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This study aimed to determine the frequency of CT scan involvement due to COVID-19 pneumonia in different age groups of patients.

Patients with COVID-19 were referred to Amir al-Momenin Hospital in Arak City from May 2020 to June 2021. Age, sex, history of underlying disease, and CT scan results were recorded. CT scan Scores on the 5th to 8th day for patients were determined. The prepared CT scan was evaluated, and the pattern of pulmonary involvement and the prevalence of involvement in the lobes were assessed separately (upper, lower, peripheral, and bronchovascular fairytale).

Overall, 349 patients were included. The mean age was 50.89 years. The most common involvement of the right lower lobe was 92% and the left lower lobe was 89.1%. Most patients had peripheral lung involvement. The average number of lobes involved was 4.14. GGO and GGO and Consolidation were correlated with younger patients. Higher Consolidations were observed in the age groups of 30 to 50 and 50 to 70. Crazy Paving is more common in the elderly and Halo was more common in young patients. The severity of lung involvement and the number of lobes involved were associated with high age.

Different age groups have specific features in CT scans to assess COVID-19 patients. Crazy Paving Appearance, Subplural bands, GGO, and Consolidation were seen in the elderly and severe/critical patients. Also, the amount of involvement and the number of lobes involved in the lungs of patients increases in patients of high age.

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease affecting connective tissues, (including epidermal, subepidermal, microvasculature, etc.), leading to various extent of end-organ damage. The leading cause of mortality among these patients is lung involvement. The cardiovascular events happen more frequently in patients suffering systemic scleroderma, comparing to healthy population. This study was designed to clear the correlation between development of coronary calcification (as an indicator of atherosclerosis) and lung disease in these patients.

All patients with definite diagnosis of systemic sclerosis, who referred to Shahid Modarres Hospital between March 2011and March 2014, entered to the study. Patients suffering hypertension, hyperlipidemia and who had a past or current history of smoking were excluded from the study. Atherosclerosis was determined by coronary calcium score (based on Agatston score) and the severity and extent of lung disease was assessed by wells scoring system and Warrick scoring system (based on lung CT scan without contrast). The spearman correlation analysis was done on the data by SPSS software, version 20 (IBM SPSS, Armonk, NY, USA). All the patients had informed consent and no additive charge was delivered.

The study population consisted of 25 patients with systemic sclerosis. 21 patients were female and the 4 other ones were male. The mean age was 67±4 years old. The mean Wells score in patients was 13±2.59, the mean Warrick severity score was 6.54±6.16 and the mean Warrick extent score was 14.42±14.59. No correlation was observed between presence of calcification in coronary arteries (Wells score r2=0.63  P=0.77, severity score r2=0.27, P=0.2, extent score r2=0.11, P=0.6), aorta annulus (Wells score r2=0.04, P=0.83, severity score r2=0.06, P=0.77, extent score r2=0.06,  P=0.76) and thoracic aorta (Wells score r2=0.05, P=0.83, severity score r2=0.03, P=0.9, extent score r2=0.03, P=0.9) with the severity and extent of lung involvement.

It seems that the presence of coronary atherosclerosis or calcifications in aorta annulus and thoracic aorta (assessed by Agatston calcium score) has no significant correlation with the severity and extent of lung disease (assessed by Wells and Warrick score) in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Methamphetamine dependence on a stable methadone dose is a health problem in Iran (i.e. the most populated Persian Gulf country). However, many Iranian patients are not motivated to enter treatment.
The study aimed to assess the efficacy of motivational interviewing for entry to matrix treatment for methamphetamine dependence.
A study was conducted on 275 Persian male and female methadone patients who were methamphetamine-dependent, however they reported unwillingness to receive the matrix model. The study was conducted in 20 methadone services in Karaj, Iran during 2014. Addiction severity index was used to collect data on demographics and illicit drug use. Psychological well-being and social functioning were assessed using the Persian versions of the general health questionnaire-28 and the social functioning subscale of the opiate treatment index.
The study indicated that 5 sessions of motivational interviewing were significantly efficacious in increasing attendance in the Matrix Model in the treatment group (P Motivational interviewing should be provided for those participants who are methamphetamine dependent but are not motivated for change. Conducting randomized controlled trials is suggested.