Objective(s): This study aimed to determine the therapeutic effect of equol (EQ) on osteoporotic osteoarthritis (OP OA). Materials and Methods: Thirty-six 12-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group, OP OA group, and EQ group (n=12). OP OA was induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) combined with ovariectomy (OVX). EQ was orally administrated (10 μ, g/g/day) after the operation for 12 weeks. The efficacy was evaluated by gross pathology and histopathologic evaluation. The underlying mechanism was investigated by immunohistochemical analysis, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. Results: EQ effectively retarded cartilage degeneration, decreased the levels of matrix metalloproteinases-13 (MMP-13), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS-5), nuclear factor-kappa B P65 (NF-κ, B P65) and caspase-3, and increased the levels of collagen type II (Col-II), Col-I, aggrecan (AGG), and inhibitor of NF-κ, B α,(Iκ, Bα, ) in the cartilage. In addition, EQ increased bone mineral density, improved the microstructural parameters of the subchondral bone (SB), and decreased the number of osteoclasts. Conclusion: EQ exerted a chondroprotective effect on OP OA in rats, associated with inhibition of the NF-κ, B signaling pathway and chondrocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, EQ showed an osteoprotective effect on SB via inhibiting osteoclastic activities.

Background: Osteoporosis is a chronic disease characterized by a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and corruption of the microarchitectural structure of bone tissue.Objective: It was investigated whether methylprednisolone had a favorable effect on osteoporotic bone tissue in Oophorectomy induced osteoporotic rats whose endogenous adrenaline levels are suppressed with metyrosine.Materials and Methods: Bone Mineral Density, number of osteoblast-osteoclast, bone osteocalcin levels and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) measurements were performed. Obtained results were compared with that of alendronate.Results: Oophorectomy induced osteoporosis was exacerbated by methylprednisolone. Alentronate prevented ovariectomised induced osteoporosis, but it couldn’t prevent methylprednisolone +ovariectomised induced osteoporosis in rats.Conclusion: Combined treatment with methylprednisolon and metyrosine was the best treatment for preventing osteoporosis but metyrosine alone couldn’t prevent osteoporosis in ovariectomised rats.

Background and Aim: The product of RANKL gene expression has a fundamental role in bone resorption and activates the chain of osteoclast differentiation from its predecessor cells. Reports of this gene participation and role in physiologic and pathologic bone resorption led to hypothesis that it may play a role in bone resorption induced by orthodontic tooth movement.Materials & Methods: A closed coil spring (Dentaurum Ispringen, Germany) was fixed by two pieces of ligature wires to mesial side of the maxillary right first molar and anteriorly to both incisors of fifteen 7 week old Wistar male rats to tip the first molars mesially. The maxillary left first molar of each animal used as an internal control group for the contralateral tooth. The animals were sacrificed on the 21st day of the experiment and the tissue from the mesial side of maxillary molars was used for PCR test. Wilcoxon Sign Rank test was used for densitometric analysis of RANKL mRNA on the electrophoresis gel.Results: Statistical analysis showed a significant increase in expression of gene in the experimental group compared to the control one (P less than 0.002). Genuineness of the PCR tests was verified by household gene of GAPDH.Conclusion: Based on the data obtained in controlled environment of the study, RANKL expression increased significantly following bone resorption induced by orthodontic tooth movement.

Beta-hemolytic streptococci are responsible for suppurative and non- suppurative complications and are potentially highly transmissible. It is a challenge to tell which patients with sore throat have streptococcal pharyngitis and which have viral illness. For evaluation of clinical prediction for streptococcal pharyngitis, 100 patients with sore throat whom penicillin was prescribed for them with Impression of streptococcal pharyngitis were examined and throat cultures were taken. The frequency of beta-hemolytic streptococci group A was 6%, and it was 5% for streptococci groups C & G. Pneumococci was isolated from 5%. Pharyngeal erythema (100%), pharyngeal pain (97%), exudates (31%), fever (59%), cervical lymphadenopathy (31%) and strawberry tongue (4%) were detected. of those with exudative pharyngitis, only three patients (9.6%) had streptococcal pharyngitis. Therefore, single clinical sign and symptom is not reliable for diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis and a number of standardized clinical decision rules and the rapid antigen detection tests (RATs) should be considered in streptococcal pharyngitis.

Background and Aim: Non- Steroidal Anti Inflammatory (NSAIDs) medications used for treatment of pain related to orthodontic treatment could slow down tooth movements. Selective cyclooxigenase- 2 inhibitors are alternatives to conventional non steroidal drugs. The aim of this study was to compare three different doses of Celecoxib on orthodontic tooth movement and root resorption in Rats.Materials & Methods: Forty male Rats randomly divided in to the following groups; D (the application of orthodontic appliance with taking medications); E (without any intervention) and experimental groups included A (received 25 mg/kg), B (received 50 mg/kg) and C (received 100 mg/kg) dose of Celecoxib. NiTi coil spring was ligated between the right side maxillary incisor and 1st molar. The animals were sacrificed after two weeks and distance between 2 teeth was measured with Caliper. After preparation of histological sections, amount of root resorption, numbers and maximum depth of resorption lacunae in mesial root surfaces of molar was measured. Data were analyzed with ANOVA, LSD and Tukey HSD.Results: The maximum tooth movement was found in group A (0.8537 mm), D, C, B and E respectively. Statistical analysis did not show any significant difference between the different doses of Celecoxib drug in tooth movement. The usage of Celecoxib (particularly in higher doses; 100 mg/kg) decreased the number of resorption lacaunae in mesial root of first maxillary molar (P<0.05).Conclusion: 100 mg/kg dose of celecoxib was found to be optimum for the lowest effect on tooth movement and the most protection against root resorption.

Background: Delyed healing and dehiscence of operative wounds represent a significant clinical problem. Sporadic reports indicate that phenytoin may significantly promote wound healing following topical application. Material & Methods: Ten male rats each received 4 dorsal skin incisions and were sutured immediately on proliferative and early maturation phase. The incisions were infiltrated with phenytoin or normal saline for controls randomly. The wounds were harvested 18 days after wounding and were assessed by tensiometric measurement and microscopic examination. Data was expressed as mean (sd) and were analysed using student"s paired T test. Results: Application of phenytoin, in both proliferative and maturation phases, resulted in a significant increase in wound tensile strength [34.16(8.15) Nand 32.18 (7.43) N in treated wound versus 28.58 Nand 26.7(4.93) N controls respectively. n=20; P<0.01]. Application of phenytoin in these two phases had no difference. The rise in wound tensile strength was associated with increase in wound collagen deposition.

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 in some tissues it behaves like estrogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the estrogenic action of tamoxifen on TBG content of liver.In this investigation two sets of experiments were carried out in which intact and ovariectomized rats were used as control or experimentals groups (4 groups each of 10 rats). The latter were treated with tamoxifen (200µg/ 0.1 ml) one day interval for 2 and 4 weeks. The animals were killed by cervical dislocation, liver.fwere removed immediately and stored at-70"C.At the time of experiment, cytosols were prepared and TBG binding Capacity were assayed wing T3 uptake technique.The results demonstrated that T3up were significantly decreased in the treated groups in comparison with those of controls (P=0.000).The results suggest that TBG binding capacity of the liver is increased by tamoxifen either directly or indirectly, (Via the action on the ovaries and thereby elevation of estrogen).Since the same results were observed for the ovariectomised rats, it .seams that tamoxifen acts, as an estrogen, on the liver to increase TBG binding capacity.

Background: Various studies indicate that gonadal hormones exert modulatory effects on pain threshold. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of estradiol or progesterone in the response by female rats to thermal nociceptive stimulation.Methods: In this laboratory experimental study, thirty 7 week old albino (Wistar) rats were randomly divided into control, sham and ovariectomised groups of 10 each. After 10, 20 or 40 days thermal pain threshold was measured through tail immersion test (55oC water bath). The pain threshold was measured as the time required eliciting a flick of the tail which was called analgesia time. Serum estradiol, progesterone or prolactin levels were also simultaneously measured by radioimmunoassay method. Data were statistically analyzed and compared between groups using ANOVA.Results: There was no significant change in serum estradiol or progesterone levels as well as analgesia time 10 days after ovariectomy; however, a significant decrease was observed 20 or 40 days after operation compared with control female rats (p<0.001, p<0.05 or p<0.001, respectively). Also there was no significant change in serum prolactin level 10 or 20 days after ovariectomy compared with control rats; however, a significant decrease was observed 40 days compared with 20 days after ovariectomy (p<0.05).Conclusion: Our findings clearly indicate that depletion of female gonadal hormones 20 or 40 days after ovariectomy modulates the pain-induced behavioral responses related to thermal nociception in female animals.