Efficacy of Valerian Extract on Sleep Quality after Coronary Artery bypass Graft Surgery: A Triple-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the effect of valerian root extract on the sleep quality of patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.@*METHODS@#The patients who participated in this triple-blind clinical trial were selected by permuted block randomization. The participants were assigned to the valerian (n=36) and placebo (n=36) groups. The valerian group received 530 mg of valerian capsules for 30 nights after CABG surgery, and the placebo group received 530 mg of the placebo capsules containing wheat flour. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) were assessed on four occasions, including the baseline, the 3rd, 14th and 30th days following intervention.@*RESULTS@#The odds ratio of worsened sleep quality significantly varied over time (the interaction of time and group) in the valerian group compared to the placebo group in various dimensions including total sleep quality (P=0.001), sleep latency (P<0.01), sleep duration (P=0.020), sleep efficiency (P=0.001) and daytime dysfunction (P=0.025). No significant difference was observed in the alterations of the odds ratio of PT in the two groups over time. (P=0.371).@*CONCLUSION@#The consumption of oral valerian root extract over 30 nights could significantly improve the patients' sleep quality safely after CABG surgery.

Association between Circulating Irisin and C-Reactive Protein Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have demonstrated that irisin plays an anti-inflammatory role in the body, conflicting results have been reported regarding the correlation between serum levels of irisin and C-reactive protein (CRP). The present meta-analysis was conducted to further investigate the correlation between irisin and CRP levels. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, SCOPUS, and Ovid to retrieve studies assessing the correlation between irisin and CRP levels. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model, and the I 2 index was used to evaluate heterogeneity. RESULTS: Of the 428 studies that were initially found, 14 studies with 2,530 participants met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The pooled effect size was calculated as 0.052 (95% confidence interval, −0.047 to 0.152; P=0.302). Subgroup analyses identified s ignificant, positive, but weak correlations between CRP and irisin levels in cohort studies, studies conducted among healthy participants, studies in which the male-to-female ratio was less than 1, in overweight or obese subjects, and in studies with a sample size of at least 100 participants. CONCLUSION: The present meta-analysis found no overall significant correlation between irisin and CRP levels, although a significant positive correlation was found in overweight or obese subjects. Well-designed studies are needed to verify the results of the present meta-analysis.

Factors associated with mental health of high-school students in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Background: Mental disorders of adulthood can be traced to childhood and adolescent disorders so attention to the mental health of young people is important.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the mental health status of high-school students in Khorramabad and the factors that may affect it.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1 202 high-school students in Khorramabad in the 2015–2016 academic year. Students were selected using stratified and multistage cluster random sampling. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics of the students, and the General Health Questionnaire [GHQ-28] was used to assess symptoms of mental disorders. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between the presence of symptoms of mental disorder and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results: The mean age of the students was 16.1 [SD 0.9] years and 52.7% were girls. Overall, 481 [40%] students [34% of males, 46% of females] had symptoms of mental disorders. Most had mild symptoms; 5% had severe symptoms. Symptoms of anxiety, depression and social impairment were seen in 40%, 33% and 32% of the students respectively; significantly more girls had these symptoms [P < 0.05]. Female students, those in higher school grades, and those whose fathers were unemployed and mothers were housewives were significantly more likely to have symptoms of mental disorders [P < 0.05].

Conclusions: This study found a high prevalence of symptoms associated with mental disorders in the adolescents in Khorramabad. Counselling centres in schools are needed to offer psychiatric counselling services to students and to implement regular mental health training programmes

Dietary patterns associated with metabolic syndrome: the Khorramabad study

Background: Metabolic syndrome [MetS] is a complex disorder considered as a worldwide epidemic. The aim of this study was to characterize the dietary patterns of Iranian adults and examine its association with metabolic syndrome

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 973 persons were selected using multi-stage cluster, random sampling method in Khorramabad city. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated, 168 food-item, self-administrated, and semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire [FFQ]. To identify the dietary patterns, factor analysis was used for principal components

Results: Three major dietary patterns were identified: the western dietary pattern [WDP], the healthy dietary pattern [HDP], and the traditional dietary pattern [TDP]. Participants in the highest quintile of HDP had lower odds of MetS [OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.27-0.77] than those in the lowest quintile, whereas those in the highest quintile of the WDP score had greater odds of the MetS [OR: 3.44; 95% CI: 2.08-5.70] than participants of the lowest quintile. Multi linear regression showed that the WDP score was associated negatively with serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and positively with other components of MetS. Even after body mass index adjustment, the association remained significant, except for fasting plasma insulin

Conclusions: a HDP is associated with reduced risk of MetS. In contrast, a WDP is associated with a greater risk of the MetS

[Effectiveness of stress coping skills training on the resiliency of mothers of handicapped children]

Background and Aim: Handicapped child in the family is a source of stress which can affect physical and mental health of the parents, especially mothers. Increase in resiliency increases ability to manage stressors. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of stress coping skills training on the resiliency of mothers with handicapped children

Material and Method: This semi experimental study with pre-test, post-test design and control group included 60 mothers with handicapped children who had been referring to the Kermanshah welfare center in 2013. They were selected by using convenient method and then divided randomly into two groups. In this study we used a coping skill training package and Connor and Davidson Resiliency Scale [CD-RISC]. SPSS 20 software was used for data analysis

Results: The results showed that coping skills training resulted in a significant increase in resiliency level in the mothers with disabled children [P<0/001]

Conclusion: In most of the coping skills training programs, handicapped children were the center of attention and their families that take care of them had been ignored. Therefore, training programs for parents with handicapped children is at the forefront of planning policies

prevalence of endemic goiter and its relationship to urine iodine in Primary School Age Children in Khoramabad

Backgrounds: Iodine deficiency disorder is a major public health problem in areas where there is a lack of iodine in drinking water, soil, and food. This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of goiter among school children in the age group of 6-10 years in Khorramabad city. Also, the level of urine iodine was evaluated

Methods: The study was conducted from January 2012 to January 2013 in 1125 school children of 6-10 years of age, attending all the schools of Khorramabad city. The subjects were selected through stratified, random, and cluster sampling methods. Their Goiter degrees were evaluated according to WHO classification. Excretory urine iodine was measured based on micrograms per deciliter. Furthermore, the digestion method was used for experimentation

Results: Out of the 1125 subjects, 866 [77%] had Goiter. 24.2% were diagnosed with Goiter 1a, 45.3% with goiter 1b, and 7.2% with type 2 Goiter. Regarding Goiter, there was no difference between the two sexes. The prevalence of goiter increased with age, but it decreased with the increase of parental educational level. Also, goiter prevalence was lower in families with a higher socioeconomic status. The median urinary iodine was 17.1 micrograms per deciliter, which is desirable in terms of the WHO criterion

Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that using iodizing edible salt to fight with iodine deficiency was effective and helped Khorramabad reach the International indexes of iodine control. Despite this, Khorramabad is one of the hyper- endemic regions in the world

Ibuprofen versus fennel for the relief of postpartum pain: a randomized controlled trial

The present study aimed to compare the value of ibuprofen and fennel for postpartum pain relief in women with normal vaginal delivery. In this randomized clinical trial we studied 90 women referring to obstetrics ward for Normal Vaginal Delivery [NVD] in Assali hospital in Khoramabad. Women were randomly allocated to receive either oral ibuprofen or oral fennel by stratified random sampling technique. All women were asked to give pain score by visual analogue scale before and at 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours after treatment. Difference between fennel and ibuprofen groups was not significant considering severity of pain before [P=0.22]. Difference between two groups considering mean severity of pain one hour after treatment [P=0.57] was not significant. But comparing the mean of pain severity in two groups, showed significant difference after two [p<0.023], three [p<0.001] and four [p<0.001] hours after treatment. Ibuprofen and fennel were effective for relief of postpartum pain without any notable side effects, but in general ibuprofen was more effective than fennel. More studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of fennel in pain relief especially in postpartum women which must be compared to a no treatment control group