Objective: Verbal fluency is a cognitive function that can be easily assessed in bedside and provide useful data for clinical assessment of a variety of cognitive functions. We decided to provide a standardized test for the assessment of verbal fluency in Persian language, including both phonemic and semantic fluency subtests. Method: First, three letters (P, D, and Sh) and three categories (animals, fruits, and objects of kitchen) were selected based on a pilot study and a panel of specialists. Then, we selected 500 Persian speaking participants (47.8% male) that were 18 to 65 years old via convenient sampling from general population. Participants were stratified according to age, gender, and education. They performed the verbal fluency test. Results: The mean number of generated words in letter fluency and semantic fluency (±SD) were 8.3±4.1 and 18.0±5.5, respectively. Age, educational level, and mother tongue were associated with letter fluency. Semantic fluency was associated with age, gender, education level, and mother tongue. Conclusion: For a more reliable clinical assessment, we suggest to use all of the three letters and three semantic categories for each subject, calculate the mean of the produced words and compare them with the suggested cut-points provided for each subcategory. Age was negatively correlated with the number of generated words in letter fluency (r=-0.33; p<0.001) and semantic fluency tasks (r=-0.26; p<0.001). In letter fluency task, there was not a statistically significant difference between males and females according to the number of generated words (P=0.057). However, in semantic fluency, female participants generated more words (p=0.005). Mother tongue (Farsi) showed a significant effect both on letter fluency (t=5.55, p<0.001) and semantic fluency (t=9.41, p<0.001). Level of education had a significant association with both letter fluency (F=117.23, p<0.001) and semantic fluency (F=64.48, p<0.001).
Objective This study aimed to evaluate the maternal and umbilical cord blood antibody levels, after COVID vaccination during pregnancy. Method The women who received the COVID‐19 vaccine (Sinopharm) during pregnancy were included. Maternal and cord blood samples were tested to detect the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 receptor binding domain (RBD) specific antibodies. In addition, obstetric information and side effects after vaccination were gathered. Result A total of 23 women were included. Eleven pregnant women took two doses and 12 cases received a single dose of the vaccine. No IgM antibody was detected in any maternal blood or cord blood samples. The RBD‐specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was positive in mothers receiving 2 doses of the vaccine and their infants. But the antibody titers were under the positive cut‐off threshold for the other 12 women who were vaccinated with a single dose. Women who received both doses of vaccine had significantly higher IgG levels than a single dose of Sinopharm (p = .025). The same result was demonstrated in infants born to these mothers (p = .019). Conclusion There was a significant correlation between maternal and neonatal IgG concentrations. Although, receiving both doses of the BBIBP‐CorV vaccine (not 1 dose) during pregnancy is highly beneficial for increasing humoral immunity for the mother and fetus.
Objectives: The Covid-19 has caused anxiety and stress in people all over the world. One of the most vulnerable groups during this epidemic are people with psychiatric disorders. In this study, we investigate the leading causes of concern among patients with psychiatric disorders and their families during and after hospitalization. The purpose of this study is to improve the care and service given to these patients and their caregivers regarding their concerns. Methods: In this study, 48 patients with psychiatric disorders hospitalized from late February to late April 2020 in the Iran Psychiatric Hospital were contacted by telephone. They completed a questionnaire related to the covid-19 pandemic and the problems caused by it during and after their hospitalization. Results: Inability to meet with family and the fear of infection to Covid-19 were among the main concerns of these patients at the time of admission. Their most worrying factors after discharge were the negative impact of quarantine on the recurrence of psychiatric illness. On the other hand, the most significant concern during the hospitalization of a patient with Covid-19 is the caregivers of these patients after discharge and the inaccessibility to a physician. Conclusion: The Covid-19 pandemic has caused challenges in treating psychiatric patients; thus, this study suggests some solutions such as providing a safe place for doctors to visit the patients, recommending the patients and the caregivers to observe self-hygiene protocols, and seeing patients virtually.
Verbal fluency test is a useful method to evaluate cognitive executive functions. Studies have shown that both types of verbal fluency test (phonemic and semantic) are influenced by brain damage. This test is rarely used by clinicians because it takes too much time to perform. Therefore, we decided to increase its speed and accuracy by designing a verbal fluency test application in Persian language. The study on designing the application of verbal fluency test in Persian was published in the journal of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience entitled “Verbal fluency performance in normal adult population in Iran: norms and effects of age, education and gender”. To design the application, two software engineers, one programmer, and one graphic designer had cooperation with each other. First, the programming was done. During the programming, the programmer first implemented the tables related to the test. Then, by entering constant variables, an initial layout in the form of a look-up table was developed. Then, the graphic designs were added to the application. By testing 100 different scores with the relevant table and receiving the output, the accuracy of the initial version was confirmed. After designing the software, field tests were performed by 10 clinicians to evaluate the application in terms of ease of use and main structural errors. Finally, by testing 100 different scores, the accuracy of the final version was confirmed. The verbal fluency test application in Persian can increase the use of psychological and cognitive tests by Iranian clinicians by increasing the speed and accuracy of tests.
Key Clinical Message Lethal multiple pterygium syndrome is a very rare genetic disorder. The manifestations of this condition include growth deficiency of the fetus, craniofacial anomalies, joint contracture, and skin webbing (pterygia). This disorder is fatal before birth or shortly after birth. We reported a case of lethal multiple pterygium syndrome with multiple anomalies including pterygia involving the axilla, bilateral antecubital fossa, and groin. Arthrogryposis involving multiple lower and upper extremities joints. Cleft palate, microstomia and limitation of mouth opening, webbed neck, asymmetric small and narrow chest, ambiguous genitalia, depressed and wide nasal bridge, antemongoloid slant, low‐set, malformed, and posteriorly rotated ears, pterygia, syndactyly and camptodactyly of hands and rocket bottom feet. LMPS is a congenital genetic disease with multiple anomalies that is fatal in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy or shortly after birth. With genetic testing and counseling, it can be prevented from recurring in subsequent pregnancies.
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