Anti-diabetic properties and bioactive compounds of Teucrium polium L

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disease with considerable morbidity and mortality. Untreated or improperly-treated diabetes can be associated with several long-term complications that necessitate an effective way to manage diabetes. Due to the side effects of synthetic glucose-lowering agents, alternative therapeutic modalities such as medicinal plants have attracted notable attention. Teucrium polium L. is a medicinal herb with antioxidant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, and hypoglycemic properties. In vitro and in vivo studies have been conducted to characterize the anti-diabetic properties of Teucrium polium L. and its bioactive compounds. We conducted a literature study using Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar including the keywords 'diabetes' and 'Teucrium polium'. We also scanned all the references cited by the retrieved articles. According to this review, Teucrium polium administration displayed anti-diabetic effects by targeting different mechanisms and pathways, such as enhancement of insulin secretion and insulin level, improvement of oxidative damage, regeneration of pancreatic β-cells, and promotion of glucose uptake in muscle tissues by increasing GLUT-4 translocation as well as inhibiting α-amylase activity. Although Teucrium polium has been widely regarded as a traditional method, the pharmacological studies on anti-diabetic effects are not sufficient, most studies are either in-vivo or in-vitro. The preclinical and clinical studies are further required to confirm the efficacy of Teucrium polium.

Assessing the validity and reliability of Rowland's universal dementia assessment scale [RUDAS] in patients with dementia

The present study aims to investigate the validity and reliability of universal dementia assessment scale in patients with dementia. This study, 78 patients with dementia were diagnosed, in that the study tools were applied and collected and then analyzed using SPSS software over these patients. The validity and reliability of the scale was calculated. Also, the appropriate alpha [78%] of this questionnaire indicates the acceptable reliability among Iranian elderly clinical population. Given its characteristics, the universal scale of dementia analysis can be a useful tool for screening the dementia in the clinical population

[Psychometric characteristics of pain self-management checklist [PSMC] in patients with chronic pain]

The purpose of this research was to investigate the psychometric characteristics of Pain Self-Management Checklist [PSMC] in the population with chronic pain. First, the checklist was administered to 186 patients with chronic pain, selected through random sampling in Tehran [n=86] and Ardebil [n=100]. Then, test-retest reliability coefficient was evaluated with another 30 patients with chronic pain. In addition to the PSMC, some other checklists including Physical Disability Questionnaire [PDQ], Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale [DASS-21], Multidimensional Pain Inventory [MPI], and chronic pain case-finding questionnaire were used for data collection. To validate the PSMC, its correlation with other instruments was investigated, and the reliability was calculated using Chronbach's alpha and test-retest. The results indicated that this checklist has high correlation with most important pain co-morbidity constructs [depression, anxiety, stress and physical disability]. Therefore, it has appropriate construct validity. Moreover, the reliability of this checklist using Chronbach's alpha and test-retest was appropriate. This study provides evidence for the advantage of using this checklist for Iranian patients

[Effect of gratitude strategies on positive affectivity, happiness and optimism]

The aim of this study was to find out if gratitude can increase positive affectivity, happiness and optimism in Iranians with low positive affectivity. In this quasi-experimental study, 636 students of three Iranian Universities [Shahed, Vliasr, and University of Sience and Culture] were chosen using pretest-posttest method. Then 96 low positive affect subjects were chosen. Finally, 62 subjects completed satisfaction form and were assigned randomly into seven groups [Gratitude and Neutral Strategies based on the Emmons, Seligman and Verbal-Action patterns, and a Control group], and received separate instructions in specific envelopes. The data required were collected Positive And Negative Affect Scale [PANAS], Oxford Happiness Questionnaire [OHQ], and Life Orientation Test [LOT]. Then the data of 50 participants were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U statistical methods. The results showed significant increase in positive affects by Seligman and V-A strategies [p=0.20], and increase in happiness by Emmons, Seligman and V-A strategies [p=0.04]. The results confirmed the effect of the above three training strategies on the expansion of positive affectivity and happiness

[Chronic pain, pain self-efficacy and suicidal ideation: the moderating role of pain self-efficacy on relation between depression and suicidal ideation in chronic pain patients]

Chronic pain has some deleterious outcomes such as suicide. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between depression, pain self-efficacy, and suicidal ideation. In a descriptive study, from spring to summer 2011 in Tehran, 264 patients with chronic pain were selected via a convenience sampling method. These patients completed suicidal ideation, depression and pain self-efficacy questionnaires. The collected data were analysed, using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. While there was a significant and positive correlation between suicidal ideation and depression [r=0.56, P<0.01], there was a significant and negative correlation between suicidal ideation and pain self-efficacy [r=-0.36, P<0.01]. The result of multiple regression analysis indicates that pain self-efficacy plays a moderating role in the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation. There is a significant relationship between depression and suicidal ideation in chronic pain patients. Furthermore, pain self-efficacy moderates the association between depression and suicidal ideation. The results provide further support for cognitive-behavioral pain self-management programs and point to the potential benefits of interventions aimed to increase sense of pain self-efficacy among patients suffering from chronic pain

Psychometric properties of a modified version of the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire [M-RMDQ]

Chronic pain can be associated with limitations in patient function. Assessment of pain-related limitations is one of the important outcome domains that should be considered when designing chronic pain clinical trials. Although a validated instrument for the assessment of pain-related disability in Iranian chronic low back pain [CLBP] patients exists, to date there is no psychometrically sound instrument to measure pain-related physical disability amongst Iranian chronic pain patients suffering from pain in other parts of their bodies. Six hundred chronic pain patients completed the Modified version of the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire [M-RMDQ] in addition to questionnaires on demographic variables, pain intensity and depression. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent and predictive validity were calculated for the M-RMDQ. Internal consistency of the M-RMDQ items was acceptable [Cronbach's alpha=0.88]. Test-retest reliability with a mean 36-day interval between assessments in 76 chronic pain patients was high [ICC=0.90]. Concurrent validity was confirmed via significant correlations between the scores of M-RMDQ, depression and pain intensity. Predictive validity of the M-RMDQ was confirmed as it successfully differentiated pain clinic chronic pain patients from the non-pain clinic chronic pain population. The M-RMDQ has adequate reliability and validity and can be used as a sound measure of physical disability associated with chronic pain among the Iranian population

Investigation of intraocular pressure changes due to different serum level heights by using tonopen in acquired globes from the Iran Eye Bank

To investigate intraocular pressure [IOP] changes due to different serum level heights by using Tonopen in acquired globes from the Iran Eye Bank [IEB]. In this interventional prospective case series, serum were infused into 18 normal globes acquired from IEB by using 21G needle inserted in vitreal space through optic nerve head to change the IOP by different fluid level heights from the globe surface. IOP of globes were measured and recorded by Tonopen over the sclera and over the cornea at different serum level heights. Twelve globes were acquired from male donors and 6 globes were from female donors. Mean age of donors were 57 year old. Mean measured pressures by Tonopen of the 18 globes at the serum level heights of 13.6, 27.2, 40.8, 54.4 and 68 cm from the globe surface were 14, 23.6, 34.8, 44 and 52.8 mmHg over the sclera and 13.1, 22.8, 34.8, 44.1 and 52.8 mmHg over the cornea respectively. Using a Tonopen is a proper method to measure the acquired globes IOP, except in serum level height of 13.6 cm [10 mmHg] from the globe surface. In addition, if tonometry over the cornea is not available, it can be done by using Tonopen over the sclera

Disability and depression in patients with chronic pain: pain or pain-related beliefs?

Physical disability and depression in patients with chronic pain have been shown to be associated with pain intensity and pain self-efficacy beliefs. However, little is known about whether pain self-efficacy beliefs can predict depression and physical disability when this relationship is controlled for pain intensity and other related demographic variables The aim of the current study was to replicate and extend previous research on the relationship between pain-related beliefs, depression, and disability by examining these relationships in a heterogeneous sample of Iranian patients with chronic pain. A group of 430 patients with chronic pain participated in the study and completed questionnaires on demographic variables, pain intensity, pain self-efficacy beliefs, physical disability, and depression. Correlation analyses revealed that patients with higher education were less depressed and less physically disabled. Younger patients were more physically disabled. Pain intensity and pain self-efficacy beliefs were significantly related to physical disability and depression. In hierarchical multiple regression analyses, after controlling for patients' background variables and pain intensity, pain self-efficacy beliefs accounted for significant variance in depression and physical disability over and above the effect of demographic variables and pain intensity. Patients with higher pain self-efficacy, compared to those with lower self-efficacy, were less depressed and less physically disabled. Pain self-efficacy was more strongly related to depression and physical disability than pain intensity and demographic variables. The findings of the present study suggest the importance of targeting pain self-efficacy beliefs for modification in treatment of patients with chronic pain