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Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological disorder that affects many women of reproductive age. Ginger, a widely used spice with anti-inflammatory properties, has been suggested as a potential treatment for the painful cramps associated with this condition. Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of ginger for pain management in primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: Our systematic review was registered in Prospero (CRD42023418001). Six English (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL complete, and Cochrane) and one Persian electric database (SID) was searched up to May 2023 for English or Persian studies that measure the effect of ginger on pain in dysmenorrhea. The Cochrane tool was used to assess the risk of bias of the included studies. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to obtain standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Out of the 804 articles initially identified from the search, 24 were included for qualitative analysis and 12 for quantitative analysis after a full-text evaluation. The combined results of the studies indicate that ginger is notably more effective than placebo in reducing both the intensity (SMD = −1.13; 95% CI = −1.59 to −0.68, I2 = 81.05%) and duration of pain (SMD = −0.29; 95% CI = −0.46 to −0.12). There were no differences between ginger and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (SMD = 0.01; 95% CI = −0.24 to 0.25), or exercise (SMD = 0.06; 95% CI = −0.66 to 0.78) for pain intensity. Safety-related data were infrequently reported. Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that ginger can effectively reduce pain associated with dysmenorrhea. The findings are limited due to risk of bias in the included studies and the unclear risk-benefit ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Several studies have indicated that dietary interventions may offer protection against the development of cardiac damage in the case of anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy (AIC). The goal of this study was to assess whether an evidence-based cardioprotective diet can be effective in preventing AIC in patients with breast cancer. Design: Randomized, open-label, controlled trial. The study period was set for 18 weeks, and the data were analyzed by generalized estimating equation modeling and one-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Setting/Location: Shahid Rajaie Hospital affiliated (Tehran, Iran). Subjects: Fifty anthracycline-treated patients with breast cancer. Interventions: Patients were randomized to receive either a 2-hour training in evidence-based cardio-protective diet or Carvedilol 6.25 mg bid. Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was the number of patients with abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after 18 weeks. Results: At week 18, 12 (48%) out of 25 participants in the cardioprotective diet group had abnormal LVEF in comparison with 21 (84%) out of 25 in the carvedilol group (p = 0.007). Also, 2 (8%) out of 25 in the cardioprotective diet group compared with 7 (28%) out of 25 participants in the carvedilol group had abnormal global longitudinal strain (p = 0.066). The diet group showed significant improvements in the quality-of-life dimensions named "health change" and "general health" compared with the carvedilol group using the Short Form-36 Health Survey questionnaire. Conclusions: This study suggests that an evidence-based cardioprotective diet can contribute to the prevention of AIC. Although current treatments for AIC can be effective, further research is mandatory for more options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is recurrent and painful diseases of the oral mucosa that can be very painful and annoying despite their small size. There is no definitive cure for this disease and the usual treatments are mainly based on pain control. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of honey-lemon spray (mucotin) in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Methods: This study is a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in 2020 at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences on 46 RAS patients. The participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (mucotin) or control groups (Triamcinolone ointment) equally (23 patients in each group). Patients were evaluated for the severity of pain and ulcer size. Evaluations were performed on days 0, 2, 7 of the treatment using VAS. Data were analyzed using ANOVA statistical test. Results: The inner aspect of the lower lip was the most common site of RAS in the participants (48.8%) and the lowest site went for hard palate (2.4%). Four items including pain, burning sensation, necrosis area, and erythematous area were evaluated in both groups. There was no significant difference in all parameters before the treatment period (day 0). The mean pain score, burning sensation, necrosis, erythematous areas were not different in days 0, 2 and 7 between groups respectively (p=0.849, p=0.105, p=0.917, p=0.442). Conclusion: Honey-lemon spray (Mucotin) and topical corticosteroid have similar effects in RAS treating, So Mucotin can be used as the first line of treatment for RAS lesions. This herbal medicine has no side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insomnia and sleep disorders are common and can be severe amongst patients with cancer, especially during chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lettuce seed syrup in breast cancer patients who suffer from insomnia or disordered sleep. This pilot study was a double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in Shoha-e-Tajrish Hospital (Tehran, Iran) from September 2018 to June 2019. 50 adult patients with breast cancer with insomnia or sleep disorders were enrolled. Participants were randomly allocated to lettuce seed syrup (5 mL twice daily), or placebo syrup at the same dose for four weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate sleep quality before and after the intervention. Compared to placebo, the mean of the total PSQI score decreased significantly in participants who received lettuce seed syrup (p=0.014). In addition, there were statistically significant reductions in the mean scores of subject quality sleep (p=0.002), sleep duration (p=0.038), habitual sleep efficacy (p=0.029) and sleep disturbance (p=0.032) in patients who received lettuce seed syrup. Lettuce seed syrup may improve self-reported sleep quality in participants with breast cancer. Larger trials are indicated in diverse samples of participants with caner to learn if these finds are generalizable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radiation-induced dermatitis (RID) is a common side effect of radiotherapy. The present work attempts to examine the effect of using henna- violet based topical preparation to prevent and decrease the severity of RID in patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out as a prospective, double-blind clinical study on 43 breast cancer patients aged 18-75 years. The subjects had undergone breast-conserving surgery, and radiotherapy was scheduled for them. The participants were categorized randomly into two groups; patients who received the henna- violet based topical preparation and patients who received a placebo twice a day for six weeks. The level of the RID score was measured every week based on the toxicity criteria of the radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG). Results: The henna- violet based topical preparation decreased the severity of RID and delayed the development of grade 2 RID for two weeks. In addition, the initiation of grade 3 RID was deferred for one week. There was a significant decrease in grade 2 RID (20% vs. 56.52%) as well as grade 3 RID (10% vs. 26.09%) in the patients who received the henna- violet based topical preparation at the end of the 6th week (P=0.004). Conclusion: This cream, which contained henna and violet, had no severe adverse effects, could prevent RID and decreased the grade of dermatitis in breast cancer patients compared to the placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Mizaj (temperament) refers to a concept in Persian medicine and is the basis for defining health and disease. Brain, as the most important organ of the body (Aza-e-raeiseh), controls vital functions. So far, no standardized questionnaire has been designed for distinguishing temperament in Persian medicine. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide a reliable objective self-report questionnaire and a standardized diagnostic checklist for Mizaj identification via determining their reliability and validity in Persian medicine. Materials and Methods: This was an exploratory sequential study in which we designed a 121-item questionnaire, and a 20-item checklist as an item pool using Mizaj-related indices searched in Persian medicine references. The number of items for questionnaire and checklist finally reached 35 and 12 after qualitative and quantitative assessments (e.g., content and face validities). The test-retest reliability of each question of the questionnaire and checklist and their consistency were evaluated by participation based on the weighted and Fleiss' kappa statistics, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The final version of the questionnaire and checklist were divided into two subscales (i.e., warm/cold and wet/dry), and the minimum and maximum scores were determined. Results: Significant findings of our data showed that the weighted and Fleiss' kappa coefficients of the 35-item questionnaire (between 0.4 and 0.9) and 12-item checklist (between 0.4 and 0.8) were found in the study based on their reliability. The degree of reliability in the self-report questionnaire was assessed using weighted kappa (WK), where 6 items of the questionnaire were omitted due to a WK less than 0.6 and the number of items reached 35. While 2 items of the checklist with Fleiss' kappa (FK) <0.2 were omitted and the number of items reached 12 items. WK coefficients of the 35-item questionnaire (between 0.4 and 0.9) and 12-item checklist (between 0.4 and 0.8) were found in the study, suggesting their reliability. The highest WK was found to be linked to sleep, and psychic and physical functions, suggesting the appropriateness of questions/items and design. The calculated ICC of the two stages for the warm/cold and wet/dry subscales of 35-item questionnaire was determined as 0.92 and 0.91, respectively, showing the stability of total score. ICC of the final score for the warm/cold subscale of the 35-item questionnaire was 0.88 (0.86 to 0.96), while this value was 0.91 for the wet/dry subscale (0.83 to 0.95). Conclusions: The present questionnaire and checklist were validated in terms of the design, reliability, and validity of a standard Mizaj determination questionnaire and checklist. The final questionnaire and checklist may be capable of distinguishing Mizaj of brain at the clinical and research levels for Persian medicine practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most common complications in patients with cancer. Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apple) has been used in traditional Persian medicine as an effective pain relief, especially for neuralgia. We designed a pilot clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical C. colocynthis oil in management of CIPN in breast cancer patients. Thirty‐four cancer patients with CIPN were randomly enrolled in two arms of a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial. The patients were treated by topical C. colocynthis oil or placebo, two times per day for 2 months. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group (FACT/GOG)‐Neurotoxicity (Ntx) score was set as the primary outcome measure. No significant improvement was observed in the total score of FACT/GOG‐Ntx scale (2.40 ± 1.90 vs. 1.05 ± 1.36, p = .879) in drug and placebo groups, respectively. There was also no significant improvement in the mean scores of FACT/GOG‐Ntx in the sensory, motor, hearing, and functional domains in the two study groups. According to the results of this preliminary study, topical C. colocynthis oil failed to improve the symptoms of CIPN compared with placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]