BackgroundIn Iranian Traditional Medicine, mizaj (temperament) plays a key role in preventive, therapeutic and lifestyle recommendations. A reliable self-reported scale for mizaj identification is critically needed to introduce ITM into the official medical and health care system especially in the case of designing national preventive protocols.ObjectivesThe present study aimed to design a preliminary self-administered mizaj questionnaire and assessed its reliability and validity in Iran.Patients and MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire with 52 items was designed based on mizaj-related indices. Subsequent to content and face validity assessment, using qualitative and quantitative method, 47 items remained. Based on the non-randomly sampling, the test-retest reliability of each question and internal consistency of the questionnaire was examined by the participation of 35 volunteers. The reliable version questionnaire was filled up by 52 volunteers wherein they were divided into warm/cold and wet/dry groups based on their mizaj which was predetermined by a team of expert practitioners. Logistic regression analysis was performed for validity process between the experts’ assessment of mizaj and each of the items in the questionnaire that resulted to the final ten-item questionnaire divided into two subscales. By using ANOVA and post Hoc with Dunnet statistics, the optimum cut-off points were defined and their sensitivity and specificity was assessed.ResultsThe weighted kappa coefficients of the 39 items were between 0.40 and 0.82 showing their acceptable reliability and the Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.71 showing the internal consistency. The sensitivity and specificity of the final questionnaire cut-off points were 65% and 93% for the warm group, 52% and 97% cold group, 53% and 67% dry group and finally 53% and 76% wet group.ConclusionsOur results suggested that many of the designed questions according to the literature’s mizaj identification indices had satisfactory reliability and the final ten-item questionnaire could discriminate the different groups of mizaj, therefore, this can be used as the first version of a brief self-report mizaj estimating scale.

BackgroundStem cell therapy can be used for alleviating the neuropathic pain induced by spinal cord injuries (SCIs). However, survival and differentiation of stem cells following their transplantation vary depending on the host and intrinsic factors of the cell. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of stem cells derived from bone marrow (BM-MSC) and umbilical cord (UC-MSC) on neuropathic pain relief.MethodsA compression model was used to induce SCI in a rat model. A week after SCI, about 1 million cells were transplanted into the spinal cord. Behavioral tests, including motor function recovery, mechanical allodynia, cold allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, and thermal hyperalgesia, were carried out every week for 8 weeks after SCI induction. A single unit recording and histological evaluation were then performed.ResultsWe show that BM-MSC and UC-MSC transplantations led to improving functional recovery, allodynia, and hyperalgesia. No difference was seen between the two cell groups regarding motor recovery and alleviating the allodynia and hyperalgesia. These cells survived in the tissue at least 8 weeks and prevented cavity formation due to SCI. However, survival rate of UC-MSC was significantly higher than BM-MSC. Electrophysiological evaluations showed that transplantation of UC-MSC brings about better results than BM-MSCs in wind up of wide dynamic range neurons.ConclusionsThe results of the present study show that BM-MSC and UC-MSC transplantations alleviated the symptoms of neuropathic pain and resulted in subsequent motor recovery after SCI. However, survival rate and electrophysiological findings of UC-MSC were significantly better than BM-MSC.

BackgroundTribulus terrestris as a herbal remedy has shown beneficial aphrodisiac effects in a number of animal and human experiments. This study was designed as a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of Tribulus terrestris in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder during their fertile years. Sixty seven women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder were randomly assigned to Tribulus terrestris extract (7.5 mg/day) or placebo for 4 weeks. Desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks after the end of the treatment by using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Two groups were compared by repeated measurement ANOVA test.ResultsThirty women in placebo group and thirty women in drug group completed the study. At the end of the fourth week, patients in the Tribulus terrestris group had experienced significant improvement in their total FSFI (p < 0.001), desire (p < 0.001), arousal (p = 0.037), lubrication (p < 0.001), satisfaction (p < 0.001) and pain (p = 0.041) domains of FSFI. Frequency of side effects was similar between the two groups.ConclusionsTribulus terrestris may safely and effectively improve desire in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Further investigation of Tribulus terrestris in women is warranted.

Prazosin or 5-HD treatment eliminated the beneficial effects of noradrenaline on arrhythmogenesis and infarct size.

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BackgroundDiabetic nephropathy is a serious complication of T1D (type one diabetes mellitus). Persistent hyperglycemia and subsequent hypomagnesemia is believed to develop kidney damage by activation of oxidative stress. We conducted this study to investigate the renoprotective effect of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) on renal histopathology and oxidative stress in diabetic rats.MethodsThe study included 70 male rats. The animals were divided into seven groups: control (CRL), control receiving MgSO4 (CRL + Mg1 & CRL + Mg8), diabetic (DM1 & DM8) and diabetic receiving MgSO4 (DM + Mg1 & DM + Mg8). Rats were given 20 mg/kg (i.p) Streptozocin (STZ) for 5 consecutive days in (MLD) multiple low doses to induce T1D. At day 10 treatment groups were received MgSO4 (10 g/l) in drinking water, for 1 or 8 weeks. The blood glucose, BUN and creatinine levels were measured. Renal tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method to evaluate the oxidative stress. Renal histopathology was done using H & E staining method.ResultsTreatment with MgSO4 significantly decreased the blood glucose in DM + Mg1 and DM + Mg8 groups as compared with DM1 and DM8. Magnesium treatment also decreased serum BUN and tissue level of MDA significantly in both short and long term treatment. The body weight loss and kidney weight to body weight ratio was improved by MgSO4. Histological results showed there were no differences between DM and DM + Mg groups.ConclusionOur findings showed that diabetic nephropathy is associated with high blood glucose level and oxidative stress (significant increase in MDA level). The renal dysfunction and oxidative stress can be improved by magnesium sulfate administration. It is suggested that protection against development of diabetic nephropathy by MgSO4 treatment involves changes in the blood glucose and oxidative stress.

1. Magnesium deficiency has recently been proposed as a novel factor implicated in the pathogenesis of the complications of diabetes. The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationship between oral Mg supplementation and changes in plasma glucose, calcium, haemoglobin, Ca/Mg ratio, blood pressure and the histology of the pancreas and vascular system in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. 2. Ten days after the induction of diabetes in male Wistar rats, half the diabetic animals were divided into six groups, receiving 0, 1, 3, 10, 30 or 50 g/L MgSO4 added into the drinking water for 8 weeks. Plasma glucose and Mg were measured at days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21 to find the optimum dose of Mg and the time-course of its effect. In addition, histological observations were undertaken. Eight weeks later, all animals were decapitated, the pancreas and thoracic aorta were removed carefully and immersed immediately in 10% formaldehyde for histological study. 3. To evaluate the effects of Mg on plasma glucose, calcium, haemoglobin, Mg and blood pressure, another group of animals was divided into four experimental groups, as follows: (i) non-diabetic controls received tap water for 8 weeks; (ii) acute diabetics received tap water for 10 days; (iii) chronic diabetic controls received tap water for 8 weeks; and (iv) Mg-treated chronic diabetic rats received 10 g/L MgSO4 added into the drinking water 10 days after the induction of diabetes for 8 weeks. 4. Magnesium dose dependently affects plasma glucose levels. The peak effect was reached during the first 24 h following oral administration. Administration of 10 g/L MgSO4 results in the return of normal structure in the diabetic pancreas and aorta. Moreover, this concentration of MgSO4 causes glucose, haemoglobin, calcium, the Ca/Mg ratio and blood pressure to reach normal levels. Although the Mg level increases slightly following the administration of 10 g/L MgSO4 to diabetic rats, it never reaches control levels. 5. On the basis of the results of the present study, it may be concluded that chronic Mg administration may have beneficial effects on diabetes.

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