Effect of progressive muscle relaxation program on self-efficacy and quality of life in caregivers of patients with multiple sclerosis

Background: MS is a disease of the central nervous system affecting all economic, financial, social, and emotional aspects of individual, family, and community. Performing continuous care leads to chronic stress in caregivers of patients and this in turn threatens their self-efficacy and quality of life. Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation on self-efficacy and quality of life in caregivers of patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods: This was a controlled clinical trial in which 70 family caregivers of MS patients were investigated. The study population was divided into two age- and sex-matched case and control groups. Progressive muscle relaxation techniques were employed for the case group for three months (90 sessions) and its application was followed using a self-report checklist. After three months, selfefficacy and quality of life questionnaires were re-filled by members of both groups. Data were analyzed using descriptive and presumption statistical tests while a p≤0.05 was considered as significant. Findings: Paired t-test showed a significant difference in self efficacy and quality of life for family caregivers of case group three months after intervention (p=0.001). On the contrary, no significant difference regarding the efficacy and quality of life in family caregivers of MS patients in control group was found (P≥0.05). Conclusion: Several interventions such as progressive muscle relaxation program with low cost, good safety and effect can help reduce the stress of family caregivers of patients in particular those with chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis and thus leading to an increase in their self-efficacy, care quality, and quality of life

An Undiagnosed Case of Hypothalamic Hamartoma with a Rare Presentation.

Background. Hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs) are rare tumor-like malformations that may present with complex partial seizures refractory to anticonvulsants in adulthood. The condition may be misdiagnosed because of rarity. Case Presentation. We report a 25-year-old man with complaint of seizures presented by falling, tonic spasm of limbs, oral automatism, vocalization, and hypermotor activities. His seizures started at the age of one month and presented as eye deviation and upper limbs myoclonic jerk, followed by frequent seizures with variable frequency. The patient had delayed developmental milestones and was mentally retarded. He was hospitalized and underwent video-EEG monitoring and neuroimaging, and the diagnosis of HH was made. The patient became candidate for surgery after that. Conclusion. In this case, the underlying etiology of seizures was diagnosed after 25 years. HH is a rare condition and neurologists may encounter very small number of these cases during their practice. Therefore, they should consider it in patients who present with suspected signs and symptoms

Comparison of 18F-NaF Imaging, 99mTc-MDP Scintigraphy, and 18F-FDG for Detecting Bone Metastases

Bone is a common metastasis site in several malignancies, most importantly prostate and breast cancers. Given the significance of the early and accurate diagnosis of bone metastases for preliminary staging, treatment planning and monitoring, restaging, and survival prediction in patients with malignancy, it is critical to compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of imaging modalities. Although technetium-99m-labeled diphosphonates [99mTc-MDP] scintigraphy has been used for assessing skeletal involvement, there is a renewed interest in fluorine-18-labeled sodium fluoride [18F-NaF] bone imaging with positron emission tomography or positron emission tomography/computed tomography, since this approach provides essential advantages in bone metastases evaluation. This review study aimed to discuss the basic and technical aspects of 18F-NaF imaging and its mechanism of action, and compare this modality with the 99mTc-MDP bone scan and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose using current evidence from the pertinent literature and case examples of the center in the study

Application of Epstein-Barr Virus for Optimization of Immortalized B-lymphocyte Production as a Positive Control in Genetic Studies.

BACKGROUND Infection of B-cells with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) leads to more and subsequent immortalization. This is considered as the method of choice for generating lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Producing LCLs, although very useful but is very time consuming and troublesome, drives the requirement for quicker and more reliable methods for EBV-driven B-cell transformation. MATERIALS AND METHODS After successfully production of LCLs, different parameters including temperature, serum concentration, type of culture medium, and CO2 concentration were evaluated on EBV-transformed B-cells. In this study, we were able to produce LCLs and optimize condition. RESULTS The best condition for generating LCLs was 37°C, 5% CO2, 20% fasting blood sugar, and RPMI 1640. The study results were to establish a reliable method for producing LCLs that can be used to produce immortalized B-cells from almost any sources. CONCLUSION This can help with tumorgenecity studies, as well as producing control material for rare genetic disorders and so on. The aim of this study was to determine optimized condition for reliable and reproducible LCLs from different sources

Sleep-Related Seizures in Refractory Focal Epilepsy: Electroclinical Findings and Surgical Outcome

Background: Sleep Seizures (SSs) generally occur in refractory focal epilepsy, but their detailed characteristics and circadian patterns are still controversial. The effect of SSs on epilepsy surgery outcome has been addressed in few studies without definitive prognostic value.   Objectives: This study investigated the characteristics of SSs and their prognosis in refractory focal epilepsy. Materials & Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the referral epilepsy center in Isfahan, Iran from 2011 to 2015. It investigated SSs in patients with refractory focal epilepsy who underwent pre-operative evaluation. Demographic data, electroclinical findings, pathology, and postsurgical outcomes were analyzed and compared to Wake Seizures (WSs).  Before the main analysis, Shapiro-Wilk test of normality was performed. Then the Independent sample t test, Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, Mann-Whitney U test and 1-way ANOVA were used to analyze the obtained data in SPSS. All probability tests were two-tailed and the level of significance was defined as P≤0.05. Results: A total of 371 seizures in 113 patients were studied. The sleep/wake seizure ratio in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) and Extratemporal Lobe Epilepsy (ETLE) were 0.54 and 0.91, respectively. The peak incidence of SSs in TLE and ETLE were during 4.00 to 8.00 and 0.00 to 4.00, respectively. SSs were considerably associated with EEG changes before clinical signs. Ictal EEG localization was more successful in SSs of extratemporal origin. Based on pathology findings, Focal Cortical Dysplasia (FCD) was highly associated with SSs. Left epileptogenic zone and FCD accompanied a less favorable outcome in SSs. Conclusion: SSs are significantly more frequent in patients with ETLE and follow specific circadian patterns based on epileptogenic zone. Seizure semiology and EEG findings are in favor of more localized onset of epileptic activity in SSs of extratemporal origin. The side of epileptogenic zone, circadian pattern of seizures, well-defined epileptogenic lesion in MRI and pathology, could affect postsurgical outcomes in SSs

CASRP Publisher International journal of Advanced Biological and Biomedical Research 4(2) (2016) 152-157 Relationship between the human T-lymphotropic virus and myeloid leukemia, mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 , 2 (HTLV-1, 2) is endemic in Particular Areas of the world in which it is associated with myeloid leukemia.In this study, we described the prevalence of HTLV-1, 2 in myeloid leukemia and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Iran. We have worked with tissue and blood samples for 2 years. These were the same samples which were positive for myeloid leukemia, Mycobacterium tuberculosis,HTLV and were collected from Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran, Iran. 100 cases were investigated (58% males, 42% females), the age of these samples were within 5 to 89 years old.In 65.7 percent of the leukemia rate HTLV-1 has been positive. Five cases (54%) were myeloid leukemia, 36.4% cases were not myeloid leukemia and 3 out of 8 cases (27.9%) unclassified lymphomas, were positive respectively. All 6 cases (100%) were adults with acute T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were positive. Among all cases, just one case has been positive for chronic myeloid leukemia and myeloproliferative disruption. Positive HTLV-1-show more in older ages than younger one. At younger ages offers less than negative items. According to our results, in Iran HTLV-1, 2 Saman Ayoubi et al. / International journal of Advanced Biological and Biomedical Research (2016) 4(2) 152-157 153 is dramatically related to myeloid leukemia, and more studies are required for accurate connection with myeloma diseases and this area