ABSTRACT
Despite extensive evidence for cognitive deficits associated with drug use and multiple publications supporting the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation treatment [CRT] services for drug addictions, there are a few well-structured tools and organized programs to improve cognitive abilities in substance users. Most published studies on cognitive rehabilitation for drug dependent patients used rehabilitation tools, which have been previously designed for other types of brain injuries such as schizophrenia or traumatic brain injuries and not specifically designed for drug dependent patients. These studies also suffer from small sample size, lack of follow-up period assessments and or comprehensive treatment outcome measures. To address these limitations, we decided to develop and investigate the efficacy of a paper and pencil cognitive rehabilitation package called NECOREDA [Neurocognitive Rehabilitation for Disease of Addiction] to improve neurocognitive deficits associated with drug dependence particularly caused by stimulants [e.g. amphetamine type stimulants and cocaine] and opiates. To evaluate the feasibility of NECOREDA program, we conducted a pilot study with 10 opiate and methamphetamine dependent patients for 3 months in outpatient setting. NECOREDA was revised based on qualitative comments received from clients and treatment providers. Final version of NECOREDA is composed of brain training exercises called [Brain Gym] and psychoeducational modules called [Brain Treasures] which is implemented in 16 training sessions interleaved with 16 review and practice sessions. NECOREDA will be evaluated as an add-on intervention to methadone maintenance treatment in a randomized clinical trial among opiate dependent patients starting from August 2015. We discuss methodological features of NECOREDA development and evaluation in this article
ABSTRACT
Endothelium is a selective and permeable membrane for transferring nutrients and vital components to arterial wall. Endothelial damage might lead to altered biological function of endothelium and clinical consequences such as atherosclerosis. Blood pressure pulse always exerts circumferential tension to the arterial wall. Hence, such tension together with other loads, play important role in functional properties of endothelial cells. Previous studies verify effects of cyclic loading on adaptation and remodeling of endothelium. This study investigates structural properties of cultured endothelial cells subjected to uni-axial cyclic loading. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells, prepared from national cell bank of Iran [NCBI-C554], were cultured on silicon membrane, and then subjected to cyclic tension with 10% amplitude and 1 Hz frequency, and 2, 4, 6, 8 hour durations utilizing a custom made tensile device. Viscoelastic properties of endothelial cells were examined by micropipette aspiration technique. Results show increase in elastic modulus [E] of cells due to tensile cyclic loading which results in stiffening of cell body. Also results show primary increase then subsequent decrease in viscose modulus. Previous studies verify generation of stress fibers due to accumulation and increase in actin fibers in endothelial cells after tensile cyclic loading. Since mechanical and structural properties of endothelial cells depend on actin fibers, results of this study show tensile cyclic loading causes increase in stiffness of endothelial cells through generation of stress fibers