Description of Ventricular Arrhythmia after Taking Herbal Medicines in Middle-Aged Couples

Quality of Life and Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines among Narcotics Anonymous Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southeast Iran

Background

Addiction, a chronic and recurrent disorder, is associated with lasting changes in the brain and can significantly affect the quality of life of people. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) along with modern medical treatments can improve the quality of life of individuals. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) and quality of life in narcotics anonymous patients.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was performed on 189 narcotics anonymous patients in southeastern Iran. Using questionnaires such as the demographic information, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), CAM, and satisfaction with the use of CAM, the researcher was able to compile a comprehensive picture of the population.

Results

The mean score of overall quality of life and general health was 64.02 ± 23.32. Overall, 66.1 percent (n = 125) of the participants reported using at least one type of CAM in the previous year. Last year, 25.9% of participants used at least one kind of CAM, 22.8% used two types of CAM, 7.9% used three types of CAM, and 4.8% used four to five types of CAM. Thirty-nine point seven percent of them reported using prayer, 36.5% reported using medicinal herbs, 15.3% of participants reported using massage, 14.3% of participants reported using dietary supplements, 12.2% reported using wet cupping, and 8.5% reported using meditation. There were no significant differences in physical, psychological, environmental, and overall quality of life between CAM users and non-CAM users. The prayer users had significantly higher scores in terms of social relationships, environment, and overall quality of life than nonprayer users. Employed participants and opium users had significantly higher overall quality of life than others.

Conclusion

Although there was no difference in quality of life between CAM and non-CAM users, the present study showed that prayer and medicinal herbs were the most commonly used methods among narcotics anonymous patients. However, prayer and religious beliefs were successful in improving the quality of life of these individuals. Physicians and other healthcare providers must advise patients with addiction to use different CAMs in order to improve their quality of life and quit narcotics. Future in-depth studies could help these patients use CAMs and improve their quality of life.

Iranian nurses' knowledge and attitude toward complementary and alternative medicines: Is there any relation with quality of nursing care?

Background

Nurses play an important role in advising and guiding patients on effective treatments, and in this situation, it is better to be aware of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as well as the effects and side effects of different procedures. In addition, the quality of nursing care is directly related to the nurse's knowledge of the different treatments and preventions of different diseases and conditions. The present study aimed to investigate Iranian nurses' knowledge and attitude toward complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) as well as their correlation with the quality of patient care.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study included 267 clinical nurses from three hospitals in southern Iran. The participants were recruited using convenience sampling methods in 2020-2021. A demographic questionnaire, knowledge and attitude toward CAM questionnaires, and the Quality Patient Care Scale were used to collect data.

Results

The mean score of CAM knowledge was 26.51, which was less than the questionnaire midpoint of 39. The mean score of attitudes toward CAM was 63.84, which was more than the questionnaire midpoint of 57. The mean score of the quality of patient care was 197.80, which was more than the questionnaire midpoint of 130. There was no significant correlation between knowledge about CAM, quality of patient care, and its dimensions. In addition, there was no significant correlation between attitudes toward CAM, quality of patient care, and its dimensions (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The results of the present study showed that nurses' attitudes toward the use of CAM are positive and can be a sign of their readiness to use and further integrate clinically approved CAM in patient nursing care. Due to the role of nurses in patient care and treatment, there is a need to increase nurses' knowledge of CAM, and its training should be included in the nursing curriculum. More studies are needed to identify nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward CAM and its impact on the quality of nursing care.

Quality of life in terminally ill cancer patients: what is the role of using complementary and alternative medicines?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Cancer is the world's second greatest cause of mortality and a leading cause of death in both developed and developing countries. Patients employ a number of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods to deal with the problems and difficulties of cancer, which can have an impact on their quality of life (QOL). The aim of the present study was to assess the correlation between QOL and the use of different CAM methods in terminally ill cancer patients.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. In southern Iran, 238 individuals with advanced cancer were studied in oncology centers and doctors' offices. During the months of January to August 2021, patients were selected using convenience sampling. A demographic information questionnaire, the EORTC core quality of life questionnaire, and the CAM questionnaire were used to collect data.

RESULTS

The results showed that terminally ill cancer patients had a good quality of life. Last year, 85.7% of participants used at least one kind of CAM. Furthermore, 45.4% of participants used only one form of CAM, 30.3% used two types of CAM, 6.7% used three types of CAM, and 3.4% used four to five types of CAM. When all CAM users were compared to non-CAM users, CAM users had significantly higher social QOL and overall quality of life. Two subscales of QOL symptoms and function were correlated with cancer history, income, and use of CAMs, and the scores of QOL symptoms and function were greater in CAM users compared to non-CAM users. Among all the study variables, only the usage of CAM was correlated to overall QOL among terminally ill cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

The current study found that using CAM could affect different aspects of QOL in terminally ill cancer patients. As a result, it is feasible that using CAM could help these people enhance their health and QOL.

Effectiveness of Zhuling decoction on diuretic resistance in patients with heart failure: a randomized, controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To test the effects of Zhuling decoction on patients with diuretic resistance in heart failure compared with a group of patients undergoing conventional treatment alone.

METHODS

This research was a prospective, randomized, controlled study. From July 2018 to August 2020, 96 diuretic resistance patients from the Cardiovascular Research Center of Taicang Hospital affiliated with Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Grade III Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine) were enrolled in the study. The subjects were randomly divided into an observation group (48 cases) and a control group (48 cases). Patients in both groups received conventional treatment. In addition, observation group patients received Traditional Chinese Medicine Zhuling decoction. The primary endpoint was the urine output mean difference between Day 1 and Day 7 after treatment. Secondary endpoints were the changes over time in the N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). The safety and tolerability of the drug were comprehensively evaluated based on adverse drug reactions, as well as laboratory-assisted tests for liver and kidney function and electrolytes.

RESULTS

Significant improvements were demonstrated for urine output in the two groups at Day 7, with a 1325 1045 mL difference in favor of the observation group ( = 0.018). The observation group also had greater improvements in NT-proBNP and NYHA functional classification changes than the control group. At the 30th day of follow-up, a significant reduction in negative findings on the MLHFQ from baseline was observed in both groups, but the observation group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction than the control group ( <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Zhuling decoction could be used in combination therapy for patients with diuretic resistance in heart failure in addition to standard treatment.

Psychosomatic Symptoms in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients and Its Relation With Using Complementary and Alternative Medicines: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southeast Iran

BACKGROUND

Cancer patients face various problems and complications, which they address through various complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CAM and psychosomatic symptoms in terminally ill cancer patients.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed on 221 terminally ill cancer patients (based on metastatic stage and according to the physicin diagnosis) in southeastern Iran. Convenience sampling was used to select terminally ill cancer patients. Using questionnaires like the demographic and clinical information questionnaire, Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), CAM questionnaire and satisfaction with the use of CAM, the researcher was able to compile a comprehensive picture of the population.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 51.66 ± 13.34 years. The majority of the samples were female, married, educated, and unemployed. The mean score for the physical symptoms of the participants according to ESAS was 22.25 ± 17.57 which was less than the midpoint of the scale (the possible score of ESAS was 0-100). Only 2.7% (n = 6) and 0.9% (n = 2) of the participants had mild and moderate anxiety, respectively, and the other participants' anxiety levels were normal. Only 7.7% (n = 17) and 4.1% (n = 9) of the participants had mild and moderate depression, respectively, and the other participants' depression levels were normal. Last year, 87.3% of the participants used at least one type of CAM. Aside from prayer, 42.1% of the participants used at least one type of CAM in the last year. Prayer was used by 83.7% of the participants, medicinal plants by 35.8%, massage by 9.5%, dietary supplements by 3.6%, wet cupping by 3.2%, relaxation and meditation by 2.7%, dry cupping by 2.4%, and acupuncture by 0.5%. The common reason for using CAM was to reduce the stress and anxiety caused by cancer and to treat it. There were no significant differences in physical and psychological symptoms between the CAM-users and non-CAM users.

CONCLUSION

Patients with cancer have a relatively low level of psychosomatic symptoms, and the primary reason for using CAM was to relieve stress and anxiety associated with cancer and treat it. However, psychosomatic symptoms were the same for CAM and non-CAM users. Because so many people with cancer use CAM, future studies should look into why and how CAM is used.

Portal Vein Thrombosis after the Consumption of Date Seed Powder: A Case Study

Date seeds can be used as ingredients to enhance the nutritional value of some functional foods for human consumption as well as additives in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. However, there are no reports on the complications of date seeds after oral consumption. We currently report a patient with no history of gastrointestinal disease, who has been admitted to the hospital with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and suffered from complications.