Anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of Pelargonium roseum essential oil on Swiss albino mice: Possible involvement of serotonergic transmission

The anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of the Reunion Geranium (Pelargonium roseum Willd) essential oil (EO) were evaluated in male Swiss albino mice by intraperitoneal administration of 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg bw using elevated plus maze (EPM), open‐field test (OFT), and forced swimming test (FST). Moreover, we evaluated whether the 5‐HT_1A and GABA_A–benzodiazepine receptor systems are involved in the anxiolytic effects through the coadministration of WAY‐100635 (a selective 5‐HT_1A receptor antagonist) and flumazenil (an antagonist of benzodiazepine). GC–MS revealed the monoterpene alcohols citronellol (35.9%) and geraniol (18.5%) as the main components of the P. roseum EO. EO was effective in increasing the total number of entries and time spent in the open arms of EPM whereas number of rearing in OFT was significantly decreased in comparison with the control. In the FST, immobility time decreased in EO treated mice. Pretreatment with WAY‐100635, but not Flumazenil, was able to reverse the effects of the EO in the EPM and FST, indicating that the EO activity occurs via the serotonergic but not GABAergic transmission. Overall, results of this work showed significant anxiolytic and antidepressant activity of P. roseum EO and confirmed the traditional uses of Pelargonium species as calming agents.     

Prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of fetal neck teratoma

Teratomas and other germ cell tumors are common pediatric neoplasms. They may have gonadal and extragonadal locations. Congenital teratomas of the neck are unusual.     

Independent and joint effects of serum 25-hydroxivitamin D and calcium on breast cancer ratio in an Iran population: A cross-sectional study

Background:

It has been suggested that Vitamin D and calcium have protective effects against breast cancer. The results about breast cancer and serum Vitamin D and calcium levels are still controversial, indefinite, and insufficient to determine the amount of nutritional needs. Thus, we investigated the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(25-OH-D) and calcium on the ratio of breast cancer at diagnosis time.

Materials and Methods:

We carried out a hospital-based cross-sectional study in a population of Iran. It comprised 57 breast cancer cases, who were newly diagnosed, and 85 controls in 2013. The serum 25-OH-D and calcium levels were measured.

Results:

There was not any significant association between 25-OH-D and breast cancer ratio. Odds ratio (OR) comparing the highest quartile to the lowest quartile was 1.03(95% confidence interval[CI] 0.33–3.22, P-trend 0.95). Having sufficient (>75 nmol/L) serum 25-OH-D levels compared to insufficient serum 25-OH-D levels was not associated with a significantly decreased ratio of breast cancer (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.23–1.29, P = 0.17). Furthermore, an association between calcium and breast cancer did not get statistical significance (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.17–1.49, P-trend 0.31). The joint effect was negative interaction.

Conclusion:

Vitamin D and calcium do not act on decreasing ratio of breast cancer. Decreasing ratio of breast cancer in relation to serum calcium and Vitamin D level at diagnosis time needs more assessments.     

The effect of URB597, exercise or their combination on the performance of 6-OHDA mouse model of Parkinson disease in the elevated plus maze,tail suspension test and step-down task

Metabolic Brain Disease - Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is often accompanied by motor and psychiatric symptoms. Various approaches have been proposed for...     

First Report of Intestinal Myiasis Due To Eristalis tenax in Iran

Eristalis tenax, belonging to order Diptera, family Syrphidae seldomly causes intestinal myiasis. Intestinal myiasis caused by E. tenax larvae is a rare manifestation found in both humans and other vertebrate animals. We report a 22-year-old woman presented with this myiasis. The larva in her stool sample was identified as E. tenax related to its typical morphology and authentic clues. Lack of specific control measures in the domestic water supply system was the most probable cause of this infestation.