Early consolidation of instrumental learning requires protein synthesis in the nucleus accumbens

It is widely held that long-term memories are established by consolidation of newly acquired information into stable neural representations, a process that requires protein synthesis and synaptic plasticity. Plasticity within the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a major component of the ventral striatum, is thought to mediate instrumental learning processes and many aspects of drug addiction. Here we show that the inhibition of protein synthesis within the NAc disrupts consolidation of an appetitive instrumental learning task (lever-pressing for food) in rats. Post-trial infusions of anisomycin immediately after the first several training sessions prevented consolidation, whereas infusions delayed by 2 or 4 hours had no effect. However, if the rats were allowed to learn the task, the behavior was not sensitive to disruption by intra-accumbens anisomycin. Control infusions into the medial NAc shell or the dorsolateral striatum did not impair learning; in fact, an enhancement was observed in the latter case. These results show that de novo protein synthesis within the NAc is necessary for the consolidation, but not reconsolidation, of appetitive instrumental memories.     

Evaluation of the National Prevention Program in Iran, 2007–2009: the Accomplishments and Challenges with Reflections on the Path Ahead

β-Thalassemia major (β-TM) is an inherited disease and efforts have been made in several countries to reduce the number of affected births. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the Iranian thalassemia prevention program, considered to be an important program in the region. The time period of the present study ranges from 2007–2009, during which new thalassemic births and the relevant causes were evaluated throughout the country. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO), Tehran, Iran. A questionnaire was forwarded to all blood centers of the IBTO so as to obtain information about the new cases of thalassemia and the causes of these thalassemic births. Provincial thalassemia societies also received the questionnaires so that screening and prenatal diagnosis (PND) errors would be recorded. The results showed that 755 new thalassemia cases were born during 2007–2009 with the average fall in affected thalassemia births of 80.82%. The main cause of the new births was attributed to unregistered “timeless religious marriages” based on the conventions of the Sunni community which accounted for 43.17% of all new cases mainly having occurred in Sistan & Baluchestan Province. Not using PND was evaluated to be another main cause. Although the prevention program has led to a great reduction in thalassemic births, new measures are required, including research on how to make the program compatible with social and economic conventions and norms of Sistan & Baluchestan Province. The province of Kohgiluyeh Boyer Ahmad also needs to be revisited in terms of the program efficacy.     

Effect of completion of cardiac rehabilitation on heart rate recovery

To evaluate the effects of a cardiac rehabilitation program on heart rate recovery after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, a historical cohort study was performed on 436 patients of whom 285 were grouped on completion of 5, 10, or 24 training sessions. All 3 groups showed significant improvements in heart rate recovery, peak heart rate during treadmill testing, and end-training heart rate, from baseline to follow-up. Heart rate recovery on follow-up correlated significantly with the number of completed exercise sessions. The number of sessions, baseline ejection fraction, and age were independent predictors of mean post-training heart rate recovery. The cardiac rehabilitation program had a significant effect on peak heart rate and heart rate recovery, regardless of the underlying characteristics of the patients.     

Potential role of Nigella sativa supplementation with physical activity in prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19: a contemporary review

Sport Sciences for Health - The widespread prevalence and mortality of coronavirus diseases-2019 (COVID-19) lead many researchers to study the SARS-CoV-s2 infection to find a treatment for this...     

Randomized controlled trial of aripiprazole versus risperidone for the treatment of amphetamine-induced psychosis

Background: Lifetime prevalence of amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder is reported as being up to 23% for methamphetamine (MA) abusers. Approximately 25% of those with a baseline DSM-IV diagnosis of substance-induced psychosis are diagnosed with primary psychosis at one-year follow-up. Evidence on the treatment of amphetamine psychosis is very limited. Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of risperidone versus aripiprazole in treatment of amphetamine-induced psychotic symptoms. Methods: In a double-blind study, 45 participants were randomly allocated to either aripiprazole 15?mg or risperidone 4?mg daily over a six-week trial. Positive and negative symptoms of psychosis were assessed using the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) at baseline and completion of the trial. Results: SANS and SAPS scores decreased significantly in both groups. Mean SAPS score reduction in risperidone and aripiprazole group was 16.20 and 10.80, respectively, after trial course (p?p?=?0.08). Conclusions: Both aripiprazole and risperidone were effective for patients diagnosed with amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder. However, risperidone had the greater effect on positive psychotic symptoms while patients with negative symptoms may respond better to aripiprazole. There is a case for further studies evaluating the efficacy of atypical antipsychotics in this disorder.     

Evaluation of Onlay Island Flap Technique in Shallow Urethral Plate Hypospadiasis

Background:

Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital genital anomalies in males that necessitates to be operated early in infancy (when 6 to 9 months old). On the other hand, hypospadias is a challenging field of pediatric urology with multiple reconstruction techniques. A perfect hypospadias repair is supposed to return urethral continuity with sufficient caliber, eradicate phallus curvature, and supply an acceptable appearance with low complications.

Objectives:

This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of using onlay island flap technique in the repair of hypospadias with shallow urethral plate.

Patients and Methods:

In this prospective study within June 2012 to December 2013, we performed onlay island flap procedure to repair hypospadias with shallow urethral plate measuring less than 6 millimeter. This technique was selected for all types of hypospadiasis except subcoronal type. Nesbit’s dorsal plication procedure was established for chordee. In cases with very small glans, urethroplasty was performed without glansplasty.

Results:

Twenty three patients with mean age of 30 (range 10 - 60) months underwent onlay island flap repair; all had a shallow urethral plate < 6 mm, 3 had a very small glans, and 18 had chordee. Meatus was located in distal shaft in 5 cases, mid shaft in 8, proximal in 6 and penoscrotal type in 4 patients. Chordee was corrected with Nesbit’s dorsal plication in 16 cases. Complications were: meatal stenosis in 2 cases and urethrocutaneous fistula in 2 patients, all of which were repaired surgically. Mean follow up time was 13 (3 - 20) months. All cases that had glansplasty have excellent esthetic appearance.

Conclusions:

This technique offers acceptable results regarding meatal stenosis, urethrocutaneous fistula and esthetic outcome.     

“Life behind the mask”: Sexual life of Iranian women with multiple sclerosis

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating and life-long disease that affects the sexual life of people. However, in Iran little attention has been paid to the sexual life of women with MS.