[Hospital anxiety and depression in patients with coronary artery disease]

High incidence of anxiety and depression in patients with coronary artery disease can be associated with serious complications consisting increasing mortality and morbidity and adverse cardiac events. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of anxiety and depression in patients with coronary artery disease. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jamaran heart hospitals; Tehran in 2010 and a total sample size of 300 patients with coronary heart disease were investigated. Convenience sampling method was used to select patients. Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale [HADS] was used for assessment of anxiety and depression. The data were analyzed by SPSS software, version 17, and descriptive and inferential statistic tests were used. The mean and standard deviation scores for anxiety and depression subscales were, [2.6]7.23, and [2.6]6.74, respectively. Of the patients, 45.7% had depression and 38% had anxiety. There was statistically significant relationship between age and depression, also anxiety and depression levels [r=0.67]. Patients with a history of hypertension had more anxiety and depression levels [P<0.05]. Results of this study showed a high incidence of anxiety and depression in patients with coronary artery disease, respectively. Therefore, recommendations for further assessment of the mental status of the patients at admission and planning appropriate interventions according to screening outcomes is recommended

Toxoplasmosis: the innocent suspect of pregnancy wastage in Duhok, Iraq

To identify the true contribution of toxoplasmosis to fetal loss and bad obstetric history, we tested 310 women, 77.4% of whom had had single or multiple fetal loss, for evidence of infection. The study was conducted in Duhok, northern Iraq, from July 2002 till September 2003. All the women were examined for the presence of toxoplasma-specific IgM antibodies by enzyme-linked immunofluorescent assay; only 3 [0.97%] tested positive. We also tested 187 of the women by latex agglutination test; 55 tested positive. Histopathological examination was done for 9 pregnant women who tested positive by the latex agglutination test but we found no evidence of toxoplasma infection. The results indicate that the contribution of toxoplasmosis to fetal loss in our region is greatly overestimated