Sex Reassignment Surgery in Iran, Re-Birth or Human Rights Violations against Transgender People?

NO Abstrac

The relationship of plasma cortisol level with processing speed and working memory in methamphetamine users

This article does not have an abstract  

The Effectiveness of Acupuncture on Addiction Severity Index: A Single Case Experimental Design in a Case of Methamphetamine Abuser Patient With Trismus Syndrome

Trismus is one of the side effects of methamphetamine use which is associated with contractions of the jaw muscles. Acupuncture is a traditional and complementary treatment that is effective in reducing pain and psychological indices. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the acupuncture in a case of trismus caused by methamphetamine abuse. The patient was a 31-year-old man with a history of chronic methamphetamine use, reported to have dependence and severe jaw pain. In a single case study and in an ABAB design with multi-baselines, we used acupuncture for 3 weeks to reduce pain and addiction severity index (ASI). Data were analyzed through a generalized estimating equation (GEE). The results showed that there was no signifcant correlation between severity of addiction and pain (P > 0.05). Due to damage caused in the process of production of tyrosine hydroxylase and mitogen-activated protein kinase and the role of these precursors in the production of dopamine as an effective factor in the acupuncture, the effectiveness of this treatment can be limited

Effect of Magnesium Sulfate Added to Tincture of Opium and Buprenorphine on Pain and Quality of Life in Women with Dysmenorrhea: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

Background: Adding magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) to opioid receptor agonists increases the opioid analgesiceffects via blocking this receptor. The current study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of adding MgSO4 totincture of opium (TOP) and buprenorphine (BUP) on pain and quality of life (QOL).Methods: In prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, one hundred andsixty-three women with secondary dysmenorrhea caused by endometriosis were selected using a respondentdriven sampling (RDS) and assigned into six groups using block randomization. Patients received 50 mg/kgMgSO4 in 100 ml saline by micro set in six monthly menstrual periods and completed the visual analoguescale (VAS) and QOL Questionnaire (QOLQ). Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance(ANOVA) and hierarchical regression.Findings: The primary outcomes showed that pain scores in magnesium (MAG) + opium tincture (OT)[F = 5.7(1,162), P = 0.004] and MAG+ BUP [F = 4.5(1,162), P = 0.006] groups showed a significant decreasecompared with control group. Also, QOL scores in MAG + OT [F = 4.8(1,162), P = 0.005] and MAG + BUP[F = 5.9(1,162), P = 0.003] showed a significant increase. However, there was no significant differencebetween the two groups (P = 0.140) and the changes did not persist until follow-up (P = 0.810). Secondaryoutcomes indicated that the low scores of the two components of QOL including physical and psychologicalcomponents were predictors of pain (P = 0.011, Beta > 3.09).Conclusion: Simultaneous use of MAG with opioids is associated with pain reduction and the improvement ofQOL. However, this hypothesis requires careful handling in a randomized controlled tria

A Novel Therapy for cocaine dependence during abstinence: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Topiramate is an anticonvulsant drug and an ideal candidate for reducing the craving in people relying on cocaine. Contingency management is one of the common therapies in the domain of addiction. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate and compare three medication methods of Topiramate (TPM), Contingency Management (CM) and the combined TPM treatment and cash intervention on craving during abstinence. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at Bijan Center for Substance Abuse Treatment in Tehran, Iran, from December 15, 2014 to November 20, 2015. One hundred males (Age range=18–34; SD=4.11) undergoing abstinence were assigned randomly to four groups (n=25) of Topiramate (TPM), Contingency Management (CM) and the Combined Method plus a placebo control group. Treatment was provided for twelve weeks for the experiment groups, and only the control group received the placebo. Participants in the Cash-based and CM Condition had an identical 12-week escalating schedule of reinforcement (cash-based incentives worth $0,$20, $40, and$80). Also, in the Topiramate group, participants’ dosage ranged between 25-300 mg/day in escalating doses) 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300). In addition, all subjects received brief behavioral compliance enhancement treatment (BBCET). Participants took a urine test twice a week, with a given threshold of > 300 ng/ml, and indicators of cocaine craving (response rate= 91%) was evaluated in two phases of pre-test and posttest. We used Chi square, ANCOVA Univariate Model and Scheffe’s post hoc to analyze the primary and secondary outcomes. Also, the qualitative data resulted from demographic evaluations were coded and analyzed by the instrument of analysis of qualitative data i.e. Atlas.ti, Version 5.2. Results: The results showed that all three types of treatment played a significant efficacy in reducing the craving. The mean (95% CI) scores of craving was 12.04 (p=0.05) with TPM, 13.89 (p=0.05) with CM, 10.92 (p=0.01) with Mix and 16.89 (p>0.05) with control. Moreover, the highest variance explaining the changes in craving was assigned to the combined treatment (p<0.01). Conclusions: The findings of this study, while having applicable aspects in this domain, can be helpful in planning supplementary remedial procedures. Trial registration: The trial was registered at the Thai Clinical Trial Registration Center with the TCR ID: TCTR20170112001. Funding: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this articl

The Efficacy of Contingency Management on Cocaine Craving, using Prize-based Reinforcement of Abstinence in Cocaine Users

Introduction: Contingency management (CM) is one of the most common therapies in the domain of drug addiction. This study has been carried out with the purpose of evaluating the efficacy of contingency management intervention. Method: In an experimental design, between December 15, 2014 and November 20, 2015, fifty men (between 18 and 31 with an average age of 24.6) with a history of cocaine use, were selected voluntarily and were randomly assigned into two groups of CM and control group. The CM group were awarded coupons for negative urine tests, over a period of twelve weeks. The urine tests were taken from the participants twice per week, with cutoff concentrations for positive set at 300 ng/ml and self-reporting index of cocaine craving (response rate = 96%) were evaluated in two phase, through pretest and posttest measures. The data were analyzed by parametric covariance test. Additionally, the qualitative data, resulted from demographic measures, were coded and were analyzed with the help of an analysis instrument of qualitative data i.e. ATLAS.ti-5.2. Results: The primary outcome was the number of negative urine tests and the secondary outcome included the cocaine usage craving index over twelve weeks. The mean of (95% of confidence) number of negative cocaine urine tests was 15.4 (13.1–17.8) in the CM group and 19.7 (17.7–21.6) in the control group (P = 0.049). Also, results showed that CM has a significant effect on reducing craving (p<0.01). Conclusion: The findings of this study, while having practical aspects in this domain, can be valuable in planning remedial procedure