Reviews in Clinical Medicine

33-36

Authors: Farah Ashrafzadeh; Hadi Tohidi; Elnaz Faraji; Alireza Ataei Nakhaei

Epilepsy is a major neurological disorder, which may occur in all age groups, including children. Approximately 20% of epileptic children are drug-resistant. Uncontrolled seizures pose variable risks to patients, such as increased mortality rate, trauma, and cognitive and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, effective treatment is essential to controlling seizure attacks. Although many antiepileptic drugs are currently available for clinical treatments, clinicians are concerned with the discovery of safer drugs with enhanced antiepileptic effects and fewer side-effects. Traditional medicine provides strong grounds for modern medicine. Use of some medicinal plants has been shown to reduce or prevent the further progression of epileptic seizures. The present review aimed to discuss the effectiveness of some medicinal plants in the treatment of children with intractable epilepsy. An online literature review was conducted in databases such as IranMedex, Scopus, Medline, and Google Scholar to identify the studies investigating the use of medicinal plants in children with intractable epilepsy. In addition, the files of the authors were reviewed in the reference lists and bibliographies of the retrieved articles. According to the results, herbal therapies could potentially yield new treatment options for children with intractable epilepsy. Using medicinal herbs could be a cost-efficient treatment method in these patients as a culturally acceptable option to their families.

42-48

Authors: Zahra Rezaieyazdi; Maryam Sahebari; Nayyereh Saadati; Mandana Khodashahi

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the attack of the immune system to normal tissues. Patients with autoimmune diseases usually have the deficiency of dietary factors that may be related to the etiology of these conditions. Given the role of vitamin E as a physiologic stabilizer of lysosomal membranes, its deficiency can initiate the process of autoimmune diseases or accelerate its progress. It is supposed that vitamin E could reduce oxidative stress, which is an important factor in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The literature review is indicative of a decrease in the serum levels of vitamin E in almost all autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, there is evidence regarding the possible therapeutic value of vitamin E in the management of autoimmune diseases. Owing to the anti-inflammatory and protective effect of vitamin E against free radicals, and also its important effect on cytokines levels, this vitamin may play a powerful role in the prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as joint inflammation and damage. Moreover, increased vitamin E intake might decrease the incidence and severity of certain autoimmune diseases through the regulation of the immune system.

54-58

Authors: Ali Parsa; Mohammad Hallaj Moghaddam; Farshid Bagheri; Mohammad Hassani

The preferred desire of orthopedic surgeons is to preserve the femoral head in the early stages of femoral head osteonecrosis; however, hip arthroplasty is needed in most cases. The outcomes of traditional surgical treatments alone are not favorable. Thus, femoral head osteonecrosis frequently follows an unpredictable course resulting in significant hip arthritis. Through the years, it has been identified that decreased proliferation capacity and content of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) in the femoral head region play a key role in the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH). In the past two decades, researchers have focused on cell-based therapies for ONFH treatment. The regenerative potential of damaged cartilage and bone tissue with stem cells has become a new treatment approach in the field of orthopedics. Ongoing basic science and clinical studies are progressing toward efficient standard treatment options for this extremely challenging condition. In this article, we reviewed the recently developed methods of cell therapy for these types of musculoskeletal conditions.

67-71

Authors: Abdolreza Malek; Forough Rakhshanizadeh; Sheila Kianifar

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a type of vasculitis of small-to-medium sized vessels. This syndrome is known by a history of bronchial asthma with systemic necrotizing vasculitis and peripheral blood hypereosinophilia. It is currently called eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). This disease affects both genders and all age groups, but it is very rare among children. CSS diagnosis is based on clinical findings such as asthma, eosinophilia, rhinosinusitis, and signs of vasculitis in major organs. In cases where steroids alone or in combination with other immunosuppressive agents are used as treatment, the outcome and long-term survival are usually satisfying. In comparison with other types of systemic vasculitis, the mortality rate of this syndrome is low. In this study, we present the case of a 7-year-old boy with poorly controlled bronchial asthma since three years of age. This case had developed purpuric skin lesions, sinusitis, arthritis, and weakness of the limbs with symptoms of mononeuritis multiplex at the age of seven. After being admitted to our hospital, a series of studies, including complete blood count-diff, chest X-ray, paranasal sinus radiography, brain magnetic resonance imaging, nerve conduction study, spirometry, and serological tests for autoantibodies, were performed and he was diagnosed with CSS. Thereafter, he received regular corticosteroid therapy in combination with methotrexate, and his symptoms were generally well-controlled with the beginning of the treatment. The clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and management of CSS in children are also reviewed in this study.