Forthcoming articles
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Articles in E-pub version are posted online ahead of regular printed publication.
Review Article
- The prevalence of tobacco, alcohol, stimulant, khat, and cannabis use among school-going students in African and Arab countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Chaimaa El Moubchiri, Mohamed Chahboune, Morad Guennouni, Abderraouf Hilali
- Received July 20, 2024 Accepted November 11, 2024 Published online December 13, 2024
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2024.0204 [Epub ahead of print]
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Abstract
PDF - Objectives
The objectives of this review and meta-analysis were twofold: first, to determine the prevalence of substance use among school-going children in Arab and African countries; and second, to highlight the considerable influence of variables such as the nation’s region and the timeframe of the study on the prevalence of substance use. Methods: Research was sourced from Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed. Thirty-seven articles were incorporated in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. This review included studies published from 2013 to 2023. The statistical metaanalysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis ver. 3 software. Across 37 studies, the total number of study participants was 73,508. Results: The meta-analysis revealed that tobacco was the most commonly used substance, with a prevalence of 16% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.7%–20.02%). This was closely followed by alcohol, which had a prevalence of 15% (95% CI, 10.5%–22.8%), stimulants at 11.4% (95% CI, 7.4%– 17%), khat at 10% (95% CI, 5.7%–15%), and cannabis at 8% (95% CI, 3.3%–18.4%). Notably, alcohol was the only substance that showed an increasing trend in prevalence from before to after 2019, rising from 13.3% (95% CI, 6.2%–26.1%) to 17% (95% CI, 10.2%–27%) (p< 0.001). Additionally, the prevalence of substance use varied significantly between Arab and African countries (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Although the prevalence of substance use among school-going populations has significantly decreased over time, with the exception of alcohol, it is imperative that both African and Arab countries implement comprehensive measures and stringent laws to address the production and marketing of substances.
Original Article
- Altered eotaxin-1 and interleukin-34 levels in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a case-control observational study in Bangladesh
- Syed Ishtiaque Hossain, Rapty Sarker, Sardar Mohammad Ashraful Islam, Mohiuddin Ahmed Bhuiyan, MMA Shalahuddin Qusar, Md Rabiul Islam
- Received August 15, 2024 Accepted November 6, 2024 Published online December 12, 2024
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2024.0222 [Epub ahead of print]
- 436 View
- 18 Download
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Abstract
PDF
- Objectives
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent mental health condition that impacts daily life. It is thought to be associated with genetic, biological, and structural brain changes, serotonergic abnormalities, altered neuromodulation, and environmental factors. Limited observational studies have examined cytokines in Bangladeshi patients with OCD. This study aimed to assess the levels of eotaxin-1 and interleukin (IL)-34 in individuals with this disorder.
Methods
This case-control observational study included 58 patients with OCD and 30 healthy controls (HCs) matched for age, sex, and body mass index. The severity of OCD was assessed using the Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale (Y-BOCS). Psychiatrists evaluated participants according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Serum levels of eotaxin-1 and IL-34 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.
Results
Patients with OCD exhibited significantly higher serum eotaxin-1 levels (121.13±7.84 pg/mL) than HCs (85.52±9.42 pg/mL). Conversely, IL-34 levels were considerably lower in patients than in HCs (119.02±14.53 pg/mL vs. 179.96±27.88 pg/mL). The Cohen d values for eotaxin-1 and IL-34 were 0.55 and −0.48, respectively. Among patients with OCD, a significant positive correlation was found between serum eotaxin-1 level and Y-BOCS score, along with a negative correlation between serum eotaxin-1 and IL-34 levels.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that altered eotaxin-1 and IL-34 levels may be associated with OCD. These chemokines and cytokines could serve as primary tools for assessing the risk of OCD, warranting further clinical investigation. This could potentially support more extensive research and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways.
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