محمودرضا آذرپژوه

Northeastern Iran، particularly Mashhad city، is an endemic area for human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) infection; although، there is no data available on the prevalence of HTLV-II in this region. This descriptive-analytical study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HTLV-II using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in general population of Mashhad.

From general population of Mashhad، 1678 individuals were selected using multistage cluster sampling. Serum samples were tested for the presence of HTLV antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay. To confirm HTLV-II infection، TAX gene and long terminal repeat (LTR) region were amplified using designed specific primers by nested PCR method.

From 1678 individuals، 1654 serum samples were taken، of which، 56 were positive for HTLV antibodies via ELISA method. All reactive samples were examined by nested PCR for the presence of HTLV-II provirus. None of the cases were positive for HTLV-II infection.

The results of present study demonstrate no evidence of HTLV-II infection in the general population of Mashhad. However، it is recommended to investigate the prevalence of the virus among high-risk groups، specially injecting drug users in this region.

In this study، we evaluated personality traits and disorders among patients with CPS using Millon Test.

This survey was a descriptive analytic study. We evaluated all of the patients with CPS in outpatients clinic of Avesina and Ghaem Hospital، Mashhad University of medical Sciences. Finally، 74 patients with CPS and 100 normal volunteers were recruited and Millon test was performed by a psychiatrist who was blind to the diagnosis.

In this study، 74. 2% of the patients and 31. 5% of control group had at least one pathological personality trait (P<0. 05). Personality disorders were significantly higher in CPS comparing control group (27. 2% Vs 8. 4% respectively). The most common personality disorders were schizoid and borderline. The prevalence of borderline and antisocial personality disorders were significantly higher in patients (P<0. 05). All of the pathological personality traits were more common in CPS، and the difference was significantly higher for borderline، dependent and passive aggressive traits comparing control group. Personality disorders were more common in women.

Results This study clearly showed the higher prevalence of some of the pathologic personality traits and disorders among patients with CPS. This finding might be related to abnormal pathological activity in temporal lobe، however CPS as a chronic disorder،r might also had sever impact on the personality changes.

Post stroke depression is a common state after stroke causing disability and affects cognitive status in patients. Present study tried to show the effect of citalopram on post stroke depression as well as cognitive state.

in clinical trial study all patients with acute ischemic stroke who had been consecutively admitted to the Ghaem Hospital (from 1388-1389)، in Mashhad were evaluated for inclusion in the study. (218 person). In first visit neurological tests and hamilton rating test for depression were taken. At last 89 patients admitted az sample of study. Cognitive impairment was assessed with the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS). The severity of the depressive symptoms was measured by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Then they were classified into those with severe depressive symptoms (HAM-D >20; N=18)، with mild depressive symptoms (HAM-D scores 12-19; N=39) and non-depressed patients (HAM-D scores < 12; N=32). Patients with severe depressive symptoms were treated with citalopram. Statistical analysis was performed using spss version 11.

HRDS، MMSE and DRS scores had significant change at the baseline and the end of study in group treated by citalopram. There were significant differences between DRS scores in attention domain at the baseline and the end of study in both citalopram group and without depression.

These data suggest that treatment of depressive symptoms in the acute phase of stroke improves both mood and cognition and would be a reasonable treatment for patients suffering post stroke depression and cognitive change after stroke

This study examined burnout in caregivers of patients with parkinson''s disease and its relationship with clinical status of patients.

35 patients with parkinson''s disease (during 1 year 2010-11) referring to neurology outpatient clinic of Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad and their caregivers were examined. Caregivers of patients completed Burden Inventory Zarit (ZBI) and Caregiver Distress Scale (CDS). Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) was used to check the general condition of cognitive status. Unified Parkinson Disease Rating scale (UPDRS) was used to study Parkinson''s disease. It also was used for patients modified Hoehn and Yahr staging Scale that is representative of stage of the disease. The obtained data were statistically analyzed by SPSS software.

Results showed that between section 2 and 3 of UPDRS (activities of daily living and motor function) with burn out of caregivers is a significant positive correlation (P>0. 01). According to Hoehn and Yahr rating criteria significant positive correlation was found between stage of disease with CDS and burden score (P<0. 01). Also، between cognitive status of patients with MMSE and ZBI and CDS scores، significant positive correlation was found.

Given the burn out among caregivers of patients with Parkinson''s disease is associated with the clinical status of patients، more clinical attention to the emotional and physical health of caregivers is felt.