Addiction and Health最新文献

Background: Congress 60, as an NGO, provides services to people with substance use disorders (SUDs). Despite offering services and evaluating their effectiveness in several studies, the underlying theory of interventions and the impact process of these interventions have not been investigated within this organization. The purpose of this study is to obtain the underlying theory of changes in treatment outcomes in this organization.

Methods: To achieve this theory, the grounded theory methodology was used. The data for this study consisted of the results of in-depth individual interviews with 26 individuals treated at Congress 60 branches, as well as documents. The analysis of these data was conducted using continuous comparison analysis to extract concepts, involving open, axial, and selective coding. Trustworthiness was evaluated according to the grounded theory principles.

Findings: The core concept derived from this study was the "Theory of Transformations in the Psyche" as presented in Congress 60. Subcategories of the core concept included the psyche, the addictive psyche, and the healthy psyche.

Conclusion: In Congress 60, psyche is defined as the expression that a person shows, which is the interaction of physical structures and worldview. A person with SUD has an addictive psyche that is demonstrated in daily behavior and, therefore, experiences adverse outcomes. The person treated at Congress 60 achieves a healthy psyche, as shown in daily behavior, and thus experiences positive outcomes. The theory obtained in this study can explain the process of change in the outcomes in Congress 60.

Background: The use of tobacco continues to pose a major public health issue worldwide, requiring effective cessation programs. Digital interventions present advantageous opportunities owing to their accessibility and scalability. This systematic review seeks to consolidate current research on the efficacy of digital interventions for tobacco cessation in adults.

Methods: We performed a search utilizing pertinent keywords and databases. The search approach encompassed terms including "digital interventions," "smoking cessation," "adults," and their permutations. Our primary focus was on academic databases including PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane, and specialized journals pertaining to public health and smoking cessation. Search terms were limited to the English language exclusively. Databases from 2013 to 2023 were covered. Two writers independently collected data on cessation results and evaluated the likelihood of bias. A random effects meta-analysis was performed.

Findings: Following the search, 305 articles were identified. After omitting 151 duplicates, 198 unique papers were analyzed. Of the 47 publications that underwent full-text examination, 8 were finally incorporated into this analysis. Subgroup analysis examined differences in intervention efficacy according to length, intervention type, and participant attributes.

Conclusion: Digital treatments demonstrate the potential to facilitate smoke cessation in adults. Nonetheless, disparities in intervention design and participant attributes affect their efficacy. Additional studies are necessary to clarify effective intervention tactics and fill literature gaps, especially for long-term results and the scalability of digital therapies across varied populations.

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and mortality. It is estimated that by 2025, 1.6 billion people worldwide will suffer from HTN. HTN crisis is characterized by severe HTN exceeding 180/120 mmHg, leading to acute myocardial infarction (AMI), acute left ventricular failure, and intracerebral hemorrhage. Apelin and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) play a role in cardiovascular homeostasis. Opium addiction has been reported to increase the risk of CVD. In this study, we compared the serum apelin and NT-proBNP levels in HTN crisis and controlled HTN, considering the impact of addiction status among patients referred to Kerman hospitals from 2018 to 2019.

Methods: Eighty-nine patients with HTN crisis and 111 controlled HTN subjects as the control group were enrolled. Each group was further divided into two subgroups: non-addicts and opium addicts. Demographic data were recorded, and serum apelin and NT-proBNP levels were measured using the ELISA method.

Findings: Our results indicated that patients with HTN crisis had higher apelin levels than controlled HTN individuals (β=2.08, P<0.001). Among the patients with controlled HTN, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was higher in opium-addicted subjects compared to their non-addicted counterparts (P=0.035). NT-proBNP levels were higher in opium-addicted patients with HTN crisis but higher in non-addicted patients with controlled HTN. Furthermore, mean age, SBP, DBP, HR, CR, and apelin were higher in patients with HTN crisis than those with controlled HTN, which was also statistically significant (P<0.05). However, regarding NT-proBNP levels, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.175).

Conclusion: Contrary to the general belief that opium addiction has cardioprotective effects, we found that opium addiction in controlled HTN subjects was associated with higher DBP and proBNP levels were elevated in addicts with HTN crisis, indicating potential cardiac damage.

Background: Dependence and withdrawal syndrome caused by opioids are the most important and unambiguous factors in the clinical use of narcotic painkillers. Some evidence indicates the beneficial effects of herbal fragments in attenuating this complication. In the current study, the impact of black seed oil (BSO) and opium poppy oil (OPO) was investigated on the symptoms of morphine withdrawal syndrome in mice.

Methods: For three days, morphine was administrated to induce dependence in mice. To induce the withdrawal syndrome, on the 4th day, naloxone was injected. Thirty minutes before naloxone administration, various doses of BSO (250, 500 mg/kg) and OPO (150, 300 mg/kg) were given as active treatments, along with saline and clonidine, to 6 groups. The data obtained were compared to those from other groups that received clonidine and saline separately (n=8). The levels of excitability, anxiety-like behavior, and pain threshold were assessed using the open field test, elevated plus maze (EPM), and hot plate tests.

Findings: Clonidine and both studied doses of BSO significantly increased the presence of mice in the light arm of the EPM (P<0.05). The irritability and locomotion in animals with withdrawal syndrome in the groups that received BSO and clonidine considerably reduced and the pain sensitivity was elevated (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the BSO and clonidine groups. OPO did not significantly improve symptoms.

Conclusion: The present results revealed that the administration of BSO is effective in relieving the manifestations of morphine withdrawal syndrome, including anxiety, irritability, and motor activity, in a manner comparable to clonidine.

Background: Tobacco control efforts face substantial obstacles from industry interference and regulatory weaknesses. This review synthesizes qualitative evidence on barriers to implementing effective tobacco control measures, offering actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners.

Objective: To identify barriers to implementing tobacco control measures, specifically Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC, and propose solutions to overcome them.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, EBSCO, and the Cochrane Library, using keywords like "tobacco," "industry," and "interference." The search, limited to English-language studies published until July 15, 2024, included qualitative studies addressing barriers to implementing Article 5.3. Eligible studies focused on government policies, institutional actions, economic measures, and public awareness. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024565548). Study quality was assessed using the CASP checklist, and confidence in findings was evaluated with GRADE-CERQual.

Findings: Twelve qualitative studies were included, covering regions such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Uganda, and the UK Overseas Territories. Key barriers identified were conflicts of interest involving government officials, lobbying by the tobacco industry, resource constraints, weak regulatory frameworks, and limited awareness of Article 5.3. Economic considerations often overshadowed public health priorities, further enabling industry influence.

Conclusion: Addressing these barriers requires strengthened regulations, improved coordination, and enhanced support for tobacco control initiatives. Efforts should prioritize reducing conflicts of interest, increasing awareness of Article 5.3, and balancing public health and economic interests. Public health dentists and policymakers must collaborate to ensure effective tobacco control measures are implemented and sustained.

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become significantly popular, especially among young people. E-cigarettes are a form of tobacco use in which the smoke produced by the vaporization of nicotine is inhaled. The increase in the consumption of these cigarettes causes many concerns about their long-term and unknown adverse effects on general and oral health. The present study was conducted to determine the level of awareness of dentists participating in the 15th Annual Scientific Congress of the Iranian General Dentists Association about e-cigarettes.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the dentists selected by convenience sampling were given a questionnaire including 14 awareness questions. After the participants completed it, the data were statistically analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and an independent samples t-test.

Findings: A total of 347 dentists participated in the present study, and 36.9% stated that they had no familiarity with e-cigarettes. The answers of more than half of the participants to questions regarding the relative risk of using this type of smoking as a suitable method to quit other types of tobacco, long-term adverse effects on health, and the risk of explosion of these cigarettes were incorrect. The average score of awareness was 7.88±3.25 out of a total of 14, indicating an overall moderate level of knowledge.

Conclusion: The average knowledge score related to the subject under investigation was moderate, and the knowledge in some aspects was not satisfactory.

Background: There is limited research available on the direct effect of opioid use on esophageal cancer. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to consolidate the results of previous studies and provide an estimate of the pooled relative risk or odds ratio associated with opioid use in relation to the occurrence of esophageal cancer.

Methods: The PRISMA guidelines were utilized to establish a framework for conducting this systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic search was conducted in international and national databases. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and national electronic databases were searched up to February, 2024. The random-effects model was used to report the results at a 95% confidence interval (CI). Stata 11 was used for data analysis.

Findings: Out of the 648 retrieved articles, 11 studies remained in the final analysis (one cohort study and ten case-control studies). In all subgroups analyzed based on the type of odds ratios, no significant heterogeneity was observed. The pooled adjusted odds ratio of opium on esophageal cancer was 1.8 (95% CI: 1.24-2.61), and the pooled crude odds ratio of opium on esophageal was 1.82 (95% CI: 1.55-2.14).

Conclusion: The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between opium use and esophageal cancer, and opium can be a serious risk factor for esophageal cancer.

Background: A well-constructed hypothesis is central to scientific knowledge, guiding the research process from a problem to its potential solution. This paper aims to provide a brief history of the scientific hypothesis, emphasize its central role in hypothesis-driven research, and outline the characteristics of a well-formulated scientific hypothesis.

Methods: We conducted a narrative review of philosophical and scientific literature to examine the evolution of hypothesis formulation within the hypothetico-deductive (HD) framework, with emphasis on Karl Popper's principles of falsifiability and deduction.

Findings: The HD method remains the cornerstone of scientific inquiry, with hypothesis formulation serving as a critical link between theory and empirical testing. The 5E rule, which is a framework that defines an effective research hypothesis as Explicit, Evidence-based, Ex-ante, Explanatory, and Empirically testable, ensures that hypotheses are clear, relevant, and actionable within scientific investigation.

Conclusion: Despite its importance, hypothesis formulation is often underemphasized in modern biomedical research, where many struggle to construct well-defined, testable hypotheses.

Background: Gamification refers to the use of game elements and game design techniques in non-game contexts. Using gamification in education makes educational materials available to learners in a new and attractive way. To this end, the present study sought to investigate the effectiveness of gamification in the field of addiction information literacy.

Methods: This applied study was conducted using a quasi-experimental method. The research population consisted of students at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman in 2023. A total of 32 students were randomly selected as the participants using purposive sampling and were randomly placed in either a control or an intervention group. To conduct the study and collect data, a researcher-made game was used to teach addiction information literacy, and a researcher-made questionnaire was used to assess addiction in the participants. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS-21 software.

Findings: The data in this study revealed an average level of addiction information literacy in the students in the control group, who completed the questionnaire without playing the game, while a higher level of addiction information literacy was found in the students in the intervention group, who played the game and completed its stages.

Conclusion: The findings showed that the implementation of gamification positively affected the students' addiction to information literacy. Providing educational content in the field of addiction through games is more appealing to them and motivates them to pay attention and learn more about addiction. Besides, since students and young people are always busy with their phones, gamification can be implemented anywhere, transferring content to the audience more easily and quickly.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the impact of opium on liver function and the biliary tract in patients with bile duct stones, comparing outcomes with non-addicted individuals.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted in Iran from 2016 to 2017. A total of 86 patients with bile duct stones were divided into two groups: opium-addicted (n=40) and non-opium-addicted (n=46). The patient's hepatobiliary system was evaluated using liver function tests (LFTs) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS software.

Findings: LFTs showed significantly elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (90.67±46.99 vs 55.28±45.53 U/L, P=0.036) and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) (120.47±90.15 vs 51.83±35.21 U/L, P=0.005) in the opium-addicted group compared to controls, and higher direct (4.05±2.84 vs 2.30±1.66 mg/dL, P=0.002) and total bilirubin levels (5.02±3.94 vs 2.93±2.35 mg/dL, P=0.007). Furthermore, the common bile duct (CBD) diameter was significantly larger in the opium-addicted group (12.21±3.42 vs 7.80±2.62 mm, P=0.007). In contrast, pancreatic duct diameters (P=0.289) and alanine aminotransferase (ALP) levels (P=0.842) showed no significant differences.

Conclusion: The study revealed that opium addiction is associated with significantly elevated levels of liver enzymes (AST and ALT), higher bilirubin levels, and an increased common bile duct diameter in patients with bile duct stones, while the pancreatic duct diameter and ALP levels remained unaffected. These findings highlight the potential impact of opium use on the hepatobiliary system and underscore the importance of further research to understand its long-term effects and improve clinical management.