN) accompanied by conjugate layers, we upgrade the performance of the existing quantum auto-encoder (QAE) network as a quantum denoiser of a noisy m-qubit GHZ state. Our new denoising architecture requires a much smaller number of learning parameters, which can decrease the training time, especially when a deep or stacked DQNN is needed to approach the highest fidelity in the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era. In QAE, we reduce the connection between the hidden layer's qubits and the output's qubits to modify the decoder. The Renyi entropy of the hidden and output qubits' states is analyzed with respect to other qubits during learning iterations. During the learning process, if the hidden layer remains connected to the input layers, the network can almost perfectly denoise unseen noisy data with a different underlying noise distribution using the learning parameters acquired from training data.Comment: 9 pages, 14 figure

Integration of suicide prevention program into primary health care network: A field clinical trial in Iran

Background: Suicide prevention is one of the priorities in policies of Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MHME). The suicide prevention program had two main parts of identifying and treatment of the depressed and suicide high risk individuals by Primary Health Care (PHC) network. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the results of integration of the program into PHC network in two cities with moderate to high rate of suicide with diverse socio-cultural backgrounds. Methods: This work as a field trial study was conducted in Nahavand and Savojbolagh from April 2010 to March 2011 (12 months). A screening tool was designed. Required capacities such as treatment, referral and registration system were provided six months before the main study. The intervention phase (for one year) including the treatment process and five consultation sessions was conducted to identify depressed people and individuals with high risk of suicide. The data were analyzed by Chi square test. Results: After one year of intervention, the rate of committing suicide became 4.98 and 3.36 per one hundred thousand population in Nahavand and Savojbolagh, respectively (16 and 1.6 per 100,000 in the year of before intervention respectively, 2009-2010). The female: male ratio of committing suicide was 2:1 in Nahavand and 1:1 in Savojbolagh. The most common method of committing suicide was drug intoxication in both cities. The identified cases by health workers at rural setting were 33 to 44 per 1000, in which 1.3 cases per 1000 population had been approved by general physicians. Conclusion: This study approved the feasibility and efficacy of integration of suicide prevention program into PHC. The increased rate of suicide in Savojbolagh could be related to low rate of screening and lack of treatment facilities (hospitalization and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and part-time psychiatrist. Increasing the PHC capacities could improve the health network efficiency to identify and manage depressed and at risk of suicide individuals. Screening tool/s and method have to be improved to provide better results

Advanced paternal age is a risk factor for schizophrenia in Iranians

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since 1958 many, but not all studies have demonstrated that paternal age is a risk factor for schizophrenia. There may be many different explanations for differences between studies, including study design, sample size, collection criteria, heterogeneity and the confounding effects of environmental factors that can for example perturb epigenetic programming and lead to an increase in disease risk. The small number of children in Western families makes risk comparisons between siblings born at different paternal ages difficult. In contrast, more Eastern families have children both at early and later periods of life. In the present study, a cross-sectional population study in an Iranian population was performed to compare frequency of schizophrenia in younger offspring (that is, older paternal age) versus older offspring.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 220 patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia (cases) from both psychiatric hospitals and private clinics and 220 individuals from other hospital wards (controls), matched for sex and age were recruited for this study. Patients with neurological problem, substance abuse, mental retardation and mood disorder were excluded from both groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Birth rank comparisons revealed that 35% vs 24% of the cases vs the controls were in the third or upper birth rank (<it>P </it>= 0.01). Also, the mean age of fathers at birth in case group (30 ± 6.26 years) was significantly more than the control group (26.45 ± 5.64 years; <it>P </it>= 0.0001). The age of 76 fathers at birth in case group was over 32 versus 33 fathers in control group. Individuals whose fathers' age was more than 32 (at birth) were at higher risk (2.77 times) for schizophrenia versus others (<it>P </it>< 0.0001, 95% CI 1.80 to 4.27). The maternal age at parturition of the case versus controls groups was 26.1 ± 5.41 vs 25.07 ± 4.47 (<it>P </it>= 0.02). Logistic regression analysis suggests that maternal age is less likely to be involved in the higher risk of schizophrenia than advanced parental age.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study demonstrates a relationship between paternal age and schizophrenia in large families of an Iranian population. Arguments have been put forth that DNA bases changes or epigenetic changes in sperm account for the increased risk associated with older fathers. However, it would not be surprising that both <it>de novo </it>germline mutations and epigenetic changes contribute to disease occurrence because DNA replication and DNA methylation are closely linked at both the macromolecular level (that is, methylation closely follows replication), and at the metabolic level (both processes require folate), and susceptible to modulation by the environment. Further research on samples such as those collected here are needed to sort out the contributions of de novo mutations versus epigenetic changes to schizophrenia.</p

A case report of neuroleptic malignant syndrome induced by clozapine is neuroleptic malignant syndrome diagnostic criteria adequately sensitive to identify diverse features of the syndrome?

Abstract: neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is a rare fatal medical complication that occurs as a result of dopaminergic receptor blockage in the caudate at the termination of the nigrostriatal pathways, and may occur at any time following consumption of dopamine antagonists. This disorder also occurs in cases of sudden discontinuation of dopamine agonists and antagonists. Some studies have also reported the syndrome following tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) or specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) use. Keyword(s): ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC, CLOZAPINE, NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROM

Mental health assessment in patients admitted to iran psychiatric hospital with a diagnosis of psychosis due to 2 - 5 years of methamphetamine use

Background: Psychotic disorder due to methamphetamine has a high prevalence with an unknown nature and history. Patients with such disorders are faced with the risk of recurrence of abuse and other psychiatric disorders. Methamphetamine-induced psychotic disorders may continue by independent of methamphetamine abuse, such as primary psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia). Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the mental health and frequency of methamphetamine-induced psychosis in patients referred to Iran psychiatric hospital (a university hospital in Tehran, Iran). Patients and Methods: The research was done on patients with methamphetamine-induced psychosis after 2 to 5 years using of methamphetamine (150 person in the Iran Psychiatric Hospital) .The diagnostic interview was done based on a semi-structured interview (SCID). The data was analyzed by Binary Logistic Regression Model. Results: From 150 patients that were followed, 6 of them (4.0) died during the phone interview-follow up. The mean age of alive patients was 34.9 ± 8.7 years and 12 of them were women (8.0). At the follow-up interview, 38 patients reclassified as the cases of schizophrenia (25.3), 17 as the cases of major depressive disorder (11.3), 7 as the cases of bipolar disorder type I (4.7), two as the cases of schizoaffective disorder (1.3), and two of them as the cases of delusional disorder (1.3). A total of 84 cases (56.0) were diagnosed as recovered cases or as methamphetamine-induced psychotic disorders. Prediction of diagnosis change showed the diagnosis of methamphetamine use disorder (adjustedOR= 3.978, 95 CI: 1.265 - 12.512), previous psychiatric admission (adjustedOR= 6.749; 95 CI: 1.639 - 27.779), and short duration of psychotic episode (adjusted OR = 0.171; 95 CI: 0.056 - 0.520. Conclusions: The results of our study show that methamphetamine-induced psychotic disorders are associated, in many cases, with the mood disorders. It seems that comorbid mood disorders, age of first use, history of previous psychiatric hospitalization, the risk of methamphetamine use disorders, and psychotic episodes are associated longer with the diagnosis towards primary psychotic disorders. © 2018, International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction

Age specific prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia treated with atypical antipsychotics and control group

Objective: Metabolic syndrome has high prevalence in patients with Schizophrenia in comparison with normal population. According to high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in subject with higher than 40 years, so the aim of this study was to comparison of metabolic syndrome in patients with Schizophrenia treated with atypical antipsychotics and control group. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in 100 patients with Schizophrenia treated with atypical antipsychotics and 135 healthy subjects. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and individual metabolic syndrome factors were evaluated in less and more than 40 years. Results: In patients less than 40 years, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 18.6 in patients with Schizophrenia treated with atypical antipsychotics and 7 in healthy subjects. In patients more than 40 years, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 10 in patients with Schizophrenia treated with atypical antipsychotics and 32.8 in healthy subjects. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia was 3 times (OR = 3, CI95: 1.01-8.9) more than control group in patients less than 40 years, and 0.2-fold (OR=0.2, CI95: 0.06-0.83) in patients with more than 40 years. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome had high prevalence in schizophrenia patient with less than 40 years old, however patients with schizophrenia had been screened for metabolic syndrome in younger age and this concern in patients with older than 40 years had minor importance

Heavy metals in recycled pastry packages and pastries

The safe use of recycled paper and board material for food packaging applications is a major area of investigations. Therefore, the aim of current study was to evaluate the amount of heavy metals in recycled paper pastry packages and measurement of migration over the time into pastries. In this study, the presence of heavy metals in common confectionery packaging and effects of storage time and kind of pastry on the migration are investigated. The results of the study indicate that harmful metals such as Pb are detected at high concentrations in most of the recycled boxes that are used for pastry packaging, and heavy metals could migrate from the recycled packages into food during usage. It seems that the procedure of preparing recycled paperboard for food packaging should be reconsidered

The Effect of Storage Time, Temperature and Type of Packaging on the Release of Phthalate Esters into Packed Acidic Liquids

Kisele tekućine, poput soka od nezrelog voća, limunovog soka i octa često se konzumiraju u Iranu. Različite vrste kiselih sokova pakiraju se u boce od polietilen tereftalata (PET) i polietilena velike gustoće (HDPE). Postoje dokazi koji upućuju na mogućnost otpuštanja ftalata iz PET i HDPE boca. U ovom je radu ispitan utjecaj trajanja skladištenja, temperature i vrste pakiranja na migraciju ftalata u kisele tekućine, čuvane pri različitim uvjetima, i to prije skladištenja, te nakon 2, 4 i 6 mjeseci. Određene su srednje vrijednosti koncentracije ftalata od <0.04 do 0.501 μg/L u sokovima od nezrelog voća, od <0.04 do 0.231 μg/L u limunovom soku i <0.04 do 0.586 μg/L u octu. Najveće koncentracije dietil ftalata (DEP) i dietil heksil ftalata (DEHP) izmjerene su u PET i HDPE bocama. Rezultati prije i naklon skladištenja pokazuju da su se, pri određenim uvjetima skladištenja, koncentracije DEP, DEHP i dibutil ftalata (DBP) povećale u kiselim tekućinama. Rezultati dokazuju da je moguć prijelaz estera ftalne kiseline iz plastičnih pakiranja u sadržaj spremnika.Acidic liquids such as verjuice, lemon juice and vinegar are frequently consumed in Iran. Different kinds of acidic liquids are packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles. There is evidence indicating that phthalates can leach from PET and HDPE bottles into their contents. In this work the effect of storage time, temperature and bottle type on the migration of phthalates from packaging materials into acidic liquids is studied by analyzing the samples stored under different conditions, before storage and after 2, 4 and 6 months of storage. The determined mean phthalate concentrations in μg/L were: <0.04 to 0.501 in verjuice, <0.04 to 0.231 in lemon juice and <0.04 to 0.586 in vinegar. The highest concentrations of diethyl phthalate (DEP) and diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) were found in PET and HDPE bottles, respectively. Results of analyses before and after storage indicate that under some storage conditions, the concentrations of DEP, DEHP and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) increased in acidic liquids. The possible migration of phthalic acid esters from plastic packaging materials into the contents was indicated by the results of the present study

The frequency of sexual abuse and depression in a sample of street children of one of deprived districts of Tehran

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of sexual abuse and depression among street children who live in a deprived district of Tehran. The researchers used the K-SADS questionnaire and a clinical interview were used to evaluate depression and sexual abuse in 87 street children in Tehran. Eighteen (20.9) of the children had been sexually abused. Depressed children were 3.2 times more likely to be sexually abused than non-depressed children. Furthermore, 26 girls (86.7) and 27 boys (48.2) suffered from depression. The frequency of depression demonstrated a significant association with the father's or breadwinner's history of imprisonment or unemployment. Interventional programs providing education and support should be implemented for street children. Copyright © by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved

Dopamine receptor gene (DRD1-DRD5) expression changes as stress factors associated with breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females worldwide and a most prevalent malignancy in Iranian women. Chronic stress may make an important contribution to cancer, especially in the breast. Numerous studies showed roles of neurotransmitters in the occurrence and progression of cancers which are mediated by their various types of receptors. This study was conducted to evaluate alterations in the expression profile of dopamine receptor genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as stress factors in breast cancer patients and the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 patients and 30 healthy individuals. Total mRNA was extracted from PBMC and MCF-7 cells and RT-PCR was performed to confirm the presence of five dopamine receptors (DRD1-DRD5). Expression changes of dopamine receptor genes were evaluated by real time PCR. We observed that DRD2-DRD4 in PBMCs of breast cancer patients were increased compared to healthy individuals. In addition, all dopamine receptor subtypes but DRD1 were expressed in MCF-7 cells. Therefore, alterations of these receptors as stress factorsshould be assessed for selecting appropriate drugs such as D2-like agonists for treatment of breast cancer after performing complimentary tests. Determining the expression profile of dopamine receptor genes thus seems promising