Research in Medicine
Year:2011 | Volume:35 | Issue:4|Papers Count:14

Background: Fear is an emotional response to threat or danger and is often associated with behavioral and physiological disorders. Pathological fear remains with the person for a long time. Herbal medicine is the oldest form of treatment and has long been used for combating fear. This research was performed on adult male rats to study the effect of Elettaria cardamomum seed on fear.Methods: In this study, animals were divided in to 3 groups (n=6). Control, (saline) group received intra-cerebro-ventricular injection of 1UL saline. Sham group received 20 mg/kg PTZ (i.p. injection). The third group, received doses of 3, 10, or 30 Ug/rat of the cardamom seed methanolic extract (i.c.v injection) and 20 mg/kg PTZ (i.p. injection). A cannula was placed into the lateral ventricle by stereotaxic apparatus and elevated plus-maze apparatus for evaluation of the fear behavior.Results: All doses of injection of cardamom seed methanolic extract (3, 10, 30 Ug/rat) increased open arm time percentage (%OAT), open arm entries percentage (%OAE) and locomotor activity; also doses of 30 Ug increased %OAT and %OAE significantly (p<0.01).Conclusion: The results show that compounds of Elettaria cardamomum seed can decrease fear induced by PTZ injection.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of isometric training on prevention of bone density reduction of limbs during an immobilization period.Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 60 men with fractures of the femoral bone, needing at least one month immobilization period, were selected and randomly assigned in control and experimental groups, the latter undergoing isometric training. The amount of bone density was measured by DEXA set. The data were inferentially analyzed using independent t-test.Results: Isometric training in immobilization period after injury prevented loss of mineral density in neck and greater trochanter of femoral bone, and also significantly increased the mineral density of femoral bone in the experimental group.Conclusion: Isometric exercises not only prevent reduction of bone density, but may also increase the mineral density of the injured bone.

Background: Adipose tissue is being used word-wide as a suitable adult stem cell source; the aim of this study was to examine the possibility of using different enzymes to isolate the human mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue.Methods: Adipose tissues which were obtained from liposuction surgery were transferred to the laboratory under sterile conditions. All samples obtained from different sources were treated with different enzymes under similar conditions of time and temperature. The cells were assessed for their morphology, density and rate of growth, expression of the specific surface markers, and differentiation abilities.Results: Regardless of the employed enzymes, cells isolated in the primary cultures showed different morphologies. However following the next subcultures, homogenic populations of cylindrical cells were dominant. In the fourth passage, no differences were observed between different groups in growth rate and the ability of the cells in expression of specific surface markers and differentiation ability into adipose and osteocyte cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that more than 95% of the cells were positive for the expression of CD73, CD90 and CD105 mesenchymal markers.Conclusion: Results of this study have demonstrated that wild type collagenase combined with trypsin can be used to isolate the human mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue with the same outcome as using pure collagenase, thus reducing the high expense of enzymatic dissociation with pure collagenase.

Background: Chinese herbal products for weight loss are popular in Iran and other countries of Asia. We have investigated the content of some of these products present in Iranian markets.Methods: Nine different types of herbal pills used for weight loss were obtained from open market and subjected to qualitative analysis.Immuno-chromatographic assays for the detection of phencyclidine and radioimmunoassay methods for thyroid hormones (T3&T4) were employed.Results: No natural ingredient was present in the herbal slimming pills. All products except three contained triiodothyronine (T3). Magic Slim and 100% Original Super Slim carried thyroxine (T4), 10 microgram per pill and 63 microgram per pill respectively. Phencyclidine was found in herbaceous essence, Green Lean, Super Slim and Fat loss.Conclusion: Chinese herbal products must be evaluated for their safety before marketing. Manufacturers should be licensed by regulatory agency and manufactured under good manufacturing practice. Proper labeling and good surveillance systems shall ensure the protection of the consumers.

Background: Increased lipid peroxidation and imbalanced oxidant-antioxidant status has a known role in development of complications in diabetic patients.In vitro and animal studies have indicated that broccoli sprouts improve oxidative stress in hyperglycemia. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of broccoli sprouts powder (BSP) on lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress index in type 2 diabetic patients referred to Iran Diabetes Association and the endocrine clinic of Taleghani Hospital.Methods: Eighty-one type 2 diabetic patients were randomized into three groups, two groups prescribed different doses of BSP (1) 10g/d BSP, n=21, 2) 5g/d BSP, n=22) and the third group (n=20) was prescribed 5g/d placebo. Serum levels of malondialdehyde, oxidized low density lipoprotein, total oxidant status, total antioxidant capacity, and oxidative stress index were measured before and after 4 weeks intervention. Student's paired t test was used to compare baseline and 4-week values in each group. At the end of 4 weeks, the data of 63 patients was analyzed with analysis of covariance with adjustment of baseline values.Results: Mean serum malondialdehyde and oxidized low density lipoprotein were decreased by 8.9% and 4.9% respectively in group 1 at the end of 4th week as compared with baseline. After 4 weeks BSP supplementation, in group 1 and 2, total antioxidant capacity significantly increased by 15.9% and 10.3% respectively and oxidative stress index decreased significantly by 13.7% and 8.3%. There was no significant change in total oxidant status during intervention. Also there were no significant changes in oxidative stress parameters in placebo group.Conclusion: It seems that broccoli sprouts powder with high sulforaphane concentration may have beneficial effects on decreasing lipid peroxidation and improve oxidant/antioxidant balance in diabetic patients. With regard to limited data in relation to broccoli sprouts and sulforaphane in prevention of oxidative stress complications, further studies are needed to confirm these results and related mechanisms.

Background: Conflicting data exist regarding the outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention, (PPCI) performed during the night hours. We sought to investigate this issue in a tertiary care center dealing with a high load of STEMI patients.Methods: Seventy three consecutive patients presenting with STEMI were divided in 2 groups with similar baseline characteristics. In-hospital mortality and morbidity during one month between March and April 2010 was analyzed between those treated with PPCI during normal-hours, (weekdays, 7AM to 7pm) vs. those in whom PPCI was done after normal working hours, (7pm to 7am).Results: Mortality was 16.1% in normal-hours group and 4.8% in off-hours group (p<0.2); morbidity was 3.2% and 2.4% respectively (p<0.9) and angioplasty success was 100% in both groups.Conclusion: PPCI can be performed safely during the night.

Background: Limited observational studies have investigated the association between dietary PUFAs and the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the dietary w-3 fatty acids including a-linolenic acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and ω-6 PUFAs, the interaction and ratio of these dietary PUFAs and the metabolic syndrome and its components.Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study within the framework of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, conducted on 2457 participants with mean age of 39.1±13.4 years. Information about the intake of different polyunsaturated fatty acids by the participants was obtained through a 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglyceride and HDL cholesterol concentrations and blood pressure were measured. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to recommended by the Adult Treatment Panel III.Results: After controlling for potential confounders, multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of hypertriglyceridemia between highest and lowest intake of dietary PUFAs were 0.58 for w-6 fatty acids, 0.61 for ALA, and 0.51 for EPA+DHA. Inverse relationship was found between abdominal obesity and intake of ALA, (OR=0.54) and, w-3 fatty acids, (0.52).Higher intakes of w-6 fatty acids and ALA were associated with lower frequency of the metabolic syndrome. Higher ALA intake was associated with a 28% lower risk of the metabolic syndrome among subjects irrespective of their intake of ω-6 fatty acids.Conclusion: ALA intake reduced the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, irrespective of intake of w-6 fatty acids. More studies are needed to determine the association between dietary source of these fatty acids and the metabolic syndrome and its components.

Background: Given the different prevalence of accessory spleen in previous studies and no information about its rate of detection and also its known side effects, this study was designed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of accessory spleen among patients referred to a CT scan center in Tehran between 2008 and 2010.Methods: In this cross- sectional study, all patients with different indications of abdominal CT scan with the CT multidetector were studied. Frequency of accessory spleen in abdominal CT scan was evaluated and its prevalence with 95% confidence interval in the population was estimated.Characteristics of the accessory spleen, including size, density, shape and location, were evaluated. Result: prevalence accessory spleen in 851 eligible patients was 10.6%. Mean (±SD) age was 55.5±13.3 years and 55.6 percent were women. One hundred eleven spleens were detected in 90 patients. In 90.1% of cases, size of accessory spleen was more than 10 millimeter. Majority of cases which includes 60% of them were located next to hilum. Also, 90.1% of cases were isodense.Conclusion: It seems that prevalence of accessory spleen in Iran is less than other countries. Although uncomplicated accessory spleens are asymptomatic and incidentally discovered, radiologists should be aware of accessory spleens and their characteristics and should consider them in the differential diagnosis of unclear perisplenic masses.