Effect of Systemic Administration of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor on Rate of Fracture Healing of Bone Defect in Goats as Animal Model

@#Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) serves as an important cytokine in haematopoiesis; released at both physiological and pathological conditions by a range of cells. We hypothesized that the systemic administration of G-CSF would produce an accelerated fracture-healing rate in non-union bone defects; thus, potentially leading to useful clinical applications. Ten male adult Katjang goats, weighing about 15-26 kilograms were randomly chosen and a tibial bone defect was induced in each animal. The defect was maintained by internal fixation with a titanium plate and reinforced by an external fiberglass cast. Post-operative radiographs were performed twice weekly and radiographic assessments were performed by evaluating the bridging and union measurements through a validated method. In the treatment group, the time for bridging and union exhibited statistically significant differences when compared with a control group. The outcomes of the present study establishing a notion that administration of G-CSF besides inducing haematopoiesis, promotes healing of fractures and non-union bone defects as well.

Efficacy of herbal coded Hepcon on drug induced hepatitis in experimental animals through histopathological and biochemical analysis

Drug-induced liver injury is the leading cause for more than 50 percent of cases of acute liver failure. This study was conducted on herbo-mineral formulation "Hepcon" to evaluate its hepatoprotective effects in drug induced hepatitis in experimental animals. The liver injury was introduced with over dosage of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] and carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]]. The herbo-mineral formulations "Hepcon" consist of Zingiber officinale, Piprum nigrum, Ammonium chloride and Arsenic trioxide [Hartal warqi]. The aqueous extraction was administered to experimental animals. Thereafter their LFTs, IgG, and tissue pathology was studied. It was observed on the basis of biochemical and histopathological analysis that animals which were subjected to Hepcon became normal in 60 days whereas those as control group did not showed improvements and most of them died. It was concluded that the efficacy of Hepcon to treat liver injury caused by CCl[4] and NSAIDs is very effective, and no side effects were noticed

Osteoporosis and its association with estrogen receptor- alpha gene polymorphism in a population of Iranian women referring to Loghman hospital

Osteoporosis is a common disease in which the bones become prone to fracture as a result of loss of bone mineral density [BMD]. The estrogen receptor [ER] gene is a candidate gene for osteoporosis. This study assesses the relation between estrogen receptor- alpha gene polymorphism and osteoporosis in a population of Iranian women. In the present study, we investigated 200 pre- and/or post-menopausal Iranian women, aged 35-80 years, stratified for BMD into normal and patient groups. The genomic DNA of both groups was amplified by PCR using specific primers and products were digested by restriction enzymes PvuII or XbaI to identify the related genotypes. The genotypes of intron 1 PvuII or XbaI poly-morphisms of the ER- alpha gene were detected and introduced so that the upper case and lower case letters of Pp [PvuII] and Xx [XbaI] signified the absence or presence of restriction sites in RFLP experiments. Based on our results, no significant relationship was observed between BMD and intron 1 RFLPs of the estrogen receptor alpha gene. Three genotypes, Pp XX, pp XX and PP xx, were detected, all at a very low frequency in this population of Iranian women. To conclude no significant relationship was found between BMD and intron 1 RFLPs of the estrogen receptor alpha gene. Larger numbers of patients need to be investigated to ascertain and confirm whether ER- alpha genotypes are associated to the disease etiology and if any other factors are involved