[ effectiveness of stress inoculation group training on somatization and anxiety of the coronary heart disease patients]

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of stress inoculation training on the Somatization and Anxiety of coronary heart disease patients. Subjects were consisted of 40 patients with coronary heart disease, who were randomly selected from the hospitals Golestan, Mehr, naft and Tapesh Clinic of Ahwaz, through systematic sampling method. These patients were randomly assigned to experimental [N=20] and control [N=20] groups. There was 10 females and 10 males in each group. The experimental group received 8 weekly sessions of stress inoculation training that the control group did not received it. It was hypothesized that training would increase the general health of the training group as compared with the control group. The GHQ-28 was administered to both groups before and after training. The results of analysis of covariance showed that training significantly improved the general health in the experimental group as compared with the control group. Also, compared with the control groups, the experimental group showed significantly lower scores on the somatization Anxiety disorder and insomni. The result of research showed the stress inoculation training effected on the amount of general health, somatization and Anxiety disorder and insomnia in coronary heart disease and this method can be used with usual medicine care in improvement and rehabilitation in cardiovascular diseases

[Evaluation of echocardiographic findings in cirrhotic patients]

Cardiovascular abnormalities have been reported in liver cirrhosis [LC]. In these patients, cardiac symptoms and physical signs occur as the liver functions worsen. Cirrhosis is associated with hyper dynamic circulation and beta-adrenergic system changes responsible for the cardiovascular abnormalities. The purpose of the present study was to explore the echocardiographic findings in cirrhotic patients. A total of 90 patients [63 men, 27 women] with imaging or biopsy-proven cirrhosis of various etiologies without any known cardiac dysfunction were included in the study. Ninety healthy persons of the same age and sex were enrolled as the control group. Cirrhotic patients and controls were investigated by echocardiography. Left ventricle diastolic function [E/A ratio], systolic function [ejection fraction], and wall thickness [left ventricle posterior wall thickness + interventricular septum thickness] along with left and right ventricular dimensions were evaluated. Right and left atrium and ventricle diameters were enlarged in 3 cirrhotic patients and the E/A ratio was decreased in class C patients [0.9 +/- 0.2] as compared to class B and A [1.3 +/- 0.4] and controls [1.3 +/- 1] [P value < 0.05]. The left ventricular end diastolic volumes were increased in 3 cirrhotic patients[5.9 +/- 0.3][normal 3.5-4.7 cm]. The estimated ejection fraction was decreased in39 cirrhotic patients; 28 patients with ascites [35 -47%] as compared to 11 patients without ascites [40-48%] and controls [50-75%] [P<0.05]. Liver cirrhosis is associated with enlarged left cardiac chambers, but wall thickness and right ventricle functions and diameters are normal. LV Diastolic dysfunction and decreased ejection fraction are evident in cirrhotic patients with ascites in class C children. This demonstration of diastolic dysfunction together with the dilated left cardiac chambers suggests that the patients indeed have cardiac abnormalities. Cardiovascular status should therefore be carefully monitored, especially in class C children when patients have ascites

[Herbal medicine and natural products in the managemeat of dementia]

Alternative medicine may be a new avenue of treatment for Alzheimer's disease. In addition to Ginkgo biloba, old European reference books, such as those on medical herbs, document a variety of other plants such as Salvia officinalis and Melissa officinalis with memory - improving properties. In this article we review some medicinal plants and natural products that are being used in the management of dementia