[Protective effect of Carthamus tinctorius L. extract on acetaminophen induced nephrotoxicity in mice]

Background and Objective: Acetaminophen is a commonly used analgesic and antipyretic agent which, in high doses, causes liver and kidney necrosis in man and animals. Carthamus tinctorius L. [Safflower] is a colorful and cheap plant that used often instead of saffron. In this study, protective effects of Carthamus tinctorius L. aqueous extract on acetaminophen induced nephrotoxicity in mice were investigated

Methods: In this experimental study, forty adult NMRI male mice were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 [control group] received normal salin for 15 days. Group 2 received 300 mg/kg Carthamus tinctorius L. extract for 15 days. Group 3 received normal salin for 15 days and 500 mg/kg acetaminophen was given in 15[th] day. Groups 4 and 5 received daily 150 and 300 mg/kg Carthamus tinctorius L. extract for 15 days, respectively, and acetaminophen was also given in 15[th] day. In 16[th] day, blood samples were taken for BUN [Blood Urea Nitrogen], Cr [Creatinine] and Uric acid tests, and the mice kidneys were removed for histopathology assessments

Results: Acute renal necrosis and BUN, Cr and Uric acid levels were significantly increased in acetaminophen treated mice [P<0.05]. BUN, Cr and Uric acid levels were significantly reduced in the Carthamus tinctorius L. treated groups in comparison to acetaminophen group [P<0.05] and this reduction was greater in group 5. Carthamus tinctorius L. extract also reduced tubular necrosis-induced by acetaminophen

Conclusion: Carthamus tinctorius L. extract have protective effects on acute renal injury induced by acetaminophen

[Comparison of general health in adolescent boys and girls and its relationship with personality characteristics]

The importance of the mental processes and their role in people's health and disease have been demonstrated by several studies. Although diverse affect people's health, for the realization of their general health, and the role of personality factors that determine the individuals' rules of conduct, further studies are required. Exploration and comparison of general health in adolescent girls and boys and its relationship with personality characteristics. We selected for this cross-sectional study, 4342 male and female students in high schools and pre-university across 11 provinces of Iran through multistage cluster sampling. General Health Questionnaire [GHQ] and Five- factor Personality Traits[NEO] were filled. In order to analyze the data, descriptive statistics parameters such as frequency, mean and standard deviation and for inferential analysis, Correlation Coefficient, Regression Analysis and multivariate analysis of variance [MANOVA] were used. According to the results, there was a significant difference between adolescent girls and boys in terms of general health. The results also showed that there was a significant positive correlation between neuroticism and general health and a significant negative correlation between extroversion, conscientiousness, and openness and general health [p<0/01]. Also it was shown that neuroticism, extroversion, conscientiousness, and openness to experience can be considered respectively as the predictors for measuring the probability of adolescents' general health status. Considering the results, it seems that by examining the personality characteristics of adolescents we can measure the likelihood of changes in various aspects of their general health conditions. Also, as the results demonstrated, we can conclude that the general health of the girls are more at risk than the boys

Better mental component of quality of life in amputee

Assessment of quality of life can promote health services. The purpose of this study was evaluation of health related quality of life in lower limbs amputee veterans of Iran. In the present cross sectional study, we compared 38 lower limbs amputee veterans with 50 normal healthy subjects with SF36 questioner in face-to-face interview. Amputees had significantly lower grade than normal subject did in role physical [P < 0.01] and were better than normal subjects in vitality [P < 0.001] and mental health [P < 0.01]. As a whole, amputees have higher in mental summary component of quality of life [P < 0.05] and lower in physical component of quality of life [P < 0.01]. Diminishing the demand and improving social support of amputee veterans might be considered as high grade in mental summary component of their quality of life

[ survey of concerns and psychological disorders in elderly sanatorium]

This study aims at knowing old age problems especially for those living at elderly sanatorium and extending counseling services to the vast and new field of geriatrics in Iran. In this study, 120 old people who lived at governmental and private elderly sanatorium in Tehran, Iran were randomly enrolled and studied using SCL90-R. The results showed that signs of depression and somatization disorders were the most common ones among the elderly in elderly sanatorium. In all studied clinical scales, the rate of psychological symptoms was more among women than men. The most important worries of the elderly were economic status, social relations, dissatisfaction with old age, lack of favorite activities and their family members' treatment. Since living at an elderly sanatorium means staying away from family support and that it is considered reproachable, attending to psychological and emotional needs of the elderly sanatorium is essential