Self-stigma, religiosity, and perceived social support in people with recent-onset psychosis in the Islamic Republic of Iran: Associations with symptom severity and psychosocial functioning.

AIMS: Most evidence on psychosocial factors in recent-onset psychosis comes from high-income countries in Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA, while these factors are likely to differ under varying sociocultural and economic circumstances. In this study, we aimed to investigate associations of self-stigma, religiosity and perceived social support with symptom severity and psychosocial functioning in an Iranian cohort of people with recent-onset psychosis (i.e. illness duration of <2 years). METHODS: We used baseline data of 361 participants (N = 286 [74%] male, mean age = 34 years [Standard Deviation = 10.0]) from the Iranian Azeri Recent-onset Acute Phase Psychosis Survey (ARAS). We included assessments of self-stigma (Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness, ISMI), religiosity (based on Stark & Glock), perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, MSPSS), symptom severity (Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS) and psychosocial functioning (clinician-rated Global Assessment of Functioning Scale, GAF, and self-reported World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0, WHODAS 2.0). Descriptive analyses were employed to characterize the study sample. Covariate-adjusted ordinal and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to investigate cross-sectional associations of baseline ISMI, religiosity and MSPSS with concurrent PANSS, GAF and WHODAS 2.0. RESULTS: Higher self-stigma was associated with poorer self-reported functioning (B = 0.375 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.186, 0.564]) and more severe concurrent symptoms (B = 0.436 [95% CI: 0.275, 0.597]). Being more religious was associated with poorer clinician-rated functioning (OR = 0.967 [95% CI: 0.944, 0.991]), but with less severe symptoms (B = -0.258 [95% CI: -0.427, -0.088]). Stronger social support was associated with poorer clinician-rated (OR = 0.956 [95% CI: 0.935, 0.978]) and self-reported functioning (B = 0.337 [95% CI: 0.168, 0.507]). CONCLUSION: This study shows that self-stigma, religiosity and perceived social support were associated with symptom severity and clinician-rated as well as self-reported psychosocial functioning in an Iranian cohort of people with recent-onset psychosis. The findings extend previous evidence on these psychosocial factors to one of the largest countries in the Middle East, and suggest that it may be worthwhile to develop strategies aimed at tackling stigma around psychosis and integrate the role of religiosity and social support in mental ill-health prevention and therapy.

Highly selective MXene/V2O5/CuWO4-based ultra-sensitive room temperature ammonia sensor.

A Schottky junction based on Ti3C2Tx MXene sheet integrated with marigold flower-like V2O5/CuWO4 heterojunction was designed and fabricated for robust ammonia sensing by monitoring the electrical resistance changes in air and ammonia. The electron transport behavior of the sensor was investigated by electrochemical analysis, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy. Besides, negative zeta potential obtained for sensor components was in consistent with surface functional groups (e.g. OH and F) observed by XPS analysis helping better understanding of the ammonia sensing mechanism. The results desirably confirmed high sensitivity, selectivity, linear range (1-160 ppm), the limit of quantification, repeatability, long-term stability, very short response time (few seconds) and low working temperature (25 °C) of the sensor. The measurements on the resistance changes of the MXene/V2O5/CuWO4-based sensor under the exposure to various types of analytes (Ammonia, Acetone, Benzene, Chloroform, DMF, Ethanol, humidity (80%), Methanol and Toluene as well as NO, NO2, H2S, SO2, CO and CH4) at different concentrations revealed that the fabricated sensor is excellently selective to ammonia with ultra-high sensitivity. Intra-day stability (7 runs a day) and long-term stability (every 10 days over 70 days) as important sensor characteristics were investigated at 51 ppm and ambient temperature, which showed very good repeatability and recoverability in both short and long periods for sensing the ammonia. Overall, MXene/V2O5/CuWO4 was shown to be cost-effective, easy to handle and suitably applicable for simple, ultrafast and extremely efficient trace ammonia detection, which could be of high interest for future exhaled breath analysis and the development of a novel noninvasive diagnostic strategy to monitor chronic kidney disease to stop a large measure of unnecessary invasive testing.

Empirical and mechanistic evaluation of NH4(+) release kinetic in calcareous soils.

Release, fixation, and distribution of ammonium (NH4(+)) as a source of nitrogen can play an important role in soil fertility and plant nutrition. In this study, ten surface soils, after addition of 1,000 mg NH4(+) kg(-1,) were incubated for 1 week at the field capacity moisture and 25 ± 2 °C temperature, and then NH4(+) release kinetic was investigated by sequential extractions with 10 mM CaCl2. Furthermore, NH4(+) distribution among three fractions, including water-soluble, exchangeable, and non-exchangeable, was determined in all soil samples. NH4(+) release was initially rapid followed by a slower reaction, and this was described well with the Elovich equation as an empirical model. The cumulative NH4(+) concentration released in spiked soil samples had a positive significant correlation with sand content and negative ones with pH, exchangeable Ca(2+)m and K(+), cation exchange capacity (CEC), equivalent calcium carbonate (ECC), and clay content. The cation exchange model in the PHREEQC program was successful in mechanistic simulation of the release trend of native and added NH4(+) in all control and spiked soil samples. The results of fractionation experiments showed that the non-exchangeable fraction in control and spiked soil samples was greater than that in water-soluble and exchangeable fractions. Soil properties, such as pH, exchangeable Ca(2+) and K(+), CEC, ECC, and contents of sand and clay, had significant influences on the distribution of NH4(+) among three measured fractions. This study indicated that both native and recently fixed NH4(+), added to soil through the application of fertilizers, were readily available for plant roots during 1 week after exposure.

Measuring and modeling ammonium adsorption by calcareous soils.

The aim of this study was assessment of ammonium (NH 4(+) ) adsorption isotherms in some agricultural calcareous soils and modeling of that by using the mechanistic exchange model. Ten surface soils (0-30 cm) were collected from areas covered with different land uses in Hamedan, western Iran. Isotherm experiments were carried out by concentrations of NH 4(+) prepared from NH4Cl salt (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100, and 150 mg NH 4(+) l(-1)) in presence of 0.01 M CaCl2 solution. The empirical models including simple adsorption isotherm and Freundlich equations were fitted well to the experimental data. The average amounts of adsorbed NH 4(+) in studied soils varied from 8.95 to 35.23 %. Adsorption percentage indicated positive correlation with pH, cation-exchange capacity (CEC), equivalent calcium carbonate, and clay content and had negative correlation with sand content. In order to predict and model NH 4(+) adsorption, cation-exchange model in PHREEQC program was used. The model could simulate the NH 4(+) adsorption very well in all studied soils. The values of CEC played the major role in modeling of NH 4(+) adsorption in this study indicating that cation-exchange process was the major mechanism controlling NH 4(+) adsorption in studied soils.

Risperidone and corrected QT-interval prolongation in surface electrocardiogram.

Risperidone is an antipsychotic medication suspected of causing QT prolongation and several cases are reported in this regard. However, available information with respect to its effect on QT interval is limited especially from different settings. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of risperidone in lengthening QT interval among psychotic patients referred to a psychiatric ward in North West of Iran. A controlled cohort study was conducted on psychotic patients referred to Razi Hospital from April 2010-2011. The treatment cohort groups were 120 patients receiving risperidone for the first time during their treatment. The comparison cohort included 60 control patients who were not receiving risperidone. An electrocardiogram was obtained from all the study participants at admission time, one week afterwards and at discharge. Corrected QT interval (QTc) was determined using Bazett's formula. QTc dispersion was calculated as Max(QTc)-Min(QTc). Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software package. The mean change in QTc measures over time was not statistically significant in control group. However, QTc increment was statistically significant over time in V1 and V3 leads in risperidone group. Multivariate longitudinal data analysis, using between-effects model, to manage multiple measurements over time found the overall QTc trend to be different between the groups (p < 0.01). Risperidone may have significant effects on QT interval and QT dispersion. Physicians and psychiatrists should be aware that prolonged QTc interval is a potential indicator of cardiovascular risk and should be cautious in prescribing potentially QT-prolonging medications, at least to certain patients.

Introducing a quantitative method to calculate the rate of primary infertility.

BACKGROUND: In the previous studies, the rate of primary infertility was reported differently. It seems the main reasons are related to the different methods of data collection and information analysis. Therefore, introducing a precise method to determine the infertile couples and the population exposed to the risk of infertility is an important issue to study primary infertility. METHODS: The proposed methodology for assessing primary infertility rate has been designed and applied by Avicenna Research Institute in a national survey. Sampling was conducted based on probability proportional to size cluster method. In this survey, after reviewing the former studies, the reproductive history was used as a basis for data collection. Every reproductive event was recorded with a code and a date in the questionnaire. To introduce a precise method, all possible events were considered thoroughly and for each situation, it was determined whether these cases should be considered in numerator, denominator or it should be eliminated from the study. Also in some situations where the correct diagnosis of infertility was not possible, a sensitivity analysis was recommended to see the variability of results under different scenarios. CONCLUSION: The proposed methodology can precisely define the infertile women and the population exposed to the risk of infertility. So, this method is more accurate than other available data collection strategies. To avoid bias and make a consistent methodology, using this method is recommended in future prevalence studies.

Evaluation of semen quality in patients with malignancies referred for sperm banking before cancer treatment.

Different cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can lead to azoospermia and even sterility for an unknown period. Whether the type of cancer could affect semen quality or not is under debate. In this study, we have reviewed semen parameters of men with cancer who deposited their sperm samples at the Avicenna Research Institute tissue bank before undergoing cytotoxic treatment. This descriptive retrospective study examined 73 cases referred to sperm bank, because of malignancy, prior to initiation of cancer treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The data recorded were age, marital status, reproductive history, semen analysis reports and cancer history of the patients. Semen samples were analysed according to recommendations of the World Health Organization (1999) before freezing. Results of the analysis showed that 71.2% (52) of patients had oligozoospermia, 93.2% (68) teratozoospermia and 86.3% (63) asthenozoospermia. Different groups of cancer patients did not show any differences in oligozoospermia, teratozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. Impaired spermatogenesis even prior to cancer treatment indicates the importance of fertility preservation. As the majority of patients had suitable specimens for freezing and assisted reproduction, sperm banking is recommended to be performed promptly and before any treatment, especially surgery.

Molecular dynamics simulations of the structure and transport properties of tetra-butylphosphonium amino acid ionic liquids.

Systematic molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the structure, dynamics and transport properties of the ionic liquids composed of the tetra-butylphosphonium ([TBP](+), or [P(C(4)H(9))(4)](+)) cation with six amino acid ([AA](-)) anions. The structural features of these ionic liquids were characterized by calculating the partial site-site radial distribution functions, g(r), and computing the dihedral angle distribution of n-butyl side chains in the [TBP](+) cations. The dynamics of the ionic liquids are described by studying the velocity autocorrelation function (VACF) and the mean-square displacement (MSD) for the centers of mass of the ions at different temperatures. The ionic diffusion coefficients and the electrical conductivities were evaluated from both the Einstein and Green-Kubo methods. The cross-correlation terms in the electric-current autocorrelation functions, which are an indication of the ion pair correlations, are investigated. The cationic transference numbers were also estimated to study the contributions of the anions and cations to the transport of charge in these ionic liquids. We determined the role of the amino acid anion structures on the dynamical behavior and the transport coefficients of this family of ionic liquids. In general, the MSD and self-diffusion coefficients of the relatively heavier non-planar [TBP](+) cations are smaller than those of the lighter amino acid anions. Introducing polar functional groups (acid or amide) in the side chain of [AA](-) decreases the diffusion coefficient and electrical conductivity of AAILs. The major factors for determining the magnitude of the transport coefficients are the chemical functionality and the length of the alkyl side chain of the [AA](-) anion of these [TBP][AA] ionic liquids.