The Effect of Basic Life Skills Training on Adaptability and Psychological Well-Being in Married Female Students

Background: Effective communication and the establishment of a good communication model among individuals have a prominent role in adaptation and can play an essential role in creating the psychological well being of married students. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of basic life skills training on adaptability and psychological well being in married female students.Methods: The present study was a semi-experimental with pre-test and post-test with the control group. A sample of 40 female undergraduate students of Qaemshahr Azad University University in the academic year of 2017-2018 was selected with convenience sampling and divided into 2 experimental and control groups randomly (each group 20 student). The experimental group received eight sessions of basic life skills training in 2 sessions of 90 minutes per week. Control group received no training. In order to collect information, Bell’s adaptive scale and psychological well-being questionnaire used. Covariance analysis by SPSS-22 software was used to analyze the data.Results: results of covariance analysis showed that the training of basic skills of life increased the adaptability (P < 0.001) and psychological well-being (P < 0.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group at the post-test stage.Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, it can be used basic life skills training as an effective way to increase the psychological well-being and student adaptability

The Efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Matrix on Depression and Psychological Capital of the Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders, worldwide. Psychological disorders are common among patients with IBS. AIM: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) matrix on depression and psychological capital of patients with IBS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a quasi-experimental study, a total number of 30 patients with IBS were selected using convenience sampling. Those patients who meet the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups (15 patients in each group). Data were collected using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ). The experimental group was subjected to the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) amtrix, but the control group do not receive this treatment. Questionnaires were completed before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the intervention by patients in two groups. All patients in two groups responded to the questionnaires and returned them to the researcher. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, independent t-test, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). RESULTS: Analyzing the data showed that there were significant differences regarding depression and psychological capital between experimental and control group, before and after the study (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Using ACT matrix is a useful modality to improve the depression and psychological capital among patients with IBS

Comparison of Serum Zinc and Copper levels in Children and adolescents with Intractable and Controlled Epilepsy

How to Cite This Article: Kheradmand Z, Yarali B, Zare A, Pourpak Z, Shams S, Ashrafi MR. Comparison of Serum Zinc and Copper levels in Children and adolescents with Intractable and Controlled Epilepsy. Iran J Child Neurol. 2014; 8(3):49-54. AbstractObjectiveTrace elements such as zinc and copper have physiological effects on neuronal excitability that may play a role in the etiology of intractable epilepsy. This topic has been rarely discussed in Iranian epileptic patients.This study with the analysis of serum zinc and copper levels of children and adolescents with intractable and controlled epilepsy may identifies the potential role of these two trace elements in the development of epilepsy and intractabilityto antiepileptic drug treatment. Materials & MethodsSeventy patients between the ages of 6 months to 15 years that referred to Children’s Medical Center with the diagnosis of epilepsy, either controlled or intractable to treatment enrolled in the study. After informed parental consent the levels of serum zinc and copper were measured with atomic absorptionspectrophotometer and analyzed with SPSS version 11.Results35 patients were enrolled in each group of intractable (IE) and controlled epilepsy (CE). 71.45% of the IE and 25.72% of the CE group had zinc deficiency that was statistically significant. 48.58% of the IE and 45.72 of the CE group were copper deficient, which was not statistically significant.ConclusionOur findings showed significant low serum zinc levels of patients with intractable epilepsy in comparison with controlled epilepsy group. We recommend that serum zinc level may play a role in the etiology of epilepsy and intractable epilepsy therefore its measurement and prescription may be regarded in the treatment of intractable epilepsy.ReferencesMikati MA. Seizures in childhood. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, Schor NF, Geme JWS, Behrman R (eds). Nelson textbook of pediatrics. 19th ed. Elsevier:Saunders; 2011. Pp.2013-2033.Kwan P, Brodie MJ. Early identification of refractory epilepsy. N Engl J Med 2000;342: 314-9.Patrick Kwan, Alexis Arzimanoglou, Anne T. Berg, et al.  Definition of drug resistant epilepsy: Consensus proposal by the ad hoc Task Force of the ILAE Commission on Therapeutic Strategies. Epilepsia 2010;51(6):1069-1077.Berg AT, Shinnar S, Levy SR, Testa F, Smith-Rapaport S, Beckerman B. Early development of intractableepilepsy in children: a prospective study. Neurology 2001;56:1445-1452.Haoa XT, Wong ISM, Kwan P. Interrater reliability of the international consensus definition of drug-resistant epilepsy: A pilot study. Epilepsy & Behavior 2011;22;388-390. Ashrafi MR, Mohseni M, Shams S, Shabanian R, Yekaninejad MS, et al. A Probable Causative Factor for an Old Problem: Selenium and Glutathione Peroxidase Appear to Play Important Roles in Epilepsy pathogenesis. Epilepsia 2007;48(9):1750-1755.Liochev SI, Fridovich, I. Copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase can act as a superoxide reductase and a superoxide oxidase. J Biol Chem 2000; 275: 38482-38485.Jacob RA. Trace Elements in textbook of Clinical Chemistry. WB Saunders, 1986. pp. 965-985.Salwen MJ. Vitamis and Trace Elements. In: Pherson RA, Pincus MR (eds). Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management By Laboratory Methods Tweny-First Edition. Saunders; 2007. Pp. 379-389.Rokgauerj M, Klein J Kruse-Jarres J. D. Reference Values for the Trace Elements Copper, Manganese, Selenium, and Zinc in the Serum/ Plasma of Children, Adolescents, and Adults. J Trace Element Med Biol. 1997;11: 92-98.Volpe SL, Schall JI, Gallagher PR, Stallings VA, Bergqvist AGC. Nutrient intake of children with intractable epilepsy compared with healthy children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2007;107(6):1014-8. Epub 2007/05/26.Wojciak RW, Mojs E, Stanislawska-Kubiak M, Samborski W. The serum zinc, copper, iron, and chromium concentrations in epileptic children. Epilepsy Research 2013;104:40-44.Hamed SA, Abdellah MM, El-Melegy N. Blood levels of trace elements, electrolytes, and oxidative stress/antioxidant systems in epileptic patients. J Pharmacol Sci 2004;96:465-473.Dudek FE. Zinc and epileptogenesis. Epilepsy Curr 2001; 1:66-70.Mathie A, Sutton GL, Clarke CE, Veale EL. Zinc and copper: pharmacological probes and endogenous  modulators of neuronal excitability. Pharmacol Ther. 2006;111(3):567-83. Epub 2006/01/18.Schrauzer GN. Selenomethionine and Selenium Yeast: Appropriate Forms of Selenium for Use in Infant Formulas and Nutritional Supplements. Journal of medicinal food 1998;1(3):201-6.Seven M, Basaran SY, Cengiz M, Unal S. Deficiency of selenium and zinc as a causative factor For idiopathic intractable epilepsy. Epilepsy Research 2013;104 :35-39

Structural Relationships between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Body Dysmorphic Disorder Mediated by Anxiety and Over-concern

Background and Objective: Considering the cultural and social changes of the society and the attitudes of people towards beauty and the attention of people to appearances and tendency to make changes in order to achieve beauty, concern with appearances and distorted physical image could be preoccupy people with their body and make them prone to body dysmorphic disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine structural relationships between early maladaptive schemas and body dysmorphic disorder mediated by anxiety and over-concern. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, 300 women at dermatology clinic in Qaemshahr during a 6-month period were selected by convenience sampling method. Data were collected via practical obsessive-compulsive questionnaire, initial maladaptive schema, anxiety inventory, and anxiety test. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS-22 and Lisrel 8.80 software by structural equations. Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 22 (2.4). Increased scandal score with mean (SD) of 3.5 (0.5) was associated with increased physical deformity score with mean (SD) of 3.7 (0.5) (P<0.001). Increased anxiety score with mean (SD) of 3.5 (0.5) and over-concern score with a mean (SD) of 3.6 (0.6) as intermediary variables, the effect of early maladaptive schemas on body dysmorphic disorder was increased compared to their direct relationship (P<0.001). Conclusion: The study showed that increasing score of maladaptive scales resulted in increased score of deformity disorder. In addition, increased score of anxiety and anxiety thoughts as intermediary variables, resulted in increased effect of early maladaptive schema on dysmorphic body disorder compared to the direct relationship between them. DOI: http://doi.org/10.22037/ch.v6i1.2361

The Effect of Life Skills Training on Marital Satisfaction and Happiness of Married Students

Background and Objective: Effective communication and the establishment of a good communication pattern between husband and wife have a prominent role in marital satisfaction and can play a crucial role in creating a sense of security and happiness for couples. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of training basic life skills on marital satisfaction and happiness in married students. Materials and Methods: The research method was semi experimental with pretest-posttest design with control group. The statistical population of this study included all the 180 female married students of Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr branch, in the academic year of 2017-2018. Among them, 60 students (30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group) were randomly assigned (voluntarily) to two groups of experimental and control groups. The intervention, training basic life skills, was performed for the experimental group and pre-test and post-test were performed for both groups. Date were collected vie Marital Satisfaction Scale and Happiness Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of covariance with SPSS-22 software. Results: The mean (SD) age of the participants in the experimental group was 32.7 (6.8) and in the control group 33.6 (7). The mean (SD) marital satisfaction score was higher after training basic life skills compared with before the training: 155.9 (41.1) vs. 120.1 (47), P<0.001. The mean (SD) happiness score of married students was higher after training basic life skills compared with before the training: 49.8 (11.6) vs. 38.9 (13.9), P<0.001. No differences were observed in the mean (SD) of the pre-test and post-test score among the control group. Conclusion: Training basic life skills increased marital satisfaction and happiness among married female students

Tetrahydrobiopterin responsiveness in a series of 53 cases of phenylketonuria and hyperphenylalaninemia in Iran

To determine the prevalence of 6R-Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) responsive phenylketonuria (PKU) in 53 cases of patients with various classification of hyperphenylalaninemia and PKU Excluding the BH4 deficient type referring to children's medical center in Iran (phenylalanine 360–2420 μmol/L), the single dose of 20 mg/kg (Kuvan®) and duration of 24 h was used. Results: Among the 4 different categories of mild hyperphenylalaninemia requiring treatment, mild, moderate and classic PKU, the BH4 responders were 90%, 35.7%, 5.6% and 0% respectively after 24 h. Conclusion: BH4 responsiveness is more prevalent in mild hyperphenylalaninemia and mild PKU patients in Iran

A Case Report of Congenital Myasthenia Gravis Presenting With Respiratory Distress

Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes (CMS) are rare inherited disorders characterized by dysfunction of neuromuscular transmission at the neuromuscular junction. Most patients with congenital myasthenic syndromes present in the infancy. Major symptoms of affected individuals include weakness and fatigue during the first years of life. Patients may show hypotonia, facial weakness, swallowing difficulties, respiratory dysfunction, ptosis and ophthalmoparesis. Here we report a 6 month old boy congenital myasthenia gravis due to homozygous mutation in COLQ gene. The patient presented with several episodes of apnea and didn’t have ptosis until 6 months of age, and even at this time it started as just left eye ptosis and after a few days became bilateral. He had been misdiagnosed with several other causes of episodic apnea. Later by using electrophysiology he was diagnosed as congenital myasthenia gravis and mutation analysis of the patient revealed the presence of mutation of COLQ gene and was treated successfully