ABSTRACT
Vomiting is one of the most prevalent side effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ginger plant on chemotherapy-induced vomiting, since the previous studies were somehow imperfect and have provided controversial results. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 80 women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy and suffering from vomiting in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, between July and December 2009. During a convenience sampling the participants were randomly allocated into treatment and placebo groups after taking a written informed consent. Two groups were matched based on the age and emetic risk of chemotherapy drugs. The treatment group received 250 mg ginger powder capsules [Zintoma] and placebo group 250 mg starch capsules 4 times a day [1 g/day] for 6 days since 3 days before chemotherapy session. A two-part self-made questionnaire was used to assess the effect of ginger. Patients completed the instrument every day. Then by STATA software version 8, the gathered data were analyzed using Fisher's exact, Kruskal-Wallis, and Chi-square tests. The 2 groups had no significant age differences and were matched [ginger: 41.8 +/- 8.4 vs placebo: 45.1 +/- 10, P = 0.1]. Vomiting cases were significantly lower in ginger group at anticipatory [P = 0.04], acute [P = 0.04], and delayed [P = 0.003] phases. Also, heartburn was the only and venial reported side effect [P > 0.05]. Taking ginger capsules [for 6 days since 3 days before chemotherapy] accompanied by the routine antiemetic treatment could relieve chemotherapy-induced vomiting in all phases.
ABSTRACT
Drug abuse is a major health problem in the Middle East countries such as Iran. Drug dealers may add lead to increase the weight of opium. Several reports have found lead poisoning symptoms in opium dependent patients, which are usually non specific. To the extent of our knowledge, there is no comparative study about blood lead level [BLL] in opium dependent patients with healthy control group. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was comparison of serum lead level in oral opium dependent men with control group. In this study, BLL of forty-four subjects in two patient and control groups was evaluated. The patient group [22 cases] comprised patients who used oral opium. The control group [22 cases] was matched with patient group in age and sex with the mean age of 38.8 +/- 6.7. BLL was assessed immediately, using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. BLL in the patient group had a range of 7.2 to 69.9 micro g/dl [21.9 +/- 13.2]. in the healthy control group, BLL was between 4.1 and 17.4 micro g/dl [8.6 +/- 3.5]. The mean difference of two groups [t = 4.56] was statistically significant [p < 0.0001]. In the patient group, BLL had a significant correlation with the amount of opium consumption [r = 0.65, p<0.01]. However, there was no such correlation with the length of experience of opium consumption in the patient group. It would be concluded that the opium dependent patients have elevated BLL compared to the healthy control. Therefore, screening for blood lead concentration is helpful for the opium dependent patients, especially with non-specific symptoms