Evaluation of the Effect of Garlic Tablet as a Complementary Treatment for Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of garlic (Allium sativum L.) tablets as a complimentary herbal medication in diabetic macular edema. Methods: A total of 91 diabetic participants (117 eyes) with central involved macular edema underwent a double-blind randomized trial. The patients used garlic tablets (500 mg) (2 tab/day) or placebo for 4 weeks and subsequently were examined by an expert ophthalmologist. Clinical manifestations including the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR), central macular thickness (CMT, µm), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured as the main outcomes. Results: BCVA was significantly improved by a 0.18 decrease in mean logMAR value in the garlic-treated patients in comparison with 0.06 in the control ones (P value = 0.027). CMT was decreased in both groups by a 102.99 µm decrease in the garlic group compared to 52.67 µm in the placebo group, albeit in a nonsignificant manner (P value: 0.094). IOP was decreased in the garlic group by 1.03 mmHg (P value: 0.024) and increased by 0.3 mmHg (P value: 0.468) in the placebo group. Conclusion: Our trial suggests that garlic supplements can improve visual acuity, decrease the CMT and lower the IOP, and can be considered as an adjuvant treatment in patients with diabetic macular edema. Garlic was satisfactorily tolerated in diabetic patients, and no significant adverse effect interrupting the safety profile was observed.

Spiritual Health and Physical Activity Among Iranian Pregnant Women.

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between spiritual health and physical activity among Iranian pregnant women during 2015. A cross-sectional descriptive-analytic design was adopted. A total number of 411 participants were selected by convenience sampling from Iranian women who regularly attended health centers for prenatal care. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile questionnaire, 2nd edition. (Spiritual health and physical activity are two components of health-promoting lifestyle.) The data were analyzed, using descriptive statistics, t test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and regression. p values <0.05 were considered significant. The mean age of pregnant women was 27.90 ± 6.03 years. Spiritual health had the highest score (25.86 ± 4.7) and physical activity had the lowest score (11.31 ± 3.27), among six Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile subscales. In fact, there was a statistically significant correlation between spiritual health and physical activity (p = 0.000). According to results, pregnant women have higher spiritual health and lower physical activity scores. There was a statistically significant correlation between spiritual health and physical activity. The findings of this study can be used in prenatal care, midwifery education, and maternal health policies.

Iranian Low-dose Escalating Prophylaxis Regimen in Children with Severe Hemophilia A and B.

Establishing an appropriate prophylaxis regimen for children with hemophilia is a critical challenge in developing countries. Barriers including availability and affordability, catheter-related complications, and inhibitor development risks have led to the introduction of new tailored prophylaxis regimens in different countries. This study emphasizes on the benefits of the Iranian low-dose escalating prophylaxis regimen in a Hemophilia Comprehensive Care Center in Iran. Referred patients with hemophilia less than 15 years of age, who were subject to prophylaxis regimen, are studied retrospectively. A once-weekly prophylaxis regimen of 25 IU/kg was started for the patients primarily. Their prophylaxis regimen was changed to 25 IU/kg twice a week and then 3 times a week when they experienced 3 joint bleedings, 4 soft tissue bleedings, or a 1 life-threatening bleed without a specific trauma history. Overall, 25 patients with severe hemophilia and at least 6-month history of on-demand (OD) treatment were studied. A mean of 1754 IU/kg/yr of coagulation factors, used for OD and prophylaxis purposes, was sufficient to decrease the mean annual bleeding rate (ABR) to 1.86 after prophylaxis. It also reduced the mean hospitalization days and the mean number of target joints to 0.24 and 0.16, respectively. Overall, 19 (76%) patients were continuing their once-weekly regimen at the end of the follow-up. None of the patients needed 3-times-a-week regimen or central venous catheterization and none developed inhibitors in the follow-up. Benefits of the Iranian low-dose escalating prophylaxis regimen prove equal to some of the previous 3-times-a-week prophylaxis regimens in reducing the ABR and hospitalizations.