[Effects of hydroalcoholic extract matricaria chamomilla L. on paraquat-induced blood oxidative toxicity in rat]

Paraquat [PQ] is a herbicide and exerts its cytotoxicity via the generation of reactive oxygen species [ROS]. There is no specific treatment for PQ poisoning. The purpose of this study was to investigate of hydroalcoholic extract Matricaria chamomilla L. [M. chamomilla] against PQ-induced injury in association with its antioxidant activity. The male rats were treated by gastric gavage daily with PQ [5 mg/kg/day] and M. chamomilla [50 mg/kg/day] were administered alone or in combination for 7 days. After treatments, in blood sample, lipid peroxidation [LPO], total antioxidant capacity [TAC], the activity of glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and superoxide dismutase [SOD] were measured. In this sample, the TAC was lower in the PQ group as compared with control group. PQ increased LPO level, GPx and SOD activities compared control group M. chamomilla extract increased TAC and decreased LPO level, GPx and SOD activities compared PQ group. Co-administration of PQ with M. chamomilla extract increased TAC and decreased GPx and SOD activities as compared with PQ group. In conclusion, M. chamomilla ?as natural antioxidant may be considered beneficial for the protection oxidative damage in PQ poisoning

[ cerebrolysin efficacy in acute ischemic stroke]

Cerebrolysin, a preparation of low molecular weight neuropeptide and free amino acids, has been shown to have a great affect against excitotoxicity, inhibiting free radical formation, microglia activation and additionally neurotrophic action, promoting neuronal sprouting, and improving cellular survival and stimulating neurogenesis following stroke. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of Cerebrolysinon acute ischemic stroke. The present study was a randomised double blind clinical trial. The sample was 89 patients with confirmed the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke. The patients divided in the intervention or control group with simple randomization. Patients in intervention group received 50ml Cerebrolysin diluted in 100ml normal saline solution [totally 150 ml] infused over a time period of 30 minutes for 7 days and for control group patients, administered just 150ml normal saline infusion. Patients were assessed on days 1,30 and 90 by Orgogozo, barthel index, MRS and NIHSS score. The findings indicated that the mean of scores at the end of the first month was increased in comparision with the first day, 1.68 in intervention and -10.95 in intervention and case groups respectively and these differences were meaningful statistically [p<0.05]. The comparison of scores at the end of three month treatment to the first day reported meaningful too [p<0.05]. The findings demonstrated that at the end of the third month as compared with the first day, added 1.68 to case group score and reduced -13.21 from the control group score. Cerebrolysin is efficient in acute ischemic stroke patients and decreases the tissue damage severity in these patients. On the other hand, presumably it can reduces disability of the disease

Sand fly surveillance within an emerging epidemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in southeastern Iran

Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major has become a hot topic in Iran. The objective of this study was to determine some ecological aspects of sand flies in the study area. Sand flies were collected biweekly from indoors and outdoors fixed places in the selected villages, using 30 sticky paper traps from the beginning to the end of the active season of 2006 in Kerman Province, south of Iran. The flies were mounted and identified. Some blood fed and gravid female sand flies of rodent burrows and indoors were dissected and examined microscopically for natural promastigote infection of Leishmania parasite during August to September. In total, 2439 specimens comprising 8 species [3 Phlebotomus and 5 Sergentomyia] were identified. The most common sand fly was P. papatasi and represented 87.1% of sand flies from indoors and 57.2% from outdoors. The activity of the species extended from April to end October. There are two peaks in the density curve of this species, one in June and the second in August. Natural promastigote infection was found in P. papatasi [12.7%]. Phlebotomus papatasi is considered as a probable vector among gerbils and to humans with a high percentage of promastigote infection in this new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The Bahraman area which until recently was unknown as an endemic area seems now to represent a focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission in Iran

In vitro study of the effect of clotrimazole incorporation into silicone soft liner on fungal colonization

Candidal colonization on soft liners is important in the development of pathogenesis, such as denture stomatitis. It has heen reported that combining anti-fungal agents into soft liners might be used in treatment and prevention of denture stomatitis. The aim of this in-vitro study was to determine whether incorporating Clotrimazole [C] into the silicone soft liner [S], would inhibit the growth of C. albicans when the specimens are stored in distilled water and washed daily with wet cotton. Experimental specimen disks incorporated with Clotrimazole [Sc[1], Sc[30], Sc[60] and without Clotrimazole [S[1], S[30], S[60]] into the soft liner [no = 8] were fabricated aseptically against the polyester film to produce a smooth surface. The treated and control disks were stored in distilled water for 1, 30 and 60 days and washed daily with wet cotton. For fungal growth assessment, they were inoculated with C .albicans suspension. The disks were rinsed and sonicated in sterile water to remove surface organisms. The attached yeast was measured by inoculation of the yeast suspension on Sabouraud's agar. The data were compared using two-way ANOVA. The mean colony forming units [CPU] per mm[2] for the specimens without Clotrimazole after water storage and washing with wet cotton for 1, 30 and 60 days was 6.5X10[6], 5.8X10[6] and 6.1X10[6], respectively. CPU for specimens with Clotrimazole decreased significantly to 2.6X10[6] and 3.9X10[6] and 4.6X10[6] after 1, 30, and 60 days, respectively. In comparison to those of the control disks, Clotrimazole in treated disks was effective in inhibiting C.albicans growth significantly following storage in water for 2 months [P < 0.05]. The addition of Clotrimazole significantly reduced C.albicans growth to the surface of the silicone soft liner. The samples continued to inhibit the fungal growth when they were washed daily with wet cotton for 2 months

[Comparative study of prostatic dimensions by plain radiography, urethrocystogra-phyand necropsy]

The Prostate gland is the major accessory gland in male dogs. Prostate disease is a common problem in older intact male dogs. The aim of this study was to determine prostatic dimensions by plain radiography and urethrocystography in dogs and compare them with actual sizes. Plain radiography and urethrocystography were performed on 10 intact young adult male dogs. After necropsy length, width, height, volume and weight of prostate glands were measured. All statistical analyses paired t test, linear regression and correlation coefficient were performed. Prostate glands of 9 dogs could be evaluated with urethrocystography and reliable length and height of prostate gland were measured. Means of prostatic length and height were smaller than their actual sizes but still had significant correlation [p<1=0.05]. Equations between prostatic and actual lengths and depths in urethrocystography were L=0.91 x l + 0.57 [R[2] = 0.84] and Z= 1.36 x z - 0.79 [R[2] = 0.76] respectively. The results of this investigation were showed that urethrocystography could be used for prostatic measurement. This method can be as a reliable technique, whenever ultrasonography can not be performed

Comparing the oxidative stress indexes of CVA patients with control group

In the recent years, oxidative stress was attended as one of the causal factors of ischemic stroke. In terms of the role of genetic, geographic and ethnic factors in the prevalence of stroke, This study was designed to compare the oxidative stress indexes of stroke patients with normal healthy subjects in this geographic area. In this case-control study, 36 patients older than 50 years with ischemic stroke and 45 healthy subjects with same age and sex, were enrolled. Five milliliter blood were drawn from all subjects. Samples were centrifuged and plasma was separated. Total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation and thiol levels were measured respettively by FRAP, TEA and HU methods. Then the result was analyzed using t-test. Results showed total antioxidant capacity and thiol plasma levels were lower in stroke patients in compare to healthy subjects, but only the thiol group had significant difference [P = 0/001]. Although lipid peroxidation showed a slight but non-significant difference in stroke patients in compare to control group. These findings suggest oxidative stress in patients with acute ischemic stroke may be conseaqence of an imbalance in oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis. Therefore it may be useful to recommend antioxidant medications or diet for these patients

determination of saliva antioxidant capacity in 15-17 year old Students of Arak high schools

Free radicals are molecules or atoms that due to their single electron have high reactivity. An imbalance between production of free radicals and antioxidant defensive system of human causes oxidative stress, which can create more than one hundred kinds of disease. Since environmental pollutants are a source of free radicals and Arak is an industrial city, this study was performed to determine the antioxidant capacity of 15-17 years old students of the city. This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 720 students [395 females and 325 males] selected by multiuse sampling. The total antioxidant capacity of saliva in these students was measured by ferric reducing ability of plasma [FRAP] method, which is based on the ability of saliva to reduce ferrous [Fe[+3]] to ferric ion [Fe[+2]]. The total antioxidant capacity of saliva was 1.53 +/- 0.065 micro m/ml. This amount was 1.64 +/- 0.071 in males and 1.42 +/- 0.059 micro m/ml in females. Our results showed that antioxidant capacity of Arak students was lower than that of antioxidant capacity in other studies. This factor, as an antioxidant disturbance, may cause different diseases in the students of this city

[Comparison of oxidative stress in preeclampsia, normal pregnancy and non-pregnant women]

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific condition characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. Preeclampsia remains a disease of theories as its real etiology has remained elusive. Endothelial cell dysfunction may play a role in the pathobiology of preeclampsia. There is some evidence to suggest that endothelial cell damage result from oxidative stress. The aim of the study was to measure oxidative stress markers in preeclampsia. Total antioxidant capacity [TAC], lipid peroxidation [LPO] and thiol groups was measured in 20 women with preeclampsia, 20 normal pregnant women and 20 nonpregnant women. All three women groups were matched with respect to age, BMI, parity and gestational age. Oxidative stress markers were measured by spectrophotometer methods. Serum concentration of LPO was significantly higher in preeclampsia [17.7 + 3.8 nmol/ml] as compared with nonpregnant women [10.4 + 0.48 nmol/ml, p< 0.0001]. TAC in preeclamptic women was lower than those in normal pregnant and non-pregnant women, but not statistically significantly. There was no significant difference between the mean concentrations of thiol groups in the women groups. Increased levels of LPO products may cause peroxidative damage of vascular endothelium and result in clinical symptoms of preeclampsia. However, further experimental and clinical studies are necessary to clarify the pathogenesis of preeclampsia

[ comparison of total antioxidant capacity of serum and saliva between patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus and control]

In human body, there are a number of special systems to defend the damages caused by antioxidant. In some diseases the defense system against antioxidant activity alters and this alteration may be used in recognizing and the processing of different diseases. Diabetes is one of the most common and important chronic illnesses in which the antioxidant capacity is altered. The aim of this research was to determine and compare the antioxidant capacity of both serum and saliva of diabetics compare to the control group. This is a cross - sectional research in which those under studying are 42 people of with type II diabetes mellitus coming and going to the Arak diabetes center as the case group with 42 people of control group which were in the same age and sex with the people in the case group from the point of total antioxidant capacity in serum and saliva were compared. The capacity of antioxidant in serum and saliva was measured by FRAP method. The average and standard deviation [mean +/- SD] of the total antioxidant capacity of serum and saliva in case group were in range: 2.51 +/- 0.088, 1.90 +/- 0.110 micro m/ml and in control group were: 2.90 +/- 0.107, 1.97 +/- 0.098 micro m/ml. [P=0.001, 0.74] From the statistical viewpoint, the increase in the total antioxidant capacity of serum in case group was meaningful, but the decrease in the total antioxidant capacity in saliva was not meaningful. Our results showed that the antioxidant capacity in the patients' s serum was higher than that in the control group. However, this difference was not observed in the saliva of these two groups. Conclusively, if this capacity of antioxidant is used in recognizing and processing of the disease, this difference should be taken into account