Vaginal atrophy is one of the most common menopausal complications and is often overlooked. There are various pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches to reduce vaginal atrophy; however, no comprehensive study on a convenient, affordable, inexpensive, and noninvasive treatment with fewer complications has been conducted so far. Thus, the current study aimed to provide a systematic review of pharmacological treatment for vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women in Iran. In this systematic review, all Iranian articles published in Persian or English during 2009 to 2019 were collected and analyzed by searching the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Magiran, Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), and Cochrane Library databases. The inclusion criteria were clinical trials for vaginal atrophy and menopause. Based on the selection criteria, articles with a Jadad scale score of 3 and above were included in the study and qualitatively analyzed. Overall, 15 clinical trials met the inclusion criteria. In total, 12 articles examined the efficacy of pharmacological treatments (including three herbal medicines, three vitamins and dietary supplements, and two chemical drugs) in treating vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. Various types of medication have been used to improve vaginal atrophy, and effective treatments include licorice, chamomile, royal jelly, vitamin E, vitamin D, hyaluronic acid, and Vagifem; however, the results of studies on fennel have been inconsistent. However, considering the small number of studies reviewed, further studies with a stronger methodology are needed to confirm the efficacy of these medications.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. Despite various pharmacological developments, the identification of new therapies is still required for treating breast cancer. Crab is often recommended as a traditional medicine for cancer. This study aimed to determine the in vitro effect of a hydroalcoholic crab shell extract on a breast cancer cell line. METHODS: In this experimental study, MCF7 breast cancer cell line was used. Crab shell was powdered and a hydroalcoholic (70degrees ethanol) extract was prepared. Five concentrations (100, 200, 400, 800, and 1,000 microg/mL) were added to the cells for three periods, 24, 48, and 72 hours. The viability of the cells were evaluated using trypan blue and 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays. Cell apoptosis was determined using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling method. Nitric oxide (NO) level was assessed using the Griess method. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, and p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Cell viability decreased depending on dose and time, and was significantly different in the groups that were treated with 400, 800, and 1,000 microg/mL doses compared to that in the control group (p<0.001). Increasing the dose significantly increased apoptosis (p<0.001). NO secretion from MCF7 cells significantly decreased in response to different concentrations of the extract in a dose- and time-dependent manner (p<0.050). CONCLUSION: The crab shell extract inhibited the proliferation of MCF7 cells by increasing apoptosis and decreasing NO production.
Apoptosis ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Cell Line* ; Cell Survival ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Female ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Medicine, Traditional ; Nitric Oxide ; Trypan Blue

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Rhus coriaria seeds on the reproductive system of nicotinamide-streptozotocin-induced type-2 diabetic mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, 56 male Naval Medical Research Institute mice were randomly divided into seven groups (n=8): control; diabetic mice; diabetic mice administered glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg); diabetic mice who received the hydro-alcoholic extract of R. coriaria seeds (200 and 400 mg/kg groups); and normal mice who received this extract (200 and 400 mg/kg groups). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) 15 minutes after an injection of nicotinamide (120 mg/kg). Then, glibenclamide and the above mentioned extract were administered orally for 28 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, serum samples, the testes, and the cauda epididymis were removed immediately for hormonal, testis morphology, and sperm parameter assessments. RESULTS: Body and testicular weight, sperm count and viability, and serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone levels were significantly lower in the diabetic mice (p<0.05). The diabetic mice treated with 400 mg/kg of the hydro-alcoholic extract of R. coriaria seeds recovered from these reductions (p<0.05). Further, glibenclamide alleviated hormonal and sperm count depletion in diabetes-induced mice (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicated that the hydro-alcoholic extract of R. coriaria seeds has anti-infertility effects in diabetic males.
Academies and Institutes ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Epididymis ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Glyburide ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Male ; Mice* ; Niacinamide ; Rhus* ; Sperm Count ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; Streptozocin ; Testis ; Testosterone

Background: Tolerance to the analgesic effects of opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is a major concern for relieving pain. Thus, it is highly valuable to find new pharmacological strategies for prolonged therapeutic procedures. Biguanide-type drugs such as metformin (MET) are effective for neuroprotection and can be beneficial for addressing opioid tolerance in the treatment of chronic pain. It has been proposed that analgesic tolerance to NSAIDs is mediated by the endogenous opioid system. According to the cross-tolerance between NSAIDs, especially sodium salicylate (SS), and opiates, especially morphine, the objective of this study was to investigate whether MET administration can reduce tolerance to the anti-nociceptive effects of SS. Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were used in this research (weight 200–250 g). For induction of tolerance, SS (300 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally for 7 days. During the examination period, animals received MET at doses of 50, 75, or 100 mg/kg for 7 days to evaluate the development of tolerance to the analgesic effect of SS.The hot plate test was used to evaluate the drugs' anti-nociceptive properties. Results: Salicylate injection significantly increased hot plate latency as compared to the control group, but the total analgesic effect of co-treatment with SS + Met50 was stronger than the SS group. Furthermore, the effect of this combination undergoes less analgesic tolerance over time. Conclusions It can be concluded that MET can reduce the analgesic tolerance that is induced by repeated intraperitoneal injections of SS in Wister rats.

Background: Tolerance to the analgesic effects of opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is a major concern for relieving pain. Thus, it is highly valuable to find new pharmacological strategies for prolonged therapeutic procedures. Biguanide-type drugs such as metformin (MET) are effective for neuroprotection and can be beneficial for addressing opioid tolerance in the treatment of chronic pain. It has been proposed that analgesic tolerance to NSAIDs is mediated by the endogenous opioid system. According to the cross-tolerance between NSAIDs, especially sodium salicylate (SS), and opiates, especially morphine, the objective of this study was to investigate whether MET administration can reduce tolerance to the anti-nociceptive effects of SS. Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were used in this research (weight 200–250 g). For induction of tolerance, SS (300 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally for 7 days. During the examination period, animals received MET at doses of 50, 75, or 100 mg/kg for 7 days to evaluate the development of tolerance to the analgesic effect of SS.The hot plate test was used to evaluate the drugs' anti-nociceptive properties. Results: Salicylate injection significantly increased hot plate latency as compared to the control group, but the total analgesic effect of co-treatment with SS + Met50 was stronger than the SS group. Furthermore, the effect of this combination undergoes less analgesic tolerance over time. Conclusions It can be concluded that MET can reduce the analgesic tolerance that is induced by repeated intraperitoneal injections of SS in Wister rats.

Background: Tolerance to the analgesic effects of opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is a major concern for relieving pain. Thus, it is highly valuable to find new pharmacological strategies for prolonged therapeutic procedures. Biguanide-type drugs such as metformin (MET) are effective for neuroprotection and can be beneficial for addressing opioid tolerance in the treatment of chronic pain. It has been proposed that analgesic tolerance to NSAIDs is mediated by the endogenous opioid system. According to the cross-tolerance between NSAIDs, especially sodium salicylate (SS), and opiates, especially morphine, the objective of this study was to investigate whether MET administration can reduce tolerance to the anti-nociceptive effects of SS. Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were used in this research (weight 200–250 g). For induction of tolerance, SS (300 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally for 7 days. During the examination period, animals received MET at doses of 50, 75, or 100 mg/kg for 7 days to evaluate the development of tolerance to the analgesic effect of SS.The hot plate test was used to evaluate the drugs' anti-nociceptive properties. Results: Salicylate injection significantly increased hot plate latency as compared to the control group, but the total analgesic effect of co-treatment with SS + Met50 was stronger than the SS group. Furthermore, the effect of this combination undergoes less analgesic tolerance over time. Conclusions It can be concluded that MET can reduce the analgesic tolerance that is induced by repeated intraperitoneal injections of SS in Wister rats.

OBJECTIVES:: Investigating the survival of patients with cancer is vitally necessary for controlling the disease and for assessing treatment methods. This study aimed to compare various statistical models of survival and to determine the survival rate and its related factors among patients suffering from lung cancer. METHODS:: In this retrospective cohort, the cumulative survival rate, median survival time, and factors associated with the survival of lung cancer patients were estimated using Cox, Weibull, exponential, and Gompertz regression models. Kaplan-Meier tables and the log-rank test were also used to analyze the survival of patients in different subgroups. RESULTS:: Of 102 patients with lung cancer, 74.5% were male. During the follow-up period, 80.4% died. The incidence rate of death among patients was estimated as 3.9 (95% confidence [CI], 3.1 to 4.8) per 100 person-months. The 5-year survival rate for all patients, males, females, patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), and patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) was 17%, 13%, 29%, 21%, and 0%, respectively. The median survival time for all patients, males, females, those with NSCLC, and those with SCLC was 12.7 months, 12.0 months, 16.0 months, 16.0 months, and 6.0 months, respectively. Multivariate analyses indicated that the hazard ratios (95% CIs) for male sex, age, and SCLC were 0.56 (0.33 to 0.93), 1.03 (1.01 to 1.05), and 2.91 (1.71 to 4.95), respectively. CONCLUSIONS:: Our results showed that the exponential model was the most precise. This model identified age, sex, and type of cancer as factors that predicted survival in patients with lung cancer.
Cohort Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iran ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Male ; Models, Statistical ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVES: : Investigating the survival of patients with cancer is vitally necessary for controlling the disease and for assessing treatment methods. This study aimed to compare various statistical models of survival and to determine the survival rate and its related factors among patients suffering from lung cancer. METHODS: : In this retrospective cohort, the cumulative survival rate, median survival time, and factors associated with the survival of lung cancer patients were estimated using Cox, Weibull, exponential, and Gompertz regression models. Kaplan-Meier tables and the log-rank test were also used to analyze the survival of patients in different subgroups. RESULTS: : Of 102 patients with lung cancer, 74.5% were male. During the follow-up period, 80.4% died. The incidence rate of death among patients was estimated as 3.9 (95% confidence [CI], 3.1 to 4.8) per 100 person-months. The 5-year survival rate for all patients, males, females, patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), and patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) was 17%, 13%, 29%, 21%, and 0%, respectively. The median survival time for all patients, males, females, those with NSCLC, and those with SCLC was 12.7 months, 12.0 months, 16.0 months, 16.0 months, and 6.0 months, respectively. Multivariate analyses indicated that the hazard ratios (95% CIs) for male sex, age, and SCLC were 0.56 (0.33 to 0.93), 1.03 (1.01 to 1.05), and 2.91 (1.71 to 4.95), respectively. CONCLUSIONS : Our results showed that the exponential model was the most precise. This model identified age, sex, and type of cancer as factors that predicted survival in patients with lung cancer.

Objective: Recent studies have shown a possible association between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of primary dysmenorrhea. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on pain and systemic symptoms in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on female students aged 18 to 32 years with primary dysmenorrhea and vitamin D deficiency (25 [OH]D <30 ng/mL). The participants (n=116) received either 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) or placebo capsules on a weekly basis for eight consecutive weeks. The outcomes were pain intensity (scored 0 to 10), number of days with pain, number of consumed pain-relief medications (per day), and severity of systemic symptoms (fatigue, headache, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea; total score of 0 to 12). Results: Compared with baseline, our participants who received vitamin D experienced significant reductions in pain intensity (-1.0 and -1.5 score at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001), the number of days with pain (-1.0 day at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001), the number of consumed pain-relief medications (-1.0 at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001), and systemic symptoms severity (-1.0 score at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001). No significant improvements were observed in the placebo group in terms of these outcomes. Conclusion Vitamin D supplementation in women with primary dysmenorrhea and vitamin D deficiency could improve systemic symptoms and reduce pain intensity, the number of days with pain, and the need for consuming pain-relief medications.

Objective: Recent studies have shown a possible association between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of primary dysmenorrhea. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on pain and systemic symptoms in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on female students aged 18 to 32 years with primary dysmenorrhea and vitamin D deficiency (25 [OH]D <30 ng/mL). The participants (n=116) received either 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) or placebo capsules on a weekly basis for eight consecutive weeks. The outcomes were pain intensity (scored 0 to 10), number of days with pain, number of consumed pain-relief medications (per day), and severity of systemic symptoms (fatigue, headache, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea; total score of 0 to 12). Results: Compared with baseline, our participants who received vitamin D experienced significant reductions in pain intensity (-1.0 and -1.5 score at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001), the number of days with pain (-1.0 day at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001), the number of consumed pain-relief medications (-1.0 at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001), and systemic symptoms severity (-1.0 score at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001). No significant improvements were observed in the placebo group in terms of these outcomes. Conclusion Vitamin D supplementation in women with primary dysmenorrhea and vitamin D deficiency could improve systemic symptoms and reduce pain intensity, the number of days with pain, and the need for consuming pain-relief medications.