Difference, a central concern to the study of international relations (IR), has not had its ontological foundations adequately disrupted. This forum explores how existential assumptions rooted in relational logics provide a significantly distinct set of tools that drive us to re-orient how we perceive, interpret, and engage both similarity and difference. Taking their cues from cosmological commitments originating in the Andes, South Asia, East Asia, and the Middle East, the six contributions explore how our existential assumptions affect the ways in which we deal with difference as theorists, researchers, and teachers. This initial conversation pinpoints key content and foci of future relational work in IR.
Objective:Pulmonary hypertension is a serious complication in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of atorvastatin in reducing pulmonary arterial pressure in COPD patients.Methods:This double-blind, randomized trial was conducted on 42 known cases of COPD with systolic pulmonary arterial pressure of more than 25 mmHg. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups, 21 patients with atorvastatin treatment (40 mg/daily for 6 months) and 21 patients without receiving atorvastatin. All the patients participated voluntarily and provided written informed consent. The trial was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials. Pulmonary pressure was also anticipated by Doppler echocardiography with peak pressure gradient of tricuspid regurgitation. Both groups were tested with echocardiography to measure systolic pulmonary pressure at baseline and posttreatment. Statistical analysis includes Chi-square, Student's t-test, and Wilcoxon test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Findings:The mean age was 65.8 ± 11.5 years for atorvastatin group and 63.7 ± 7.6 years for control group (P = 0.45). Baseline and posttreatment mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) levels in the atorvastatin group were 48.9 ± 3.3 and 38.4 ± 1.9 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.007). In the control group, mean systolic PAP levels at baseline and 6 months later were 45.6 ± 3.1 and 38.9 ± 2.4 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.073). The patients treated with atorvastatin showed significant decrease in total cholesterol (P = 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.008).Conclusion:A 40 mg dose of atorvastatin daily for 6 months may have beneficial effects in reducing PAP in patients with COPD. Further studies are necessary to find long-term effects of statins in COPD patients.
Background: The most important psychological problems of dialysis patients are anxiety, depression, and stress. These psychological problems cause different consequences for the patients. Therefore, it seems necessary to use strategies to reduce the psychological problems in hemodialysis patients. Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of spiritual therapy on depression, anxiety, and stress in hemodialysis patients referred to the dialysis ward of special diseases center of Birjand in 2019 - 2020. Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 70 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) under hemodialysis referred to the dialysis ward of special diseases center of Birjand in 2019 - 2020 were selected by available sampling method and randomized into two experimental groups (35 patients) and control (35 patients). The patients in the experimental group received eight sessions of 60-minute (one session per week) of spiritual intervention therapy, and the control group received no spiritual intervention. Data collection tools were a form of demographic profile and Lovibond SH and Lovibond PF (1995) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26 statistical software, and Fisher’s exact test, chi-square test, independent t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, Bonferroni post hoc test at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: In this study, 68 patients were examined in two experimental (33 patients) and control (35 patients) groups. The mean score of depression, anxiety, and stress before the intervention in patients in the experimental and control groups was not significantly different (P = 0.61), but immediately and three months after the intervention in patients in the experiment group was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Based on the results of the present study, it can be said that spiritual therapy is considered an effective solution for reducing depression, anxiety, and stress in hemodialysis patients.
Objective:The present study was designed to investigate the effects of atorvastatin on serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:A clinical trial study conducted on 42 cases of COPD (Vali-Asr Hospital, Birjand, East of Iran, years 2014–16). Patients were randomly assigned to 21 controls and 21 cases who treated with atorvastatin (40 mg/day for 6 months). Inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting β-agonist were administrated in both groups. The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (registration number: IRCT2016042527594N1). TAC was measured by ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine IL-6, AAT, and hs-CRP. Spearman's rho test and Wilcoxon, Mann–Whitney, paired, and independent t-tests were used for data analysis in SPSS 23. P < 0.05 was considered significant.Findings:A number of patients completed the study were 16 in atorvastatin and 18 in control group. Mean increments (μmol/L) of TAC (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) were 12.81 ± 605.25 (P = 0.68) in atorvastatin and 160.26 ± 280.54 (P = 0.14) in control group. Mean decrements of IL-6, CRP, and AAT (mean ± SD) were 1.41 ± 5.51 (P = 0.71), 0.98 ± 5.68 (P = 0.72), and 10.94 ± 46.83 (P = 0.21) in atorvastatin and 0.91 ± 11.70 (P = 0.75), 3.23 ± 7.00 (P = 0.19), and 18.77 ± 55.90 (P = 0.21) in control group.Conclusion:Atorvastatin did not succeed in maintaining TAC and CRP reduction. However, less reduction in AAT and more reduction in IL-6 in the atorvastatin group would be likely a beneficial effect in COPD.
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