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Background and Objective: Onosma dichroanthum Boiss. is one of the most important mountainous medicinal plants in Iran. This study was done to determine the biomechanical evaluation of root extract ointment of Onosma dichroanthum Boiss. on wound healing in rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 18 male adult Wistar rats were randomly allocated into control (I), vehicle (II) and treated group with ointment containing of extract 1% of root of Onosma dichroanthum Boiss., (III). 20 mm vertical skin incision wound were made on rats back side. The assessment of the wound healing was carried out at day 14. At the end of study, rats were sacrificed, skin sample were extracted and evaluated by biomechanical method (maximum force, elastic stiffness, energy absorption). Results: There was no significant difference in biomechanical parameters among the treated, vehicle and control groups. Conclusion: Topical application of Onosma dichroanthum Boiss. root have no effect on healing of skin wound in animal model.

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Background and Objective: Liver enzyme tests are usually normal or slightly increased during pregnancy. Abnormal liver enzyme tests are seen in 3% of pregnancies and should be evaluated immediately. Early detection and timely treatment is the key to successful treatment. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of abnormal liver enzymes and pregnancy outcome in women admitted to Sayyad-e-Shirazi hospital in Gorgan-north of Iran.
Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out on 73 hospitalized pregnant women out of 6680 pregnant women in the Sayyad Shirazi hospital, in north of Iran during April to September 2015. Clinical information was including laboratory tests, final diagnosis and complications postpartum of 73 women with impaired liver enzymes.
Results: The most common cause of abnormal liver enzymes were pre-eclampsia in pregnant women (16 patients 21.9%) which occured in the third trimester. HELLP syndrome was observed in 9 (12.3%) of patients which occurred in the third trimester. Also in 3 cases (4.1%) eclampsia was reported in the third trimester.
Conclusion: Due to the high incidence of pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome in women with impaired liver enzymes, careful examination of patients, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy is essential.

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In December 2019, the new acute respiratory disease spread in China presented with fever and dry cough known to be resulted from the new Corona Virus as the COVID-19. In Iran, the first case was reported on 20th of February 2020. Our management team in Golestan University of Medical Sciences held an immediate meeting to decide how to manage the cases suspected to the COVID-19.The two main hospitals had been selected as the Corona center in the Golestan province, northern Iran. Admitting patients other than COVID-19 has been stopped in these hospitals, and all patients had been transferred to the other hospital in Gorgan city and those in the recovery state had been transferred to a hotel prepared for this purpose. The capacity of Sayyad-e-Shirazi hospital was 300 bed for admission and 25 ICU beds that had been increased to 44 ICU beds (30 percent increases) to be prepared for COVID-19 admission. Clinical groups and specialists had been organized with special duty for each part. After 3 months of COVID-19 crisis, Sayyad-e-Shirazi hospital with 300 beds is in a good shape and admission of severe cases has been decreased.

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Background and Objective: Celiac disease is a malabsorption disorder that could result in various psychological consequences if patients do not adhere to a gluten-free diet. This study aimed to determine the frequency of major depressive disorder and its relationship with adherence to a gluten-free diet among patients with celiac disease.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 47 patients with celiac disease (30 women and 17 men) with an average age of 40.88 ± 10.7 years who had been referred to the Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology during the summer of 2019. Patients were invited to complete a 13-item Beck Inventory. Celiac Dietary Adherence Test (CDAT) was used to assess adherence from the patients' point of view, and Standardized Dietician Evaluation (SDE) was used to evaluate adherence to the diet from the interviewer's perspective.
Results: Overall, 28 people (59.6%) with celiac disease reported some degree of depression. Based on the SDE, the adherence rate of patients to a gluten-free diet was 83%. The association between adherence to a gluten-free diet and the prevalence of depression was not significant. There was also no significant association between the prevalence of depression and the gender and age of patients.
Conclusion: Based on the results, a high percentage of patients with celiac disease have symptoms of depression. However, there is no significant relationship between adherence to a gluten-free diet and the prevalence of depression.
 

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Background and Objective: The psychological experience of mental pain can lead to distress similar to that caused by actual injury or trauma. As such, it poses a life-threatening consequence for chronic patients, although it is rarely assessed and treated in clinical settings. One of the diseases associated with high levels of physical and mental pain is the rare disorder neurofibromatosis. This study aimed to evaluate mental pain in patients with neurofibromatosis and its association with disease severity.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 207 patients with neurofibromatosis who were members of the Iranian Neurofibromatosis Support Association during 2023. Data collection tools included a demographic and clinical information registration form and the Orbach and Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale (OMMP), which comprises 44 items and 6 subscales, with a scoring range from 44 to 220.
Results: The total mental pain score was 121.15±42.41, with a range of 44 to 206. The total mental pain scores for men and women were 123.67±38.98 and 120.31±43.58, respectively. The "confusion" subscale had the highest average score, while the "fear of loneliness" subscale had the lowest average score. There was a statistically significant association between the total mental pain score and its subscales with the severity of the disease and the patient's educational level (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The mental pain scores of patients with neurofibromatosis were evaluated to be relatively unfavorable.

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Background and Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a significant threat to both healthy individuals and those with chronic diseases, including liver cirrhosis. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and laboratory manifestations and treatment outcomes of patients with liver cirrhosis who were infected with COVID-19.
Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 9 patients (4 women and 5 men) with liver cirrhosis infected with COVID-19 hospitalized at Shahid Sayyad Shirazi Educational and Therapeutic Center in Gorgan, Iran during 2019-20. COVID-19 infection was diagnosed by a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The Child-Pugh score was used to classify the severity of liver disease. Demographic and clinical data, including initial symptoms and complaints, laboratory results, need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, length of hospital stay, and treatment outcomes, were extracted from patients’ medical records.
Results: The severity of liver disease was classified as Class B in 7 patients. Comorbidities included cardiovascular diseases and hypertension in 2 patients each, as well as diabetes and asthma in one patient each. Clinical manifestations at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis included ascites in 6 patients; fever in 5 patients; respiratory distress and anorexia in 4 patients each; cough, oxygen saturation less than 93%, and muscle pain in 3 patients each; nausea and vomiting in 2 patients; and abdominal pain and decreased level of consciousness in one patient each. Albumin levels were less than 4 g/dL in all patients. Hemoglobin was less than 12 g/dL in 7 patients. Thrombocytopenia was observed in 8 patients, leukocytosis in one patient, and leukopenia and pancytopenia in 4 patients each. Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels were higher than 40 U/L in 6 and 5 patients, respectively. Only one patient died, a 60-year-old woman with a history of fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and uncontrolled Class C cirrhosis.
Conclusion: The most common clinical manifestations in patients with liver cirrhosis infected with COVID-19 consisted of ascites, fever, respiratory distress, and anorexia, and the most common laboratory manifestations were hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia.