[ effectiveness of Islamic religion therapy and breathing and HRV biofeedback therapy on increasing HRV and decreasing depression among CABG patients]

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Islamic based religious psychotherapy, breathing-based meditation and HRV biofeedback therapy on increasing HRV and resonance frequency [psychophisologic harmony] and decreasing depression among CABG patients

Material and Method: Sixty CABG patients were selected and randomly assigned to three groups: religion, breathing techniques and control ones. Each group consisted of 20 patients The experimental groups received a weekly two-hour session with homework for eight weeks to increase psychophysiolgical harmony. The control group received only their normal hospital interventions. HRV and resonance frequency and DASS-21questionnaire were used for patient assessment before and after intervention. One way ANCOVA and descriptive graphs were used for data analysis

Results: The results showed that religion related intervention led to increased psychophysiolgical harmony and decreased depression in CABG patients

Conclusion: Most CABG patients developed some degree of depression which may be ignored in the treatment centers. Therefore psychological intervention and breathing-based meditation intervention are recommended

[Executive function and working memory in attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder and healthy children]

Attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] is a neurodevelopment abnormality. Inattentive behavior is considered a core and pervasive feature of ADHD. This study was done to compare the executive function and working memory in attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder and healthy children. This case - control study was done on 50 children with ADHD as cases and 40 healthy children as controls. The disorder was diagnosed by applying Kanerz teacher test and confirmed by a psychiatrist. Stroop test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test [WCST], Continuous Performance Test [CPT] and n-back test were used to assess the executive function and working memory. There was a significant difference between case and control groups in regard to executive function and working memory [P<0.05]. Error omission was 16.98 +/- 8.157 and 7.3 +/- 3.824 in cases and controls, respectively [P<0.05]. Attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder reduces executive function and working memory in children

[ study of personality traits and demographic characteristics of prisoners with psychopathic personality disorder in comparison with ordinary prisoners in sample of Tehran prisoners, Tehran, Iran]

Most conducted research about psychopathy has been done among Western countries' prisoners and it has remained unclear whether these findings are applicable in other contexts. The aim of this is to survey personality traits and demographic characteristics of prisoners with psychopathic personality disorder in comparison with ordinary prisoners in sample of Tehran prisoners. This study was done based on descriptive method. 202 prisoners were selected among Ray City prisoners in Tehran and the applied method was sample available. All prisoners completed Hare [PCL-SV] psychopathic personality disorder checklist and five personality traits Questionnaire, McCare and Costa [Neo-FFI]. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation, Regression, and T student for independent groups. The prevalence of psychopathy disorder among prisoners of this group was reported 10.89. Statistical analysis by Pearson correlation test, regression analysis and T student independent groups, represent a significant positive relationship between Psychopaty and extraversion [p=1%] and a significant negative relationship between openness and Psychopaty [p=5%], agreeableness and conscientiousness [p=1%], respectively. No relationship was found between psychopathy, and neurosis. Furthermore, results indicated that, in comparison with non-psychopathic prisoners, psychopathic prisoners were more neurosis and extraversion, however, they showed low level of openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness. According to the findings, psychopathic disorder and five personality traits are related. Therefore, futher studies in the field of examined variables can provide more information

[Couple burnout among fertilized and unfertilized women referred to Valieasr reproductive center, Tehran]

The rate of burnout may be high in unfertilized women, since there is little known about it, we designed a study to compare "couple burnout" between fertilized and unfertilized women in Tehran, Iran. All [60 women] referred unfertilized women to reproductive center of Imam Khomeini teaching hospital were included in our study during 2009 year. By systematic random sampling we recruited 60 unfertilized women as control group. Couple Burnout's specific questionnaire was filled up by participants. Unfertilized women experienced higher levels of couple burnout compared to fertilized cases [P<0.001]. Furthermore unfertilized women with higher education showed an elevated rate of couple burnout than women with lower educational status [P=0.002]. In management of unfertilized families, "couple burnout" is an important underlying factor that should be considered in infertility treatment in primary health care system

[ moderating role of coping strategies in relationship between illness perception, quality of life and HBA1c in patients with type I diabetes]

The aim of this study was to investigate the moderating role of coping strategies in the relationship between illness perception, quality of life and HbA1c in patients with type I diabetes. Three hundred patients [172 females and 128 males, 18-30 years] aged with type I diabetes from the Iranian Diabetes Society completed the Illness Perception Questionnaire [IPQ], Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations [CISS], and Quality of Life scale for Diabetics [D-39]. HbA1c level was obtained from patient's laboratory examination. Results of stepwise regression analysis revealed that the influence of illness perception on HbA1c was moderated by task-oriented coping strategy. The relationship between illness perception and quality of life was influenced by three coping strategies, task oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidant. Coping strategies affect the relationship between illness perception, quality of life and HbA1c in patients with type I diabetes. Results can be helpful in devising preventive policies, determining high risk patients and designing of psychological interventions

[Study of the attitude toward gender role on submit gender egalitarianism among university students and employees in Zanjan [2008]]

Attitude toward Gender egalitarianism that is submitted in gender role has an important role in interpersonal relations, personal, family and social mental health. Many factors including culture affect the gender role. The aim of the present study was to compare the gender role attitude in males and females with different levels of education. 245 individuals were selected through stratified and cluster sampling from different universities and offices. The data was collected by self structured questionnaire and the data analyzed with T.test and regression statistics tests. The findings showed that education and gender could affect the gender egalitarianism attitude. The gender egalitarianism was significantly different between males and females [p<0/001]. Results showed that females had higher gender egalitarianism. The results also showed a significant difference in attitude between people with different levels of education [p<0/01]. Individuals with higher grade of education had higher gender egalitarianism. The sex of individuals was a stronger predictor of gender egalitarianism than other variants such as language, education and income. Attempt to decrease the gap between females and males attitudes could lead to decrease the conflicts and problems between females and males in gender egalitarianism attitude and could improve the mental health

Impaire effects of MLD and IPC on cure of breast cancer lymphoma

Lymphedema is a common complication after surgical treatment of breast cancer. MLD is standard care of it, but this treatment has some limitation such as time consumption and dependence of therapist. An alternative treatment modality is IPC. In this study we compared therapeutic effects of these two modalities on lymphedema in surgically-treated breast cancer patients who referred to physical medicine and rehabilitation service of shohada medical center in 2008-2009. This study was final studental research. In this randomized clinical trials we studied patients with unilateral lymphedema of upper limb as a complication of mastectomy for breast cancer treatment who referred to our service. 11 patients were treated by IPC method [cases group] and 12 patients were treated by MLD method [control group]. Each patient was treated for 10 session. Before trial, 5th and 10th session after treatment the Lymphedema was assessed in five part of limb [hand, wrist, 5 cm below elbow, 5 and 10 cm above elbow]. Results were compared between groups and also in each group before and after treatment with t-paired test [independent and paired] and repeated measure ANOVA and SPSS 16th edition. The mean [ +/- SD] of age was 46.6 +/- 9.4 years in cases and 45.8 +/- 9.3 years in control group. The mean [ +/- SD] of lymphedema was 133 +/- 9 [cm] in cases and 135 +/- 9 [cm] in control groups after 10 session treatment. There was no significant difference between two groups. Our results suggest that improvement of lymphedema have not significant different in these methods, but further studies are necessary for final judgment

[Parasitic contamination of consuming vegetables in Kerman city, Iran]

Parasitic contaminations disturb human health through different ways. One of this ways is malnutrition. The aim of this study is to determination of parasitic contamination in consuming vegetables in Kerman city. This study was performed at first half-time in 1386, and it is a cross-sectional study. Samples of vegetables were collected from 30 stories out of 70 stories and surveyed in term of existing parasitic contaminations by sedimentation technique and using of centrifuge. The total number of samples is 135 samples. By means of SPSS software, Chi-square test was used for determination of relation between type of vegetable and type of parasite. Hymenolepis eggs [8.88%], Trikosal eggs [4.44%], Ascaris eggs [3.7%], Dicrocelium eggs [5.18%], Teania sp.eggs [3.7%], Trichostrongylus eggs [2.96%] and Giardia cyst [0.74%] were detected in the gathered samples 30 percent of vegetables generally contaminated by parasites. In this study its detected that Spring onion has most contamination and Radish and Basil have the least contamination. Amount of contamination in gathered samples are relatively high. Results show that percentage of parasitic contamination in Yasuj and Hamedan cities are greater than Kerman, but in Yazd, Ahvaz, Isfahan and Kermanshah cities are less than Kerman

Effect of laser and ultrasound treatments on myofascial pain syndrome: a comparative study

Myofascial pain syndrome [MPS] is one of the main musculoskeletal diseases whose main complications are decrease of function, decrease quality of life and functional problems. MPS has many treatment options including pharmaceutical treatments such as [Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tri-cyclic antidepressants and other antidepressants, anti-epileptics and opioids], physical therapy [hotpacks, TENS, ultrasound, stretching and laser] and injections. Because of lacking potent evidence for routine treatments and their side effects, controversy about efficacy of laser, and lack of documents about this matter in our country, we evaluated effects of laser on patients suffering from MPS. In this randomized clinical trial, patients referring to Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital [affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran] who were diagnosed to have upper trapezius MPS by the history and physical exam, filled the informed consent documents and their pain severity was measured at rest, movement and at night by visual analogue scale [VAS] questionnaires. Also the patients filled neck disability index form [NDI] and pain threshold were determined by algometric evaluation. Then patients were classified to A, B, C groups randomly for [laser, ultrasound, and sham laser]. After 6 weeks the patients were visited again, the forms were filled and data were gathered for statistic analysis. Ultrasound was effective in decreasing the VAS at movement and algometric evaluation [p < 0.01], and in decreasing the VAS at night and at rest and NDI [p < 0.05]. Laser also was effective in decreasing the VAS at movement [p < 0.01], at night and at rest [p < 0.05] and was effective in improving algometric evaluation and NDI [p < 0.001]. Laser was more effective than Ultrasound in decreasing the NDI and improving algometric evaluation

[Electrodiagnostic prevalence of accessory peroneal nerve in admitted patients in Shohada hospital]

Accessory peroneal nerve [APN] is an anatomic variation which can disturb electrodiagnostic studies. This anomaly is detected when the response CMAP [Compound muscle action potential] of EDB [Extensor digitrum brevis] to peroneal nerve stimulation is measured smaller in distal when compared to proximal. In this study, we have assessed the prevalence of APN in a group of patients admitted to Shohada-Tajrish hospital. CMAP of DPN was measured by Neuro-Screen Toennis instrument. If no CMAP of EDB was detected in ankle, a record was obtained below lateral malleous and the presence of APN was confirmed when CMAP in distal was lesser than proximal. The study population included 143 females [62.7%] and 87 [17.9%] males with a mean age of 42.1 +/- 13.5 years. APN was detected in 28 patients, among whom 5 [17.9%] had bilateral APN. Sexual distribution of APN was the same, with half of the cases [14 patients] were females. The prevalence of APN was 12.2%. Approximately, 17.9% of cases were bilateral

[ role of nerve and tendon gliding exercies in the conservative treat ment of carpal tunnel syndrome]

Carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS] with mild to moderate severity can often be effectively treated by Non- Surgical Measures in a primary care environment. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of nerve and tendon gliding exercises in the treatment of CTS. In a prospective randomized controlled trial, 38 hands with the diagnosis of CTS were randomly divided to two groups. Both groups were prescribed to wear a Custom molded wrist splint. The patients in group 2 were also instructed to perfom nerve and tendon gliding exercises. Duration of treatment for both groups were 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated with clinical and electrophysiological parameters, symptom severity scale, and functional status scale. There was statistically significant improvement in all parameters in both groups, The Improvement in group 2 was slightly better, but the difference between the two groups was not significant [p<0.05]. Patient's satisfaction was investigated during the follow up period [5-8 months], A total of 11 [61.1%] of the patients in group land 13 [76.0%] of the patients in group 2 reported good or excellent results but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Conservative treatment in both groups was effective but without significant difference between them. Further studies with more patients and longer duration of follow up with clinical and electrophysiological parameters are recommended

[Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]]

The term "Non- Alcoholic Steatohepatitis [NASH]" is applied when sonographic and pathologic view of liver shows alcoholic hepatitis changes without history of alcohol consumption. Radiologic findings can easily make the diagnosis and liver biopsy confirms the initial suspicion. It is showed that up to 43.5% of patients with asymptomatic abnormal liver transferases levels have some degrees of NASH, which suggest the importance of being familiar with the issue and how to approach and treat it. NASH is commonly accompanied with diabetes mellitus [especially type II], obesity and hyperlipidemia. These findings support the theory in which insulin resistance is the mainstay of NASH pathophysiology. The natural history of NASH is unclear but surely it is far better than alcoholic related liver disease. It is estimated that up to 8% of patients would meet cirrhosis, considering risk factors such as obesity and features found in biopsy specimen. Steatosis, polymorphonuclear lobular inflammation, ballooning degeneration, hyaline- Mallory bodies and cirrhosis are among different pathologies seen in biopsy. It is important to rule out other chronic liver diseases including drug induced liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, and metabolic and autoimmune liver diseases to establish the diagnosis of NASH. There is no definite treatment for NASH. Therapeutic measures are categorized as reducing risk factors and using hepatocellular protective agents. The former includes weight reduction, treating hyperinsulinemia and diabetes, control of hypertriglyceridemia and leptin. Protective agents are anti-oxidants like vitamin E and/ or C, probucol, silymarin, ursodeoxycholic acid, reducing iron load, N-acetyl cystein, food supplements and cytokines. Increasing rate of NASH is reported among children and adolescences, which could be due to growing amount of obesity in these age groups

[Clinical course of ulcerative colitis in patients with and without primary sclerosing cholangitis]

We noticed in our practice that the patients with ulcerative colitis [UC] who have developed primary sclerosing cholangitis [PSC] experience a milder course of colonic disease. Our objective in this study was to define whether there is any difference between UC activity and its course in patients with and without PSC. 19 patients with UC and PSC [8 male, mean age 25] were enrolled. To every patient with UC and PSC, 3 patients with UC alone [totally 57 patients, 28 male, mean age 24] matched for age at onset, duration of the disease, and extension of colonic disease were selected as the control group. We used number of hospitalizations due to activity of UC and number of short corticosteroid administrations in various years of follow-up as variables indicating course and severity of the colonic disease in this period. For comparing trends of UC activity between two groups, we used repeated measures two-way analysis of variances. Mean duration of follow up in case and control groups was 12.2 +/- 5.7 and 11.4 +/- 4.9 years, respectively. Two groups had no significant difference in use of sulfasalazine or aminosalicylates. Number of hospitalizations and courses of steroid therapy because of UC activity decreased significantly over time [p<.000] in both groups and it was significantly higher in controls than in cases [p=.045 and .032, respectively]. Development of PSC in patients with UC might have a positive effect on the colonic disease. Further investigation to evaluate basis of this improvement are warranted