Effectiveness of Narrative Exposure Therapy on the Severity of Posttraumatic Stress and the Co-Morbid Symptoms of Iranian Survivors of Mina Disaster

Background: Mass gathering has not received much attention of researches as one of the potentially traumatic events in the field of psychological studies. Mina (Mecca, Saudi Arabia) disaster during 2015 hajj occurred in this context. Individuals may be at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and somatic symptoms following traumatic events. Narrative exposure therapy (NET (has been known as a therapeutic protocol for PTSD and trauma-related disorders. The present study was carried out aimed to investigate the effectiveness of narrative exposure therapy on the severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms and the co-morbid symptoms of Iranian survivors of Mina disaster.Materials and Methods: The present study is based on single-case experimental design (SCED) with baseline. Eight Survivors of Mina disaster who met the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder and completed inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups NET and control. The experimental group participant received twelve NET sessions individually. Data collection tool included PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and Beck depression inventory-II (BDI-II), patient health questionnaire 15 (PHQ-15). Data was analyzed using the cut-off point, percentage improvement index, RCI and the Hedges' g effect size.Results: Total percentage improvement of participant receiving NET for PTSD, was 68.25%, depression 63.25%, and somatic symptoms was 53.75%. All changes in the participant receiving NET were clinically significant in severity of PTSD, depression and somatic symptoms (RCI≥1.96).Conclusion: According to the results of this study, NET has a significant effect on the reduction of PTSD symptoms and its co-morbid symptoms

The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral group therapy on anxiety-depressive symptoms and emotion regulation in child laborers

Objectives:   This study was aimed to determine the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy on anxiety-depressive symptoms and emotion regulation in child laborers. Materials & Methods:  This study was a randomized clinical trial conducted on child laborers.The obtained data were collected from 15 participants in the experimental and 15 inthe control group. The members of control group didn’t receive any intervention. The participants in experimental group received the cognitive-behavioral group therapy based on "coping cat" program. The treatment consisted of 18 weeks of 90-min sessions meeting once a week. Participants of two groups completed the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (R-CADS) and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-child version (CERQ-K) before and after intervention and three months later. Results: Repeated measurement of ANOVA indicated that the CBT significantly decreased depressive-anxiety symptoms and negative emotion regulation strategies as well as increased positive emotion regulation strategies. Furthermore, results yielded moderate to large effect sizes for improvement of dependent variables. Conclusion: This study showed significant differences in anxiety-depressive symptoms and emotion regulation between two groups. Therefore, CBT seems to be an effective intervention in child laborers. However when applying this intervention, the special cultural, social, educational and economic conditions of these children must be considered. &nbsp

The efficacy of metacognitive therapy on emotional processing components of patients with functional dyspepsia: controlled clinical trial

Background: Functional dyspepsia is characterized by a set of symptoms in the upper gastrointestinal tract due to an underlying organic cause and is one of the common causes of patients ’visits to gastroenterologists. A few researches have been conducted on the effectiveness of psychotherapy with respect to the psychological components of these patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of metacognitive therapy on emotional processing components of these patients. Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 patients with dyspeptic symptoms were recruited after medical examination by gastroenterologists, performing H. Pylori test and undergoing endoscopy. Moreover, 20 of the patients were randomly assigned to a group for metacognitive therapy and another 20 to the control group. The Baker's emotional processing questionnaire was used at pre-treatment, post-treatment and three months after treatment for evaluating changes in patients' emotional processing styles. Finally, repeated measures analysis of variance was employed for data analysis by using SPSS 19. Results: The research data that was obtained by repeated measures analysis of variance indicated statistically significant differences in three emotional processing scales in metacognitive therapy group compared to the control group at pre-treatment, post-treatment and three months after treatment. Conclusion: Compared to the control group, the metacognitive therapy of functional dyspepsia patients was more effective in the short- and long-term for coping with difficulty in emotional recognition and experience, difficulty in emotional control and expression as well as inadequate emotional processin

Sex based levels of C-reactive protein and white blood cell count in subjects with metabolic syndrome: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) are proinflammatory markers. They are major pathophysiological for the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to address the independent associations between MetS and WBC counts and serum CRP levels and evaluation of their magnitude in relation to the MetS, based on the sex in the Iranian adults. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, subjects who met the MetS criteria, based on the Adult Treatment Panel III were selected from the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program database. A questionnaire containing the demographic data, weight, height, waist, and hip circumference of the respondents was completed for each person. Blood pressure was measured and the anthropometric measurements were done, and fasting blood samples were taken for 2 h postload plasma glucose (2 hpp). Serum total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein] levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, and CRP as well as WBC counts were determined. The univariate analyses were carried out to assess the relation between the CRP levels, WBC counts with the MetS in both sexes the. Results: In men with the abdominal obesity, the higher levels of WBC count, high serum triglyceride and blood glucose levels, a low serum HDL level, and raised systolic and diastolic blood pressure were observed. However, the higher serum CRP levels were only observed in those with the low serum HDL-cholesterol levels. The mean values of the WBC counts were statistically different between the men with and without MetS, but the mean values of the CRP levels were similar between the two groups. In women, the mean values of WBC count and CRP levels were statistically different in the subjects with and without a MetS components (except for the low serum HDL levels and high diastolic blood pressure for the WBC measures and abdominal obesity for the CRP measures) and for those with and without MetS. The age and smoking adjusted changes in the CRP levels and WBC counts correlated with the number of Mets components in the women. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest substantial implications for the prevention and management of the MetS and atherosclerotic diseases, as these involve the suppression of inflammatory conditions rather than the incitement of anti-inflammatory conditions

Differential Expression of CD16 and CD56 on Natural Killer (NK) Cell Subsets in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuromyelitis Optica

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) are inflammatory and demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). NK cells are supposed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of MS, but their role in the NMO remains unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of different subpopulations of NK cells in the patients with MS and NMO and healthy individuals. Methods: Treatment Naive MS and NMO patients, age, and sex matched controls were included in this study. PBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood and different phenotypes of circulating NK cells were compared with the flow cytometry analysis. Results: There were no significant differences in the mean percentages of circulating NK cells expressing the CD56 bright molecule in patients with MS and NMO. However, the mean percentages of circulating NK cells expressing the CD56bright molecule were significantly lower in all patients groups, compared to controls. In addition, the mean percentages of circulating NK cells expressing the CD16dim molecule was significantly higher in the patients with MS, compared to controls/any other groups. The mean percentages of circulating NK cells expressing the CD56dim molecule were significantly higher in the patients with MS than the controls. There were significant differences in the mean percentages of circulating NK cells expressing the CD16bright molecule between the patients with MS, and NMO/controls. Conclusions: The results indicate that evaluation of NK cell subsets has an implication for the biomarker discovery and therapeutic targets in given diseases

Differential Expression of CD16 and CD56 on Natural Killer (NK) Cell Subsets in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuromyelitis Optica

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) are inflammatory and demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). NK cells are supposed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of MS, but their role in the NMO remains unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of different subpopulations of NK cells in the patients with MS and NMO and healthy individuals. Methods: Treatment Naive MS and NMO patients, age, and sex matched controls were included in this study. PBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood and different phenotypes of circulating NK cells were compared with the flow cytometry analysis. Results: There were no significant differences in the mean percentages of circulating NK cells expressing the CD56 bright molecule in patients with MS and NMO. However, the mean percentages of circulating NK cells expressing the CD56bright molecule were significantly lower in all patients groups, compared to controls. In addition, the mean percentages of circulating NK cells expressing the CD16dim molecule was significantly higher in the patients with MS, compared to controls/any other groups. The mean percentages of circulating NK cells expressing the CD56dim molecule were significantly higher in the patients with MS than the controls. There were significant differences in the mean percentages of circulating NK cells expressing the CD16bright molecule between the patients with MS, and NMO/controls. Conclusions: The results indicate that evaluation of NK cell subsets has an implication for the biomarker discovery and therapeutic targets in given diseases

Treatment Outcomes of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND:Treatment outcomes for multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MDRTB) are generally poor compared to drug sensitive disease. We sought to estimate treatment outcomes and identify risk factors associated with poor outcomes in patients with MDRTB. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We performed a systematic search (to December 2008) to identify trials describing outcomes of patients treated for MDRTB. We pooled appropriate data to estimate WHO-defined outcomes at the end of treatment and follow-up. Where appropriate, pooled covariates were analyzed to identify factors associated with worse outcomes. Among articles identified, 36 met our inclusion criteria, representing 31 treatment programmes from 21 countries. In a pooled analysis, 62% [95% CI 57-67] of patients had successful outcomes, while 13% [9]-[17] defaulted, 11% [9]-[13] died, and 2% [1]-[4] were transferred out. Factors associated with worse outcome included male gender 0.61 (OR for successful outcome) [0.46-0.82], alcohol abuse 0.49 [0.39-0.63], low BMI 0.41[0.23-0.72], smear positivity at diagnosis 0.53 [0.31-0.91], fluoroquinolone resistance 0.45 [0.22-0.91] and the presence of an XDR resistance pattern 0.57 [0.41-0.80]. Factors associated with successful outcome were surgical intervention 1.91 [1.44-2.53], no previous treatment 1.42 [1.05-1.94], and fluoroquinolone use 2.20 [1.19-4.09]. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:We have identified several factors associated with poor outcomes where interventions may be targeted. In addition, we have identified high rates of default, which likely contributes to the development and spread of MDRTB

The effect of breathing exercises on the nocturnal enuresis in the children with the sleepdisordered breathing. Iran Red Crescent Med J

Background: The nocturnal enuresis is one of the most common complaints of childhood. Upper airway obstruction and nocturnal snoring affect the nocturnal enuresis in children. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of breathing exercises on the nocturnal enuresis in the children with the sleep-disordered breathing. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted in year of 2011 by a semi-experimental design with the control group among 40 children, aged 6 -12 years, who had the nocturnal enuresis. Participants were examined based on the criteria of nocturnal enuresis, oral breathing, and nocturnal snoring. Subsequently, they were randomly assigned to the case and control groups. In the case group, the breathing exercises were performed for 45 minutes, and were pursued for four weeks in the morning following and prior to sleeping, and subsequently the arterial blood gases were measured and the frequency of enuresis and the respiratory rates (RR) were recorded. Results: After intervention the means of PaCO 2 and RR in the control group were significantly higher than the case group (P < 0.0001). Likewise, O 2 sat, PaO 2 in the case group were higher than the control group (P < 0.0001). The nocturnal enuresis decreased significantly in the case group, compared to the control group (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: This study suggests that the breathing exercises may reduce the frequency of nocturnal enuresis in the patients with the oral breathing and nocturnal snore. The clinical implications of these findings should be verified in the future longitudinal studies

Physiological inflammation of the small intestine during weaning in the rat / by Mohsen Masjedi.

Erratum is pasted onto back end-paper.Bibliography: leaves 164-207.xvii, 207, [26] leaves, [23] leaves of plates : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm.Explores the hypothesis that physiological inflammation in the small intestine and the mesenteric lymph node is upregulated during the weaning period. Aims to determine changes in the number, phenotype, and activation status (using interleukin-2 receptor expression) of intraepithelial lymphocytes, lamina propria lymphocytes, mucosal mast cells, and mesenteric lymph node cells from preweaning to post weaning rats.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Medicine, 199