The Prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus Infection and Its High Risk Genotypes among Healthy Women in 28 Provinces in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Human Papilloma Virus infection (HPV) high-risk genotypes are responsible for up to 70% of invasive cervical cancers. It was aimed to determine the national and provincial prevalence of the total HPV and its high-risk genotypes including HPV genotype 16 (HPV16) and HPV genotype 18 (HPV18), and HPV genotypes other than genotypes of 16 and 18 (HPV other genotypes) among Iranian healthy women. Methods: Iran with 28 provinces locates at latitude and longitude of 32° 00' north and 53° 00' east. All Persian and English studies reporting HPV infection based on cervical specimens were selected through searching the PubMed, Magiran, Scopus, Irandoc databases, and Google Scholar research search engine. Sample size and event rates were used to compute the overall event rates and 95% confidence interval (95% C.I); Fixed or random effects model, heterogeneity indices including Q-statistics (p-value), and degree of heterogeneity (I2) were reported. The search was done up to February 29, 2022. Comprehensive Meta-analysis 2.2.064 and ArcGIS 10.8.2 software tools were used at a significance level of <0.05. Results: The meta-analysis included nineteen studies with 258839 participants. The national meta-analysis resulted in a total HPV prevalence of 0.025 (95% C.I 0.016, 0.039); those of HPV16, HPV18, and HPV other genotypes were 0.032 (95% C.I 0.019, 0.051), 0.028 (95% C.I 0.019, 0.040), and 0.048 (95% C.I 0.033, 0.069), respectively. The provincial meta-analysis showed that the total HPV prevalence was highest in Zanjn and Kerman (0.323 and 0.240, respectively); that of HPV16 was highest in Boushehr and Khozestan (0.298 and 0.253, respectively); that of HPV18 was highest in Tehran (0.089) and that of HPV other genotypes was highest in Khozestan (0.542). Conclusion: The current results would help policymakers and health managers accentuate on further implementation of screening strategies and health services in needier areas such as Zanjan, Kerma, Khozestan, and Tehran

The perspectives of traditional and modern medicine on the nature of hot and cold foods

A better understanding of traditional medicine requires a more accurate comprehension of the philosophy and culture in which traditional medicine is rooted. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the effects of foods on human health are inseparable from temperament, mind, body, and environmental factors. The links between these components may not be explained clearly in modern medicine [1]. This article aims to review perspective of traditional and modern medicine on the nature of hot-cold food, to explain more clear the concepts of traditional medicine in this subject, subsequently to promote its global applicability

Role of Glyco-Persica® in Targeting Diabetes Type 2: an Integrative Approach

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine how an integrated approach to type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment could improve glycemic control and immune-potentiating activities adherent to oral hypoglycemic agents along with a botanical compound, among primary care patients. Methods: In this study, we used the self-control and the group-control methods. Candidates meeting the trial conditions were selected from among volunteers who had taken the test substance for 45 days. During the trial, all groups were on a controlled diet; neither were the original medications nor their dosages changed. Results: The results showed that the botanical compound (Glyco-Persica®) significantly reduced the main clinical symptoms in diabetes type 2. In the treatment group, 36 of 52 patients (69.23%) and in the control group 10 of 52 patients (19.23%) showed reduced symptoms, and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The fasting blood sugar in the treatment group after treatment compared with that before treatment and with that in the control group after treatment was statistically different (P < 0.05). The post-prandial glucose in the treatment group after treatment was significantly different from that before treatment and from that in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05); the post-prandial blood sugar in the treatment group was reduced by 8.98%. Conclusions: The results revealed that the botanical compound (Glyco-Persica®) has significant hypoglycemic properties which affect main clinical symptoms in diabetes type 2. Body weight, blood pressure, heart rate, routine blood, stool and urine tests showed no meaningful negative changes after the course of treatment. There was no significant adverse reaction during the trial

Rationale and design of a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of gum Arabic in patients with nephrolithiasis and renal cyst simultaneously

The elderly group is one of the most heterogeneous and vulnerable groups of the population in developed countries with a greater risk of suffering from imbalances, deficiencies and nutritional problems. Diet and nutritional status have a great influence particularly on the prevention or treatment of various diseases that affect these groups. Long-term accumulation of waste in the body and age-related changes in metabolism create many problems that shorten their life expectancy. Their diet and gastrointestinal function play a key role in their Urine composition. It seems that the gastrointestinal microbiome has a great influence on the metabolization and absorption of the ingredients of the diet. In this clinical trial, the authors concluded that oral administration of gum arabic dissolved in orange juice could conceivably wash out the renal stones and eliminate renal cysts which in the long-term did not raise any safety concerns. The oral administration of gum arabic reduces kidney failure and slows its progression, which might be ascribed to their antioxidant and free radical-scavenging properties. Gum arabic could be considered as an important natural medicinal compound, actually a fascinating one because of its high therapeutic capabilities. Therefore, a prospective observational study has been designed and aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of treatment with gum arabic in patients with nephrolithiasis and renal cysts

The Concept of Wind in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The use of folk medicine has been widely embraced in many developed countries under the name of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) and is now becoming the mainstream in the UK and the rest of Europe, as well as in North America and Australia. Diversity, easy accessibility, broad continuity, relatively low cost, base levels of technological inputs, fewer side effects, and growing economic importance are some of the positive features of folk medicine. In this framework, a critical need exists to introduce the practice of folk medicine into public healthcare if the goal of reformed access to healthcare facilities is to be achieved. The amount of information available to public health practitioners about traditional medicine concepts and the utilization of that information are inadequate and pose many problems for the delivery of primary healthcare globally. Different societies have evolved various forms of indigenous perceptions that are captured under the broad concept of folk medicine, e.g., Persian, Chinese, Grecian, and African folk medicines, which explain the lack of universally accepted definitions of terms. Thus, the exchange of information on the diverse forms of folk medicine needs to be facilitated. Various concepts of Wind are found in books on traditional medicine, and many of those go beyond the boundaries established in old manuscripts and are not easily understood. This study intends to provide information, context, and guidance for the collection of all important information on the different concepts of Wind and for their simplification. This new vision for understanding earlier Chinese medicine will benefit public health specialists, traditional and complementary medicine practitioners, and those who are interested in historical medicine by providing a theoretical basis for the traditional medicines and the acupuncture that is used to eliminate Wind in order to treat various diseases

Phenol-Rich Compounds Sweet Gel: A Statistically More Effective Antibiotic than Cloxacillin Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to obtain a natural antibiotic from Phenol-rich compounds; for the dressing and the treatment of chronic wounds. Methods: The Phenol-rich compound sweet gel was prepared by blending four natural herbal extracts, Acacia catechu (L.F.), Momia (Shilajit)

In-Vitro, Anti-Bacterial Activities of Aqueous Extracts of Acacia catechu (L.F.)Willd, Castanea sativa, Ephedra sinica stapf and shilajita mumiyo Against Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacteria

Objective: Evaluations of the in-vitro anti-bacterial activities of aqueous extracts of Acacia catechu (L.F.)Willd, Castanea sativa, Ephedra sinica stapf and Shilajita mumiyo against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) are reasonable since these ethnomedicinal plants have been used in Persian folk medicine for treating skin diseases, venereal diseases, respiratory problems and nervous disorders for ages. Methods: The well diffusion method (KB testing) with a concentration of 250 μg/disc was used for evaluating the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). Maximum synergistic effects of different combinations of components were also observed. Results: A particular combination of Acacia catechu (L.F.) Willd, Castanea sativa, Ephedra sinica stapf and shilajita mumiyo extracts possesses an outstanding anti-bacterial activity. It's inhibiting effect on microorganisms is significant when compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive microorganism. The highest antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia) or gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was exerted by formula number 2 (Table 1) Conclusion: The results reveal the presence of antibacterial activities of Acacia catechu, Castanea sativa husk, Ephedra sp. and Mumiyo against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Synergistic effects in a combined formula, especially in formula number 2 (ASLANⓇ) can lead to potential sources of new antiseptic agents for treatment of acute or chronic skin ulcers. These results considering the significant antibacterial effect of the present formulation, support ethno-pharmacological uses against diarrheal and venereal diseases and demonstrate use of these plants to treat infectious diseases

3D-printed scaffolds with 2D hetero-nanostructures and immunomodulatory cytokines provide pro-healing microenvironment for enhanced bone regeneration

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is driving forward the progresses of various engineering fields, including tissue engineering. However, the pristine 3D-printed scaffolds usually lack robust functions in stimulating desired activity for varied regeneration applications. In this study, we combined the two-dimensional (2D) hetero-nanostructures and immuno-regulative interleukin-4 (IL-4) cytokines for the functionalization of 3D-printed scaffolds to achieve a pro-healing immuno-microenvironment for optimized bone injury repair. The 2D hetero-nanostructure consists of graphene oxide (GO) layers, for improved cell adhesion, and black phosphorous (BP) nanosheets, for the continuous release of phosphate ions to stimulate cell growth and osteogenesis. In addition, the 2D hetero-nanolayers facilitated the adsorption of large content of immuno-regulative IL-4 cytokines, which modulated the polarization of macrophages into M2 phenotype. After in vivo implantation in rat, the immuno-functioned 3D-scaffolds achieved in vivo osteo-immunomodulation by building a pro-healing immunological microenvironment for better angiogenesis and osteogenesis in the defect area and thus facilitated bone regeneration. These results demonstrated that the immuno-functionalization of 3D-scaffolds with 2D hetero-nanostructures with secondary loading of immuno-regulative cytokines is an encouraging strategy for improving bone regeneration