Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of caraway on thyroid gland structure and hormones in female rat

Caraway is one of the medicinal plants used for digestion problems, however, it has been reported that the long term use of this plant in large doses might cause hyperthyroidism symptoms such as leanness, hair loss, severe sweating and tremulousness. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of caraway on the level of thyroid hormones and morphologic changes of thyroid gland in rats. For this purpose, 60 rats were divided into 5 experimental and control groups. Experimental groups were orally given 100, 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg of extract for 45 days by gavage. The same volume of saline was given to the control group. Blood samples were taken before and after the experiments for the measurement of hormones. The rats were dissected under deep anesthesia and their thyroid glands were removed, processed and stained with H and E. Results show that T[3] and T[4] were increased and TSH was decreased significantly at high doses compared to those in the control group, but no change was observed in the structure of the gland and the size of follicles. It seems that caraway can temporally increase thyroid hormones and cause hyperthyroidism, but further studies are required to clarify the issue

[Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral stress management therapy on patients's quality of life with alopecia areata in skin disease and leishmaniasis research centre of Isfahan]

Researches showed that there is a relationship among alopecia areata, psychological factors and prevalence of psychological disorders. In addition alopecia areata has a great effect on the quality of life of these patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral stress management therapy on female patients's the quality of life with alopecia areata. This is a case-control study with pre and post-test exam which is carried out in Isfahan Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis research Center. The participants consisted of 20 alopecia areata patients diagnosed by specialists. The questionnaire was Skindex-16 which was completed by patients before and after the intervention. Cognitive-behavioral stress management therapy was done on the case group in eight sessions over a period of two months. Data was analyzed with covariance [ANOVA]. The mean of quality of life scores in experimental group in v.s control group significantly decreased [P<0.05]. it seems, cognitive-behavioral stress management therapy couses in quality of life improvement in patients with alopecia areata

transitional zone of the renal artery in cats

The length and structure of the transitional zone in the tunica media in the renal artery of adult male cats were investigated. In addition, the volume of the lumen and different layers in transitional and non-transitional zones in the right and left sides were also determined. Morphometrical, histological and stereological studies were performed on 16 renal arteries of 8 adult male cats. After perfusion and morphometrical measurement, routine tissue processing was carried out by autotechnicon. The processed tissues were embedded in paraffin and sectioned serially into 5 micro m thickness. The sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and orcein. In the morphometrical measurement, the right renal arteries were longer than the left ones with a mean value of 22.0 +/- 0.2 and 18.8 +/- 0.1 mm, respectively. Despite the fact that the right renal artery is commonly longer, the length of transitional zone was 7mm in both renal arteries of adult male cats. The artery has a structure between muscular and elastic type at its origin with several elastic layers in the tunica media which is gradually changed to a muscular type at the distal section after 7 mm from origin of aorta. Transitional zone has an arrangement of parallel elastic fibers which become rare and fragmented towards the non-transitional zone. The volume of tunica intima, tunica media, tunica adventitia and lumen of the artery decrease from transitional zone towards the non-transitional zone and the volume of these areas in both transitional and non-transitional zones in the right renal artery is more than the left one. The volume of the lumen in transitional zone differs significantly compared to non-transitional zone, in both sides [P<0.05]. Also there is a significant difference in the volume of the lumen in non-transitional zone between right and left renal arteries [P<0.05]

[Comparative study of central motor conduction time by using magnetic stimulation and F-wave study in normal subjects]

Central motor conduction time [CMCT] includes time for excitation of the corticospinal pathways and transmission along those tracts. Data obtained by cortical magnetic stimulation are helpful in some clinical situations such as multiple sclerosis, cervical spondylosis, motor neuron disease, and etc. However, using different methods for peripheral motor conduction time [PMCT] demonsrates two different results. In this study, we used two methods to compare CMCT from F-wave latency and spinal root magnetic stimulation. Also, this study was performed to determine normal values, effects of sex, age and upper limb length. Magnetic stimulation of the cortex and cervical spinal roots was performed on 39 healthy subjects. Responces were recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis [APB] muscle. F-wave study was performed in the median nerve. Subtraction of total motor conduction time [TMCT: cortical response] and PMCT by F-wave and cervical root stimulation, shows CMCT. The results showed 19.7 ms for TMCT, 7.3 ms for CMCT of root stimulation and 4.8 for Fwave based CMCT. CMCT to the APB correlates with upper limb length but no with age or sex. The CMCT calculated by subtracting F- wave latencies measured to APB after transcranial stimulation was shorter than the one obtained after magnetic root stimulation

[Estimation of glomerular volume in rats with glycerol-induced acute renal failure]

The use of stereological methods in evaluation of volume changes in vital organs such as kidney is very important. In this study, the volume of glomeruli in glycerol-induced acute renal failure in rats was determined. 48 Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into 2 groups [1control, 1experiment]. Experimental group was injected 10ml/kg of 50% glycerol intramuscularly, while the same volume of saline was injected in the control group. After 48h, animals were dissected under deep anesthesia, and right kidneys were fixed by vascular perfusion. Microscopic slides were stained with H-E. Glomerular volumes were calculated using projecting microscope, point counting and cavalieri principal. The results indicated that renal failure induced-glycerol didn't affect the glomerular volume. It seems that estimation of glomerular volume can not be a useful variable in identification of acute renal failure induced glycerol, but further investigations are needed to clarify the issue