maryam vahdat shariatpanahi

This study was designed to examine the antidepressant effect of celecoxib (200 mg/day) augmentation of sertraline in the treatment of female patients with first episode of major depression over 8 weeks of therapy.Thirty female outpatients diagnosed with first episode of major depression, were recruited for this study. Participants were randomly assigned into two equal groups receiving either sertraline plus celecoxib 100 mg twice daily or sertraline plus placebo twice daily. Patients were assessed by Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scale at baseline, week 4 and week 8 of treatment. Both treatment groups showed notable improvement in their symptoms from baseline; however, celecoxib group showed greater decrease in Hamilton Depression Scores compared to the placebo group after four weeks of treatment. Response rates were also found to be significantly higher in the celecoxib group compared to the placebo group over 4 weeks. Nevertheless, the mentioned differences between two groups were not significant at the end of week 8. Also, remission rate was remarkably higher in celecoxib group in comparison with placebo at the end point. The results suggested that celecoxib may hasten the onset of therapeutic action of sertraline and increase response and remission rate in depressive disorders.

Problem Based learning help students to develop understanding and learning skills. The aim of this study was to compare the presentation of theoretical nutrition course through PBL method with that of contemporary method of lecture. In this quasi experimental study, 20 midwifery students of Ilam University of Medical Sciences who took the course of nutrition were entered into the survey through census. The first 8 sessions of course was instructed through lecture and the second 8 sessions through problem based learning method. At the end of two periods, mean level of score exams, presence in class, mean time for studying and percent of satisfaction were compared. Data was analyzed by SPSS software. The mean score of exam was significantly higher in second period of study. The mean time for studying and absence were significantly lower in second period of study. The mean score of satisfaction was significantly higher in the second period of study. There was no difference in mean days of absence between two groups (P= 0/6). The method of Problem Based Learning could be successful in increasing level of knowledge of students.

Insulin resistance is a feature of a number of clinical disorders including type 2 diabetes, glucose intolerance, obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension clustering in the so-called metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Ramadan fasting on insulin sensitivity in subjects with metabolic syndrome. In this study 55 males (34.1± 8.9 years) with metabolic syndrome were studied. Blood pressure, waist circumference, body weight, high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), triglyceride, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting blood insulin and insulin resistance indices (QUICKI or quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, HOMA-IR or Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and 1/HOMA-IR) were evaluated before and after 30 days of Ramadan fasting (2 meals at 12 hours intervals). The dietary intake was estimated by 24 h recall before and after fasting. The total daily energy intake was decreased by 56± 33.91 Kcal per day in the fasting period (p = 0.005). 1/HOMA-IR, QUICKI and HDL-C were significantly increased (p = 0.005, p = 0.001 and p = 0.004) and FPG significantly decreased (p < 0.005) after fasting. Simple linear regression analysis demonstrated that HOMA-IR, 1/HOMA-IR and QUICKI were related to waist circumference after intervention (r = 0.458, p < 0.001 r = -0.396, p < 0.05 r = -0.342, p < 0.05). This study showed that combined change in the number and timing of meals and portioning of the entire intake into only 2 meals per day might increase insulin sensitivity in subjects with metabolic syndrome even when the decrease in energy consumption was minimal.