Clinical Applications of Saff ron ( Crocus sativus ) and its Constituents: A Reviewthe fi rst record being cited with the keywords of "saff ron + clinical trial" in Scopus ® belongs to the publications of 1998. The number of such papers has been increased through [2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009][2010][2011][2012], 62 % of which being original clinical trials (32 papers). However, 66 countries were cited for the authors' affi liations of the cited documents in Scopus ® with the keyword "saff ron". Most articles were published by the Iranian and Spanish researchers (22.3 % by Iranian and 10.7 % by Spanish authors) and more than one-third of the clinical trials were documented by the Iranian scientists (37.3 %). Several useful pharmacological eff ects of saff ron or its active components have been shown in animal studies along with the few clinical trials, including: anticonvulsant [ 3 , 4 ] , antidepressant [ 5 , 6 ] , anti-infl ammatory [ 7 , 8 ] , antitumor [ 9 ] , radical scavenger eff ects [ 10 ] and learning and memory improving [ 11 -13 ] . Protective eff ects of saff ron extracts on goenotxins-induced oxidative stress have been reported [ 14 , 15 ] . There are numerous studies about antioxidant eff ects of Introduction ▼Crocus sativus L (commonly known as saff ron) is a perennial stemless herb from the Iridaceae family that is largely cultivated in Iran and some other countries including Spain, India and Greece [ 1 ] . C. sativus grows up to 20-30 cm height and has 5-11 true leaves that are shielded and covered by 5-11 non-photosynthetic and white leaves (cataphylls). In October, the plant blooms striped purple with a honey-like smell [ 2 ] . Important constituents of saff ron that are pharmacologically active are bitter principles (e. g. picrocrocin), volatile agents (e. g. safranal), and dye materials (e. g. crocetin and its glycoside crocin) [ 1 ] . Although research into eff ects of saff ron is not a new subject and ancient Persian literatures recommend using saff ron as a medicine for treating several diseases, the number of cited documents in medical databases such as Scopus ® have increased over the last 20 years, most of them (78.51 %) being original research. Furthermore, Abstract ▼Commonly known as saff ron, Crocus sativus L and its active components have shown several useful pharmacological eff ects such as anticonvulsant, antidepressant, anti-infl ammatory, antitumor, radical scavenger eff ects, learning and memory improving eff ects, etc. There has been an increasing body of data on saff ron use in medical databases within the last 20 years. In the current review, the strengths and weaknesses of some of the clinical trials about diff erent pharmacological eff ects of saff ron will be discussed C. sativus extract has been studied in 8 antidepressant clinical trials in comparison to placebo or some antidepressant drugs, in which saff ron showed eff ectiveness as an antidepressant drug. Clinical trials on anti-Alzheimer eff ect of saff ron demonstrated that it was more eff ective than th...

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In this study, the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of cyanocobalamin (Vit B12) against acute and chronic pain and inflammation were evaluated in mice. Vit B12 (0.87, 1 and 1.77 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally. The anti-nociceptive effects against acute pain were examined using hot-plate and writhing tests. The chronic pain was examined 14 days after sciatic nerve ligation using the hot-plate test. Morphine (10 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. Anti-inflammatory effects of Vit B12 against acute and chronic inflammation were assessed using xylene-induced edema in ears and granuloma caused by compressed cotton implantation, respectively. In these tests, sodium diclofenac (15 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. Vit B12 showed a dose related effect in acute anti-nociceptive test and increased the anti-nociceptive effect of morphine in chronic treatment. Vit B12 demonstrated an anti-nociceptive effect in chronic studies as single or continues daily treatment and increased significantly the anti-nociceptive effect of morphine. All doses of Vit B12 significantly decreased xylene-induced ear edema. Maximum anti-inflammatory effect (37.5%) was obtained at dose of 1 mg/kg. In chronic inflammation, Vit B12 significantly decreased granuloma formation in mice. In conclusion our work presents some experimental evidence supporting the administration of cyanocobalamin in controlling acute and chronic neuropathic pain. Cyanocobalamin may have anti-inflammatory effect. It may reduce tolerance to anti-nociceptive effect of morphine as well.

Intravenous midazolam (mean dose of 6.3 mg) was given to 100 consecutive patients coming to endoscopy. All patients had an ear oximeter attached throughout the procedure to record continuously their levels of oxygen saturation. Eighty‐five of the 100 patients had pre‐ endoscopy respiratory function tests measured, and 82 wore an induction plethysmograph vest to get a continuous qualitative estimate of respiratory rate and excursion throughout the procedure. Following intravenous midazolam a reduction in respiratory excursion was observed in 80% of patients. The initial baseline oxygen saturation of 95.4% fell 3.3% (P less than 0.0005) following intravenous midazolam to 92.1%. During the endoscopic procedure there was a further 3.1% decrease in oxygen saturation to 89.0% (P less than 0.0005) and in 7% the level fell to below 80%. Age, sex, dose of midazolam given and pre‐ endoscopy respiratory function tests failed to identify those patients at risk of hypoxia during the endoscopy.

Background: During the first wave of COVID-19, many Iranians were poisoned by ingesting hand sanitizers and/or alcoholic beverages to avoid viral infection. To assess whether the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increased prevalence of accidental hand sanitizer/alcoholic beverage exposure in children and adolescents, we compared pediatric hospitalization rates during COVID-19 and the previous year. For poisoning admissions during COVID-19, we also evaluated the cause by age and clinical outcomes. Methods: This retrospective data linkage study evaluated data from the Legal Medicine Organization (reporting mortalities) and hospitalization data from nine toxicology referral centers for alcohol-poisoned patients (age 0 to 18 years) for the study period (February 23 to June 22, 2020) and the pre-COVID-19 reference period (same dates in 2019).Results: Hospitalization rates due to ethanol and methanol exposure were significantly higher in 2020 (n = 375) than 2019 (n = 202; OR [95% CI] 1.9 [1.6, 2.2],

The antinociceptive effect of cyanocobalamin (Vit B12) has been reported in animal models and human studies. Our previous study showed the effect of Vit B12 on morphine tolerance. The dependence and tolerance were induced in male mice using subcutaneous morphine injections, 3 times a day (50, 50 and 75 mg/kg/day) for 3 days. Mice also received Vit B12 (100, 250 and 500 µg/kg), clonidine, memantine and saline intraperitoneally before morphine administration. On fourth day mice received only 7 mg /kg morphine just before tail-flick test. To determine the expression of morphine dependence and tolerance, all compounds were injected once intraperitoneally on the day of experiment. The tolerance was evaluated by the tail-flick test. The effect of Vit B12 and other agents on dependence were evaluated by counting the number of jumps (induced by naloxone 5 mg/kg). Co-administration of Vit B12 (100-500 µg/kg) and morphine in 3 days reduced the development of tolerance to morphine analgesic effect (8.2±0.5 and 7.83±0.5 s. vs. normal saline, 3.57±0.3 s). Repeated administration of Vit B12, also, diminished the reduced naloxane withdrawal signs of naloxone withdrawal test (100-500 µg/kg: 5±1.9 and 1.2±0.8 jumps vs. normal saline 72.6±12.2). However, Vit B12 had no effect on the expression of morphine tolerance and physical dependence. It is concluded that co-administration of Vit B12 and morphine could reduce tolerance to analgesic effect of morphine chronic administration and also reduce its withdrawal symptoms.

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Background: Poisoning is dangerous and common in children. We evaluated the epidemiological pattern of acute pediatric poisoning and its recent changes in Mashhad. Objectives:The current study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological pattern and recent changes of APP in Mashhad city during 2011-2013. Patients and Methods: This cross sectional/descriptive study was performed based on the data (including age, sex, home address, and diagnosis) recorded in the hospital information system (HIS) regarding children admitted to pediatric toxicology unit of Imam Reza Hospital, the only referral hospital in Mashhad, during 2011 -2013.Results: Over the three years, 1701 children (53% male) aged 60.57 ± 1.95 months were hospitalized. The number of acutely poisoned children (APC) and the proportion of APC to the total number of pediatric admissions were 519 (14.1%) in 2011, 472 (13.5%) in 2012, and 710 (18.1%) in 2013 (P < 0.0001). However, the pediatric to adult poisoning ratio (9.7%, 8.9%, and 8.5%) did not change significantly (P = 0.0561) over the years. The APC cases became older from 55.6 ± 2.3 months in 2011 to 70.0 ± 2.7 months in 2013 (P < 0.0001). The leading cause of APC was opium (179) in 2011 that decreased to 117 in 2013 (P < 0.0001), whereas the methadone induced APC raised from 144 to 252 (P = 0.0303). Conclusions:The number of APC increased in this area over the period of the study. The pattern of pediatric poisoning changed from a traditional opium poisoning to methadone overdose from 2011 to 2013, which may be due to the changing pattern of addiction and increased availability of methadone in the houses of addicted parents.