Background:A cardiac catheterization laboratory can be a frightening environment and music can be a supportive source of environmental sound that stimulates and maintains relaxation. However, the results of studies are conflicting in this regard.Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of music therapy on patients’ anxiety and hemodynamic parameters during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.Patients and Methods:This was a randomized controlled trial, conducted in the Catheterization Laboratory Unit of Baqiyatallah Hospital, in Tehran, Iran. A sample of 64 patients, who were planned to undergo coronary angioplasty, was recruited. Patients were randomly allocated to either the control or the experimental groups. In the experimental group, patients received a 20 to 40-minute music therapy intervention, consisting of light instrumental music albums by Johann Sebastian Bach and Mariko Makino. Patients in the control group received the routine care of the study setting, which consisted of no music therapy intervention. Study data were collected by a demographic questionnaire, the Spielberger’s State Anxiety Inventory, and a data sheet for documenting hemodynamic parameters. Chi-square, independent-samples t tests, paired-samples t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance were used to analyze the data.Results:Before the intervention, the study groups did not differ significantly in terms of anxiety level and hemodynamic parameters. Moreover, the differences between the two groups, regarding hemodynamic parameters, were not significant after the intervention (P > 0.05). However, the level of post-intervention anxiety in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (32.06 ± 8.57 and 38.97 ± 12.77, respectively; P = 0.014). Compared with the baseline readings, the level of anxiety in the control group did not change significantly after the study (41.91 ± 9.88 vs. 38.97 ± 12.77; P = 0.101); however, in the experimental group, the level of post-intervention anxiety was significantly lower than the pretest readings (32.06 ± 8.57 vs. 41.16 ± 10.6; P = 0.001).Conclusions:Music therapy is a safe, simple, inexpensive, and non-invasive nursing intervention, which can significantly alleviate patients’ anxiety during coronary angioplasty.

Aim:  Chlorella vulgaris is a unicellular green microalga with several pharmacological activities including anti‐hyperlipidemic effects. In spite of interesting preclinical findings, the clinical efficacy of C. vulgaris in dyslipidemia—whether alone or in combination with statins—has not been clarified. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of supplementation with C. vulgaris as an adjunctive therapy to atorvastatin in dyslipidemic subjects. Methods:  In a randomised, open‐label clinical trial, 100 dyslipidemic subjects were randomly assigned to: (i) Chlorella group (n = 50, dropouts = 24), receiving C. vulgaris (600 mg/day) + atorvastatin (20 mg/day) for 8 weeks; or (ii) atorvastatin group (n = 50, dropouts = 13), receiving only atorvastatin (20 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Lipid profile and biomarkers of muscular, hepatic and renal injury were determined at baseline and at the end of the trial. Results:  There were significant reductions in serum total cholesterol (P < 0.001), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.001) and triglycerides (P= 0.006 in Chlorella and P= 0.004 in atorvastatin group) in both groups. No significant change in serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels was observed in any of the groups. Serum aspartate aminotransferase levels were raised in both Chlorella (P= 0.034) and atorvastatin (P= 0.002) groups, whereas alkaline phosphatase was only elevated in the Chlorella group (P= 0.028). In comparison with baseline values, no significant change was observed in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and fasting blood sugar. Conclusion:  Based on the results, addition of C. vulgaris to atorvastatin therapy for 8 weeks does not appear to be associated with an improved control of serum lipid profile.

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Introduction Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) may also suffer from mental and sexual problems, and we should consider the mutual influence such conditions have on each other. However, the interrelation between sexual and mental problems in the context of CAD has not been fully investigated, especially when it comes to gender. Aim Our aim was to evaluate sexuality and psychiatric symptoms among patients with CAD and the relation between them in each gender. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 550 (397 men and 153 women) patients with documented CAD were surveyed for anxiety and depression using the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) self-administered questionnaire as well as the relation and sexuality scale (RSS). Three subscores were calculated for sexual function, frequency, and fear, with higher scores indicative of a poorer condition. Main Outcome Measures The HADS and the RSS. Results Depressive symptoms and anxiety were more severe among our female subjects than they were among the male ones. In addition, the scores for sexual frequency, sexual function, and the total RSS were significantly higher in women, while men had a significantly higher score for sexual fear. The total RSS score correlated with depressive symptoms in women (r = 0.19, P = 0.03), but not in the male subjects. Considering the subscores, a higher score for sexual frequency correlated with depressive symptoms in both genders; however, being afraid of sexual relation correlated with depressive symptoms only in men with CAD and their spouses (r = 0.18, P = 0.001). Conclusion We found that women with CAD have poorer sexual relation and more severe depressive symptoms than men do. Among men with CAD and their wives, fear of sexual relationship is a more serious problem. Such gender-specific characteristics and their interrelations ought to receive due consideration in the management of CAD.

Background: Smoking is among the established yet modifiable risk factors for cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and pulmonary disorders. Oxidative stress has been proposed as a key mechanism mediating the deleterious consequences of smoking. The present study evaluated the effect of supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris, a nutrient and bioactive green microalgae with proven antioxidant capacity, on the burden of oxidative stress in Iranian smokers. Methods: Thirty-eight smokers (mean age: 37.11 ± 1.69 years; females: 18.4%) were administered C. vulgaris extract (3600 mg/day) for a period of 6 weeks. Fasted serum samples collected at baseline and after the completion of study were analyzed for the concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, and malonedialdehyde (MDA) as well as activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. Total antioxidant capacity of serum was also determined by the ability of serum to inhibit the formation of ferryl myoglobin radical species. Results: Six-week supplementation with C. vulgaris extract in smokers was associated with marked elevation of all assessed serum antioxidant measures (p < 0.001) and significant reduction of MDA levels (p = 0.002). After gender segregation, a similar pattern of changes was observed for both male and female subjects apart from lack of significant change in serum vitamin E status in females. Although the magnitude of change in serum vitamin E was significantly greater in males compared to females (p = 0.014), there was no significant change in the magnitude of changes for other assessed parameters between the genders. Conclusions: Supplementation with C. vulgaris extract significantly improves antioxidant status and attenuates lipid peroxidation in chronic cigarette smokers. Hence, C. vulgaris might prevent the disease burden and mortality rate associated with smoking.