The changes of social performance with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in depressed patients

Objectives

The purpose of this study was investigating the effectiveness of rTMS (repetitive transcranial of magnetic stimulation) on increase social performance in patients with recurrent major depression.

Method

It was used a quasi-experimental, pretest–posttest design with control group, a sample consisting of 32 patients who had depression on the basis of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, SCID and BDI-II scales and were randomly assigned to two groups.

The experimental group underwent 20 sessions of rTMS as the independent factor and both groups (control & experimental) had 12-session psychotherapy and drugs treatment. Upon the intervention, both groups were tested with two tests (BDI-II & SASS). To determine the effect of the independent factor on the dependent factor of rTMS.

Data were analyzed by t-test.

Results

The comparison between pre- & posttest of all the tests showed the reduction of signs & symptoms of depression, (a = 0/05) (Beck scale P ≤ 0/001 & F = 30) and increase social performance in participants (P ≤ 0/001 & F = 83).

Conclusion

The rTMS is effect in the reduction of signs & symptoms of depression and increase social functioning in recurrent major depression.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The Effect of Er:YAG Laser Irradiation and Different Concentrations of Sodium Hypochlorite on Shear Bond Strength of Composite to Primary Teeth's Dentin

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of various concentrations of NaOCl on shear bond strength of composite resin to dentin of primary teeth, prepared with laser and bur. Methods: In this in vitro study, 48 primary molars were sectioned at mesiodistal direction and were randomly divided into 6 groups; G1: bur, G2: bur + NaOCl 2.5%, G3: bur + NaOCl 5.25%, G4: laser, G5: laser + NaOCl 2.5%, G6: laser + NaOCl 5.25%. One-Step Plus adhesive was applied after phosphoric acid gel and NaOCl over the dentin surfaces for all groups, and composite resin cylinders were bonded to the samples. After thermocycling, shear bond strengths of composite resin to dentin were measured and statistical analyses were done by means of t test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The mean shear bond strength showed no significant difference between the groups prepared with bur (13.82 ± 3.49) and laser (14.18 ± 3.65) (P > 0.05). The mean difference of shear bond strength between three groups G1, G2 and G3 and between G4, G5 and G6 were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) figures showed an irregular surface in laser groups and fairly complete removal of smear layer from the orifices of the dentinal tubules, in the group in which NaOCl was used. Conclusion: The application of different concentrations of NaOCl does not significantly improve the bond strength in dentin surfaces prepared with laser or bur.

Protective effects of Iranian Achillea wilhelmsii essential oil on acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress in rat liver

CONTEXT

Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch (Asteraceae) is widely used in Iranian traditional medicine.

OBJECTIVE

This in vivo study evaluates the hepatoprotective role of Iranian A. wilhelmsii oils against acetaminophen-induced oxidative damages in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The animals were divided into five groups: in negative control and control groups, the DMSO and 500 mg/kg acetaminophen were i.p. injected, respectively. In treatment groups, 100 and 200 mg/kg oils and 10 mg/kg BHT were given i.p. immediately after acetaminophen administration. Then, the hepatic oxidative/antioxidant parameters such as lipid peroxidation (LP), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were measured in time intervals (2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 h) after administrations confirmed by histophatological consideration at 24 h.

RESULTS

The results indicated that acetaminophen caused a significant elevation in SOD activity (8-24 h) and LP and FRAP levels (4 h) paralleled with significant decline in GSH level (4 and 8 h). The apparent oxidative injury was associated with evident hepatic necrosis confirmed in histological examination. The presences of A. wilhelmsii oils (100 and 200 mg/kg) with acetaminophen mitigated significantly the rise in SOD, LP, and FRAP levels and restored the GSH compared with the group treated with acetaminophen. These were confirmed by histological examination indicating the hepatic necrosis reversal by the oils.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that concomitant administration of A. wilhelmsii oils with acetaminophen may be useful in reversing the drug hepatotoxicity.

Investigation of STW 5 (Iberogast®) preventive effects in experimental sepsis

CONTEXT

STW 5 (Iberogast(®)) is a well known herbal combination drug containing glycosides and flavonoids for which multiple pharmacological properties have been shown.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, attempts were made to assess whether STW 5, an aqueous ethanol solution, has a preventive effect against liver and lung pathological damage in rats after experimental induction of sepsis [cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)].

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental sepsis was induced in rats using CLP operation. The rats (n = 36) were divided into six groups (six/group): Sham-operated (SOP); CLP; CLP + STW 5 (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) and CLP + indomethacin. The drugs were injected intraperitoneally immediately after sepsis induction.

RESULTS

It was found that induction of sepsis 24 h after CLP was associated with significant liver and lung damage, also remaining after STW 5 administration.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

It appears that STW 5, which has a pronounced efficacy in functional gastro-intestinal diseases, has no effect on septic liver and lung damage in the CLP rat model.

Inhibitory effects of dietary caraway essential oils on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis is mediated by liver xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes

The effects of dietary essential oils prepared from caraway seeds on colon carcinogenesis induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) in rats has been studied. The number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and aberrant crypt (AC) induced by DMH were found to be significantly inhibited in colon of rats treated with essential oils in diet (0.01 and 0.1%). To find out the mechanism(s) by which the essential oils reduced colon premalignancies, plasma, liver, and colon tissues were collected and analyzed for parameters related to oxidative stress and xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes. Lack of influence of caraway extracts on hepatic lipid peroxidation products, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) may suggest that the oils do not interfere with these factors. However, it was clearly shown that DMH-related changes in hepatic and colonic cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and glutathione S-transferae (GST) activities were recovered in liver but not in colon tissue in animals treated with caraway oil preparations. In conclusion, histopathological and biochemical data clearly showed that inhibition of colon premalignant lesions induced by DMH is mediated by interference of caraway oil components in the activities of the main hepatic xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes.

Frequency of ABO blood group in peptic ulcer disease in Iranian subjects

The relationship between ABO blood group distribution and Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) has been widely evaluated in the past. But data concerning the same evaluation are very limited in Iran. This study sought to determine the distribution of ABO blood group in patients with PUD in Iranian subjects. Eighty-one patients with PUD (51 male and 30 female; mean age: 49 +/- 18 years) who attended our endoscopy section were enrolled. Blood samples were used for ABO/Rhesus (Rh) blood group antigen typing. The ABO blood group phenotype distribution in subjects was as follows: 37.1% (30/81) for group A, 23.4% (19/81) for group B, 35.6% (28/81) for group O and 4.9% (4/81) for group AB. Rh positivity was found in 63% (51/81) of patients. In local healthy population, ABO/Rh blood group distribution was 33.8, 20.7, 34.7, 8.4 and 89.6% for A, B, O, AB and Rh, respectively. AB blood group distribution in healthy population was higher than PUD (8.4 vs 4.9%). In contrast, Rh positivity of PUD in Iran is lower than healthy subjects (63 vs 89.6%). Variation in the results of studies is related to different study communities. According to these results, probably ABO/Rh blood group has an important role in patients with peptic ulceration. The functional significance of ABO blood group distribution might be associated with biological behavior of PUD. The impact of blood group on PUD may be a focus for further studies.

Validity and reliability of Infant Neurological International Battery for detection of gross motor developmental delay in Iran

BACKGROUND

Child development screening is important issue for early detection of developmental delay and disability. Children in different environment acquire developmental abilities at different age. In this paper we report the examination of Infant Neurological International Battery (INFANIB) as a screening tool for early detection of gross motor developmental delay in Iran.

METHODS

In this study, we reported the result of a study which was conducted on 6150 consecutive 4- to 18-month infants who were referred form Karaj Health Network (Tehran Province) over a 12-month period. A questionnaire was filled for each child, and an evaluation was carried out with INFANIB by occupational therapists. Assessed infants had been classified in three categories: normal, transiently abnormal and abnormal neuro-development. The transient group infants were divided to normal and abnormal group after 3 months' follow-up. The abnormal group was referred to developmental centre for neuro-developmental examination. For depicting validity of the test, some of the normal, transient and abnormal group was evaluated randomly by paediatrician for neuro-developmental exam and for reliability of test between paediatrician and occupational therapist 54 infants scored randomly by both of them.

RESULTS

The INFANIB was valid for normal and abnormal group with 90% sensitivity, 83% specificity, 79% positive predictive value and 93% negative predictive value (NPV). Also the reliability coefficient between the examiners (paediatrician and occupational therapists) was calculated, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.90.

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate that INFANIB is proposed as an appropriate screening test in developing countries such as Iran as a reliable measurement of gross motor developmental delay and short time of performing.

Pattern of social interaction in societies of the Asia-Pacific region

The authors developed an 18-item Social Interaction Inventory that yielded a factorial structure based on the 3 domains of social interaction: interpersonal, personal, and extrapersonal. They administered the inventory to samples from 15 countries of the Asia-Pacific region (N = 146). The participants in the different cultural groups preferred to interact more within the interpersonal (in-group) domain as compared with the personal (individual) and extrapersonal (out-group) domains. The findings reflect a collective pattern, rather than an individualistic pattern, of social interaction in the societies of the Asia-Pacific region.

Body consciousness in Dohsa-hou, a Japanese psychorehabilitative program

To seven cerebral palsied children in a special elementary school, Dohsa-hou, a Japanese psychorehabilitative program, was introduced in a pre-post design. With the help of their mothers in writing they rated on a 5-point scale changes in their body consciousness by applying 8 1-hr. sessions of Dohsa-hou training to each child. Analysis suggests a significant positive change after training in body consciousness of these children especially for private as compared to public body consciousness.

Use of dohsa-hou, a Japanese psychorehabilitative program, to guide motor activity of young adults with cerebral palsy

Dohsa-hou, a Japanese psychorehabilitation method for motor training, was introduced to 10 subjects with cerebral palsy in a pre-post (6-wk.) design. Four expert raters were asked to judge the improvement in range of motion, ease and smoothness of movement, correctness of posture) of these subjects. Findings suggest that the training method had a significant effect on body movement as compared to body posture. Since the effect may be peculiar to this subject group, further studies are suggested.