Extensive research within the last several decades has revealed that the major risk factors for most chronic diseases are infections, obesity, alcohol, tobacco, radiation, environmental pollutants, and diet. It is now well established that these factors induce chronic diseases through induction of inflammation. However, inflammation could be either acute or chronic. Acute inflammation persists for a short duration and is the host defense against infections and allergens, whereas the chronic inflammation persists for a long time and leads to many chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, respiratory diseases, etc. Numerous lines of evidence suggest that the aforementioned risk factors induced cancer through chronic inflammation. First, transcription factors NF-κB and STAT3 that regulate expression of inflammatory gene products, have been found to be constitutively active in most cancers; second, chronic inflammation such as pancreatitis, prostatitis, hepatitis etc. leads to cancers; third, activation of NF-κB and STAT3 leads to cancer cell proliferation, survival, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis; fourth, activation of NF-κB and STAT3 leads to resistance to chemotherapy and radiation, and hypoxia and acidic conditions activate these transcription factors. Therefore, targeting these pathways may provide opportunities for both prevention and treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases. We will discuss in this review the potential of various dietary agents such as spices and its components in the suppression of inflammatory pathways and their roles in the prevention and therapy of cancer and other chronic diseases. In fact, epidemiological studies do indicate that cancer incidence in countries such as India where spices are consumed daily is much lower (94/100,000) than those where spices are not consumed such as United States (318/100,000), suggesting the potential role of spices in cancer prevention.

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Chronic diseases, inflammation, and spices: how are they linked?

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum): A promising functional food toward the well-being

The quality of health care in Mesoamerica is influenced by its rich cultural diversity and characterized by social inequalities. Especially indigenous and rural communities confront diverse barriers to accessing formal health services, leading to often conflicting plurimedical systems. Fostering integrative medicine is a fundamental pillar for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) for marginalized populations. Recent developments toward health sovereignty in the region are concerned with assessing the role of traditional medicines, and particularly herbal medicines, to foster accessible and culturally pertinent healthcare provision models. In Mesoamerica, as in most regions of the world, a wealth of information on traditional and complementary medicine has been recorded. Yet these data are often scattered, making it difficult for policy makers to regulate and integrate traditionally used botanical products into primary health care. This critical review is based on a quantitative analysis of 28 survey papers focusing on the traditional use of botanical drugs in Mesoamerica used for the compilation of the "Mesoamerican Medicinal Plant Database" (MAMPDB), which includes a total of 12,537 use-records for 2188 plant taxa. Our approach presents a fundamental step toward UHC by presenting a pharmacological and toxicological review of the cross-culturally salient plant taxa and associated botanical drugs used in traditional medicine in Mesoamerica. Especially for native herbal drugs, data about safety and effectiveness are limited. Commonly used cross-culturally salient botanical drugs, which are considered safe but for which data on effectiveness is lacking constitute ideal candidates for treatment outcome studies.

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Traditional Herbal Medicine in Mesoamerica: Toward Its Evidence Base for Improving Universal Health Coverage

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with non-schizophrenic neurodevelopmental disorders in Alexandria, Egypt.

Effects of environmental and occupational lead toxicity and its association with iron metabolism

Phytotherapy can be an alternative for the control of gastrointestinal parasites in human and animals. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a medicinal plant which grown as a spice crop all over the world. The seeds of this plant have been used to treat parasitic disease, indigestion, diabetes, rheumatism and pain in the joints. This study was carried out to compare the efficacy of Niclosamid and alcoholic seed extract of C. sativum on Hymenolepis nana infection, in vivo and vitro. For in vivo study, Balb/c mice were used, to compare the efficacy of 50 mg/kg body weight (B.W) of Niclosamid with different doses of alcoholic extracts of C. sativum (250, 500, and 750 mg/kg B.W). It was found that the efficacy of Niclosamid had reached 100 % after 11 days post treatment, while the efficacy of 500 and 750 mg/kg B.W of C. sativum reached to 100 % after 15 days after treatment. For in vitro study, special nutrient broth media was used. It was found that the addition of 1000 mg/ml of Niclosamid had paralyzed and killed worms within 5 min, while C. sativum killed them within 30 min. Our results showed that extract of C. sativum has good effect against H. nana and could be use in traditional medicine for treatment of parasitic disease.

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In vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity of seed extract of Coriandrum sativum compared to Niclosamid against Hymenolepis nana infection

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common causes of latent infections in humans and animals. Although T. gondii infection is widely prevalent in the world, most acquired cases of the disease are asymptomatic. The important aspect of this parasitic infection is the probable danger of congenital transmission and its severe effects on the fetus. There have been many reports about the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibody among different groups of people in Iran; however the epidemiological data in mentally retarded patients are rare. The present study was conducted on 158 mentally retarded persons (94 males, 64 females) in the rehabilitation centers of Khoramabad from autumn 2012 to winter 2013. The overall prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibody was 30.4 % (48 cases). There were no significant difference between sex and toxoplasmosis (p > 0.05). However, there were no statistically significant difference between age and toxoplasmosis, nevertheless the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in the patients less than 10-years-old had significantly the lowest rate. The highest infection rates were found in the two age groups of 10–19 and ≥30 years old. Our results showed that the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in the mentally retarded persons in the rehabilitation centers of Khorramabad was similar to the prevalence in pregnant women in this city. Therefore, the disease does not cause additional danger to this group of women.

Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in mentally retarded patients in Iranian rehabilitation centers

Background: Substance abuse is a chronic phenomenon that affects many physical, psychological, social, familial and economic elements. Objective: This study was conducted in order to investigate the effectiveness of gratitude on individualâ��s well-being as well as the quality of life (QoL) of hospitalized substance abuse patients. Methods: The current study was clinical trial study. The research was conducted on 64 addicted patient which had been referred to the addiction rehabilitation center (Modarres hospital) of Isfahan city, that divided to two groups that each one included 32 patients.GQ-6, WHOQOL, and WHO-6 questionnaires used for estimate of gratitude, QoL, and well-being scores respectively. The SPSS 16 software was used for analyzing the collected data. Results: There is a relationship between gratitude, well-being, and QoL after the intervention in two groups of the study while there is no any significant difference between these variables before the intervention. Also, there were significant correlation between the gratitude, QoL, and well-being pre and post follow up of patients. Conclusion: It seems that gratitude improves and increased of QoL and psychological well-being during addiction treatment program. Â© 2019 by the authors; licensee Modestum Ltd., UK.

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Effectiveness of gratitude on psychological well-being and quality of life among hospitalized substance abuse patients

The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of lead exposure on hemopoietic system (through the index delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase [δ-ALAD] activity, hemoglobin concentration [Hb], hematocrit concentration [Hct]) and on iron status (levels of serum iron [Fe], ferritin [Fr], total iron binding capacity [TIBC], percentage of transferrin saturation [TS%]) in Iranian workers at lead batteries factory. Forty-four workers were divided into two groups: smokers (n = 21) and non-smokers (n = 23). Also, 45 healthy subjects were studied as control group. δ-ALAD, iron status, and hematological parameters were evaluated. Activity of δ-ALAD ratio showed significant decrease (p   0.05) in smoker workers compared to non-smoker and control groups. There was no significant decrease (p > 0.05) in the sera levels of Fe, TS%, and Fr in all workers as compared to control. There was a significant increase in the level of TIBC in workers as compared to control; this elevation is more in smoker than in non-smoker workers. In smoker workers, there was a significant positive correlation between the blood lead levels (BLLs) and Hb, Hct, and TIBC whereas a significant negative correlation was observed between BLLs and Fe and TS%. The results revealed the importance of monitoring the level of iron status in smokers who deal with lead and therefore anemia will develop for them. δ-ALAD ratio was considered to predict the efficiency of heme synthesis as a new marker for the diagnosis of early stage of anemia.

Maryam Jamshidian Ghalesefidi

Papers

In vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity of seed extract of Coriandrum sativum compared to Niclosamid against Hymenolepis nana infection

Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in mentally retarded patients in Iranian rehabilitation centers

Effectiveness of gratitude on psychological well-being and quality of life among hospitalized substance abuse patients

The relationship between blood lead level with iron status and hemopoietic parameters in smoker and non-smoker workers at lead battery factory