Study of antibiotic prescribing among dental practitioners in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran

Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics by health care professionals is a worldwide concern. This study evaluated the knowledge and practices of dental practitioners in the city of Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran regarding their therapeutic use of antibiotics for patients with dentoalveolar infections. Of 219 [48.6%] dentists responding to the questionnaire more than 40% would prescribe antibiotics for localized fluctuant swelling and for problems for which antibiotics are not required according to good practice guidelines [acute pulpitis, chronic apical infection, periodontal abscess, chronic gingivitis, chronic periodontitis, pericoronitis and dry socket]. A majority correctly prescribed antibiotics for acute periapical infection [77.2%], cellulitis [75.3%] and acute ulcerated gingivitis [63.0%]. Amoxicillin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic for all clinical conditions but there was a wide variation in dosage, frequency and duration for all antibiotics used. Guidelines on rational antibiotic use are needed for dental practitioners in the Islamic Republic of Iran

[Estradiol valerate-induced polycystic ovary syndrome: an animal model study]

Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder and one of the most common causes of an ovulation among women in their reproductive age. Presence of cysts in the ovaries alteration in the blood levels of gonadotropine hormones and gaining weight are some of the main characteristics of PCOS among humans. Our goal was to investigate the possible occurrence of such conditions in animal models of PCOS. Forty five Sprague Dawely rats were divided into 3 equal groups: the treatment and sham groups were intramuscularly injected by a single dose of Estradiol Valerate [4 mg/rat, dissolved in 0.4 ml] and equal volume of olive oil, respectively, and the control group without any injection. During the 12 weeks of study, the animal's weights were measured once a week. After 8 weeks, serum levels of testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, Follicular Stimulating Hormone [FSH], Latinizing Hormone [LH] and glucose were measured. Following 12 weeks, ovaries were removed and prepared for light microscopy. Histological characteristics of ovaries were observed after hematoxylin-eosin staining. Animal weight and serum level of testosterone were significantly reduced among PCOS induced rats while progesterone, LH and glucose levels were elevated. There was no significant difference in estradiol and FSH levels among different group of animals. Many cysts and degenerating follicles were observed in the treatment group. PCOS can be experimentally produced by a single injection of Estradiol Valerate in the rat, but some of the complex aspects of PCOS are not clearly defined

[ effect of hesperidin, on cardiac dysfunction of experimental type-I diabetic rats]

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds, which are considered as antioxidants due to their ability to scavenge free radicals and inhibit enzymes in oxygen-reduction pathways. Various studies have shown that these products reduce the cardiovascular disease mortalities. Heart failure is one of the main cause of mortality in diabetic patients. It is believed that diabetes has deleterious cardiomyopathic effects, which would lead to heart failure. Several evidences indicate that oxidative stress is an important factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, including cardiomyopathy. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of hesperidin on cardiac function parameters in experimental diabetes mellitus type 1 [DM1]. Diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin [60mg/kg]. diabetic rats were given oral Hesperidin [500 mg/kg] for two months. Afterwards, the animals' hearts were used to study left ventricular systolic pressure [LVSP], rate of rise [+dP/dT] and rate of decrease [-dP/dT] of left ventricular pressure, using Langendorff isolated heart apparatus. Diabetes significantly reduced the LVSP, +dP/dT and -dP/dT compared to the control group p<0.05]. Hesperidin significantly improved all measured parameters in diabetic animals [p<0.05]. These results show that hesperidin can improve diabetic cardiomyopathy in experimental diabetes mellitus

[Effects of phenylephrine, calcium, Acetylcholine and Diazoxide on isolated Aorta of preeclamptic rats]

Preeclampsia, one of the most significant health problems in human pregnancy, is a leading cause of fetal mortality and maternal death. Alteration in vascular response to vasopressors and vasodilators is proposed as a major change in the context of preeclampsia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the responsiveness of preeclamptic rat aorta to some vasopressors and vasodilators. This experimental study was carried out in the pharmacology department of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2008. Thirty pregnant rats were randomly divided into two groups [15 rats in each group]: case group received L-NAME at a dose of 50 mg/kg through drinking water from day 11 of pregnancy. Control group received only tap water. On the 22[nd] gestational day, all rats were anesthetized and killed; thoracic aorta was isolated, cut into 2-3 mm rings and mounted in organ bath. The isolated aortic rings were then exposed to cumulative concentrations of phenylepherine [Ph] and calcium, separately and contractions were measured by isometric transducers. To study the relaxing responses of aortic segments to vasodilators, the effects of cumulative concentrations of acetylcholine [Ach] and diazoxide on aortic rings precontracted with Ph and potassium were recorded, respectively. SPSS software and unpaired T-Test were used for data analysis. Potency of phenyepherine to contract rat aorta was significantly higher in preeclamptic rats compared to normal pregnant group [P= 0.014] but there was no significant difference in Ph-induced maximum contraction between two groups. Potency of Ach and its maximum relaxation effect was significantly lower in preeclamptic rats compared to controls, [p values were 0.026 and 0.004, respectively]. There were no statistically significant differences in the contractile responses of calcium and relaxing effects of diazoxide between two groups. Experimental preeclampsia increases the sensitivity of rat aorta to alpha- adrenergic receptor agonists and decreases the endothelium-dependent relaxation of it. It seems that the functions of voltage-operated calcium channels and ATP-dependent potassium channels do not change in experimental preeclampsia

Effects of nandrolone decanoate on ultrastructure of testis in male adult rats

To improve the athletic ability and muscle mass, anabolic androgenic steroids are abused by athletes. Little is known about how these compounds affect the fine structures of the testis. This study aimed to identify the changes in the fine structure of testis following administration of nandrolone decanoate. Twenty five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two experimental, two vehicle, and one control groups. Experimental groups were treated by 3 or 10 mg/kg/wk intramuscular injection of nandrolone decanoate. The vehicle groups were treated by the same amount of peanut oil, for 14 weeks. One week after the last injection, the rats were sacrificed and their testes were prepared for transmission electron microscopy study. The cells in the interstitial space of the experimental rats were considerably degenerated. The basement membrane was thick and the diameter of seminiferous tubule was reduced. Several degenerated Sertoli cells and apoptotic germ cells were considerably observed in the experimental rats. The results of this study show that fine structure of the testis is affected by nandrolone decanoate

Improvement of endothelium-dependent relaxation in aorta of rat models type 1 and 2 diabetes by hespiridin

Vascular disease is the principal cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. A considerable body of evidence implicates oxidative stress as an important pathogenic factor of diabetic vasculopathies. In the present study, the effect of hesperidin, a flavanone glycoside with antioxidant activity, is studied in endothelium-dependent relaxation of the rat aorta in experimental diabetes mellitus type 1 [DM1] and type 2 [DM2]. Single dose intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin [60mg/kg] and subcutaneous daily injection of dexamethasone [10mg/kg for one month] were used to induce DM1 and DM2, respectively. Hesperidin [500mg/kg] was administered orally for two months in DM1 and one month in DM2. The effect of acetylcholine [Ach] on phenyl ephrine [PE] induced. PE contracted aorta was then studied and the EC50 and maximal relaxant effect of Ach were calculated and compared in the two groups. In the experimental DM1, hesperidin restored endothelium-dependent relaxation near to those of normal animals. Its effect on experimental DM2 consisted of a significant reduction of EC50 value of Ach compared to those of diabetic animals. It also showed a great but non-significant effect [P = 0.07] on Ach-induced maximum relaxation compared to DM2 untreated animals. These results show that hesperidin can improve vascular endothelial dysfunction in experimental diabetes mellitus

effect of nandrolone decanoate on the body, testis and epididymis weight and semen parameters in adult male rats

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are used at high doses by athletes for improving athletic ability, physical appearance and muscle mass. Therefore, the abuse of these steroids has been significantly increased. Many undesirable side effects of these steroids on the male reproductive function have been reported, however, little is known about their effects on sexual behavior and tissues of the reproductive system. The aim of this study is to identify the effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids on the body, testis and epididymis weight, as well as semen parameters. Five groups of Sprague-Dawley adult male rats [n=72] were used. Two experimental groups were medicated with intramuscular injection of 3 and 10 mg/kg body wt/wk of nandrolone decanoate and two vehicle groups with same doses of sweet almond and olive oils, respectively, for 14 weeks. The control group received no injection. One week after the last injection, rats were sacrificed and the weights of the body, testis and epididymis and also semen parameters were assessed. The weights of testis and epididymis, as well as, sperm count and motility rate were significantly decreased in experimental groups than in the vehicle and control groups. Morphologically abnormal sperms were observed. We found that anabolic-androgenic steroids affect fertility parameters and cause testis atrophy

[Effect of systemic dexamethasone premedication on short-term experimentally induced oral mucositis in hamsters]

Oral Mucositis [OM] is a frequent and well-known side effect of cancer chemotherapy as well as head and neck radiation therapy. Considering the proposed critical role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an important cellular transcription factor [Nuclear Factor-kappaB] in pathogenesis of OM, an animal study was planned to evaluate the possible effects from powerful inhibition of the above-mentioned factors on OM. Evaluation of the effects of systemic dexamethasone [DEX] premedication on the course and severity of a short-term chemotherapy-induced OM in an animal model. In this trial, 75 male adult golden hamsters were recruited by random division to three groups as following: Group A: Received neither chemotherapy nor DEX premedication. Group B: Received chemotherapy and also normal saline as premedication. Group C: Received chemotherapy and also DEX as premedication in specified dosages for three sub-groups, each with 15 animals. Chemotherapy was administered by once daily injections of 5-Fluorouracil on the days 1 and 2 of the experiment. Premedications implied either as normal saline or DEX, were administered as once daily injections at the same time of days 1 to 9; those of the days 1 and 2 were followed one hour later by 5-FU injections. On the fourth day of the experiment, the cheek pouch mucosa of all animals were irritated by scratches of sterile needle tip to potentiate OM. On the days 6, 9 and 16, the cheek pouches were examined clinically and histopathologically for determination of definite macroscopic and microscopic scores in a blind fashion. Moreover, on the day 9, blood sampling for culture as well as histopathologic analysis for oral candidiasis were carried out respectively on randomized subsets of 2 and 5 animals per each group. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test. Comparison of macroscopic as well as microscopic scores among different groups, showed prominent protective role from DEX premedication at high and moderate dosages, seen clinically as less severe forms of OM. The most important negative outcome from DEX premedication was mortality in a number of animals, with the most occurring in the high-dosage subgroup. It seems that among the three dosages of DEX premedication in this trial, the moderate dose [0.1 mg/kg] showed good results, both in terms of less mortality and also remarkable effect on reducing the severity of OM