Background: The prevalence of Pediatric Functional Constipation (FC) has been reported between 0.7% to 29.6%. This study was conducted to compare the laxative effect of cassia fistula emulsion (CFE) with mineral oil (MO) on FC. Cassia fistula is named in Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM) as “Folus”. Materials and methods: A randomized clinical trial was carried on 81 children (age range: 4–13 years) with FC, according to Rome III criteria in Amirkola Children’s Hospital, Babol, Iran. They received CFE or MO randomly for three weeks. CFE was produced according to the order of TIM references. Children were counted as improved when they exited from Rome III criteria of FC. Frequency of defecation, fecal incontinence, retentive posturing, severity of pain, consistency of stool and anal leakage of oily material were compared between the two groups and with baselines. An intent-to-treat analysis was used. Safety of drugs was assessed with the evaluation of clinical adverse effects. Results: 41 children were assigned randomly to receive CFE and 40 children received MO. After three weeks of medication, 84% of children in CFE group and 50% in MO group (p = 0.002) exited from the criteria of FC, so called improved. All measurable criteria improved in both groups. The frequency of defecation in CFE group improved from 1.7 per week (before the study) to 10.6 per week (at the third week) while this parameter differed in MO group from 2 to 6.1 (p < 0.001). The severity of pain during defecation and consistency of stool improved significantly better in CFE group than MO group (p < 0.05), but there were not any significant differences between the two groups in fecal incontinence and retentive posturing. Anal leakage of oily material occurred as an important complication in MO group while the children in CFE group did not complaint it. Drug’s compliances were not significantly different in the two groups. CFE and MO did not cause clinically significant side effects. Conclusions: CFE was most effective than MO in the 3-week treatment of children with FC.

This study strove to investigate the safety and effectiveness of Eryngo in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. The researchers conducted a blinded, randomized, trial design on 169 women, 15-30 years of age, who had been diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea at Babol University of Medical Sciences. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive 5 ml syrup of Eryngo, placebo, or Ibuprofen (200 mg) three times a day (15 ml/day), from one day prior to the onset of bleeding for five days. The degree of dysmenorrhea was reported by two measures; Visual analogue scale (VAS), as a primary outcome, and the assessment of dysmenorrhea severity (VMS), as a secondary outcome at 4 menstrual cycles: at pretreatment phase, at the first menstrual cycle, at the second menstrual cycle, and the third menstrual cycle without drug. The reduced peak-pain differed by the treatment length in women treated for two menstrual cycles: 4.2 (1.0) cm in the Eryngo group, 4.3 (0.0) cm in the Ibuprofen group, and 0.9 (0.1) cm in the placebo group (P < 0.0001). No serious side effects were reported in all groups under study. According to the results, minor side effects did not increase in the Eryngo group when compared with the placebo group. Eryngo relieved dysmenorrhea as effectively as Ibuprofen did. Thus, Eryngo could be regarded as a new herbal remedy for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. However, in order to prescribe Eryngo as herbal remedy, rigorous research studies are required to establish its efficacy by investigating its chemical, pharmacologic, and therapeutic properties.

The original cohort study of AHAP started in 2011 on 1616 elderly residents of Amirkola, northern part of Iran near the Caspian Sea. The main goal of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the health of the elderly in the region with the emphasis on chronic diseases such as osteoporosis. The first cohort profile was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology in 2014. The phase 1 AHAP showed the elevated level of some diseases and conditions including osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, obesity, vision problems and relatively low levels of oral health. Therefore, the second phase of this cohort started with more complete population coverage in 2016, not only to collect and record the information based on previous protocol, but also consider new areas such as nutritional status, complete eye and dental examinations and health assessment on the basis of Iranian Traditional Medicine. The new aspect of this project is to conduct clinical and laboratory examinations at the health center to extend more facilities to the elderly. In addition to serum and DNA, samples of saliva, hair and nails are collected and kept under standard conditions in the biobank of this cohort. Researchers can apply for access to data or suggest a collaborative study by submitting the proposal to AHAP committee.

Background: There are few effective drugs for pediatric functional constipation (FC). Objectives: Comparing the effectiveness of Cassia fistula’s emulsion (CFE) with Polyethylene glycol (PEG4000) in FC; and evaluation of safety of both drugs in the treatment of FC. Materials and Methods: A randomized open label, prospective, controlled, parallel-group clinical trial was carried on 109 children (M/F: 63/46; mean age ± SD: 59.7 ± 28.8 months) in Amirkola children’s hospital, Babol, Iran. The inclusion criteria were based on diagnosis of FC according to the Rome III criteria and age range between 2 - 15 years. They received CFE or PEG randomly for 4 weeks. Frequencies of defecation, severity of pain, consistency of stool, fecal incontinence and retentive posturing were compared between the two groups and with baselines. Children were counted as improved when they exited from Rome III criteria of FC. Results: Fifty seven patients were assigned to receive PEG and 52 patients received CFE. After 4weeks of medication, 86.5% of children in CFE group and 77.1% in PEG group (RR = 1.121, CI95%:0.939 - 1.338) exited from the criteria of FC. All measurable criteria improved in both groups without any significant difference, except in the frequency of defecation that in CFE group (10.96 ± 5.7) was significantly more than PEG group (6.9 ± 3.5) (P < 0.0001). Compliances of PEG were significantly better in the 2 first weeks (P = 0.002, 0.008) but not in third and fourth week (P = 0.061, 0.062). None of these two drugs cause clinically significant side effects. Conclusions: CFE can be as effective as PEG in the 4-weeks treatment of children with FC. Keywords: Constipation; Child; Cassia fistula; Polyethylene Glycols; Persian Medicine; Clinical Trial