The aim of this study was to examine the diagnostic accuracy of the Addiction Acknowledgment Scale (AAS), Addiction Potential Scale (APS), and MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale-Revised (MAC-R), and to determine optimal cutoff scores for these scales.140 students from university of Tehran and 81 addicted persons seeking rehabilitation (matched for age) were selected for this study.Since these scales were derived from the MMPI-2, which is used to diagnose psychological disorders, a pilot study was conducted to examine their diagnostic accuracy in order to identify psychiatric patients (n=78) and addicted persons (n=81). The AAS had good diagnostic accuracy and the MAC-R was relatively accurate. After the pilot study, we examined the diagnostic accuracy of these Scales. The AAS was the only scale having internal consistency at a satisfactory level. The mean differences of the 3 scales were statically meaningful for the two groups (students and addicted persons). Results of the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis and sensitivity analysis showed that the AAS was the most accurate among the scales and appeared to offer considerable promise as a substance abuse screening tool. In contrast, the APS had the lowest diagnostic accuracy among the three scales, yielding results that would be of minimal clinical use.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the mineralogical and Heavy Metals (HMs) present in the granite mining soils in Chimakurthy, India. The mineral exploration of mining soils were identified by X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) pattern analysis. However, the morphological features and quantitative HMs were detected by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersed Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). The relative concentrations of HMs measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). In this study, the major minerals were identified as Quartz, Albite, Anorthite, K-Feldspars, Hornblende, Muscovite, Annite, Lepidolite, Illite, Clintonite, Enstatite, Ferrosilite, Kaolinite, Kyanite, Augite, and Phologopite. Moreover, the presence of six HMs such as Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and Manganese (Mn), and their relative concentrations were measured. The concentrations of HMs in three groups of mining soils were in the range of Cr: 149-177 mg/kg (>100), for Co: 128-175 mg/kg (>50), for Ni: 166-204 mg/kg (>50), for Cu: 288-363 mg/kg (>100), for Zn: 433-548 mg/kg (>200) and for Mn: 714-769 mg/kg (<2000) as compared with maximum permissible levels set by standard organizations (WHO/FAO) limits. The results demonstrated that the HMs concentrations in mining soils were exceeded WHO/FAO limits except for Mn. The study is useful for assessment of environmental impact due to excessive deposition of mineral waste and assessment of the quality of investigated granites based on their mineralogical aspect, particularly in the production of granite stones.

Background: Aarskog-Scott Syndrome (AAS), also known as facio-digital-genital dysplasia, is a rare syndrome mainly characterized by short stature, skeletal disorders and genitourinary dysmorphisms (1). Case report: We present the case of two caucasian male twins affected by AAS and Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO). The AAS diagnosis was genetically confirmed by the homozygous mutation on the FGD1 gene on exon 6, variant c. 1327 C>T p. (Arg443 Cys). Twins described in this report would have been at a higher risk of CHD because of three elements: they were affected by AAS, they were born after IVF, and they were twins. Despite having all these characteristics, only a PFO was detected. 2021 European position paper (22) asserts that after an incidental finding of a PFO, conventional flight or diving should not be denied. In professional divers and selected military pilots performing intensive high-altitude flight activities, a primary PFO percutaneous closure should be recommended. Conclusion: A first echocardiography evaluation should be performed on a child presenting malformations because of possible involvement of the heart,nevertheless, we do not believe that AAS patients should undergo a mandatory cardiological follow-up. The larger PFOs or those with significant resting shunts should require a follow-up based on specific patient characteristics