Evaluation of Electro Physiological Changes of Sleep among Patients with Supratentorial Ischemic Stroke and Comparison with Control group

Abstract: Background & Aims: Sleep disorders are common complains in patients with cerebral stroke; studies on these issues are limited. We aimed to evaluate the sleep changes in patients with supratentorial ischemic stroke. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 38 patients (19 patients in supratentorial ischemic stroke group and 19 people in control group) were evaluated. Total sleep time, sleep efficacy, percent of stage 2 of Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, Rapid eye movement (REM) latency, sleep spindle, sleep intensity, and saw tooth wave were evaluated by Electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring during sleep in both groups and were compared between them. Results: Patients in supratentorial ischemic stroke group had less sleep efficacy (P < 0.01), shorter stage 2 of NREM sleep (P < 0.01), greater REM latency (P < 0.05) and lesser sleep spindles (P < 0.01) in comparison with those in control group. There was no significant difference in saw tooth wave between two groups. Significant differences observed between two hemisphere in sleep density (P = 0.01) and REM latency (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Supratentorial ischemic stroke accompanied with sleep changes on EEG monitoring. These changes were seen in both REM and NREM periods and showed that supratentorial structures are involved in sleep–awake process. Keywords: Supratentorial ischemic stroke, Electroencephalogram monitoring, Slee

Pollen morphology of Amygdalus L. [Rosaceae] in Iran

Pollen grain of 16 species and three hybrids of the genus Amygdalus L., representing two subgenera and two sections distributed in Iran were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. All pollen grains are tricolporate. The shape of grains varies from subprolate through prolate. Regarding outline, in polar view, pollen grains are triangular-circular and in equatorial view, elliptic. Regarding sculpturing of exine, the frequent type like many members of family Rosaceae is striate with or without perforations that can be subdivided into three subtypes: type I (A-B), type II (A-B) and type V. In three species, A. trichamygdalus, A. spinosissima and A. orientalis, exine sculpture type is completely different. In the first species is rugulate, in the second species is reticulate and in A. orientalis, it is gemmate-perforate. Ornamentation of ridges (muri) in the striate sculpture is parallel to ectocolpus. Number of perforations in tectum, diameter of them, striae intervals and the thickness of ridges varies among studied taxa. The striae have different depth and slope. Results showed that among pollen grain characters, shape is useful character solely for separating of taxonomic ranks in Iranian Amygdalus specially in subgeneric or section level

Effect of acceptance-based behavior therapy on severity of symptoms, worry and quality of life in women with generalized anxiety disorder

Objective: Acceptance-based behavior therapy (ABBT) is a new psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The current study intended to compare severity of symptoms, worry and quality of life of GAD female patients between ABBT and control. Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial. The sample included 18 women with GAD referred to psychiatrists in Isfahan, Iran. Patients were assigned in 2 groups randomly (ABBT and control group without any psychotherapy). Both groups received medication. The intervention in ABBT group was conducted based on Roemer & Orsillo's manual for Acceptance-based Behavior Therapy for GAD. 12 therapeutic sessions administered in Shariati psychiatric clinic of Isfahan. The instruments included the GAD-7 Inventory, Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and Short Form Health Survey -12 revised Version (SF-12V2). The data were analyzed using the Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANCOVA). Results: Overall, clients receiving ABBT compared to control group reported a significantly decrease in severity of GAD symptoms, and improve in quality of life at post- treatment state. They reported decrease in severity of worry but it was not statistically significant compared to control group. Conclusion: ABBT was effective in alleviating symptoms of GAD