Prevalence of Use of Anabolic Steroids by Bodybuilders Using Three Methods in a City of Iran

Background: The prevalence of substance use among bodybuilding athletes has been poorly studied in Iran. This study was conducted to examine the prevalence of drug use, especially anabolic steroids, among bodybuilding athletes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the first half of 2013 among body building athletes referring to gyms located in Kerman, Iran. Five gyms were selected randomly and 380 athletes were invited to complete a self-administered anonymous questionnaire, consecutively. The questionnaire included two parts; baseline characteristics and substance related questions. The prevalence of anabolic steroids was estimated based on three methods; self-report, projective question, and crosswise model. Findings: We enrolled 298 male athletes in the final analysis. Mean ± SD age of subjects was 25.9 ± 8.4. The most frequent recent (past 30 days) drug use was waterpipe smoking (45%). The second most frequently used drug was alcohol (26.5%, recent use). Based on self-reports, the prevalence of lifetime anabolic steroid use was calculated to be 24.5%. The corresponding figure based on crosswise method was obtained to be 56.8%. Participants believed that a median of 40% of athletes had used anabolic steroids in their lifetime. The prevalence of anabolic steroid was higher in single and less educated individuals (P < 0.05). The main reason for using anabolic steroids was to increase muscle size. Conclusion: The prevalence of drug use, especially tobacco, alcohol, and anabolic steroids, was high among bodybuilding athletes. We could not rely on self-reports to examine anabolic steroid use. Keywords: Substance abuse, Anabolic steroids, Athletes, Ira

Economic Appraisal of Urine Opiates Screening Test: A Study in Kerman, Iran

Abstract Background: Cost effectiveness, the ratio of relative costs of a program to its desired outcomes, is one of the basic issues in various screening programs performed to detect opium abuse. This study aimed to find the cost-effectiveness of opiates abuse screening through urine analysis. Methods: A total number of 64698 individuals were selected and divided into to five distinct groups based on the reason for which they were tested. Cost-effectiveness of opiates abuse screening in each group was calculated by dividing the total cost, including personnel and overhead costs, to the number of detected cases. Finally, the results were compared. Findings: The total number of positive cases based on rapid screening assay (RSA) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) was 3460 (5.3%). According to incremental cost-effectiveness analysis, screening program of the group referred by the police was the most cost-effective program with the breakeven point at 2%. Conclusion: According to the obtained results, continuation of drug abuse screening programs is recommended

Assessment of oral health-related quality of life: Comparison of two measurement tools

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Development of patient-based outcome measures has enhanced our ability to assess the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Present study aimed to compare the performance of the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) as two methods of assessment of oral health-related quality of life. METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey, a sample of 400 healthy participants which were 18-65 years old was recruited in Kerman School of Dentistry, Iran. Main measurement tools were the validated Persian version of GOHAI and OHIP- 14 questionnaires. Data were collected by means of personal interview. Internal consistency and discriminant validity were carried out to compare the two measures. RESULTS: The internal consistencies of both tools were acceptable and Pearson’s correlation coefficient between the scores was 0.739. Both measures discriminated between dentate subjects over and under 25 natural teeth and wearing removable dentures or not, both also showed significant associations with dental attendance, self-rated oral health and satisfaction with oral health status. CONCLUSION: Both GOHAI and OHIP-14 are appropriate instruments with equal power for survey of OHRQoL on under-elderly population. KEYWORDS: Oral Health, Quality of Life; Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL); Oral Health Impact Profile- 14 (OHIP-14); Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI

A Review of Alcohol-Related Harms: A Recent Update

In the early decades of the 20th century, discussions regarding alcohol were dominantly directed toward itstherapeutic uses, but authorities now state that any level of alcohol consumption poses negative effects onhealth. Over recent months, increased attention has been devoted to disease burdens attributable to alcoholuse worldwide. As more and more studies are conducted to illuminate the harmful effects of alcohol ondifferent body systems, the mounting evidence generated requires documentation and publication. Thecurrent review was aimed at providing an overview of the recent literature on the adverse consequences ofalcohol consumption

Validation of an Ultrashort Persian Version of Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-5) Questionnaire

Objective: To validate the ultrashort (5-item) Persian version of OHIP by investigating its psychometric properties. Material and Methods: Construct validity was assessed by examining the correlation between OHIP-5 scores and self-reported oral health status, judgment for dental treatment needs and the number of natural teeth. Reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha and corrected item-total correlation. Effect size (ES) and Standardized Response Mean (SRM) were calculated for the responsiveness of the scale and factor analysis was done by measuring Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO), Bartlett’s sphericity test and scree plot. Results: In 430 subjects (mean age 41.56+/-11.35 years, 56% female) the correlations between OHIP-5 scores and mentioned items were significant (p&lt;0.01) indicating sufficient construct validity. The reliability coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) of the OHIP-5 was above the recommended 0.7 thresholds (0.809) and considered well. For evaluation of responsiveness, the ES was measured to be 5.604 and the SRM was 1.5. Moreover, in the confirmatory factor analysis, the unidimensional model for OHIP5 approved by indices (KMO=0.81, p&lt;0.001 for Bartlett sphericity). Conclusion: The Persian version of OHIP-5 is a precise, valid, reliable and unidimensional instrument for assessing oral health-related quality of life among the general adult population

Comparing the Efficacy of Premedication with Ibuprofen in Combination with an Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block and Primary Buccal Infiltration in Mandibular Molars with Irreversible Pulpitis: A Triple-blinded Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the success rate of the combination of buccal infiltration (BI) and inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) injections in irreversible pulpitis in mandibular molars after premedication with ibuprofen. Materials and Methods: From 132 patients participated in the study, 120 patients were included. One hour before root canal treatment, patients with mandibular molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis received either a 600 mg ibuprofen capsule or a placebo. All patients received 2% lidocaine with 1:80000 epinephrine and 4% articaine with 1:100000 epinephrine for IANB and BI, respectively. Patients’ pain was evaluated using the Heft-Parker visual analog scale during the preparation of access cavity, exposure of pulp, and instrumentation of root canal. The success of anesthesia was defined as the absence of pain or mild pain. The Chi-square and t-test were employed for data analysis. Results: The difference between patient age and gender in the two groups was not significant (P&gt;0.05). The anesthesia success rate was 85% in the premedicated and 70% in the placebo group, with statistically significant results (P=0.049). Conclusion: Based on this triple-blinded randomized clincal study, mandibular molars with irreversible pulpitis were not thoroughly anesthetized by a combination of IANB+BI after premedication with ibuprofen (600 mg), even though anesthesia success was improved significantly by ibuprofen premedication

A Comparison of the Efficacy of Buprenorphine and Clonidine in Detoxification of Heroin-Dependents and the Following Maintenance Treatment

Abstract Background: This study compared the success rates of buprenorphine and clonidine in detoxification of heroin-dependents and evaluated the recurrence of drug abuse in patients taking naltrexone in a 6 month follow up. Methods: A double-blind study was carried out in Kerman’s psychiatric hospital on heroin-dependents seeking detoxification during the years 2007-2009.These patients were randomized into 2 groups receiving clonidine and buprenorphine. The success rate of detoxification was evaluated at the end of the trial and each patient was discharged with a daily consumption of 25 mg naltrexone. They were monitored for 6 months with respect to naltrexone consumption and withdrawal from drug abuse. Findings: Overall 49 patients participated in the study. The success rate of detoxification with naltrexone was confirmed in all subjects. In the group receiving clonidine, 2 subjects (9.5%) had a clinical opiate withdrawal scale (COWS) above 12 in day 5 (P = 0.186) and none of the subjects in the group taking buprenorphine had a COWS above 12 in day 5. The signs and symptoms of withdrawal and the desire for substance abuse was declined significantly in both groups over time; 19% of subjects detoxified with clonidine and 39% detoxified with buprenorphine continued taking naltrexone for one month and 52% detoxified with clonidine and 53.5% detoxified with buprenorphine entered the maintenance treatment. The average days remaining in treatment and being free of recurrence of drug abuse was not significantly different between the two groups in a 6 month follow up. Conclusion: Administration of buprenorphine within a few days was more efficient in reducing the signs and symptoms of withdrawal when compared to clonidine. However, recurrence of drug abuse was not significantly different between the two groups. Keyword: Clonidine, Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, Heroin withdrawal, Recurrenc

Comparison of the Efficacy of Buprenorphine and Clonidine in Detoxification of Opioid-Dependents

Background: Since the number of drug users is increasing, applying a method of detoxification with fewer side effects during withdrawal from opioids and greater reliability seems to be necessary. In addition, without maintenance treatment, there will be limited success of treatment. This study aimed to compare success rates of detoxification with sublingual buprenorphine and clonidine and to evaluate addiction relapse in patients using naltrexone in a six-month follow-up. Methods: This double-blind trial was carried out on opioid dependent patients in a psychiatric hospital in Kerman (Iran) during 2007-09. The subjects were randomly selected from individuals who had referred for detoxification. They were allocated to two groups to receive either clonidine (n = 21) or buprenorphine (n = 14). The success rates of the two methods were assessed at the end of the course and patients were discharged while prescribed with 25 mg daily use of naltrexone. They were followed up for six months and the continuous use of naltrexone and relapse of substance abuse were evaluated. Findings: A total number of 35 patients entered the study. Success of detoxification with naltrexone was confirmed in all cases. One person (8.4%) in the clonidine group and no patient in the buprenorphine group had a Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) score of more than 12 (P > 0.05). The mean levels of objective signs and subjective symptoms of withdrawal and the desire for drug abuse had significant reductions during detoxification period in both groups (P 0.05). Naltrexone was used for an average of one month in 43% and 64% of subjects in the clonidine and buprenorphine groups, respectively. In addition, 62% of patients in the clonidine group and 92.8% of subjects in the buprenorphine group received maintenance treatment. Nevertheless, the mean number of days staying in treatment was not significantly difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Buprenorphine is as effective as clonidine in controlling withdrawal symptoms. A greater percentage of patients detoxified by buprenorphine received maintenance treatment, but there was not a significant difference in relapse rates between the two methods.Keywords: Buprenorphine, Clonidine, Naltrexone, Opioid detoxification, Addiction relapse

Epidemiologic Study on Drug Abuse among First and Second Grade High School Students in Kerman

Abstract Background: This study investigated the epidemiology of drug abuse among high school students in Kerman. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on a randomly selected sample of 652 first and second grade high school students (256 boys, 396 girls) in Kerman. They were informed that their answers would be classified and nameless before they filled questionnaires. Schools and classes were selected using stratified sampling method. Findings: From total 652 students participated in this study, 39.2% (256) were boys and 60.7% (396) were girls. Most of the students had information about opium (70.7% of boys and 79.8% of girls), and then alcohol (55.9% of boys and 53.9% of girls). Most offered substance to the students was alcohol (25% in boys and 12.4% in girls). The most effective encouragement for using drugs was through their friends (39% in boys, 16.9% in girls). The most used drug was alcohol among boys (11.4%) and sedative tablets among girls (12.2%). Boys preferred to use drugs in wedding ceremonies (11.3%) but girls proffered their houses (4.8%). The first reason for using drugs was socializing with unsavory friends (29.4%) and the second one was domestic problems (21.4%). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated dangerously increase of drug abuse among teenagers, who are the future of the society. If these results could be generalized, authorities must think of serious solutions for this rising problem. Keywords: Substance abuse, Students, Narcotic