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Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease with a profound effect on the life quality of the patients due to its chronic, painful, and disabling nature. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effects of progressive muscle relaxation technique on life quality in RA patients. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted in a rheumatologist office on 62 RA patients. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: progressive muscle relaxation group and control group. While the intervention group underwent a daily 20-minute relaxation period for 8 weeks, no intervention was given in the control group. Data were collected using a two part questionnaire including demographic characteristic form and SF-36 life quality questionnaire, completed at the beginning and the end of the intervention. Data analysed using Chi-square test, independent t-test and paired t-test with SPSS software version 19. Results: The findings of the study showed that, in the experimental group, the mean score of life quality changed from 37.84 to 54.54 after the intervention (p=0.0001), while, in the control group, it altered from 37.47 to 43.20. There fore, the difference between the two groups was not considered as significant before intervention (p=0.112). Moreover, there was a significant difference between experimental and control groups regarding the six aspects of life quality including physical function (p=0.041), vitality (p=0.029), social function (p=0.017), mental health (p=0.001), general health (p=0.002), and psychological health (p=0.002). However, no significant difference was found in case of bodily pain (p=0.149) and physical constraint (p=0.82). Conclusion: According to the findings, progressive muscle relaxation training could be an effective therapeutic method to improve quality of life in RA patients

Background and Aims: The objective of the present study was to investigate knowledge and attitude of senior dental students towards HIV/AIDS. Its result could help in promotion of education. Materials and Methods: This educational research was carried out in two state dental schools in Tehran. The senior dental students in Tehran and Shaheed Beheshti dental schools were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire regarding their age, gender, parents' job, knowledge and attitudes towards treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS in Autumn semester 2007. Fifty five dental students (83%) including 27% male and 73% female in Shaheed Beheshti and fifty five dental students (85%) including 34% male and 66% female in Tehran dental schools were participated. The score for knowledge and attitude of the students were calculated separately. The data were analyzed using Independent sample t-test. Results: The mean percentage of knowledge and attitude scores were 76.5% (at rang 1-3) and 50% (at range 1-5), respectively. Nearly all of the students believed that all patients should be considered as HIV positive in dental practice, while 49% preferred to refer HIV positive patients. Knowledge and attitude of students were not significantly associated with the gender and knowing HIV positive person (P>0.05). Conclusion: There is a need to improve knowledge and attitudes of dental students towards HIV/AIDS. It is suggested to emphasize on this subject in dental schools curriculum in Iran.

The non-methane organic compound (NMOC) emission rate is used to assess compliance with landfill gas emission regulations by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). A recent USEPA Report (EPA/600/R-11/033) employed a ratio method to estimate speciated NMOC emissions (i.e., individual NMOC emissions): speciated NMOC emissions=measured methane (CH4) emission multiplied by the ratio of individual NMOCs concentration relative to CH4 concentration (CNMOCs/CCH4) in the landfill header gas. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the efficacy of the ratio method in estimating speciated NMOC flux from landfills; (2) determine for what types of landfills the ratio method may be in error and why, using recent field data to quantify the spatial variation of (CNMOCs/CCH4) in landfills; and (3) formulate alternative models for estimating NMOC emissions from landfills for cases in which the ratio method results in biased estimates. This study focuses on emissions through landfill covers measured with flux chambers and evaluates the utility of the ratio method for estimating NMOC emission through this pathway. Evaluation of the ratio method was performed using CH4 and speciated NMOC concentration and flux data from 2012/2013 field sampling of four landfills, an unpublished landfill study, and literature data from three landfills. The ratio method worked well for landfills with thin covers (

It is predictable that the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone and kinin–kallikrein systems are dysregulated in COVID-19 (COV) patients because SARS-CoV-2 requires ACE2 to cause an infection. This study aimed to assess the serum levels of des-arg(9)-bradykinin (DABK) and angiotensin 1–7 (ang-(1–7)) in patients with COV who had the above-mentioned cardiovascular disease risk factors. In a cross-sectional study, 69 COV patients were selected among patients referred to the main referral center for these patients, in Kerman, Iran, and 73 matched control (non-COV) individuals among individuals who participated in the KERCARD cohort study. Serum levels of DABK and ang-(1–7) were measured by ELISA in the groups of CTL (healthy), HTN, DM, OB, COV, COV + HTN, COV + DM, and COV + OB. Ang-(1–7) levels were lower in the COV + HTN group compared to the HTN group. DABK levels were higher in the COV, HTN, and OB groups and in DM + COV subjects compared to their corresponding control group. The levels of ang-(1–7) and DABK were related to HTN and OB, respectively. According to the findings, we can infer that an increase in DABK production in those with the cardiovascular disease risk factors of diabetes, obesity, and hypertension or a decrease in ang-(1–7) in those with hypertension may contribute to the adverse outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Key Clinical Message The immune activation in COVID‐19 may trigger narcolepsy in vulnerable patients. We suggest clinicians carefully evaluate patients with post‐COVID fatigue and hypersomnia for primary sleep disorders, specifically narcolepsy. Abstract The patient is a 33‐year‐old Iranian woman without a significant past medical history with the full range of narcolepsy symptoms that started within 2 weeks after her recovery from COVID‐19. Sleep studies revealed increased sleep latency and three sleep‐onset rapid eye movement events, compatible with a narcolepsy‐cataplexy diagnosis.