[Effect of Ritalin on blood albumin and liver enzymes in rat]

Background: Ritalin [methylphenidate Methylphenidate] is an amphetamine used to treat ADHD, symptoms of Narcolepsy, and some people with depression. This study was to investigate the effect of Ritalin food on blood albumin and some liver enzymes

Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 male Wistar rats were randomized in groups [1 control group, and three experimental groups]. In the control group physiologic serum and in the experimental groups a dose of mercuric chloride infused into the peritoneal cavity for 30 days. The amount of Ritalin was 2.5 ml in 1[st] group, 5 ml in group 2, 10 ml group 3, every other day for 30 days. After the due date of the invoice for blood samples, were tested

Results: There was a significant difference in albumin levels in experimental groups compared to the control group and there was a significant decrease in the amount of liver transaminases; the experimental group compared to the control group

Conclusion: This study shows that Ritalin causes liver enzymes disrupt the balance and serum albumin levels were increased

Effects of two common promoter polymorphisms of transforming growth factor-beta1 on breast cancer risks in Ahvaz, West South of Iran

Background: Transforming growth factor-beta1 [TGF-beta1] has a critical role in breast cancer initiation and progression

Objectives: We have investigated the possible differences in two promoter polymorphisms [-509C/T and -800G/A] of TGF-beta1 gene between breast cancer cases and controls

Patients and Methods: A total of 100 patients with confirmed breast cancer and 100 subjects without breast cancer was selected. Two promoter polymorphisms [-509C/T and -800G/A] of TGF-beta1 gene were genotyped using PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP] method

Results: The allele frequencies were 63% for C allele and 37% for T allele of SNP -509C/T and 66% for G allele and 34% for A allele of SNP -800G/A. Although no significant difference has observed between two groups, according to the genotype distribution, However, the TT genotype of -509 and AA genotype of -800 was significantly associated with breast cancer risk [odds ratio [OR] = 2.409; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.087 - 5.337, P = 0.030; and OR = 2.383; CI = 1.039 - 5.40, P = 0.040, respectively]. In addition, a multinomial logistic regression model shown, homozygous of -800 G/A [OR = 0.570; 95% CI = 0.362 - 0.896, P = 0.015]; and HDL-C [OR = 0.935; 95% CI = 0.906 - 0.965, P < 0.001] were the selected variables associated with the presence of breast cancer. Haplotype analysis has shown no significant association between TGF-beta1 haplotypes and breast cancer risk

Conclusions: Our results indicated that among two promoter polymorphisms of the TGF-beta1gene, -800G/A compared to -509C/T is more associated with breast cancer

Trends in gastrointestinal cancer incidence in Iran, 2001-2010: a joinpoint analysis / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the time trends of stomach, colorectal, and esophageal cancer during the past decade in Iran. METHODS: Cancer incidence data for the years 2001 to 2010 were obtained from the cancer registration of the Ministry of Health. All incidence rates were directly age-standardized to the world standard population. In order to identified significant changes in time trends, we performed a joinpoint analysis. The annual percent change (APC) for each segment of the trends was then calculated. RESULTS: The incidence of stomach cancer increased from 4.18 and 2.41 per 100,000 population in men and women, respectively, in 2001 to 17.06 (APC, 16.7%) and 8.85 (APC, 16.2%) per 100,000 population in 2010 for men and women, respectively. The corresponding values for colorectal cancer were 2.12 and 2.00 per 100,000 population for men and women, respectively, in 2001 and 11.28 (APC, 20.0%) and 10.33 (APC, 20.0%) per 100,000 in 2010. For esophageal cancer, the corresponding increase was from 3.25 and 2.10 per 100,000 population in 2001 to 5.57 (APC, 12.0%) and 5.62 (APC, 11.2%) per 100,000 population among men and women, respectively. The incidence increased most rapidly for stomach cancer in men and women aged 80 years and older (APC, 23.7% for men; APC, 18.6% for women), for colorectal cancer in men aged 60 to 69 years (APC, 24.2%) and in women aged 50 to 59 years (APC, 25.1%), and for esophageal cancer in men and women aged 80 years and older (APC, 17.5% for men; APC,15.3% for women) over the period of the study. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of gastrointestinal cancer significantly increased during the past decade. Therefore, monitoring the trends of cancer incidence can assist efforts for cancer prevention and control.

[Complicated grief: a descriptive cross-sectional prevalence study from Iran]

Introduction: The ability of people to accept grief has a wide range from acceptance of grief to development of serious complications. The prevalence and complications of grief vary due to the differences in social norms and cultural expectations

Objective: We aimed to assess the point prevalence of complicated grief in one of western provinces of Iran

Methods: This study was performed as a cross-sectional survey of 751 subjects who attended an outpatient psychiatry center in Kermanshah from July to December 2012. The main symptoms and signs of complicated grief as well as presence and severity of depression were assessed using especial questionnaires

Results: Among all assessed referees, 63 were diagnosed to have an experience of recent grief [33 men and 30 women] with the overall prevalence of 8.4%. Among those with recent experience of grief, only 28 had complicated grief with the overall prevalence of 3.73% among which, 3.06% had chronic grief and 0.67% suffered from delayed grief. Many cases were wrongly diagnosed to have other psychological disturbances such as depression or anxiety. The final diagnosis of major depressive disorder grief was confirmed only in 33.4% of complicated grief cases based on BDI ?? score and psychiatrist judgment in our assessment

Conclusion: The complicated grief has a comparable prevalence to previous reported figures in western Iran. Conspicuous number of those who were affected by complicated grief was wrongly diagnosed as other psychological conditions such as depression or anxiety in this study. This fact probably indicates necessity of training programs for primary health care service of this region for getting familiar with manifestations of complicated grief and correct diagnosis of this condition

Survey of critical thinking and clinical decision making in nursing student of Kerman University

The ability to think critically is an essential element in nursing education and more specifically in nurses' clinical decision making [CDM]. Critical thinking [CT] and CDM ability as well as their relationship were examined among nursing students of Kerman University. Study was designed in four towns: Kerman, Bam, Jiroft, and Zarand, settled in Kerman province. This research was a cross-sectional descriptive correlation study. 300 nursing students with different level of education were asked to fill two questionnaires including: [1] California Critical Thinking Skills Test [CCTST] and [2] Lauri and Salantera [2002] CDM instrument. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed with SPSS12 and descriptive and inferential statistics. Nursing students yielded a low score [mean = 5/40 from 20] of CT and a mild score [mean = 12.8 from 20] of CDM. We found positively correlation between male and CT and CDM score with mean score of the nursing student. Also CDM score in male was more than female but not significant, and Jirofts CDM nursing student was significantly better than other city. Although students that answers evaluation question in CCTST better can gave better CDM score but there isn't relationship between CT and CDM of nursing student. The finding showed that mean score of nursing student CT was low. Reason can be either due to the defects of nursing education program, teaching, and learning strategies.