The effectiveness of stress management training on mental health status of addicts referred to addiction treatment clinic

BACKGROUND: Stress management is the ability of individuals to reduce stress and adapt to stressful situations. The objective in the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of stress management training on mental health of addicts quitting substance abuse referred to Raha addiction treatment clinic in Babol, Iran.METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, available sampling method with pre-test and post-test design was used along with the control and intervention groups. A sample of 36 members of the community (drug quitting clinic) were selected and randomly assigned into the two test and control groups, then a pre-test was performed on them through the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) with a reliability of 78%. For the test group, the stress management skill group intervention was trained in 10 sessions per week with each session lasting 90 minutes. At the end of the session, the post-test was executed on both the test and control groups. The t-test and chi-square tests were employed to compare the quantitative variables between the two groups and the qualitative variables using the SPSS software, respectively.RESULTS: The results of the study showed that group intervention has been effective on the mental health of addicts quitting substance abuse; as a result, participation in the therapy group and cognitive interventions leads to increasing the mental health of patients quitting substance abuse.CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, it can be declared that stress management training has been effective on all mental health scales such as symptoms of somatization, anxiety, disorder in social actions, and depression and leads to a decrease in mental symptoms and mental health improvement in addicts quitting substance

Report of the clinical features of patients with leptospirosis in Golestan, Iran, 2011-2015: Based on information available at the provincial health center

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with a global distribution that is caused by pathogenic spirochetes of Leptospira. It has a global spread, but it is more common in warm and tropical regions. In developing countries such as Iran, it is considered as a work-related illness and occurs mostly in farmers, ranchers, slaughterhouse workers, butchers, and fishermen in the warm seasons of the year. The aim of this study was to report the information available at the provincial health center about the clinical features of patients with leptospirosis in Golestan province, Iran, from 2011 to 2015.METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study surveyed all patients with leptospirosis in Golestan provincial health center from 2011 to 2015. All information was collected by a self-designed checklist that its reliability was approved by three infectious specialists. In case of defective files, patients were contacted. The collected data were analyzed by an epidemiologist via SPSS software.RESULTS: In this study, during the years of 2011 to 2015, 75 cases of leptospirosis were recorded. 50 cases (66.6%) were men and 25 (33.3%) were women. The most common complaint of patients at referral was fever (70 cases, 93.33%). The most complained problem after fever (93.33%) was musculoskeletal pain and jaundice reported 57.33% and 54.66%, respectively.CONCLUSION: It is important to pay attention to this disease in farmers and villagers, especially in agricultural seasons. Due to the high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of leptospirosis, early diagnosis based on common symptoms is important. Healthcare centers in each area are required to recognize common diseases to reduce irreversible complications

Evaluation of Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 and 9 Activity in Patients with Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Compared with Healthy Individuals

Background and Aim: Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most prevalent cancers with high mortality and morbidity in men, which can be treated in different ways before the progression and metastasis to distant organs. Destruction of extracellular matrix by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), particularly by the 2 and 9 subtypes, has an important role in the metastasis of PC. We aimed to assess the activity of MMP 2 and 9 and some related metalloproteinases in PC and with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients in comparison to healthy individuals. Methods: In this case-control study, 72 individuals referred to Imam Khomeini hospital (Tehran, Iran), have been divided into 3 groups, including PC, BPH, and healthy control. Age and body mass index (BMI) for all groups have been matched. Venous blood samples were used to assess the enzyme activity by the zymography technique. Results: The activity of MMP-2 and 9 was significantly higher in PC than BPH and control groups. But there was no difference in the activity of enzymes in patients with PC according to the Gleason score. Conclusion: The results suggested that MMPs activity can be considered a diagnostic marker for PC. However, further studies are required to establish this concept. *Corresponding Author: Abbas Khonakdar-Tarsi; Email: [email protected] Please cite this article as: Shojaee M, Mohammadi P, Jafarpour H, Pouriamehr S, Barmaki H, Khonakdar-Tarsi A. Evaluation of Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 and 9 Activity in Patients with Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Compared with Healthy Individuals. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2020;6:1-6(e12). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v6.3237

Frequency and characteristics of Brucellosis in Golestan Province, Iran

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a common widespread zoonotic disease between humans and livestock with significant economic and health problems caused by various species of Brucella. The disease is a significant public health issue throughout the world and one of the most socioeconomic problems in many developing countries. This study aimed to report the information available at the Provincial Health Center about the frequency and characteristics of patients with Brucellosis in Golestan Province, Iran.METHODS: This study was analytic-descriptive cross-sectional. The study population included all patients with Brucellosis diagnosed from 2011 to 2015 in the health center of Golestan Province, based on the serological method. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire that included demographic information, clinical presentation and examinations, history of exposure, laboratory findings, and treatment protocols. Descriptive statistics were reported as frequency and mean ± standard deviation (SD) and analyzed by SPSS software.RESULTS: In this study, a total of 1788 cases of Brucellosis were reported. The number of male cases was 1163 (65.04%) and female cases were 625 (34.95%). People who had a history of contact with infected animals were younger than the others. Musculoskeletal pain (79.69%) and fever (76.45%) were the most commonly reported clinical symptoms.CONCLUSION: Overall, the results indicate that Brucellosis is still a health problem in the province. The high incidence of Brucellosis in villages, the lack of full coverage of animal vaccination, and the link between the disease and livestock businesses are significant

Report of the clinical features of patients with leptospirosis in Golestan, Iran, 2011-2015: Based on information available at the provincial health center

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with a global distribution that is caused by pathogenic spirochetes of Leptospira. It has a global spread, but it is more common in warm and tropical regions. In developing countries such as Iran, it is considered as a work-related illness and occurs mostly in farmers, ranchers, slaughterhouse workers, butchers, and fishermen in the warm seasons of the year. The aim of this study was to report the information available at the provincial health center about the clinical features of patients with leptospirosis in Golestan province, Iran, from 2011 to 2015. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study surveyed all patients with leptospirosis in Golestan provincial health center from 2011 to 2015. All information was collected by a self-designed checklist that its reliability was approved by three infectious specialists. In case of defective files, patients were contacted. The collected data were analyzed by an epidemiologist via SPSS software. RESULTS: In this study, during the years of 2011 to 2015, 75 cases of leptospirosis were recorded. 50 cases (66.6%) were men and 25 (33.3%) were women. The most common complaint of patients at referral was fever (70 cases, 93.33%). The most complained problem after fever (93.33%) was musculoskeletal pain and jaundice reported 57.33% and 54.66%, respectively. CONCLUSION: It is important to pay attention to this disease in farmers and villagers, especially in agricultural seasons. Due to the high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of leptospirosis, early diagnosis based on common symptoms is important. Healthcare centers in each area are required to recognize common diseases to reduce irreversible complication

Bladder Rupture Presented with Acute Abdominal Pain and Renal Dysfunction: A Postpartum Emergency Case Report

Background:Spontaneous bladder rupture is a rare condition, and almost all the reported cases in the world have been preceded by bladder dysfunction, radiotherapy, urinary tract obstruction, pelvic surgery, inflammation, and malignancy. Case report: In this study, we present the case of a 39-year-old woman (G: 4, P: 1, Ab: 2) who was in week 38 of pregnancy and attended our hospital with the onset of labor pain. She gave birth to a 3200 g infant through normal vaginal delivery.   The patient attended with severe abdominal pain and oliguria four days after delivery. Ultrasonography showed massive abdominal fluid and bladder rupture. Conclusion: Regarding the rareness of bladder rupture during vaginal delivery, we introduced a case of bladder rupture following delivery.  This case is important for midwives and gynecologists to gain more information about normal vaginal delivery complications to accelerate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions

A Rare Case Report of Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy of Childhood

Background: Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy in childhood (ANEC) is a kind of fast growing illness accompanied with progressive Encephalopathy. The aim of this article is to report a rare case of ANEC in a 4-year-old boy with bilateral thalamic necrosis and a nonfatal outcome. Case Report: The patient was a 4-year-old Iranian boy who had no prior history of health problems and hospitalization except for a period of jaundice and phototherapy as a neonate. In the neurological consultation a brain MRI was requested for the patient to analyze the possibility of brain damage, which showed the involvement of cerebellum, thalamus and the existence of  basal ganglia which led to the diagnosis of ANEC. Conclusion: In conclusion, although ANEC is a rare disease, it should not be underestimated

Effects of Hip Exercises on the pain Severity in Patients with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Introduction: Patellofemoral pain syndrome is associated with a decrease in hip muscles strength, especially abductor and external rotator muscles. Hip abductors with femoral control have an effect on the frontal plane on the knee valgus, and the increased hip abduction capacity helps these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of abductor and adductor exercises in addition to the knee exercises in knee joint pain in patients with Patellofemoral pain syndrome. Method: This is a clinical trial study conducted on patients suffering from patellar-femoral pain syndrome who visited the Sports Medicine department of the Imam Khomeini Hospital Clinic. The NRPS questionnaire was used to evaluate the patients’ pain severity SPSS version 16 was used for statistical analysis of the data. Results: The mean age of the patients in abductor group was 33.4±6.1 and in adductor group was 33.7±7.3, but this difference was not significant (P=0.1). The results of this study showed that in the abductor and adductor group, the results of all of the statistical tests on the change in the Scores of the questionnaires and tests after 6 weeks of training exercises were statistically significant (P<0.05). the comparison of the scores between the two groups showed only the difference between the mean scores of Step down between the two groups of adductor and abductor, which was statistical significance after exercises (P=0.03). Conclusion: Based on the presented study, 6 weeks of abductor and adductor muscle exercises, and specially abductor muscles, helps reduce pain and the improve joint function in patients suffering from patellofemoral pain syndrome

Levels of Blood Biomarkers among Patients with Myocardial Infarction in Comparison to Control Group

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) as a term for a heart attack happens due to reduced blood flow to heart myocardium and lack of oxygen supply caused by plaques inthe interior walls of coronary arteries. With respect to the importance of MI etiology, we aimed to study the relationship of MI and blood examination variables.METHODS: This study was conducted in Mazandaran Heart Center as a hospital-based case-control Comprising 894 participants including 465 cases and 429 controls, individually matched by sex and age. Considered blood markers were analyzed using routine laboratory methods and equipment.RESULTS: Of all participants, 64.3% of the cases and 51.0% of the controls were males with a mean age of 61.2 (±13.8) in cases and 62.4 (±14.) in controls. We could not find any differences between cases and controls for total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and alkaline-phosphatase (ALP) (P>0.05). However, levels of creatine-kinase-muscle/brain (CK-MB) (P<0.0001), fasting-blood-sugar (FBS) (P<0.0001), aspartateaminotransferase (AST) (P<0.0001), alanine-transferase (ALT) (P<0.0001) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P=0.001) were significantly higher in cases compared to the controls (P<0.05). Multivariable analyses revealed that the risk of MI was associated with high levels of AST (adjusted OR=24.3, 95%CI=3.5±165.6, P=0.001) and LDL (adjusted OR=7.4, 95%CI=1.0±51.8, P=0.001).CONCLUSION: Our investigation indicated that the levels of CK-MB, FBS, AST, ALT and ESR were significantly higher in patients with MI. Besides, our findings showed that the risk of MI in cases with high levels of AST and LDL was about 24 and 7 times more than the control group respectively

Holographic dark energy with time varying c2c^2 parameter

We consider the holographic dark energy model in which the model parameter $c^2$ evolves slowly with time. First we calculate the evolution of EoS parameter as well as the deceleration parameter in this generalized version of holographic dark energy (GHDE). Depending on the parameter $c^2$, the phantom regime can be achieved earlier or later compare with original version of holographic dark energy. The evolution of energy density of GHDE model is investigated in terms of parameter $c^2$. We also show that the time-dependency of $c^2$ can effect on the transition epoch from decelerated phase to accelerated expansion. Finally, we perform the statefinder diagnostic for GHDE model and show that the evolutionary trajectories of the model in $s-r$ plane are strongly depend on the parameter $c^2$.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, accepted by Astrophys Space Sc