[Role of pain and its associated cognitive related variables in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis]

In recent decades there had been considerable progress in the research works on chronic pain, perhaps as a consequence of costs and challenges associated with this problem. The aim of this study was to compare rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy individuals in regard to fear of pain, pain catastrophizing and catastrophic cognition. In this study we selected 100 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 100 healthy individuals from a public hospital using census sampling method. After informed consent, demographic variables such as age, sex, level of education, duration of illness were recorded for every subject. We used three questionnaires of fear of pain [FPQ], catastrophic cognition [CCQ] and scale of pain catastrophizing [PCS] in this study. Multivariate analyses of variance [MANOVA] showed significant differences between the two groups in regard to the three cognitive variables of "fear of pain", "catastrophic cognition" and "pain catastrophizing"[P<0.05]. These results suggested that fear of pain; catastrophic cognition and pain catastrophizing were important cognitive factors contributing to aggravation of pain in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The results of the current study are consistent with basic assumptions of cognitive-affective model which emphasizes the importance of the 'pain experience' as potential modulators of the pain-cognition relationship

[Report of a novel mutation in RB1 gene from an Iranian retinoblastoma patient and its effect on splicing pattern of mRNA]

Mutations in RB1 gene may lead to retinoblastoma which is the most common solid intraocular tumor in under-six year old children. To date, a wide spectrum of the mutations has been reported in the splicing of RB1 which either affect splicing sequences or splicing regulatory elements. This report introduces a new mutation in RB1and its influence on the splicing of mRNA. Case report: In the present survey, mutation analysis was done in an Iranian patient with sporadic unilateral retinoblastoma using direct sequencing and MLPA. Also, RB1 gene splicing pattern was analyzed by RT-PCR method. As a result, a same-sense nucleotide change [g.70 320C>T] was found near the 5' end of exon 12. This alteration disrupts the consensus sequence of an exonic splicing enhancer and changes the binding site of SC-35 protein. Structural analysis of cDNA in this patient showed the disruption of normal splicing pattern and the skipping of exon 12 from the RB1 transcript. Based on these findings, it may be reasonable to conclude that the above nucleotide change could be a pathogenic mutation. Also, for the first time we report an evidence for the presence of an exonic splicing enhancer in the exon 12 of the RB1 gene

[ mental health status of employees in Semnan University of Medical Sciences [1385]]

The main goal for every university is to educate professionals in order to improve the quality of well being of body and mind of the society's members. To approach this important issue, universities needs healthy employees to enable them to educate healthy, qualified, well trained, and sensitive individuals for societies. Therefore, investigation about the health situation of the employee has a prime importance. This study was carried out to evaluate the status of mental health of employees in the Semnan University of Medical Sciences. The present study was a descriptive-analytical and cross- sectional study. 414 employees of the Semnan University of Medical Ssciences were included in the study. Data were collected using a self-reporting questionnaire [GHQ-28]. Then, data were analyzed by SPSS software and also mean, standard deviation, absolute and relative frequency were determined. Statistical analysis was performed by Chi-square, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient at the level of 5% and logistic regression analysis. Totally, 28.6% of employees suffered from mental diseases. The most cases were observed among the employees who working in treatment setting [41%] and the least ones observed among the employees who working in office setting. The rate of mental disorders was greater in individuals aged 40-49 [29.3%], women [37.4%], undergraduates [40.7%], singles [60%], as well as the individual who working for 20 or more years [35.2%] in the university. Interpretation logistic regression showed that index of gender, the level of education, and occupation has a significant influence over mental disorder. The rate of mental disorder was 2.5 times more than those reported by WHO, but was similar with those reported in Iran. More investigations are needed for better understanding of the reasons for higher prevalence of mental disorder among women, undergraduates government employees and those individuals who working in treatment setting. The result of these studies can lead to find a solution for this problem

[Sodium Valproate effect in occurrence of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome]

Administration of sodium valproate for treatment of psycho-neurological disorders has increased considerably. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome [PCOS] is indicated as one of the side effects of long-term administration of sodium valproate. Therefore, more detailed studies are needed for assessment of the side effects of sodium valporate. Forty patients were randomly selected from the patients who referred to neurology and psychiatric clinics, sodium valproate prescribed for them. In all patients, FSH, LH and testosterone levels as well as ovarian size, BMI and the symptoms of hirsutism and menstruation irregularities were evaluated prior to and six months after treatment with sodium valporate. Mean level of BMI, LH, FSH and LH/FSH ratio was significantly increased following sodium valporate administration, compared to their levels prior to the treatment. No such effect was observed about the mean level of testosterone before and after the treatment. One of the patients showed the signs of PCOS, which they were ceased following discontinuation of the drug. The current results show that the administration of sodium valproate could lead to polycystic ovarian syndrome in some patients

Epidemiologic features of depression in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients in Semnan

Depression is a disease with serious complications and a high disability rate. Diabetic patients are more commonly affected than the normal population; blood sugar control and preventing the consequences of diabetes are more complex in depressed patients. Early diagnosis of depression has been shown to be associated with better blood sugar control and response rate. This Cross sectional study was performed on 450 NIDDM patients seen at Fatemieh Hospital Diabetes Clinic in Semnan during an 8-month period. Beck inventory questionnaire for depression was used for data collection. Beck inventory is a depression screening test having 21 indicators; 13 cognitive and 8 for physical symptoms. To analyze the data, the Beck test scores for each case were added. Scores of 0-9 were considered as "without depression", 10-18 "slight depression", 19-29 "moderate depression" and scores of 30-63 as "severe depression". Chi-square test and Spearman correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. 322 patients [71.6%] suffered from depression [95%CI=67.4-75.8], [79.2% of females and 57.3% of males]; 66.9% of patients had been diagnosed during the past 5 years, and 78.3% of those having had diabetes for more than 16 years had suffered from depression with different degrees of severity. There was a significant association between the severity of depression and gender [p=0.0001], age [p=0.0001] and duration of disease [p=0.023]. Because of the high prevalence of depression in these patients, it is recommended to identify the cases of depression using Beck inventory in addition to routine treatment for controlling their blood sugar. Meanwhile, there should be special emphasis on encouraging self-care in diabetic patients

Prevalence of domestic violence in women referred to the heath care centers in Semnan [2003]

Domestic violence is the most common form of violence against women that has negative effects on other health priority such as mother's heath, family planning, prevention of disease and mental health. This research has been done to determine prevalence of various kinds of domestic violence in women referred to the health care centers in Semnan This study is a descriptive and cross- sectional research. Sample were 600 women and data were collected trough a self- reporting questioner. Reliability of questioner was detected by test- re-test. Data were analyzed by spss and also mean, st and ard deviation, absolute and relative frequency were detected. For this study chi-square, kendall's Tau-c, pearson and spearman correlation coefficient were used. The physical violence was experienced with higher percent [18.6%] in women of Semnan and Shahmirzad, emotional violence with 63.7%, verbal violence with 43.3% in women of Semnan and economic abuse with 72% were observed in women of Sorkhe. The most injuries from physical abuse were bruising of head and face. After violence, 15.8% of samples was describe that they referred to neurologist. In related to decided after violence, 3.3% of samples were used leave of absence without pay. A Significant and opposite relationship was observed between physical abuse with educational level of women [P=0.000], her husb and s education [P=0.037] and age of marriage [P=0.000]. A Significant and opposite relationship was observed between economic abuse with educational level of women [P=O.003], her husb and s education [P=0.000] and age of marriage [P=0.003]. Low educational level and unemployment can resulted to higher physical, verbal and economic abuse. Many factor such as far away from family, social isolation and lack of relationship with family and friends and therefore lower usage of support can be some risk factores for domestic violence. Increased range of physical and economic abuse in women who married in lower age can be resulted from partner's inexperience and lack of knowledge about partner's right. Also higher prevalence of economic abuse in women who have 7 children and up can be resulted from economic distress of family. Control of poverty and unemployment, teaching to young people about partner's right, especially women's right previous of marriage can decrease domestic violence

epidemiological study of psychiatric disorders in Semnan province in year 2001

The burden of psychiatric disorders in the developed countries has been identified by the screening questionnaires and standard clinical interviews at a high level, but the epidemiological studies of psychiatric disorders in Iran are brief and their numbers are few. Planning for providing essential mental health services to the people who requires to be informed about the present status of psychiatric disorders in the society. The objective of this research was to carry out the epidemiological study of the psychiatric disorders in the individuals 18 years and above in urban and rural areas of Semnan province. Two hundred eighty individuals were selected through randomized systematic and clustered sampling methods among the existing families in Semnan province. The clinical psychologist completed the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia [SADS] questionnaires. The diagnosis of the disorders was based on DSM-IV classification criteria. The results of the study showed that the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the province was 18.58%, which was 22.14% in the women, and 14.49% in the men, respectively. The anxiety and mood disorders respectively with 8.22% and 5.00% had the higher prevalence in the province. The prevalence of psychotic disorders in this study was 1.78%, neuro-cognitive disorders 2.86 percent and dissociative disorders 0.72%. In the group of mood disorders, major depression with 3.57% and in the group of anxiety disorders, phobic disorder with 2.86% had the higher prevalence. This study showed that 10.71% of individuals suffered from minimum one of the psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the province among the individuals in the age group of 41-55 years with 13.85%, individuals whose spouses had passed away 37.50%, residents of urban areas with 13.92%o, individuals with diploma 14.29% and unemployed individuals 28.57% that was more common more than other individuals. By considering of these findings, the responsibility of the health policy makers and programmers is more than before in relation to preparing application and executive plans to prevent and treatment of psychiatric disorders in Semnan province for mental health