Therapeutic benefits of prophetic medicine remedies in treating hematological diseases (A review article)

Hematological disorders are common medical ailments constituting an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, which may be managed efficiently using different prophetic medicine remedies as adjuvants to current therapeutics. Prophetic medicine includes the body of knowledge about medicine that has been derived from the deeds, customs (sunnah), ahadith (sayings), actions, and agreements of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. This review article aims at exploring the magnitude of therapeutic benefits of prophetic medicine remedies as adjuvant treatments to many different types of hematological disorders. Herein, we reviewed many published research studies throughout the literature to delineate the potential therapeutic benefits of prophetic remedies on hematological disorders. Several types of hematological disorders may benefit from prophetic medicine remedies that are rich in natural antioxidants that combat oxidative stress-induced harm e.g. nigella sativa, oral honey, camel milk and urine, Ajwa date fruits, olive oil, Zamzam water and figs. Many prophetic medicine remedies were reported to decrease the hematological cytotoxicity effects induced by different chemicals and are beneficial in treating anemias e.g. iron deficiency anemia, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, coagulopathies and hematological malignancies as leukemia and myeloma. These remedies treat or alleviate the different hematological disorders using different mechanisms e.g. modulating the immune function, treating deficiencies of different substances, protecting against toxins-induced cytotoxicity, decreasing platelets aggregation, suppressing clotting factors activation, exerting antineoplastic effects (enhancing cancer cells cytotoxicity) and inhibiting angiogenesis. Prophetic medicine remedies exert clinically significant therapeutic benefits for treating COVID-19 pandemic, anemia, thrombosis, thalassemia and blood cancers without inducing toxicity or side effects.

Obstetric, maternal, and neonatal outcomes after Pilates exercise during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

One of the major exercises to improve the psychological and physical functions of pregnant women is Pilate's exercises. The aim of this study is to collect evidence about Pilates exercise effects on many consequences in pregnant women, such as maternal and neonatal outcomes and obstetric outcomes.

METHODS

PubMed, Clinical Key, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were scoured from their inception. Research comparing Pilates during pregnancy to other methods, or to the control was included. For randomized controlled trials (RCTs), The researcher utilized the Cochrane risk of bias tool; for non-RCTs, risk of bias tool to assess non-randomized studies of interventions, was used for cohort studies, and the national heart, lung, and blood institute tool. Meta-analysis was done using the Review manager 5.4. For continuous data, calculated the mean difference and 95% confidence interval (CI), and the risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI for dichotomous data.

RESULTS

Finally, 13 studies included with a total number of 719 pregnant women. The analysis showed that the Pilates group was significantly more likely to deliver vaginally than the control group (RR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.05 to 1.41], P value = .009). Women in the Pilates group were significantly lower than the control group to have Cesarean delivery (RR = 0.67, 95% CI [0.48-0.94], P value = .02). Moreover, Pilates-treated women were less likely to gain weight during pregnancy than control (mean difference = -3.48, 95% CI [-6.17 to -0.79], P value = .01).

CONCLUSION

Pilates exercise improved the outcomes of pregnant women. It decreases the rate of Cesarean delivery and the time of delivery. Moreover, Pilates has a role in decreasing weight gain in pregnant women. As a result, that may improve the pregnancy experience for women. However, more RCTs needed with larger sample sizes to assess the Pilates effect on neonatal outcomes.

Successful pregnancy following gastric sleeve surgery for long-duration primary infertility: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Morbid obesity negatively affects patients' life quality in several ways. One of the major obesity-related problems is getting pregnant, even when using assisted reproductive technology. Obesity contributes to anovulation and menstrual irregularities, with a lower conception rate, a lower response to fertility treatment, poor implantation, low-quality oocytes, and miscarriages. Managing morbid obesity and then assessing the pregnancy outcome is crucial.

CASE PRESENTATION

We reported a case of a 42-year-old woman who had primary infertility for 26 years, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and a body mass index (BMI) of 51. She was able to get pregnant after having bariatric sleeve surgery, which brought her BMI down to 27. She had a successful pregnancy and live birth by Intrauterine insemination (IUI) from the first trial.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Patients with morbid obesity (BMI 35) and obesity-related health problems have often turned to bariatric surgery as their first line of treatment. Extremely overweight females with PCOS and infertility may benefit more from bariatric surgery.

CONCLUSION

Extremely overweight females with PCOS and infertility may benefit more from bariatric surgery, such as laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, than rather than only a healthier lifestyle change. Larger studies that assess the effect of bariatric surgeries in highly morbid females with PCOS are needed.

Aleppo galls alleviate paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity and tissue damage: an experimental study

BACKGROUND

Acute paracetamol toxicity is a common and potentially life-threatening emergency causing liver failure that may necessitate liver transplantation. Unfortunately, current therapies are still defective.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the protective effects exerted by Aleppo galls (Quercus infectoria Olivier) extract against acute paracetamol toxicity in mice.

METHODOLOGY

Eighteen mice were divided into three experimental groups, each included six mice in each group. The groups included: negative control group, paracetamol toxicity group that received an acute toxic intraperitoneal dose of paracetamol (250 mg/kg) for four consecutive days, and treatment group (received 250 mg/kg paracetamol followed few hours later by Aleppo galls extract for the same duration). Animals were anaesthetized using ether anaesthesia. Animals were sacrificed by decapitation and blood samples were drawn. Paracetamol toxicity effects versus Aleppo galls protection were evaluated on liver function tests, liver histology, serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides.

RESULTS

Acute paracetamol toxicity caused significantly elevated serum transaminases (ALT and AST), decreased serum albumin, and increased serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Aleppo galls extract exerted significant protective effects and restored near normal serum levels of the previously-mentioned parameters. Upon histopathological evaluation, mice in the control group showed normal hepatic architecture with preserved hepatic cords and sinuses. Acute paracetamol toxicity induced peripheral zonal degeneration with focal necrosis of the hepatic tissue. The hepatocytes showed cytoplasmic vacuolation with indistinct cell borders. Central hepatic venules were congested. Administration of Aleppo galls extract reduced the tissue damaging effects induced by paracetamol toxicity with only minimal residual degenerative changes that were observed with absent necrosis.

CONCLUSION

Quercus infectoria Olivier (Aleppo galls) is a promising source of phytochemicals and future therapeutics.

Acute paracetamol toxicity-induced inflammatory and oxidative effects are relieved by Aleppo galls: a novel experimental study

BACKGROUND

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that may cause acute toxic overdosage particularly in neuropsychiatric patients. Paracetamol is also very commonly prescribed as an analgesic and antipyretic agent. Paracetamol toxicity causes decreased reduced glutathione and oxidative tissue damage. Aleppo galls is a promising natural remedy exerting antioxidant and tissue-protective effects that may combat acetaminophen-induced oxidative tissue damage.

METHODOLOGY

Biochemical and toxicological effects of a toxic dose of paracetamol (250 mg/kg) were investigated for three consecutive days versus the tissue-protective effects of Aleppo galls. Eighteen white albino mice were randomly allocated in this study and divided into three experimental groups (six mice per group): negative control (received intraperitoneal sterile water injection), paracetamol toxicity group (received intraperitoneal paracetamol injection) and the third group (received paracetamol injection at 250 mg/kg/day together with oral Aleppo galls treatment at 250 mg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days). All mice were sacrificed by the end of the study.

RESULTS

Our data revealed that paracetamol toxicity exerted significant oxidative stress damaging effects (high serum malondialdehyde, decreased serum catalase and decreased total antioxidant capacity), and significant inflammatory effects (high serum IL-6) and significant tissue-damaging effects (high serum LDH). Aleppo galls treatment significantly protected against acetaminophen toxicity-induced oxidative stress effects (P<0.001), inflammatory effects (P<0.001) and tissue-damaging effects (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Aleppo galls are promising for future drug therapeutics and for the synthesis of natural remedies for treating paracetamol toxicity. We recommend formulating Aleppo galls extract as a pharmaceutical nutrition and to be given to those who need to take large doses of paracetamol.

Comparison of herbal medicines and pain relief medications in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea among female medical students at Taibah University

Objectives

Dysmenorrhoea is a common gynaecological problem that affects many women during their reproductive years. The objectives of this study were to describe the different treatments used for primary dysmenorrhoea (PD) among medical students at Taibah University, and to investigate the link between pain severity and daily life activities in relation to the type of dysmenorrhoea treatment.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 301 female medical students through an 18-item self-administered electronic questionnaire to screen for students with PD. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, details of self-management methods (types and adverse events), daily life domains affected by pain, and the Visual Analogue Scale score for the pain (wherein a score ≥7 indicated severe pain). Chi-square test, a multivariate regression model, and correlation analysis were used for data analysis.

Results

The prevalence of PD among respondents was 71.8%. Medications were used by more than half of the respondents (51.9%), and were mainly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (53.5%) and paracetamol (47.5%). Among the participants, 14.1% used herbal medicines, cinnamon (55.7%), chamomile (40.7%), and ginger (33.3%). Other pain relief modalities were used by 34% of participants. Most students with a history of PD (80.6%) reported effects on their daily activities, mainly mood disturbance. Students using medications were more likely to have severe pain (72.7%) and an affect on daily activities (92.9%) than those using herbal medicines (44.4% and 88.9%, respectively) and other treatments (47.7% and 70.8%, respectively) (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Medications were more commonly used than herbal medicines and other relief methods. Effects of PD on daily life activities were observed among most students treated with medications. We recommend health promotion programmes to increase the awareness regarding different pain relief methods.

Intramuscular progesterone (Gestone) versus vaginal progesterone suppository (Cyclogest) for luteal phase support in cycles of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: patient preference and drug efficacy

Background

The requirement for luteal phase support (LPS) in stimulated IVF cycles is well established, however drug choice, and route of administration and duration of use are not. This report evaluates patients’ preference and satisfaction by using either vaginal or intramuscular (IM) progesterone (P) supplementation for luteal phase support after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Methods

It is a prospective cohort study done in a reproductive and infertility unit in a tertiary care hospital from March 2013 through February 2015 for four hundred and nine patients undergoing IVF-ET. Patients were allowed to choose either vaginal or IM P for LPS. Patient preference and satisfaction, as well as differences in clinical pregnancy rates between the two groups were assessed at one or two time points throughout the study.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences in the patients’ characteristics and clinical outcomes between the two groups. There were 88 pregnancies (38.8%) among patients treated with vaginal p and 62 pregnancies (34%) among IM P patients. Average satisfaction score at the pregnancy test and ultrasound (U/S) visits was similar between both groups.

Conclusions

Patients’ satisfaction and pregnancy rates were similar between vaginal and IM P supplementation.