BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of opium addiction and cigarette smoking on the complete blood count (CBC). METHODS Eighty-six male subjects, including 31 opium-addicted cigarette smokers (OACS), 19 opium-addicted non-cigarette smokers (OANCS), 17 non-opium-addicted cigarette smokers (NOACS), and 19 non-opium-addicted non-cigarette smokers (NOANCS) parti...

BACKGROUND A number of abnormalities has been identified among drug addicted users especially heroin addicts. However, there are a few studies to assess the opium effects on thyroid hormones. the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of opium on the thyroid function tests. METHOD In this case-control, 50 male addicts, aged 20-50 years, with history of addiction to opium lastin...

BACKGROUND Opium addiction alters immune responses to stresses such as an injury due to changing the secretion of cytokines. The present study assessed the effect of opium addiction on the cytokines [tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and IL-10] before and after laparotomy. METHODS Male rats were randomly divided into control and opium addicted (n = 20...

Opium is a drug being used in modern medicine as well as in homeopathy. Despite of the same source, both the pathies have different principles and indications. Opium is an alkaloid having main action on CNS. So in this study, we evaluated the effect of different dilutions of Opium in homeopathic potencies on CNS in mice and compared with that of Pentazocine. We divided forty mice of either sex ...

Several sub-committees are reporting on the work that has been done since the last meeting of the Health Committee in June, 1923. Thus the Opium Sub-Committee?made up of members of the Opium and Health Committees?has undertaken an inquiry into the average amounts of opium and dangerous drugs required by each country annually for medical and scientific purposes, and the best way of pursuing furt...

Opium addiction and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are endemic in different parts of Iran, particularly in Bam, where a massive earthquake occurred. This study was designed to compare the incidence rate and severity of CL cases among opium addicted and non-addicted individuals in south-eastern Iran. This study was carried out as a prospective cohort by active house-to-house visits of 1,481 habita...

BACKGROUND There is evidence that opium addiction has immunosuppressant effects. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition resulted from atherosclerosis which is dependent on the immune response. PURPOSE To evaluate plasma levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-1Ra in 30 patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease, ejection fraction of more than 35% and to evaluate their changes af...

The problem of pain relief is one that faces every doctor. Indeed as Sir Hugh Cairns (1949) told medical students in an inaugural address at King's College some twenty years ago, 'Tour patients need from you more than diagnostic and therapeutic efficiency. They do not come to you to be cured; they come to be relieved of their pains and other symptoms, and to be comforted." There can be no doubt...

Background/Aims. Destructive and metabolic changes in hepatobiliary system have been demonstrated following opium use; however, cholangiographic features of bile ducts in opium-addicted patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction are not clearly determined. We described these differences and assessed the effects of opium use on postendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography complications. M...