Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling neurological disorder characterized by the existence of demyelinating lesions and affects more than 2.5 million people globally. The current approaches for patients with MS are mainly based on ameliorating symptoms and decreasing acute attacks, and so far, they have not been successful in providing effective neurological regeneration. Recently, natural-based therapies, like crocin, in light of their pharmacological and biological benefits, have acquired much attention in the treatment of neurological diseases like MS. Hence, this study attempts to answer the question of whether crocin therapy can be a suitable approach for MS with a mechanistic insight. Methods: In this narrative literature review, all related articles (in press and published) in English were searched and assessed using electronic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, up to April 1, 2025. The search keywords in the title and/or abstract of articles were: "Crocin" or "Crocus Sativus" and "Multiple Sclerosis" or "MS". Results: Experimental evidence has revealed the ability of crocin to alleviate reflexive motor behavior-related tests, cognitive indices, depressive-like behavior, tail flick latency, the conduction velocity of the motor and sensory nerve, antioxidant factors, and to attenuate inflammatory factors. Besides improving some mental factors, such as anxiety, clinical outcomes indicated that crocin could modulate oxidative stress and inflammation-associated markers. Conclusion: The current preclinical and clinical studies have provided convincing evidence showing that crocin therapy can be a suitable candidate for MS cases; however, larger and more in-depth clinical trials are warranted to support these results.
Background: Stroke claims about 5.5 million lives annually, making it the second leading cause of death worldwide. In the United States (US), it is the fifth leading cause, trailing behind cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer. Methods: This retrospective cohort study conducted at Valiasr Hospital in Arak City, Iran, focused on patients with stroke registered in Arak University of Medical Sciences. 153 patients were examined. Data on demographics, stroke types, financial items, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Barthel, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were collected. NIHSS, mRS, and Barthel scales were used to assess economical findings of hospitalization and the first trimester after discharge in private and governmental health settings. Data were analyzed through SPSS software for statistical analysis. Results: The study involved patients with a mean age of 69.53 [standard deviation (SD) = 13.4] years, who were hospitalized for about 4.97 days. Gender distribution was with women at 51% and men at 49%. After discharge, a significant majority (66%) received care exclusively from private settings, while 34% utilized both private and governmental services. In contrast, governmental settings showed no significant differences in costs related to NIHSS scores (P = 0.120). Similarly, Barthel scores indicated notable cost disparities in private settings at all stages (P = 0.0001), while governmental settings exhibited no significant differences post-discharge (P = 0.777). Conclusion: Our study reveals that patients primarily rely on private settings for post-discharge services, with costs largely borne by themselves. The financial burden of hospitalization is mostly covered by basic insurance.
Background: Psychological stress has been proposed as a trigger of multiple sclerosis (MS) onset, yet population-based evidence remains inconsistent across cultures. This study examined the association between major stressful life events and MS susceptibility in Northern Iran. Methods: In a case-control study conducted between 2023 and 2025 in Mazandaran Province, Iran, 300 patients with definite MS and 300 age-and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Exposure to major stressful life events during the five years preceding disease onset (for cases) or interview (for controls) was assessed using the validated Persian version of the Environmental Risk Factor Questionnaire (EnvIMS-Q). Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Exposure to at least one major stressful life event was reported by 92.7% of MS cases and 62.7% of controls (P < 0.001). After adjustment for demographic variables, six independent stressors were significantly associated with MS: marital separation (OR = 8.95, 95% CI: 1.92-41.6), financial debt (OR = 4.72, 95% CI: 2.73-8.16), death of a close relative (OR = 3.57, 95% CI: 2.25-5.66), unemployment or financial dependency (OR = 4.19, 95% CI: 1.64-10.7), serious personal illness or injury (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.64-4.32), and marriage (OR = 3.99, 95% CI: 2.15-7.40). The identification of marriage as a stressor is contextually novel and may reflect region-specific psychosocial pressures. Conclusion: Major life stressors appear to contribute to MS susceptibility, with certain stressors such as marriage showing culture-dependent associations. These findings provide new insight into sociocultural factors influencing MS risk in Iranian populations. These findings should be interpreted with caution and confirmed in longitudinal studies.
