Controlled trial of maintenance treatment of intravenous buprenorphine dependence

Background Buprenorphine dependence is a relatively novel addiction. Aims To compare the treatment outcome in three groups over 12-weeks of treatment. Methods Two hundred and four intravenous (IV)-buprenorphine-dependent patients were randomised into three groups. Subjects received 50mg oral methadone tablet, or 5mg sublingual buprenorphine tablet, or 50mg oral naltrexone, and a weekly 30-minute clinical counselling session. Results The majority (80%) had a history of opium or heroin dependency before they were introduced to IV buprenorphine. The main source of buprenorphine for misusers was street sale (91%). The mean duration of buprenorphine dependence was 1.9 years and the mean dose per day was 3.9 ampoules (1 ampoule contains 0.3mg of buprenorphine in 1ml). Overall 59% of the patients completed the 12-week study. Retention in the 50mg methadone group was significantly better than the 5mg dose buprenorphine group (p=0.001) and the 50mg dose naltrexone group (p=0.000). Retention in the 5mg buprenorphine group was significantly better than the 50mg naltrexone dose group (p=0.000). Conclusions These results support the efficacy and safety of oral methadone and sublingual buprenorphine tablets for injection buprenorphine-dependent patients.     

Rocking sexualities: Iranian migrants' views on sexuality

The purpose of this article is to put forward a theoretical discussion about Islamic views of sexuality and by means of an example show how Iranian immigrants in Sweden view sexuality and sexual culture. Building on theories that compare individualistic and holistic ways of thinking, the article seeks to elucidate the impact of basic cultural qualities on the formation of sexualities. The conclusion of the article is that the encounter with the Swedish way of thinking and the Swedish sexual culture seems to have influenced Iranian migrants' views on the nature of the relationship between couples and sexual decision making within the relationship. Exposed to an individualistic ideology and lifestyle in Sweden, Iranian migrants show a clear tendency to revise their previous holistic way of thinking, especially in regard to sexuality: the traditional, authoritarian, patriarchal sexual relationship among Iranian migrants in Sweden is giving way to more egalitarian relationships, and a relatively strong tendency towards a similarity of views between the sexes regarding sexuality can be observed. The most important change that could be observed in regard to the respondents in the study is probably an increased individualism.     

Modulation of synaptic transmission by nociceptin/orphanin FQ and nocistatin in the spinal cord dorsal horn of mutant mice lacking the nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and nocistatin (NST) are two neuropeptides derived from the same precursor protein that exhibit opposing effects on spinal neurotransmission and nociception. Here, we have used whole-cell, patch-clamp recordings from visually identified neurons in spinal cord dorsal horn slices of genetically modified mice to investigate the role of the N/OFQ receptor (N/OFQ-R) in the modulatory action of both peptides on excitatory glutamatergic and inhibitory glycinergic and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic synaptic transmission. In wild-type mice, N/OFQ selectively suppressed excitatory transmission in a concentration-dependent manner but left inhibitory synaptic transmission unaffected. In contrast, NST reduced only inhibitory but not alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptor-mediated excitatory synaptic transmission. N/OFQ-mediated inhibition of excitatory transmission was completely absent in N/OFQ-R receptor-deficient (N/OFQ-R(-/-)) mice and significantly reduced in heterozygous (N/OFQ-R(+/-)) mice, whereas the action of NST on inhibitory neurotransmission was completely retained. To test for the relevance of these results for spinal nociception, we investigated the effects of intrathecally injected N/OFQ in the mouse formalin test, an animal model of tonic pain. N/OFQ (3 nmol/mouse) induced significant antinociception in wild-type mice, but had no antinociceptive effects in N/OFQ-R(-/-) mice. These results indicate that the inhibitory action of N/OFQ on excitatory glutamatergic synaptic transmission and its spinal antinociceptive action are mediated via the N/OFQ receptor, whereas the action of NST is independent of this receptor.     

In-vitro metabolism of retinoic acid by different tissues from male rats

Significant differences between the metabolism of retinoic acid by different tissues might be an important determinant of the effectiveness of a systemically administered inhibitor at a particular tissue site. Here the metabolism of retinoic acid has been studied in microsomal fractions from different tissues (liver, kidney, intestinal mucosa, lung, skin, brain) of the male rat to determine their relative metabolic activity. Kinetic analysis revealed major differences between the activity of different tissue microsomes. This is shown by the Vmax values for the metabolism of retinoic acid-liver (102+/-39.0 pmol (mg protein)(-1) min(-1)) was 100 times more active than the lung (1+/-0.03 pmol (mg protein)(-1) min(-1)), which was the least active. The range of Km values for microsomes from the different tissues was narrow (0.48-1.40 microM). Taking into account the mass of the tissue, the gross activity ranking for metabolism of retinoic acid was liver > skin = kidney > brain > intestinal mucosa > lung. It is concluded that metabolism of administered retinoic acid occurs mainly in the liver but that cellular retinoic acid levels in some other tissues (skin, kidney, brain) could be reduced (metabolized) to such an extent that higher levels might be observed after the use of inhibitors of retinoic acid metabolism.     

The effects of Continuous Care Model on depression, anxiety, and stress in patients on hemodialysis.

This quasi-experimental study was carried out to determine the effects of the Continuous Care Model on stress, anxiety, and depression in patients on hemodialysis in Hamedan, Iran in 2005. Thirty-eight patients were selected randomly and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used for data collection. Data analysis showed a significant relationship between applying the Continuous Care Model and DASS-21 scores. According to the findings, applying this care model can improve the lives of patients on hemodialysis.     

Sleep patterns and habits in high school students in Iran

Background  

Sleep patterns and habits in high school students in Iran have not been well studied to date. This paper aims to re-address this balance and analyse sleep patterns and habits in Iranian children of high school age.     

An Iranian herbal-marine medicine, MS14, ameliorates experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system which mainly affects young adults. To overcome wide spectrum troublesome symptoms of multiple sclerosis which affects the quality of life both in patients and their families, new drugs and remedies have been examined and offered. The preclinical beneficial effects of different medicines have mostly been examined in an animal model of multiple sclerosis called experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). In this study we have tested a traditionally used natural (herbal-marine) product called MS(14) in EAE mice. EAE mice were fed with MS(14) containing diet (30%) on the immunization day and monitored for 20 days. The results show that while clinical scores and therefore severity of the disease was progressive in normal-fed EAE mice, the disease was slowed down in MS(14)-fed EAE mice. Moreover, while there were moderate to severe neuropathological changes in normal fed mice, milder changes were seen in MS(14) fed mice.