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Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a significant cancer treatment side effect that can influence both quality of life and treatment course. Melissa Officinalis (MO), due to its high content of flavonoids, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Materials and Methods: The cancer patients diagnosed with CIPN attended a referral center in Sari (Iran). The hydroalcoholic extract of MO leaves was extracted by the maceration method. The control group received a placebo along with gabapentin as the standard treatment, and the intervention group received 500 mg Melissa officinalis 2 times daily for 3 months plus gabapentin. Patients were evaluated at the baseline and 3 months later, according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE) and EORTC QLQ-C30 (Integrated System for Quality of Life Assessment). Results: A total of 40 patients were considered as group D (intervention group), and 35 patients completed the study. Out of 40 subjects in the placebo group (P), 3 patients could not tolerate the drug due to gastrointestinal disturbances. The final values of CTCAE showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.010). Indicators related to the quality of life in both groups showed a significant improvement. In the intervention group, the pain perception and diarrhea experience were significantly reduced. Conclusion: Quality of life indicators were improved by prescribing gabapentin with and without Melissa officinalis. The addition of Melissa officinalis to the chemotherapy regimen may improve diarrhea and pain perception.
RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Hemodialysis is the common kidney replacement therapy in Iran. Doing an adequate and effective dialysis can improve patients' quality of life and reduce kidney failure complications. Additionally, dialysis quality is an important factor in reducing mortality in patients with chronic kidney failure. This systematic review has investigated the adequacy of dialysis in studies done on hemodialysis patients of Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All articles related to the dialysis adequacy in hemodialysis patients in English and Farsi (contemporary Persian) were identified by searching the related keywords in various electronic databases. According to the inclusion criteria 21 studies were identified. The results were analyzed using Stata software version 11. RESULTS: A number of 6677 patients had been enrolled in 21 studies that were chosen for this systematic review. Based on the random effects model, the overall dialysis adequacy (KT/V) (K: clearance of urea, T: duration of dialysis, V: distribution of urea) more than 1.2 and confidence interval were 36.3% and 46.2-26.4, respectively. Also, based on random effects model more than 65% urea reduction ratio in all studies was 28.8% and the confidence interval was 43.3-14.4. CONCLUSION: KT/V and urea reduction ratio were much less desirable in hemodialysis patients and the dialysis quality was also undesirable. It seems that inadequate dialysis prescription, use of inappropriate filters, low pump speed (blood flow speed), and the short duration and few times of dialysis are the major causes of this inadequacy. .