The Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Man Smokers’ Comorbid Depression and Anxiety Symptoms and Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Besides physical problems, cigarette smoking is associated with a high prevalence of comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms. One of the reasons behind high post-cessation smoking lapse and relapse rates is inattentiveness to these symptoms during the process of cessation. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on male smokers’ comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms and smoking cessation.Methods: This two-group pre-test-post-test randomized controlled trial was done on a random sample of seventy male smokers. Participants were randomly and evenly allocated to an intervention and a control group. Patients in these groups received either acceptance or commitment therapy or routine psychological counseling services include cognitive behavior therapy, respectively. Study data were collected through a demographic questionnaire, the Structural Clinical Interview (SCI) for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition (DSM-IV) disorders, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Micro Smokerlyzer carbon monoxide monitor.The SPSS software was employed to analyze the data.Findings: After the intervention, depression and anxiety scores and smoking cessation rate in the intervention group were respectively lower and higher than the control group (P < 0.050).Conclusion: ACT can significantly improve comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms and smoking cessation rate. Thus, it can be used to simultaneously manage depression, anxiety, and cigarette smoking

Transvaginal sonography and surgical findings in the diagnosis of endometriosis individuals: A cross-sectional study

Background: Endometriosis is a challenging gynecological disease and a debilitating condition that profoundly affects the individual’s quality of life. Besides pathological confirmation, diagnostic laparoscopy has been internationally accepted as the standard method to identify the accurate mapping of endometriosis. Transvaginal sonography (TVS) is the first non-invasive imaging modality to estimate the severity of endometriosis. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of TVS in affected women compared with surgical findings. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study surveyed 170 women with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) referred to the endometriosis part of the Avicenna Infertility Center, Tehran, Iran and they underwent TVS followed by laparoscopy. Recorded data of individuals under study in the medical database system were reviewed. Finally, the agreement rate was calculated for ultrasound reports and intraoperative (IO) findings regarding ovarian endometrium, ovarian adhesion, involvement of cul-de-sac, rectovaginal septum, and bowel and ureter. Results: 170 women with DIE entered the study. The agreement of TVS and IO findings were 86.76% for left ovarian endometriosis and 70.86% for right ovarian endometriosis, 93.90% for left ovarian adhesion, and 88.90% for right ovarian adhesion, 88.90% for a cul-de-sac, and 84.82% for bowel nodules. The findings, based on a laparoscopic assessment of the pelvic floor, were completely compatible with ultrasound reports (100%). Conclusion: TVS allows a preoperative evaluation in planning the surgical policy associated. TVS is beneficial for dedicated mapping of DIE; thus, an expert radiologist can aid the surgeon in preoperative evaluation and IO management. Key words: Endometriosis, Laparoscopy, Pathology

The Minimum Dataset and Inclusion Criteria for the National Trauma Registry of Iran: A Qualitative Study

Background Burden of injuries is an important public health problem, especially in developing countries. However, a national standard tool for data collection of trauma registry has not been developed in Iran yet. Objectives The present study aimed to describe the steps undertaken in the development of the minimum dataset (MDS) and define the inclusion and exclusion criteria for a case of trauma registry by the national trauma registry of Iran (NTRI). Methods The working group consists of sixteen elected expert representatives from seven established countrywide active trauma research centers. Following a structured extensive review of the literature, the working party identified the data variables that included key registry goals for pre-hospital and hospital, outcome and quality assurance information. We used data variables from three trauma registry centers: National trauma data standard questionnaire, European trauma care (UT stein version), and Sina trauma and surgery research center. Then, we performed two email surveys and three focus group discussions and adapted, modified and finally developed the optimized MDS in order to prepare the quality care registry for injured patients. Results The finalized MDS consisted of 109 data variables including demographic information (n = 24), injury information (n = 19), prehospital information (n = 26), emergency department information (n = 25), hospital procedures (n = 2), diagnosis (n = 2), injury severity (n = 3), outcomes (n = 5), financial (n = 2), and quality assurance (n = 1). For a patient sustained one or more traumatic injury in a defined diagnostic ICD-10 codes, the inclusion criteria considered as one of the followings: If the patient stayed > 24 hours in the hospital, any death after hospital arrival, any transfer from another hospital during the first 24 hours from injury. Conclusions This study presents how we developed the MDS in order to uniform data reporting in the NTRI and define our inclusion and exclusion criteria for trauma registry. Applying the MDS and the case definition in pilot studies are needed in next steps

Investigating association between second trimester maternal serum biomarkers and pre-term delivery

Background: Considering the effect of preterm delivery in morbidity and mortality of newborns, its precaution and prevention is so important. Objective: To investigate the association between second trimester maternal serum biomarkers (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, Alpha-fetoprotein, Non-conjugated estrogen, Inhibin A) and pre-term delivery. Materials and Methods: This is a historical cohort study that has been performed for 700 pregnant women, clients of Nilou Lab in the second trimester of pregnancy to take the Quad Marker test between March to September 2008. The information of mothers having required conditions to enter to study has been registered and after delivery, they called again to be interviewed. These data sets using statistical tests: chi-square test and Roc Curve was analysis. Results: There is a direct relationship between preterm delivery and increase of Alpha-fetoprotein (p=0.011) and inhibin A (p=0.03) serum level and. Also, there is an inverse relationship between the non-conjugated estrogen (p=0.002) serum level and preterm delivery. Moreover, there is not any relationship between the increase human chorionic gonadotropin (p=0.68) serum level and preterm delivery. Conclusion: The increase in the Alpha-fetoprotein and Inhibin A and decrease in Non-conjugated estrogen serum levels in the second trimester of pregnancy lead to enhance the probability of preterm delivery. Moreover, if the current study is done with higher samples and different sampling environment, it may have different results

Face and content validity of the macarthur competence assessment tool for the treatment of iranian patients

Background: There is not a valid Persian tool for measuring the decision-making competency of patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the face and content validity of the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for the treatment of Iranian Persian-speaking patients. Methods: To assess the validity of the Persian version of the tool, a self-administrated questionnaire was designed. The Lawshe method was also used for assessing each item. Content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) were used to assess the content validity quantitatively. According to the experts' judgment, questions with a CVR ≥0.62 and CVR <0.62 were maintainable and unmaintainable, respectively. Results: The questions were designed in a manner to achieve the desirable result (CVR ≥0.62). The CVI scale (S-CVI) and CVI (S-CVI/Ave) were 0.94 (higher than 0.79). Thus, the content validity was confirmed. Conclusions: Since capacity assessments are usually based on physician's subjective judgment, they are likely to bias and therefore, with this suitably validated tool, we can improve judgment of physicians and health-care providers in out- and in-patient cases