Armaghane Danesh
Year:2011 | Volume:16 | Issue:2 (62)|Papers Count:13

Introduction & Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) is defined as a spectrum of clinical scenarios which is pathological deposition of fat droplets in the liver of patients who have no history of alcohol use. This study compared the effect of low calorie diet with and without sibutramine on body weight and liver function in patients with NAFLD.Materials & Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted in 2010 at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, on 40 obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver. Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups of intervention and control groups. Group one received 15 mg daily sibutramine capsules half an hour before lunch and a weight loss diet based on ideal body weight. The other group only had diet control for weight reduction. Before and after 3 months of intervention, weight changes, fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin HbA1c, levels of liver enzymes and ultrasound evaluation was repeated. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software and the paired T test, Mann-Whitney and McNemar test.Results: The mean age of the subjects was 38.90±7.00 in the sibutramine group and 36.55±7.87 for the control group. After three months, the average weight loss in sibutramine group was significantly more than the control group (sibutramine group13 kg and control group 4 kg (p<0.05). Improvement in liver echogenicity in sibutramine patients was 90% and 50% of diet group patients. ALT changes in the sibutramine group and control group was 7.50±15.11 and 6.15±28.23 respectively, which was statistically significant in the sibutramine group. AST changes were 4.38±13.37 and 1.70±18.37 in sibutramine and control group respectively. The changes were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Overall, findings of this study suggest that sibutramine is effective in liver function improvement and treatment of NAFLD patients.

Introduction & Objective: Most adults have surely once experienced a headache. A high percentage of these headaches are the referred pain from cervical structures, such as neck muscles, known as cervicogenic headaches. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of injection of methylprednisolone acetate at the Gallbladder-20 acupuncture points in muscle originated chronic and drug resistant headaches.Materials & Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study conducted at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2009-2010, 25 patients with both chronic and drug resistant cervicogenic headaches, who had cervical muscle tender points, underwent methylprednisolone acetate injection. To evaluate the severity of these patients' headache, VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) was used.The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS software and Wilcoxon test.Results: The Mean headache intensity on the visual scale of these people before the injection was 3.2±76.7. This value was 2.60±2.9, 3 days after injection. The values at 1 and 3 months post procedure were 3.52±3.3, and 3.48±3.5, respectively. In other words, a statistically significant loss of pain score (P<0.001) was observed. The frequency of headache attacks 1 and 3 months after injection decreased 72% and 76% among patients, respectively. Average duration of headache attacks, one month and three months after injection, was decreased in 72 percent of patients.Conclusion: Injection of methylprednisolone acetate at the GB- 20acu points in muscle originated cervicogenic headache could be used as an appropriate therapy that has significant therapeutic efficacies only when injected once.

Introduction & Objective: ESWL is a non-invasive method of breaking stones, using acoustic shock waves. Shock waves cause temporary deep visceral pain and discomfort in entry; therefore, administration of sedatives is necessary. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of topical lidocaine and piroxicam gel with intravenous pethidine in reducing pain during ESWL.Materials & Methods: This clinical trial study was performed on 159 patients who referred to Ayatollah Kashani Hospital in Shahrkord for ESWL in 2009. Patients were randomly divided into three-groups. For the first group, intravenous pethidine (0.5 mg/kg alone) was administered. The second group received topical piroxicam, and the third group received topical lidocaine in the area of flank for half an hour before ESWL. During the operation, those patients who had unbearable pain, received another 0.5 mg/kg of pethidine. Data was collected using MC Gill questionnaires and analyzed using the SPSS software, using parametric, nonparametric methods and Dunn's Multiple Comparisons tests.Results: The mean of pain scores in the first group (pethidine) was 6.2±6.9 while these scores were 3.2±2.7 and 3.9±3.1 for the second (piroxicam gel) and third group (lidocaine gel) respectively. The differences in the mean score of pain was significant in the pethidine group compared to the other groups (P<0.05). The average pethidin consumption were 24±16 mg for the first group (pethidine), 10±13 mg for the second group (piroxicam gel), and 5±9 mg for the third group (lidocaine gel). The mean difference was significant in pethidine treated group in comparison with other two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: The use of topical piroxicam or lidocaine reduces pain in patients after ESWL It also reduces the need for sedative drugs.

Introduction & objectives: Today, different methods for maintaining reproductive capability in young women with cancer are being considered. One of the most prominent of these methods is ovarian tissue transplant. Despite the relative success of this method, the appropriate location and methods of transplantation is still a matter of discussion. The present study evaluated the histomorphology of fresh ovarian tissue transplantation by two methods, inter muscular and intra muscular, in Balb/C mice.Methods & Materials: The study was conducted at Hamedan University of Medical Sciences in 2009. Fresh ovarian tissues from 12-14 day old Balb/C mice were transplanted into back muscles of ovarectomized 6 week old Balb/C mice both intermuscularly and intramuscularly. All transplanted mice received intra-peritoneal injections of a unit of rFSH for 4 weeks, every other day. At the end of the tenth week, all transplant recipient mice were killed and the transplanted ovarian tissues were removed. All samples were assessed for the angiogenesis and viability of follicles. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, using independent t test.Results: In intermuscular transplanted group, the transplanted tissues were rejected in two cases. In the sections prepared from the other cases, in spite of the presence of some small necrotic areas, the majority of ovarian tissues had a healthy appearance within the primordial, primary, secondary and antral follicles. Apart from a significant reduction in the number of follicles and smaller size of follicles in the transplanted tissue in comparison with control group, no other major differences in morphology, histology, and the process of maturation of ovarian follicles were observed between the transplanted and control groups.Conclusion: Fresh ovarian tissue transplantation into muscles of the back area without basic vascular pedicle has new angiogenesis capabilities, appropriate survival and development of primordial follicles and significant natural growth of maturing follicles. Degeneration of transplanted tissue in the intra muscular area indicates that it is an inappropriate site for transplantation.

Introduction& Objectives: In the recent years, following the increase of drug resistant strain of viruses, there has been an increasing interest in the use of natural substances with antiviral activity with fewer side effects. One of these herbal medicines, Quercqus persica L, has shown some therapeutic effects, such as anti-bacterial and anti-viral activities. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of hydroalcoholic extract of this plant on Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1).Materials & Methods: In this interventional study conducted at Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in 2010, the hydroalcoholic extract of Quercqus persica L. was prepared using 70% ethanol by the maceration method. Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cells were grown in monolayer culture with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum and plated into 48-well culture plates. Fifty percent of cytotoxic concentration (CC50%) of the extract on BHK cells was determined and subsequently, 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50%) of the herbal extract on replication of HSV-1 both in extracellular and interacellular cases were assessed. The statistical data was analyzed by the SPSS software using Probit analysis.Results: Based on Probit analysis, the extract had no cyto-toxicity up to concentration of 200 mg/ml. IC50s of the extract on the virus before cellular attachment and after entering the cells were 1.2 and 0.257 mg/ml, respectively. Based on the model, with the increasing of the extract concentration, the percentage of inhibition of cytopathic effect (CPE) in both of the stages were increased (p<0.05).Conclusion: In addition to low cytotoxicity, hydroalcoholic extract of Quercqus persica L. has promising inhibitory effects on HSV-1 replication in cell culture. Thus, it should be considered as a promising herbal medicine and should be thoroughly evaluated through a comprehensive study.

Introduction & Objective: The effect of touch on the growth of newborns has been achieved by educated staff, but touch therapy by mothers, as the most important care provider for their infants, has not been focused in previous studies.Materials & Methods: In this randomized controlled trail and double blind study which was conducted at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2010, 60 preterm newborns, which were discharged from neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), were randomly allocated to a control and a touch therapy group (30 newborns in each group). Touch therapy was directly instructed to the mother, also offering guide booklets to the mother. Touch was provided by mother for three periods, 20 minutes each, per day, until term corrected age. In two groups, neonate weight by the electronic weighing scale with an accuracy of ±10 grams, height with an infant meter, also head and chest circumference with a non-stretchable cloth-tape were measured at the time of discharge following the term corrected age. The statistical data was analyzed by the SPSS software using Kolmogrov Smirnov, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, Independent T-test and Fisher test.Results: The mean age, type of delivery, level of education, employment and socio-economic status in mothers of the two groups, also weight, sex and other neonate characteristics had no statistical differences. At the term corrected age, there were no differences in mean of height, head and chest circumference between two groups, but the interventional group showed an average weight gain more than the control group, (3373±270.3, 2905±372.6 gr) which was statistically significant (p=0.04). It means that neonates in intervention group gained 468 grams more than the control group.Conclusion: Between all anthropometric measurements, only weight was affected by touch therapy. This might be due to the speed of weight gaining compared to increase in height, head and chest circumference.

Introduction & Objective: In recent years, investigations on different species of Stachys have shown that extracts or components of this species exert various pharmacological effects including antiinflammatory, antitoxic, antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic and antiinflammatory effects of the aerial parts of the hydroalcoholic extract of Stachys lavanduifolia Vahl in male mice.Materials & Methods: In this experimental study which was conducted at Payam-e-Noor and Shahid Beheshti Medical University in 2009-2010, the analgesic effects of Stachys lavanduifolia Vahl in mice were studied, using the formalin and tail immersion tests. Also, the antiinflammatory effects of this plant was studied in mice, using xyleneinduced ear edema. Male NMRI mice, weighing, 20-25 g, were assigned into five groups: negative control (received 0.5% of aqueous solution of Tween 20), positive control in formalin test (received morphine, 10 mg/kg), positive control in xylene test (received dexamethason 15 mg/kg), and experimental groups. Experimental groups were intraperitoneally injected by 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extracts of Stachys lavanduifolia Vahl. Data were analyzed using SPSS software using ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test.Results: Results showed that all doses of Stachys lavandulifolia extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), significantly (p<0.001) reduced the licking time in experimental groups, both in acute and chronic phases of formalin test, compared to the control groups. In the hot water tail immersion test, the hydroalcoholic extracts of the plant (200 and 400 mg/kg) showed maximum inhibitory effect in the xylene test. Moreover, all doses of extracts significantly inhibited (particularly the extracts at dose of 400 mg/kg) the xylene-induced ear edema. There was no significant difference with positive control group in this dose.Conclusion: Findings of this study suggested that the extract of Stachys lavandulifolia have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Introduction & Objective: Some of natural and synthetic products have antioxidant properties which protect the liver against the destructive factors. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Zizphus Vulgaris extracts on mice liver.Materials & Methods: This experimental study was conducted at Yasouj University of Medical Sciences in 2010 on 30 healthy adult male Wistar rats. Animals were randomly divided into five equal groups: the control group (receiving, olive oil), control group (receiving olive oil and carbon tetrachloride and three intervention groups (receiving different dose of carbon tetrachloride and olive oil) groups. The intervention group was given daily doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg per Kg of Zizphus Vulgaris extract by gavage respectively. After 45 days, the amount of liver enzymes, total protein, albumin and bilirubin in animal’s sera were measured. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software, using ANOVA and t-test.Results: The concentration of total protein, albumin, AST, ALT, ALP in test groups I, II and III receiving Z. Vulgaris extract (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg weight) compared with control group were statistically not significant. Consumption of Z. Vulgaris reduced the bilirubin concentration in test groups I and II but this decrease was significant only in the test group IIncreasing of Z. Vulgaris dose in the test group III (600 mg Z. Vulgaris per kg body weight) showed increase in the level of serum bilirubin. Increase in the ratio of liver weight to body weight of rats in groups I and III in comparison with control groups was noticed although this difference was not statistically significant. Findings of this study revealed that dosage of 600 mg/kg extract of Z. Vulgaris caused significant improvements in CCl4 induced liver necrosis (P<0.01) and reduced portal cells inflammation (P< 0.01). Dose of 400 mg/kg of Z. Vulgaris induced some destruction and necrosis of liver cells in animals but significant reduction of portal cells inflammation was seen.Conclusion: Considering the obtained results, it seems that Ziziphus vulgaris fruit extract has shielding effects against toxins on liver cells.

Introduction & Objective: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine disorders in the world which affects glucose metabolism in the body. Diabetes mellitus is due to lack of insulin secretion and/or failure in insulin action. Researches conducted in the last few decades on plants have reported anti-diabetic properties for some herbs and their traditional use for diabetes treatment. Capparis spinosa is one of these herbs which are used as an anti-diabetic treatment in tribal medicine. The objective of the present study was to examine the anti-diabetic effects of Capparis spinosaon blood glucose and serum lipids in streptozotocin induced diabetes in male rats.Materials & Methods: In this experimental study conducted at Yasouj University of Medical Sciences in 2010, five groups of animals were selected. Three groups out of five were administered with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to become diabetic. Group I were fed normal diet. Group II of animals received 20 mg/kg/day Capparis spinosa extract. Group III received no treatment (diabetic control) and animals of groups IV and V were treated with capparis spinosa fruit extract 20 and 30 mg/kg body weight respectively for three weeks. Blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and body weight were measured in all animals. The collected data was analyzed by the SPSS software using one-way ANOVA.Results: Treatment with the 30 mg/kg/body weight of capparis spinosafruit extract showed a significant decrease in blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL, and a significant increase in HDL level. In addition, administration of 20 mg/kg/body weight of capparis spinosa extract decreased blood glucose and lipid levels in diabetic rats.Conclusion: It can be concluded that the oral administration of capparis spinosaextract at the dose of 30 mg/kg/body weight has glucose and lipids lowering activity in diabetic rats.

Introduction & Objective: Due to emergence of resistance of antibiotics to microorganisms, investigations for novel antimicrobial agents have always been one of the major preoccupations of the medical societies. The present investigation aimed to study the antimicrobial properties of Plantago psyllium on some of pathogen microorganisms.Materials & Methods: This experimental study was carried out at Yasouj University of Medical Sciences in 2010.After collection and preparation of hydroalcoholic extract of Plantago psyllium, its effects against human pathogen microorganism (overall 10 microorganisms) were evaluated. Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and minimum lethal concentration were determined for this extract.The antimicrobial effect of Plantago psyllium extract with commercial antimicrobial agents were compared. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS software using one-way ANOVA and chisquare test.Results: Findings of the present study revealed that in l0 mg/ml and 20 mg/ml concentrations of the extract, all bacteria were resistant to Plantago psyllium. In 40 mg/ml concentration, only Staphylococcus areus and staphylococcus epidemidis showed zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 10 mm and 13 mm respectively while in 80 mg/ml concentration, the maximum ZOI was 20 mm in Staphylococcus areus and 18 mm in staphylococcus epidemidis. The acceptable MIC and MLC were 40 mg/ml and 80 mg/ml in Staphylococcus areus and staphylococcus epidemidis respectively.Conclusion: Our data clearly indicated that the extract displayed equivalent compatibility with standard antibiotics on Staphylococcus areus and staphylococcus epidemidis bacteria.