Thymus vulgaris ameliorates cough in children with asthma exacerbation: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases with inflammatory involvement and has a high burden worldwide. This study aimed to determine the effect of Thymus vulgaris (TV) on cough in children between 5 and 12 years old with mild to moderate asthma exacerbation.

METHODS

In this randomized, triple-blind clinical trial, 60 children between the ages of 5 and 12 with asthma exacerbations were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group (n = 30) was given TV powder at a dose of 20 mg/kg every 8 hours, prepared as syrup, along with routine medical treatment for a week, and the control group (n = 30) received only routine medical treatment with placebo syrup. At the end of the week, clinical and laboratory symptoms, and spirometry data were re-recorded for both groups. Finally, the recorded factors were compared and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

The results showed that after the intervention, activity-induced cough reduced, and difference was statistically significant between the two groups (p = 0.042), but the reduction in wheezing and breathlessness had no statistically significant difference. Spirometry data showed a significant difference in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) between the two groups after intervention (p = 0.048), but this difference was not significant in FEV1/FVC (forced vital capacity), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of the vital capacity (FEF25-75%).

CONCLUSION

The results show that TV syrup may be useful as an adjuvant treatment in children with asthma exacerbations.

Autistic feature as a presentation of Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a category of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social and communication impairment and restricted or repetitive behaviors. The pathogenesis of ASD is not well understood and it's proved that genetic is strongly associated with ASD in 5 to 25% of cases. Inborn errors of metabolism(IEMs), defined by a vast array of disorders that are caused by specific enzyme deficiencies or transport protein defects, is as frequent as in 1 in 800 births. IEMs can manifest several psychiatric or behavioral manifestations such as self-injuriesincreased activity and aggression, personality changes, paranoia, depression, catatonia, and psychosis. IEMs underlie autistic symptoms in less than 5% of cases. The literature on the association between ASD and respiratory chain abnormalities is growing, including complex III/IV deficiency and MELAS (mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) syndrome, as well as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Google Scholar, Pubmed, and SCOPUS databases were searched using a combination of the following keywords: "autism spectrum disorder", "autism spectrum", "autistic feature" and "inborn error of metabolism", " IEM", "congenital error of metabolism". Initially, 655 articles were found and our expert and methodologist altogether selected 187 articles based on the titles, relevance, and text language. After reading full texts, 37 studies were selected for review. We think it's best to consider IEMs in children with syndromic ASD and/or if there is a strong familial history of autism or parental consanguineous marriage.

Benchmark values for the Soret, thermodiffusion and molecular diffusion coefficients of the ternary mixture tetralin+isobutylbenzene+n-dodecane with 0.8-0.1-0.1 mass fraction

With the aim of providing reliable benchmark values, we have measured the Soret, thermodiffusion and molecular diffusion coefficients for the ternary mixture formed by 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, isobutylbenzene and n-dodecane for a mass fraction of 0.8-0.1-0.1 and at a temperature of 25°C. The experimental techniques used by the six participating laboratories are Optical Digital Interferometry, Taylor Dispersion technique, Open Ended Capillary, Optical Beam Deflection, Thermogravitational technique and Sliding Symmetric Tubes technique in ground conditions and Selectable Optical Diagnostic Instrument (SODI) in microgravity conditions. The measurements obtained in the SODI installation have been analyzed independently by four laboratories. Benchmark values are proposed for the thermodiffusion and Soret coefficients and for the eigenvalues of the diffusion matrix in ground conditions, and for Soret coefficients in microgravity conditions.

Survey of outcome of asthmatic children referred to outpatient clinic of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

This study was designed to follow patients regarding to achieving control, identify disease exacerbations and discover relation between exacerbation and risk factors. In a cross sectional-analytic study, 400 asthmatic patients in the range of 2-14 years old who were visited at the specialized outpatient clinic of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were divided and studied on the base of disease severity. At the end (at least one year treatment), patients were categorized based on level of disease control and one year after this stage, cases of exacerbation were identified and studied. By excluding patients with poor adherence, 342 patients continued treatment as intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent asthma (38, 235, 61 and 8 patients, respectively). After a period of one year treatment, the patients were divided as well controlled, partly controlled and uncontrolled (68, 30 and 2%, respectively). Cases of disease exacerbations were more if sinusitis, familial asthma history and poor adherence were present (p < 0.01, p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). There is meaningful association between poor adherence, sinusitis and positive family history of asthma with disease exacerbation.