Effects of Viola odorata syrup on sleep quality in menopausal women: a randomized, triple-blind, controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to assess the effects of Viola odorata syrup on the sleep quality of postmenopausal women. METHODS: This triple-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted on menopausal women presenting to the healthcare centers in Mashhad, Iran, in 2019. The participants were selected using simple random sampling. Participants received 5 ml syrup V. odorata or placebo twice a day for 1 month. Data were collected using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. RESULTS: The 118 eligible women enrolled in the study were divided into two groups of V. odorata syrup and placebo (n = 59 each). The analysis was conducted on only 84 menopausal women (42 in each group) due to exclusions. Exclusions consisted of 12 participants who withdrew from the study due to unwillingness to cooperate, 8 who had irregular consumption of the therapeutic syrup, 6 with inaccurate completion of the questionnaire, and 8 due to lack of accessibility. The two study groups were homogenous in terms of demographic characteristics. Before the intervention, no significant difference was observed in the mean PSQI score between the two groups (9.2 ± 2.9 vs. 8.4 ± 2.5) (P = 0.18). However, a significant difference was seen in the mean PSQI score between the two groups (4.9 ± 1.9 vs. 8.1 ± 2.1, P < 0.001) after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that V. odorata syrup may be a useful therapeutic agent to improve the sleep quality of menopausal women. REGISTRATION CODE: IRCT20180514039660N1.

The effect of nettle vaginal cream on subjective symptoms of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Vaginal atrophy is a condition where the vaginal epithelium gets thinner and includes symptoms, such as vaginal dryness, abnormal vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding, dyspareunia, and sexual problems. Hormone therapy is associated with some problems and some women prefer herbal medicine to reduce vaginal atrophy. Considering the phytoestrogenic compounds present in the nettle, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the nettle vaginal cream on subjective symptoms of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This triple-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial study was conducted on 84 eligible postmenopausal women aged 45-60 years, who referred to comprehensive health service centers in Aliabad Katul in 2021-2022. Women eligible for the study received 5% nettle vaginal cream and placebo for 8 weeks. Subjective symptoms of vaginal atrophy were assessed before, four and eight weeks after the intervention. Data collection tools included a checklist for research unit selection, individual and midwifery characteristics questionnaire, vaginal assessment scale (VAS), vaginal pH, laboratory results of the vaginal maturation value (VMV). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 21) and independent t-test, Mann-Whitney, chi-square, Two-way analysis of variance and analysis of covariance. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Subjective symptoms of vaginal atrophy decreased significantly after the intervention compared to before the intervention in both the nettle and placebo groups (p < 0.001), but in the comparison between groups four weeks and eight weeks after the intervention, the subjective symptoms of vaginal atrophy in nettle group decreased significantly (p < 0.001). In the nettle group, the scores of vaginal burning, vaginal dryness, vaginal itching and dyspareunia significantly improved after the intervention compared to before the intervention (p < 0.001). Also, in the nettle group compared to the placebo group, after the intervention, vaginal burning and vaginal dryness score (p < 0.001) and vaginal itching score (0.004) improved significantly. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the present study, Nettle vaginal cream reduced subjective symptoms of vaginal atrophy, including vaginal burning, vaginal dryness, vaginal itching, and dyspareunia in postmenopausal women, so it is a cost-effective, available and do not have the side effects product that can be useful for menopausal women.

The role of spiritual intelligence in predicting the empathy levels of nurses with COVID-19 patients.

AIM: Given the prolongation of the newly emerging COVID-19 pandemic and the significance of caring for the patients by nursing staff, investigating and planning for the different psychological dimensions of this group is of paramount importance. Hence, this study investigated the role of spiritual intelligence in predicting nurses' empathizing with COVID-19 patients. METHODS: This descriptive-correlation study was conducted in 2021 on nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in three public hospitals. The researchers used two standard questionnaires, including the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) and Spiritual Intelligence (SI), for data collection. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS16 using descriptive statistics and the following: The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Regression, chi-square test, and Pearson and Spearman correlations. RESULTS: The statistical population consisted of 338 nurses with an average age of 34 and ten years of work experience. There was a significant positive relationship between the empathy scores and spiritual intelligence scores of the nurses caring for COVID-19 patients (P < 0.05). It was also concluded from the regression analysis that, spiritual intelligence affect empathy. Mean score of empathy was higher in hospitals where more nursing staff had MSc degrees. There was a significant difference between the empathy scores of the three hospitals (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicated that there is a positive relationship between empathy and spiritual intelligence. Therefor improving spiritual intelligence is the appropriate strategy to ameliorate empathy during the COVID19 pandemic. At the same time, study indicated attention to the issue of nurses' mental health. Hence, it was suggested to incorporate these issues in the training programs and national/international decisions.

Association between dietary patterns with insulin resistance in an Iranian population.

AIM: To assess the association between dietary patterns no single food or group, and risk of insulin resistance (Fasting blood sugar (FBS), Fasting insulin, 2h-glucose, 2h-insulin and HOMA-IR). METHODS: In a cross-sectional, population-based study in Tehran, Iran, 2016-2017. Adults (n = 1500, 38% men) mean age 43.72 ± 14.9 years. Dietary intake was collected by semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and insulin resistance was evaluated by Fasting blood sugar (FBS), Fasting insulin, 2h glucose, 2h insulin and HOMA-IR. Associations were assessed by using correlation and multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: After controlling of the confounding factor or possible underlying such as gender, age, menopausal, BMI, physical activity and the amount of daily energy intake, unhealthy dietary pattern had a positive relationship with all indexes of insulin resistance except 2h glucose and HOMA-IR, healthy dietary pattern had negative and significant relationship with indexes of insulin resistance but apart from 2h glucose. CONCLUSIONS: It can be figured out that receiving diet rich in healthy foods might reduce the risk of creating insulin resistance.

Intraperitoneal bupivacaine effect on postoperative nausea and vomiting following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has multifactorial etiology. Pain and use of opioids are among the important factors. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intrapritoneal (IP) injection of bupivacaine on PONV. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a double-blind randomized clinical trial, conducted on 66 patients aged 20-60, ASA I or II, candidates for LC. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Bupivacaine group received 20 mL bupivacaine 0.25% in the gallbladder bed, before and after cholecystectomy and the control group did not. The incidence of nausea and postoperative pain intensity was measured with Visual analogue scale (VAS) at 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours after operation, at rest and when coughing and changing positions. Nausea and vomiting occurrence were assessed at the same times. RESULTS: There were no demographic data differences between groups. No differences were found between the two groups, in terms of incidence of nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, both groups were similar with respect to opioid consumption, during four hours post-operation. CONCLUSIONS: Intraperitoneal bupivacaine administration at the beginning and end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduced only visceral and shoulder pains at the 4th postoperative hour, but had no effect on reducing neither PONV, nor opioid demand, during the first four postoperative hours.

Residential environmental risks for reproductive age women in developing countries.

Published research suggests there is an association between maternal inhalation of common ambient air pollutants and adverse birth outcomes, including an increased risk for preterm delivery, intrauterine growth retardation, small head circumference, low birth weight, and increased rate of malformations. The air pollutants produced by indoor combustion of biomass fuels, used by 50% of households worldwide, have been linked to acute lower respiratory infections, the single most important cause of mortality in children under the age of 5. This report describes a hypothesis-generating study in West Wollega, Ethiopia, conducted to assess airborne particulate matter concentrations in homes that combust biomass fuels (biomass homes). Respirable suspended particulate matter was measured in biomass homes and nonbiomass homes using NIOSH method 0600. Measured airborne particulate concentrations in biomass homes were up to 130 times higher than air quality standards. These findings, in part, confirm that exposure to indoor air pollutants are a major source of concern for mother/child health. Midwives are encouraged to raise awareness, contribute to research efforts, and assist in interventions.