Diagnosis, requests and timing of 503 psychiatric consultations in two general hospitals

The high comorbidity of medical and psychiatric diagnoses in the general hospital population requires collaboration between various medical fields to provide comprehensive health care. This study aims to find the rate of psychiatric consultations, their timing and overall diagnostic trend in comparison to previous studies. Tehran University of Medical Sciences has got an active psychiatric consultation-liaison service which includes services provided by four faculty psychiatrists [two full-time and two part-time]. This study was done in two general hospitals by simple sampling in available cases. For each consultation, a board-certified faculty psychiatrist conducted a clinical evaluation based on DSM-IV-TR. Other than psychiatric diagnoses, socio-demographic variables, relative consultation rates, reasons for referral, medical diagnoses and the time stay after admission were assessed. Among 503 patients who were visited by the consultation-liaison service, there were 54.3% female with mean age of 39.8 years. In 90.1% of consultations, at least one DSM-IV-TR diagnosis was made. The most frequent diagnosis groups were mood disorder [43.5%], adjustment disorder [10.9%] and cognitive disorder [7.6%]. In about 10.9% of the consultations, multiple psychiatric diagnoses were made. The mean length of hospital stay before the consultation was 12.56 days [range=1-90, SD=13]. Based on our findings, the mood and cognitive disorders still remain major foci of consultation-liaison practice in general hospitals; however our findings showed high rate of adjustment disorders diagnosis and ambiguous request for psychiatric consultation which need more interdisciplinary interaction

Effects of cinnamon consumption on glycemic status, lipid profile and body composition in typeÿ2 diabetic patients

Type 2 diabetes is the most common metabolic disorder worldwide. Traditional herbs and spices can be used to control blood glucose concentrations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the daily intake of three grams cinnamon over eight weeks on glycemic status, lipid profiles and body composition in type 2 diabetic patients. A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted on 44 patients with type 2 diabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to take either a three g/day cinnamon supplement [n=22] or a placebo [n=22] for eight weeks. Weight, height, body fat mass and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured at baseline and after intervention. The fasting blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, total cholesterol, LDL C, HDL C, Apo lipoprotein A I and B were measured at baseline and endpoint. From 44 subjects participated in this study 37 completed the study. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, dietary intake and physical activity between groups. In the treatment group, the levels of fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, triglyceride, weight, BMI and body fat mass decreased significantly compared to baseline, but not in placebo group. No significant differences were observed in glycemic status indicators, lipid profile and anthropometric indicators between the groups at the end of intervention. These data suggest that cinnamon may have a moderate effect in improving glycemic status indicators

Prediction of mandibular third molar impaction

Mandibular third molar impaction is a major problem in modern dentistry. The incomplete eruption of third molars remains a serious problem in dentistry, primarily because of its high incidence and clinical consequences.The purpose of this study was to relate the impaction of third molars to individual patterns of facial growth, as well as to the gonial angle. A group of 100 subjects with impacted mandibular third molar and a group of 75 subjects whose lower third molars had erupted. Both formed part of a cross-sectional study on prediction of impaction. There was at least 2 degrees difference between two groups. The mean value for gonial angle in erupted cases was 126 +/- 6 which is not so different from the standard ranges in the literature. Gonial angle can be used as one of impaction indices. Less value of gonial angle is in association with impacted third molar compared with erupted teeth