Archives of Neuroscience
Volume:10 Issue: 2, Apr 2023

Context: 

Head trauma (HT) is one of the most important types of traumata that has a high prevalence and may occur in different age groups, ranging from infants to the elderly.

Considering the importance of the prevalence of all types of traumata, especially HT, this study was conducted to measure the prevalence of HT in Iran by systematic review and meta-analysis.

The present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the PARISMA checklist to assess the prevalence of HT in Iran. PICO approach was carried out with the inclusion criteria of the articles as follows, and the search was conducted by two researchers completely independently from October 1 to November 30, 2022. Analysis was done by CMA v.2.0 software and using a random model, funnel plot, and meta-regression analysis.

In the 22 reviewed articles, the time of publication of the articles was between 2008 and 2022, and the total sample size was equal to 99,306. Also, in relation to the method of conducting studies, two studies were conducted using a retrospective method, two articles were conducted using a prospective method, and other articles were conducted using a cross-sectional method. The results showed the overall HT prevalence was 26.2 (95% CI, 14.4 - 29.2) in Iran. Moreover, there was no relationship between the year of publication of articles (P = 0.96, Z-value = 0.05) and sample size (P = 0.41, Z-value = -0.82) with the prevalence of HT.

Considering the high prevalence of HT in Iran, it is necessary to carry out necessary preventive interventions in this field.

Context: 

One of the changes that occur in a person and lead to a change in the patient’s sexual desire is chronic diseases, including spinal cord injury (SCI).

This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of sexual dysfunction (SD) in patients with SCI in Iran by a systematic review and meta-analysis.

In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, using the keywords “spinal cord injury”, “sexual dysfunction”, and “Iran” a list of related articles were extracted from national and international databases. The search was conducted by two researchers in the national databases (SID, Magiran, and Irandoc) and international databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus). The necessary data were collected using a specialized checklist and analyzed using CMA v.2.0 software.

The result showed 183 articles were extracted in the initial search, and after reviewing the articles, six articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis stage. The prevalence of SD in patients with SCI was equal to 45.9%, 95% (CI: 30.2 - 62.4).

The prevalence of SD and sexual dissatisfaction in patients with SCI was reported to be high. For this reason, it is suggested to do necessary interventions to improve the sexual satisfaction of these patients.

The precise identification of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the challenging clinical processes. Disorganizations in functional neural networks revealed via functional magnetic resonance imaging have recently been contributing. Machine learning approaches, particularly classification methods, have commonly been employed as a framework for diverse data analysis, indicating promisingmedical diagnosis results. However, as the neuroimaging data are high-dimensional with a low sample size (the current dataset), this study aimed to evaluate the classification performance of the models by considering the specific contribution of the sparsity of data matrices.

This cross-sectional study analyzed the preprocessed data from the 2011 ADHD-200 Global Competition. A total of 768 and 171 data items were considered training and test, respectively. The diagnosis status was used as a response variable. Age, gender, hand dominance, and activity relationship between 116 brain regions derived from inverse covariance matrix and inverse sparse covariance matrix were used as predictive variables. Accordingly, this study compared the performance of three models, namely support vectormachine(SVM), distance-weighted discrimination (DWD),anddatamaximumdispersion classifier(DMDC)forADHD categorization.

The highest value for the total accuracy was reported for the SVM model on the sparse covariance matrix. Moreover, the highest values for the balanced classification rate (BCR) (59%) and sensitivity (64%) were reported forDMDCon the sparse covariance matrix. The best level of specificity (99%) was obtained fromDWDusing the sparse covariance matrix. The highest levels of the values (i.e., total accuracy and BCR) were achieved through the model fitting on the sparse matrices. Among the six models, the DMDC model on sparse covariance matrix was the most optimal algorithm due to the superiority of the two indices (i.e., accuracy: 60% and BCR: 60%) and the favorable balance between sensitivity and specificity values.

Amongthe current studied three models,DMDC performance, applying the sparse data, remarkably improved the results of classification processes. Based on the present findings, the neuronal connectivity among subcortical structures comprising parts of the basal ganglia and cerebellum provides a distinction between ADHD subjects and healthy controls.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a potentially life-threatening condition with a wide range of clinical presentations, from localized headache (the most common symptom) to mental status disturbances, seizures, and coma.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate serum levels of ferritin, iron, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and their possible relationship with different parameters in CVST patients.

Thirty patients with a definitive diagnosis of CVST based on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance venography (MRV) results participated in the study. During the first 24 hours after admission, 5 cc of blood sample was collected from each patient and delivered to the laboratory to measure serum ferritin, iron, and TIBC levels.

Twenty-four women and six men (mean age: 42.6 ± 16.33 years) participated in the study. The mean levels of serum iron, TIBC, and ferritin were within normal ranges (99.40 ± 29.97 mg/dL, 324.50 ± 49.57 mg/dL, and 87.36 ± 88.84 ng/mL, respectively). There were no significant relationships between serum ferritin, iron, TIBC levels, oral contraceptive pills consumption, history of CVST or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), underlying diseases, and the involved sinus.

The current study showed no possible benefits of using serum ferritin, iron, and TIBC indices in CVST patients.

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol encompasses a set of evidence-based interventions implemented preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively.

This study aimed to assess the impact of applying an accelerated recovery method on remobilization time in patients undergoing spinal surgery compared to a control group.

Thisrandomizedcontrolled trial took place at Shariati Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Eligible participants scheduled for elective spine surgery were enrolled in the study. Remobilization was defined as the patient’s ability to independently leave the bed and ambulate. The ERAS protocol, derived from recommendations by the ERAS Society, was implemented. Total intravenous anesthesia was administered for induction and maintenance. The means of variables between the control and intervention groups were compared using an independent t-test. Changes in patients’ pain intensity over time were examined through a repeated-measures ANOVA test. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of remobilization time.

A total of 70 patients (mean age 47.56 ± 14.08) were included in the study. The control group exhibited a significantly longer hospital stay compared to the ERAS group (46 h vs. 32 h). Furthermore, the ERAS group demonstrated a significantly shorter remobilization time after surgery compared to the control group (18 h vs. 8 h) (P < 0.001). Both groups exhibited a downward trend in overall pain, with the ERAS group experiencing a significantly faster pain reduction (2 = 0.106,  = 0.171, P < 0.001). Remobilization time exhibited significant correlations with pain intensity immediately after surgery (r = 0.651, P < 0.001), pain intensity one hour after surgery (r = 0.723, P < 0.001), pain intensity six hours after surgery (r = 0.391, P = 0.001), fentanyl dose (r = 0.728, P < 0.001), and length of hospital stay (r = 0.727, P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that pain intensity one hour after surgery, fentanyl dose, and hospital stay significantly predicted remobilization time (F (9,60) = 22.751, P < 0.001).

The implementation of the ERAS protocol yielded several beneficial outcomes, including reduced pain intensity, shorter ICU and hospital stays, and accelerated remobilization time. Pain intensity and opioid consumption (as analgesia) emerged as significant predictors of remobilization time.

Lumbar spine surgery (LSS) is performed to manage patients with lumbar discs. These patientscommonly experience pain, fear, and disability after LSS surgery.

Considering the importance of LSS surgery and its outcomes in these patients, the purpose of the present study was to compare pain intensity, fear of movement, and disability before and after LSS.

In this descriptive and analytical research, the population under study included all patients undergoing LSS at the Imam Khomeini Hospital of Ilam City from October 2015 to October 2016. Demographic and clinical information questionnaires, pain catastrophizing scale (PCS), tampa scale for kinesiophobia (TSK), and Physical Disability Questionnaire (PDQ) were data collection tools, which were completed for the patients referring to our center and undergoing LSS according to diagnostic findings and clinical documents. The patient’s condition was evaluated using the aforementioned questionnaires six months to one year after the study. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software.

The mean (SD) score of PCS before surgery was equal to 51.17 (7.53) inmenand 63.84 (4.72) inwomen(P = 0.004). Nine weeks after the surgery, the PCS score was 19.36 (4.94) in men and 23.31 (6.68) in women (P = 0.04). There were significant decreases in all variables, including the PCS score, Brief Pain Inventory score, and PDQ score after the intervention compared to pre-intervention (P < 0.05).

Considering that LSS can effectively reduce patients’ pain intensity, disability, andfear of movement, this intervention is recommended for patients who need surgery according to relevant diagnostic criteria and clinical examination findings.

One of the clinical manifestations and complications of traumatic brain injury patients is traumatic intracranial hemorrhages, divided into primary and secondary hemorrhages.

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients.

The present cross-sectional study was conducted on all TBI patients with SAH for one year. Data collection tools include a demographic profile form and a researcher-made checklist. The severity of TBI is divided according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. The patient’s history and clinical examinations were considered when admitting to the hospital. The consciousness level was measured at 6-to-24-hour intervals, a computed tomography (CT) scan was performed, and any abnormal SAH-related clinical findings and symptoms were recorded. If the patient had other hemorrhages besides SAH, the hematoma volume was recorded. The collected data were entered into and analyzed by SPSS version 16 software.

A total of 534 patients were investigated, of whom84 (15.3%) had intracranial hemorrhage. Out of 84 patients with intracranial hemorrhage, 12 (2.2%) had SAH, of whom ten were male and 2 were female. Also, SAH occurred to traffic accidents, falls, and other related reasons in 7 (58.3%), 4 (33.3%), and 1 (8.3%) patients, respectively. It was also shown that 1 (8.3%), 2 (16.6%), and 9 (75%) patients with SAH had mild, moderate, and severe consciousness, respectively. Regarding the frequency of SAH-related diseases, it was shown that 2 (16.6%) and 10 (82.3%) patients were diabetic and non-diabetic, 4 (33.3%) and 8(66.6%) patients were hypertensive and non-hypertensive, and 7 (58.3%) and 5 (41.6%) patients were with and without a history of skull fractures, respectively, 12 (100%) of them had a history of coagulation disorders.

The prevalence of intracranial hemorrhage and SAH in TBI patients is significantly high, which should be taken into consideration when performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for these patients.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health concerns in people’s lifestyles. There are many traditional psychological methods to manage anxiety. Heart rate is the most relevant biomarker of the autonomic nervous system among the various physiological markers. Hence, the increase in the heart rate is associated with a wide range of negative psychological events.

In this study, a wearable device called a "smart bracelet" was developed and tested to make mechanical oscillations similar to normal people’s heart rates, and then the effect of it was evaluated among taekwondo athletes wearing this device before the matches.

In order to evaluate the results, the heart rate was measured five minutes before the competition, with an average of 81 bpm in the group using the bracelet and 84.42 bpm in the group without the bracelet. The average heart rate in the group with the bracelet was 78.5, and without a bracelet was 92.14 bpm.

The results of this study showed that wearable technology inducing mechanical waves is similar to normal people’s heartbeat through the radial nerve, which reduces stress significantly and can prevent an increase in stress.