Effect of Ginger and Chamomile capsules on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

Background and Objective: Nausea and vomiting are the most frequent complications in the first trimester of pregnancy. Herbal medicine is among the traditional effective treatments. Ginger and Chamomile are hypothesized to be useful in decreasing the signs. This study was done to determine the effect of Ginger and Chamomile capsules on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This triple-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial was carried out on 105 pregnant women in 6-16 weeks of gestational age with a mild to moderate nausea and vomiting, whome referred to the prenatal care clinic in Dezyani hospital and health centers, Gorgan, Northern Iran during 2009-10. Rhodes index questionnaire had been given to all participants to be completed before bed-time for two weeks. In the first week no intervention was done and prescribing the capsules was started the following week. Subjects randomly divided into 3 groups: In group 1, ginger capsules were consumped twice a day for one week, in group 2 twice daily chamomile capsule and in placebo group, glucose capsule was prescribed. Scores were calculated and all data were entered into the SPSS-16 software, analysis was done using variance analysis, Will-Cockson, paired T and Fisher-exact tests. Results: The mean of Rhodes index before intervention in plasbo, Ginger and Chamomile groups were 12.71±5.88, 10.42±0.76 and 11.19±5.51, respectively. Also, the mean of Rhodes index after intervention in plasbo, Ginger and Chamomile groups were 11.47±6.43, 7.28±3.74 and 5.73±4.32, respectively (P<0.05). Bonferroni test indicated that there is no difference about scor chang (after and before) between Ginger and Chamomile and Ginger and plasbo, but this difference was significant between Chamomile and plasbo group (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that Chamomile capsule was more effective on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy compared to Ginger

Thyroid function and autoimmunity derangment in goiterous and non-goiterous pregnant women

Background and Objective: Destructive effects of thyroid diseases in pregnancy and fetal frowth is well established subclinical autoimmune thyroid diseases can double the rate of preterm labor, abortion and postpartum thyroiditis. This study was done to compare thyroid function and autoimmunity derangment in goiterous and non-goiterous pregnant women. Materials and Methods: This case – control study was done on 100 healthy and 100 goiterous pregnant women in Dezyani hospital located in Gorgan, Northern Iran during 2005. Five mililiter of blood sample was obtained from each subject to measure thyroid hormones concentration including T3/ T4/ TSH/ T3 RUP and thyroid autoantibodies (Anti Tg/Anti TPO). Thyroid hormone and auto antibodies were measured using IRMA and ELISA techniques. Results: Thyroid volume was enlargel twice and tripl of its orginal size in 34% and 66% goitrious pregnant women respectively. Mean serum TSH in cases and controls were 1.81+/-1.33 microU/ml and 1.84+/-1.4 microU/ml respectively. The mean of Anti TPO and Anti Tg in cases were 373.91+-197.36 U/ml and 248.80+-70.59 U/ml respectively. The same indecs for controls were 79.52+-63.99 U/ml and 248.80+-70.59 U/ml respectively. In pregnant women with goiter 36% had high Anti TPO and 9% had high Anti Tg, but in control group 16% and 4% of controls had elevated Anti TPO and Anti Tg, respectively. Conclusion: According to thyroid function tests there were elevation of antibody in 20% of the healthy subjects and 45% of the goiterous subjects, therefore it is advisable to measure thyriod function tests accompanied with thyriod antibodies in all pergnant women either with or without goiter in order to prevent feto-maternal disorders

Relationship between Soil Selenium level and esophageal cancer: An ecological study in Golestan province of Iran

Background and Objective: Golestan province, located in north of Iran has been known as a high risk area for esophageal cancer. The relationship between esophageal cancer and Selenium (Se) has been assessed in previous studies. This study was conducted to assess the relationship between Soil selenium levels and development of esophageal cancer in Golestan province of Iran. Materials and Methods: In this ecologic study, Golestan province in northern Iran was divided into 135 blocks based on geographical altitude and longitude on the map. One Soil sample was collected from the center of each block. Selenium level in Soil samples was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson correlation and T-Student tests. Results: The mean±SD of Soil Selenium level in Golestan province was 3.7±1.61 mg/kg. There was a positive correlation between Soil level of Selenium and esophageal cancer rates in this area (P=0.03), (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.19). The Soil Selenium level for high risk and low risk area for esophageal cancer were (4.13 mg/kg) and (3.39 mg/kg) respectively (P=0.01). Conclusion: This study showed that there is high Soil Selenium level in Golestan province in north of Iran. Also it is found to be a significant positive relationship between Soil Selenium level and esophageal cancer rate in this area