Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Year:2000 | Volume:3 | Issue:2 (7)|Papers Count:12

Previous reports have shown the antibacterial and tumor effects of garlic. In this study, the effect of chloroformic and aqueous extract of garlic was investigated in term of macrophage nitric oxide release. Peritoneal macrophages were prepared in 1 × 106 cells/ml. Cells were plated out at 1 ×106 cells/well in 24 wells plate in 1 ml RPM I 1640. Cells were incubated at 5% CO2 in air at 37°C for 24 hours in the presence or absence of different concentration of garlic extract (10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 320 µl) as test or control group respectively. In a separate experiment, in addition to different concentration of garlic extract 10000 of Lishmania major (L. major) was added to well. Nitrite was assayed as an indicator of nitric oxide (NO) by greiss method. The results showed significant differences among groups indicating that garlic extract has the ability to stimulate the macrophage nitric oxide release. The results also showed that L. major in vitro has the ability to enhance the NO release by peritoneal macrophages in  response to garlic extract.      

There is some evidence indicate that the dietary fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids have beneficial effect on cardiovascular function and prevent certain inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to consider the effects of diet containing fish oil on the repair of burn wound in rats. Twenty four male wistar rats (270-330 gr) were divided randomly into control, and fish oil groups. Rats were anesthetized with sodium thiopental (40 mg/kg) and a standard scalded burned (20% total body surface area) was induced on the shaved dorsal skin by boiling water for 8 seconds. One day after burning, fish oil group received fish oil (Menhaden, 5% by weight) which fed by ora-gastric tube. This was continued until complete healing of burned area. The control group received no treatment. From day 3 until complete recovery, the percent of wound recovery was measured. The results showed that diet containing fish oil (Menhaden, 5% by weight) don't effectively decrease the time needed for wound healing. The difference between fish oil and control group wasn't significant (P>0.05). The results of this study suggest that Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil may not be an effective drug in the treatment of burn wound. So further studying needed for evaluating the role of fish oil (oral and local) in burn wound healing.      

Diabete mellitus is the most abundant endocrine disease. Besides general treatments, dietary fish oil is recommended to prevent and also to improve this disease. It appears that consumption of fish oil containing 25-30% omega-3 fatty acids would be effective in blood glucose level. The aim of the present study was to test this assumption. Thirty male albino rats (270-330 gr) were divided randomly into control, and fish oil groups. First blood glucose level was measured in all animals at days 0, 6, 7, 10, 15 and 20 of experiments. All animals received alloxan (180 mg/kg, S.C) at the beginning of experiment. If blood glucose of animals were higher than 300 mg/dl, these animals were considered as diabetic. Animals were diabetic after 6 days. From day 10 onward, menhaden fish oil was used to feed fish oil group (10% by weight of daily pelet chow consumption) by ora-gastric tube for ten days. Results of this study indicated that, under tested condition there is significant difference (p<0.01) between blood glucose level of control and fish oil groups at different times before and after diabete induction. Also there wasn't significant difference between blood glucose level of control and Fish oil groups at differents days after diabete induction. Since fish oil consumption had no significant effects on blood glucose level. It is concluded that short term dietary fish oil can't effect on blood glucose level of alloxan diabetic rats. Therefore, Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil may not have an effective role in changing of blood glucose level in these animals.      

Dorsal root ganglia of spinal nerves are derivates from neural crest. After beginning of ventral migration, some neural crest cells produce cell clusters on both sides of spinal cords. These cells form dorsal root ganglia during the development. Investigations about the way of migration and key factors for promotion of cells toward a target are scanty. Substance that switch development of ganglia were unknown too. In this search the pattern of migration and ganglionic development have been studied. By using specialized lectins for specific terminal sugar modulation of glycoconjugates was studied. Fetuses were selected from pregnant rats, from 9th to 20th day of gestation. A few newborn were also elected for the same experiments. It appears that Gal Nac terminal sugar was key substance for migration and development of cells during migration. This terminal sugar has specific reaction with SBA lectin. It was found that Fucose molecule 1→6 terminal sugar might be key factor for development and morphogenesis of cellular constitution of dorsal root ganglia. This sugar was reacted with OFA lectin specific for 1→6 linkage of fucose to penultimate sugar of glycoconjugate chain.      

It has been shown that images could be transferred from monitor of a fluoroscop machine to a personal computer via 16 Bit(RGB) frame-grabber (Videoblaster card) having 2 Mbyte memory and 680×480 pixel resolution, with speed of 30 frames per second. In a typical angiography one could store these images for 10 s in 36M byte memory. The least distinguishable contrast of these images, after processing in computer would be more than that on radiological film. Also images with the frequency of 1.6 line per mm (thickness of 0.3 mm) on a radiological film, have the same spatial resolution (MTF=0.8) as the captured processed images of 1 line per mm (thickness of 0.5 mm) in the computer. In other word, the technique of capturing fluoroscopic image by PC could be used instead of radiological film to show viens with thickness of 0.5 mm or more, and make sure that spatial resolution is the same as that for viens with thickness of 0.3 mm on radiological film. In this technique 1) the patients dose would decrease by omitting few radiographs prier and post injection of contrast material and 2) as the images are digitized, logarithmic subtraction, saving images on CD or magnetic disk, and image processing are achievable by common softwares.      

Tamoxifen is a nonsteroidal antiestrogen which prevents the growth of malignant breast tumors, through blocking estrogen receptors. Anti-estrogenic action of tamoxifen has well established in breast cancer, However it has been shown that it behaves like estrogn in some tissues. The aim of this study is to investigate the estrogenic action of tamoxifenon serum TBG, FT3 (Free T3), FT4 (Free T4) and TSH (Thyroid - Stimulating - Hormone). In this investigation, Rats with DMBA-induced mammary tumors were treated with tamoxifen (200 µg / 0.1 ml, one day interval) for 4 weeks and with 0.1 ml saline as controls. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in values observed for serum T3 uptake (p= 0.002), FT3 (p= 0.01), FT4 (p= 0.02) and a significant elevation of serum TSH levels (p= 0.008) in comparison to those observed for controls. In responses to longterm tamoxifen therapy, serum FT3 and FT4 were reduced significantly, more likely due to the increase in the TBG binding capacity, which in turn, resulted in the elevation of serum TSH levels. In conclusion, a fall in Ff3 and Ff4 associated with increasing in the level of TSH suggest a reduced Bioavailability of those hormones during tamoxifen therapy.    

Terfenadine is a H1-receptor antagonist that has been substituted for its former analogs in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, urticaria and asthma. Because of its little effects on central nervous system, its use has been widely increased. In this study eleven different formulations, for preparation a terfenadine tablet by wet granulation, dry granulation and direct compression methods using various excipients including dibasic calcium phosphate, sorbitol, calcium carbonate and microcrystalline cellulose (as diluents), povidone, starch paste, methyl cellulose and veegum (as binding agents), sodium starch glycolate, sodium bicarbonate and starch (as disintegrants), talc, sodium lauryl sulphate and magnesium stearate (as lubricating agents) were obtained. Control tests on powder mixture before compression, and physicochemical and accelerated stability (Arhenius method) tests on final tablets were also done. According to the results obtained it seemed that one of the formulation for direct compression as compared to other formulations prepared experimentally and also generic formulation prepared in Iran and another commercial product, was preferred from the physicochemical and economic points of view such as weight variation, hardness, dissolution test, dissolution rate and the final price of product.      

The pellets have preference over the other oral sustained - release dosage forms, because they have advantages such as desired form and good flowability, equal distribution in gastrointestinal tract and reduction of peak plasma level changes. In this study, after preparation of inert pellets using a pan and fluid bed coater machines and evaluating their characteristics, sustained-release diltiazem hydrochloride pellets were prepared. By spraying drug suspension and coating solution on inert pellets. During formulation, it was specified that factors such as instrument used, type of materials, adjust particle size of drug and the ratio of central core diameter to the drug particle diameter, are factors affecting pellet shape and quality. Finally, the formulated product was controlled quantitatively and qualitatively, and in order to determine the best drug release model, the dissolution test data were checked with the common mathematical equations. Result obtained from evaluated pellets, showed that there has been a direct relationship between bulk density of inert and medicinal pellets. However the true density of inert pellets increased with decreasing particle size of pellets. Assay for the sustained release pellets showed a good condition, since initial dose of the drug was released at the first 2 hours and the other doses were released during 24 hours, conforming USP XXIII specifications. The plasticizer had no effect on the release pattern of the pellets. Also, the study of release kinetics showed that the drug process is best described by cube root equation of Hixson-crowell.