Impact of education on knowledge and attitude of medical students about the abuse of prescription drugs in Iran

Introduction: The abuse of prescription drugs is considered as an important challenge for societies. Regarding many factors contributing to this challenge and its negative impact especially on young and educated people, there is an attempt in this paper to survey the impact of education on knowledge and attitude of medical students about the abuse of prescription drugs.Material and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study, which was conducted on medical students. Two groups of 53 medical students were selected as participants for both intervention group and control group. These participants were studied using the researcher-made questionnaires about knowledge and attitude toward the abuse of prescription drugs.Results: Education plays a significant role in both raising the students’ awareness and changing their attitude about the abuse of prescription drugs. The age variable had a significant relationship with pre-training knowledge. The female participants had less pre-training knowledge about drug abuse so that it was not observed after intervention.Discussion: It is suggested that education can be considered as a strategy to prevent drug abuse and reduce the demand for drug abuse by raising the awareness and amending the attitudes as well as promoting the anti-consumption culture

Reporting a Case of Injecting Methylphenidate (Ritalin) Tablets, Intensified Symptoms of Schizoph-renia or Induce Separate Mental Disorder

Abstract Background: Methylphenidate is one of the classic amphetamines which can cause or exacerbate psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia patients. Methods: In this paper, a young man is presented with injection of methylphenidate tablets with acute cellulitis due to this injection and the related symptoms. In the first hospitalization and after recovery from psychotic disorder due to tablet injections, he was under treatment with anti-psychotics because of other symptoms related to schizophrenia. Although the patient was regularly under schizophrenic medication after discharge, he was hospitalized twice more due to psychotic symptoms that appeared after injecting methylphenidate. Findings: This report shows psychotic symptoms in schizophrenic patients after injecting methylphenidate. These symptoms cannot be prevented even by anti-psychotic medication of background disease. This case shows the existence of two kinds of psychoses, functional (due to schizophrenia) and organic psychoses (due to methylphenidate use) in the same patient. Keywords: Methylphenidate, Injection, Schizophrenia, Psychotic disorders

Identity Disturbance and Substance-Dependence in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder

Abstract Identity disturbance is one of the DSM-IV criteria for borderline personality disorder, but there has been little attention to its nature. Four subsets of identity disturbance (role absorption, painful incoherence, inconsistency and lack of commitment) have been assessed. This study aimed to assess the role of these subsets in patients with borderline personality disorder and to examine the relationship between identity disturbances and substance-dependence. This case-control study was conducted on 40 patients with borderline personality disorder who were referred to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kerman from 2004 to 2005 and 40 healthy people who were matched with the case group in term of gender and educational level. Data gathering was carried out with three questionnaires including a demographic-related questionnaire, disturbance questionnaire (including 35 items) and a questionnaire related to substance-dependence and its related factors. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 11 for Windows, t test and ANOVA. The mean score of 33 items of the identity disturbance questionnaire were greater with significant difference in the case group (P < 0.05). The means differences in the two groups in all subsets were statistically significant, except for role absorption (P < 0.05). The means differences in all subsets in substance-dependent and substance-independent subjects in both groups were not significant statistically. The most common substance-dependence in both groups was related to cigarette smoking and cannabis. Opium and cannabis dependence was significantly greater in patients with borderline personality disorder. Identity disturbance is one of the major criteria for borderline personality disorder, but in different societies the role of its subsets are different. On the other hand, assessing subsets of identity disturbance has no value in assessing substance-dependence in patients with borderline personality disorder

Dehydroepiandrosterone Stimulates Nerve Growth Factor and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Cortical Neurons

Due to the increasing cases of neurodegenerative diseases in recent years, the eventual goal of nerve repair is very important. One approach for achieving a neuronal cell induction is by regenerative pharmacology. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are neurotrophins that play roles in neuronal development, differentiation, and protection. On the other hand, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a neurosteroid which has multiple actions in the nervous system. DHEA could be an important agent in regenerative pharmacology for neuronal differentiation during tissue regeneration. In this study, we investigated the possible role of DHEA to modulate NGF and BDNF production. The in vivo level of neurotrophins expression was demonstrated by ELISA in rat harvested brain cortex. Also neurotrophins expression after DHEA treatment was revealed by the increased neurite extension, immunostaining, and BrdU labeling in rats. Anti-NGF and anti-BDNF antibodies were used as suppressive agents on neurogenesis. The results showed that NGF and BDNF are overproduced after DHEA treatment but there is not any overexpression for NT-3 and NT-4. Also DHEA increased neurite extension and neural cell proliferation significantly. Overall, DHEA might induce NGF and BDNF neurotrophins overproduction in cortical neurons which promotes neural cell protection, survival, and proliferation. © 2013 Anahita Rahmani et al

The Risk of Suicide according to Drug Abuse and Nicotine Dependence in Patients with War Injuries and Chronic Traumatic Stress Disorder

Background: The incidence of suicide is higher in individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population. This prevalence rate is related to many factors including drug dependence. This study was conducted in people wounded during the Iran-Iraq war with PTSD, in order to compare the risk of suicide in those with and without drug and nicotine dependence.Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted in 2007–2008, comprised 104 male individuals who had participated in the Iran-Iraq war and had a current diagnosis of PTSD. They had been referred to a psychiatry hospital and the psychiatrists' offices in Kerman, Iran. Three questionnaires were used including Davidson Trauma Scale, California Risk Estimator for Suicide and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence to assess the severity of PTSD, the risk of suicide, and nicotine dependence, respectively. Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics using Chi square, regression, analysis of variance (ANOVA), student-t and correlation tests.Findings: The sseverity of PTSD was significantly different in individuals with low to moderate dependence on cigarette smoking than in those with heavy dependence on smoking (P = 0.002). However, the corresponding figures were not significantly different in individuals with and without substance abuse. Although the risk of suicide had no significant difference among individuals with low to moderate dependence on cigarettes compared to those with high nicotine dependence, it was higher in subjects with substance abuse than in those without it (P = 0.0001).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that dependence on cigarettes may not play a role in increasing the risk of suicide, whereas the dependence on opium and its derivatives may increase this risk. Therefore, prevention and treatment of drug abuse may be effective on the incidence of suicide in patients with war injuries and PTSD.Keywords: Suicide, Drug dependency, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Iran

Identity Disturbance and Substance-Dependence in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder

Abstract Background: Identity disturbance is one of the DSM-IV criteria for borderline personality disorder, but there has been little attention to its nature. Four subsets of identity disturbance (role absorption, painful incoherence, inconsistency and lack of commitment) have been assessed. This study aimed to assess the role of these subsets in patients with borderline personality disorder and to examine the relationship between identity disturbances and substance-dependence. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 40 patients with borderline personality disorder who were referred to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kerman from 1383 to 1384 and 40 healthy people who were matched with the case group in term of gender and educational level. Data gathering was carried out with three questionnaires including a demographic-related questionnaire, disturbance questionnaire (including 35 items) and a questionnaire related to substance-dependence and its related factors. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 11 for Windows, t test and ANOVA. Findings: The mean score of 33 items of the identity disturbance questionnaire were greater with significant difference in the case group (p < 0.05). The means differences in the two groups in all subsets were statistically significant, except for role absorption (p < 0.05). The means differences in all subsets in substance-dependent and substance-independent subjects in both groups were not significant statistically. The most common substance-dependence in both groups was related to cigarette smoking and cannabis. Opium and cannabis dependence was significantly greater in patients with borderline personality disorder. Conclusion: Identity disturbance is one of the major criteria for borderline personality disorder, but in different societies the role of its subsets are different. On the other hand, assessing subsets of identity disturbance has no value in assessing substance-dependence in patients with borderline personality disorder. Keyword: Borderline personality disorder, Identity disturbance, Substance- dependenc

Distribution of Blood Groups in Patients with Angiographically Defined Coronary Artery Disease in Iranian Community

In the past, the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and been studied extensively. The ABO blood group has a significant effect on homeostasis and is therefore associated with adverse cardiovascular events. This study aimed to determine the distribution of ABO blood group and rhesus (Rh) status (ABO/Rh) in patients with different severity of CAD in Iranian community. A total of 1,236 CAD patients undergoing angiography were evaluated and their ABO/Rh blood type was determined in a study center between February 2005 and December 2010. Of the 1,236 records, only 1,046 medical documents recorded the number of involved vessels. The patients were classified according to the number of significantly affected stenotic vessels into single vessel (1VD), two vessels (2VD), and three vessels (3VD) disease subgroups. A substantially different ABO/Rh blood groups distribution was seen in the examined samples (O: 29.7%, A: 39.7%, B: 22.2%, AB: 8.3%, Rh positivity: 89.2%). The ABO/Rh blood group phenotype distribution in CAD patients with 1VD, 2VD, and 3VD was as follows: 37.5%, 41.3%, and 41.5%, respectively, for group A; 24.1%, 20.5%, and 20.6%, respectively, for group B; 31.2%, 26.8%, and 30.2%, respectively, for group O; 7.1%, 11.4% and 7.7%, respectively, for group AB (p = 0.26), and 88.7%, 90.5%, and 87.6%, respectively, for Rh positivity, (p = 0.47).&nbsp; In addition, no significant correlation was not found among the ABO/Rh blood group distribution and the number of vessels involved, however, according to the different distribution of ABO/Rh blood group in CAD patients and healthy population, ABO/Rh might have an unknown role in CAD patients. Keywords: Coronary artery disease, Blood group, Stenosis, Vessel, Rhesus

Study of the mercury removal for health care and the effect of PH in mercury removal from aqueous solutions by activated carbons

A serious environmental threat from heavy metal ion pollution, especially mercury, has generated a great deal of attention in recent years. Mercury is one of the priority pollutant listed by USEPA as it can easily pass the blood-brain barrier and affect the fetal brain. High concentration of Hg (II) causes impairment of pulmonary function and kidney, chest pain and dyspnoea. Consequently, removal of mercury in water and wastewater assumes importance. In this review paper, we have evaluated the efforts which have been done for controlling the mercury emissions from aqueous solutions. According to the EPA agency, the tolerance limit for Hg (II) for discharge into inland surface water is 10 mu g/l and for drinking water is 1 mu g/l. Mercury (Hg) is one of the heavy metals of concern and has been found in the waste waters coming from manufacturing industry, and natural sources. Among several types of technology for removing of Hg in water (chemical precipitation, reverse osmosis, ion-exchange, etc.), adsorption is one of most frequently used. It is a complex process involving physical, chemical, and electrical interactions at sorbent surfaces. Therefore, in this study will investigate effective parameters such as pH, initial concentration and surface characteristic. Hafshejani MK, Vahdati A, Vahdati M, Kheradmand AB, Sattari M, Arad A. Study of the mercury removal for health care and the effect of PH in mercury removal from aqueous solutions by activated carbons. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):1846-1848] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 28

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)-Based Nanoniosome for Enhanced in vitro Delivery and Anticancer Activity of Thymol

Introduction: There is an unmet need to develop potent therapeutics against cancer with minimal side effects and systemic toxicity. Thymol (TH) is an herbal medicine with anti-cancer properties that has been investigated scientifically. This study shows that TH induces apoptosis in cancerous cell lines such as MCF-7, AGS, and HepG2. Furthermore, this study reveals that TH can be encapsulated in a Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-coated niosome (Nio-TH/PVA) to enhance its stability and enable its controlled release as a model drug in the cancerous region. Materials and Methods: TH-loaded niosome (Nio-TH) was fabricated and optimized using Box–Behnken method and the size, polydispersity index (PDI) and entrapment efficiency (EE) were characterized by employing DLS, TEM and SEM, respectively. Additionally, in vitro drug release and kinetic studies were performed. Cytotoxicity, antiproliferative activity, and the mechanism were assessed by MTT assay, quantitative real-time PCR, flow cytometry, cell cycle, caspase activity evaluation, reactive oxygen species investigation, and cell migration assays. Results: This study demonstrated the exceptional stability of Nio-TH/PVA at 4 °C for two months and its pH-dependent release profile. It also showed its high toxicity on cancerous cell lines and high compatibility with HFF cells. It revealed the modulation of Caspase-3/Caspase-9, MMP-2/MMP-9 and Cyclin D/ Cyclin E genes by Nio-TH/PVA on the studied cell lines. It confirmed the induction of apoptosis by Nio-TH/PVA in flow cytometry, caspase activity, ROS level, and DAPI staining assays. It also verified the inhibition of metastasis by Nio-TH/PVA in migration assays. Conclusion: Overall, the results of this study revealed that Nio-TH/PVA may effectively transport hydrophobic drugs to cancer cells with a controlled-release profile to induce apoptosis while exhibiting no detectable side effects due to their biocompatibility with normal cells

Technical Aspects and Clinical Limitations of Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing in Male Infertility: A Global Survey, Current Guidelines, and Expert Recommendations

PURPOSE: Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) is a functional sperm abnormality that can impact reproductive potential, for which four assays have been described in the recently published sixth edition of the WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. The purpose of this study was to examine the global practices related to the use of SDF assays and investigate the barriers and limitations that clinicians face in incorporating these tests into their practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinicians managing male infertility were invited to complete an online survey on practices related to SDF diagnostic and treatment approaches. Their responses related to the technical aspects of SDF testing, current professional society guidelines, and the literature were used to generate expert recommendations via the Delphi method. Finally, challenges related to SDF that the clinicians encounter in their daily practice were captured. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 436 reproductive clinicians. Overall, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) is the most commonly used assay chosen by 28.6%, followed by the sperm chromatin structure assay (24.1%), and the sperm chromatin dispersion (19.1%). The choice of the assay was largely influenced by availability (70% of respondents). A threshold of 30% was the most selected cut-off value for elevated SDF by 33.7% of clinicians. Of respondents, 53.6% recommend SDF testing after 3 to 5 days of abstinence. Although 75.3% believe SDF testing can provide an explanation for many unknown causes of infertility, the main limiting factors selected by respondents are a lack of professional society guideline recommendations (62.7%) and an absence of globally accepted references for SDF interpretation (50.3%). CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the largest global survey on the technical aspects of SDF testing as well as the barriers encountered by clinicians. Unified global recommendations regarding clinician implementation and standard laboratory interpretation of SDF testing are crucial