IRANIAN SOUTH MEDICAL JOURNAL (ISMJ)
Year:2019 | Volume:22 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:9

Background: Medicinal herbs have been used for managing various diseases for many years. Quercetin is a member of flavonoid family with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the beneficial potential of quercetin in ameliorating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, EAE was induced in male Wistar rats by guinea pig spinal cord homogenate and complete Freund’ s adjuvant. Then, the rats were allocated into three equal groups (n=10). Quercetin administration (10 mg/kg daily) initiated on day 12 post-immunization, when the rats developed a disability score. The brains and blood samples were collected on day 36 and used for next experiments. Results: Quercetin therapy led to a better outcome in EAE rats compared to EAE rat without treatment. Myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide levels in the sera and the lipid peroxidation level in the brain tissues of EAE rats were significantly increased in EAE rats compared to normal control rats (P<0. 05). Serum level of uric acid insignificantly decreased in EAE rats compared to normal control rats (P<0. 05). Conclusion: It appears that quercetin is a promising strategy to be added to the treatment protocol of MS patients.

Background: Portulaca Oleracea is a medicinal plant with many effects including analgesic and antiinflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of alcoholic extract of Portulaca Olerecea on CCI model of neuropathic pain (Bennet & Xie model) and acute thermal pain induced by Tail Flick. Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were used. Sensitivity to mechanical stimuli (mechanical allodynia) and noxious thermal stimuli were evaluated by Von Frey filaments and Tail Flick, respectively. In neuropathic pain studies, animals were randomly assigned to five groups of sham, CCI, two groups subjected to CCI and injected with extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, i. p. ) and a group subjected to CCI and injected with normal saline. In these groups, mechanical allodynia was assessed on day 7 after surgery. In acute pain studies, animals were divided to three groups of a group that received normal saline and two groups that received extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, i. p. ). In these groups, Tail Flick was measured 30 minutes after normal saline or extract administration. Data were analyzed by SPSS and appropriate statistical tests. Results: All of the rats that had experienced CCI, exhibited mechanical allodynia after neuropathy. Portulaca oleracea could reduce the development of mechanical allodynia after CCI at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses. Thermal acute pain was reduced by 400 mg/kg of the extract. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that Portulaca Oleracea extract can reduce behavioral symptoms of neuropathic and acute pain.

Background: Nowadays, in order to preserve the environment and sustainable development, the use of natural and renewable resources is a priority for industries. High performance and specific structure of nano-biocompatible materials has attracted researchers. In this research, alginate polymer, which is generally obtained from marine sources such as algae, was added to polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers in order to improve their biocompatibility and investigate the effect of solution parameters on their morphology. Materials and Methods: Polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers were produced in different concentrations by electrospinning to investigate the effect of concentration, adding alginate polymer and Triton x-100 surfactant. The quality of nanofibers and rheology behavior of polymer solutions were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, rheometry and tensiometer. Results: The results showed that increasing the concentration of polymer solution increased the diameter of nanofibers, as well as the viscosity of the polymer solution, such that a polyvinyl alcohol solution with 10wt. % concentration produced more uniform nanofibers. At first, adding alginate to the polyvinyl alcohol solution deteriorated electrospinning, however, production of nanofibers was improved by increasing polyvinyl alcohol solution to 10wt. %. Also, the results showed that adding Triton x-100 surfactant to the polymer solution affected the dominant mechanism in electrospinning by reducing surface tension and viscosity of the solution at polyvinyl alcohol solution 6wt. % and 10wt. %, respectively. Conclusion: Under optimized conditions of solution parameters, suitable nanofibers will be produced, which will be applicable in many industries, such as drug delivery.

Background Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is an important infection with a high incidence rate. The spatiotemporal dynamics of this disease is mainly determined by three main components of parasite, reservoir and vector. Climatic factors can significantly affect its incidence through their impact on these components. Materials and Methods: The present study aimed to assess the effects of climatic changes on the incidence rate of CL in Mashad, Iran. To this end, first different phases of drought were identified through Standard Precipitation Index (SPI). Then the relationship between the incidence of CL and these phases was analyzed with non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn-Bonferroni test at a significance level of 95%. Results: The results of the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test on the incidence of CL in the three phases of drought showed a significant relationship between them. Dunn-Bonferroni test showed that the incidence of CL was significantly higher during the years with severe drought as compared to years with normal rainfall. The significant increase in the mean incidence of CL during severe drought can be attributed to limited food sources available to the vectors, which are mostly rodents. Conclusion: Scarcity of food sources during drought makes rodents, as the main vector of the disease, to seek food and be more exposed to sandflies. That is how the incidence of CL increases.

Reciprocal chromosome translocations, especially balanced rearrangements are known to be one of the main causes of recurrent miscarriage. In this case report, we performed the clinical and cytogenetic analysis on a young couple with two pregnancy losses. Though the couple had a normal clinical study, the cytogenetic analysis revealed a balanced reciprocal translocation of t(2; 14)(q11; q24) whereas the husband has a normal karyotype of 46, XY. Indeed based on the literature, this is the first report of t(2; 14)(q11; q24) related to pregnancy loss. Therefore, cytogenetic tests are recommended for couples with a history of miscarriage more than twice.

Background: Osteoporosis is a prevalent bone disease caused by an imbalance between bone formation and resorption. Nutritional factors are involved in the prevention of osteoporosis. Several treatments exist for osteoporosis including bisphosphonates, parathyroid hormone, estrogen therapy, and hormone therapy, which have their own side effects. In the quest for an appropriate treatment for osteoporosis, researchers are now turning toward the nature-based medications such as marine algae (seaweed). The aim of the present review is to investigate the effects of algae on osteoporosis. Materials and Methods: We examined articles indexed in PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar databases. It should be noted that human studies on the beneficial effects of seaweed on osteoporosis are rare. Results: Seaweeds have several health benefits including their effect on bone metabolism. Active ingredients of algae have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties in addition to other features that heal various diseases. Research has shown that algae improve bone metabolism because they are a rich source of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, other bone-supporting elements, amino acids and growth factors. Conclusion: The extracted compounds from algae are biocompatible, and do not have the side effects of synthetic medications; therefore, they can be used for osteoporosis treatment.