[Pattern of benzodiazepine use in outpatients in Mashad, Iran]

Benzodiazepines [BDZs] can have both beneficial and adverse effects and are the largest-selling drug group in the world. The potential of dependence with BDZ has been known for almost three decades now. The risk of misuse of and dependence on these drugs seems higher in countries where laws against unlicensed sale of BDZ are not implemented strongly. Since there is little know about the pattern of using BDZ in Iran therefore we designed this study to investigate to find out more about the prevalence of BDZ use in psychiatric patients in Mashhad, Iran. Twenty pharmacies were chosen for this study carried out a cross-sectional survey over 3 months in outpatient of pharmacy in Mashad, Iran. Besides basic socio-demographic data the participants were asked if they were taking a BDZ at present and if yes, the frequency, route and dosage of the drug, who had initiated the drug and why it had been prescribed. Out of a total of 400 participants 17.5% of the participants had been currently using at least one BDZ for 4 weeks or longer. Only 45% of cases the BDZ had been initiated by a doctor. Gender, Educational status, employment status and smoking were associated with an increased likelihood of using BDZ. The study shows most of the users were taking it for duration and with a frequency which puts them at risk of becoming dependent on BDZ. In most of the cases it had not been initiated by a doctor. Both patients and doctors need to be made aware of the risk of dependency associated with the use of BDZ

[ effect of active and passive smoking associated with breast cancer]

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and continues to be a major cause of cancer death. Major risk factors for breast cancer studied for many years, but epidemiologic studies have been inconsistent in suggesting all association between smoking and breast cancer risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of active and passive smoking on breast cancer. In this case- control study, 105 patients with confirmed breast cancer referred to Omid hospital in Mashhad and were compared with 105 healthy women who were living in their neighborhood and were the age-matched [ +/- 3 years] with case group. Information concerning potential risk factors exposure status was collected by structured questionnaire and interview. Breast cancer risk relation to smoking was estimated by calculating the odds rations. In this study, smoking had no relation with breast cancer. Passive smokers had an odds ratio 18.5 [95% CI= 8.7-39.4]. The women used water pipe had an odds ratio 7.3 [95% CI= 2.7-19.7]. Also, in people who were passive smokers during their childhood, the odds were 4.86 fold. The findings suggested that the risk of breast cancer has a positive relationship with active and passive smoking and water pipe use. Thus, health interventions including no exposure to smoking and not use water pipe seem to be necessary in this regard

[Assessing family problems and the rate of their tendency to admitting and keeping mentally - ill patients at home after discharging from Mashhad hospital [1380-1382]]

The assessment of the remaining documents shows that phenomenon of mentally ill patients has existed since the beginning of the creation of mankind. The attitude and reaction of the society toward this fact has been under permanent change. The prevalence rate of mental problems and their hazardous effects on individuals, families and the society is increasing with growth of population and the urban life. No ethnic or nation has had an effective resistance against being attacked by these disorders. In regard to the importance of families' participation in care and rehabilitation of mentally ill patients as a key in successful treatment all over the world, more attention should be paid. The purpose of this study is to determine possible factors that could influence patients' acceptance by their families after discharging from Hospitals in Mashhad. The samples of this descriptive study [658patients] were randomly chosen and data were collected in 658 patients' families whose their patients discharged from hospital during 1380-1382. Their families interviewed by structured questionnaires. One-way ANOVA and Chi-square were used For information analysis. Findings showed that 23.9% of the families had "high" tendency for accepting the patient at home, 53.8% had "medium" tendency and the remaining 22.3% had no tendency for supporting and keeping patients and the type of family supporting, the patient relationship with his family members and family's supports, the signs of illness, the degree of his ability in doing house affairs, the type of family reactions to the patient's illness signs, level of education [family and patient] and patient's income and occupation, have significant relation with their tendency. There was a significant correlation between family's knowledge of appropriate behavior with patient and their tendency to accepting him/her [P=0.000] and also between the rate of family's satisfaction of state contributions and hospital aids and their tendency to that acceptance [P=0.02]. Experts should carefully evaluate families' psychopathology during treatment and rehabilitation of patients. In order to increase patients' security and acceptance in families, mental health facilities in the community and community mental health councils are essential