Component analysis of iranian crack ; a newly abused narcotic substance in Iran

Iranian crack is a new form of narcotic substance that has found widespread prevalence in Iran in the past years. crack only nominally resembles crack cocaine as it is widely different in its clinical signs. Thus the present study aims to quantify the chemical combination of this drug. The samples included 18 specimen of crack collected from different zones of Tehran, Iran. All specimens were in the form of inodorous cream solid powdery substance. TLC and HPLC methods were used to perform semi-quantitative and quantitative analysis of the components, respectively. The TLC analysis showed no cocaine compound in the specimens while they all revealed to contain heroin, codeine, morphine and caffeine. All but two specimens contained thebaine. None of the specimens contained amphetamine, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, aspirin, barbiturates, tramadol and buprenorphine. Acetaminophen was found in four specimens. HPLC revealed heroin to be the foundation substance in all specimens and most of them contained a significant amount of acetylcodeine. The present analysis of the chemical combination of crack showed that this substance is a heroin-based narcotic which is basically different from the cocaine-based crack used in Western countries. Studies like the present one at different time points, especially when abnormal clinical signs are detected, can reveal the chemical combination of the target substance and contribute to the clinical management of its acute or chronic poisoning

Occupational stress among male employees of Esfahan steel company, Iran: prevalence and associated factors

Lack of data on occupational stress among Iranian industrial employees persuaded us to design and conduct this study to evaluate the prevalence and associated parameters of occupational stress among the male employees of Esfahan Steel Company, one of the biggest industrial units in Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 400 male employees were sampled from the operational divisions of the company. Socio-demographic data and stress-related variables were entered into a logistic regression to determine the significant associated factors of occupational stress among the participants. Of all the samples, 53% were found as stressful. A monthly salary of less than $600 [odds ratio [OR] = 1.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.21-2.94], family-related problems [OR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.22-6.21], work environment [OR = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.78-5.33], and having a second job [OR = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.78-6.78] were significantly associated with the outcome. Attention to some variables, especially economic problems and the work environment of employees, might play a protective role against the prevalence of occupational stress, not only among the employees of ESCO, but also among all industrial employees in Iran

Religious beliefs may reduce the negative effect of psychiatric disorders on age of onset of suicidal ideation among blacks in the United States

To evaluate the possible interaction between religious beliefs and psychiatric disorders among Black Americans. In this study, we used data of 5181 adult Black Americans who had participated in National Survey of American Life [NSAL] from February 2001 to June 2003. Variables such as socio-demographics, religious beliefs, and psychiatric disorders were entered in a Cox regression to determine the possible interaction between psychiatric disorders [0, 1, >/= 2] and the subjective religiosity on age of onset of suicidal thought among the participants. Main outcome was age of the first serious suicidal ideation. A dose-dependent effect of number of psychiatric disorders on suicidal ideation was observed. Psychiatric disorders had a higher impact on age of suicidal ideation among those with low self-reported religiosity. Religious beliefs may buffer the effect of psychiatric disorders on suicidal thought. Blacks who are less religious and suffer psychiatric disorders are at the highest risk for early suicidal ideation