Depressive Symptoms Among Children and Adolescents in Iran: A Confirmatory Factor Analytic Study of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Iranian translation of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) in school children and adolescents in Iran. The CES-DC is a 20-item self-report scale designed to measure depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. A total of 1,984 children and adolescents, aged 12–17 years, participated in this research. In addition to the CES-DC, all participants completed the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The CES-DC demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach Alpha = .87). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed the same four factor structure as proposed by Radloff. Invariance tests showed an equivalent structure among boys and girls and younger and older adolescents. The CES-DC total scores correlated significantly with the SCAS total scores and the SDQ emotional symptoms subscale, providing support of its convergent validity. To conclude, the CES-DC proved to be a reliable and valid measure of depressive symptoms in the Iranian context.     

Expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1gag gene using genetically engineered herpes simplex virus type 1 recombinants

Infectious herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) recombinants were constructed by inserting the cDNA sequence of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)gag gene (from nucleotide position 675 [SacI] to 3859 [Asp 718] of the cDNA sequences of HIV-1 strain BH-10) within the DNA sequences of theBamHI DNA fragment B of the genome of an apathogenic HSV-1 strain HFEM. This HSV-1 strain possesses a 4.1-kbp deletion within theBamHI DNA fragment B between 0.762 and 0.789 map units of the viral genome, which allows the insertion of at least 4 kbp of foreign genetic material into this particular region. The DNA sequences of the immediate early promoter (IE4) of HSV-1 that were inserted upstream from thegag gene were used as a promoter. The screening of 205 virus stocks derived from individual plaques revealed that 46 recombinant viruses harbor HIV-1gag-specific DNA sequences. However, it was found that only six of the recombinant viruses are able to express thegag gene product of HIV-1. This indicates that the ratio of the positive recombination events is about 2.9%.     

Effect of counseling on quality of marital relationship of infertile couples: a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) study

Background

Infertility is a major cause of marital problems and sexual dissatisfaction. This study was conducted to determine the effects of counseling on infertile couple’s marital relationship and sexual satisfaction.

Materials and methods

This study was performed as a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which 100 infertile couples (200 participants) who visited Reproductive Health Research Center Tehran, Iran were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention (n = 50 couples, 50 wives and 50 husbands) and control (n = 50 couples, 50 wives and 50 husbands). Intervention was defined as three counseling sessions per week, each lasting 60–90 min. Counseling in the intervention group was conducted separately for each couple. Demographic characteristics and marital and sexual satisfaction were investigated using three questionnaires through interviews. The outcomes, including changes in marital satisfaction and sexual satisfaction, were compared between the two groups 3 months later.

Results

Based on the data collected 3 months after the intervention period, the mean scores of marital and sexual satisfaction in intervention and control groups for wives were 49.62 ± 11.09 versus 54.97 ± 12.64 (P = 0.036) and 36.00 ± 8.37 versus 40.04 ± 7.69 (P = 0.019), respectively. Respective scores for husbands were 45.48 ± 9.55 versus 50.08 ± 11.43 (P = 0.042) and 33.37 ± 7.09 versus 36.63 ± 6.52 (P = 0.025), respectively. It should be noted that higher scores in questionnaires inspecting marital and sexual satisfaction indicate lower satisfaction.

Conclusions

Infertility counseling improves marital and sexual satisfaction in infertile couples.     

Muco‐cutaneous manifestations in 178 renal transplant recipients

Khosravi M, Golchai J, Mokhtari G. Muco‐cutaneous manifestations in 178 renal transplant recipients.
Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 395–400. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Introduction: Mucosal membrane and skin can be affected by immunosuppressive drug(s) and immunosuppression itself. The spectrum of muco‐cutaneous lesions can range from malignancy at one end to infection, iatrogenic lesions, and esthetic effects on the other end. Method: In Razi Hospital of Guilan University of Medical Sciences, a cross‐sectional study for the detection of muco‐cutaneous lesions in 178 renal transplant recipients (RTRs) was conducted from the years 2001 to 2006. Biopsy and skin scraping according to the type of skin lesions were performed. Results: A total of 31 RTRs (25%) had normal skin. Iatrogenic lesions were the most common (70%) followed by infectious lesions (57%), and miscellaneous skin lesions were exhibited by 26% of the patients. Among the iatrogenic skin lesions, gingival hyperplasia was the most common lesion (48%), followed by hypertrichosis and acne. Malignant lesions (biopsy proven) were recorded in seven patients (5%). Four patients were found to have Kaposi’s sarcoma, and three patients were identified with basal cell carcinoma. Conclusion: Our results showed that muco‐cutaneous lesions are crucial problems with RTRs. Attending physicians must pay close attention to skin care regularly and consider reduction of immunosuppression to a safe level, and patient must have self‐checkups.     

Sagittal jaw position in relation to body posture in adult humans – a rasterstereographic study

Background  

The correlations between the sagittal jaw position and the cranio – cervical inclination are described in literature. Only few studies focus on the sagittal jaw position and the body posture using valid and objective orthopaedic examination methods. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that patients with malocclusions reveal significant differences in body posture compared to those without (upper thoracic inclination, kyphotic angle, lordotic angle and lower lumbar inclination).     

Minocycline attenuates testicular damages in a rat model of ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury

Testicular torsion is a serious urological disease leading to testicular damage. This study aimed to assess the effect of minocycline on testicular ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury caused by testicular torsion/detorsion. Male adult Wistar rats (n = 32) were assigned into four groups of sham, I/R, I/R + minocycline and minocycline. I/R injury was induced by two sets of surgical operations, including the rotation of the left testis (720°, counterclockwise), followed by detorsion after 4 hr. The administration of minocycline was carried out 30 min before detorsion and then continued for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8th week, rats were killed and sampling was done. Johnson's score, the height of seminiferous tubule epithelium, the mean seminiferous tubule diameter, as well as biochemical parameters, SOD, GPx and CAT, were significantly enhanced in the I/R + minocycline group compared with the I/R group. The administration of minocycline led to a marked decrease in expression levels of Caspase-3, Bax, IL-1β and TNF-α genes, and a remarkable increase in expression levels of Bcl-2, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD3 genes compared with the I/R group. Administration of minocycline could also reduce the rate of germ cell apoptosis (TUNEL staining). Hence, minocycline was useful in the management of testicular torsion/detorsion.     

Frequency of fall-related injuries of female patients referred to the trauma center in the city of Kashan from years 2005 to 2008

Objective:Falls are one of the life events leading to injury and in serious cases cause high morbidity and mortality.This research was conducted to determine the fall incidence among female population ...     

Recurrent placenta previa

Among a group of 33 135 women who delivered at Beilinson Medical Center, Israel, during the years 1968 to 1978, recurrent placenta previa occurred in 3.2% of the women, i.e., 6 times higher than the incidence of placenta previa in the general population (0.5%). Analysis of the data revealed that women over 36 yr of age with a history of placenta previa are at risk for recurrent placenta previa. Maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality were similar in cases of single and recurrent placenta previa.     

Evaluation of the gastric antiulcerogenic effects of Portulaca oleracea L. extracts in mice

Portulaca oleracea is commonly used in Iranian folk medicine. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts were studied in mice for their ability to inhibit gastric lesions induced by HCl or absolute ethanol. In addition, their effects on gastric acid secretion were measured. Both extracts showed a dose-dependent reduction in severity of ulcers. The highest dose of extracts exerted similar activity to sucralfate. The oral and intraperitoneal administration of extracts reduced the gastric acidity in pylorus-ligated mice. These results suggest that Portulaca oleracea has gastroprotective action and validates its use in folk medicine for gastrointestinal diseases.