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Effects of the crude venom of hemiscorpius lepturus (Scorpionida: Hemiscorpiidae) on mortality rate of white mice
No full textHemiscorpius lepturus (H. lepturus) is the most venomous scorpion in Iran. Its venom can damage vital body organs and cause fatal consequences. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of this scorpion venom on the mortality rates of mice. This experimental study was conducted on two groups of mice (treatment and control) weighing between 27 and 30 grams of the same age and race. In the treatment group, 1 micro liter of diluted crude venom of H. lepturus scorpion in 0.1 ml of normal saline was injected with suitable syringe. The control group received 0.1 ml of sterile normal saline. Data obtained from the groups were recorded and analyzed with Chi square and Fisher's exact tests. The results showed that H. lepturus venom could cause death by as much as 82 percent over 6 to 240 hours. The initial major symptoms of poisoning in mice after injection of venom included humping, lack of nutrition, immobilization, and piloerection. In final stages of life, contractions, severe shaking of legs and occasional moanings were observed, which continued until an hour before death. Not all injections of H. lepturus venom are fatal, in cases where mice had local wounds due to venom injection, they survived. It can be concluded that the injection-induced ulcers in mice are appropriate immune responses against this venom. © 2019, Connect Journal
Letter to the editor concerning coenzyme Q10 supplementation improves acute outcomes of stroke in rats pretreated with atorvastatin
Get PDFThe effects of zinc supplementation on clinical response and metabolic profiles in pregnant women at risk for intrauterine growth restriction: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
No full textObjective: This investigation was conducted to assess the effects of zinc supplementation on clinical response and metabolic status among pregnant women at risk for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial was conducted among 52 women at risk for IUGR according to abnormal uterine artery Doppler waveform. Participants were randomly assigned to take either 233 mg zinc gluconate (containing 30 mg zinc) supplements (n = 26) or placebo (n = 26) for 10 weeks from 17 to 27 weeks of gestation. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after the 10-week treatment to quantify related variables. Results: After the 10-week intervention, taking zinc led to a significant reduction in serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (β �1.17 mg/L; 95 CI, �1.77, �0.57; p <.001) and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (β �0.23 µmol/L; 95 CI, �0.45, �0.02; p =.03); also a significant rise in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (β 59.22 mmol/L; 95 CI, 25.07, 93.36; p =.001) was observed in comparison to placebo. In addition, zinc supplementation significantly reduced serum insulin (β �1.33 µIU/mL; 95 CI, �2.00, �0.67; p <.001) and insulin resistance (β �0.30; 95 CI, �0.44, �0.15; p <.001), and significantly increased insulin sensitivity (β 0.008; 95 CI, 0.003, 0.01; p <.001) compared with the placebo. Zinc supplementation did not influence pulsatility index (PI) and other metabolic parameters. Conclusions: Overall, zinc supplementation in pregnant women at risk for IUGR had beneficial effects on TAC, MDA, hs-CRP, and insulin metabolism, but did not affect PI and other metabolic profiles. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Association analysis of the common varieties of IL17A and IL17F genes with the risk of knee osteoarthritis
No full textOsteoarthritis is mediated by various types of cytokines, growth factors, and inflammatory factors that the role of the interleukin-17 family in this disease is becoming increasingly apparent. The aim of this study is to determine the association between the common polymorphisms of IL17A (including rs2275913) and IL17F (including rs2397084 and rs763780) genes with the knee osteoarthritis risk which was followed by a bioinformatics approach. In a case-control study, 254 participants consisting of 127 healthy individuals and 127 subjects with knee osteoarthritis referring to Shahid Beheshti Hospital dependents on Kashan University of Medical Sciences (Kashan, Iran) were enrolled. After samples collection, the polymorphisms genotyping was determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Finally, some bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the molecular effects of the three studied polymorphisms. Data analysis showed a significant association between rs2275913-GA genotype and the decreased risk of knee osteoarthritis (OR = 0.57, 95 CI = 0.33-0.97, P =.040). However, rs763780-AG genotype (OR = 2.29, 95CI = 1.11-4.69, P =.024) and rs763780-G allele (OR = 2.01, 95 CI = 1.09-3.72, P =.026) were associated with an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis. However, no significant associations were found between the rs2397084 polymorphism and knee osteoarthritis risk. Our structural analysis revealed that the rs2275913 polymorphism could create a new binding site for TFII-I at the promoter region of IL17A. Also, rs2397084 and rs763780 could significantly affect the function and structure of IL17A. Based on our findings, rs2275913 and rs763780 could be considered as protective and risk factors for knee osteoarthritis, respectively. Therefore, these polymorphisms can be considered as biomarkers for the screening of knee osteoarthritis susceptible persons. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
How probiotic bacteria influence the motor and mental behaviors as well as immunological and oxidative biomarkers in multiple sclerosis? A double blind clinical trial
Get PDFAbstract
Background and aims:
This clinical trial was carried out to assess the effects of probiotic on mental and motor behaviors, metabolic profiles in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods:
Forty-eight patients with MS were treated by probiotics or placebo for four months to determine clinical symptoms, mental health, and metabolic profiles.
Results:
Probiotic decreased expanded disability status scale (−0.52 ± 0.04 vs. + 0.16 ± 0.07, P < 0.001), beck depression inventory (−5.08 ± 0.71 vs. −2.62 ± 0.78, P = 0.026), general health questionnaire-28 (−6.7 ± 1.17 vs. −3.04 ± 1.13, P = 0.03) and depression anxiety and stress scale (−12.54 ± 1.81 vs. −3.33 ± 2.26, P = 0.003). Probiotic reduced malondialdehyde (P < 0.001) and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (P < 0.001). Probiotic resulted in a significant reduction in IL-6 (P = 0.01) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0.03), and a significant increase in IL-10 (P < 0.001) and nitric oxide levels (P = 0.012).
Conclusion:
Through modulation of intestinal flora, the probiotic bacteria may improve clinical symptoms by balancing the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses, and adjusting the oxidative biomarkers in the MS patients.
Keywords: Clinical symptom Inflammation Multiple sclerosis
Oxidative stress Probiotic
The effects of nurse-led telephone-based support on supportive care needs among women with breast cancer: A randomized clinical trial
Get PDFBackground:Patients with breast cancer (BC) need to be supported in all aspects of their lives. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of nurse-led telephone-based support on supportive care needs (SCNs) in women with BC. Methods:This two-group randomized clinical trial was conducted on 62 women with BC who were randomly assigned to two groups to either receive telephone-based support (n = 31) or conventional care routinely provided to patients with BC (n = 31). Patients' SCNs were assessed before, 2 weeks, and 1 month after the intervention onset using the SCNs Survey -Short Form 34 The data were analyzed through the repeated-measures analysis of variance and the Bonferroni's, Chi-square, Fisher's exact, independent-sample t, and Mann-Whitney U-tests. Results: Significant decreases were observed in the mean scores of SCNs in both groups (P< 0.001), though the decrease in the intervention group was much greater than the control group (39.08 vs. 2.87). Baseline mean score of SCNs in the intervention group was significantly greater than the control group (P = 0.008); however, 2 weeks and 1 month after the intervention onset, the mean score in the intervention group was significantly lower than the control group (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Telephone-based support is effective in addressing and reducing SCNs among patients with BC
The inter-professional dimensions of spiritual care for chronically ill patients: A qualitative study
Get PDFBackground:Spiritual care is an integral part of holistic care. Its delivery should be based on patients' spiritual needs.Objectives:This study aimed to explore the interprofessional dimensions of spiritual care for chronically ill patients. Methods: This exploratory qualitative study was done in Isfahan, Iran, on a purposive sample of 25 participants including patients, family caregivers, nurses, physicians, psychologists, social workers, and religious counselors. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed through conventional content analysis. Results:The interprofessional dimensions of spiritual care for chronically ill patients fell into four main themes. The first theme was religious care with the three subthemes of assistance in doing religious rituals, assistance in referring to religious values, and assistance in doing religious activities. The second theme, that is, pastoral care, consisted of three subthemes, namely, assistance in finding the meaning of life/death/illness, assistance in achieving spiritual transcendence, and encouragement to communicate with self and to do spiritual exercises. The third theme was psychological care, the four subthemes of which included assistance in acquiring peace of mind, assistance in accepting and coping with illness, assistance in creating a source of hope, and empathizing with patients. Finally, the fourth theme was supportive care and included the four subthemes of support and assistance to meet basic needs, continuity of care after hospital discharge, providing patient and family education, and respecting patients. Conclusion: Spiritual care has different dimensions. Its delivery necessitates adequate knowledge and expertise, close interprofessional collaboration, effective teamwork, and efficient patient referral system
Small molecule of sphingosine as a rescue of dopaminergic cells: A cell therapy approach in neurodegenerative diseases therapeutics
No full textMultiple sclerosis (MS) patients should take medication such as fingolimod (FTY-720) for a long time, hence pharmaceutical effects on other neural cells such as dopaminergic cells are important. Dopaminergic cell line, BE(2)-M17, was treated by FTY-720 and then cell viability and genes involve in neurosurvival were investigated. It was disclosed that FTY-720 significantly stimulates Bcl2 overexpression. Whereas, it decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species production and cell membrane damage of dopaminergic cells. The increase in Bcl2/Bax ratio increased the cell metabolic activity and decreased propidium iodide-positive cells. Besides, FTY-720 induced the overexpression of CACNA1C, nNOS gene, and nitric oxide production. However, FTY-720 induced GABARA1 overexpression and eventually it could overcame to the cytotoxic effect of intracellular calcium. This cascade led to tyrosine hydroxylase and BDNF genes overexpression whereas FTY-720 did not change GDNF concentration in BE(2)-M17 cells. Concluding, it might be said that taking FTY-720 in MS patients did not induce adverse effect on dopaminergic cells. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Berberine ameliorates experimental varicocele-induced damages at testis and sperm levels; evidences for oxidative stress and inflammation
No full textThe present study was performed to show the ameliorative effect of berberine (BBR), as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, against experimental varicocele (VCL)-induced molecular and histological damages. For this purpose, 50 mature Wistar rats were divided into control, control-sham, VCL-sole, 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg BBR-treated VCL-induced groups. The tissue levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and gluthatione peroxidase (GSH-px) as well as the mRNA levels of testicular CuZn SOD, MnSOD, EC-SOD and GSH-px were evaluated. The serum concentration of testosterone and germ cells mRNA damage were analysed. Finally, the sperm viability, motility, DNA integrity and chromatin condensation were analysed. Observations revealed that, the BBR significantly downregulated VCL-increased IL-6, TNF-α and NO levels, upregulated the CuZn SOD, MnSOD, EC-SOD and GSH-px mRNA level, decreased testicular MDA content, enhanced serum testosterone level and ameliorated testicular TAC, SOD and GSH-px levels. The animals in BBR-treated groups exhibited diminished mRNA damage versus non-treated VCL-induced group. The BBR has significantly (p < 0.05) improved sperm parameters. In conclusion, the BBR by promoting testicular antioxidant potential and by downregulating inflammatory reactions fairly promotes spermatogenesis and upregulates the sperm quality. © 2018 Blackwell Verlag Gmb