فصلنامه طب مکمل
سال دهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 36، پاییز 1399)

 Premature birth and hospitalization in the intensive care unit cause many crises and stresses for mothers. In the meantime, narration writing is a method of counseling to reduce motherschr('39') stress. Therefore, we aimed to study the effect of maternal narration on the stress of mothers of premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.

 This experimental study was performed on mothers of neonates admitted to the intensive care units. The experimental and control groups were selected by simple random sampling method. In the experimental group, based on the instructions given, the mothers recorded their daily events 3 times a day. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS V. 21 with descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (paired t-test, independent t-test, ANCOVA test).

 The Mean±SD score of stress was 97.43±2.66 in the experimental group and 95.26±5.76 in the control group before the intervention. The stress level of mothers was 84.9±5.35 in the experimental group after the intervention and 87.1±5.25 in the control group. The covariance test showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups (P=0.03 and Eta= 0.07) so that 7% of stress reduction changes are related to motherschr('39') narration.

 This study showed that narrative writing as an effective supportive intervention has a vital role in reducing stress in mothers of neonates admitted to the intensive care unit.

 Some previous studies have shown the protective effect of caffeine on apoptosis through the regulation of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic caffeine administration on the expression ratio of B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-Associated X-protein (Bax) proteins in the cardiac tissue of rats with Type 2 Diabetes.

 In this experimental study, samples were 24 male white wistar rats (aged 2-3 months with a weight of 250-300 g) randomly divided into three groups: Healthy control (n=8), untreated diabetic (n=8), and diabetic with caffeine supplement (n=8; 70 mg/kg-1 for 8 weeks, 5 days a week). The expression of proteins associated with apoptotic signaling pathway (Bax and Bcl-2) in the cardiac muscle (left ventricular) was measured by Western blot method. One-Way Variance (ANOVA), t-test, and Tukey’s post hoc test were used for data analysis.

 Induction of type two diabetes significantly increased the expression of Bax protein (1.81±0.2) and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 protein (0.36±0.05) compared to control group (P=0.001). However, caffeine administration increased the expression of Bax protein (131%) compared to diabetic control group (P=0.001). Therefore, caffeine administration after diabetes induction elevated the  Bax/Bcl-2 ratio (P=0.001).

 Eight weeks of caffeine administration have an exacerbating effect on the apoptotic cell death caused by type 2 diabetes by increasing pro-apoptotic proteins and reducing anti-apoptotic proteins.

 Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability. Motor impairment is the most common clinical sign of stroke that disrupt patients’ daily activities. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of mirror therapy on the gait of patients with subacute and chronic stroke.

 The is a quasi-experimental study with pre-test/post-test design. Participants were 30 patients with subacute (n=15) and chronic stroke (n=15) referred to Tabassom Clinic in Tehran, Iran. Subjects in both groups participated in the Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool (GAIT) before and after intervention. The interventional program was similar in the two groups and consisting of eight weeks of walking rehabilitation two sessions per week, each for 90 minutes; 60 minutes of routine rehabilitation and 30 minutes of mirror therapy. Data were analyzed using paired t-test, independent t-test, and ANCOVA in SPSS.23 software considering a significance level of P<0.05.

 The mean pre-test GAIT score in the subacute group was 20, which decreased to 14 after intervention, indicating a considerable improvement in their gait performance; in the chronic group, the mean pre-test GAIT score decreased from 22 to 20 after intervention. There was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test GAIT scores in two subacute and chronic groups (P= 0.001). There was also a significant difference in post-test GAIT score between subacute and chronic groups (P=0.001).

 Mirror therapy in the subacute phase has more effect on the gait of of stroke patients than in the chronic phase. Therefore, it is recommended to use mirror therapy in the subacute phase after stroke.

 The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of computer-based cognitive rehabilitation therapy on difficulties in emotional regulation among students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). 

 Participants were 24 students with ADHD (12 boys and 12 girls) studying in 6-9th grades during 2018-19 at schools located in District 7 of Tehran, Iran. They were selected using a purposive sampling method and based on inclusion/exclusion criteria and then randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. Data collection tool was the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) completed at pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases. Experimental group received computer-based cognitive rehabilitation therapy for 10 weeks (20 sessions, two sessions per week, each for 30 minutes). Data were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA in SPSS V. 26 software.

 All subscales of DERS were significantly improved after intervention which had a medium-to-large effect size. 

 Computer-based cognitive rehabilitation therapy can help treat difficulties in emotional regulation and improve performance of students with ADHD.

 Diabetes is a chronic disease associated with a wide range of liver diseases. The levels of liver enzymes such as Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) are changed following a liver disease The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise combined with Stevia extract supplementation on the levels of ALT and AST enzymes in diabetic rats.

 In this experimental study, 40 males wistar rats weighing 150-220 g were used. Animals were randomly divided into five groups; healthy control , diabetic control, diabetic + exercise, diabetic + stevia, and diabetic + exercise + stevia. The extract was administered by oral gavage for 6 weeks. The aerobic exercise program was performed for six weeks, 5 days per week. At the end of the intervention, blood samples were collected from the heart of rats to measure the levels of ALT and AST. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test.  

 The levels of ALT and AST enzymes decreased significantly in all experimental groups compared to diabetic control group (P<0.05).  

 Aerobic exercise combined with stevia extract supplementation can improve the liver function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

One of the major problems of patients after orthopedic surgeries is acute pain. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of foot reflexology massage on postoperative pain in patients undergoing plating surgery for tibia fracture.

 This study is a randomized clinical trial conducted on 96 patients who were candidates for tibia plating surgery referred to Imam Ali Hospital in Bojnourd, Iran, randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Foot reflexology massage in the intervention group was performed on patients’ healthy feet for 10 minutes, one hour before surgery. In the control group, the foot sole was touched for one minute without any pressure. Pain intensity was measured using the standard Visual Analog Scale before and immediately after the intervention and 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours after surgery. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U and Friedman tests.

 The baseline pain scores in the intervention and control groups were reported 8.1±0.9 and 8.4±0.9, respectively. After the intervention, the pain score in these groups was reduced to 6.9±1.1 and 8.1±1.0, respectively (P<0.001). At other times, up to 24 hours after surgery, the pain reduction was higher in the intervention group (P<0.05). 

 Foot reflexology massage reduces postoperative pain of patients undergoing tibia plating surgery. Therefore, this method can be used to reduce pain and anxiety in orthopedic surgery patients.

 Stress and anxiety are common in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). These complications exacerbate the symptoms of MS. This study aims to evaluate the effect of acupressure on stress and anxiety of MS patients.

 In this randomized clinical trial, participants were 106 MS Patients referred to Multiple Sclerosis Society in Mashhad, Iran. After signing an informed consent form, they completed a demographic form and stress, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale - 42 items (DASS-42). Then, they were randomly assigned into intervention and sham groups by tossing a coin. Participants in the intervention group were asked apply a pressure on the Shenmen and Yin Tang acupoints for one month (once per day for 15 minutes), while the sham group applied pressure 2.5 cm below the Shenmen acupoint and 3 cm above the Yin Tang acupoint. Participants in each group were then completed the DASS-42 again one hour after the final session. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, independent t-test, and Paired t-test.

  In the intervention and sham groups, there was no statistically significant difference between the mean pre-test scores of stress (34.73±5.80 vs. 33.06±6.42) and anxiety (27.09±6.99 vs. 25.31±6.88), and neither between the mean post-test scores of stress (29.20±6.21 vs. 33.73±9.44) and anxiety (22.79±5.68 vs. 25.21±6.72) (P>0.05). However, comparison of DASS-42 scores between groups showed that the mean scores of stress and anxiety in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the sham group (P< 0.05).

 It seems that acupressure can be used along with other therapeutic and pharmacological interventions to reduce stress and anxiety in patients with MS.

 Infant hospitalization in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) may cause many challenges for the family, especially the mother, and cause psychological problems and shock. Self-care, as a prominent factor in physical and mental health and effective in mothers’ adaptation to their child’s illness. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of spiritual self-care education on mothers of newborns admitted to the ICU of the hospitals in Sari City.

 This experimental study was performed on 64 mothers of newborns hospitalized with informed written consent in the hospitals’ respiratory ICU in Sari City in 2019. Sampling was done by an available method and simple random sampling in two groups: Experimental (n=32) and control (n=32). The experimental group received a spiritual self-care training program in 6 sessions of 60 minutes every day. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a 22-item scale of suffering (CBC) and entered into SPSS V. 25 software, then performed using independent statistical tests, Chi-square, Fisher, and ANCOVA (analysis of covariance).

 The mean of the pre-intervention care range in the experimental and control groups was 65.46±4.51 and 62.68±7.29, respectively, but the paired t-test did not show a significant difference (P=0.07). According to the paired t-test, the Mean±SD care range after the intervention was 43.47±6.47 and 60.59±6.73, respectively, which led to a significant difference (P<0.01).

 The results of this study showed that spiritual self-care education reduces maternal care suffering. Therefore, its use is recommended for all caregivers