Evaluation of antioxidant efficacy of Purslane extract in Patients with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: a randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blinded, clinical trial

Background: This herbal medicine is considered a rich source of antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of purslane in treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and also it ̓s effect on antioxidant level. Materials and methods: 50 patients were selected for this randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled trial. All subjects were randomly divided in to two groups, one group received purslane (n=25) and another group, placebo (n=25) for 3 month. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and total antioxidant status (TAS) was measured in plasma at baseline and after 3 month of treatment. Also pain intensity based on the visual analogue scale (VAS), the mean interval between lesion, number of lesions and the mean duration of complete healing at baseline and in month 1, 2 and 3 were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed by using Mann-Whitney and T-test. Results: A significant decrease in pain intensity in VAS scores was seen after treatment in intervention group (p<0.001). The mean duration of complete healing showed significant differences (P<0.001) between the two groups. The mean interval between lesions also showed significant differences (P<0.001) among the intervention group (33.12 days) compared with the placebo group (17.88 days). No significant differences were found regarding the number of lesions, level of erythrocyte GSHPx, TAS and SOD. No serious side-effects occurred in either of groups. Conclusions: According to this study, purslane is clinically effective in treatment of RAS (number of lesions, pain intensity and duration of healing) although it is unable to change the level of antioxidants. (AU)

Evaluation of survival and treatment toxicity with High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy with cobalt 60 in Carcinoma of Cervix

Background: Cervical cancer remains to be a major health problem and cancer-related cause of death among women in developing countries such as Iran where the most cases are diagnosed in locally advanced stage

Objectives: This cross sectional-analytic study aims to report outcome 154 patients with carcinoma of cervix were treated with external beam radiation therapy [EBRT] and high-dose-rate [HDR] brachytherapy with cobalt 60 [Co-6o] remote after loading system

Patients and Methods: A total of 154 patients with the international federation of gynecologist and oncologist [FIGO] stages I-IVA with histopathologically confirmed carcinoma of cervix, followed by the radiation-oncology ward of Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, between February 2008 and March 2015. They were completed their scheduled EBRT and HDR brachytherapy with Co-60 remote after loading system. Out of this, 132 patients completed their standard follow up protocol. They were analyzed for 3-year disease-free survival [DFS], 3-year overall survival [OS] incidence of acute and late complications for HDR brachytherapy

Results: Fourteen patients [9.1 %] were in stage I [FIGO classification], 8 [5.2%] were in stage IIA, 26 [16.9%] were in stage IIB, 100 [64.9%] were in stage III, and 6 [3.9 %] were in stage IVA. The follow up duration was between 6 - 60 months with a median of 38 months. Overall rectal and bladder treatment toxicity rates were 33.7%. The 3-year DFS rate was 85.7%, 70.7 %, 41% and 16.6% for stages I, II, III, IVA respectively. Favorable prognostic factors in univariate and multivariate analysis were early stage, tumor size < 4 cm [after adjusting for the residual disease after radiation], no pelvic lymph node involvement and 1 week Gap between EBRT and HDR brachytherapy in 3-year DFS [P = 0.001, P = 0.012, P = 0.005, P = 0.005, respectively]. The 3-year OS rate was 85.7%, 76.4%, 42%, and 33.3% for stages I, II, III, and IVA, respectively. Favorable prognostic factors in univariate and multivariate analysis were early stage, tumor size < 4 cm, no pelvic lymph node involvement, 1 week gap between EBRT and HDR brachytherapy and no distant metastasis [during the follow up] in 3-year OS [P = 0.001, P = 0.002, P = 0.002, P = 0.002, P = 0.001, respectively]

Conclusions: HDR brachytherapy with Co-60 remote after loading system was successful and it showed HDR brachytherapy in treating patients with carcinoma of cervix was effective after EBRT with acceptable rectal and bladder complications

effect of anthocyanin supplementation on body composition, exercise performance and muscle damage indices in athletes

Flavonoids consider as a large group of plant metabolites that 6,000 types of them have been identified till now. In some studies, it has been shown that they can increase aerobic performance and maximal oxygen consumption [VO[2] max].The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anthocyanin [as one of the most important kind of flavonoids] supplementation on body composition, exercise performance and muscle damage indices in athletes. This double-blinded clinical trial involved 54 female and male athletes at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences with athletic history of at least 3 years. Body composition, exercise performance, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase were assessed. Individuals were selected by simple sampling method, they divided into two groups using permuted block randomization method. First group received 100 mg anthocyanin pills, and the second group received 100 mg placebo pills, daily for 6 weeks. Participants asked to continue their routine diet and physical activity during the study period, and they were followed through phone calls or text messages. Soft lean mass, total body water and percent body fat were not changed significantly in the anthocyanin group after intervention but VO[2] max increased significantly in the anthocyanin group [48.65 +/- 4.73 vs. 52.62 +/- 5.04] [P

Evaluation of work-related psychosocial and ergonomics factors in relation to low back discomfort in emergency unit nurses

High prevalence of low back pain is one of the most common problems among nurses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of the intensity of low back discomfort to two low back pain contributor factors [Ergonomics risk factors and psychosocial factors]. This cross-sectional survey was conducted on 120 emergency unit nurses in Esfahan. Job content, ergonomics hazards and nordic questionnaire were used in that order for daily assessment of Psychosocial and Ergonomics factors and the intensity of low back discomfort. Nurses were questioned during a 5-week period, at the end of each shift work. The final results were analyzed with SPSS software18/PASW by using Spearman, Mann-Whitney and Kolmogorov-Smirnove test. There was a significant relationship between work demand, job content, social support and intensity of low back discomfort [P value <0.05]. But, there was not any link between intensity of low back discomfort and job control. Also, there was significant relationship between intensity of low back discomfort and ergonomics risk factors. This study showed an indirect relationship between the intensity of low back discomfort and social support. This study also confirmed a direct relationship between the intensity of low back discomfort and work demand, job content, ergonomics factors [Awkward Postures [rotating and bending], manual patient handling and repetitiveness, standing continuously more than 30 min]. So, to decrease work related low back discomfort, psychosocial factors should be attended in addition to ergonomics factors