tentative component analysis of Norjizak: a new abused drug in Iran

Norjizak is a new drug abused in the past few years in Iran with symptoms and complications distinct from other common forms of drug and characterized by higher rate of mortality. The present study aims to analyze the chemical components of this substance. Five samples were obtained from abusers referring from different areas of Tehran to a treatment clinic. All samples were 2ml vials with yellowish fluid. Thin Layer Chromatography [TLC] was performed first to analyze the samples semi-quantitatively and the quantitative levels of components were then explored using high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]. TLC revealed steroid [in form of betamethasone], heroin, codeine, morphine and thebaine in all five samples. Four samples contained acetaminophen and two samples contained caffeine. None of them contained amphetamine, benzodiazepine, tricyclic antidepressant, aspirin, barbiturates, tramadol and buprenorphine. HPLC revealed that heroin, codeine, morphine and thebaine constituted the narcotic foundation in all samples. In addition, the heroin to acetylcodeine ratio was significantly lower in three samples, which indicates their higher toxicity. The results of the present study on the chemical components of Norjizak showed that this substance is an opiate one similar to heroin and the heroin-based crack prevalent in Iran which contains betamethasone

[Evaluation of auditory verbal memory and learning performance of 18-30 year old Persian-speaking healthy women]

Auditory memory plays an important role in developing language skills and learning. The aim of the present study was to assess auditory verbal memory and learning performance of 18-30 year old healthy adults using the Persian version of the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test [RAVLT]. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on seventy 18-30 year old healthy females with the mean age of 23.2 years and a standard deviation [SD] of 2.4 years. Different aspects of memory, like immediate recall, delayed recall, recognition, forgetting rate, interference and learning, were assessed using the Persian version of RAVLT. Mean score increased from 8.94 [SD=1.91] on the first trial to 13.70 [SD=1.18] on the fifth trial. Total learning mean score was 12.19 [SD=1.08], and mean learning rate was 4.76. Mean scores of the participants on the delayed recall and recognition trials were 13.47 [SD=1.2], and 14.72 [SD=0.53], respectively. The proactive and retroactive interference scores were 0.86 and 0.96, respectively. The forgetting rate score was 1.01 and the retrieval score was 0.90. The auditory-verbal memory and learning performance of healthy Persian-speaking females was similar to the performance of the same population in other countries. Therefore, the Persian version of RAVLT is valid for assessment of memory function in the Persian-speaking female population