Teucrium polium in prevention of steatohepatitis in rats

Background: In this study, we tried to evaluate whether the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of Teucrium polium, with a high antioxidant activity, is able to prevent the incidence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Methods: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was induced in male N‐Mary rats using a methionine/choline‐deficient (MCD) diet. Rats were given normal diet (A), normal diet+EtOAc extract (B), MCD diet (C) and MCD diet+EtOAc (D). Results: The MCD diet led to grade 1 liver steatosis, inflammation and ballooning degeneration. In group D, these factors abated to grade 0 in 80% of the rats. In groups receiving the EtOAc extract, lipoprotein profiles had significantly improved relative to those not receiving the extract. Also, a dramatic reduction was observed in the sera alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminoteransferase activities. The activities of the liver superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzymes were also enhanced. Conclusion: The EtOAc extract could reverse the adverse effects of the MCD diet.     

The effects of fresh garlic on the serum concentration of total cholesterol, total triglyceride and adipose tissues of broilers

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of garlic on total cholesterol, total triglyceride and adipose tissues in chickens, since garlic is typically used as a dietary supplement in broilers' diets. One hundred male broiler chicks were divided randomly into two groups. From the day after they were born, group one received standard feed plus 20 kg/ton dried fresh garlic and group two received just standard feed without added garlic. On day 50, the chickens were individually weighed and slaughtered. Carcasses and adipose tissues were weighed out separately. During the slaughtering process, blood samples were collected to provide serum samples. The sera were used to measure total cholesterol and total triglyceride using routine laboratory methods. All samples were analysed and the results assessed statistically using the t test method. The results showed no significant changes in chicken weights or in chicken carcass weights. However, the results indicated significant decreases in total cholesterol, total triglyceride and adipose tissue, in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (p?<?0.001). The results suggest that fresh garlic may reduce total cholesterol, total triglyceride and the amount of carcass adipose tissue in chickens.     

Comparison of effect of kangaroo mother care,breastfeeding and swaddling on Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination pain score in healthy term neonates by a clinical trial

Background/aim: The purpose of this research was to compare the analgesic effect of kangaroo mother care (KMC), breastfeeding and swaddling in Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination in term neonates.

Methods: In a randomized 120 healthy term neonates who received routine BCG vaccination in the first day of their life are distributed into three groups. In group 1, neonates breastfed two minutes before, during and one minute after BCG vaccination. In group 2, neonates received KMC 10?minutes before, during and one minute after vaccination and in group 3, they were swaddled 10?minutes before, during and one minute after vaccination. Primary outcomes included pain score during, one minute and two minutes after BCG vaccination and obtaining pain score of less than three during vaccination .

Results: Pain scores during, one minute and two minutes after vaccination in group 1 were lower than in groups 2 and 3. Group 1 had higher success rate in painless vaccination and had lower crying duration in comparison to another groups (p?Conclusion: Breastfeeding was more effective than KMC and swaddling in reduction of BCG vaccination pain in healthy term neonates.     

Oral isotretinoin for acne, adjusting treatment according to patient's response

BACKGROUND: Oral isotretinoin is an established effective therapy for acne. No published data is available on the efficacy and side effects of this drug in Iranian patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 132 acne patients with a mean age of 22.9 +/- 6.2 years were treated with oral isotretinoin (Roaccutane) and followed-up from 1999 through 2005. Each patient was started with a dose of 0.75 mg/kg per day until all active lesions healed, followed by a maintenance dose of 20 mg/kg per day for one more month. Laboratory tests were done at monthly intervals. Evaluation of clinical response was based on Leeds technique. Patients were followed-up for a mean period of 4.4 years. RESULTS: Most of the patients had severe nodulocystic acne involving both trunk and face. Treatment was continued for 6.6 +/- 2.5 months with a cumulative dose of 111.5 mg/kg +/- 33.9. The mean final improvement rate was 96.7% (95% CI, 84.9% to 108.5%). There was no correlation between improvement rate and age, sex, duration of acne, length of treatment, or cumulative dose. Side effects were generally mild and treated conservatively. In the follow-up, period 18.35% experienced relapse after a mean interval of 1.28 years, 9.17% required a second course of isotretinoin, and only one case needed 3 courses of treatment. CONCLUSION: Isotretinoin is an effective and safe treatment for acne in Iranian patients. Starting treatment with a high dose and modifying the length of treatment based on the therapeutic response in each patient, might lead to a rapid and good response rate with minimal side effects.     

Guanosine 5＇-triphosphate induces differentiation-dependent apoptosis in human leukemia U937 and KG1 cells

AIM: The differentiation capability of guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) was studied using U937 and KG1 cells. METHODS: Cell cycle was analyzed by PI staining using flow cytometry. Apoptosis was measured by Annexin-V-FITC/PI double staining using flow cytometry. Differentiation was observed by morphological criteria, Wright-Giemsa staining and expression of cell surface markers CD11b and CD14. RESULTS: Variable GTP concentrations (25-200 micromol/L) at short treatment times (up to 24 h) showed significant anti-proliferative activities among both cell types. However, longer treatment times (up to 72 h) were required to trigger apoptosis. Cell-cycle analyses of the GTP-treated cells indicated an increase in S-phase population by 48 h followed by the appearance of a sub-G(1) peak after 72 h of treatment. The effects of GTP on U937 and KG1 cells were accompanied with differentiation toward monocyte/macrophage lineage. This was evidenced by a sharp increase in the extent of CD11b and CD14 expression after 24 h of exposure to GTP. The viability of both cell types did not significantly change during the first 24 h. However, at longer treatment times (72-96 h), dramatic decreases in both the extent of CD14 expression and the cell viabilities were observed. Simultaneous measurement of apoptosis and CD14 expression in GTP-treated U937 cells indicated that cells with lower CD14 content underwent more apoptosis. CONCLUSION: These finding may pave the way for further pharmaceutical evaluation of GTP as a suitable differentiating agent for acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) therapy.     

Antioxidant efficacy of Nasturtium officinale extracts using various in vitro assay systems

Nasturtium officinale R. Br. (watercress), of the family Brassicaceae, has been long used as a home remedy or a medicinal plant by the people of southeastern Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of N. officinale extract using various in vitro assay systems, including the ferric reducing antioxidant power and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) assays, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide radical scavenging, and ferrous ion chelating activity, as well as the inhibitory effect on ferrous ion/ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation, in rat liver homogenate. The results revealed that N. officinale extract possesses potent reducing power in a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, concentration-dependent scavenging ability on 2,2'-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, nitric oxide radicals, and hydrogen peroxide, as well as chelating ability on ferrous ions. Furthermore, N. officinale extract prevented thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation in ferrous ion/ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, this N. officinale extract had the phenolic and flavonoid contents of 96.2 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dried extract and 63.2 mg catechin equivalents/g dried extract, respectively. The cumulative results clearly indicate that N. officinale extract possesses potent antioxidant properties probably mediated through direct trapping of free radicals, reducing power, and also through metal chelating. Based on its antioxidative potential, N. officinale extract might find applications in the prevention of free radical-related diseases.     

Synthesis, calcium-channel blocking activity, and conformational analysis of some novel 1,4-dihydropyridines: application of PM3 and DFT computational methods

Novel 1,4-dihydropyridines were synthesized and subjected to calcium-channel blocking evaluation and conformational analysis using semi-empirical (PM3) and density functional theory (DFT) as computational methods. All molecules had a boat-like 1,4-dihydropyridine ring in both the methods. In PM3 method almost 54% of the molecules were deviated from planarity, but in DFT method all the molecules had perfect flattened-boat conformation. Using both the methods, the C-4 substituent was pseudoaxial with its phenylamino substitution in sp orientation in 82.14% of the molecules. Trans–trans and cis–cis conformation had the greatest and lowest proportion in the molecules, respectively. Trans–trans conformers which possessed sp conformation for the substituted group on the imidazole ring were active calcium-channel blocking agents.