Pars Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2015 | Volume:12 | Issue:4|Papers Count:11

Introduction: Liver is a vital organ of the human bodies which continuing of life is impossible without it. Cyclophophamide is an anti-cancer drug using in chemotherapy. The purpose of this study is to find an appropriate anti-oxidant and evaluate the effect of ginseng extraction to reduce the complications of cyclophosphamide on liver.Methods and Materials: We examined 60 adult female rats which were from wistar race. We classified our samples to six groups namely, control group which did not receive any drug, experimental group 1 which daily received 5mg/kg/bw of cyclophosphamide, experimental group 2 which received 2gr/kg/bw of ginseng extraction. In addition experimental groups of 3, 4 and 5 have received 0.5,  1and 2 gr/kg/bw of hydro alcoholic ginseng extract together with 5mg/kg/bw cyclophosphamide. The slides were prepared by tissue processing from the liver tissue and then studied.Results: The cells of control group were normal. In experimental group 1, hydropic swelling of the liver cells and cell necrosis was excessive. In experimental group 2, no changes were observed in liver tissue. In experimental group 3, destruction of hepatocytes in the liver cells as well as the congestion exposure and lymphocyte infiltration was observed less than the experimental group1. In experimental groups 4, hepatocyte destruction in the liver cells was less than experimental group 1 and 3. In experimental groups 5, hepatocyte destruction in the liver cells was less than the experimental groups 1 and 4.Conclusions: Cyclophosphamide can by various mechanisms among them producing active oxygen species the reason of distraction in liver tissue, but extract of ginseng is reducing some of the complications of cyclophosphamide.

Introduction: Obesity is a chronic disease with a globally increasing incidence that can contribute to the development of several diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and some types of cancer.A wide range of methods have been proposed and adopted for treating obesity, including herbal therapy.The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of the aqueous extract of Salep roots on serum leptin levels and body weight in male rats.Materials and Methods: In the present experimental study, 50 adult male Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups of equal size, including a negative control group (without receiving any substances), the sham control group (receiving 1 ml of distilled water), experimental group 1 (receiving 20 mg/kg aqueous extract of Salep roots), experimental group 2 (receiving 40 mg/kg aqueous extract of Salep roots) and experimental group 3 (receiving 80 mg/kg aqueous extract of Salep roots). The extract was intraperitoneally injected to the experimental groups for 28 days. On the 29th day, blood samples were taken from the rats for assessing serum leptin levels. The rats' weight was also measured daily throughout the experiment. Data were analyzed using the ANOVA and Duncan's range test.Results: The dose-dependent injection of the aqueous extract of Salep roots led to a significant increase in serum leptin levels and a significant decrease in food intake and body weight compared to the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion: The aqueous extract of Salep roots reduces body weight by increasing serum leptin levels.

Introduction: Childbirth is one of the most painful phenomena that women experience during the course of their life. Acupressure and reflexology are simple, inexpensive and non-invasive techniques used to relieve pain. The present study was conducted to compare the effects of SP6 acupressure and foot reflexology on the intensity of pain and the duration of the first stage of labor.Materials and Methods: The present clinical trial was conducted on 106 pregnant women at the labor department of Shahid Akbar Abadi Hospital in Tehran. Bearing in mind the exclusion criteria, 92 subjects were selected, including 28 women for the SP6 acupressure group, 30 for the reflexology group and 34 for the routine care group. The three groups were similar in terms of their demographic and obstetrical characteristics. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, an observation checklist, examinations and the visual analogue scale. The intensity of pain was evaluated in all three groups at the beginning of the study and then before and after the first intervention (4-5 cm dilations) as well as the second intervention (7-8 cm dilations).Results: The results showed no significant differences between the three groups in the intensity of pain at the beginning of the study and before the first intervention; however, after the first intervention, that is, before and after the second intervention, the three groups showed significant differences between them (P=0.001). Although the mean score of pain was lower in the acupressure group compared to the reflexology group, the Mann-Whitney test showed no significant differences between the SP6 acupressure group and the foot reflexology group after the first and second interventions. The score of the intensity of pain did not significantly increase after the intervention compared to before in the acupressure group and the reflexology group; however, in the routine care group, the intensity of pain had increased (P=0.001).Conclusion: SP6 acupressure and foot reflexology are effective methods for reducing labor pain. These techniques to pain relief medications for labor appear to be good alternatives.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is the most common cause of progressive disability in young adults who may be sexually active. MS patients experience high levels of sexual dysfunction and abnormalities in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. The present study was conducted to evaluate sexual dysfunction and the relationship between serum levels of the sex hormones under scrutiny during the sexual cycle and the sexual response in women with MS.Materials and Methods: A total of 30 female patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) at an age range of 20 to 40 (mean age=31.46) divided into 3 groups based on their expanded disability status scale (EDSS<1.5, EDSS=1.5-3 and EDSS>3) and 30 healthy female controls (mean age=32.09) entered the study. The female sexual function index (FSFI) was used to determine the subjects' sexual dysfunction. Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), oestradiol and testosterone were measured in the follicular and luteal phases of the women's menstrual cycle.Results: Based on the findings of the study, hormonal abnormalities in MS patients consisted of decreased testosterone levels in the follicular and luteal phases, decreased oestradiol and FSH levels in the luteal phase and significantly increased oestradiol levels in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. FSFI scores including the range of sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, vaginal discharge and sexual satisfaction were significantly decreased in the case group compared to the control group.Conclusion: The results showed that MS can affect serum sex hormone levels in follicular and luteal phases. A positive correlation was observed between serum levels of the examined hormones and certain domains of FSFI. Serum levels of sex hormones can therefore affect sexual function in MS patients.

Introduction: Several factors can affect hematological measurements, most notably the blood sample collection methods used by the nurses. The present study was conducted to determine and compare the laboratory values of complete blood count of blood samples taken through the peripheral venous infusion line and through venipuncture with continuous intravenous fluid intake.Methods & Materials: The present quasi-experimental, controlled, intervention study was conducted on 60 patients admitted to the internal medicine department and selected through convenience sampling. Two blood samples were taken from each patient; first through the peripheral venous infusion line, using an angiocatheter, after throwing out the first 5 cc and only collecting the next 5 cc (the case group); second, through venipuncture (the control group). White blood cell, red blood cell, platelet, hemoglobin and hematocrit counts were then analyzed in SPSS-19 for all the samples using the paired t-test and the Pearson correlation coefficient.Results: The mean white blood cell, red blood cell, platelet, hemoglobin and hematocrit counts were 9694 mm3, 4433000 mm3, 240166 mm3, 12.52 gr/dl and 38.90% in the case group and 9587 mm3, 4588000 mm3, 244800 mm3, 12.68 gr/dl and 38.96% in the control group. Significant differences were observed between the cases and the controls only in their hemoglobin levels.Conclusion: White blood cell, red blood cell, platelet and hematocrit counts can be measured using blood samples taken through the peripheral venous infusion line after throwing out the first 5 cc of the blood collected.

Introduction: Chamomilla plant species that are valued in traditional medicine for thousands of years has been used for the treatment of various diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chamomilla flower extract on pituitary-gonadal axis in adult male rats.Methods: In this experimental study, 45 adult male Wistar rats with an average weight of 300-250 g divided into five groups: control group, sham group and experimental groups 1,  2and 3 divided doses, respectively 10, 20 and 40 mg kg, intraperitoneally chamomile flower extract for 14 consecutive days to receive. After anesthesia and the ventricular blood samples were collected and the serum separated and serum gonadotropin hormone and testosterone were measured by RIA. Data were analyzed using ANOVA.Results: The seromal concentration of testosterone showed a significant decrease in experimental groups as sham (p £0.05). On the other hand, the seromal concentration of gonadotropins no showed a significant variety in experimental groups as control group.Conclusion: Considering the results of this study within the peritoneal chamomile can reduce testosterone secretion in the male rat.

Introduction: Physical activity and age are among the factors affecting lactate levels and lactate dehydrogenase activity. Physical activity appears to be able to counterbalance the morphological and metabolic changes associated with aging that decrease physical ability and performance. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of interval training on blood lactate levels and lactate dehydrogenase activity in young and old rats Methods & Materials: A total of 40 male rats were selected and then divided into two age groups -the old group (20 rats aged 27 months and weighing 389±31 g) and the young group (20 rats aged 3 months and weighing 224±13 g). Each group was itself randomly divided into an experimental group (n=10) and a control group (n=10). The training protocol involved 4 minutes of running on the treadmill with intervals of 2 minutes active resting in 10 training bouts of 60 minutes, for 6 sessions per week and for 8 weeks and gradually increasing in intensity. Twenty-four hours after the last training session, the rats were anesthetized with a mixture of ketamine and xylazine in order for their blood sample to be collected from their cardiac puncture. Their lactate levels and LDH activity were then measured by an enzymatic method. Data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test.Results: The results showed no significant differences in blood lactate levels between the four groups; however, LDH activity was significantly higher in the young experimental group than in the young control group (p<0.05).Conclusion: The results indicate that lactate is increasingly cleared by interval training. It also appears that the effect of training on lactate clearance is similar in both young age and old age. Monitoring blood lactate levels benefits muscle glycogen replenishment and intracellular pH (pHi) regulation.

Introduction: The pain after nephrectomy, just as any other surgery, is one of the problems that the surgeons confront. Given that acupuncture is a therapeutical method with thousand of years of history, and has been effective for pain relief, we decided to evaluate the relieving effect of this therapeutical method on the pain experienced after nephrectomy.Methods & Materials: This was a clinical trial study that was performed on candiadate patients for nephrectomy. After matching for sex and age, the patients were devided into two groups of acupuncture and sham. In acupuncture group 4 points were stimulated for 30 minutes and in sham group other points were ineffectively stimulated for 30 minutes. Then the pain experienced in the first 6 hours after the surgery was registered by a blind observer upon acupuncture based on VAS. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and T-test.Results: Our results showed that in acupuncture group pain severity was significatly lower than sham group (P value<0.05) and also in true acupuncture group there were 6 patients who required the opioids compared to 12 patients in sham group. Mean opiate demand in sham group was significantly more than acupunture group (P value<0.05).Conclusion: acupuncture in patients undergoing nephrectomy, can reduce pain severity and demand for the opioids.