Therapeutic Effects of Tamsulosin in Nightmare Disorder: A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over, Pilot Study.

Nightmare disorder is associated with functional impairment, distress, and low quality of life; however, studies on pharmacotherapy of this debilitating disorder yielded mixed results. Prazosin, a non-selective α1 blocker is reported to be effective in treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder-related nightmares. We aimed at investigating therapeutic effects of tamsulosin which has higher affinity for blocking α1A and α1D adrenoceptors in treatment of nightmare disorder. A randomized, double blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted. Patients were randomly assigned to receive Tamsulosin 0.4 mg once daily or placebo for period of four weeks. Following a 2-week wash-out period, they were crossed over to the other group and received drug or placebo for duration of 4 additional weeks. Nightmare frequency and intensity measurements were carried out using Disturbing Dreams and Nightmares Severity Index (DDNSI). Blood pressure measurements were also performed. According to per protocol analysis, mean DDNSI scores decreased following administration of tamsulosin and a statistical trend towards significance was reported (p=0.065, d=0.236). Results of intention to treat analysis showed significant difference in DDNSI scores after drug use (p=0.030, d=0.651). Additionally, DDNSI scores dropped significantly following placebo use. However, intention to treat analysis showed no statistically significant difference pre and post placebo period (0.064, d=0.040). Tamsulosin may be effective in treatment of nightmare disorder. However, further larger clinical trials are recommended to clarify the effectiveness of tamsulosin and α1 subtypes in pharmacotherapy of nightmares.

Effect of Topical Furosemide Efficacy on Reducing Bleeding and Quality of Surgical Field During Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Introduction: Bleeding during endoscopic sinus surgery has an unfavorable effect on the surgical field and prolongs the time of surgery. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of topical furosemide on bleeding and the quality of the surgical field during endoscopic sinus surgery. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 76 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis were selected for endoscopic sinus surgery and randomly assigned to two groups, topical furosemide (intervention) and normal saline (control). The intervention group received 20 micrograms of intranasal spray twice daily, and the control group received regular intranasal saline spray, similar to the intervention group. In addition, the quality of the surgical field (scoring by the BOEZAART grading system) and the amount of bleeding during surgeries were measured. All data were analyzed. Results: In the intervention and control groups, the mean surgical bleeding volume was 187.70± 24.79 and 229.21± 28.18 ml (P <0.001), the mean of Boezaart scale 2 and 3 (P <0.001) and the mean of surgical time were 106.53±14.67 and 126.63 ± 15.42 minutes (P <0.001), respectively. In patients of the intervention group with and without polyps, the mean surgery time was 99.56± 12.15 and 118.84 ±10.03 minutes (P <0.001), and the mean bleeding volume during endoscopic sinus surgery was 176.46 ± 22.58, 208.46 ±12.14 ml (P <0.001) respectively. Conclusions: Our findings showed that nasal, topical furosemide spray significantly reduced the amount of bleeding during endoscopic sinus surgery and time of the surgery and improved the quality of the surgical field.

Impact of brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism and response to escitalopram or paroxetine in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by its heterogeneous nature and by different dimensions of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are used to treat OCD, but up to 40% to 60% of patients do not show a significant improvement with these medications. In this study, we aimed to test the impact of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism on the efficacy of antidepressants in OCD overall, and in relation to the different OC dimensions. METHODS: In a 6-month prospective treatment study, 69 Caucasian OCD patients were treated with escitalopram for 24 weeks or with escitalopram for 12 weeks followed by paroxetine for an additional 12-week period. Patients were genotyped and assessed for treatment response. The main clinical outcomes were improvement of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale score and in different OC symptom dimension scores. RESULTS: The Val/Val group comprised 43 (62%) patients, the Val/Met and Met/Met group comprised 26 (38%) patients. Forty-two patients were classified as responders at 12 weeks and 38 at 24 weeks; no significant association was found between BDNF Val66Met and SRIs response at 12 and 24 weeks. In analyses of the different OC symptom dimensions, the Met allele was associated with a slightly reduced score in the aggressive/checking dimension at 6 months (P = .048). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings do not support the usefulness of BDNF Val66Met genotyping to predict overall response to treatment with SRIs in OCD; they did however suggest a better outcome at 6 months for the aggressive/checking symptom dimension for patients carrying the Met allele.

On inflammatory hypothesis of depression: what is the role of IL-6 in the middle of the chaos?

Many patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) are reported to have higher levels of multiple inflammatory cytokines including interleukin 6 (IL-6). Recent studies both pre-clinical and clinical have advocated for the functional role of IL-6 in development of MDD and suggested a great potential for targeting this cytokine to open new avenues in pharmacotherapy of depression. The purpose of the present narrative review was to provide an integrated account of how IL-6 may contribute to development of depression. All peer-reviewed journal articles published before July 2020 for each area discussed were searched by WOS, PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar, for original research, review articles, and book chapters. Publications between 1980 and July 2020 were included. Alterations in IL-6 levels, both within the periphery and the brain, most probably contribute to depression symptomatology in numerous ways. As IL-6 acts on multiple differing target tissues throughout the body, dysregulation of this particular cytokine can precipitate a multitude of events relevant to depression and blocking its effects can prevent further escalation of inflammatory responses, and potentially pave the way for opening new avenues in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of this debilitating disorder.

Evaluation of Adherence to Antiemetic Treatment Guidelines in Patients With Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Teaching Hospitals in Tehran.

The present study evaluated adherence to antiemetic guidelines for prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in four tertiary university teaching hospitals in Tehran. This prospective observational study enrolled 382 adult patients on chemotherapy at oncology centers affiliated to medical universities located in Tehran. Patients were followed up during their chemotherapy cycles. Risk factors related to CINV were evaluated, and information on antiemetic prescribing patterns was gathered using direct interview and patient medical records. Guideline adherence was found to be low; however, 81.3% of the patients experienced chemotherapy without CINV. Low frequency of adherence to the guidelines in prescription patterns does not mean that prescription patterns were very different. Indeed, some drugs were added to base guideline recommendation regiments, since in high and moderate emetogenic chemotherapy categories, some novel antiemetics recommended by international guidelines are not yet included in Iranian pharmacopeia. It was shown that two drug classes were added as a common practice, namely, H1/H2 antagonists and dopamine receptor antagonist (metoclopramide). Statistically significant differences were found between antiemetic prescribing patterns of physicians and chemotherapy regimen category (aspect of emetogenic potential) (p < 0.001). The most commonly prescribed regimen in the minimal-emetic-risk category and the low-emetic-risk category was reported to be the combination of corticosteroids, 5HT3, and H1/H2 antagonists, 33% and 66.1% respectively. Moreover, corticosteroids +5HT3 and H1/H2 antagonists + NK1 antagonist were found to be the most frequently prescribed regimen in the moderate-emetic-risk category (39.7%) and high-emetic-risk category (41.8%). Antiemetic prescribing patterns were not completely compatible with the guidelines in moderate and high emetogenic chemotherapy categories. Differences were detected in two states of over- and undertreatment. The present study confirmed low level of adherence of antiemetic prescribing patterns with international guidelines. However, it could not be proved that high levels of adherence with the guidelines result in reduction of CINV incidence. Complete success in CINV control cannot be achieved only by adherence to the established guidelines as novel antiemetics recommended by the guidelines have not been included in the Iranian pharmacopeia as yet. The authors do recommend implementation of strategies for increasing guideline-compliant prescriptions with the aim of improving patients' outcomes. We also suggest that policymakers in healthcare system point more critically to overprescribing as an issue of concern.

Do serum GDNF levels correlate with severity of Alzheimer's disease?

INTRODUCTION: A growing body of evidence that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) levels are probably involved in pathogenesis and disease course of Alzheimer's disease (AD) suggested that its blood levels could potentially be used as a biomarker of AD. The aim of this study was to compare serum GDNF levels in patients with AD and age-matched controls. METHODS: Serum concentrations of GDNF were compared in 25 AD patients and 25 healthy volunteers using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Severity of the disease in AD patients was assessed using Functional Assessment Staging (FAST). Cognitive assessment of the patients was done using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). RESULTS: Mean GDNF levels were found to be 2.45 ± 0.93 ng/ml in AD patients and 4.61 ± 3.39 ng/ml in age-matched controls. There was a statistically significant difference in GDNF serum levels in patients with AD compared to age-matched controls (p = 0.001). Moreover, GDNF serum levels were significantly correlated with disease severity (p < 0.001) and cognitive impairment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study showed that serum levels of GDNF are significantly decreased in AD patients in comparison with age-matched controls, thus suggesting a potential role of GDNF as a disease biomarker. However, a comprehensive study of changes in serum levels of multiple neurotrophic factors reflective of different neurobiological pathways in large-scale population studies is recommended.

Can pentoxifylline and similar xanthine derivatives find a niche in COVID-19 therapeutic strategies? A ray of hope in the midst of the pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge to identify effective drugs for treatment. Despite multiple clinical trials using different agents, there is still a lack of specific treatment for COVID-19. Having the potential role in suppressing inflammation, immune modulation, antiviral and improving respiratory symptoms, this review discusses the potential role of methylxanthine drugs like pentoxifylline and caffeine in the management of COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 pathogenesis for clinical features like severe pneumonia, acute lung injury (ALI) / acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multi-organ failures are excessive inflammation, oxidation, and cytokine storm by the exaggerated immune response. Drugs like pentoxifylline have already shown improvement of the symptoms of ARDS and caffeine has been in clinical use for decades to treat apnea of prematurity (AOP) in preterm infants and improve respiratory function. Pentoxifylline is well-known anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative molecules that have already shown to suppress Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α) as well as other inflammatory cytokines in pulmonary diseases, and this may be beneficial for better clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Pentoxifylline enhances blood flow, improves microcirculation and tissue oxygenation, and caffeine also efficiently improves tissue oxygenation, asthma, decreases pulmonary hypertension and an effective analgesic. There are significant shreds of evidence that proved the properties of pentoxifylline and caffeine against virus-related diseases as well. Along with the aforementioned evidences and high safety profiles, both pentoxifylline and caffeine offer a glimpse of considerations for future use as a potential adjuvant to COVID-19 treatment. However, additional clinical studies are required to confirm this speculation.

Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Recurrence of Nasal Polyposis after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) is a relatively common disease with serious impacts on patient quality of life. Recurrence of polyps after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a dilemma. Vitamin D3 (VD3) is known to inhibit the proliferation of nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of oral VD3 on the recurrence of polyposis after FESS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 40 patients with CRSwNP who did not respond to medical treatment and were candidates for FESS. In addition, the patients had VD3 insufficiency. Following the surgery, all the patients received routine treatment (i.e., fluticasone spray, irrigation, cefixime 400 mg daily for 10 days, and montelukast for a month). Moreover, the case group received oral VD3 tablets 4000 IU (single daily dose) for a month, and the control group received placebo in the same manner. The Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Meltzer endoscopic grading scores were recorded at months 1, 3, and 6 after the study. RESULTS: In this study, 6 months following the intervention, the severity of polyposis was reported to be significantly lower in the VD3 group compared to the placebo group based on SNOT-22 (16.25±10.16 in the VD3 group vs. 47.45±13.55 in the placebo group; P<0.001) and Meltzer scores (0.50±0.60 in the VD3 group vs. 2.65±0.93 in the placebo group; P<0.001). No adverse effects were observed in the case group. CONCLUSION: This study showed the efficacy and safety of vitamin D supplementation in the reduction of polyposis recurrence after FESS in patients with CRSwNP.

Early Conversion to Tacrolimus Vs Cyclosporine Continuation in Normally Functioning Kidney Allograft: A Single-Center Study.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of early pre-emptive conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus in kidney transplant patients with normal graft function and in the absence of adverse effects of the initial cyclosporine. A historical cohort study of 166 patients who received deceased-donor kidney transplant between 2011 to 2017 was conducted. All the patients had been treated with cyclosporine (Sandimmune®) during their immediate post-transplantation period. At the time of hospital discharge, the patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with continued cyclosporine (Sandimmune®) treatment (n = 125) and the patients whose treatments converted from cyclosporine to tacrolimus (Prograf®) at discharge (n = 41). The 1-year graft function (p = 0.074), acute rejection (p = 0.566), and graft loss (p = 0.566) were not significantly different between two groups. The patients on tacrolimus had lower levels of cholesterol (p = 0.002) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.015). The long-term follow-up showed no significant difference in graft loss (p = 0.566). The patients received tacrolimus had higher all-cause mortality within the first year posttransplantation (p = 0.002) as well as long-term follow-up (p = 0.001). The continuation of initial cyclosporine might be a good option when the graft function is acceptable and the adverse effects are absent.

Therapeutic Effects of Standardized Formulation of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl on Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: In Iranian folklore medicine, boiled extract of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl is reputed to have therapeutic effects in painful disorders. This study evaluated the efficacy of the standardized formulation of S. lavandulifolia Vahl in reducing pain in primary dysmenorrhea, which is known to be a common disorder with significant impact on quality of life. DESIGN: A randomized, double blind, crossover, placebo-controlled pilot study. SETTINGS/LOCATION: Bu-Ali Hospital affiliated with Tehran Medical Branch, Islamic Azad University. SUBJECTS: Twenty-nine patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Patients were enrolled according to medical history and gynecologic sonography. INTERVENTIONS: Standardized capsules of S. lavandulifolia were prepared. All the patients were allowed to take mefenamic acid up to 250 mg/q6h if they needed, in the first menstruation cycle to estimate the analgesic consumption at baseline. By the use of an add-on design in the next cycle, they were randomly assigned to receive either herbal or placebo capsules every 4-6 h. Then, they were crossed over to the other group during the course of the trial. OUTCOME MEASURES: At the end of the fourth day of each cycle, the intensity of pain was measured by visual analogue scale and McGill pain questionnaire. Statistical significance was evaluated using repeated-measures one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Pain intensity was significantly decreased during consumption of Stachys lavandulifolia capsules in comparison with basic and placebo cycles (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the consumption of mefenamic acid capsules was reduced dramatically in the S. lavandulifolia cycle in comparison with basic and placebo cycles (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It was demonstrated that S. lavandulifolia-prepared formulation can reduce menstrual pain, and can probably be recommended as an add-on therapy or even an alternative remedy to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with fewer side effects in primary dysmenorrhea.

Multivariate optimization of solvent bar microextraction combined with HPLC-UV for determination of trace amounts of vincristine in biological fluids.

In the current work, an efficient method named solvent bar microextraction-high performance liquid chromatography-UV detection (HPLC-UV) was developed for preconcentration and determining the trace amount of vincristine (VCR) in biological samples such as plasma and urine. Briefly, VCR was extracted from an aqueous sample with pH 10.7 (donor phase) into 1-octanol as the supported liquid membrane (SLM) which is inserted into the pores of the hollow fiber and followed by back extraction into an aqueous receiving phase (pH=3.1). Studying the factors affecting the extraction performance in order to achieve a high extraction efficiency, requires the design of experiments (DOE) approach. In this regards, diverse factors' effects including the pH value of donor and acceptor phases, extraction time, extraction temperature, stirring rate and salt content of the donor phase were considered. The optimum experimental condition was as following: pH of the source phase, 10.7; pH of the receiving phase, 3.1; stirring rate, 1000rpm; extraction temperature, 51°C; extraction time, 60min and 11.3% w/v NaCl in the sample solution. Under the optimal; extraction condition, a favorable preconcentration factor equal to 98.5 was achieved. The linearity range was obtained in the domain of 0.05-5mgL-1. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.015 and 0.05mgL-1. Within-day and between-day RSDs of the proposed SBME method were 4.1% and 12.5%, respectively. Finally, the applicability of the implemented SBME method was evaluated by the extraction and quantification of VCR from biological samples such as urine and plasma and satisfactory results were obtained.

Effect of Topical Furosemide on Rhinosinusal Polyposis Relapse After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Evidence from previous studies suggests that furosemide may be effective in reducing the recurrence of polyps after sinus surgery. However, the evidence is limited and insufficient, and further investigations are required. Objective: To assess the effect of topical furosemide on recurrence rate of rhinosinusal polyposis after endoscopic sinus surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants: Triple-blind randomized clinical trial of patients aged 18 to 60 years with chronic rhinosinusitis associated with polyposis who did not respond to medical treatment and were candidates for endoscopic sinus surgery at Besat Hospital, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, from April 2014 to June 2015. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to receive postoperative nasal spray, 2 puffs twice a day for 2 months, either 300 µg of furosemide per day or placebo. Main Outcomes and Measures: Six months after surgery, the patients were examined for nasal and paranasal sinus polyposis using Meltzer endoscopic grading, computed tomographic (CT) scan of paranasal sinuses (PNS) scoring, Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scoring, and visual analog scale (VAS). Results: Of 110 patients enrolled, 84 patients remained for analysis (53 men and 31 women; mean age in the furosemide group, 37.02 years, range, 18-58 years; mean age in the placebo group, 36.30 years, range, 18-60 years). Six months after the intervention, the grade of polyposis decreased in both groups, but this reduction was substantial in the furosemide group vs the placebo group. The severity of polyposis was significantly lower in the furosemide group vs the placebo group based on SNOT-22 scoring (difference, 8.05; 95% CI, 3.24-12.85) and VAS (difference, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.22-1.39) but not significantly different based on CT scan of PNS scoring (difference, 2.52; 95% CI, -0.35 to 5.39). The incidence of adverse effects (nasal irritation, headache, and constipation) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings indicate that topical furosemide is a safe drug, with no important adverse effects, that can substantially reduce the severity of polyposis after endoscopic sinus surgery. Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials registration number: IRCT201403143186N5.

Clinical effects of topical antifungal therapy in chronic rhinosinusitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of intranasal fluconazole.

Several studies have been in favor of fungi as a possible pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS); however, to date, there is no scientific consensus about the use of antifungal agents in disease management. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of intranasal fluconazole in improving disease symptoms and objective outcomes of patients with CRS. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 54 patients who were diagnosed with CRS and had not been responsive to routine medical treatments. They were randomly assigned to receive either fluconazole nasal drop 0.2 % or placebo in addition to the standard regimen for a duration of 8 weeks. Patients' outcomes were evaluated according to Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 20 (SNOT-20), endoscopic scores, and Computed Tomography (CT) scores. No statistically significant difference was found in SNOT-20 (p = 0.201), endoscopic (p = 0.283), and CT scores (p = 0.212) of the patients at baseline and after 8-week course of treatment between drug and placebo group. Similar to many studies, the use of topical antifungal treatment for patients with CRS was not shown to be significantly effective. However, further studies are needed to obtain high levels of consistent evidence in order to arrive at a decision whether antifungal therapy is effective in management of CRS or not.

Comparison between Prothrombin Complex Concentrate (PCC) and Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) for the Urgent Reversal of Warfarin in Patients with Mechanical Heart Valves in a Tertiary Care Cardiac Center.

Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) reverse oral anticoagulants such as Warfarin. We compared the standard dosage of FFP and PCC in terms of efficacy and safety for patients with mechanical heart valves undergoing interventional procedures while receiving Warfarin. Fifty patients were randomized (25 for each group) with mechanical heart valves [international normalized ratio (INR) >2.5]. FFP dosage was administered based on body weight (10-15 mL/Kg), while PCC dosage was administered based on both body weight and target INR. INR measurements were obtained at different time after PCC and FFP infusion. The mean ± SD of INR pre treatment was not significantly different between the PCC and FFP groups. However, over a 48-hour period following the administration of PCC and FFP, 76% of the patients in the PCC group and only 20% of the patients in the FFP group reached the INR target. Five (20%) patients in the PCC group received an additional dose of PCC, whereas 17 (68%) patients in the FFP group received a further dose of FFP (P=0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in Hb and Hct before and during a 48-hour period after PCC and FFP infusion. As regards safety monitoring and adverse drug reaction screening in the FFP group, the INR was high (INR > 2.5) in 86% of the patients. There was no report of hemorrhage in both groups. PCC reverses anticoagulation both effectively and safely while having the advantage of obviating the need to extra doses.

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of Celecoxib Augmentation of Sertraline in Treatment of Drug-naive Depressed Women: A Pilot Study.

This study was designed to examine the antidepressant effect of celecoxib (200 mg/day) augmentation of sertraline in the treatment of female patients with first episode of major depression over 8 weeks of therapy. Thirty female outpatients diagnosed with first episode of major depression, were recruited for this study. Participants were randomly assigned into two equal groups receiving either sertraline plus celecoxib 100 mg twice daily or sertraline plus placebo twice daily. Patients were assessed by Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scale at baseline, week 4 and week 8 of treatment. Both treatment groups showed notable improvement in their symptoms from baseline; however, celecoxib group showed greater decrease in Hamilton Depression Scores compared to the placebo group after four weeks of treatment. Response rates were also found to be significantly higher in the celecoxib group compared to the placebo group over 4 weeks. Nevertheless, the mentioned differences between two groups were not significant at the end of week 8. Also, remission rate was remarkably higher in celecoxib group in comparison with placebo at the end point. The results suggested that celecoxib may hasten the onset of therapeutic action of sertraline and increase response and remission rate in depressive disorders.

The effect of thyme honey nasal spray on chronic rhinosinusitis: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common disease which causes persisting inflammatory conditions of one or more sinuses. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of thyme honey nasal spray as an adjunctive medication on chronic rhinosinusitis after functional endoscopic sinus surgery. This was a randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind clinical study. 64 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomized and blinded to receive either placebo or thyme honey nasal spray in addition to the standard regimen postoperatively. Patients were visited on postoperative days 7, 30 and 60. The sino-nasal outcome test, endoscopic grading system and sinus CT-scan were scored before operation and on the day 60 after surgery. 54 patients completed the study. Significant improvement was observed in both treatment groups. There were no significant changes in SNOT-22, endoscopy and CT-scan scores between the two study groups. However, a greater reduction in endoscopic scores was shown in thyme honey group. The incidence of adverse effects was not significantly different between the groups, but synechiae formation and epistaxis were lower in treatment group. Thyme honey nasal spray seems to be a low-priced potential adjuvant remedy with excellent safety profile, to reduce inflammation and polyp formation and also fostering mucosal healing for patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis. However, further studies are recommended.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pharmacists regarding Dietary Supplements : A Community Pharmacy- based survey in Tehran.

The present study aimed to evaluate pharmacy practice regarding dietary supplements in Tehran (I.R. Iran). So, the factors affecting on pharmacists' practice including their knowledge, attitude, and some underlying factors were evaluated. This is an observational knowledge; attitude and practice (KAP) study. The unit of analysis include pharmacies practice located in Tehran. The data was collected in 2013 via an anonymous, self-administered; postal questionnaire consisted of demographic information, knowledge (subjective and objective questions), attitude, and practice evaluation part. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS. This study showed that although the knowledge has a significant effect on attitude and practice, the attention should be paid on other underlying factors such as experience, pharmacy ownership situation and academic degree which might have positive impact on pharmacists' practice. According to this study, although many underlying factors such as experience, university and pharmacy ownership have impact on pharmacy practice regarding dietary supplements, the most attention should paid to knowledge as the main factor and more attention should be paid to training on dietary supplement could be recommended.

The evaluation of the clinical effect of topical St Johns wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) in plaque type psoriasis vulgaris: a pilot study.

In this case series, ten patients with plaque-type psoriasis were treated with Hypericum perforatum ointment. The hypericum ointment was applied to one side of each patient's body and the vehicle to the opposite side twice daily for 4 weeks in a single blinded manner. Modified psoriasis area severity index (PASI) scores were significantly lowered where the formulated ointment had been applied. In determining PASI scores, three factors, erythema, scaling and thickness, were evaluated; all were significantly lower where the formulated ointment had been applied (P = 0.01, P = 0.004, P = 0.04). Hypericum perforatum ointment applied twice daily may be effective in reducing PASI scores in mild plaque-type psoriasis, however, further larger studies need be conducted to achieve a more conclusive result.

Effect of ginger on acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a pilot, randomized, open-label clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting are among the most prevalent and disturbing side effects of chemotherapy. Therefore, there is a need for additional antiemetic agents that could effectively reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), whether alone or in combination with current standard therapies. Since clinical data on the effectiveness of ginger in patients with advanced breast cancer is lacking, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of ginger against both acute and delayed forms of CINV in a population with advanced breast cancer as the main malignancy. METHODS: In this pilot, randomized, open-label clinical trial, 100 women (mean age = 51.83 ± 9.18 years) with advanced breast cancer who were initially assigned to standard chemotherapy protocol with docetaxel, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (the TEC regimen) were randomized to receive ginger (1.5 g/d in 3 divided doses every 8 hours) plus standard antiemetic regimen (granisetron plus dexamethasone; the ginger group) or standard antiemetic regimen alone (control group). The duration of treatment with ginger was specified to 4 days from the initiation of chemotherapy. Prevalence, score, and severity of nausea, vomiting, and retching were assessed using a simplified form of Rhodes index in the first 6 hours, between 6 to 24 hours, and days 2, 3, and 4 postchemotherapy. RESULTS: A significantly lower prevalence of nausea was observed in the ginger group during 6 to 24 hours postchemotherapy. Despite this effect, no other significant additional benefit from ginger (1.5 g/d) was observed against prevalence or severity of nausea, vomiting, and retching in any of the assessed periods. CONCLUSION: Addition of ginger (1.5 g/d) to standard antiemetic therapy (granisetron plus dexamethasone) in patients with advanced breast cancer effectively reduces the prevalence of nausea 6 to 24 hours postchemotherapy. However, there is no other additional advantage for ginger in reducing prevalence or severity of acute or delayed CINV.

The prevalence of positive fungal cultures in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis in a high altitude region of iran.

INTRODUCTION: There are suspended fungal spores in the air and in the nasal mucosa of adults, especially in areas with a humid climate. Several studies have revealed the role of fungi in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in recent years but it is a topic of controversy, especially in regions with low humidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of fungal species in intraoperative specimens from patients who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for CRS in Hamadan, a high altitude region of Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study specimens were obtained from 62 patients with a diagnosis of CRS according to clinical and computed tomography criteria who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery. During the functional endoscopic sinus surgery, specimens were collected from the nose and sinuses of patients and preserved in conical centrifuge tubes containing Sputolysin and chloramphenicol. The specimens were then plated on Sabouraud dextrose agar, Mycosel agar, Niger seed agar, and Chrom Agar/Candida plates and incubated at 30°C for up to 1 month. At the end of the incubation period the samples were evaluated microscopically to detect fungi and identify their genera and species. RESULTS: The fungal cultures were positive in 16 out of 62 patients with CRS (25.8%). In order of frequency the fungal genera and species were: Aspergillus fumigatus (9), Aspergillus niger (3), Candida albicans (2), Penicillium sp. (1) and Cladosporium sp. (1). The percentage of positive cultures collected was higher in winter but the difference was not statistically significant compared to the rest of the year. CONCLUSION: Our data show that 25.8% of patients tested positive for the presence of fungi. The results strengthen the theory regarding the role of fungi in the pathogenesis of CRS even in areas with low humidity. Aspergillus was the most commonly isolated fungus.