SAE could prevent metabolic syndrome compared to crocin and placebo. Furthermore, both SAE and crocin prevented increases in blood glucose during the study.

Nowadays, nanoproducts have found numerous applications, allowing them to enter the human body in different ways. Skin is a major body organ that acts as the first-line barrier between the internal organs and external environment. Although the inhalation and ingestion of nanoparticles is more dangerous compared with skin exposure, there are noteworthy information gaps in skin exposure to nanoparticles that need much attention. Despite the few reviews in the literature on the cytotoxic effects of nanoparticles, no research has reviewed the clinical side effects of nanoparticles following topical admonition, including skin inflammation, skin cancer and genetic toxicity.

Objective: Antipsychotic polypharmacy in the elderly usually results in higher rates of interactions, side effects and increased cost. This research was designed to observe the benefits of replacing polypharmacy with a single medication in elderly patients with chronic schizophrenia. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental, prospective, descriptive and analytical clinical trial. A survey was performed at the long stay public and academic Tehran Razi Mental Hospital. From the initial 157 conveniently access patients, 59 cases were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Before intervention, 7 patients did not participate in the study due to the recent diagnosis of new medical conditions. Fifty-two (52) cases (males=13 and females= 39) entered and completed the 36 week research time period. At baseline 40 patients were receiving two types of antipsychotics, whereas, 11 patients were receiving three types and only 1 patient was receiving four types of antipsychotic drugs. In the pre-intervention period, the approval of the University`s ethics committee and the informed consents of the patients' relatives were obtained. Systematically, the patients` multiple antipsychotics were switched to a single medication, risperidone. After determining the equivalent dose of risperidone, it was started at 1 mg/day for all patients. After a 3-6 week cross-titration period, the patients reached the previously determined equivalent risperidone doses and completed 36 weeks until the end of the study. Clinical assessments including the Brief Psychotic Rating Scale (BPRS), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), and Extra-Pyramidal Syndrome (EPS) Scale were applied on a weekly basis for a 36 week period. Results: The mean BPRS scores of the participants showed statistically significant improvement after the 9 th week of intervention. Improvements were observed in all symptom dimensions of the BPRS (positive, negative and general schizophrenic symptoms). At the end of 36 weeks of risperidone use, 90.1% of the patients achieved at least a 50% reduction in their symptoms. Additionally, functional improvement and a lower incidence of extrapyramidal side effects were also achieved after 36 weeks of risperidone use in the study population. Conclusion: Risperidone may be considered safe as a monotherapy alternative for elderly patients with chronic schizophrenia who are being treated with multiple concomitant antipsychotics. This replacement may result in some clinical benefits and fewer side effects.

Objective. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a frequent and disabling neuropsychiatric disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 3%. About 40% to 60% of patients show no or just partial symptom improvement to treatment with a first-line drug and cognitive behavior therapy. Ten percent of patients remain treatment refractory despite several treatments. For these patients, repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) has been suggested as a treatment option. Method. We investigated the efficacy of rTMS on the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA) in 16 right handed pharmaco-resistant OCD patients in an outpatient setting. The patients have been diagnosed with OCD by two psychiatrists and referred for rTMS intervention. Patients received 16 sessions of low frequency (0.5 HZ) rTMS on SMA,100% motor threshold, 1200 stimuli/day for 40 minutes every other day. OCD, depression, and anxiety symptoms were measured at baseline, 2, 6, and 12 weeks by Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale(Y-BOCS) and Hamilton Depressive and Anxiety rating scales (HAM-D and HAM-A). We assessed the side effects of rTMS by a self-administrative questionnaire. Results. Patients’ scores in Y-BOCS, HAM-D, and HAM-A were significantly decreased following rTMS treatment. The baseline and 12 weeks scores of Y-BOCS were 28.94 and 18.31 (P-value < 0.01), HAM-D were 14.69 and 7.94 (P-value <0.01) and HAM-A were 16.38 and 6.94 (P- value < 0.01), respectively. The patients reported no serious side effects of rTMS except two case that reported light headach. Conclusion. This study showed that low-frequency rTMS on SMA improved OCD, anxiety, and depression symptoms after 16 sessions.