فصلنامه طب مکمل
سال دهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 35، تابستان 1399)

Decreased physical activity coupled with increased High‐Fat Diet (HFD) intake prompts obesity. Current research suggests that changing White Adipose Tissue (WAT) to brown promotes energy expenditure to counter obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic Progressive training and Capsaicin (Cap) on Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) and Uncoupling protein-1 (UPC-1) gene expression in rat fed a high-fat diet.

 40 male Wistar rats aged 8-12 weeks, were fed a Normal Diet (ND) (n=8) or HFD (n=32) for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, rats were divided into 5 groups: ND, HFD, High-Fat Diet-Training (HFDT), High-Fat Diet-Capsaicin (HFDCap), high-fat diet-training-capsaicin (HFDTCap). Training groups have performed a progressive aerobic running program on a motor-driven treadmill for eight weeks. Capsaicin (4 mg/kg/day) were administered orally, by gavage, once a day. PGC-1α and UCP-1 gene expression levels in the VAT were measured by Real-time PCR method.

 The results of this study showed that PGC-1α and UCP-expression was decreased in HFD group compared to ND group. Also, the expression of PGC-1α and UPC-1 in HFDT, HFDCap and HFDTCap groups was significantly increased compared to HFD. The expression of PGC-1α and UPC-1 in HFDTCap was also significantly increased compared to HFDT and HFDCap groups.

 Possibly, eight weeks of progressive training combined with capsaicin administration has an effect on the browning of visceral adipose tissue in HFD rats by increasing expression of PGC-1α and UCP-1.

 Renal toxicity and ototoxicity are considered as the main side effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as gentamicin. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of co-treatment by origanum vulgare extract on the gentamicin-induced renal toxicity.

 Adult male Wistar rats in the weight range of 200 to 250 grams were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 8): control, renal toxicity (with the intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin [100 mg/kg/day], for eight days), co-treatment with OV extract and gentamicin vehicle (with the intraperitoneal injection of normal saline and OV extract gavage [40 mg/kg], for eight days), co-treatment with OV ethanolic extract (with the intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin [100 mg/kg/day] and OV extract gavage [40 mg/kg]), for eight days. The amount of urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, and osmolality were measured in the plasma and urine samples. The left kidney was used for the histological study and the right kidney was used to measure MDA and FRAP.

 treatment with OV ethanolic extract significantly decreased the blood concentrations of creatinine, urea, the absolute excretion of sodium, the fractional excretion of sodium and potassium, and MDA, compared with the renal toxicity group. Besides, co-treatment with ethanolic extract of origanum Vulgare significantly increased creatinine clearance, urinary osmolality, and FRAP, compared with the renal toxicity group.

 The oral co-treatment with ethanolic extract of origanum vulgare has a protective effect on gentamicin-induced renal toxicity. This effect can be induced by reducing the oxidative stress caused by free radicals and reducing the amount of lipid peroxidation caused by gentamicin.

 Fatty liver causes progression in liver damage and accelerates liver fibrosis. Fatty liver may enhance AST and ALT enzymes in blood. Infiltration of lipid in liver is associated with an increasing in its echogenicity, depending on the severity of the lipid infiltration. 

 This study is a randomized non-blind clinical trial in order to investigate the effect of Artichoke (Cynara Scolymus L.) herbal tea.  The leaves of the plant were consumed twice a day (one tablespoon in a glass of boiling water for 20 minutes on indirect heat) for 45 days. Using Pokak analytical sampling formula, 70 patients (47 females and 23 males) aged 25 to 63 years were finally tested and the effect of this plant on parenchymal echogenic levels of liver, AST, and ALT of their liver was investigated. Liver enzymes and abdominal ultrasound were performed at the beginning and after treatment and studied people were grouped according to the ultrasound criteria for fatty liver disease after obtaining informed consent. The means were compared using paired t-test and data were analyzed by SPSS  v.18 software.

 Results showed that studied people, for fatty liver disease were grouped as follows: mild (23 patients, %32.86) as grade 1, moderate (38 patients, %54.28) as grade 2, and severe (9 patients, %12.86) as grade 3. At the end of this study, fatty liver grade was decreased in 51 patients (P≤0.05). However, 19 women didn’t show expected change in the grade of fatty liver. The Mean±SD of the enzymes measured in all patients before and after treatment were 5.49±26.76 and 36.96±13.01 for ALT, and 3641.20±14.46 and 31.76±12.26 for AST. Statistical analysis of the results by t-test showed significant decreasing for ALT and AST levels (P≤0.01). 

 The results of this study showed that it seems this plant can be used to improve the laboratory symptoms of fatty liver.

 The Pathological symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and the degeneration of nerve cells cause inflammation in these patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of endurance training and saffron extract on the plasma levels of interleukin 17 and 18 in Alzheimer’s rats by trimethyltin chloride. 

 This experimental study was conducted on 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 180 ± 20 grams. After Alzheimer’s induction (by the intraperitoneal injection of 80 mg/kg trimethyltin chloride), the rats were randomly assigned into four groups: control, training, saffron extract, saffron extract + training. The saffron extract was injected intraperitoneally at the dose of 25 mg/kg, daily, for eight weeks. Also, the endurance training program consisted of incremental running on the treadmill at a speed of 15 to 20 m/min. The program was performed in 15 to 30 minutes sessions, three sessions per week, for eight weeks. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA at the P < 0.05.

 The results showed that exercise (P=0.10), saffron consumption (P=0.07), and the interaction of exercise and saffron consumption (P=0.06) did not significantly affect interleukin 17, in rats. Also, exercise (P=0.68), saffron consumption (P=0.84), and the interaction of exercise and saffron consumption (P=0.57) had no significant effect on interleukin 18, in rats.

 According to the results, it seems that exercise training and saffron extract do not affect the interleukin 17 and interleukin 18 in Alzheimer’s rats.

 Environmental factors can affect the brain and affect other organs through the brain. Color and light are among the environmental factors that are considered the main features of architecture and they are more in our control. According to traditional medicine theories, the Temperament of a person and his health is affected by various factors. Color is one of the factors affecting health that has not been investigated by researchers so far, so the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the color of the environment as an external factor and the Temperament of individuals.

 This research is an applied study in term of aims and it has done by a descriptive-survey method. In this article, we examine the relationship between Temperament and color of environmental elements. To investigate the hypothesis, a survey was conducted on 144 housewives in one of the settlements of Kerman. In this study, data were collected through a medical questionnaire of Temperament and field observation of residential units and recording the colors of elements such as walls, ceilings. Data analyszed using the Chi-square test in SPSS v. 22 software.

 The results showed that there is a significant relationship between the Temperaments of individuals and the colors of walls, In terms of Warmth and coldness (P<0.001). Also, the results of the test show that there is no significant relationship between the ceilings color with the Temperament of the test subjects. (P=0.517, 0.124, 0.115 & 0.137, respectively)

 It seems that there is a significant relationship between the Temperament and the colors used in the environment and the Temperaments of the individuals affected by the color of the surrounding environment. Therefore, architects as the main designers of the building, in collaboration with traditional medicine practitioners with color Temperament knowledge can design interior design and home decoration that enhance the health of users.

 Anxiety and depression are the most common psychological problems and effective on treatment process in hemodialysis patients. Acupressure is inexpensive, effective, and available method for reducing anxiety and depression. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of acupressure on anxiety and depression in hemodialysis patients.

 This study was a clinical trial, conducted on 40 patient’s referral to Imam Khomeini medical center in Zabul at 2017. Patient-based census method selected and randomly divided in two groups (intervention group: 20, control group: 20). For data collection we used demographic, Spielberger Anxiety and Beck Depression Questionnaire. The intervention group received acupressure in p6 point in three days a week for four weeks. Data were collected before and one month after the intervention then data analyzed by SPSS v. 16 with paired t-test and independent statistical test.  

 The Mean±SD depression and anxiety score after intervention were 25.41±5.67 and 37.15±5.13, respectively. Evaluation of depression and anxiety scores after intervention showed a significant difference (P<0.05).

 The results of this study indicated that acupressure is effective in reducing anxiety and depression in patients. Therefore, it is recommended as a simple, inexpensive, and workable method by the patient himself.

 The postpartum period is a critical stage that exposes the mother to unpleasant experiences, including changes in energy level. Implementing reflexology during this period, as a branch of complementary medicine, may be helpful in promoting healthcare, especially in the areas of maternal and child health.

 In total, 70 eligible women who referred to health centers in the south of Tehran City, Iran, affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences participated in this quasi-experimental study. A written informed consent form was obtained from them before initiating the study. The mothers of the postpartum routine care control group and the reflexology group received a massage for 3 consecutive days for 30 minutes (15 minutes per leg). Both study groups completed energy-related items in the Visual Fatigue Questionnaire before as well as immediately and one week after the completion of the intervention. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS.

 Demographic characteristics and the energy level before intervention were homogenous in both research groups. Immediately after the intervention, the Mean±SD energy scores in the control and reflexology groups were 34.55±2.84 and 33.7±4.33, respectively; thus the obtained data revealed no statistically significant difference between the study groups (P=0.02). One week after the intervention, the Mean±SD energy scores in the reflexology and control groups were 35.87±2.71 and 35.5±3.43), respectively; thus, there was no significant difference between the study groups in this regard (P=0.64).

 The presented massage intervention was not as effective as a non-invasive low-cost method on the postpartum energy level of the study participants.