Feyz Medical Sciences Journal
Year:2007 | Volume:11 | Issue:3 (SERIAL 43)|Papers Count:11

Background: In spite of the use of industrially prepared drugs for control of diarrhea complications, the attempts to find plants that reduce intestinal smooth muscle motility are going on. The plant celery (Apium Graveolens) from Apiaceae with both nutritional and pharmacological properties contains flavonoids and has hypotensive, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antispasmodic effect of celery leaf extract on the rat ileum.Materials and Methods: Celery leaf powder was extracted by maceration in 70% alcohol for 72 hours. A terminal portion of ileum from Wistar male rat was dissected and its contractions were recorded isotonically under one gram tension in an organ bath containing Tyrode solution. T-test, and one and two-way ANOVA were used to compare the results.Results: Extract cumulative concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4mg/ml) reduced the ileum contractions induced by KCl (60mM) and carbachol (10 mM) dose-dependently (ANDVA, P<0.0001).The antispasmodic effect of extract was not reduced by tissue incubation with propranolol (1 mM, 30 min), naloxone (1 mM, 30 min), L-NAME (100 mM, 20 min), glibenclamide (10 mM, 5 min) and tetraethylammonium (1 mM, 5 min). In Ca2+ - free with high K+ (60mM) Tyrode solution, the extract (1mg/ml) reduced the ileum contractions induced by cumulative concentrations of CaCl2 (5-8mM) dose-dependently (two way ANOVA, P<0.0001).Conclusion: Celery leaf extract inhibited the ileum contractions dose dependently. It seems that voltage dependent calcium channels and receptor-operated calcium channels are involved in this activity, but b-adrenoceptors, opioid receptors, NO, and potassium channels are not involved in this effect. It is possible that apigenin as the celery flavonoid is responsible for this activity.

Background: There are controversial reports about the therapeutic effects of fish oil in patients with ulcerative colitis. Polyunsaturated fatty acids cause an oxidative injury at the site of inflammation because of a decrease in the colonic antioxidant defense system. Vitamins A and E inhibit lipid peroxidation in the tissues. The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible useful effects of fish oil, vitamin A and vitamin E enriched diets on the improvement of colonic damage and reduction of inflammation in experimental acute ulcerative colitis.Materials and Methods: Eighty adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into treatment and pretreatment groups. Rats in the treatment groups received intrarectal saline (control group, n=10) or acetic acid (1 ml, 4%) to induce acute ulcerative colitis. After the induction of colitis, rats were fed for I wk with standard diet (colitis group, n= 10), diet enriched with fish oil (10%) and 1.2 mg/Kg vitamin A (FA group n=10), or diet enriched with fish oil (10%) and 2gr/Kg vitamin E (FE group, n=10). The control group was fed with standard diet. After 1 wk the degree of tissue injuries was assessed by macroscopical and histopathological scores of colonic mucosa. In pretreatment groups, rats were fed for 1 wk with standard diet (colitis group, n=10), diet enriched with fish oil (10%) and 1.2 mg/Kg vitamin A (PFA group n=10) and or diet enriched with fish oil (10%) and 2gr/Kg vitamin E (PFE group, n=10) and then they received intrarectal acetic acid to induce ulcerative colitis. The control group was fed with standard diet and received intrarectal saline. Two days after the induction of colitis the degree of tissue injuries was assessed by macroscopical and histopathological scores of colonic mucosa.Results: Acetic acid administration induced severe macroscopic (Total score=5.0±0.0) and microscopic damages to mucosal tissue (Total score=9.7±1.3). The Rats with colitis in the treated group FE at 1wk showed significantly less macroscopic (Total score=1.0±0.3) and microscopic colonic damage (Total score=2.7±0.7) compared with those in colitis group. However in the FA group with macroscopic (Total score=3.2±0.7) and microscopic colonic damage (Total score=7.8±8) there was no significant difference with colitis group. Pretreatment of acetic acid-treated rats with FA and FE diets did not result in any improvements in macroscopic and microscopic scores.Conclusion: These results may reflect that fish oil and vitamin E enriched diets could be beneficial in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Background: Cetirizine is an antihistamirtic drug and inhibits nitric oxide production which itself inhibits steroidogenesis. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of cetirizine on the concentration of steroidal hormones testosterone, FSR and LH and spermatogenesis.Materials and Methods: Fifty adult male Wistar rats were divided into five grolips of ten. All the groups were kept under daily dark and light cycle conditions. These groups included control group (receiving water and food), sham group (receiving distilled water as drug solvent) and three experimental groups (receiving 20, 40, 80 mg/kg/B.W of cetirizine orally). After 28 days, blood samples were taken from the rats to measure the serum concentrations of testosterone, FSH, and LH hormones using RIA method. In addition, tissue sections of the rats' testes were stained to find out histological changes during the experiment. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using ANOVA and DUNCAN tests. Results: The results obtained from this study indicated that the concentration of testosterone in the blood of the experimental rats increased relatively (p£0.05), but no significant changes have been observed in the concentrations of LH and FSH hormones during the experiment.Conclusion: It can be concluded that cetirizine probably increases the concentration of testosterone due to increasing LH receptor in leydig cells. On the other hand, the results obtained from the histological studies showed that cetirizine has affected neither sertoli nor leydig cells and spermatogenesis.

Background: Hypertensive patients are highly susceptible to oxidizability. Although hypertension is common among Iranians, few data are available about lipid oxidation status in the involved people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum lipids levels and susceptibility of lipids to oxidation in hypertensive patients.Materials and Method: Fasting serum lipids and uric acid (UA) were determined in 100 patients with established hypertension, aged 56±12.6 years. In addition, cooper induced serum lipid oxidation was evaluated. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides were determined by enzymatic method (cholesterol oxidase and glycerol oxidase respectively) and uric acid was measured by uricase method. Test kits were supplied by Zistshimi, and technicon – RA - 1000 autoanalyser was used for analysis. Lipid oxidation was followed by the formation of conjugated dienes at 245 nm, in diluted serum, after adding CU2+. Quantitative parameters including lag-time, maximal rate (V-max), and maximal amount of lipid peroxide products (O-D-max) were evaluated. Microsoft Excel was used for preparing kinetic curve of lipid oxidation, and SPSS software (V.11.5) to compare and determine the correlation coefficient between variables.Results: A significant correlation between Lag-time and serum level of uric acid was found (r=0.34, p=0.009). Also V-max and OD-max were significantly correlated with cholesterol (r=0.46, p=0.001, r=0.52, p=0.001) and triglyceride (r=0.34, p=0.008, r=0.38, p= 0.003).Conclusion: Our results revealed that in hypertensive patients higher levels of uric acid might have a protective effect against lipid oxidation. Higher levels of serum lipids apparently do not affect lipid oxidizability, but they do influence on the production of higher amount of lipid oxidation products.

Background: Inhibin is a protein synthesized by granulosa and sertoli cells which preferentially inhibit pituitary secretion of FSH through a negative - feedback. Studies have showed that measurement of inhibin has a clinical role in understanding the fertility status of men and women and could also be used as a prognostic marker for pre-eclampsia and Down syndrome in fetus. There are many different multi-step procedures for the purification of inhibin. In this study we attempted to purify inhibin from human follicular fluid using immunoaffinity techniques.Materials and Methods: Follicular fluid (FF) collected from women referring to Avicenna Infertility Clinic, was filtrated and subsequently concentrated by ammonium sulfate. The presence of inhibin in follicular fluid was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In order to purify inhibin, an affinity chromatography column using anti-inhibin monoclonal antibody was prepared. The purified protein was analyzed through SDS-PAGE and western blotting after a protein solution load of human inhibin into the column.Results: The SDS-PAGE results of affinity proved the presence of inhibin following silver staining appeared as a single 32 kDa band. Western blotting revealed that specific antiinhibin antibody was able to recognize inhibin epitopes. The present protocol for purification of inhibin is a technique with 92% yield.Conclusion: This method is a sensitive procedure for high yielded productions of inhibin compared to the previously described methods, using HPLC and gel filtration. However, since preparing and obtaining follicular fluid, as a main source of inhibin, is rather difficult but suitable for laboratories, recombinant inhibin is recommended for mass production.

Background: Left main tract' disease (LMTD) has been found to be the most important single lesion for the assessment of prognosis in coronary arteries disease and accompanies grave clinical outcome. This survey was designed to determine the difference between ischemic risk factors and LMTD.Materials and Method: In a case-control study we reviewed the data of 7857 patients who had undergone coronary angiography in Tehran Heart Center, during 200J and 2004. Based on angiography findings, the patients were categorized into 3 groups: normal coronary vessels (control group: 1316), coronary artery disease (CAD: 6221), and LMCA³50% stenosis (LMTD: 320). Multivatiate analysis was performed by logistic regression.Results: The mean age of patients was 57.56±10.22years. LMTD was seen in 4.1% of cases. The frequency of well-known cardiovascular risk factors as well as opium addiction was significantly more in the patients with CAD than in the control group. Comparison of the CAD patients with and without LMTD showed that the patierits with LMTD were older, with higher male predominance and hyperlipidemia history.Conclusion: Independent to other risk-factors, opium addiction can be considered as a risk factor for CAD. The variables of age, male, gender and hyperlipidemia 'were correlated to LMTD. The combination of several risk factors increases the probability of LMTD.

Background: Environmental signals noticeably affect the brain function and development, especially in the early life. This study was conducted to assess the effects of dark rearing and melatonin on LTP induction of hippocampal responses.Materials & Methods: In vivo experiments were carried out on 2 groups (n=32) of 45 days old male Wistar rats kept in standard 12 hour light/dark condition (Light Reared-LR) or in complete darkness (Dark Reared-DR) since birth throughout the study. Each group, in turn, was divided into control and melatonin treated groups. B Stimulating the Schaffer collaterals of CA3 area of hippocampus, field, potentials were recorded in the CA1 area. Thirty minutes after the stability of the responses the hippocampus was perfused by either saline (control) or 2 mg melatonin (drug treated) and recordings continued for 30 further minutes. Then, the tetanic stimulation was applied to the Schaffer collaterals and the field potentials were pooled for 120 minutes post – tetanus in the LR animals.Results: Tetanic stimulation of the Schaffer collaterals resulted in LTP in both control LR and DR rats, with more pronounced amplitude an, dmaintenance in the former. Melatonin influenced potentiation of the field responses differently. Whereas melatonin showed a negligible effect on LTP of the DR treated group, it markedly depressed amplitude of post-tetanic responses.Conclusion: It seems that melatonin, deteriorates LTP in the hippocampal responses, considerably in the LR animals. The weak effect of the drug in. the DR rats can be related to lower sensitivity of melatonin receptors due to the increased melatonin serum levels in the dark reared rats.

Background: Considering the prevalence of myocardial infarction (MI) and the importance of its early diagnosis in prevention of complications and life threatening conditions, this study was performed on patients admitted to Shaheed Beheshtee University Hospital at Kashan to determine the prevalence of delay in seeking treatment and to investigate the reasons for delay.Materials and Methods: This descriptive, applied, study was performed on 200 patients suffering from MI. The relevant data such as age, gender, income, education, history of heart disease, the first referral center, the means of transfer to the hospital, the site where pain was first felt, the relevant signs and the amounts of delay were recorded in a questionnaire, and then were analyzed using statistical indices such as X2, OR, CI.Results: Of 200 studied patients, 138 (69%) were male; of all patient 131 (56.5%) patients had referred late. The highest rate of delay was seen in women (n= 47 [75.8%]) (p 0.029), OR: 2.014. The older the patient, the longer the delay (p 0.0008); particularly, in the age range of 45-60 (n= 28 [54.1%]). The patients with lower education level (n = 73 [74.5%]) and lower income (n = 34 [79.1%]) had longer delay (p 0.01). Of all patients, 154 (77%) had been visited by a general practitioner prior to their referral, while only 46 (23%) had referred to the hospital directly. Out of 154, 137 (89%) had delay time longer than 8 hours; 145% had called Emergency Medical Service (115) for seeking help, (p 0.0254). and 855% used other means to reach the hospital. Moreover, the presence of signs like nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and headache related to chest pain were recorded in 88.4% of patients when they were admitted to the hospital. Punctual admission was more in patients with MI signs who lived in town, than those who were on the outskirts (60.7%). The onset of pain during the night made late referral (52.4%). Finally, the most common reasons for delay were the expectation of spontaneous relief (50%), considering noncardiac causes and underestimating the patient which was more common in men (56.2%).Conclusion: Considering the delay in the majority of patients (56.5%) and the significance of punctual admission to the hospital, the delay was due to the lack of awareness of the disease, patient's low education level, and low income.

Background: Considering the prevalence of leishmaniasis in different regions of the world including Iran and many side effects of pentavalent antimony compolinds used in its treatment, and controversies about herbal drugs, the effects of Artemisia sieberi extract on the experimental ulcers of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) on BALB/c mice was studied at Kashan University of Medical Sciences.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study the effect of 1, 3 and 5 percent concentrations of Artemisia sieberi hydroalcohol lotions in mouse previously infected with alive and active Leishmania major promastogote was evaluated. The 50 selected BALB/c Mice were divided into 5 groups: 3 groups (n= 30) in experimental and 2 in control groups (n= 20). Three groups (cases) received drug; one group received ethanol 80% and one group received none (controls). The drug was administered topically, three times daily for maximum of 30 days. Ulcer diameters were measured in all groups every 10 days and were tested for amastigote. Ulcer diameter change was analyzed by Paired t-test, ANOVA and Tukey.Results: Whole recovery wasn't observed in any treated mouse by Artemisia concentrates at the end of 30-day treatment period and mice direct smears in microscopic studies were positive.Conclusion: 1, 3 and 5 percent Artemisia extracts were ineffective in the treatment of Leishmania major ulcer. Artemisia emulsions had no effect on the reduction of ulcers diameter and leishman bodies at the end of treatment course.

Background: Hypoxia following electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) causes hemodynamic instability and. increases the threshold of convulsion. In this study we evaluated the effects of laryngeal and face masks ventilation on oxygen saturation, hemodynamic changes and duration of convulsion after ECT.Materials and Methods: Sixty - six patients with chronic depression aged 20-60 scheduled for ECT was randomly divided into two groups of 33. In both groups anesthesia was induced with intravenous sodium thiopental 2 mg/kg and succinylcholine 0.5 mg/kg. Ventilation with %100 oxygen was carried out by laryngeal mask in group I and face mask in group II. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, oxygen saturation and convulsion duration before and after ECT in all patients were measured and recorded.Results: Oxygen saturation after ECT was higher in group I compared with group IJ (p<0.05). In both groups systolic and diastolic blood pressures 3 and 5 mill' after ECT were higher than those before ECT. Increased diastolic blood pressures 3 and 5 min after BCT, and systolic blood pressure 3 min after ECT were higher in group I (p<0.05). The duration of convulsion in group II (38.8±11 seconds) was longer than that in group I (30.2±11 seconds) (p<0.05).Conclusion: the results of the current study revealed that laryngeal mask decreases convulsion duration and increases oxygen saturation during ECT; so it is recommended that ventilation to be performed by laryngeal mask rather than the face mask.

Background: Head injury is a major cause of traumatic death and disability. However, there is no definite and unified strategy in the management of mild head injury victims.Materials and Methods: All cases of head injury in a 24-month interval between April 2003 and March 2005 were included to the study, and those with Glasgow Coma Scale Score (GCSS) of 14 or 15, without associated trauma were analyzed.Results: Of 4290 victims 3894 (90.8%) had mild head injury with GCSS of 14 or 15. The incidence of head injury in our region is 429 for each 100,000 people. Of 1629 (48%) of the patients with skull X-ray 200 (12.2%) had a fracture. From 400 (10.3%) head CT scans, 118 were abnormal. Of all the patients, 2676 had only head injury. The cost for only one night of hospitalization on the base of the expenses in 2003 was 326,654 Rls for each patient, while at the same time the charge for a brain CT scan was 150,000Rls.Conclusion: It is recommended that, at least in neurosurgical centers, all patients with head injury screened and candidate for admission, undergo a head CT scan study after their early evaluations; and only those with abnormal findings on CT scan be admitted for further observation. With this strategy, we predict an at least 50% decrease in the costs compared with hospital admission and observation of all patients.