[Predictor factors of sleep problems in school-age children with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity]

Introduction: Assertiveness, is one of the life skills that effects on increasing self-esteem, logical expression of thoughts and feelings, reducing anxiety, improving social communication skills and supporting human rights and finally increasing life satisfaction and happiness

Objective: This study aimed to determine effects of Gestalt therapy on assertiveness of nursing students

Methods: The pilot of study is situated on clinical trial research experiment, for two groups before and after intervention. Among 80 nursing students enrolled in Nursing and Midwifery school of Islamic Azad University Najaf Abad in 2013-2014 who trained in the field, all those who had poor expression were 36 subjects which measured with Adolescence Self-Assertiveness [ASA] scale and 24 subjects who want to enter to the research were separated randomly into experimental and control group. Experimental group consisting of Gestalt therapy, two-hours per session for 8 weeks, were trained. The control group did not receive the interventions. Therefore data analysis performed using the mean scores, paired t- test and intervention

Results: In experimental group, the mean scores of assertiveness after intervention increased significantly [P<0/001]. The mean scores of assertiveness of the control group showed no increase significantly [p=0/4]. Comparison between mean score of assertiveness after and before of intervention in experimental group with control group was significant [p<0/005]

Conclusion: Gestalt therapy is effective on increasing of assertiveness. Thus, according to the results of this research, it may suggest that the methods of psychotherapy could be useful for ineffective components within enactment beliefs

[Review of pharmacological and toxicological effects of Nigella sativa and its active constituents]

Nigella sativa is an annual plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to southern Europe, north Africa and southwest Asia. N. sativa seeds contain fixed oils, proteins, alkaloids [such as nigellicine and nigellidine], quinones [such as thymoquinone], saponin and essential oil. In traditional medicine, it has been used for several diseases such as antihelmintic, amenorrhea, asthma, diabetes, cough, diuretic and lactagogue. Pharmacological and biological activities of N. sativa and its constituents such as thymoquinone have been shown to be antioxidant, anti-ischemia, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant and antitussive

[Behavioral disorders and related factors in school age children of Gorgan]

Acquiring information regarding the extend and prevalence of pediatric behavioral disorders and their predisposing factors is essential in improving psychological services and establishing preventive indicators for children's mental health. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of behavioral disorders of school age children and related epidemiological factors, in Gorgan city, in 2005-2006. A cross sectional study was carried out using multistage cluster sampling method to recruit 2600 school age children. Data were collected through Rutter's parent questionnaire [RA[2] a standard tool which parents completed. A cutoff point of 13 was considered and children with total score of 13 or more were regarded to be disordered. Descriptive statistics and odds-Ratio and chi-square tests were used to analysis the data. Most of the samples were female [52.8%], first child with mean age of 9.25 +/- 1.5, having both parents living with them [94.5%] and were studying in governmental schools [72.7%]. in view of the regarded cutoff point, 18.4% of children suffered from behavioral disorders. There was significant correlations between having behavioral disorder with being in single parent family, crowded and low income families, history of crisis during the previous year, job and education of the parents, and children schools [P<0.05]. Considering the higher prevalence of behavior disorders found in current study compare to many others, investigating the explanations and reasons for as well as providing educational and consultation services is necessary

[Anti-anxiety effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of salvia leriifolia benth. leaves in mice using elevated plus maze]

Salvia leriifolia [Lamiaceae] is indigenous to the east of Iran and some part of Afghanestan. It has many pharmacological effects such as antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, anti-ischemic, anti-hyperglycemic, hypnotic, muscle relexant, anti-peptic ulcer and anticonvulsant effects. In this research, the antianxiety effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of S. leriifolia Benth. leaves were studied using elevated plus maze. Nine groups of male mice were used, each of which contained 7-10 animals. Half an hour before anti-anxiety test, the aqueous or ethanolic extracts [100, 200 and 400 mg/kg], diazepam [1 mg/kg] and saline were injected intraperitoneally to mice. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts were dissolved in saline or tween 80, respectively. In anti-anxiety test, the number of entries into open and closed arms by animals was recorded. In motor coordination [Rotarod test] experiment, the extracts were injected 30 or 60 mm before the test and in locomotor activity [open field test] experiment, the extracts were injected 60 mm before test. In anti - anxiety test, among different doses of the aqueous or ethanolic extracts, only ethanolic extract [in dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg] significantly increased opened arms entrance [p<0.01] and all doses of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts declined closed arms entrance, dose dependently [p<0.001]. In Rotarod and open field tests all of doses significantly decreased mice locomotion activity and motor balance [p<0.001]. The ethanolic extract of S. leriifolia leaves extract showed anti-anxiety activity and declined locomotion activity and motor coordination in mice