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OBJECTIVE@#This study investigated the biochemical, histopathological and physiological effects of Citrullus colocynthis on peripheral neuropathy in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes.@*METHODS@#Seventy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were included in the present study. Diabetes was induced in 60 rats, with a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (65 mg/kg). After 4 weeks, the diabetic rats were assessed for neuropathy. Then, the diabetic rats with neuropathy were randomly divided into 6 groups for a 4-week treatment with gabapentin, oral administration of C. colocynthis fruit pulp powder (100 and 300 mg/kg per day), topical preparations as oil-based solution and ointment, or placebo. Changes in metabolic, physiological, biochemical and histological parameters were considered as treatment outcomes.@*RESULTS@#Metabolic outcomes (body weight and blood glucose level) were improved in the C. colocynthis-treated groups as compared to placebo. Tail-flick and hot-plate tests also had lower latency in the C. colocynthis-treated groups. Measurement of oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and catalase) showed the antioxidant effect of C. colocynthis. Histological evaluation of the sciatic nerve showed that C. colocynthis decreased the number of demyelinated and degenerated nerve fibers. Among the C. colocynthis-treated groups, the one receiving 100 mg/kg power per day orally had the best treatment outcomes.@*CONCLUSION@#The present study showed that C. colocynthis fruit, through its antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities, has a positive effect in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Lipid-lowering effect of Rhus coriaria L. (Rhus) has been investigated in multiple animal studies with promising results. Nonetheless, its clinical efficacy has not been adequately examined.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipid-lowering effects of Rhus among patients with hyperlipidemia.</p><p><b>DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS</b>The study was designed as a two-arm, double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, using a parallel design. Eighty patients with primary hyperlipidemia were randomly assigned to receive Rhus capsules or placebo for 6 weeks.</p><p><b>MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES</b>The serum lipid levels, apolipoprotein-A1 (Apo-A1) and apolipoprotein-B (Apo-B) were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and Apo-A1 levels were significantly increased in the Rhus group, compared with the placebo group, after 6 weeks of intervention (P = 0.001). The analysis of covariance test including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and smoking as co-variables revealed that the increase in HDL-C and Apo-A1 levels remained significant, and increases in HDL-C were dependent on the increase in Apo-A1 levels. No significant difference was observed between Rhus and placebo groups in terms of mean reductions in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels; however, more significant improvement was observed among obese patients (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The study showed significant increases in HDL-C and Apo-A1 levels in response to Rhus supplementation in patients with hyperlipidemia.</p><p><b>TRIAL REGISTRATION</b>ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02295293.</p>
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Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine [CAM] is becoming increasingly popular in Middle Eastern countries; it is often used for paediatric medical conditions such as chronic gastrointestinal complaints and failure to thrive. It is also commonly used in patients with chronic hepatic conditions such as cirrhosis and in hepatic transplant patients.
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, types and associated factors of CAM use in children with hepatogastrointestinal disease in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study carried out during September 2013January 2014, 238 parents of children attending a paediatric gastroenterology and hepatology clinic at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences received a self-administered questionnaire covering associated factors of complementary and alternative medicine use; 210 questionnaires were completed and returned.
Results: Complementary and alternative medicine was used by 103 patients [49%]; 74 [71.8%] of these used herbal remedies. Older age of the child significantly increased CAM use. Those with previous positive experience of CAM [62.1% of users, 40.2% of non-users] and those who had received recommendation for CAM by health care providers [24.3% of users, 6.6% of non-users] were significantly more likely to use CAM.
Conclusions: This survey demonstrated the high prevalence of CAM use [especially herbal remedies] in paediatric patients with hepatogastrointestinal diseases.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Pediatrics , Gastrointestinal Diseases , Liver Diseases , Cross-Sectional Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Child , PrevalenceABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>There is increasing interest in complementary and alternative medicine generally, and especially by those affected by chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. We aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of complementary and alternative medicine use among patients suffering from diabetes mellitus in Shiraz, southern Iran. Another objective was to explore associated factors for use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with diabetes mellitus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A 19-item semi-structured questionnaire (open- and close-ended) was administered to 239 patients with diabetes mellitus in this cross-sectional study. It was carried out in two outpatient diabetes clinics affiliated with the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One hundred and eighty patients (75.3%) used at least one type of complementary and alternative medicine in the last year prior to the interview. Patients with diabetes mellitus who were living in a large family (≥5 members), not taking insulin, and believed that complementary and alternative medicine have synergistic effects with conventional medicine, were independently and significantly (P values: 0.02, 0.04, and 0.01, respectively) more likely to use complementary and alternative medicine. Most of the users (97.7%) reported use of herbal preparations, and 89.4% of users did not change their medication, neither in medication schedule nor its dosage.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The use of complementary and alternative medicine, especially herbal remedies, is popular among diabetes patients in Shiraz, Iran. This use is associated with patients' family size, type of conventional medications and their view about concomitant use of complementary and conventional medicine.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Complementary Therapies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Mellitus , Therapeutics , Iran , PhytotherapyABSTRACT
Background: Qutb al-Din al-Shiraziis known as a Persian philosopher, physician, physicist, mathematician and astronomer from the seventh century AD as well as the pioneer of Shiraz Medical doctrine. He has several books on medicine, philosophy, Quran, Hadith, physics, geography and mathematics. His medical books are "TohfeyeSadyeh" ,"Treatise on vitiligo", "Treatise on ophthalmic diseases" and "Description on Avicenna's Medical Poem". Qutb al-Dinhas had a comprehensive discussion on medical ethics in the third chapter of "Fi-Bayan-el-Hajateela al-Tebbeva al-AttebbavaVasayahom" [The need to medicine and physicians and their recommendations] that is the most comprehensive treatise on medical ethics in ancient Persia
Methods: In this article, we have reviewed the third chapter of "Fi-Bayan-el-Hajateela alTebbeva al-AttebbavaVasayahom" and made a comparison between Qutb al-Din's recommendations on medical ethics and classic ethical code
Results: Qutb al-Din's ethical recommendations for doctors are in ten groups which include believing in God and day of Judgment, recommending the good and prohibiting the bad, appreciating teachers, receiving no charge for medical education and medical practice, avoiding dangerous, fatal and abortive drugs, respecting the confidentiality and privacy of the patients, good interaction with the patients and justice in dealing with rich and poor patients and considering patients' benefit
Conclusion: Multiple similarities, such as topics on confidentiality, justice and patient's best interest, are present among these ethical systems. However, some differences also exist between the Qutb al-Din's presented ethical code and classic one, mainly due to the difference in their philosophy of ethics
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Despite the well-known history of hypertension research in the modern era, like many other cardiovascular concepts, main points in the medieval concept of this disease and its early management methods remain obscure. This article attempts to make a brief review on the medieval origin of the concept of this disease from the Hidayat of Al-Akhawayni [?-983 AD]. This article has reviewed the chapter of "Fi al-Imtela" [About the Fullness] from the Hid?yat al-Muta'allimin fi al-Tibb [The Students' Handbook of Medicine] of Al-Akhawayni. The definition, symptoms and treatments presented for the Imtela are compared with the current knowledge on hypertension. Akhawayni believed that Imtela could result from the excessive amount of blood within the blood vessels. It can manifest with symptoms including the presence of a pulsus magnus, sleepiness, weakness, dyspnea, facial blushing, engorgement of the vessels, thick urine, vascular rupture, and hemorrhagic stroke. He also suggested some ways to manage al-Imtela'. These include recommendations of changes in lifestyle [staying away from anger and sexual intercourse] and dietary program for patients [avoiding the consumption of wine, meat, and pastries, reducing the volume of food in a meal, maintaining a low-energy diet and the dietary usage of spinach and vinegar]. Al-Akhawayni's description of "Imtela," despite of its numerous differences with current knowledge of hypertension, can be considered as medieval origin of the concept of hypertension
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History, MedievalABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Due to increasing rate of medical knowledge volume and depth, introducing new tasks and roles for general practitioners, and restriction of time and resources in medical education, it is essential to follow educational priorities especially in teaching medical doctors. The aim of this study was to determine the conformity of educational programs of ophthalmology department in Shiraz school of medicine, Shiraz, Iran, with the required educational priorities in medical doctor [MD] curriculum
Methods: In this research, we focused on two aspects of theoretical education of ophthalmology theoretical classes and final examinations. First, the topic discussed in the class or asked in final examinations was determined and its priority was graded according to a grading scale of A to D used in comprehensive study of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Then, after calculating sum of priorities, the rate of conformity with the expected priorities was determined using chi-square test
Results : In both theoretical classes and final examinations, significant difference was observed between educational materials and the expected educational priorities [P < 0.05]
Conclusion: In some cases, the priority "A" had been paid less attention and priorities "B", "C", and "D" had been paid more attention than the expected rates. Since the priorities considered in this study were based on those in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences comprehensive study that is approved by faculty members of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, revision of the educational priorities seems to be required