Comparative evaluation of the effects of Withania somnifera with pentoxifylline on the sperm parameters in idiopathic male infertility: A triple‐blind randomised clinical trial

In this triple‐blind randomised clinical trial, we compared the effects of Withania somnifera and pentoxifylline on the sperm parameters in idiopathic male infertility. One hundred infertile male patients were randomly allocated into either W. somnifera or pentoxifylline groups. Patients in the herbal group received six capsules containing 5 g/daily of W. somnifera root, and subjects in the pentoxifylline group received six capsules containing 800 mg/daily of pentoxifylline and placebo for 90 days. Sperm parameters were analysed at the beginning and end of the study. W. somnifera increased mean sperm count (12.5%) and progressive motility (21.42%) and improved sperm morphology (25.56%) compared to the baseline (p = .04, p = .001 and p = .000 respectively). Moreover, pentoxifylline increased mean semen volume (16.46%), progressive motility (25.97%) and improved sperm morphology (13.28%) versus the baseline (p = .02, p = .003 and p = .01 respectively). Intergroup comparison showed no significant differences between the two groups regarding semen volume (p = .11), sperm count (p = .09), morphology (p = .12) and progressive motility (p = .77) after treatment. No major complication was reported in either of the two groups. W. somnifera, a traditional medicine remedy, improves sperms parameters in idiopathic male infertility without causing adverse effects. Therefore, this medication can be considered to be an alternative to pentoxifylline in this regard.     

Memantine administration in patients with optic neuritis: a double blind randomized clinical trial

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - As an inflammatory phenomenon, optic neuritis (ON) that causes demyelination in the optic nerve damages the retinal cells, and...     

A novel adjuvant, mixture of alum and the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol, elicits both humoral and cellular immune responses for heat-killed Salmonella typhimurium vaccine

Objective

To determine the efficacy of the mixture of propranolol (PRP), a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, and alum, as a new adjuvant, in the induction of humoral and cellular immunity in response to heat-killed Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) (HKST) as a model vaccine.

Methods

BALB/c mice were divided into five groups. Mice in the experimental groups received either the HKST vaccine alone or in combination with the adjuvant alum, PRP or the alum–PRP mixture. Mice in the negative control group received phosphate-buffered saline. All mice were immunized two times on days 0 and 14. Two weeks after the last immunization, immune responses to S. typhimurium were assessed.

Results

Administration of the alum–PRP mixture as an adjuvant increased the ability of the HKST vaccine to enhance lymphocyte proliferation, shifted the immune response towards a T-helper (Th) 1 pattern and increased S. typhimurium specific IgG, IgG2a and IgG1. This resulted in improved protective immunity against S. typhimurium.

Conclusion

Administration of the alum–PRP mixture as an adjuvant in combination with the HKST vaccine, can enhance both humoral and cellular immunity and shift the immune responses to a Th1 pattern.     

Naloxone and alum synergistically augment adjuvant activities of each other in a mouse vaccine model of Salmonella typhimurium infection

Alum is the most commonly used adjuvant for human vaccination but is a poor inducer of cell mediated immunity and T helper 1 (Th1) responses. We have previously shown that naloxone (NLX), which is a general opioid antagonist, acts as an effective adjuvant in enhancing vaccine-induced cellular immunity and Th1 immune responses. Here, we tested the efficacy of an alum-NLX mixture, as a new adjuvant, in the induction of humoral and cellular immunity in response to endotoxin-removed lysate (ERL) of Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) as a model vaccine. BALB/c mice were divided into five vaccination groups. Mice in the experimental groups received either the ERL vaccine alone or in combination with the adjuvant alum, NLX or the alum-NLX mixture. Mice in the negative control group received phosphate-buffered saline. All mice were immunized on days 0 and 7. Two weeks after the last immunization, immune responses to S. typhimurium were assessed. Our results indicate that including the alum-NLX mixture as an adjuvant during vaccination increased the ability of the ERL vaccine to enhance lymphocyte proliferation, shifted the immune response toward a Th1 profile and increased S. typhimurium-specific IgG, IgG2a and the ratio of IgG2a to IgG1. This resulted in improved protective immunity against S. typhimurium. In conclusion, administering an alum-NLX mixture adjuvant in combination with the ERL vaccine enhances both humoral and cellular immunity, and shifts the immune response to a Th1 pattern.     

Synergistic effects of glutamine and ciprofloxacin in reduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced septic shock severity

Background

Systemic inflammatory response induced by over expressing inflammatory mediators is the main pathogenic mechanism of septic shock. Glutamine (Gln) has been demonstrated to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokine release through enhanced heat shock protein (HSP) expression.

Objective

To assess the effect of co-administration of Gln and antibiotic ciprofloxacin in reduction of septic shock severity caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice.

Methods

Six- to eight-week old male BALB/c mice were used. At first, P. aeruginosa susceptibility to ciprofloxacin was determined. Then, 75% lethal dose (LD 75) of P. aeruginosa in a 10-day period was assessed. For determining survival rate, fifty mice were divided into 5 groups which included control (+), control (−), Gln, ciprofloxacin, and “glutamine + ciprofloxacin” group. All mice, except for control (−), were given an LD75 dose of P. aeruginosa and after 30 min each group received its special treatment: control (−) and control (+) groups received only 500λ phosphate buffer saline (PBS). Gln group received 500λ Ala-Gln, Cip group received 500λ ciprofloxacin. The Cip + Gln group received 500λ Gln and ciprofloxacin. Finally serum TNF-α, IL-10 and HSP-70 concentrations were measured and the severity of liver necrosis was examined.

Results

Glutamine in combination with ciprofloxacin significantly increased survival rate and serum HSP-70 and IL-10 concentration and significantly decreased serum TNF-α concentration and the liver necrosis severity in comparison to control (+) group.

Conclusion

Gln has synergistic effects with ciprofloxacin in reduction of P. aeruginosa-induced septic shock.     

Any beneficial effects of mycobacteria on multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalitis may include stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system

The inhibitory effects of mycobacterial infection and mycobacterium components on multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE; an animal model for MS) have been known for years. However, this effect seems like a paradox that both mycobacterial infection and MS induce type I immune responses. Some mechanisms have been proposed or even proven for this effect in different studies, but among them there is no hint of a possible role for the nervous system (NS). Regarding the close relations between sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and MS disease course, it can be hypothesized that SNS may have a role in the effects of mycobacterium on MS. Hypothesis: SNS can be stimulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL1-beta, production of which are induced by mycobacterial infection or mycobacterium components. Although these cytokines can inhibit SNS in the site of inflammation caused by mycobacterium, they increase sympathetic tone in other places. The beneficial role of SNS in inhibiting or attenuating the course of MS and EAE has been suggested. Inhibitory effects of stimulated SNS on MS may occur via different ways such as inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inducing the synthesis of anti-inflammatory cytokines, in other words, shifting the immune responses from type 1 toward type 2, as well as, induction of suppressor/regulator T lymphocytes, induction of heat shock proteins in brain and increasing the expression of Fas and Fas-ligand. Therefore, it seems that stimulation of SNS by mycobacterial infection or mycobacterium components is a key step in the mechanism of beneficial effects of mycobacterium on MS.     

Detection of metallo-β-lactamase–encoding genes among clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in northwest of Iran

The prevalence of metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) production among 104 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from northwest of Iran was investigated by phenotypic and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Thirty-nine (37.50%) of isolates were MBL positive by double-disk synergy test. Results of PCR revealed that 18 (17.31%) and 6 (5.77%) imipenem nonsusceptible isolates of P. aeruginosa carried bla_VIM and bla_IMP genes respectively, while 92.4% (62/67) of isolates contained class 1 integron gene. This is the first report of MBL-producing P. aeruginosa from northwest of Iran.     

The effect of post-burn local hyperthermia on the reducing burn injury: the possible role of opioids.

PURPOSE: This paper studied the effect of post-burn local hyperthermia on burn induced injury. METHODS: A second-degree burn injury was induced on the right and left flanks of Balb/c mice. Thirty-two burn wounds were divided into four groups. Opioid receptor blocking was done for groups 3 and 4 by intra-peritoneal administration of Naloxone (NLX) 30 min before the thermal injury. Local hyperthermia (45 degrees C, 30 s) was applied only for the burn wounds of groups 2 and 4. Twenty-four hours after burn injury, the burned wounds were assessed for the level of iNOS (by immunohistochemistry) and the number of hair follicles (as an indicator of tissue injury). RESULTS: The wounds that received hyperthermia (group 2) had significantly more hair follicles (p < 0.001) compared to the control wounds (group 1). There was no significant difference between the number of hair follicles and acute inflammation of group 1 and group 3 (NLX + burn). Group 4 (NLX + burn + hyperthermia) had significantly fewer hair follicles compared to group 1 (p < 0.001), group 2 (p < 0.001) and group 3 (p < 0.001). The level of iNOS in groups 1, 3 and 4 was not significantly different but significantly more than group 2 (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that local hyperthermia after second degree burn decreased the tissue injury and iNOS expression. It is also concluded that endogenous opioid response may have a key role in the above mentioned effects of post-burn local hyperthermia.