Use of Iranian medicinal plants effective on male fertility indices

This systematic review article was conducted to report medicinal plants that are effective on male fertility indices. To conduct this review, search terms fertility or pregnancy combined with medicinal plants, herb, and phyto were used to retrieve relevant publications indexed in ISI, PubMed, and Iranian scientific databases. Escanbil, Fumaria parviflora L., Apium graveolens L., Achillea millefolium inflorescence, Urtica dioica L., Withania somnifera L., Phaleria macrocarpa, Satureja khuzestanica, Achillea millefolium, Malva sylvestris, Humulus lupulus L., Allium cepa, Petroselinum crispum, Carthamus tinctorius, and Zingiber officinale were reported to be medicinal plants with fertility indices-promoting properties. Medicinal plants that are used in Iran affect hormonal compounds and other effective compounds on hormonal system as well as the proliferation and viability of sex cells due to their antioxidant properties, and therefore enhance fertility in human and animals. © 2009-2016, JGPT

Effects of Medicinal Plants on Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review

Urinary incontinence is one of the disorders that may develop for various reasons, affect different aspects of life, and declining quality of life. Relevant key terms were used to retrieve the articles published between 2000 and 2018 and indexed in the Institute for Scientific Information and PubMed. Then, the articles about the medicinal plants and the plant-based products whose effects were investigated on urinary incontinence (UI) were selected and analyzed by two members of the research team. Different plants such as Cannabis sativa, St. John's wort, Ephedra sinica, Salvia sclarea, Ramulus Cinnamomi, and Alpinia oxyphylla exert anti-UI effects through various mechanisms. The phytoestrogen derivatives of the plants mainly in menopausal women, isoflavonoid compounds, Gosha-jinki-gan, and Weng-li-tong, exert anti-UI effects. It should be considered that plants and their derivatives can be used as dietary supplements, independently, and mainly with chemical drugs. Plants and plant-based combinations can induce anti-UI effects through phytosterogenic properties in women, decreasing stress and affecting the neuromuscular system as well as decreasing the activities of the detrusor muscle and regulating the activity of the urethral sphincters

The Effects of Foeniculum vulgare Seed Extract on Fertility Results of Assisted Reproductive Technology in Women With Poor Ovarian Response

Objectives: Foeniculum vulgare due to phytoestrogens is important in the treatment of female sexual dysfunction including infertility. Accordingly, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of the F. vulgare seed extract on the fertility results of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in women with a poor ovarian response (POR). Materials and Methods: In this before-after intervention, 19 infertile women with POR were enrolled by a convenience sampling method. The amounts of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), ovarian ultrasound volume, the number of preantral follicles, and the size of the prominent ovary were measured before treatment with F. vulgare. Then, patients were treated with F. vulgare for two months, followed by initiating the in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. The number of embryos transferred in previous and current cycles was investigated after IVF. Finally, the data were analyzed in SPSS 16. Results: There was a significant difference in the serum LH level (P = 0.002), LH/FSH (P = 0.049), the number of follicles and ovules (P = 0.003), endometrial thickness (P = 0.04), and ovarian volume (P = 0.03) between before and after treatment with F. vulgare. Moreover, a significant difference regarding the decreased number of required days for induction was observed between before and after treatment with F. vulgare (P = 0.022). Conclusions: In general, the use of F. vulgare had positive effects on improving the quality of oocytes and female fertility indices in women with POR. Keywords:Foeniculum vulgare; Fertility; Ovarian failure; Phytotherapy; Assisted reproductive technique

Effects of Medicinal Plants on Nocturia: A Systematic Review

Nocturia is one of the common disorders that are associated with certain complications such as fracture and declined quality of life in addition to disrupting sleep. We, therefore, sought to review the evidence on the effects and action mechanisms of medicinal plants on nocturia. Methods: The search terms of interest were used to retrieve relevant articles published between 2000 and 2018 and indexed in the databases Institute for Scientific Information, PubMed, and Scopus using EndNote software. Peganum harmala and Cannabis sativa are two of the plants that have been reported to be effective on nocturia. In addition, certain plant-based derivatives such as SagaPro and certain combinations such as Gosha-jinki-gan, paladin kashaya, and PRO 160/120 from Viola odorata L. (Violaceae), C.A.Mey. From Echium amoenum Fisch. (Boraginaceae), and Physalis alkekengi L. (Solanaceae) help improve nocturia through different mechanisms. As with other types of treatments, plants and plant-based compounds cannot be used as monotherapy in treating nocturia, and therefore should be used as a complementary therapy alongside available treatments for this disorder to induce the best therapeutic effects

Personal Characteristics and Urinary Stones

BackgroundUrinary stone disease is a common, painful and costly condition that has affected humankind since antiquity, and there is evidence to show that its incidence has continually increased during past decades. Studies have shown that many extrinsic and intrinsic factors are related to this disease in different population groups. The aim of this study was to identify the personal characteristics that are associated with urinary stone formation.MethodsAll subjects were recruited in the same 7-month period: there were 161 patients with idiopathic renal stone disease and 254 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Each participant was individually interviewed with regard to their sociodemographic characteristics and family medical history.ResultsOf patients with renal stones, 66.5% were male; the male to female ratio was 1.98 to 1. The prevalence of renal stone was highest in men aged 30–50 years and in women aged 40–60 years. The main differences between stone formers and healthy subjects were that stone formers had higher body mass index (p = 0.007), lower educational (p = 0.001) and economic (p = 0.037) levels, and more positive family history of urinary stones (p < 0.0001), especially in their siblings. The percentage of unemployed subjects and housekeepers were higher in the case group. The type and duration of employment were significantly different in the two groups (p = 0.014 for type and p = 0.003 for duration). With regard to the job environment (i.e. workplace), most of the individuals in the case group worked outdoors (p = 0.025) and in warm places (p < 0.0001).ConclusionThere are many personal characteristics that might be associated with an elevated risk of renal stone formation. People with high-risk characteristics could be more prone to stone formation and should be more carefully evaluated and followed-up

Comparison of Endometrial Thickness with Concomitant Administration of Sildenafil Citrate and Ethinyl Estradiol vs Ethinyl Estradiol Alone for Frozen Embryo Transfer

Introduction: Infertility is one of the common medical issues in today's world. One of the common causes of infertility is the lack of implantation of the embryo. Aim: To compare the effect of Ethinyl Estradiol (E2) alone on Endometrial Thickness (ET) with that of sildenafil citrate and E2 combination. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 70 infertile women undergoing treatment with Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ARTs) were randomly divided into two groups of 35 each. One group received E2 and vaginal sildenafil and the other E2 alone. On the seventh day of the cycle and, if necessary, until ET reached 8 mm, ET in both groups was measured by transvaginal ultrasound. After the embryo transfer, Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (BHCG) was performed in both groups. The measured thickness of uterus and BHCG were recorded in the checklist for both groups. Data were analysed by SPSS and p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean duration (in days) to reach an 8 mm ET in infertile women in the E2+sildenafil group (13.59 +/- 3.07) was lower than that in the E2 group (14.88 +/- 4.78), yet insignificant (p=0.21). Although the mean dose (mg) of E2 and duration (day) to reach an 8 mm ET in the E2+ sildenafil group was lower than those in the E2 group, significance (p) levels were 0.02 and 0.21, respectively. Conclusion: In infertile women undergoing ARTs, co-administration of sildenafil citrate and E2 increased ET relatively and reduced the dose of E2 and the duration of its administration

Effects of Aloe Vera Gel versus Chamomile Ointment on extent of Diaper Dermatitis in Children: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Diaper dermatitis is one of the most prevalent skin disorders in neonates and children. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Aloe Vera and chamomile ointment on the degree of diaper dermatitis in children. Materials and Methods In this double-blinded randomized clinical trial, 90 children below two years of age, who had diaper dermatitis and were hospitalized in the Tabriz Pediatric Hospital, Tabriz city- Iran, were included in the study using random sampling. The children were divided into three equal groups, with one group receiving routine treatments and the other two receiving chamomile and Aloe Vera ointment three times a day. The samples were examined on the first, third, and sixth day of the study using a diaper rash five-point scale. The data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical tests in SPSS software version 22.0. Results Baseline criteria such as age, gender, and education of mothers were similar in all the groups (P>0.05). Moreover, the dermatitis extent recovery was achieved over time (P0.05). Conclusion There was no difference between the Aloe Vera, chamomile, and routine treatments in dermatitis extent recovery

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Healthy Volunteer Blood Donors Using Serological and Molecular Methods from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Southwest Iran

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a ubiquitous zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Blood and blood products can be a probable route of T. gondii transmission, especially in patients undergoing multiple transfusions. Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection among healthy blood donors in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. \ud Methods: We collected 385 blood samples from blood donors referring to the three biggest Blood Transfusion Organization Centers in the province during the period from January to June 2017. IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, all samples were tested by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for the detection of DNA of T. gondii. Results: The seroprevalence rates of IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies were 37.9% and 1.56%, respectively. With the LAMP method, 1.56% of the samples were positive for the DNA of T. gondii. Of these, four (1.04%) were seropositive for both IgG and IgM and two (0.52%) were positive only for IgG. Moreover, statistical analyses indicated that several risk factors including gender, age, contact with cats, and consumption of undercooked meat were significantly related to T. gondii seropositivity in blood donors. Conclusions: This study indicated that anti-T. gondii antibodies were highly prevalent among apparently healthy blood donors in Southwest Iran. There was a possibility of infection transmission by blood transfusion while there is a lack of screening tests for Toxoplasma infection in the Blood Transfusion Organizations. It is strongly suggested that appropriate and sensitive screening programs be designed by the LAMP method for the detection of T. gondii in blood donor

Comparison of the Effect of Oestrogen Plus Foeniculum vulgare Seed and Oestrogen alone on Increase in Endometrial Thickness in Infertile Women

Introduction: Foeniculum vulgare seed is used to treat infertility because of phytoestrogenic properties. Aim: The present study was conducted to compare the effects of F. vulgare plus oestrogen and oestrogen alone on Endometrial Thickness (ET) in infertile women. Materials and Methods: In this study, 92 people with infertility were enrolled by convenience sampling and randomly divided into case (45 women) and control (47 women) groups. Both groups were administered with oestradiol valerate 2 mg tablet three times a day since the third day of the menstrual cycle. Treatment group was also administered with F. vulgare tea on a daily basis. Then, ultrasound was conducted once every three days to determine ED. Other data such as serum beta-hCG level and increase in oestrogen dose were recorded in a checklist. The data were analysed by independent t-test and Chi-square in SPSS version 17.0. Results: There were no significant differences in mean age, BMI, number of years of infertility, number of children, cause of infertility, positive beta-hCG, failure to achieve adequate endometrial thickness, and increase in oestradiol dose between the treatment and control groups (p>0.05). The mean number of days to achieve ET of at least 8 mm was 13.1 +/- 3.2 in the treatment group and 14.2 +/- 3.5 in the control group with no significant difference (p>0.05). Conclusion: F. vulgare seed tea was not significantly effective in increasing the ET as compared to oestradiol valerate 6 mg alone

The association of cardio-metabolic risk factors and history of falling in men with osteosarcopenia: a cross-sectional analysis of Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program

Osteosarcopenia, defined as sarcopenia plus osteopenia/osteoporosis, may increase the risk of fractures and affects morbidity and mortality in the older population. Falling is also common in the elderly and increases the risk of fractures and mortality. We examined the association of cardio-metabolic risk factors with a history of falling in osteosarcopenic men. Methods We used the baseline data of the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program. Osteosarcopenia was defined as having both sarcopenia (reduced skeletal muscle mass plus low physical performance and/or low muscle strength) and osteopenia/osteoporosis (T-score ≤ − 1.0). Falling was defined as a self-reported history of an unintentional down on the ground during the previous year before the study. We used logistic regression analysis to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) to quantify the associations. Results All elderly men diagnosed with osteosarcopenia (n = 341), with a mean age of 73.3(±7.4) years, were included. Almost 50(14.7%) participants reported falling. Age showed a positive association with falling (AOR: 1.09, 95%CI: 1.04–1.14). An increase of 10 mmHg in systolic blood pressure(SBP), reduces the odds of falling by 26%(AOR:0.74, 95%CI:0.62–0.89), while a positive association was detected for fasting plasma glucose (FPG), as 10 mg/dl increase in the FPG, raises the chance of falling by 14%(AOR = 1.14, 95%CI:1.06,1.23). Hypertriglyceridemia was inversely associated with falling (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.89). Conclusions Falling is a major public health problem in rapidly aging countries, especially in individuals with a higher risk of fragility fractures. Older age-raised fasting plasma glucose and low SBP are associated with falling in osteosarcopenic patients. Considering the higher risk of fracture in osteosarcopenic men, comprehensive strategies are needed to prevent fall-related injuries in this high-risk population