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Introduction: One of the problems of the elderly is a decrease in balance and quality of life of senior citizens. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effect of fatigue on balance, motor function, lower limb strength, and quality of life of the two groups of elderly people at home and in a nursing home. Material & Methods: The present study was conducted based on a prospective quasiexperimental design. For this purpose, 35 elderly women at home and 35 elderly women in nursing homes in Miyaneh were selected via available sampling. To carry out the fatigue protocol, the subjects performed sitting and standing movements with their hands on their chests. Subjects were administered the relevant tests under normal conditions and without fatigue. In the second session, which was held 48 hours later, the subjects performed the fatigue protocol and then performed balance, motor function (TUG), and lower limb strength tests (number of takeoff and landing chairs). The quality of life in both groups was assessed using the Leipad Elderly Quality of Life questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24) using independent and dependent t-tests. Results: The results demonstrated a significant difference (P=0.001) between the two groups of elderly women in nursing homes and those living at home in terms of motor function, strength, and quality of life. Nonetheless, there was no significant difference (P=0.127) in the balance of the two elderly groups. Discussion & Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of this study, the quality of life of the elderly in nursing homes was lower than that of the elderly at home, and fatigue can exert a more marked effect on the motor function and strength of these people. Therefore, it is recommended to prioritize the design of exercise interventions with the approach of increasing the fatigue threshold to improve the parameters related to the quality of life of the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Technology-based interventions, such as electrical brain stimulation may be effective in the cognitive and personality processes of substance abusers, including nicotine dependents. Objective We conducted this study to investigate the effectiveness of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) using alpha frequency on inhibitory control and impulsivity in nicotine-dependent individuals. Methods We used a pre-test/post-test/follow-up quasi-experimental design with control and sham groups. We selected 30 eligible nicotine addicts from Mashhad using the available sampling method and randomly divided the subjects into three groups. We applied the intervention in eight sessions for 20 minutes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for the first group, fake interventions for the second group, and no intervention for the third group. The Fagerström questionnaire, Barrett impulsivity questionnaire, and go-no-go task were used to collect data. After eight sessions, people’s inhibitory control and impulsivity were evaluated and analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Also, after two months, we evaluated inhibitory control data with repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results The effectiveness of alpha-tACS intervention on short- and long-term inhibitory control was significantly different in the experimental group compared to other groups (P=0.001). There was no significant difference between these three groups in impulsivity (P=0.700). Conclusion Alpha-tACS intervention effectively increases inhibitory control in nicotine-dependent individuals but does not explicitly affect their impulsivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite the negative consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health, our knowledge of the changes in the severity of symptoms of psychological disorders during the pandemic is insufficient. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the symptoms of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety in the student population during the covid-19 pandemic. Method: This study is a longitudinal descriptive study in terms of data collection. A sample of 376 people was selected with the convenience sampling method from the Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Zanjan National University undergraduate students using an online research platform (Porsal). The sample was evaluated in 4 stages at 6-month intervals from April 2020 to September 2021. BDI-II, BAI, GAD-7, OCI-R, and SPIN were used for data collection. The data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA using SPSS version 26, and R software. Results: During the Covid-19 pandemic, the intensity of symptoms of anxiety (p=0.008), obsessive-compulsive (p=0.023) and generalized anxiety (p=0.052) had an increasing trend, and with the subsidence of the pandemic conditions, the intensity of these symptoms has also been reduced. However, the intensity of depression was continuously increasing (p=0.001), and the intensity of social anxiety also had slight changes (p=0.964). Conclusion: Covid-19 pandemic has caused a significant increase in the severity of the symptoms of psychological disorders; therefore, it is necessary to investigate the underlying factors of these changes and other psychological consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic by conducting more extensive studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and practical treatment method for patients with severe, refractory, or emergency psychiatric disorders. However, ECT is often associated with hemodynamic fluctuations. Objective This study aims to investigate the patterns of hemodynamic changes in patients undergoing ECT. Methods This longitudinal study was conducted in Shafa Hospital, a referral and academic center in Rasht City, Iran, in 2020. The hemodynamic parameters, including heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded before the induction of anesthesia (T0), 1 min after the induction of anesthesia (T1), 1 min after the seizure (T2), and 15 min after the wakefulness (T3). The trend of changes of these parameters was compared in the above-mentioned time intervals. Results The data from 126 patients were analyzed. Most of the cases were diagnosed with a psychotic disorder of schizophrenia (59.5%) and a minority had major depression (14.3%). Meanwhile, 15.9% of the patients suffered from comorbidities. In terms of SBP, DBP, and MAP, the trend of changes was significant (P=0.0001) at four measurement point times, but this was not true for HR (P=0.74). However, all changes in the hemodynamic parameters were kept in the normal range. Conclusion Our study showed that despite the fluctuations in the hemodynamic parameters during ECT, patient management was acceptable as a result of the teamwork and appropriate interaction of psychiatric and anesthesia teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the most common childhood disorders considered by psychologists and psychiatrists is Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, which leads to attention deficit, hyperactivity and impulsivity in affected people. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Chess training in students with ADHD. Method: The statistical community of the present quasi-experimental study was 76 students with ADHD in Khorramabad city in the academic year of 2019-2020. 32 students were selected by convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups of 16 controls and experiments based on age, sex and pre-test results. And the experimental group received chess training for 11 consecutive weeks and a weekly session of 60 to 90 minutes. Subjects were evaluated three times (pre-test, post-test, two-week follow-up) with Connors and Swanson questionnaires and data were analyzed by ANOVA and Bonferroni test and Spss 21 software. Results: The results of the study showed a direct and high correlation between the results obtained from both Swanson and Connors measuring instruments and the positive effect of chess training on students with ADHD. (P=0.001, F=20.17). Conclusions: Due to the positive effect of Chess training on the symptoms of ADHD, it is suggested that Chess training be used to reduce the symptoms of ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Condylar fractures are one of the most common fractures of the facial region. Currently there is no general agreement on surgical or nonsurgical treatment of condylar fractures. Facial nerve injury is the known as an unfavorable consequence of surgical treatments. The aim of this study was to assess the application of retromandibular transmasseteric antero-parotid approach in open reduction and internal fixation of subcondylar fractures. Case Report: In a case series study from January 2014 to February 2015, 10 patients with subcondylar fractures underwent surgical treatment with retromandibular transmasseteric antero-parotid approach in Sina Educational/Treatment Center. Follow-ups were carried out at 1- and 2-week and 3- and 6-month postoperative intervals for the assessment of range of mouth opening, occlusion, facial nerve injury, salivary gland complications, infection and the amount of visible scar remaining. At 6-month follow-up of patients there was no case of facial nerve injury. All the patients exhibited normal range of motion of the mandible. Surgical scar was inconspicuous. Conclusion: Retromandibular transmasseteric antero-parotid approach is appropriate and safe for open reduction and internal fixation of subcondylar fractures. This can be the method of choice for high and low subcondylar fractures and also coronoid and ramus fractures. Despite short surgical incision, it provides direct surgical access to the fracture area and the remaining surgical scar is indistinctive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to compare postoperative outcomes in patients having primary total knee arthroplasty receiving general or regional anesthesia. Methods: This randomized prospective trial study was performed in Kashani Hospital (Isfahan, Iran). Sixty patients undergoing primary total knee replacement were randomized to either general anesthesia followed by postoperative intravenous patient-controlled analgesia with morphine, or combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. Pain intensity was evaluated using a verbal rating scale (VRS) at the 30th and 60th minutes in the recovery room, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery, at discharge, and two and four weeks after the operation. Pain was also measured at discharge and two and four weeks after the operation. The amount of morphine was also determined during the first 48 postoperative hours. Range of motion was assessed according to the Knee Society Score at discharge and two and four weeks after surgery. All information was recorded in a questionnaire and analyzed by t-test and Mann-Whitney test. Findings: Median pain scores in patients who had received regional anesthesia were consistently lower at 1 (P < 0.001), 6 (P = 0.080), 12 (P = 0.003), 24 (P = 0.140), and 48 hours (P = 0.007) after the operation. Although there was a trend towards fewer complications in the mentioned group, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with respect to the incidence of postoperative blood loss, hemodynamic instability, pruritus, nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, or other surgical/medical complications. Patients who had been under regional anesthesia resumed meals earlier (P < 0.001) and showed a trend towards earlier ambulation and hospital discharge. Conclusion: Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty with regional anesthesia enjoyed better postoperative pain relief and resumed meals earlier than those who received general anesthesia with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia. The former also showed trends towards less adverse effects and postoperative complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]