مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 320 (1393)

There are serious challenges for treatment of depression in the war veterans. Complementary therapies; such as homeopathy، are proposed to incease successful of their treatment. In one study، ultrahigh-dilution of NaCl (Natrium muriaticum) was used in depressed war veterans for this aim and in this study، their homeopathic dynamisms were evaluated for preparing the special treatment protocols. The patients got the remedies every 2-3 weaks and changing of their symptoms after using natruium muriaticum were evaluated. One homeopath diagnosed their homeopathic dynamisms via discussing about their mental and somatic symptoms with the help of software. Aggravations were defined as both، increasing of previous or appearing new trouble symptoms. Accessory symptoms related to remedy proving were omitted by waiting. At the end of study، data were extracted from the patients’ files and classified. Files of 28 depressed war veterans had adequate information and in 7 of them، had not. The most common homeopathic dynamisms were similar to Sulphurous، with rage and eczema as main symptoms، and Belladaonna، with headache and anger. The other dynamisms were Phosphorous، Aconitum، and Calcarea، respectively. 25 percent of patients reported mild to moderate aggravation. They were headache، desquamation of skin eruptions، anxiety and obstinacy with their families. Trend of clinical course of depressed war veterans، after getting a homeopathic remedy، indicated some dynamisms. This is an opportunity to prepare a special protocol with speedy use of remedies for treatment of them in another research.

Evidence indicates that sleep may be affected by using vitamins and minerals or lack of them. This study aimed to determine the effects of vitamin D and calcium-vitamin D in the treatment of sleep disorders in pregnant women with leg cramps. This triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial took place on 126 pregnant women referred to Tabriz health centers، Tabriz، Iran، in 2013-2014. Subjects were allocated in to three groups، using block randomization. The groups received vitamin D، calcium-vitamin D and placebo pills daily for 60 days. Sleep score was measured before and after the intervention، using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. ANCOVA test was used for data analysis. Controlling baseline score before the intervention، there was no significant differences in the sleep quality score after intervention between the group receiving calcium-vitamin D and the control group (adjusted difference: -0. 3، 95% confidence interval: -1. 4 to 2. 1)، the group receiving vitamin D and controls (adjusted difference: -0. 007، 95% confidence interval: -1. 7 to 1. 7) and between the two groups receiving calcium-vitamin D and vitamin D (adjusted difference: -0. 3، 95% confidence interval: -1. 4 to 2. 1). Also، there was no significant difference between the groups in sleep quality subscales (P > 0. 05). The results show that calcium-vitamin D and vitamin D does not effect on improving the sleep quality in pregnant women with leg cramps.

Cancer causes emotional، psychological and spiritual problems. According to the spiritual needs of patients، in this study، we decided to explore the effect of Quran and prayer context on spiritual health of the patients with cancer. In this semi-experimental study، spiritual group therapy was conducted 3 times، during 2014، in Entekhab Cancer Control Center in Isfahan، Iran. Groups met on six sessions on 4 main communication axes (with God، with themselves، with others and with nature) with cognitive behavioral approach. Palutzian and Ellison spiritual health questionnaire، with 20 items and 2 subscales (existential and religious health) were completed by the patients before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired-t test at a significance level of P < 0. 05; the survey was conducted on 12 patients. Before intervention، the mean score of the group''s spiritual health was 59 and after it، changed to 77 (P = 0. 01). The mean changes in religious spiritual health and existential spiritual health were 10. 5 and 5، respectively. These changes were significant (P = 0. 01 for both); although، the changes were less in existential spiritual health. The survey showed that attitude to pray، feeling calm، and the power of the God was changed. The efficacy of spiritual interventions has been shown in many studies. In this study، using the themes of prayer، spiritual well-being improved. According to the results، it is better to respond to the existential needs of the patients.

Epidemiological evidence has shown that antioxidant supplements may play an important role in preventing exercise-induced muscle damage and oxidative stress. Recent years، some researchers have shown high levels of unique compounds in pomegranate polyphenol antioxidants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of natural pomegranate juice on oxidative stress، muscle damage and inflammation induced by exercise in healthy young men. This clinical trial study was conducted on 30 healthy young men who exercised 3 times a week and were eligible for the study. They was randomly divided into two experimental (supplement) and control (placebo) groups. Experimental group received a daily cup of 250 ml of natural pomegranate juice، prepared by the researcher، and the control group received a daily cup of 250 ml of placebo، for 8 weeks at the same time. Blood samples were collected after at least 8 hours of fasting to assess indicators of muscle damage including creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)، lipid peroxidation including malondialdehyde (MDA) and inflammation including C-reactive protein (CRP)، at the beginning and end of the study. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired and independent-samples t test. Following 8 weeks of consumption of pomegranate juice، MDA levels decreased from 1. 5 to 1. 1 μmol/l in pomegranate group and increased from 1. 5 to 1. 7 μmol/l in control group. The change of this indicator was significantly different between the two groups (P = 0. 047). Changes in LDH، CRP and CK were not significant in any of the groups. The findings of this study suggest potential beneficial effects of pomegranate juice in strengthening the antioxidant defense system and reducing oxidative stress.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with many chronic disorders. Increasing the concentration of circulatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6)، tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) can effect on the insulin sensitivity. Recently، the use of herbs as complementary and alternative medicine، due to low level of side effects، has been prevailed. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Anethum graveolens supplementation on the insulin resistance and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with type 2 diabetes. This randomized-double blind-placebo controlled study was conducted on 60 patients with type 2 diabetes in Tabriz، Iran. The eligible patients randomly divided to two intervention and control groups. Intervention group received 3. 3 g/day powder of Anethum for 8 weeks and control group received the same amounts of starch. At the onset and end of the study، serum concentrations of insulin، IL-6 and TNF-α was determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method; and hs-CRP was measured using spectrometry. The homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)، as an index of insulin resistance، was calculated as fasting concentrations of blood glucose (mg/dl) × fasting insulin (μU/ml) /405. Serum concentration of insulin، IL-6، TNF-α and hs-CRP decreased significantly at the end of study in intervention group (P < 0. 05). This decreasing was confirmed after adjusting for baseline and confounding factors. Changes in HOMA-IR were not significant in none of the groups. Supplementation of Anethum graveolens had beneficial effects on the concentration of insulin concentration and inflammatory biomarkers. However، further clinical studies are suggested to confirm the results.

Inflammation increases the complications of diabetes mellitus. Antioxidants can reduce inflammation. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are inflammatory factors، and the question is whether the Resvin، as an antioxidant، can reduce the levels of both and impact on insulin resistance? In this semi-experimental study، with pre-test and post-test design، 16 women with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to two equal groups of intervention (mean age: 59. 25 ± 5. 11 years) and control (mean age: 52. 25 ± 10. 60 years). Subjects in the intervention group received 400 mg of Resvin supplements daily for 6 weeks. Blood samples were taken for determination of IL-6 and CRP levels and the insulin resistance، before and after the intervention. After 6 weeks of receiving Resvin supplementation، CRP and IL-6 levels significantly decreased in the intervention group (P < 0. 05). Insulin resistance improved significantly، too (P < 0. 05). Based on the findings، Resvin supplementation may reduce the inflammatory markers and insulin resistance in women with type 2 diabetes.

From ancient times، people believed the role of garlic in lowering blood pressure. However، no study has been done about mixture of garlic and lemon juice. So، this study aimed to investigate the effect of garlic and lemon juice mixture on fasting blood sugar، diastolic and systolic blood pressure and body mass index. In this study، 120 patients of the age of 30-65 years، with newly diagnosed hyperlipidemia، were randomly divided into 4 equal groups. First group recieved 20 grams of garlic daily، plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice، second group recieved 20 grams garlic daily and the third group recieved 1 tablespoon lemon juice daily، 2 hours after. The fourth group did not receive garlic or lemon juice during 2-monthes intervention. The fasting blood sugar، blood pressure and body mass index levels were measured at the beginning and end of the study. The garlic and lemon juice mixture، after 8 weeks، significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure and body mass index، compared with the control group. However، this reduction was not significant compared to the garlic group. The mixture did not have any effect on fasting blood sugar. According to the results، the garlic and lemon juice mixture is not better than garlic alone، in reducing blood pressure and body mass index. Other studies are suggested to be done in different ways to ensure the effectiveness of this product.

Present study aimed to assess the relative frequency of using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS)، due to high prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Isfahan، Iran، vast usage of complementary and alternative medicine، lack of knowledge about it and high costs. In this descriptive cross-sectional study، 400 patients with multiple sclerosis and inclusion criteria referred to Al-Zahra Hospital، Isfahan، Iran، were selected via consecutive sampling. Data were collected via interviewing and using a researcher-made questionnaire and then، were analyzed. 226 women (56. 5%) and 174 men (43. 5%) with the mean age 39. 57 years and mean disease duration of 4. 5 years participated. Among them، 340 (85%) used، at least، one of complementary and alternative medicine methods. The various complementary and alternative medicine methods included natural products (59. 1%)، spiritual practices (51. 5%)، manipulative and body based practices and movement-based approaches (39. 4%)، mind and body medicine (38. 5%)، other treatment methods (24. 7%)، practices of traditional healers (10. 6%)، putative energy fields (4. 4%)، and whole medical systems (1. 2 %)، respectively. The most common methods were vitamins، exercise and herbal medicine. 32. 5% of participants used three or more treatment methods. A significant correlation was found for the duration of disease، age and use of complementary and alternative medicine (P < 0. 05). Based on chi-square test، women used more complementary and alternative medicine methods compare to male. No significant relationship was found between the level of education and use of complementary and alternative medicine. Various kinds of complementary and alternative medicine methods are important situations to consider in practice، patient education and research in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Regarding the probable effects of complementary and alternative medicine on pain، fatigue and stress، research about it is vital also.