Component Analysis of the Illegal Handmade Pills and Capsules for Self-Medicating Substance Dependence in Tehran, Iran

Background: To self-medicate substance dependence, many substance users consume herbal medicines delivered in herbal medicine shops which are prepared through non-standard methods using a variety of different materials. Hence, the present study was carried out aiming to investigate and analyze the content of such herbal medicines.Methods: Four herbal medicine shops were selected from each of the 22 zones of Tehran City, Iran, and a total of 95 samples were purchased. A package containing 6 types of medication that was advertised by a satellite TV channel, was also purchased. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, the samples were analyzed in the laboratory to detect different types of materials.Findings: Among the samples, 23 and 72 samples were uncovered compressed pills (Dragon pills) and capsules filled with colored powders (handmade drug-quitting capsules), respectively. The package advertised in the satellite TV was prepared in 6 various forms. The most common substances present in all the samples were as follows: diphenoxylate, tramadol, opioids, acetaminophen, and codeine with values of 90%, 86%, 78%, 69%, and 68%, respectively. On average, 5 of the above mentioned substances were present in each sample; moreover, 63% of the samples contained 5 or more substances. In addition, 42 (41%) of the samples contained all the 5 main substances including opioids, codeine, tramadol, diphenoxylate, and acetaminophen.Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that handmade capsules and pills used for quitting addiction and also medicines advertised in the satellite TV channels contain different amounts of opioids, amphetamine, benzodiazepines, tramadol, codeine, and other substances that cause problems for substance users who are going to abandon substance abuse

Comparison of the Effects of Lidocaine Prilocaine Cream (EMLA) and Lidocaine Injection on Reduction of Perineal Pain During Perineum Repair in Normal Vaginal Delivery

Objective: To compare the efficacy of EMLA cream and lidocaine injection to reduce pain during episiotomy repair. Materials and methods: A total of 46 primiparous women with normal pregnancy who referred for normal vaginal delivery and needed episiotomy repair were selected and randomly divided into two groups. For EMLA group, one hour before the estimated time of delivery, 5g of EMLA cream was applied to perinealmediolateral incision, and after the delivery of the fetus and placenta, again 5g of EMLA cream was applied to healthy skin around the episiotomy for repair. In the other group, lidocaine 2% was used before episiotomy and for its repair, too. Results: Only 8 people (19%) were in need of further analgesia. The mean ± SD of pain during repair of episiotomy on the VAS scale in all cases was 4.2 ± 2.3 cm. Most people (97%) were satisfied with their episiotomy repair. Comparing the two groups of EMLA and lidocaine, there was no difference between the two groups in terms of the duration of episiotomy repair, need for further analgesia, pain on the VAS scale, and satisfaction with the repair method. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the use of EMLA cream in the site of episiotomy incision in primiparous women can induce a level of analgesia equal to that of lidocaine, and cause a similar level of satisfaction.  

Characteristics of drug demand reduction structures in Britain and Iran

Administrative structure of drug demand reduction and the way in which involved organizations interact with each other has been neglected by researchers, policy makers, and administrators at the national level and even in international institutions in this field. Studying such structures in different countries can reveal their attributes and features.  In this study, key experts from the addictive behavior department of St George’s University of London and a group of Iranian specialists in the field of drug demand reduction first wrote on a sheet the name of organizations that are in charge of drug demand reduction. Then, via teamwork, they drew the connections between the organizations and compared the two charts to assess the relations between the member organizations.  In total, 17 features of efficient structure were obtained as follow: multi-institutional nature, collaborative inter-institutional activities, clear and relevant inter-institutional and intra-institutional job description, the ability to share the experiences, virtual institutions activity, community-based associations activity, mutual relationships, the existence of feedback sys-tems, evaluation, changeability, the ability to collect data rapidly, being rooted in community, flexibility at the local and regional levels, connection with research centers, updated policymaking, empowering the local level, and seeking the maximum benefit and the minimum resources.  Recognizing the characteristics of substance related organizations in various countries could help policy makers to improve drug demand reduction structures and to manage the wide-spread use of psychoactive substances more effectively.&nbsp

Comparing Bile and Urine Samples as Morphine Detectors in Corpses .......... IJMTFM (2011) 1(1): 12-16

Introduction: The present study aims to compare bile and urine samples of a corpse for detection of morphine.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, forensic examination of the bodies placed 59 of the 366 referred corpses at the high suspicion of opioid overdose. Urine and bile samples of the bodies were analyzed for morphine using thin layer chromatography.Results: All samples were taken from male bodies. There were no urine samples in four corpses (7%) and two urine samples (3%) produced negative results. In the remaining 53 cases, 14(24%) turned out 1+, 29(49%) turned out 2+, 8(14%) bodies turned out 3+ and 2(3%) corpses produced 4+. On the other hand, all bile samples produced positive results, in which 3(5%) turned out 1+, 20(34%) turned out 2+, 22(37%) bodies turned out 3+ and 14(24%) corpses produced 4+. The Spearman coefficient for positive urine or bile samples was 0.377(P = 0.005).Conclusion: The results of the present study show that the concentration of detected morphine in bile is greater than that of urine. Therefore, a bile sample can contribute to the detection of opioid in the corpses, especially when urine samples are not available or are negative.Keywords: Opioid, Morphine, Urine, Bile, Corps

Marital Relationship and Its Associated Factors in Veterans Exposed to High Dose Chemical Warfare Agents

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the associates of marital relationship in mustard exposed veterans. Materials and Methods: Two hundred ninety two married Iranian mustard exposed veterans, who had been exposed to single high dose mustard gas in Iraq-Iran war, were assessed for marital adjustment with Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS). Census sampling was done. The patients' quality of life (SF-36), spirometric measures and war related data were also extracted. Results: A total of 189 subjects (65%) completed our study. The mean (±SD) of the RDAS Total score, RDAS Dyadic Consensus , RDAS Affectional Expression, RDAS Dyadic Satisfaction , and RDAS Dyadic Cohesion were 50.61 (8.16), 16.67 (2.77), 7.62 (1.84), 14.76 (3.39), and 11.54 (3.79), respectively. RDAS Dyadic satisfaction was correlated with SF-36 and all its sub-scores (p<0.05). RDAS total score showed significant correlation with SF-36 total score and most of its sub-scores (p<0.05). RDAS affective expression was significantly correlated with role limitation, social function, general mental health, vitality, General health perceptions, physical composite score (PCS) and mental composite score (MCS) (p<0.05). RDAS dyadic consensus was not correlated with any SF-36 sub-scores. Conclusion: Veterans health team including physicians, psychologists and/or psychiatrists should know that poorer marital satisfaction is linked with lower quality of life scores, late after mustard exposure, although marital relationship is independent of spirometric findings, age, duration from exposure and comorbidity score

Prophylactic ophthalmic bethametazone for sulfur mustard-induced ocular injury

&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;BACKGROUND&lt;/strong&gt;: The present study sought to evaluate the prophylactic effect of bethametazone on sulfur mustard (SM)- induced ocular morphometric damage in the rabbit eye.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;METHODS&lt;/strong&gt;: Twenty five healthy New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 4 groups of normal (not exposed to SM or solution), solution (exposed to solution), SM (exposed to SM), and prophylactic bethametazone (received eye solution of bethametazone then exposed to SM solution; then treated for 2 weeks). On the day 14 after exposure, five-micron sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for light microscopy valuation. The ocular morphometric characteristics in the study groups were compared to determine the prophylactic effects of the&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; ethametazone.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;RESULTS&lt;/strong&gt;: Bethamethazone could protect eyes from SM effect by means of decrease in changes in number of Keratocyte in 10000 &amp;mu;m2, thickness of cornea (&amp;mu;m), thickness of corneal epithelium (&amp;mu;m), number of meibomian gland's cells in 2500 &amp;mu;m2, thickness of palpebral conjuctival epithelium (&amp;mu;m), thickness of epithelial of palpebral skin (&amp;mu;m), number of epithelial layers of palpebral skin, and number of goblet cells in conjunctival sac in 1000 &amp;mu;m.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CONCLUSIONS&lt;/strong&gt;: Bethametazone may have a prophylactic effect on the early lesions of the eye of the rabbit due to SM exposure.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;KEYWORDS&lt;/strong&gt;: Betamethasone, Sulfur Mustard, Ocular Lesions.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt

Detecting Narcotics in Solution Extracted from Dried Urine Stain on Cotton Fabri ...................................IJMTFM (2011) 1(2): 54-58

Background:The present study aims to present a new method to trace narcotics in the solution extracted from dried urine stain left on cotton fabric. Material and methods:Narcotic substance was traced in the 50 samples through two methods. In the first method, samples were directly examined through Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). In the second method, a piece of cotton fabric was soaked in a beaker filled with urine sample. After full absorption, the piece of fabric was left to dry. Then it was soaked in distilled water and shaken so that the stain deposits would dissolve into water. Finally, the solution was extracted from the wet fabric by centrifugal spin and admixed with an equal amount of distilled water. A TLC test was run afterward. The TLC run on the main samples produced the following results: morphine, codeine and other opium alkaloids were detected in 38 samples; in 7 samples only codeine was found. Five samples produced no especial stains. The TLC performed on the solution tapped from the cotton piece of fabric produced similar results except for the lower density of stain colors. Conclusion:The results show that narcotics may be detected using dried urine stains on cotton fabric dissolved in distilled water.Keywords: Narcotics, Urine stain, Crime scene, Thin Layer Chromatography, TLC