Investigating the effect of combined use of selenium and Myo-inositol supplements on thyroid function and autoimmune characteristics in thyroid disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to systematically review the effect of selenium and inositol combination on thyroid function, autoimmune characteristics in thyroid diseases. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: To identify eligible studies, a systematic search was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Science-Direct, CINHAL, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Psychinfo, Cochrane, ProQuest, and Web of Science were searched using the main concepts, and all English-written articles that were published between 2007 and 2022 and had an available full text were examined. RESULTS: The data analysis of this research revealed that after the simultaneous use of selenium and inositol supplements, the level of Triiodothyronine(T3) increased by 0.105 in patients with thyroid disorders although this increase was not significant (P-value: 0.228). The level of Thyroxine (T4) significantly increased by 0.06 (P-value: 0.04). Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (TPOAb) titer decreased by 119.36%, which was not significant (P-value: 0.070). Finally, the level of Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) decreased by 1.45%, which was a significant change (P-value: 0.001). CONCLUSION: It was observed that simultaneous use of selenium and inositol supplements did not change the T3 and TPOAb titer levels; however, it leads to a decrease in TSH and increase in T4 levels. Further studies are required due to the limited number of studies.

Supplementation of n-3 fatty acid and ruminal undegradable to degradable protein ratio in young lambs raised under heat condition: effects on growth performance and urinary purine derivatives.

The present study evaluated the effect of supplementation alpha-linolenic fatty acid source (ALA) with different rumen undegradable to degradable protein ratios [low ratio (LR) = 26:74; high ratio (HR) = 36:64 based on CP%] on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal score, animal feeding behavior, and urinary purine derivatives (PD) in young lambs during hot season. Forty 10-day-old lambs (averaging body weight of 7.9 ± 0.8 kg) were used in a completely randomized block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement as following treatments (10 lambs/treatment): (1) no n-3 FA supplementation with LR diet (NALA-LR), (2) no ALA supplementation with HR diet (NALA-HR), (3) supplementation of ALA with LR diet (ALA-LR), and (4) supplementation of ALA with HR diet (ALA-HR). Results showed that ALA supplementation slightly increased feed efficiency (FE; tendency, P = 0.076), improved fecal score (P = 0.045), and reduced rectal temperature (tendency, P = 0.064) during pre-weaning period. The HR diets improved average daily gain (ADG; P < 0.01), wither height (post-weaning; P = 0.015), and final BW (P = 0.048) compared with LR diets. The greatest ADG (pre-weaning; P = 0.012), structural growth, and the lowest urinary nitrogen exertion (P = 0.043) were found in the ALA-HR treatment. No change was found for ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and animal behavior in lambs fed different experimental treatments. In summary, results indicated that concurrent feeding of ALA and high dietary RUP:RDP ratio can be recommendable that is likely due to more efficient nitrogen utilization when young lambs are raised during hot season. HIGHLIGHTS: • The interaction of n-3 FA and nitrogen was evaluated in pre-weaning lambs raised under heat condition. • Supplementation of n-3 FA increased FE and improved fecal score in heat-exposed lambs during pre-weaning period. • The high RUP:RDP ratio improved skeletal growth during post-weaning period. • Concurrent feeding of n-3 FA and high dietary RUP:RDP ratio is recommendable in young lambs raised during hot season.

Effects of pomegranate supplement on menopausal symptoms and quality of life in menopausal women: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Menopausal symptoms have negative effects on the aspects of quality of life and impose a high cost on the health system. In traditional Persian medicine, pomegranate is recommended to alleviate menopausal symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed among 78 healthy women. Participants were interviewed three times: Before receiving the supplement/placebo, after completing the treatment, and after 3 weeks with no intervention. They filled out the demographic information sheet, modified-Kupperman index, and Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean scores of the modified-Kupperman index and MENQOL characteristics before and after the treatment and after the follow-up period were significantly different between pomegranate and placebo groups in both modified-Kupperman and MENQOL scores (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that 4 weeks' treatment with the pomegranate supplement significantly ameliorates the irritating symptoms of menopause and improves the quality of life in menopausal women even after 4 weeks' medicine deprivation.

Introduction: Hot and Cold Theory, the Path Towards Personalized Medicine.

In traditional medicines, the concept of "hot and cold theory" or temperament evolved based on thousands of years of precise observation of individuals' differences to provide efficacious personalized treatments. Based on the hot and cold theory, human body organs have extensive interactions forming a complex system in a dynamic equilibrium named temperament, Dosha, constitution, or Mizaj. This equilibrium is different between individuals and is affected by genetics, environment, and lifestyle. Deviation from this balance state on the coldness-hotness spectrum can predispose one to various diseases. The goal of prevention and treatment is to maintain or revive the body system's status towards that person's original equilibrium.

Hot and Cold Theory: Evidence in Systems Biology.

Systems biology is an emerging discipline in the post-genomic era, increasingly have been applied in bioscience and molecular medicine. The aim of this research field is a systems-level understanding of biological phenomena. In the same vein, a holistic approach to the classification of wellbeing and treatment of illnesses has been applied in traditional medicines. This chapter summarizes available research on biological differences between hot and cold in multiple traditional medicines by integrating modern biomedical data and concept-rich traditional medicines. In general, inflammation, immune-related pathways and higher metabolism are reported in hot individuals. While, lower metabolism have been observed in cold  people. The interdisciplinary nature of systems biology studies can provide better insights into traditional medicines' physiopathology, fill the gap between traditional medicines and modern biological language, and facilitate drug discovery and individualized treatments.

Hot and Cold Theory: Future Perspective.

Temperament or "hot and cold" theory is a common fundamental concept in folk and traditional medicines practiced worldwide which describes the individual differences in a spectrum along a so-called hotness-coldness axis. Unfortunately, this concept has been ignored by conventional medicine following the trends toward reductionism. Despite this, there are many recent studies in different fields as discussed in previous chapters, that are supporting the efficacy of this holistic personalized approach in health maintenance, disease prevention and treatment. Systems biology studies, innovative modified clinical trials and whole system research are among our tools to investigate the physiopathology and effectiveness of this concept in clinical practice and may pave our way toward personalized medicine in future.

Evaluation of Uterine Temperament in Iranian Infertile Women using a Quantitative Instrument for Uterine Temperament Detection.

BACKGROUND: The temperament is a basic concept of maintaining health in Traditional Persian Medicine. The two main grouping of temperament is hot/cold and wet/dry. Many female disorders include infertilities are diagnosed and treated based on the dystemperament therapies. This report describes design of a questionnaire for uterine temperament detection and its use to evaluate the uterine temperament of a population of infertile women. METHODS: The uterine temperament parameters derived from main textbooks were used to design a questionnaire which its validity and reliability was proven by statistical methods. The questionnaire was then used to detect the uterine temperament of 54 infertile females. Also full history and physical exam and vaginal sonography was performed in the 3rd day of the menstrual cycle for all study participants. RESULTS: The mean age was 30.92 ± 5.53 years old. Mean uterine temperament score was 3.21 ± 0.53 for hotness and 4.28 ± 1 for wetness. Mean general body temperament was 138.88 ± 17.61. The general body temperament hotness/coldness was significantly correlated with the uterus hotness/coldness (r = 0.0842); while the wetness/dryness temperament of the body and uterus were not correlated. Moreover, uterus temperament was not correlated with the size of the uterus and ovaries in sonography, but pelvic width was correlated with hot uterine temperament (r = 0.354, P = 0.0145). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the most prevalent achieved temperament was cold and wet in patients with infertility complaint. Moreover, the hot/cold temperament of body and pelvic width were correlated with uterus temperament. This may propose new prevention and also treatment methods in the field of infertility, which needs to be further evaluated.

Corrigendum to "Medicinal Properties and Active Constituents of Dracocephalum kotschyi and Its Significance in Iran: A Systematic Review".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/9465309.].

Medicinal Properties and Active Constituents of Dracocephalum kotschyi and Its Significance in Iran: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: Dracocephalum has over 60 species and is found mainly in the temperate regions of Asia and Europe. One of these species, i.e., Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss, is known to have a number of medicinal properties and active ingredients in many parts of the world. Despite being an endemic wild-flowering plant of great importance, the plant is currently considered endangered in Iran. Besides, there is paucity of information on the significance of the medicinal properties and active constituents of D. kotschyi among the Iranian people. On that account a systematic review of studies reporting on the medicinal properties and active ingredients and its significance to human and animal health was conducted and the existing knowledge gaps were identified. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used in the search for published articles on medicinal properties and active ingredients of D. kotschyi and its significance on humans and animals in Iran. The search was confined to scientific articles from repositories of popular data bases and search engines among them PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, SpringerLink, and Scopus. The search narrowed down on scientific journals, books, and book chapters focusing on the medicinal properties of D. kotschyi in Iran for the period between 1970 and 2018. RESULTS: A total of 1158 scientific articles were sourced from the various databases, out of which 38 met the search criteria and qualified for this review. The studies were conducted in only 9 of the 31 provinces of Iran, with a large proportion in Isfahan province, central Iran. The studies showed that all plant parts (roots, aerial parts, flowers, and leaves) had active constituents. Essential oils and aerial plant parts were the main components studied. Nevertheless, the most frequently reported constituents were xanthomicrol, limonene, luteolin, geranial, apigenin, and calycopterin. A number of medicinal properties were reported among them antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancerous, antinociceptive, antihyperlipidemic, antispasmodic, cytotoxic, and immunomodulatory effects. The plant was also reported to be a remedy for inflammatory pain, headaches, congestion, liver disorders, ulcer, fever, renal pain, dyspepsia, stomach ache, abdominal pain, joints pains, muscle spasm, congestion, bloating, and wound healing effects, among others. CONCLUSION: This review has shown that D. kotschyi is an important medicinal plant with a large number of active constituents and great potential to safeguard human and animal health in Iran. However, over utilization of the D. kotschyi plant is already endangering its existence. Nevertheless, more studies need be conducted across the country.

A neuropsychiatric complication of oligomenorrhea according to iranian traditional medicine.

Oligomenorrhea, a prevalent disease with serious complications, has been declared in the Avicenna traditional medicine in detail. Avicenna in his famous book, Cannon of Medicine, presents a syndrome termed 'uterine strangulation', as a complication of menstrual bleeding cessation and lack of sexual satisfaction. We have explained this syndrome from both traditional and conventional medicine viewpoints to propose a new hypothesis for diagnosis and treatment of women with oligomenorrhea and systemic signs/symptoms admitting to clinics for further evaluation. This hypothesis definitely needs to be further assessed and confirmed by strong clinical trials.