[Celiac disease as a potential cause of liver enzyme dysfunction]

Celiac disease is one of the most common cause of malabsorption syndrome. The symptom of this disease associated secondary to malabsorbtive problems. Celiac can be accompanied with liver enzyme dysfunction with various extra intestinal findings. This case was a 27-year old man presented with abnormal liver function test over period of 1 year. He did not have another symptom such as diarrhea, weight loss or skin lesion. In medical examination, there was no ascites, peripheral edema or jaundice. Diagnostic re-examination of the patient include serology tests and Viral hepatitis, Wilson disease and auto imuune responses showed to be normal. Abdominal and biliary sonography had normal results. Liver biopsy revealed no sign of any pathology, but duodenal biopsy and serologic findings were compatible by Celiac disease. The symptom improved on a gluten-free diet and his liver enzyme function tests became normal subsequently

[Psychosocial group interventions on Bam earthquake related PTSD symptoms in adolescents]

Psychological debriefing is a way for prevention and reducing post- traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms. Many studies have shown the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy in treatment of PTSD. Few evidence is available for using of these techniques in large scale disasters. This study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of psychological debriefing and cognitive behavioral group therapy combination on Bam earthquake-related PTSD symptoms in adolescents. In a before-after trial, we evaluated the efficacy of one session psychological debriefing and three sessions of group cognitive-behavioral therapy in Bam earthquake adolescents survivors with PTSD symptoms. The mean age of participants was 16.4 years and no one had severe PTSD or other psychiatric disorder that needed pharmacological intervention. Before, immediately and 3 months after interventions we evaluated PTSD symptoms using Clinical Administrated PTSD Scale for DSM-IV and analyzed them. 30 persons were included in the study, 8 of whom were excluded during interventions because of migration. The mean frequency of PTSD symptoms reduced immediately after interventions which was statistically significant [P<0.05]. There was no efficacy for intensity and severity. Psychological debriefing and group cognitive behavioral therapy may be effective in reducing the frequency of avoidance symptoms

Evaluation of bladder cancer in opium addicted patients in the Kerman province, Iran, from 1999 to 2003

It seems that there may be a relation between opium addiction and bladder cancer. This study has been performed to find this relationship in Kerman province. We evaluated opium addiction in 150 patients with bladder cancer [study group] and150 tumor-free patients [control group] and compared them by two-tailed t-test and X2 test. The rate, duration, amounts and methods of opium abusing in the study group were significantly higher than control group. The results suggest that the carcinogenic effects of opium addiction may be related to the amount, duration and the method of opium abuse