The Effect of Panax ginseng on Genitourinary Syndrome in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Zahra Ghorbani ◽  
Mojgan Mirghafourvand ◽  
Azizeh Farshbaf Khalili ◽  
Yousef Javadzadeh ◽  
Seyed Kazem Shakouri ◽  
...  

Background: Menopause and estrogen deprivation cause a rise in the number of urogenital tract complaints. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of ginseng on genitourinary syndrome. Methods: This randomized trial was conducted on 60 postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome. The participants were randomly allocated to ginseng and placebo groups twice daily for 4 weeks. Vaginal maturation index and vaginal pH were evaluated before and 4 weeks after intervention as the primary outcomes. Also, the atrophic vaginitis and incontinence questionnaires were completed before and after intervention as the secondary outcomes. The safety of intervention was assessed by the side effects checklist. Results: No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in objective symptoms after the intervention, but the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001) in terms of subjective symptoms of atrophic vaginitis. One case of insomnia and palpitation and 2 cases of hot flashes were reported in the intervention group, and 1 case of gastric discomfort and change in urine appearance was reported in the placebo group. Conclusion: Ginseng only improved the patient-assessed symptoms and had no significant effect on the clinician-assessed outcomes. Further studies are required to determine the precise pharmacological mechanisms of ginseng on genitourinary syndrome.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Lisa Prihastari ◽  
Emha Ananda Poetra

ABSTRACTBackground: Black tea has been shown to affect reducing dental plaque and increasing fluoride levels in saliva. The practice of consuming black tea in the form of candy for dental health purposes is not familiar yet. A study on the effectiveness of chewing black tea candy added with sorbitol sugar for a month on salivary fluoride levels in children aged 7-8 years can be an innovation in the prevention of dental caries. This study aims to investigate the difference in fluoride levels in saliva before and after chewing black tea candy for one month in children aged 7-8 years.Method: This is a field experimental study with double-blind and randomization. Subjects involved in this study were 44 children divided into control and intervention groups using simple random sampling. Measurement of salivary fluorine levels using the TECAN Infinite M200 Pro® UV – VIS Spectrophotometer for 3 times.Result: The results of the independent T-test showed that there were significant differences in the fluorine content in the intervention group using black tea candy on 26 November 2019, 29 November 2019, and 16 December 2019 (p<0.05).Conclusion: Chewing black tea candy is effective in increasing the amount of fluoride in saliva. Thus, it can be an alternative to anti-cariogenic agents.


1995 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 854-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
C C Mamby ◽  
R R Love ◽  
K E Lee

PURPOSE While tamoxifen has been shown to alter concentration of many hormones and their binding globulins, there have been conflicting results regarding its effects on thyroid function tests. We sought to clarify these effects by studying subjects in a controlled clinical trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS We evaluated a subset of postmenopausal women who had participated in a longitudinal, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled toxicity study of tamoxifen 10 mg orally, twice daily. There were 14 subjects in both the tamoxifen and placebo groups. Measurement of thyroid-binding globulin (TBG), thyroxine uptake (T-Uptake), thyroxine (T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and an indirect estimate of the free T4 index (FTI), were made for each subject before and after 3 months of treatment. RESULTS For T-Uptake, T4, and TBG, there were significant increases in the mean change from baseline to 3 months in the tamoxifen group compared with the placebo group (P = .02, .0001, and .003, respectively), while there were no significant changes in the measured TSH and in the calculated FTI. CONCLUSION We conclude that tamoxifen therapy in postmenopausal women results in increased TBG, with secondary increases in measured T-Uptake and T4 following. However, TSH and FTI levels are unchanged, and treated women remain eumetabolic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 815-822
Author(s):  
Maryam Safary ◽  
Sevil Hakimi ◽  
Noushin Mobaraki-Asl ◽  
Paria Amiri ◽  
Habib Tvassoli ◽  
...  

Introduction: Atrophic vaginitis is a common problem in postmenopausal women and results from decreased levels of blood estrogen. It is associated with symptoms of itching, burning, dyspareunia, and postmenopausal bleeding. The present study evaluated the effects of fenugreek extract on atrophic vaginitis. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was performed on 60 postmenopausal women in Ardabil, Iran, in 2018. The participants were selected using block randomization with the allocation ratio 1:1. Those in the intervention group received 0.5g (the applicator filled to the half-full mark) fenugreek vaginal cream 5% twice a week for 12 weeks. The control group received conjugated estrogens vaginal cream at the dose of 0.625 mg (the applicator filled to the half-full mark) containing 0.3 mg of conjugated estrogens. Atrophic vaginitis was evaluated before and after the treatment through clinical examination, clinical signs, and measurement of Vaginal Maturation Index (VMI). Findings: After the 12-week intervention and modification of the baseline score, the mean (standard error) score for atrophic vaginitis signs was 3.100 (1.43-4.75). This difference was statistically significant in intragroup comparison and in favor of the control group in intergroup comparison (p=0.001). VMI was less than 49% in 86.7% and 46.7% of the participants in the intervention and control groups, respectively. This was a significant difference in favor of the control group (p=0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that total fenugreek extract could be effective in treating signs of atrophic vaginitis, but it was not as effective as ultra-low-dose estrogen.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1206
Author(s):  
Rafael Guerrero-Bonmatty ◽  
Guadalupe Gil-Fernández ◽  
Francisco José Rodríguez-Velasco ◽  
Jordi Espadaler-Mazo

Background: Dietary supplements have been proposed to help manage blood cholesterol, including red yeast rice (RYR) extracts, plant sterols and stanols, beta-glucans, and some probiotics. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of RYR (containing 10 mg of monacolin K) combined with 109 CFU of three Lactoplantibacillus plantarum strains (CECT7527, CECT7528, and CECT7529). Methods: A 12-week randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted. In total, 39 adult patients were enrolled, having total cholesterol (TC) ≥200 mg/dL, and being statin-naïve or having recently stopped statin treatment because of intolerance. Active product or placebo were taken once daily, and subjects were evaluated at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks. Results: Study groups were comparable at baseline, except for history of recent hypercholesterolemia treatment (81% in active vs. 22% in placebo). Changes in LDL cholesterol and TC became significant compared to placebo (mean difference between groups and standard error of the mean = 23.6 ± 1.5 mg/dL, p = 0.023 and 31.4 ± 1.9 mg/dL, p = 0.011, respectively) upon adjusting for the baseline imbalance in hypercholesterolemia treatment. No adverse effects were noted during the study. Conclusion: This combination of 10 mg of monacolin K and L. plantarum strains was well tolerated and achieved a statistically significant greater reduction in LDL-C and TC in the intervention group compared to the placebo, once adjusting for recent history of hypercholesterolemia treatment.


Author(s):  
Asieh Mehdipour ◽  
Parvin Abedi ◽  
Somayeh Ansari ◽  
Maryam Dastoorpoor

Abstract Objectives Postmenopausal women are at greater risk of depression. Depression may negatively affect the quality of life of women. An emotional freedom technique (EFT) is an evidence-based therapy combining cognitive and exposure components with acupressure. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of EFT on depression in postmenopausal women. Methods This was a randomized controlled trial in which 88 women with mild to moderate depression recruited from a menopausal clinic in Ahvaz, Iran, and randomly assigned into two groups of EFT (n=44) and control for sham therapy (n=44). Women in the EFT group received two sessions of training and asked to continue EFT for 8 weeks, one time per day. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI2) completed by women before and after the intervention. The control group received training on sham acupressure points similar to the intervention group. Data collected using a demographic and BDI2. Women requested to complete the BDI2 before and after the intervention. The independent t-test, chi-square, and ANCOVA were used to analyze data. Results The mean depression score in the intervention group reduced from 20.93 ± 4.6 to 10.96 ± 4.38 in comparison to the control group that reduced from 19.18 ± 2.79 to 17.01 ± 6.05 after intervention (p=0.001). After the 8 week intervention, the frequency of moderate depression decreased from 56.8 to 9.35% in the intervention and from 50 to 29.5% in the control group. In total, 63.4 and 34.15% in the intervention and control groups were free of depression respectively after the intervention (p<0.001). Conclusions The results of this study showed that using EFT for 8 weeks could significantly reduce the mean score of depression in postmenopausal women. Using this method in public health centers for postmenopausal women is recommended.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e041958
Author(s):  
Nirmani Yasara ◽  
Nethmi Wickramarathne ◽  
Chamila Mettananda ◽  
Aresha Manamperi ◽  
Anuja Premawardhena ◽  
...  

IntroductionDespite being one of the first diseases to be genetically characterised, β-thalassaemia remains a disorder without a cure in a majority of patients. Most patients with β-thalassaemia receive only supportive treatment and therefore have a poor quality of life and shorter life spans. Hydroxyurea, which has shown to induce fetal haemoglobin synthesis in human erythroid cells, is currently recommended for the treatment of sickle cell disease. However, its clinical usefulness in transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia is unclear. Here, we present a protocol for a randomised double-blind controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral hydroxyurea in transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia.Methods and analysisThis single-centre randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial is conducted at the Thalassaemia Centre of Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka. Adult and adolescent patients with haematologically and genetically confirmed transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia are enrolled and randomised into the intervention or control group. The intervention group receives oral hydroxyurea 10–20 mg/kg daily for 6 months, while the control group receives a placebo which is identical in size, shape and colour to hydroxyurea without its active ingredient. Transfused blood volume, pretransfusion haemoglobin level, fetal haemoglobin percentage and adverse effects of treatment are monitored during treatment and 6 months post-treatment. Cessation or reduction of blood transfusions during the treatment period will be the primary outcome measure. The statistical analysis will be based on intention to treat.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya (P/116/05/2018) and the trial is approved by the National Medicinal Regulatory Authority of Sri Lanka. Results of the trial will be disseminated in scientific publications in reputed journals.Trial registration numberSLCTR/2018/024; Pre-results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-29
Author(s):  
Yulni Yulni ◽  
Veni Hadju ◽  
Burhanuddin Bahar ◽  
Citrakesumasari Citrakesumasari ◽  
Rahayu Indriasari ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract supplements, Moringa oleifera leaf extract plus royal jelly and placebo on hemoglobin levels in anemic pregnant women. This research is a randomized controlled double blind design study which was conducted in Polombangkeng Utara District, Takalar Regency for 2 months. The subjects of this study were pregnant women with anemia, the majority of which were 20-35 years old, primigravida parity, income less than UMR, unemployment, higher education, pregnancy distance of more than 2 years with p value> 0.05. Then divided into three groups, namely Moringa capsules plus royal jelly (KRJ) (n = 24), Moringa capsules (KTR) (n = 24) and placeco (PLC) (n = 21). Before and after the intervention, measurements of hemoglobin levels were carried out using the Hemocue tool and interviewing the characteristics of the respondents. The results showed that the average Hb level increased from each group (mean SD): KRJ 10.06 ± 0.75 to 11.42 ± 1.23, P = 0.001, KTR 10.40 ± 0.46 to 11.15 ± 0 , 90 P = 0.001 and PLC 10.43 ± 0.42 becomes 11.14 ± 0.88 P = 0.002. but there was no significant difference from the difference in the average increase in Hb levels in the three groups, but there was a tendency that KRJ was superior to the KTR and PLC groups with an increase of 1.36 gr / dl, KTR 0.75 gr / dl and PLC 0.71 gr / dl. So it can be concluded that KRJ is better than KTR and PLC in increasing Hb levels in anemic pregnant women in Takalar Regency.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Mohammad Kazemifar ◽  
Ali Akbar Shafikhani ◽  
Elaheh HajiNoormohammadi ◽  
Zahra Azarion ◽  
Aliakbar Hajiaghamohammadi

Abstract Background and objective The correlation between the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (HP) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a controversial one. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori treatment on liver function tests and lipid profiles and to compare its effects with exercise therapy and diet alone. Method This was a double-blind randomized clinical trial conducted at Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. One hundred patients with NAFLD having a positive test for urea breath testing were randomly assigned into one of the intervention and comparison groups. The diet and physical activity program were given to two groups of patients for 8 weeks, three sessions per week. In addition to the above therapy, the patients in the intervention group also received HP treatment for 2weeks. The data corresponding to anthropometric and clinical features before and after the intervention were collected in both groups and compared using appropriate statistical methods. Results After the treatment interventions, the variables of weight, BMI, blood glucose, triglyceride, AST, ALT, total cholesterol, and LDL-C were significantly decreased in both groups (p < .05). In the between-group comparisons, only ALT was significantly lower in the intervention group (HP) (p < .05). Conclusion Findings of this study showed that the eradication of Helicobacter pylori could significantly improve the ALT index, but it had no additional effect on changes in metabolic indicators. Trial registration Registration number: IRCT2015042020951N2 Name of trial registry: The study of treatment of Helicobacter pylori in improvement of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease The date of registration: 2015-05-12 Where the full trial protocol can be accessed: https://fa.irct.ir/trial/18489


Author(s):  
Matheus Silva Norberto ◽  
Ricardo Augusto Barbieri ◽  
Danilo Rodrigues Bertucci ◽  
Ronaldo Bucken Gobbi ◽  
Eduardo Zapaterra Campos ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Investigations of β-alanine supplementation shows effects on metabolic (aerobic and anaerobic) participation and performance on swimming by a possible blood acidosis buffering. Considering this background, the objective of the present study was to analyze the effects of β-alanine supplementation on metabolic contribution and performance during 400-m swim. Methods Thirteen competitive swimmers underwent a 6-week, double-blind placebo-controlled study, ingesting 4.8 g.day− 1 of β-alanine or placebo. Before and after the supplementation period, the total anaerobic contribution (TAn) and 30-s all-out tethered swimming effort (30TS) were assessed. Anaerobic alactic (AnAl) and lactic energy (AnLa) was assumed as the fast component of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption and net blood lactate accumulation during exercise (∆[La−]), respectively. Aerobic contribution (Aer) was determined by the difference between total energy demand and TAn. In addition to conventional statistical analysis (Repeated measures ANOVA; p > 0.05), a Bayesian repeated measures ANOVA was used to evidence the effect probability (BFincl). Results No differences and effects were found between groups, indicating no supplementation effects. Repeated measures ANOVA, with confirmation of effect, was indicate reduce in ∆Lactate (p: 0.001; BFincl: 25.02); absolute AnLa (p: 0.002; BFincl: 12.61), fatigue index (p > 0.001; BFincl: 63.25) and total anaerobic participation (p: 0.008; BFincl: 4.89). Conclusions Thus, the results demonstrated that all changes presented were evidenced as a result of exposure to the training period and β-alanine supplementation doesn’t affect metabolic contribution and performance during 400-m freestyle.


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