Periconceptional care and offspring health at birth and long term, from the perspective of Avicenna / 中西医结合学报

Periconceptional care such as lifestyle plays an important impact role in offspring health. The aim of the present study was to clarify the perspective of Avicenna on periconceptional care. Avicenna (980-1037 A.D.) was one of the outstanding Persian physicians, who made great contributions to the field of medical sciences, in particular, obstetrics. In advance, Avicenna's book, Canon of Medicine, was considered to find his perspectives on periconceptional care. Then, his ideas and theories were compared to the current findings by searching the keywords in main indexing systems including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science as well as the search engine of Google Scholar. Current investigations show that gamete quality, pregnancy outcome, and offspring health at birth and long term depend on both parents' lifestyle in pre- and periconceptional period, as well as the intrauterine environment. Avicenna believed that seminal fluid, sperm, ovum, and developing conditions in utero were influenced by the stages of food digestion and the function of some organs. On the other hand, food digestion and function of the organs also depend on each parent's lifestyle and environmental factors. He mentioned 6 principles of healthy lifestyle: exercise, nutrition, sleep and awareness, excretion of body wastes and retention of necessary materials, psychic features, as well as air and climate. Thus, a multicomponent healthy lifestyle should be considered by parents of child-bearing age in an appropriate period before and in early pregnancy as well as elimination of any disorders in parents, to give birth to more healthy offspring.

The medieval Persian manuscript of Afyunieh: the first individual treatise on the opium and addiction in history / 中西医结合学报

According to historical evidence, the abuse of opium has been reported all over the globe-specifically throughout Eastern nations-since the sixteenth century. Before that, opium had mostly been applied as medication. Reference has been made in traditional Persian medical literature to the method of cultivation, properties, side effects and toxicity. In sixteenth century Iran, during the reign of the Safavids, opium abuse began. It was from then that prominent Persian scholars started to think of solutions to this societal problem. One of the most famous scholars was Imad al-Din Mahmud ibn Mas'ud Shirazi, who composed a book concerning addiction-Afyunieh, a comprehensive book on the topic of opium and all issues of opium. Furthermore, he recommended methods for reducing opium dose as well as substitution with other medications that had a narrower range of side effects, in order to eradicate dependency upon opium and opium-derived materials. This is most likely the first book that comprehensively addressed opium and discussed drug rehabilitation methodology, in traditional Persian medical literature. In this historical review, the authors have introduced the book Afyunieh, which presents methods for treating addiction to and giving up opium; the text comprises a synthesis of the author's opinions, professional experience and references to the work of other famous physicians.

[Mutation spectrum of beta-thalassemia among carriers in Birjand and Amirabad village]

Background and Aim: Thalassemia is considered as the most important monogenic disorders around the world. So far, about 60 mutations of this type have been reported in Iranian patients. Comparison between different provinces of the country reveals that the dispersion of the mutations is significantly various with respect to their types and frequencies. The current study aimed at assessing prevalent molecular mutations in beta Thalassemia carriers in Birjand and Amirabad at the suburb of the city

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive in-vitro study, 34 carriers [15 females and 19 males], who had been identified through marriage screening tests at the health centers in the South Khorasan province were assessed. After obtaining written informed consent of the subjects and completing the respective questionnaires, 2 cc of intravenous blood sample from each subject were collected into EDTA tubes. Salting out and Arms-PCR methods were used for DNA extraction and mutation detection, respectively. Finally, the obtained data was analysed by means of SPSS software [V;19] using Fisher's test at the significant level of P<0.05]

Results: It was found that among five mutations on 68 chromosomes, IVS 1-5 mutation with 47.1% frequency was the highest; and the mutations of Codon, Fr 8/9 , IVS II-1 5 , and Codon 37/38/39 had the frequency of 17.6%, 8.8%, 5.9% ,and 5.9% respectively. Out of the mutations, 14.7 % remained undetermined

Conclusion: The mutation patterns obtained in Birjand reveal an outstanding difference with the state of affairs in the north and west of IRAN. High frequency of consanguity marriages between thalassemia carrier individuals indicates the potential reason behind increasing the number of patients with major thalassemia

Identification of sequence variations in the apolipoprotein A2 gene and their relationship with serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels

Background: Apolipoprotein A2 [APOA2] is the second major apolipoprotein of the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]. The study aim was to identify APOA2 gene variation in individuals within two extreme tails of HDL-C levels and its relationship with HDL-C level

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted on participants from Tehran Glucose and Lipid Study [TLGS] at Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Tehran, Iran from April 2012 to February 2013. In total, 79 individuals with extreme low HDL-C levels [/=95[th] percentile for age and gender] were selected. Variants were identified using DNA amplification and direct sequencing

Results: Screen of all exons and the core promoter region of APOA2 gene identified nine single nucleotide substitutions and one microsatellite; five of which were known and four were new variants. Of these nine variants, two were common tag single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] and seven were rare SNPs. Both exonic substitutions were missense mutations and caused an amino acid change. There was a significant association between the new missense mutation [variant Chr.1:16119226, Ala98Pro] and HDL-C level

Conclusion: None of two common tag SNPs of rs6413453 and rs5082 contributes to the HDL-C trait in Iranian population, but a new missense mutation in APOA2 in our population has a significant association with HDL-C

Association of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase rs5923 polymorphism in Iranian individuals with extremely low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: Tehran lipid and glucose study

The serum concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] is one of the important heritable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and is a target for therapeutic intervention. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase [LCAT] gene polymorphism rs5923 on LCAT enzyme activity and serum HDL-C concentration. The study population was selected from consecutive individuals with HDL-C /= 95[th] percentile [n = 57] who had participated in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. The rs5923 polymorphism was genotyped using direct sequencing. LCAT activity was measured by fluorometric assay kit, and lipid concentrations were measured using the enzymatic colorimetric method. The genotype frequencies were significantly different between the high HDL-C group [CC 94.7%, CT 5.3%] and the low HDL-C group [CC 83.6%, CT 16.4%] [P = 0.048]. The Tallele frequencies in subjects with low and high HDL-C were 0.082 and 0.026, respectively [P = 0.16]. The association of the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs5923 with low HDL-C was not statistically significant after adjustment for age, sex, and BMI [odd ratio = 2.65, 95% confidence interval = 0.32-21.5, P = 0.36, regression logistic analysis]. Also, the effects of LCAT enzyme activity did not depend on the HDL-C level [P = 0.24]. rs5923 polymorphism is not associated with low HDL-C levels in Iranian population

[Effect of Kombucha tea on blood sugar and blood lipid profiles in diabetic rats: short communication]

Background and Aim: Kombucha tea is made through fermentation of sweet tea by Kombucha fungus. It has beneficial therapeutic effects in the treatment of many diseases. The present study aimed at examining the effect of Kombucha tea extract on blood sugar and blood lipid profiles in diabetes

Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight Wistar rats weighing about 250g were divided into 4 equal groups and then injected intraperitoneally [IP] with alloxan to induce diabetes. The administered concentrations were 20 and 80 mg/kg of Kombucha tea and 20 mg/kg of black ordinary tea for one month. The rats' blood sugar and weight were tested before and after the intervention period but blood lipid parameters per either administration were also assessed at the end of the period

Results: Mean blood sugar in the diabetic rats receiving Kombucha tea was reduced. Maximum reduction in blood sugar was observed in the group receiving Kombucha tea with concentration of 80 mg/kg. However, black tea significantly reduced blood sugar

Conclusion: Kombucha tea consumption for a month only reduced blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. But increased the weight and not have favorable effects on lipid profile

[Effects of Cyperus Rtundus hydroalcoholic extract on antineuralgia in diabetic rats]

Background and Aim: Hyperalgesiua is a symptom of neuropathy due to diabetes. The present study aimed at investigating antineurologic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cyperus Rotundus in diabetic rats

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the rats were randomly divided into seven equal groups i.e. control, Cyperus Rotundus treated control [dose 100mg/kg], diabetic, diabetic receiving sodium salicylate [dose 200 mg/kg], and 3 more diabetic groups peritoneally receiving. Cyperus Rotundus extract doses of 1mg/kg, 10mg/kg, 100mg/kg, respectively. The injections were performed one week after diabetes induction for two weeks. Then, thermoalgesia rate in the subjects was assessed using formalin, acetic acid, and tail immersion of the rats in hot water

Results: Cyperus rotundus extract significantly reduced both phases of formalin-induced pain in a dose-dependent manner of 10mg/kg and 100mg/kg followed by a significant decrease of antineuragia [P<0.001 and P<0.01, repectively]. In the hot water tail immersion test, the treatment of the dose-dependent extract was followed by a significant increase in tail immersion latency in hot water compared to non- treated diabetic group [P<0.1, P<0.05 and P<0.00, respectively1]. In the acetic acid test. treatment with dose-dependent extract decreased the number of abdominal compressions compared to the control and non- treated diabetic groups

Conclusion: Administration of Cyperus rotundus extract for 2 weeks .increased thermoalgia tolerance and reducedchemical pain in an experimental model of diabetes mellitus rats. Thus, this administration can act as an auxiliary treatment for diabetic hyperalgesia

Dicephalic parapagus tribrachius conjoined twins in a triplet pregnancy: a case report

Dicephalic parapagus tribrachius conjoined twin is a very rare condition. We present a case of 5-days-old male dicephalic parapagus conjoined twins. The conjoined twins were diagnosed in 4[th] month of pregnancy by ultrasonography. The pregnancy terminates at 36 weeks by cesarean section and triplets were born. The babies were male conjoined twins and another healthy male baby. Many congenital defects of interest can now be detected before birth. Sever form of this malformation precludes postpartum life. It is supposed that with advances in screening methods for prenatal diagnosis these cases are terminated in first or second trimester of pregnancy

A survey of complementary and alternative medicine in Iran / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To survey the use, capability and satisfaction of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in comparison with conventional medicine in Iran.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this national survey, a cross-sectional study was designed, 5,000 people were surveyed to identify predictors of Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) use compared with conventional medicine. Data were collected through a questionnaire that covered three different predictor categories: demographic information, patient's viewpoint, and patients' experiences.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Most of the participants preferred government owned hospitals rather than other places. Praying for one's own health was the most frequent and favorable ITM domain (P=0.017) based on patients' interests, both in low- (P=0.08) and high-level (P=0.011) educated subjects. Among the participants, 97.8% had previous conventional medicine history due to their chronic diseases</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Iranian patients resort to ITM as a choice at the late stage of the disease. Current deficiency in integration of CAM and conventional medicine is in contrast to the increasing demand on patients' side. Health care organizers should be facilitating the CAM services by tuition of CAM practitioners and supporting eligible CAM centers for diagnosis and treatment of patients.</p>

study of anti-inflammatory activity of oil-based dill [anethum graveolens l.] extract used topically in formalin-induced inflammation male rat paw

Inflammation is one of the symptoms of many common and harmful diseases. As it is incurable through chemical drugs, the study on this ailment using new methods and drugs seems necessary. In addition, the adverse effects of the present anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDS and Glucocorticoid appeared in the long time use make such study more demanded. Accordingly, in this study we examined the effects of aerial organs' extract and seed of a plant commonly used in Iranian traditional medicine named Dill on the inflammation caused by plantar injection of formalin in rats and compared them with Diclofenac-gel. One of the methods used for the inflammation assessment is injecting formalin in the rat paw and then measuring the paw volume by the new plethysmometer [weighing method]. The assessment is done at a specific time on day for 8 days and then recorded. This study includes 3 groups of 6 male rats: Formalin, Dill-Oil and Diclofenac-gel groups. The Dill-Oil group received 2 g of Dill-Oil, containing 100 mg Dill-extract and the Diclofenac group received 2 g gel containing, 20 mg Diclofenac Na. Data were analyzed with SPSS 17 using ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Repeated-Measures. The average paw volumes changes in these groups after Formalin-induced inflammation on 1[st] day, were 0.31 [standard error [SEM] = 0.02], 0.30 [SEM = 0.01] and 0.32 [SEM = 0.05] respectively, with no significant difference. Regarding the peak of inflammation on the 2[nd] day, it was indicated that the average inflammations in Formalin, Dill-Oil and Diclofenac-gel groups were 0.44 [SEM = 0.03], 0.15 [SEM = 0.04] and 0.36 [SEM = 0.08], respectively. The paw volume changes in groups receiving Dill-oil and Diclofenac-gel, after the daily formalin injection in 8 days compared to the blank group, had a significant decrease [p < 0.001]. The Dill group showed even more decrease in the paw volume compared to the Diclofenac one. The results of paw volume measurement analyzed by the Plethysmometer manifest that the Dill-Oil is able to decrease the paw volume significantly

[Evaluation treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with garlic extract and R10 fraction in BALB/c, C57BL/6 and outbred SW mice]

Leishmaniasis is one of the six most common parasitic infections in tropical regions. There are different therapeutic modalities. However therapeutic resistance is developed and resulted in numerous problems. So evaluation of other therapeutic modalities is performed extensively. We compared the therapeutic response of cutaneous leishmaniasis with Glucantime and Garlic extract and it'R10 in animal model. This experimental study was conducted in Shahed University. The therapeutic response of cutaneous leishmaniasis to Glucantime and Garlic extract and R10 in animal model was studied in BALB/c, outbred SW mice and C57BL/6 mice. These three races were divided in four groups according to receiving either one of these three agents or no treatment [control]. The therapeutic response was evaluated according to parasitic load before and after treatment and also with measuring the size of the lesions. The results showed that R10 had good therapeutic efficacy in treatment of lesions in mice [P<0.05] that this efficacy was significant in sixth, seventh and eighth weeks after the treatment. There was also a statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the parasitic load [P<0.05]. According to the results, it may be concluded that R10 extract would have a good efficacy in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis that is comparable with glucantime

effect of MS14 on production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by macrophages

Using herbal medicines as a complementary treatment method is increasing in wide variety of diseases. MS14-an herbal-marine preparation-is reported to have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities; however, the mechanism underlying its therapeutic effect is not known. Macrophages play an important role in host defense mechanisms and carry out their role by producing various mediators including proinflammatory cytokines [TNF alpha, IL-1beta]. In this study the effects of orally administered MS14 on TNF alpha and IL-1beta production of BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages were evaluated. MS14 at 100 mg/kg was orally administered for 5 days to BALB/c mice in MS14 group. Sterile normal saline was administered to mice in control group. Peritoneal macrophage were isolated from control and MS14 groups and cultured, then the supernatants were collected and the cytokines IL-1beta and TNF alpha were measured by ELISA test. Significant decrease in TNF alpha and IL-1beta production of macrophages both at the presence and absence of stimulators was observed. TNF alpha levels were 64.7 +/- 4.6 and 51.1 +/- 4.2 pg/ml in drug and control groups respectively [P< 0.05] and 298.7 +/- 31.3 and 177.0 +/- 26.5 pg/ml in stimulated [PMA+fMLP] cultures of drug and control groups respectively [P< 0.007]. The IL-1beta levels was 130.1 +/- 2.8 pg/ml in control and 65.1 +/- 5.6 in MS14 group [P< 0.000]. It could be concluded that MS14 is able to cause a decline in some inflammatory responses of immune system, which could be considered as at least one of its immunomodulatory mechanisms

[Traditional Iranian Medicine and the need for its revival and development]

Doctrine of traditional medicine in Iran is knowledge mixed with the art and accumulated wisdom of Aryan people mixed with the Greek philosophy and tested based on experience during years of the Iranian history and has been beneficial in the field of health, prevention, diagnosis and treatment. In traditional Iranian medicine the health has a priority to treatment, and according to life style, providing clean air, the right and adequate exercise; rest and balance to the mental status is the prominent theme. Nowadays, the world medical community has realized the importance of traditional, complementary and natural treatment methods. Many universities and research centers in around the world are engaged in research about different traditional medicine methods-which in many cases have a historical and scientific back bone. Extraordinary expansion of Chinese traditional medicine, Tibetan medicine, Chiropractic, Ayurveda, homeopathy and hundreds school and different methods in recent years indicate a renewed attention toward alternative and traditional medicine. In this article we briefly present the reasons for the need to revive and develop the traditional medicine in Iran

effect of MS14 on body weight, spleen index and structures of kidney, liver, spleen, lung, lymph node and bone marrow histology in Balb/c mice

MS 14 is an Herbal-marine preparation that has been used in experimental studies for the management of Multiple sclerosis, [MS]. In this study the effect of MS 14 on body weight, spleen index and the histological picture of various organs was evaluated. Female Balb/C mice of 6-8 weeks age were divided into control and test groups. MS 14 was orally administrated at a dose of 100 mg/kg for five days to the experimental group and normal saline given to the control group. After euthanasia on day six, the body weight was measured, spleen index was calculated and representative pieces of tissues including kidney, liver, spleen, lung, lymph node and bone marrow were collected in 10% formalin solution and processed through a standard paraffin embedding method. Sections of 5 micrometer thickness were cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. MS 14 at 100 mg/kg did not affect body weight and spleen index, but in the test group, at least 50% of spleen and 90% of lymph node micro sections showed lymphoid hyperplasia: no reactive changes were observed in controls. In both groups, histological evaluation of kidney, liver, spleen, lung, lymph node and bone marrow micro sections showed no significant histological alterations in the normal architecture. According to result of this study, it seems that although MS 14 has no effect on body weight and spleen index, it may induce hyperplastic changes in spleen and lymph nodes, thus signaling activation of the immune system

Sweat test in asthmatic children; a single center study

Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis [CF] have some identical manifestations. In the present study, the frequency of positive sweat test was assessed in asthmatic children. This cross-sectional study was performed in asthmatic children, who were referred to Bahrami Children Hospital, Tehran, during July 2003 to July 2005. Sweat test was performed for all children. One hundred and thirty five [95 males and 40 females] asthmatic were studied. Sweat test was positive in 35 [26%] patients. Major signs and symptoms among these 35 patients were: Cough [35/35], Dyspnea [7/35], Chronic Diarrhea [6/35], and steatorrhea [1/35]. Failure to thrive was found in 31 of 35 patients. The mean duration of asthma in patients with positive test was 49.3 months, which was significantly higher than 18.1 months in the group with negative test [P=0.001]. Significant relations between recurrent respiratory tract infections [P=0.029], chronic diarrhea [P=0.001], failure to thrive [P=0.0001], and positive sweat test were found. Sweat test should be recommended in asthmatic children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, long duration of asthma, chronic diarrhea, and failure to thrive