Oxybutynin reduces sweating in depressed patients treated with sertraline: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are primarily used in the pharmacological treatment of patients experiencing a major depressive disorder. However, one of the common unwanted effects is excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis. Oxybutynin is an anticholinergic medication which reduces sweating. The aim of this double-blind study was to examine the effect of administration of oxybutynin on subjective sweating in patients treated with sertraline.; A total of 140 patients experiencing a major depressive disorder (mean age 37.69 ± 10.44 years, 86 females [61.4%]) treated with sertraline (mean dose 83 mg/day) were consecutively enrolled in the study, and all reported excessive sweating as a side effect. Thereafter, the patients were randomly assigned to either an oxybutynin 5 mg/day group or to a placebo group. At the beginning and end of the 2-week trial, the patients completed questionnaires related to sweating and medication-related side effects.; Over time, subjective sweating reduced significantly in the treatment group as compared with the control group. Oxybutynin-induced side effects were uncommon. Relative to male patients, female patients reported less subjective sweating.; Administration of oxybutynin successfully reduced excessive sweating in patients experiencing a major depressive disorder and treated with sertraline. However, possible gender effects should be taken into account

A trend of Medical Negligence in Laser Therapy in the Capital City: A Nine-Year Survey

Background: the purpose of the present study is to investigate the common causes of injuries, claims, and decisions related to laser therapy medical malpractice during a nine-year survey. Study design: This study is a retrospective descriptive study. Methods: The legal documents in the coroner’s Office of Forensic Medicine were investigated in a national database from 2012 to 2020 in Tehran, Iran. The frequency and nature of the cases, including the year of litigation, the location and certificate of the provider, the injury sustained, the cause of legal action and judgment were collected. Results: Three hundred and eighty-three cases related to injury from laser therapy were registered in the coroner’s Office of Forensic Medicine during the study period. The incidence of litigation related to laser surgery showed an increasing trend, with a peak occurrence in 2020. Laser hair removal was the most common (51.2%) litigated procedure. General practice operators (48%) recorded the highest rate of laser-related medical complaints. lack of skill was the most common reason for failure. Among 383 cases with public decisions, 62.4% of them were fault liability in paid judgment. Conclusions: Medical claims related to laser application are increasing. However, as it is clear, the growth of laser technology and the increasing demand for lasers in medical science require more surveillance to avoid probable injuries and improve patient safety, especially surveillance of the physicians who work outside the scope of their specialty.&nbsp

Right Atrial Thrombus in a COVID-19 Child Treated Through Cardiac Surgery

We herein report a case of large intracardiac thrombus in a child with SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). The diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed through HRCT and RT-PCR. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large thrombus in the right atrium treated successfully via cardiac surgery. The underlying mechanisms of this thrombus in the COVID-19 infection may be attributed to the hypercoagulation and inflammatory condition incurred by the COVID-19 virus

Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Bisphenol A in Obesity Development

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor, is associated with metabolic disorders. However, several studies have suggested that exposure to BPA can cause obesity. It has recently got more attention from scientists as a risk factor for obesity due to its ability to mimic natural estrogens and bind to their receptors. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanism underpinning the environmental etiology of metabolic disorders has not been not fully clarified. In this regard, BPA exposure directly disrupts endocrine regulation, neuroimmune and signaling pathways, and gut microbes, resulting in obesity. In addition, epidemiological studies have revealed a significant relationship between BPA exposure and the development of obesity, although conflicting results have been reported. Therefore, this review summarized the possible role and molecular mechanisms associated with BPA exposure that may lead to obesity based on in vivo and in vivo studies

The Differences between Iranian Male and Female Students in Using Language Learning Strategies

The current study aimed at investigating the differences between male and female Iranian students in using different learning strategies. The participants of the study included 60 Iranian EFL students (30 male and 30 female) in Islamic Azad University in Larestan branch. The results of this study revealed that the frequency of using different learning strategies were different for the  students. In this case, memory strategies were the most frequent and cognitive strategies were the least frequent strategies used by the students. However, there were significant differences between male and female students in the use of different learning strategies. In fact, female students were the ones who were using language learning strategies more often.

Is Portfolio Assessment Effective in Improving Iranian EFL Students’ Writing?

The current study explored the effect of portfolio assessment on the improvement of the Iranian students’ writing. Additionally, students’ attitudes towards using portfolio were investigated. Participants of the study were 46 pre-intermediate Iranian male and female university students who were chosen from a larger group of  70 students. They were divided randomly into experimental and control groups with equal number of students of  23 in each group. All the students in experimental group wrote five essays based on the topics in their course book. To evaluate the students’ writings, word choice, ideas, sentence fluency, voice, and organization were checked by two experienced rates. In contrast, the students in control group wrote five essays and they didn’t receive any feedback from their teacher and also they didn’t have any opportunity to revise their writing papers. The findings of the study revealed that portfolio assessment had a positive effect on the overall writing ability among the Iranian university students. Keywords: portfolio assessment, writing ability, scoring, EFL student

Is Portfolio Assessment Effective in Improving Iranian EFL Students’ Writing?

The current study explored the effect of portfolio assessment on the improvement of the Iranian students’ writing. Additionally, students’ attitudes towards using portfolio were investigated. Participants of the study were 46 pre-intermediate Iranian male and female university students who were chosen from a larger group of  70 students. They were divided randomly into experimental and control groups with equal number of students of  23 in each group. All the students in experimental group wrote five essays based on the topics in their course book. To evaluate the students’ writings, word choice, ideas, sentence fluency, voice, and organization were checked by two experienced rates. In contrast, the students in control group wrote five essays and they didn’t receive any feedback from their teacher and also they didn’t have any opportunity to revise their writing papers. The findings of the study revealed that portfolio assessment had a positive effect on the overall writing ability among the Iranian university students.Keywords: portfolio assessment, writing ability, scoring, EFL student

The Differences between Iranian Male and Female Students in Using Language Learning Strategies

The current study aimed at investigating the differences between male and female Iranian students in using different learning strategies. The participants of the study included 60 Iranian EFL students (30 male and 30 female) in Islamic Azad University in Larestan branch. The results of this study revealed that the frequency of using different learning strategies were different for the  students. In this case, memory strategies were the most frequent and cognitive strategies were the least frequent strategies used by the students. However, there were significant differences between male and female students in the use of different learning strategies. In fact, female students were the ones who were using language learning strategies more often

Is Portfolio Assessment Effective in Improving Iranian EFL Students’ Writing?

The current study explored the effect of portfolio assessment on the improvement of the Iranian students’ writing. Additionally, students’ attitudes towards using portfolio were investigated. Participants of the study were 46 pre-intermediate Iranian male and female university students who were chosen from a larger group of  70 students. They were divided randomly into experimental and control groups with equal number of students of  23 in each group. All the students in experimental group wrote five essays based on the topics in their course book. To evaluate the students’ writings, word choice, ideas, sentence fluency, voice, and organization were checked by two experienced rates. In contrast, the students in control group wrote five essays and they didn’t receive any feedback from their teacher and also they didn’t have any opportunity to revise their writing papers. The findings of the study revealed that portfolio assessment had a positive effect on the overall writing ability among the Iranian university students.Keywords: portfolio assessment, writing ability, scoring, EFL student

Effect of Probiotic Administration Immediately and 1 Month after Colonoscopy in Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common disorders among young adults. Various studies have demonstrated that the use of probiotics can reduce the overall symptom of IBS, and thus, our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotic products in the reduction of IBS syndrome after colonoscopy. Materials and Methods: Our patients were divided among three groups, including immediate probiotic users, start use of probiotics 1 month after colonoscopy, and placebo group. All the patients were interviewed for having common IBS symptoms (stool consistency and frequency, gas, abdominal pain, and flatulence) at baseline, 3rd month of follow-up, and 6th month of follow-up. Results: The mean reduction in abdominal pain was 3.05 ± 1.21, 3.86 ± 0.94, and 3.82 ± 0.63 in the control group, immediate probiotic users, and 1 month after colonoscopy, respectively (P 0.05). Conclusion: According to our results, the use of probiotics had the beneficial effect on IBS symptoms. Furthermore, it can be said that reductions in symptoms and pain in the two treatment groups were not significantly different, but after 6 months of treatment, the effect of probiotics in patients who immediately use it after colonoscopy was more visible and more stable