Cross-cultural adaptation,reliability, and validity of the Persian version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to translate and to cross-culturally adapt the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) into Persian language and to evaluate its psychometric properties.

Method: The International Quality of Life Assessment process was pursued to translate CAIT into Persian. Two groups of Persian-speaking individuals, 105 participants with a history of ankle sprain and 30 participants with no history of ankle sprain, were asked to fill out Persian version of CAIT (CAIT-P), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Data obtained from the first administration of CAIT were used to evaluate floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency, dimensionality, and criterion validity. To determine the test–retest reliability, 45 individuals re-filled CAIT 5–7 days after the first session.

Results: Cronbach’s alpha was over the cutoff point of 0.70 for both ankles and in both groups. The intra-class correlation coefficient was high for right (0.95) and left (0.91) ankles. There was a strong correlation between each item and the total score of the CAIT-P. Although the CAIT-P had strong correlation with VAS, its correlation with both subscales of FAAM was moderate.

Conclusions: The CAIT-P has good validity and reliability and it can be used by clinicians and researchers for identification and investigation of functional ankle instability.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Chronic ankle instability is one of the most common consequences of acute ankle sprain.

• Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool is an acceptable measure to determine functional ankle instability and its severity.

• The Persian version of Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool is a valid and reliable tool for clinical and research purpose in Persian-speaking individuals.

     

The Effectiveness of Self-care Program on the Life Quality of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis in 2015

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of self-care plan on the life quality of patients with Multiple sclerosis (MS). The samples in this study included all the patients with MS under medical coverage of Iranian Association of supporting patients with MS in Tehran in 2015 who were studied as Convenience sampling and based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In this study, Dr. Madani's self-care program as an intervention and The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF for assessment of consequences were used. Spss software using Wilcoxon and ANOVA tests were used to analyze the data. Values are significant at P value less than 0.05. Before the intervention, the quality of life was 59.91 ± 13.39 and after the intervention, it was 69.37 ± 11.73 and there was a significant difference between them (P value < 0.001). Also, there was a significant difference between the items of life quality-including the physical, psychological and social relationships and living environment items-before and after the interventions. Self-care program has an effect on the quality of life and physical, psychological and social relationships and living environment items.     

High Precision DNA Modification Analysis of HCG9 in Major Psychosis

New epigenetic technologies may uncover etiopathogenic mechanisms of major psychosis. In this study, we applied padlock probe-based ultra-deep bisulfite sequencing for fine mapping of modified cytosines of the HLA complex group 9 (nonprotein coding) gene in the postmortem brains of individuals affected with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and unaffected controls. Significant differences between patients and controls were detected in both CpG and CpH modifications. In addition, we identified epigenetic age effects, DNA modification differences between sense and anti-sense strands, and demonstrated how DNA modification data can be used in clustering of patient populations. Our findings revealed new epigenetic complexities but also highlighted the potential of DNA modification approaches in the search of heterogeneous causes of major psychiatric disease.Key words: epigenetics, brain, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, bisulfite sequencing, padlock probes     

Evaluating the efficacy of extracted squalene from seed oil in the form of microemulsion for the treatment of COVID-19: A clinical study

This study investigates the effect of the nanostructure of squalene in the form of microemulsion on COVID-19 patients. In this blinded clinical trial, a comparison was made between the efficacy of squalene treatment and controls. A total of 30 COVID-19 patients admitted to the emergency department, and the infection ward was equally allocated to case (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups according to their age and underlying diseases. The baseline characteristics of subjects, including age, gender, time of treatment onset, underlying condition, white blood cells count, and lymphocyte count were similar (p < 0.05). Baseline laboratory tests and computed tomography (CT) scans were performed for the study groups. The treatment group received 5 mg of intravenous squalene twice a day and standard treatment for 6 days, while controls received only standard treatment. After 6 days of treatment, clinical and CT scan changes were evaluated and compared in intervention and control groups. The need for oxygen therapy (p = 0.020), 2 days of no fever (p = 0.025), cough alleviation (p = 0.010), and lung high-resolution computed tomography improvement (p = 0.033) were significantly different between cases and controls within 7 days of admission. No adverse effects were observed in the treatment group. Our data suggest that squalene could be considered as a potential treatment for COVID-19, and further studies are required to confirm the results.     

Cholestasis induces apoptosis in mice cardiac cells: the possible role of nitric oxide and oxidative stress

Background/Aims: Acute cholestasis is associated with cardiovascular complications. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of cholestasis on heart apoptosis and the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress in the possible altered apoptosis of cholestatic hearts. Methods: Cholestasis was induced by bile duct–ligation, and sham‐operated mice served as controls. Three days after the surgery, heart tissues were evaluated for apoptosis and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) have been studied in cardiac tissues. The role of treatment with l ‐NAME, a non‐selective inhibitor of NO synthase, or with d ‐NAME, an inactive isomer of l ‐NAME, on cholestatic and sham cardiac apoptosis, level of MDA and CAT, SOD and GSHPx activities was also investigated. The content of NO in cardiac tissue was also determined. Results: Cholestatic hearts showed structural abnormalities and increased apoptosis compared with sham hearts. Treatment with l ‐NAME, but not d ‐NAME, improved both structural abnormalities and enhanced apoptosis of cholestatic hearts. Cholestatic hearts also had an increased level of MDA and decreased activities of CAT and GSHPx, which were not modified by d ‐NAME treatment. By l ‐NAME treatment, the level of MDA decreased and activities of CAT, GSHPx and SOD increased in BDL mice. The content of NO was higher in cholestatic cardiac tissue, which was decreased by l ‐NAME treatment. Conclusion: In conclusion, apoptosis in cholestatic heart might have occurred because of NO overproduction, which could induce oxidative stress in the heart of cholestatic mice.     

Cerebral venous thrombosis associated with oligodendroglioma and pregnancy

Until now, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was principally an autopsy diagnosis; however, with the introduction of MRI and angiography, as well as enhanced clinical attentiveness, it is now reliably diagnosed during life. Herein, we describe a case of CVST accompanied by oligodendroglioma and pregnancy. In our patient, the following factors contributed to the formation of CVST: First, the pregnancy state, which is a known risk factor for developing venous thrombosis; and secondly, the oligodendroglioma could have changed the architecture of adjacent sinus (right lateral sinus) and provocation of the development of clot in the sinus.