Comparing The Effect Of Electroacupuncture And Glibenclamide On Blood Glucose Level And Histological Markers Of Pancreas In Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes lowers the quality of life and leads to several complications. Glibenclamide is a commonly used step-two treatment in diabetes but it causes weight gain, hypoglycemia and cardiovascular problems. Electroacupuncture (EA) can enhance insulin sensitivity and reduce blood glucose levels. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of EA plus glibenclamide (G) with single therapy by G or EA on blood glucose, pancreas volume, islet volume, ratio of islet volume to pancreas volume, apoptotic and beta cells numbers and body weight in diabetic rats. METHODS: Sixty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided to 10 groups: 2 non-diabetic control groups and 8 diabetic groups (1 control and 7 experimental groups; D/G 2.5, D/G 5, D/G 10 mg/kg, EA, D/EA/G 2.5, D/EA/G 5, and D/EA/G 10). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 35 mg/kg streptozotocin with high-fat diet. At the end of the course, blood samples were obtained and pancreases were dissected. RESULTS: EA was as effective as D/G 5 and D/G 10 in all outcomes. Combination therapy of EA and glibenclamide 5 and 10 mg/kg resulted in a better glucose-lowering effect, greater islet volume and ratio of islet volume to pancreas volume than single therapies (P < .05). EA increased the pancreas volume as much as the combination therapies (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Combination of EA and glibenclamide 5 showed the best effects on blood glucose, islet volume and ratio of islet to pancreas volume. Combination of EA and glibenclamide 2.5 illustrated the best effects on apoptotic and beta cell number of diabetic rats.

Acupuncture for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial Studying Changes in Clinical Symptoms and Electrodiagnostic Tests.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most frequent entrapment neuropathy in humans. Nonsurgical management is still a matter of debate, and conservative treatments include splinting, local steroid injections, ultrasound, and oral steroids. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture therapy for symptomatic CTS may improve symptoms and aid nerve repair as well as improve sensory and motor functions. However, limited evidence based on comprehensive evaluation methods is available regarding the effects of those treatments. OBJECTIVE: The study intended to compare the short-term effects of acupuncture and conventional medical treatment on CTS patients' clinical symptoms and on the results of their electrodiagnostic tests. DESIGN: The research team designed a randomized controlled trial. SETTING: The study took place at the electrodiagnostic clinic of the School of Persian and Complementary Medicine at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Mashhad, Iran). PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 60 patients at the clinic with the clinical diagnosis of CTS. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. Patients in the control group received 100 mg of Celebrex as tablets, 2 times daily. Patients in the intervention group received 12 sessions of acupuncture, each for 30 min, for 4 wk. The needle insertion points were fixed for all sessions. In addition, wrist braces were provided to wear at night for 1 mo in both groups. OUTCOME MEASURES: At baseline, postintervention at the end of week 4, and at a 3-mo follow-up at the end of week 16, participants' clinical symptoms-pain, numbness, tingling, weakness/clumsiness, and night awakenings-and the results of their electrodiagnostic studies were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: In total, 49 patients completed the study-24 in the control group and 25 in the intervention group. Compared with the control group, the intervention group's clinical symptoms-pain, numbness, tingling, and muscular weakness-based on the subscales of the global symptoms score questionnaire as well as the overall score on that questionnaire improved significantly (P < .05). Regarding the electrodiagnostic studies, only the distal motor latency showed a significantly greater decrease in the acupuncture group in comparison to controls (P = .001). CONCLUSION: All clinical symptoms and the results of the electrodiagnostic tests improved significantly in the intervention group, and the improvements continued during the 3 mo postintervention. The therapeutic results of acupuncture were mostly similar to and in certain cases better than those of the conventional medical treatment. Therefore, acupuncture can be suggested as a safe and suitable therapeutic method in CTS.

Menstrual problems in adolescence: relationship to serum vitamins A and E, and systemic inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin status and inflammatory mechanisms may be related to menstrual cycle abnormalities. We investigated the associations between serum fat soluble vitamin (vitamins A and E) concentrations and biomarkers of inflammation and antioxidant status with menstrual characteristics, primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in healthy adolescents. METHODS: A total of 897 adolescent girls either suffering from PMS (n = 134), PD (n = 322), PMS and PD (n = 293) or healthy adolescents (n = 148) were recruited. Serum vitamin A and E, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), antibody titers to Hsp27 (anti-Hsp27), serum prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB), WBC, mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) and RBC distribution width (RDW) were measured. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and RDW-to-platelet ratio (RPR) were calculated. RESULTS: Girls with long bleeding periods had lower concentrations of serum vitamin E compared to those who reported a normal period duration. There were significantly differences between the groups reporting oligomenorrhea, regular menses and polymenorrhea with respect to NLR, RPR, MPV and PDW. Logistic regression demonstrated that the presence of both PMS and PD was positively related to higher serum hs-CRP, PAB and NLR, while serum vitamin A level was inversely related to the presence of PMS. CONCLUSIONS: We found that serum vitamin A, hs-CRP, PAB and NLR are significantly associated with the presence of PMS and PD. Inflammatory processes may contribute to the etiology, symptoms and severity of menstrual disorders. Prospective studies are needed to elucidate the possibility of targeting oxidative stress and inflammatory process for the amelioration of menstrual symptoms.

A variant in CYP2R1 predicts circulating vitamin D levels after supplementation with high-dose of vitamin D in healthy adolescent girls.

AIM: The determinants of serum vitamin D seems to be the environmental factors (dietary and supplementary intake and exposure to ultraviolet light) and genetic factors. We aimed to study the relationship between a vitamin D-associated genetic polymorphism and serum 25(OH)D concentrations in healthy adolescent girls in Iran, and its effects on a high-dose supplement of vitamin D. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 616 healthy adolescent girls with mean age 15 received 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 weekly over 9 weeks. Serum vitamin D levels and other metabolic factors were measured at baseline and after the intervention. The genotyping of the CYP2R1 variant (rs10741657) was performed by TaqMan genotyping assays. RESULTS: Regardless of the genetic background, at baseline, 87% of adolescent girls were vitamin D deficient (serum 25(OH)D level < 50 nmol/l). High-dose supplementation with VitD reduced the proportion of girls who were deficient substantially to about 24%. The genetic analysis revealed that although at baseline there was not a gene-vitamin D association ( p trend = 0.1), the response to supplementation appeared to be modulated by this variant ( p trend < 0.001). However, other anthropometric and biochemical measures were not affected by this intervention, over this short period. Serum 25(OH)D was increased in all participants although the carriers of the minor A allele seemed to be better responders so that the percentages of the change serum vitamin D in the holder of AA and AG genotypes were 539.4 ± 443.1 and 443.7 ± 384.6, respectively, compared with those with common GG genotype (363.3 ± 354.0). Our regression analysis revealed that the probability of an increase in serum 25(OH)D in a participant with AA genotype was 2.5-fold greater than those with a GG genotype (OR = 2.5 (1.4-4.4); p value = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, it appears that the rs10741657 variant of the CYP2R1 gene modulates the response to high-dose of vitamin D supplementation.

Genetic and epigenetic factors influencing vitamin D status.

The global prevalence of vitamin D deficiency appears to be increasing, and the impact of this on human health is important because of the association of vitamin D insufficiency with increased risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. There are few studies on the genetic factors that can influence vitamin D levels. In particular, the data from twin and family-based studies have reported that circulating vitamin D concentrations are partially determined by genetic factors. Moreover, it has been shown that genetic variants (e.g., mutation) and alteration (e.g., deletion, amplification, inversion) in genes involved in the metabolism, catabolism, transport, or binding of vitamin D to it receptor, might affect vitamin D level. However, the underlying genetic determinants of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] concentrations remain to be elucidated. Furthermore, the association between epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and vitamin D level has now been reported in several studies. The aim of current review was to provide an overview of the possible value of loci associated to vitamin D metabolism, catabolism, and transport as well epigenetic modification and environmental factors influencing vitamin D status.

High dose vitamin D supplementation can improve menstrual problems, dysmenorrhea, and premenstrual syndrome in adolescents.

Vitamin D has a crucial role in female reproduction, possibly through its effects on calcium homeostasis, cyclic sex steroid hormone fluctuations, or neurotransmitter function. We have assessed the effects of vitamin D supplementation on dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in adolescents. In this study, 897 adolescent girls living in Mashhad and Sabzevar, Iran, received nine high-dose vitamin D supplements (as 50,000 IU/week of cholecalciferol) and were followed up over 9 weeks. We evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on individuals in four categories: those with only PMS; individuals with only dysmenorrhea; subjects with both PMS and dysmenorrhea and normal subjects. The prevalence of PMS after the intervention fell from 14.9% to 4.8% (p < .001). Similar results were also found for the prevalence of subjects with dysmenorrhea (35.9% reduced to 32.4%), and in subjects with both PMS and dysmenorrhea (32.7% reduced 25.7%). Vitamin D supplementation was associated with a reduction in the incidence of several symptoms of PMS such as backache and tendency to cry easily as well as decrement in pain severity of dysmenorrhea (p < .05). High dose vitamin D supplementation can reduce the prevalence of PMS and dysmenorrhea as well as has positive effects on the physical and psychological symptoms of PMS.

Menstrual disorders and premenstrual symptoms in adolescents: prevalence and relationship to serum calcium and vitamin D concentrations.

There have been several studies evaluating the association between vitamin and mineral status and menstrual disturbance. In the present study, we aimed to assess the relationship between the menstrual bleeding pattern and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and calcium levels in adolescent girls. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 897 high school girls from northeastern Iran. The prevalence of hypocalcaemia, normal serum calcium and hypercalcaemia was 27.1, 59.8 and 13.1%, respectively. The menstrual flow of participants differed significantly between the calcium status groups (p = .005). There was no significant association between the symptoms of PMS, as assessed by the questionnaire and serum vitamin D status, or serum calcium concentrations, apart from the irritability. There appears to be an association between serum calcium, menstrual blood loss and irritability in adolescent girls. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Several studies have evaluated the association of vitamin and mineral status with menstrual disturbance, although these relationships are not consistent, specifically among calcium and vitamin D levels with a menstrual bleeding pattern. What do the results of this study add? In the present study, we investigated the correlation of menstrual bleeding patterns and PMS with calcium and vitamin D levels in a large population in adolescent girls. We found that the level of calcium was associated with the level of menstrual blood loss and irritability. However, no significant association was observed between the menstrual bleeding pattern or the PMS symptoms with a vitamin D status. What are the implications of these findings for future clinical practise/research? Further studies are required to assess the value of a calcium adequate intake or a calcium supplementation for the amelioration of PMS and a better understanding the role of calcium in PMS.

Serum Transaminase Concentrations and the Presence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Are Associated with Serum 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Concentrations in Adolescent Girls Who Are Overweight and Obese.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Vitamin D deficiency has become endemic globally and its etiology is complex. Few studies have investigated the determinants of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH D). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between lifestyle patterns, liver functional tests (LFTs), and the presence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with serum 25-OH D in apparently healthy girls. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was undertaken in 965 adolescent girls aged 12-18 years. IBS was diagnosed using the Rome III questionnaire. An electrochemiluminescence method was used to measure serum 25-OH D. LFTs were measured using commercial kits and an auto analyzer. Linear regression and univariate analyses were performed to determine the association between continuous and categorical variables with serum 25-OH D respectively. RESULTS: Serum 25-OH D was significantly higher in normal weight subjects compared to either overweight or obese subjects (9.5 ± 7.02 vs. 7.9 ± 5.7 ng/mL, p = 0.03). Physical activity level was positively associated with serum 25-OH D in overweight and obese subjects (ß = 0.15, p < 0.05). An inverse relationship was found between the presence of IBS and 25-OH D in both normal (ß = -1.95, p < 0.05), overweight and obese subjects (ß = -1.83, p < 0.05). Serum alanine transaminase (ALT; ß = -0.19, p < 0.05) and aspartate transaminase (ß = -0.17, p < 0.05) were inversely associated with serum 25-OH in overweight and obese subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with IBS had significantly lower serum 25-OH D concentrations. In addition, there was an inverse association between serum ALT and 25-OH D. Prospective studies, and perhaps interventional trials, will be required to clarify these associations.

A randomized, controlled trial of acupuncture for chronic low-back pain.

BACKGROUND: Chronic low-back pain (cLBP) is a common condition throughout the world, and acupuncture is widely sought for treatment. As clinical evidence for the benefits of acupuncture grows, acupuncture for cLBP is receiving increased recognition and acceptance by both patients and professionals. Time method acupuncture has been previously researched with respect to chronic gastritis. OBJECTIVE: For individuals with cLBP in the current study, the research team examined the efficacy of adding confluent acupoints, related to the daytime period in time method acupuncture, to regular acupuncture and also evaluated the persistence of the benefits of such acupuncture in comparison with regular acupuncture. DESIGN: The study was a randomized, controlled trial (RCT). SETTING: The setting was an outpatient clinic of the Dongzhimen Hospital in Beijing, China. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were Chinese men and women with cLBP. INTERVENTION: Sixty participants were randomly divided into 2 groups to receive acupuncture. The control group received a treatment that followed a routine acupuncture (RA) protocol, while the intervention group received a treatment that followed an RA protocol plus acupuncture in confluent points related to time (TA). OUTCOME MEASURES: The research team measured the change in participants' scores using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the number of therapy sessions needed, the number of days that participants were absent from work during the treatment period and at 12 wk posttreatment, and the number of pain relapses between the end of treatment and the 4- and 12-wk follow-ups. RESULTS: VAS scores decreased from 69.6 ± 7.9 to 11.8 ± 4.9 in the intervention group compared with a decrease from 69.2 ± 8.0 to 15.7 ± 10.0 in the control group (P = .001). The intervention group received fewer therapy sessions (8.1 ± 2.0) than did the control group (10.1 ± 2.0, P < .001). Compared with the controls, the intervention group showed fewer days absent from work (0.5 vs 1.4; P = .03) and fewer pain relapses (4.0 vs 7.0; P = .04) at the 12-wk follow-up. In the 2 groups combined, VAS decreased from 69.4 ± 7.9 before the first session of acupuncture to 13.8 ± 8.0 after the last session (P < .001), and the number of therapy sessions needed for pain relief was 9.1 ± 2.2. CONCLUSION: Accompanying routine acupuncture with time method acupuncture can enhance the efficacy of treatment and the persistence of its benefits in individuals with cLBP.

Comparing the Effects of Warm Footbath and Foot Reflexology on the Fatigue of Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Fatigue is a common side effect of radiotherapy. While warm footbath and foot reflexology can both reduce fatigue, it is still unclear which method is more effective in reducing fatigue. This study aimed to compare the effects of warm footbath and foot reflexology on the fatigue of patients undergoing radiotherapy. METHOD: A randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 62 patients undergoing radiotherapy. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to the 2 groups. Patients in the footbath group immersed their feet in 41°C water for 20 minutes every night for 2 weeks starting from the seventh day of radiotherapy. Patients in the reflexology group received 20 minutes of foot reflexology every night for 2 weeks starting from the seventh day of radiotherapy. Fatigue was measured by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) once on the seventh day of radiotherapy and 3 more times on days 7, 14, and 28 after the start of the intervention. Data were analyzed by SPSS20 and descriptive/inferential statistics. RESULTS: The total MFI score of both groups declined significantly over time (P < .001). The reflexology group indicated a significant reduction from 90.9 ± 3.2 in the pre-test to 56.0 ± 3.7 on the 28th day in, while the footbath group indicated it from 90 ± 2.6 in the pre-test to 71.4 ± 2.8 on the 28th day. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that foot reflexology and warm footbath reduced the fatigue of patients undergoing radiotherapy. However, foot reflexology was more effective in reducing the fatigue of patients undergoing radiotherapy than warm footbath. It is recommended that simple and low cost non-pharmacological interventions such as foot reflexology to decrease of side effect of radiotherapy among cancer patients should be widely performed.Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20190625044009N1).

The national health program for vitamin D supplementation in a developing country.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported a high frequency of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) among different age groups in Iran. AIMS: In this study, the current coverage, status of vitamin D supplement taking, and program efficacy have been evaluated by the Office of Nutrition Department Society in Iran since 2014. METHODS: This study was conducted in collaboration with the International UNESCO center for Health-Related Basic Sciences and Human Nutrition and the Office of Nutrition Department Society. Sixty three medical universities were included in the current study to calculate the availability, accessibility and acceptability coverages. Furthermore, 3 medical universities including Mashhad (MUMS), Qom (QUMS) and Zahedan (ZAUMS) University of Medical Sciences were selected based on the results of the National Integrated Micronutrient Survey 2012 (NIMS-II study), in order to assess the status of vitamin D supplement intake in all age ranges. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis showed that availability coverage was 74.96% and 77.56% and accessibility was 80.70% and 83.26% in elderly and middle-aged subjects, respectively in 2018. The acceptability was approximately 43.7% and 43.9% among elderly and middle-aged participants, respectively. The availability and acceptability coverage was 80.99% and 85.0% among students in high schools. The mean vitamin D supplement uptake frequency was 27.0% (n = 387); 20.7% and 29.2% in rural and urban area, respectively (P = 0.001). The results showed that there was no significant difference in serum vitamin D levels between urban (20.41 ± 6.43 ng/ml) and rural areas, (P = 0.887). There was no significant difference in the serum vitamin D concentrations between men and women (P = 0.461). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of taking vitamin D supplements was 27.0% in Iran in 2018. The frequency of taking of vitamin D supplements among vitamin D deficient group (serum vitamin D levels <19.99 ng/ml) was 43.6%. Lack of knowledge was the most important reason for not taking vitamin D supplement. Moreover, the serum vitamin D levels have increased in subjects aged 18-30 years old after the implementation of the vitamin D supplementary program.

Twenty-Six-Year Trend of Mortality Rate Due to Ischemic Heart Diseases (IHDs) in Iran: 1990-2015.

Background: Ischemic Heart Diseases (IHDs) are the main causes of deaths all over the world. Since there is no comprehensive study on IHDs mortality rate in Iran, the present study aimed to estimate age-standardized IHDs mortality rate by sex, age, geography, and time trends at both national and sub-national levels in Iran. Methods: We used the Death Registration System (DRS) data from 1990 to 2015 collected by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education across the country, Tehran, and Isfahan main cemetery, not included in the DRS. Utilized death distribution methods to overcome the incompleteness of data. Statistical models including Spatio-temporal and Gaussian-Process Regression models were used to extrapolate all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates. Results: Age-standardized IHDs mortality rate in Iran almost doubled from 1990 to 2015. Forty-nine deaths per 100.000 population in 1990, which increased to 91.6 deaths per 100.000 in 2015). Male to female age-standardized mortality rate increased from 1.07 to 1.32 during the studied period. Aging was associated with an increase in age-standardized IHDs mortality rate in both sexes, all provinces, and all of the years. The range of age-standardized IHDs mortality rate for both sexes was from 58 to 136.2 deaths per 100,000 across provinces in 2015. Conclusion: Due to the increase in age-standardized IHDs mortality rate in Iran, it seems necessary to design and implement appropriate public health interventions by health authorities to prevent and control this group of diseases.

Menopause-related symptoms: traditional Chinese medicine vs hormone therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), acupuncture, and hormone therapy on menopause- related symptoms of peri- and postmenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-seven Chinese women completed 2 months of treatment with either CHM (5 g twice daily, n = 22), acupuncture plus CHM (Kun Bao Wan) 5 g twice daily plus sessions of acupuncture, n = 20), or hormone therapy (n = 15). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Kupperman index score, levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol, and the number of symptoms before and after treatment were the main outcome measures. RESULTS: CHM, acupuncture plus CHM, and hormone therapy significantly decreased Kupperman score (P < .001 in each group) and number of symptoms (P < .05). The mean difference in Kupperman score between baseline and 2 months among the three groups was significantly varied (P = .02). The difference was only between acupuncture plus CHM and CHM with significantly better results by acupuncture plus CHM. Acupuncture plus CHM, as well as hormone therapy, significantly reduced the level of FSH (P < .05), but CHM alone didn't cause any significant decrease in FSH levels (P > .05). The mean difference in the level of FSH between baseline and 2 months among the three groups was significantly different (P = .02). This difference was only between CHM and hormone therapy with significantly better results by hormone therapy. The three treatments didn't make any significant increase in the level of E2 (P > .05). CONCLUSION: application of the combination of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture proved as effective as hormone therapy in the treatment of menopause-related symptoms, and it achieved better outcomes than herbal medicine alone.

The relationship between dietary intakes and prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in adolescent girls: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) leading to substantial reduction in quality of life. This study was undertaken to assess the relationship between diet and prevalence of IBS in female adolescents. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data were examined on 988 adolescent girls from different areas of Mashhad and Sabzevar cities, Iran. A 168-item validated and reliable food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for dietary intake was used in all the study participants. A diagnosis of IBS was made using the Rome III criteria. RESULTS: Dietary macronutrients, energy, and selected micronutrients of IBS patients were similar to healthy subjects. Comparing the intake of caffeine between groups with and without IBS showed a higher level of consumption in the individuals with IBS (p-value = 0.02; p trend = 0.03). There was a significant positive association between caffeine intake and risk of IBS (odds ratio [OR] = 1.88, after adjustment for potential confounding variables). Although there was no significant difference in intakes of total dietary fiber (p-value = 0.23) and insoluble dietary fiber (p-value = 0.09) between IBS-positive and IBS-negative subjects, their soluble dietary fiber intake was significantly different (p-value = 0.02, a significant negative association was seen between soluble dietary fiber intake and IBS prevalence, after adjustment for potential confounding variables [p trend = 0.02; OR = 0.59]). CONCLUSIONS: The higher intake of caffeine was positively associated with IBS prevalence. Additionally, a negative association was seen between soluble dietary fiber intake and the chance of having IBS.

High-dose Vitamin D Supplementation and Improvement in Cognitive Abilities, Insomnia, and Daytime Sleepiness in Adolescent Girls.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D may affect the modulation of signaling pathways in the central nervous system. We aimed to evaluate the effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on neuropsychological functions in female adolescents. METHODS: We studied the effects of 9 weeks of vitamin D supplementation (50000 IU vitamin D3 [cholecalciferol]/week) on cognitive abilities and sleep disorders in 940 adolescent girls. RESULTS: Oral vitamin D supplementation improved cognitive abilities, including memory, inhibitory control, selective attention, decision making, planning, sustained attention, and cognitive flexibility in healthy adolescent girls (P<0.001). The prevalence of subjects with insomnia after intervention fell from 15.0% to 11.3%. Similar results were also found for the prevalence of sleepiness (15.6% reduced to 14.7%), or cases with both insomnia and sleepiness (8.0% reduced to 6.1%; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: High dose of vitamin D can improve cognitive abilities and alleviate insomnia and daytime sleepiness in adolescent girls. Further investigations are required on different population groups (age and gender) to determine the sustainability of these effects. The value of vitamin D therapy in other neurological disorders would also be of research interest.

The effect of acupressure on fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and stress in patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effect of acupressure on stress, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1C) in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, sixty-six diabetic patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into intervention and sham groups. The intervention group applied self-acupressure to the desired points for a month. The sham group were asked to slightly touch the same points. The DASS-21 and FBG were measured before intervention, 24 h after the intervention for both groups. In addition, HBA1C was measured for both groups before intervention and three months after the beginning of the intervention. Data were analyzed with SPSS 15. RESULTS: Statistical data analysis of 60 patients showed that the mean FBG and the mean stress score of the intervention group reduced significantly after the intervention (p < 0.001) but the mean rate of HBA1C in the intervention group did not differ significantly after the intervention (p = 0.21). CONCLUSION: Acupressure should be considered for diabetic patients to reduce their stress and FBG.

The Effect of Acupressure on the Severity of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching in Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Nausea and vomiting are common problems during pregnancy. Previous studies have shown that stimulation at Neiguan (PC6) acupoint can be effective in controlling pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting. However, more evidence is required for approving this method on controlling pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of PC6 acupoint pressure stimulation on the severity of nausea, vomiting, and retching in pregnant women. METHOD: This randomized, multi-center clinical trial was conducted on pregnant women referring to Health Centers and Ommolbanin Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, during December 2016 to September 2017. Women with first singleton pregnancy and below 12 weeks were included. Patients were randomly allocated into three groups of (1) PC6 pressure (4 times a day, for 10 min), (2) sham acupressure, and (3) medication with vitamin B6 and metoclopramide. Assessment of severity of nausea, vomiting, and retching was done based on the Rhodes Index on the first and fifth day (before and after the intervention). Pearson chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical analysis using SPSS version 18. This clinical trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with the code IRCT201512187265N6. RESULTS: Ninety patients with a mean age of 26.40 ± 4.73 years were studied in 3 groups of 30. There was no significant difference between the 3 groups in terms of the severity outcomes before the intervention, while, after the intervention, the three groups were significantly different on the fifth day in terms of vomiting frequency, distress from retching, distress from vomiting, duration of nausea, distress from nausea, amount of vomiting, frequency of nausea, and frequency of retching (p < 0.001 for each outcome). According to the linear regression analysis, the correlation between occupation with vomiting frequency (beta coefficient = 0.252) and nausea severity (beta coefficient = -0.213) was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: It seems that PC6 acupoint pressure can reduce the severity of nausea, vomiting, and retching in pregnant women.

Anemia is associated with cognitive impairment in adolescent girls: A cross-sectional survey.

Anemia is associated with impairment in oxygen transport, affecting an individual's physical and mental wellbeing, and work performance. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of anemia and its possible association with serum antibody titers to Hsp27 (as an indicator of cellular stress), cognitive function, measures of emotion, and sleep patterns in adolescent girls. A total of 940 adolescent girls were assessed to evaluate neuropsychological function with validated questionnaires. A complete blood count was determined as part of the assessment of hematological parameters. Serum anti-Hsp27 was measured for each subject. Among the total of 940 participants, 99 girls (10.5%) were anemic [hemoglobin <12(g/dL)]. Serum anti-HSP27 was significantly higher in anemic compared to healthy girls (p < 0.05). There was no significant differences in depression, aggression, insomnia, daytime sleepiness and sleep apnea score between two groups. However, the total cognitive abilities score was significantly lower in the anemic girls (76.8 ± 2.1 vs. 85.7 ± 2.5, p = 0.002). Logistic regression analysis showed that anemic girls were 1.73 times more likely than nonanemic girls to have cognitive impairment (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-2.78; P = 0.025). Anemia was associated with elevated levels of anti-HSP27 and supports the hypothesis that cellular stress may be associated with anemia. Anemia was adversely associated with an assessment of cognitive abilities and was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in this group.

The Association Between Neuropsychological Function with Serum Vitamins A, D, and E and hs-CRP Concentrations.

Vitamin status and the presence of subclinical inflammation may affect cognitive performance and behavior. We have investigated the relationship between serum fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, and E) and inflammatory markers with aggression and cognitive abilities, in a population of healthy adolescents. A cross-sectional study of 940 adolescent girls was performed. Serum concentrations of vitamins A, D, and E, hs-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and antibody titers to Hsp27 (anti-Hsp27) were measured. Hematological indices including lymphocyte, neutrophil, platelet counts, and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) were evaluated. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and RDW to platelet ratio (RPR) were calculated. A Cognitive Abilities Questionnaire and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire were applied to assess cognitive performance and aggression, respectively. There was a positive correlation between serum vitamins A with vitamins D and E, as well as between serum hs-CRP with serum vitamin E. Linear regression analysis showed that serum vitamin D, hs-CRP, anti-Hsp27, and RDW were significantly associated with aggression score. Furthermore, serum vitamin E, hs-CRP, anti-Hsp27, NLR, and RPR were significantly associated with cognitive ability score. Inflammatory processes may affect cognitive performance and behavior. Prospective studies are warranted to determine the potential of targeting antioxidant and inflammatory pathways for the treatment of psychological disorder.

Depression in adolescent girls: Relationship to serum vitamins a and E, immune response to heat shock protein 27 and systemic inflammation.

BACKGROUND: The inflammation and oxidative stress are thought to play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of some psychological disorders. We aimed to assess the potential relationships between serum fat soluble vitamins (Vitamins A and E), antibody titers to Hsp27 (anti-Hsp27) and hematological markers of inflammation, with mood disorders in a population of adolescent girls. METHODS: A total of 563 adolescent girls (Age 12-18 years) were included in the study. The presence and severity of depression, insomnia and sleepiness were assessed using validated questionnaires. Serum vitamins A and E, anti-Hsp27 antibody titers, white blood cell, lymphocyte, neutrophil, platelet counts, and red blood cell distribution width (RDW), were also measured. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and RDW to platelet ratio (RPR) were calculated. RESULTS: Serum anti-HSP27 antibody titers, PLR, and RPR values was significantly higher in subjects with a high depression score compared to normal individuals (p < 0.05). However, there was no association between serum inflammatory markers concentrations and sleep disorders; although individuals with insomnia had a lower vitamin E/HDL ratio compared to healthy adolescents. In multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for potential confounders, anti-HSP was an independent predictor of severe depression (OR = 5.0, 95% CI: 1.6-15.7, p < 0.05). LIMITATION: The cross-sectional design of study and the inclusion of only female adolescents participants are limitations. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that serum anti-HSP27 antibody titers may be useful biological marker in depressive patients. This finding may support a role of oxidative stress in the etiology of depression, and targeting this pathway may be of value in the treatment of depression.