Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effect of the Traditional Herbal Medicine Atrifil and Oshagh Gum on Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Wistar Rats.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease that affects elderly men with various complications. This study evaluates the effects of an Iranian traditional herbal medicine "Atrifil and Oshagh gum" on BPH in male Wistar rats. Atrifil is a combination of three medicinal plants: Emblica officinalis Gaertn, Terminalia chebula Retz, and Terminalia bellerica Retz" extracts, and Oshagh gum is Dorema ammoniacum D. Dono gum. In this study, 30 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: normal control, disease, finasteride, and extract with 300 and 600 mg/kg groups. The extract is a combination of hydroalcoholic Atrifil extract and Oshagh gum. All groups received intramuscular testosterone enanthate to induce BPH except the normal control group. On the twenty-eighth day, prostate glands were separated. Histopathological changes were observed. Furthermore, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate weights were measured. The binding propensities of finasteride, equol, and flavonoids present in this extract such as quercetin, rutin, and kaempferol for 5α-reductase, estrogen receptor alpha and beta, and estrogen-related receptor gamma were assessed using in silico docking approach. Histopathological evaluation, biochemical parameter, and PSA level results indicated significant inhibition of accruing and progression of BPH in groups treated with 600 mg/kg extract (p < 0.01). Furthermore, molecular docking showed that rutin had a high affinity to bind the receptors 5α-reductase, estrogen receptor beta, and estrogen-related receptor gamma even more than finasteride, and on average, quercetin had a higher affinity to all these receptors. In the end, it can be concluded that Atrifil and Oshagh gum is effective in preventing BPH.

Yoga Effects on Anthropometric Indices and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Symptoms in Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of yoga exercises on anthropometric parameter and clinical sign of PCOS among women undergoing infertility treatment. This clinical trial study was performed on 61 women with PCOS who have undergone infertility treatment at Sarem Hospital in Tehran, Iran. The patients were first selecting based on purposeful and then randomly assigning to the intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, yoga exercises were performed for 6 weeks and the patients in the control group only received routine care. Anthropometric parameters and clinical signs were performed and recorded. After the intervention, here was a significant reduction in hirsutism, abdominal circumference, and hip circumference scores in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Given the effects of yoga exercises on the improvement of hirsutism, abdominal circumference, and hip circumference, it is suggested to use yoga as a treatment strategy in women with PCOS.

Auriculotherapy as a means of managing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: This study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of auriculotherapy on managing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 128 pregnant women suffering from nausea and vomiting were selected and assigned to study groups. The data were collected using demographic information and Rhodes' questionnaires and analyzed in SPSS v.22. RESULTS: After intervention, the average nausea score of the Rhodes index declined significantly in patients in the intervention group (p < 0.001).However, there was no significant (p = 0.305) difference between the two groups regarding vomiting. The results of the repeated measures showed that interventions had a significant effect on the total score of the questionnaire and also the scores regarding nausea (p < 0.04). CONCLUSION: The appropriate use of effective points on ears to control nausea and vomiting as a non-medicine and complementary treatment can alleviate nausea among pregnant women.

The effect of music therapy on physiological parameters of patients with traumatic brain injury: A triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effect of music therapy integrated with family recollection on physiological parameters of patients with traumatic brain injury who are admitted to Intensive Care Units. METHODS: Sixty patients were selected through convenience sampling and were then randomly assigned to the intervention group and control group. In the intervention group and for 6 consecutive days, the patients received a combination of music and auditory stimulation twice a day for 15 minutes. The patients' physiological parameters were measured before the intervention, and then 10 minutes and finally 30 minutes after the intervention. The data were analyzed using multilevel modeling method through MLwiN version 2.27. RESULTS: The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic factors and the duration of coma. However, the results of the two-level multiple linear models which were performed for 6 consecutive days indicated a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate and heart rate for the patients in the intervention group as compared to the patients in the control group (P < 0.0001). Nevertheless, no significant difference was observed in temperature and oxygen saturation (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Integration of music therapy with family recollection can moderate physiological parameters. Therefore, it is recommended to use this cost-effective treatment along with the routine treatments, especially for patients with traumatic brain injury.

The effect of auricular acupressure on nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy among breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of auricular acupressure in relieving nausea and vomiting among the women who received chemotherapy. METHODS: 48 women suffering from Breast Cancer and receiving chemotherapy were recruited for the study. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups of experiment and control. In the initial phase of chemotherapy, the experimental group received standard medications to control nausea and vomiting and auricular acupressure for five days. Meanwhile, the control group received only the standard medications. RESULTS: The use of auricular acupressure led to the decrease in the number and intensity of nausea and vomiting in both the acute and delayed phases in experimental group which were significantly lower than the control group (P = 0/001). CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that nurses use this pressure technique as a complementary treatment, non - pharmacological, inexpensive, non-invasive approach for the relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.