BACKGROUND Regarding the limited studies about effects of addiction on coagulation factors as a risk factor for increasing coagulation, and its relation to coronary artery disease, we decided to investigate the effect of opium on inflammatory and coagulation factors in a controlled setting. METHODS This case-control study was performed using two groups of smoking males addicted to opium (27 c...

BACKGROUND The direct effect of some opioids on immune cells has been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to assess the apoptotic effect of opium on Jurkat T lymphocyte cells. METHODS Different concentrations of opium (2.86 × 10-3 to 2.86 × 10-11 g/ml) were added to 24-well plates containing 5 × 105 Jurkat cells. Apoptotic events were assessed after 6, 24, and 72 hours by flow-cytometric ...

BACKGROUND In clinical practice, the level of sensory block in spinal anesthesia in opium abusers is lower than that in non-abusers because of adaptive changes caused by opium use. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the level of sensory block resulting from the intrathecal administration of 0.5% bupivacaine in opium abuser patients undergoing lower extremity and lower abdomin...

The paper examines the rise and fall of Golden Triangle opium-producing region, by focusing on local economic social conditions, as well international factors that have affected opium production in Myanmar (formerly Burma), Laos, Thailand. By 1970, countries produced 70 percent world’s opium, but even late 1990s, figure remained 66 percent, only today has region become less significant, a resul...

Since the 19th century, opium has been produced and consumed in the areas of Asia, currently referred to as the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle (1). The Golden Crescent lies in South and Southwest Asia, including districts in the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan, the adjacent Badakhshan area of Afghanistan and the Baluchistan area of Iran. The area has been the scene of tradition...

Background: Opium consumption is associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and a hyper-inflammatory state which are suggested as contributing factors to the development coronary artery ectasia (CAE). We aimed determine if opium an independent factor CAE. This study explore relationship between Methods: In this propensity score-matched study, we enrolled patients who underwent elective a...

BACKGROUND Myocardial infarction (MI) is a heart condition caused by the suspension of blood circulation in a part of the myocardium. There are different risk factors contributing to a heart attack. Some believe that endorphins and endogenous opioids play an important role in causing MIs. OBJECTIVES This study intended to determine the relationship between opium dependency and mortality rate ...

BACKGROUND Chronic opioid treatment in animal models has shown to alter hematological parameters. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological effects of opium on the number of peripheral blood cells and red blood cells (RBCs) indices in diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Peripheral blood samples were collected from diabetic, opium-addicted, diabetic opium-addicted and ...

BACKGROUND Postoperative cognitive dysfunction, especially delirium commonly occurs after cardiac surgery. Clinical evidences suggest an increase in delirium in opium abusers after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery. In this study, the prevalence of delirium in addict (opium user) and nonaddict patients after CABG were compared. METHODS In a cross-sectional study after obtaining inst...

Objective To describe an outbreak of lead poisoning among opium users in the Islamic Republic of Iran and estimate the number of affected people in the country. Methods We used data from the country's largest poison treatment centre to illustrate the epidemiology of an outbreak of lead poisoning in oral opium users. We describe the government's referral and treatment guidelines in response to...