Background: Hospital settings are a highly challenging work environment because of the increased demands of most of the works assigned to do, changes in the everyday routine of work, unreasonable expectations of patients and their relatives, and serious legal and death problems. Nurses experience stress due to work exhaustion that makes them vulnerable to many psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of burnout syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety in nursing group and their possible risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 181 nurses working at

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Background: Many of the psychiatric disorders and other medical conditions may affect the sexual function of the patients. The present study aims to investigate the frequency of sexual dysfunctions in male psychiatric patients compared to other medically ill patients. Results: Sexual dysfunction among psychiatric patients (51.2%) was significantly higher than among other medical patients (21%). Among the psychiatric patients, those with schizophrenia (75%) had the highest prevalence rate of sexual dysfunctions. The patients with bipolar disorders, depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders had the following rates respectively: 55%, 45%, and 30%. Among the other medical patients, those with the cardiac diseases (35%) had the highest prevalence rate of sexual dysfunctions. The patients with hepatic diseases, diabetes, urologic diseases, and respiratory diseases had the following rates respectively: 25%, 20%, 15%, and 10%. Prolactin level among psychiatric patients was significantly higher than among the other medical patients, while there was no significant difference between the psychiatric and other medical patients regarding total testosterone level. Conclusion: Considering the significant relative frequency of sexual dysfunctions in psychiatric patients, more emphasis is recommended to be placed on the prevention and proper treatment of these disorders.

BACKGROUND: Many data support that oxidative stress and inflammation represent a pathway to pathology in a number of depressed patients. Therefore, investigating this pathway presents an area for developing potential therapeutic strategies for depression. AIM: This study compares the serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in depressed and non-depressed subjects and correlate between their levels with severity of disorder, socio-demographic characteristics, previous hospitalization, and number of episodes. METHODS: A total of 60 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) from the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic in Al-Zahra University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, during the period from July 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018. A cross-matched control group of 60 subjects was selected from employers working in the hospital, complete psychiatric history, Hamilton Depression rating scale was done and serum levels of MDA, Nrf2, and SOD were estimated. RESULTS: No statistical difference between patient and control group was observed regarding age, sex, education, and marital status. The number of patients with mild depression was 28 (46.7%), moderate depression 18 (30%), and severe depression 14 (23.3%). The mean duration of illness in years was 6.13, and mean number of episodes was 3.66. MDA level was significantly elevated in the patient group than the control one. Meanwhile, SOD and Nrf2 were significantly lower in the patient group than the control. There was significant relationship between duration of illness and number of episodes and MDA, Nrf2, and SOD levels. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that oxidative stress can attribute to the occurrence of MDD.

Background Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disabilities with unknown etiology. Recent studies suggest the contribution of immune dysfunction and oxidative stress in its pathophysiology. The present study aimed to investigate the serum level of thioredoxin (Trx), as a marker of oxidative stress and some inflammatory cytokines, and to evaluate their role in children with ASD. Results Concentrations of Trx, IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α were significantly higher in children with ASD compared with matched controls. There were no association between cytokine levels and the severity of clinical manifestations, according to CARS classification of severity. Conclusion The present study provides support for the idea that physiological abnormalities, such as oxidative stress and immune dysfunction, may contribute in the pathophysiology of ASD.