Medicinal plants are recognized as sources of natural antioxidants that can protect from biological system oxidative stress. The present cross-sectional before/after clinical trial was carried out to investigate the antioxidant properties of the decoction of the flowers of Echium amoenum Fisch & C.A. Mey in humans. A group of 38 healthy subjects was invited to use the E. amoenum (7 mg kg−1) twice daily for 14 days. Blood samples before and after entering the study were measured for lipid peroxidation level (LPO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total thiol (SH) molecules. A significant reduction of blood LPO (24.65 ± 11.3 versus 19.05 ± 9.7, P = 0.029) was observed after 14 days of E. amoenum consumption. Blood TAC (1.46 ± 0.51 versus 1.70 ± 0.36, P = 0.018) and total thiol molecules (0.49 ± 0.11 versus 0.56 ± 0.12, P = 0.001) increased after 14 days of E. amoenum consumption. In conclusion, this antioxidative stress potential of E. amoenum may be due to its bioactive antioxidant components, especially rosmarinic acid and flavonoids. In recent years the importance of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of many human disorders has been confirmed, thus use of this plant as a dietary supplement is highly recommended.
Background:Providing intubated patients admitted to the intensive care units with oral healthcare is one of the main tasks of nurses in order to prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP). This study aimed at comparing the effects of two mouthwash solutions (echinacea and chlorhexidine) on the oral microbial flora of patients hospitalized in the intensive care units.Materials and Methods:In this clinical trial, 70 patients aged between18 and 65 years undergoing tracheal intubation through the mouth in three hospitals in Arak, were selected using simple random sampling and were randomly divided into two groups: the intervention group and the control group. The oral health checklist was used to collect the data (before and after the intervention). The samples were obtained from the orally intubated patients and were then cultured in selective media. Afterwards, the aerobic microbial growth was investigated in all culture media. The data were analyzed using SPSS software.Results:The microbial flora in the echinacea group significantly decreased after the intervention (p < 0.0001) and it was also the case withmicrobial flora of the patients in the chlorhexidine group (p < 0.001). After 4 days, the oral microbial flora of the patients in the intervention group was lower than that of the patients in the control group (p < 0.001).Conclusions:The results showed that the echinacea solution was more effective in decreasing the oral microbial flora of patients in the intensive care unit. Given the benefits of the components of the herb Echinacea, it can be suggested as a viable alternative to chlorhexidine.
Background: Because of the rising number of elderly people, their Quality of Life have become more important. Health status has been considered as one of the factors that affect life quality and Spiritual Well-Being is one of its important dimensions. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between Spiritual Well-Being and Quality of Life among the elderly people residing in Arak City, Iran. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and correlational study. The study sample comprised 400 elderly people residing in Arak, Iran who were selected by cluster sampling method. Spiritual Well-Being was measured using Spiritual Well-Being scale (SWB) and the Quality of Life was assessed by Older People's Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL-35). The obtained data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, along with Pearson correlation test, t-test, and ANOVA in SPSS V. 16. Results: The Mean±SD score of life quality among the elderlies was 76.24±17.84 and was associated with their marital status and education level (P=0.001). The Spiritual Well-Being score of most elderly people ranged from moderate to high and the Mean±SD score of their Spiritual Well-Being was 96.47±13.43. There was a significant relationship between Spiritual Well-Being and the Quality of Life (r=0.37, P=0.0001). Conclusion: According to the findings, more attention should be paid to the factors related to the Quality of Life for taking care of the elderly people. Considering the relationship between Spiritual Well-Being and Quality of Life among these elderlies, provision of spiritual care for this group of society is recommended.
Background: Given the negative impact of cancer on the quality of life, low self-efficacy and self-esteem are common in the patients suffering from cancer. This study aims to determine the relationship between self-efficacy and self-esteem in these patients. Methods: This study was descriptive and cross-sectional and was conducted in Ayatollah Khansari Hospital in Arak. The obtained data were collected from 160 eligible patients diagnosed with cancer using Coopersmith self-esteem inventory and the strategies used by people to promote health and then analyzed in SPSS V. 20. Results: Spearman correlation showed a significant relationship between the subscales and the total score of self-efficacy and self-esteem score (P<0.05). Also, linear regression analysis revealed that self-efficacy could significantly predict self-esteem (P<0.05). Conclusion: Self-efficacy had a direct relationship with self-esteem. By improving self-efficacy, self-esteem will increase and lead to more self-care compliance and initiative in cancer patients.
IntroductionActinomycetes can colonize surfaces of tools and equipment and can be transferred to meat and meat products during manufacture, processing, handling, and storage. Moreover, washing the meat does not eliminate the microorganisms; it only spreads them. As a result, these opportunistic pathogens can enter the human body and cause various infections. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to screen, identify, and determine the antibiotic susceptibility of Actinomycetes species from meat and meat products in the Markazi province of Iran.MethodsA total of 60 meat and meat product samples, including minced meat, mutton, beef, chicken, hamburgers, and sausages, were collected from slaughterhouses, butchers, and restaurants in the Markazi province of Iran. The samples were analyzed using standard microbiological protocols for the isolation and characterization of Actinomycetes. PCR amplification of hsp65 and 16SrRNA genes and sequence analysis of 16SrRNA were used for genus and species identification. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antimicrobial agents were determined by the broth microdilution method and interpreted according to the CLSI guidelines.ResultsA total of 21 (35%) Actinomycetes isolates from 5 genera and 12 species were isolated from 60 samples. The most prevalent Actinomycetes were from the genus Mycobacterium, with six (28.6%) isolates (M. avium complex, M. terrae, M. smegmatis, and M. novocastrense), followed by the genus Rhodococcus with five (23.8%) isolates (R. equi and R. erythropolis), the genus Actinomyces with four (19.1%) isolates (A. ruminicola and A. viscosus), the genus Nocardia with four (19.1%) isolates (N. asiatica, N. seriolae, and N. niigatensis), and the genus Streptomyces with two (9.5%) isolates (S. albus). Chicken and sausage samples had the highest and lowest levels of contamination, with six and one isolates. Respectively, the results of drug susceptibility testing (DST) showed that all isolates were susceptible to Ofloxacin, Amikacin, Ciprofloxacin, and Levofloxacin, whereas all of them were resistant to Doxycycline and Rifampicin.DiscussionThe findings suggest that meat and meat products play an important role as a reservoir for the transmission of Actinomycetes to humans, thus causing life-threatening foodborne diseases such as gastrointestinal and cutaneous disorders. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate basic hygiene measures into the cycle of meat production to ensure food safety.
BACKGROUND: Spiritual healing is one of the most intriguing category of alternative and complementary medicine. The aim of this study was to explain the process of spiritual healing in patients with refractory diseases in Iran.METHODS: This grounded theory study was conducted in Iran from 2018 to 2019. The participants were 14 patients with refractory diseases and 4 healers whom were first selected through purposeful and then theoretical sampling. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data on patients and healers. All the interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data were coded and grouped under specific categories and analyzed using the Strauss and Corbin’s approach (2008).RESULTS: Four main categories emerged from data analysis including: I) frustration to initial acceptance II) disbelief to trust III) evaluation to action and IV) doubt to certainty.CONCLUSION: The results of our study provide context-specific factors affecting the complex and multifactorial nature of spiritual healing process in patients with refractory diseases. Health care professional can use these findings in designing and implementing appropriate interventions to integrate spiritual healing into their holistic practices of care. .
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