A Study of the Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in Patients with Methamphetamine-Induced Psychosis

Abstract Background: The abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances such as amphetamines and ecstasy has had a growing trend. Tachycardia, increased blood pressure, hallucinations, panic attacks, and psychosis are the negative effects of methamphetamine abuse. The present study aimed to assess psychiatric disorders associated with methamphetamine-induced psychotic disorder. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed from October 2013 to March 2014 on 165 patients hospitalized at Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kerman, Iran, and diagnosed with psychosis induced by methamphetamine abuse within the previous 6 months. Study subjects were selected via census method. Based on the exclusion criteria and due to the lack of cooperation of some patients, 121 patients were enrolled in the study. Research data were gathered using clinical interviews, the Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale (Y-BOCS), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAM-A) and Hamilton rating scale for depression (HRSD), Young mania rating scale (YMRS), substance dependence severity scale (SDSS), positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), and clinical global impression (CGI) scale. The data analysis was performed using SPSS software, descriptive statistics, and ANOVA. Findings: Among the 121 patients of the sample group, 4 patients (3.3%) had anxiety, 58 patients (47.9%) depression, 30 patients (24.8%) obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 20 patients (16.5%) bipolar mood disorder (BMD), 8 patients (6.6%) persistent psychotic symptoms, 85 patients (70.2%) personality disorder, and 36 patients (29.8%) had no personality disorders. The highest prevalence was related to borderline personality disorder (35.5%). However, 45 patients (37.2%) had no impairment associated with methamphetamine-induced psychosis. Conclusion: It seems that there is comorbidity between psychiatric disorders, including mood disorders, especially depressive disorder, childhood history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorders, and methamphetamine abuse. Keywords: Methamphetamine, Depression, Anxiety, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Manic disorder, Sustained psychotic symptoms, Personality disorde

Treatment with platelet lysate induces endothelial differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells under fluid shear stress

By considering stem cell-based therapies as a new hope for the treatment of some tragic diseases, marrow stromal cells or marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were considered as a suitable and safe multipotential cell source for this new therapeutic approach. For this purpose, many investigations have been performed on differentiation of MSCs toward specific cell lines to overcome the demand for providing the organ specific cells for cell therapy or preparation of engineered tissues. In the present study, differentiation of MSCs to endothelial cells (ECs) by mechanical and chemical stimulation was evaluated. Fluid shear stress (FSS) was used as mechanical inducer, while platelet lysate (PL) and estradiol (E) were used as chemical induction factors. MSCs were placed under FSS with different forces (2, 5 and 10 dyn/cm²) for different periods (6, 12 and 24 hours). In some groups, PL and E were added to the culture media to evaluate their effect on expression of EC specific markers. This investigation revealed that FSS with low tension (2.5-5 dyn/cm²) for a long time (24 hours) or high tension (10 dyn/cm²) in short time (6 hours) in the presence of PL could differentiate MSCs toward ECs. The presence of PL was necessary for initiation of endothelial differentiation, and in the absence of PL, there was not any expression of CD34 and Cadherin5 (Cdh5) among cells. Adding E to the culture medium did not change the rate of endothelial differentiation under FSS. Generated endothelial progenitors could produce von Willebrand factor (vWF) after two weeks culture and also they formed tubular structures after culture on matrigel

Efficacy of the Biomaterials 3 wt%-nanostrontium-hydroxyapatite-enhanced Calcium Phosphate Cement (nanoSr-CPC) and nanoSr-CPC-incorporated Simvastatin-loaded Poly(lactic-co-glycolic-acid) Microspheres in Osteogenesis Improvement

Aims The purpose of this multi-phase explorative in vivo animal/surgical and in vitro multi-test experimental study was to (1) create a 3 wt%-nanostrontium hydroxyapatite-enhanced calcium phosphate cement (Sr-HA/CPC) for increasing bone formation and (2) creating a simvastatin-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (SIM-loaded PLGA) microspheres plus CPC composite (SIM-loaded PLGA + nanostrontium-CPC). The third goal was the extensive assessment of multiple in vitro and in vivo characteristics of the above experimental explorative products in vitro and in vivo (animal and surgical studies). Methods and results pertaining to Sr-HA/CPC Physical and chemical properties of the prepared Sr-HA/CPC were evaluated. MTT assay and alkaline phosphatase activities, and radiological and histological examinations of Sr-HA/CPC, CPC and negative control were compared. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that crystallinity of the prepared cement increased by increasing the powder-to-liquid ratio. Incorporation of Sr-HA into CPC increased MTT assay (biocompatibility) and ALP activity (P \u3c 0.05). Histomorphometry showed greater bone formation after 4 weeks, after implantation of Sr-HA/CPC in 10 rats compared to implantations of CPC or empty defects in the same rats (n = 30, ANOVA P \u3c 0.05). Methods and results pertaining to SIM-loaded PLGA microspheres + nanostrontium-CPC composite After SEM assessment, the produced composite of microspheres and enhanced CPC were implanted for 8 weeks in 10 rabbits, along with positive and negative controls, enhanced CPC, and enhanced CPC plus SIM (n = 50). In the control group, only a small amount of bone had been regenerated (localized at the boundary of the defect); whereas, other groups showed new bone formation within and around the materials. A significant difference was found in the osteogenesis induced by the groups sham control (16.96 ± 1.01), bone materials (32.28 ± 4.03), nanostrontium-CPC (24.84 ± 2.6), nanostrontium-CPC-simvastatin (40.12 ± 3.29), and SIM-loaded PLGA + nanostrontium-CPC (44.8 ± 6.45) (ANOVA P \u3c 0.001). All the pairwise comparisons were significant (Tukey P \u3c 0.01), except that of nanostrontium-CPC-simvastatin and SIM-loaded PLGA + nanostrontium-CPC. This confirmed the efficacy of the SIM-loaded PLGA + nanostrontium-CPC composite, and its superiority over all materials except SIM-containing nanostrontium-CPC

Risk driven requirements specification (RiDeRS) of IT-based homecare systems

Use of IT in providing homecare services to elderly people is expected to reduce the workload of care-providers. It is also expected that this will increase the quality of services by providing services round-the-clock and will support independent living of the elderly. However, ITbased care systems can also introduce new types of risks such as those related to availability and accountability. This can possibly lead to a decline of using such expensive IT-based homecare systems in practice. In order to prevent this, we propose a method to identify potential risks of using such a system, and to specify additional requirements of the system to mitigate or prevent these risks. We validate the usability and potential utility of our approach by three experiments using a case from the homecare domain. We discuss whether the proposed approach can be generalized for use in the wider class of adaptive critical systems

Native copper formation associated with serpentinization in the Cheshmeh-Bid ophiolite massif (Southern Iran)

We would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers, and the editor Marco Scambelluri for their constructive and valuable comments and suggestions on our manuscript. Valentina Batanova and Valerie Magnin (ISTerre) are thanked for their help during the electron microprobe measurements. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to local people in Khajeh-Jamali village and workers from the Fars Chromite Company. The work of L. E. Aradi and Cs. Szabo was supported by the ELTE Institutional Excellence Program (TKP2020-IKA-05) managed by the Hungarian Ministry of Human Capacities. The work of G. Grieco was supported by the Italian Ministry of Education (MIUR) through the projects "PRIN2017 -Mineral reactivity, a key to understand large-scale processes" (2017L83S77) and " Dipartimenti di Eccellenza 2018-2022". C.M.s research has been funded by project PID2019-111715GB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.In the Cheshmeh-Bid district of the Khajeh-Jamali ophiolitic massifs (Southern Iran), mantle peridotites are intruded by abundant pyroxenite dykes. A few of these dykes are remarkable for the occurrence of native copper associated with the development of a metasomatic reaction zone. The dykes are progressively reacted, from their margins towards the center, with an amphibole + antigorite selvage, followed by a centimeter-thick clinopyroxene + antigorite assemblage and, finally, by the native copper-bearing zone consisting of clinopyroxene + chlorite + antigorite. Native Cu occurs along cleavages and partially healed fractures in clinopyroxene, and as massive grains intergrown with antigorite. Copper isotope signatures and thermodynamic calculations show that the main driver for reaction zone formation is Ca-metasomatism. Native copper forms at the expense of chalcocite in the reaction zone. Such a reaction can only occur in reducing conditions, in agreement with the analysis of fluid inclusions composition displaying H-2 and CH4. Such fluids presumably originated from the hydration of mantle rocks. The observed reaction zone and native copper mineralization are thus interpreted as the result of Ca-metasomatism during hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic lithosphere. This is consistent with U/Pb dating of titanite, suggesting formation during the Albian when the dykes were exposed on the seafloor in a supra-subduction setting. The source for copper mineralization, as revealed by Cu isotopes, is probably mantle-like.ELTE Institutional Excellence Program TKP2020-IKA-05Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) 2017L83S77Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) PID2019-111715GB-I00/AEI/10.13039/50110001103

Study of photovoltaic (PV) module interconnections failure analysis and reliability

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the award of Doctor of Philosophy.Solar Energy is one of the most widely used renewable energy sources, with the solar Photovoltaic (PV) module technologies deployed as one of the primary renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels. However, the R&D challenge for improving the performance and reliability of PV modules has become an urgent and critical agenda for the energy generation industry sector. The interconnection between the solar PV cells is a very important part of the PV module assembly, and its failure can adversely affect the performance and reliability of the PV module. The interconnection failure has been mostly linked to the crack initiation and propagation in the solder joints used to connect the ribbon interconnection to the cell. This research focuses on the study of the thermal failure of PV module solder joint to determine the optimum ribbon interconnection designs that will give improved thermo-mechanical reliability. It develops a virtual reliability qualification process for the assessment of the life expectancy of PV module interconnections. The FEM simulations in ABAQUS 2019 software are implemented to investigate failure of the solder joints in different ribbon interconnection designs under anticipated life cycle loading conditions and high temperature lamination process. For the first time, the extended finite element method (XFEM) technique is used to determine the crack initiation temperature, crack location, direction and growth rate in solder joint of PV module interconnection under lamination process. Furthermore, the research used the Developed Morrow Energy Density lifetime model to determine the number of cycles to creep-fatigue failure, and then it defined a new generic exponent factor using the Coffin–Manson–Arrhenius model to estimate the lifetime for the designs under different thermal cycling conditions. The research also combines the numerical results of XFEM and creep-fatigue investigation to determine the failure lifetime of PV Module interconnection designs. The results show that the Multi-Busbar interconnection design improves solder joint creep-fatigue life (up to 15%) and consequently provides higher thermo-mechanical reliability for the solar PV modules compared to other studied designs (Conventional and the Light Capturing Ribbon interconnections). The results of this PV module interconnections study can be used for evaluating potential design changes and to facilitate design for reliability validation of different configurations for improving the long-term PV module system reliability.Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton

Neuropsychological function in relation to dysmenorrhea in adolescents

Objective: Hormonal variations during the menstrual cycle may affect emotional regulation. We aimed to investigate the association between dysmenorrhea (the severe abdominal pain and cramps associated with menstruation) and cognitive abilities, emotional function and sleep patterns in adolescent girls. Moreover, we evaluated the frequency of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in our population and then divided them into 4 groups: subjects with only PMS; subjects with only dysmenorrhea; individuals with both PMS and dysmenorrhea and normal subjects. Study design: In this cross sectional study, 897 adolescent girls who had entered menarche were recruited. Of these, 35.9% had only dysmenorrhea, 14.9% had only PMS, 32.7% had both PMS and dysmenorrhea while 16.5% had no PMS and/or dysmenorrhea (Normal). We assessed the tests for cognitive, emotional function and sleep patterns were compared for these groups. Results: Individuals in the dysmenorrhea group had significantly higher depression, aggression, insomnia, daytime sleepiness and sleep apnea scores compared to normal controls and the PMS group, but did not have significantly different cognitive ability (P value < 0.05). These differences were strongly correlated to pain intensity (P < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between those with only PMS and control subjects with regard to cognitive ability, emotional function and sleep pattern tests. Conclusions: Dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent among adolescents and appears to be associated with depressive mood, a tendency to aggressive behavior and sleep disorders among adolescent girls. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Effect of probiotics in diarrhea and GE Reflux in pediatrics.

Probiotics are defined as nonpathogenic bacterial depravities (Lactobacillus GG Enterococcus faecium,Lactobacilus acidophilus &amp; Bifidobacterium bifidum) that provides better ,and normal intestinal floral and&nbsp; function ,which balances Intestinal micro-organism and supports the immune system. One of the most common form of diarrhea is Antibiotic induced diarrhea, in which probiotics are used as preservative therapy. A significant number of patients with diarrhea are children (infant –toddler), who have underdeveloped immune system and diarrhea may cause life-threatening event. GE reflux is a common disease in infants. probiotics are now taking a part in the treatment of these children but it is not approved by FDA, although some surveys have shown its benefits. Introduction: The aim of this study is to see the role of probiotics in prevention and treatment of diarrhea and control of GE reflux, versus its high cost. Methods and Results: Four groups were studied in this analysis. The first group had diarrhea without probiotic treatment, the second group were patients with GE Reflux without probiotic treatment. The third group had diarrhea treated with probiotics, and the fourth group had GE reflux and were treated with probiotics. We used patients precise age, weight. variables were sex(female/male)age, (months), weight duration of disease with and without probiotics. In this study mean age was 24 months ,the minimum was 6 months and maximum was 78 months.58%of them were male and 42% were female. The mean treatment duration in group1 was 10 days. In third group was 7days which was reduced by 3 days. The mean treatment duration in group 2 was nearby 26 days. In third group was&nbsp; near 25 days. Conclusions: Probiotics have significantly reduced the duration of diarrhea but there has not been a prominent improvement in duration of disease in GE Reflux

Critical Review of the Book Social Studies of Technology; Theoretical and Interdisciplinary Reflection

The purpose of this article is to critically evaluate the book titled “Social Studies of Technology: Theoretical and Interdisciplinary Reflection” by Reza Samim. Science and Technology Studies is an interdisciplinary field that has been ignored in the Iranian scientific context and has not received much attention by scientists and researchers. The publication of this book has helped to enrich the scientific literature of this field in the country. Another advantage of this book is to provide some of the local and cultural considerations in the area of science and technology studies. The content evaluation of the book shows that since the book editor had not had a clear picture of the questions in this field of study, he was not very successful in organizing the articles in both theoretical and interdisciplinary reflections. The presentation of the theoretical and interdisciplinary topics in most papers is mainly focused on the sociological perspective of technology and, therefore, its viewpoint seems to be closer to the traditional and conventional view in which the relationship between science and technology and society than to new approach named Science and Technology Studies. Also, categorizing the book's articles into two sections of theoretical and interdisciplinary reflections is not very meaningful considering interdisciplinary field of study, and perhaps a justified distinction should be made between the two sections of theoretical reflections and appropriate case studies