In vitro cytotoxic effect of garlic extract on malignant and nonmalignant cell lines

Cancer is one of the major causes of death in the world and despite many years of research, the treatment of cancer is still a problem. Epidemiological observations and laboratory studies have indicated anticarcinogenic potential of garlic, which has been traditionally used for various human diseases around the world. In this study the cytotoxicity of garlic extract against three malignant cancer cell lines including gastric (AGS), breast (MCF-7) and colon (HT-29) and a nonmalignant cell line (L929) were evaluated by the MTT assay. The results of this study reveal MCF-7 and AGS cells were sensitive to garlic extract. Despite a many reports on inhibitory effects of garlic on cancer cell line, our data showed these effects are tumor specific and dose dependent. Further studies on animal models and humans are needed to clarify the important molecules and their mechanisms.     

New procedure for treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with valvular heart disease

Patients with valvular heart disease suffer from atrial fibrillation for more than 12 months after valve surgery and have a low probability of remaining in sinus rhythm. We performed an intra-operative procedure similar to surgical maze ??? procedure for conversion of this arrhythmia to sinus rhythm. We did this study to evaluate the efficacy of this procedure to restore the sinus rhythm in patients with valvular heart disease. 28 patients with valvular heart disease and chronic persistent atrial fibrillation underwent different combinations of valve surgery and concomitant reduction of left and right atrial size and resection of both atrial auricles in Shahid Madani cardiothoracic center from September 2004 to October 2008. The procedure for atrial fibrillation treatment was performed with cardiopulmonary bypass and after mitral valve replacement. There was one in-hospital death postoperatively because of respiratory failure, but no other complication till 6 months after the operation. Out of 28 patients, 23 were in sinus rhythm one week after the operation, one patient had junctional rhythm after the operation that restored to sinus rhythm and 4 patients had persistent atrial fibrillation. During the 12-month follow up, atrial fibrillation was corrected in 82.14%. Doppler echocardiography in these patients with sinus rhythm demonstrated good atrial contractility. This procedure on both atria is effective and less invasive than the original maze procedure to eliminate the atrial fibrillation, and can be performed in patients with valvular heart disease without increasing the risk of operation.     

The high incidence of acute hemolysis due to favism in Ahvaz,Iran—clinical features and laboratory findings

ObjectiveTo collect comprehensive information about the features of favic patients in Ahvaz (Capital of Khouzestan, Iran) and analyze the extent of the differences with their corresponding in other regions.MethodsA total of 103 patients with acute hemolysis admitted to pediatric division of Abouzar Hospital located in the city of Ahvaz, Iran during 21st of June 2008 to 20^th of June 2009 were analyzed retrospectively.Results95.14% of the patients had favism while 4.86% of them underwent hemolysis due to other reasons. These patients were male (68.93%) and female children (31.06%) admitted mostly during the spring season. The three main symptoms were urine discoloration, jaundice and vomiting. At the admission time, the main hematologic findings were as follows: G6PD sufficient status (45.63%), G6PD deficient status (54.36%) and hemoglobin concentration: 2.5–11.8 (mean±SD: 6.45 ±2.12) g/dL.ConclusionsIn conclusion, Ahvaz was determined as a black zone for favism in which the disease can be considered a life threatening health problem. Moreover, slight differences were observed in the three main symptoms compared with favic patients in other regions.     

In vitro effect of Pleurotus florida on macrophage cell viability and nitric oxide production

Pleurotus florida is an edible mushroom with various therapeutic uses. Recently, it has been shown to modulate the immune responses and inflammation. Macrophages have been shown to play an essential role as the first line of defence against microbial invaders and neoplasia and have intracellular killing capacities. After being stimulated, macrophages produce a number of inflammatory mediators. In this study, we evaluated the effect of P. florida on viability of macrophages and its nitric oxide (NO) production.

Cell viability of macrophages was altered by extract and fractions dose, dependently. R100, R50 and R30 fractions in some dilutions decreased and extract R10, R5 and F5 fractions increased cell viability. R50, R30, R10, R5 and F5 fractions cause significant reduction and R100 causes significant induction in NO production. Further studies are necessary to clarify the modulatory effects of P. florida mushroom on macrophage anti-inflammatory function.     

Autoimmune Hepatitis in Children: Experiences in a Tertiary Center

Objective

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a necroinflammatory liver disease of unknown etiology that occurs in the children of all ages. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical and paraclinical presentations, including pattern of autoantibodies, response to treatment, mortality, and liver transplantation outcome in the Iranian children with AIH.

Methods

The medical records of 87 children (56 girls and 31 boy) diagnosed with AIH between 2001 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed for clinical and paraclinical profiles and also treatment outcome.

Findings

The mean age of the patients was 10.1±4.5 years (64.4% females). The most common clinical findings were jaundice (70.1%), splenomegaly (67.8%), and hepatomegaly (51.7%). Antinuclear, anti-smooth muscle, and anti LKM antibodies were positive in 14/62, 22/53 and 6/40 patients, respectively (36 patients had type 1 AIH, 6 patients had type 2 AIH, 26 patients were seronegative, and autoantibodies were not available in 19 cases). The most common histological finding in the liver biopsies was chronic hepatitis with interface activity that was seen in 65 (74.7%) patients. The complete response was seen in 52 (59.8%) patients and 24 (27.6%) patients underwent liver transplantation. One-year and five-year survival rates were 87.5% and 80% in the transplanted patients.

Conclusion

AIH should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of both acute and chronic liver diseases in the children and treatment with combination of corticosteroids and azathioprine is a good treatment option. In the patients with end stage liver cirrhosis that did not respond to medical therapy, liver transplantation is the treatment of choice.     

The Efficacy of Zinc Supplementation on Outcome of Children with Severe Pneumonia. A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial

Objective  

To compare the clinical outcome of children having severe pneumonia, with and without zinc supplementation by a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial.     

Cytotoxic effect of four herbal medicines on gastric cancer (AGS) cell line

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Therefore, discovery of novel anti-cancer herbal drugs is of importance. Herbal medication is now being used for treatment of various diseases, including cancer in many countries. In this study, the cytotoxic effect of traditional herbal medicines (Aloe vera, Ginger, Ziziphora and Saffron extracts) was investigated on gastric AGS cell line. MTT assay was performed for cytotoxic effect of these herbal medicines. The most cytotoxic effects of Ginger, Ziziphora and Saffron extracts on AGS cell line were 47, 88 and 67%, respectively, compared to control group. According to our data, among these herbal extracts, Ziziphora has the highest cytotoxic effect on AGS cell line. Ziziphora extract seems to be a good candidate as an anti-cancer agent against GC. To clarify the effective molecules and their mechanisms, further studies are undertaken on animal models and humans.     

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in Iranian children

Of 231 children with nephrotic syndrome, 87% were steroid sensitive and 13% steroid resistant. Of patients with steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome, 38.8% were non-relapsers, 34.8% frequent relapsers and 26.4% infrequent relapsers. Among those with steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome, 37.5% had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with a high mortality rate of 44%