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Background: Multiple sclerosis can cause walking and balance disorders. These complications cause extensive disturbances in the quality of life, independence, and self‐care and affect many aspects of their lives. The guided imagery method is a simple, easy, and safe intervention. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to determine the effect of guided imagery on walking and balance dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis in 2023. Sixty‐six patients were randomly divided into two intervention and control groups ( n = 33). The intervention group listened to the audio file of nature‐based guided imagery, and the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were collected by 6‐min walk test, 25‐ft walk test, and Berg balance scale before and after the intervention. Analysis of the average results of movement disorder and balance intra‐ and intergroup, before and after the study, was done with a paired t ‐test, independent t ‐test, and analysis of covariance. The significance level in all tests is 0.05, with a confidence level of 95%. Results: After performing guided imagery, in the intervention group, walking dysfunction significantly improved, with changes from 429.55 ± 42.78 to 459.24 ± 41.48 in the 6‐min walk test, 7.12 ± 0.37 to 6.74 ± 0.44 in the 25‐ft walk test, and the improvement of balance level with changes of 26.60 ± 3.13 to 31.72 ± 3.64 in the Berg balance test. Conclusion: Using guided imagery can improve walking dysfunction and balance in patients with multiple sclerosis. Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials: IRCT20220614055170N1

Background This study evaluated the effectiveness of Myrtus communis L. extract, known for its antioxidant and anticholinesterase properties, to enhance cognitive function and mitigate disease progression in individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods Fifty elderly patients with mild to moderate AD residing in a Kerman nursing home were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted between November 2019 to February 2020. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group ( n  = 25), receiving M. communis L. capsules (500 mg each capsule), or a control group ( n  = 25), receiving placebo capsules. Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and after four weeks using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scales. Statistical analyses, performed using SPSS version 22, considered a significance level of p  < 0.05. Results All fifty patients completed the four-week trial. Baseline characteristics—including sex, mean age, and education level—were well-matched between the intervention and control groups. After four weeks of treatment, the intervention group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in cognitive function, as evidenced by significantly higher MMSE scores compared to the placebo group (23.4 ± 0.25 vs. 19.6 ± 0.25; p  < 0.0001). Concurrently, the intervention group exhibited a significant reduction in dementia severity, indicated by lower CDR scores compared to the control group (0.8 ± 0.04 vs. 1.5 ± 0.04; p  < 0.0001). Conclusions These findings suggest that M. communis L. holds promise as a potential complementary therapy for AD, capable of improving cognitive function and potentially slowing disease progression. However, further research is necessary to corroborate these results, elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action, and optimize treatment parameters before definitive conclusions can be drawn. Trial registration irct.ir, ID: 20170702034861N8. Registered on 26/08/2019.

Drug abuse is one of the most important threats to human beings today, leading to disability and even early death. In the past, opium had only therapeutic uses, but now, drug addiction is one of the major public health problems in Iran. Opium and its derivatives are the most commonly used illicit drugs in this country. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the treatment strategies of opium addiction from the perspective of Persian medicine. In this narrative review, the search was conducted using appropriate keywords in the authoritative books of Persian medicine documentations of databases of PubMed, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, American Academy of Medical Sciences, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes with keywords of opioid and opium since 2000 AD. In Persian medicine books, \"Afioon\" means poppy plant (Papaver somniferum), which is called opium in English and \"Theriac\" in Persian. To quit, they should be gradually reduced and replaced with appropriate spices such as henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) seeds or mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) fruit or root or poppy (P. somniferum) seeds or poppy shell or Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seeds, or castor testis or nutmeg (Myristans fragrans) fruit or ajwain (Trachyspermum copticum) seeds or baked bread. Opioid quit should be gradual and delayed in time of consumption and gradual reduction of opium levels, and bodies that have become lean for a long time will gradually recover with adequate nutrition over time.

The article's abstract is not available.  

The races show different cerebrovascular involvements, for example, the involvement of intracranial arteries are higher among Asians than Caucasians. The aim of this study was to investigate the cerebrovascular stenosis pattern by computed tomography angiography (CTA), which is unprecedented in Iran. In this study, patients with brain stroke (thrombosis), confirmed by CT scanning and cardiac assessments, who referred to Shafa Hospital in Kerman, Iran, underwent brain and cervical arteries CT angiography to assess involved cerebrovascular territories and also its risk factors from June 2012 to June 2013. We did CTA for 100 patients. Eighty-four cases had cerebral artery stenosis. Intracranial vessel involvement alone was observed in 47.6% of patients, simultaneous intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis in 26.2%, and extracranial artery stenosis in 26.2%. Posterior cerebral artery territory showed the highest degree of vascular stenosis. Posterior cerebral artery stenosis alone was observed in 51.3% of the cases; 27.4% of the cases suffered from anterior artery stenosis, and 21.6% had simultaneous anterior and posterior cerebral artery stenosis. Smokers showed higher extracranial artery involvement compared to non-smokers; 44% of smokers and 14% of non-smokers had extracranial vertebral involvement. Our findings showed that intracranial artery involvement was the most prevalent finding in patients with thrombotic stroke in Kerman. Also posterior cerebral artery stenosis was more prevalent than anterior artery stenosis. Hypertension was the most common risk factor. Furthermore, smoking was considered as an important risk factor for extracranial artery stenosis, especially in the posterior cerebral artery.

The time to diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is of great importance for early treatment, thereby reducing the disability and burden of the disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the time from the onset of clinical symptoms to the diagnosis of MS and to evaluate the factors associated with a late diagnosis in Iranian MS patients. The present cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with MS who were registered in the National MS Registry System of Iran (NMSRI). Overall, 23291 MS patients registered in 18 provinces of Iran were included in this study. The mean (standard deviation) interval between the onset of the disease and diagnosis of MS was 13.42 (32.40) months, and the median was one month. The diagnostic interval of 41.6% of patients was less than one month, and 14.8% of them had a one-month time to diagnosis. Patients with an age of onset below 18 years and those diagnosed after the age of 50 years had a longer time to diagnosis (P<0.001). Patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS) had the longest time to diagnose and those with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) had the shortest time (P<0.001). The results of negative binominal regression showed that the average rate of delay in diagnosis in women was 12% less than that in men. The average delay in diagnosis in patients with a positive family history of MS was 23% more than that in others. The rate of delay in the diagnosis of patients with PPMS and secondary progressive MS was 2.22 and 1.66 times higher, respectively, compared with RRMS. The findings of the present study revealed that more than half of the MS patients were diagnosed within a one-month interval from the symptom onset, which is an acceptable period. More attention should be paid to patients’ access to medical facilities and MS specialists. •The mean time from clinical symptoms onset to diagnosis of MS was 13.42 months.•in cases registered in the National MS Registry of Iran.•More than half of the MS cases were diagnosed within one-month interval.•Age at symptoms onset, age at the time of diagnosis, male sex and type of MS.•were associated factors to a late diagnosis in Iranian MS subjects.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) may be affected by socioeconomic status (SES). This study aims to explore the determinants of SES among Iranian patients with MS and examine how these factors relate to disability and disease progression. Methods: All patients with MS listed in the nationwide MS registry of Iran (NMSRI) until January 8, 2022, were included in this population-based study. Results: Among the 5153 patients, most were female (74.5%), married (70.8%), and did not hold an academic degree (53.8%). Unemployment (OR: 3.75) and being unmarried (OR: 2.60) were significantly associated with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)≥6, and the time to progression was shorter in the unemployed group (P value: 0.03). There was also a significant negative correlation between the time to progression and the age at disease onset. Conclusion: The study suggests that providing financial and social support to MS patients and their families through investment could reduce both individual and societal burdens.

K-coverage wireless sensor networks try to provide facilities such that each hotspot region is covered by at least k sensors. Because, the fundamental evaluation metrics of such networks are coverage and lifetime, proposing an approach that extends both of them simultaneously has a lot of interests. In this article, it is supposed that two kinds of nodes are available: static and mobile. The proposed method, at first, tries to balance energy among sensor nodes using Improved Harmony Search (IHS) algorithm in a k-coverage and connected wireless sensor network in order to achieve a sensor node deployment. Also, this method proposes a suitable place for a gateway node (Sink) that collects data from all sensors. Second, in order to prolong the network lifetime, some of the high energy-consuming mobile nodes are moved to the closest positions of low energy-consuming ones and vice versa after a while. This leads increasing the lifetime of network while connectivity and k-coverage are preserved. Through computer simulations, experimental results verified that the proposed IHS-based algorithm found better solution compared to some related methods. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Introduction: After solid organ transplantation, patients require lifelong immunosuppressive medication, increasing susceptibility to COVID-19. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of heart transplant recipients in patients with COVID-19. Methods: We enrolled twenty-two COVID-19 cases of adult heart transplantation from February 2020 to September 2021. Results: The most common symptoms in patients were fever and myalgia. The death occurred in 3 (13.6 %). Conclusion: Although heart transplantation mortality may increase in the acute rejection phase concomitant with COVID-19, immunosuppressive dose reduction may not be necessary for all heart transplant patients with COVID-19.