Zataria multiflora affects pulmonary function tests, respiratory symptoms, bronchodilator drugs use and hematological parameters in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A randomized doubled-blind clinical trial.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Zataria multiflora is employed as an antitussive, anti-spasmodic, analgesic and etc. Agent in traditional medicine. The modern medical studies are also confirmed effects of this plant for treatment of respiratory problems via anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and immunomodulatory properties. AIM OF STUDY: We evaluated efficacy of Z. multiflora on tests of pulmonary function, respiratory symptoms, inhaled bronchodilator drugs use, and hematological factors in COPD patients. METHODS: Patients (n = 45) were randomly grouped in the following three groups: placebo group (P), groups received Z. multiflora extract 3 and 6 mg/kg/day (Z3 and Z6). FEV1 and MEF25-75, respiratory symptoms, inhaled bronchodilator drugs use and hematological factors were evaluated before and 1-2 months after treatment. RESULTS: Z. multiflora led to significant enhancement of FEV1 (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01). Respiratory symptoms were also considerably ameliorated following treatment with extracts for 1 and 2 months compared to baseline values (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). In groups received extract, inhaled bronchodilator drugs use was remarkably declined at the end of study (both, p < 0.05). Reduction of total WBC was observed 1-2 months after treatment in treated groups with extract compared to baseline values (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Neutrophils were remarkably declined in Z3 and Z6 groups after 2-monthes compared to 1-month treatment (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The evidence show therapeutic effect of this herb on COPD patients which could be result from properties that help to decrease inflammation.

Factors determining the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D response to vitamin D supplementation: Data mining approach.

Vitamin D supplementation has been shown to prevent vitamin D deficiency, but various factors can affect the response to supplementation. Data mining is a statistical method for pulling out information from large databases. We aimed to evaluate the factors influencing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in response to supplementation of vitamin D using a random forest (RF) model. Data were extracted from the survey of ultraviolet intake by nutritional approach study. Vitamin D levels were measured at baseline and at the end of study to evaluate the responsiveness. We examined the relationship between 76 potential influencing factors on vitamin D response using RF. We found several features that were highly correlated to the serum vitamin D response to supplementation by RF including anthropometric factors (body mass index [BMI], free fat mass [FFM], fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio [WHR]), liver function tests (serum gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT], total bilirubin, total protein), hematological parameters (mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC], hematocrit), and measurement of insulin sensitivity (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance). BMI, total bilirubin, FFM, and GGT were found to have a positive relationship and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, MCV, MCHC, fat percentage, total protein, and WHR were found to have a negative correlation to vitamin D concentration in response to supplementation. The accuracy of RF in predicting the response was 93% compared to logistic regression, for which the accuracy was 40%, in the evaluation of the correlation of the components of the data set to serum vitamin D.

Oral nano-curcumin formulation efficacy in management of mild to moderate hospitalized coronavirus disease-19 patients: An open label nonrandomized clinical trial.

Curcumin is proposed as a potential treatment option for coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) by inhibiting the virus entrance, encapsulation and replication, and modulating various cellular signaling pathways. In this open-label nonrandomized clinical trial, efficacy of nano-curcumin oral formulation has been evaluated in hospitalized patients with mild-moderate COVID-19. Forty-one patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were allocated to nano-curcumin (n = 21) group (Sinacurcumin soft gel, contains 40 mg curcuminoids as nanomicelles, two capsules twice a day) or control (n = 20) group, for 2 weeks. Patients' symptoms and laboratory data were assessed at baseline and during follow-up period. Most of symptoms including fever and chills, tachypnea, myalgia, and cough resolved significantly faster in curcumin group. Moreover, SaO2 was significantly higher in treatment group after 2, 4, 7, and 14 days of follow-up and lymphocyte count after 7 and 14 days. Duration of supplemental O2 use and hospitalization was also meaningfully shorter in treatment group. It is also noteworthy to mention that no patient in treatment group experienced deterioration of infection during follow-up period, but it occurred in 40% of control group. Oral curcumin nano-formulation can significantly improve recovery time in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Further randomized placebo controlled trials with larger sample size are recommended.