Effective induction of hairy roots in persian poppy [Papaver bracteatum Lindl.] using sonication method

Background: Papaver bracteatum Lindl. Commonly known as Iranian poppy is an important medicinal plant due to the presence of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids

Objective: To evaluate the hairy root culture as a novel method for thebaine production

Methods: To optimize the hairy root culture of P. bracteatum, five strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes [ATCC15834, C318, A13, 9453 and A4] were used by means of Sonication-Assisted Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation [SAAT]

Results: Strain C318 proved to be more efficient than the other strains to hairy root induction ability. Among different experimental conditions, the highest transformation rate [28.5 %] was observed 4 weeks after inoculation, once the explants were subjected to sonication [45 s] following a heat treatment of 41 degree C for 5 min. Transgenic status of the hairy roots was confirmed by PCR using rolB specific primers

Conclusion: Strain C318 proved to be more efficient than the other strains to hairy root induction ability. Among different experimental conditions, the highest transformation rate [28.5 %] was observed 4 weeks after inoculation, once the explants were subjected to sonication [45 s] following a heat treatment of 41 degree C for 5 min. Transgenic status of the hairy roots was confirmed by PCR using rolB specific primers

Phytochemical diversity of Eremostachys laciniata bunge populations in Iran

Background: Eremostachys laciniata is known as "Chelle-Daghi" in Iran and its rhizomes are used as an emollient to relieve rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: A phytochemical study was performed on 15 populations of Eremostachys laciniata to qualify the phytochemical variations

Methods: Plants collected from their natural habitats and dried rhizomes of E. laciniata were milled and then Soxhlet-extracted by MeOH, and then total phenols were determined calorimetrically by the Folin-ciocalteau reagent and iridoid glycosides were measured by TLC method

Results: The results of MeOH extracts showed that the highest amount with 14.85 gr/plant was obtained in the Areshtanab population. The populations had a significant effect on total phenolic concentrations [P < 0.001] and the Areshtanab with 0.281 mg GAE/g DW had higher phenolic levels than other populations. The results of TLC of iridoids showed that 15 populations had about 11 iridoids components. Cluster analysis by using Ward's method detected that the studied populations of E. laciniata were separated into three different groups

Conclusion: In summary, higher values of the total phenols and iridoids in the Areshtanab, Malek-Kian, and Til populations were considered to indicate higher levels of phytochemical heterogeneity and significant diversity between populations, which could be used to domesticate and develop the breeding programs

[Variation of some phytochemical compound in shoot and root of rumex Turcomanicus Czerep. at different phenological stages]

Background: Rumex turcomanicus Czerep. Locally named Sagh-Torshak, is one of native green vegetable medicinally valuable plant belongs to family Polygonaceae, growing spontaneously in Northeast Iran, where its leaves are highly appreciated and consumed. Despite the high consumption, its knowledge is inconsiderable

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of main phytochemical compound in leaf and root parts of R. turcomanicus Czerep. in different phenological stages

Methods: The wild-growing plants were harvested at vegetative, floral budding, full floweringand mature seed stages and dissected into root and shoot tissues, which were dried separately and subsequently assayed for total phenolics, flavonoid, ascorbic acid, oxalic acid content and antioxidant activity, by spectrophotometric method

Results: The results showed considerable contents of phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant activity in roots and shoots of plant, with the higher contents in roots as compared to shoots. Among different phonological stages the highest total phenol, flavonoid, oxalic acid content and antioxidant activity of shoots was obtained in mature seed stage. Ascorbic acid of shoot was highest in floral budding stage. The greatest total phenol and flavonoid content of root was observed in floral budding stage, while the highest antioxidant activity was obtained in mature seed stage. A high negatively correlation was obtained between ascorbic acid and Oxalic acid

Conclusion: The concentrations of secondary metabolites in Rumex turcomanicus Czerep. depend on the phenological stage and tissue of the plant. As plant aged, oxalic acid and ascorbic acid of shoots were increased and decreased, respectively

[Evaluation of a short-time exercise on serum leptin levels in type 2 diabetic patients]

Research evidences showed that adipocytokines secreted by adipose tissue play an importance role in the development of obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a single bout of exercise on serum leptin levels and insulin resistance in adult males with type 2 diabetes. Fifteen adult obese men with diabetic aged 38-50 years participated in this semi-experimental study. Concentrations of glucose, triglyceride, serum leptin and insulin, as well as insulin resistance were measured before and immediately after a short single bout exercise on a fixed bicycle in studied patients. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test. Statistical significance was considered at p<0.05. In this study, exercise protocol did not cause any changes in the mentioned variables, except glucose concentration. In other word, blood glucose concentration significantly decreased after exercise test [p<0.03]. The finding of this study showed that a short single bout exercise has no acute effect on leptin levels and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients. It seems that serum leptin is decreased in response to long time exercise with high energy expenditure and negative energy balance

[ relationship between self-esteem and depression in nursing students of a selected medical university in Tehran]

Medical students, especially army university students are considered as being under high risk for mental disorders. This study investigated the relationship between self-esteem and depression in nursing students of a selected medical university in Tehran. In this descriptive-analytical survey, 130 nursing students of a selected medical university in Tehran were selected. Data collection tools were: A researcher-made demographic information questionnaire, the 21-item Beck Depression questionnaire, and 58-question Cooper Smith self Esteem Questionnaire. After entering the data into SPSS version 18 and using the Liker method for scoring options in the questionnaire, data analysis was made according to SPSS software and descriptive-analytical statistics [Chi-square]. The results showed that%24.3 of students had moderate to severe depression. Also%56.1 had a low self-esteem. Chi-square tests showed significant differences between depression and self-esteem in the assessed units [P<0.05]. Given that a significant difference existed between the level of self-esteem and depression and upon increasing self-esteem, the scores of depression decreases, it, therefore is possible to use methods of enhancing self-esteem to improve students' mental health

[Analysis of the relationship between self-estimated and measured physical fitness among non-athletic female and male university students]

The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between self-estimated and measured physical fitness among non-athletic young females and males. The target population of this study was all non-athletic male of female students from the University of Guilan. After translating the SPQ standard-questionnaire [Delignieres, 1994] and adjusting some of the questions, the questionnaire was evaluated by the specialists in the context of validity and the Reliability achieved by test-retest [Cronbach Alpha value of 0.84] We then, according to the Odineski table selected 150 male and 170 female students, with the mean: age of 21.83 +/- 1.17 and 21.13 +/- 1.56 years; height of 173.64 +/- 1.56 and 159.29 +/- 6.45 cm; weight of 70.66 +/- 11.80 and 57.73 +/- 10.27 kg; and body mass index of 23.45 +/- 3.3 and 22.74 +/- 3.7 kg/m[2], respectively. The inferential statistics of the t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. The results show that male and female students in the study did not have a true self-estimate of their physical fitness, muscular strength, endurance cardio - respiratory, flexibility, and body composition. There were also significant differences between self-estimated physical fitness and the fitness test measures among the male and female students [P<0.001]. Compared to the female students, the male students had a better self-estimated image of their physical activity. Based on the fact that the male and female students in the study do not have a true self-estimate of their physical fitness, we suggest that they should be provided with necessary facilities and support in order to encourage them to participate in the physical activity and fitness training programs, which could lead to improvement of their mental and body health status and a better picture of self-estimated physical activity

[Effect of vitamin-mineral supplementation on oxidative stress and plasma cytokine response after strenuous training in female elite swimmers]

This study aims at investigating the effect of vitamin-mineral supplementation on oxidative stress and plasma cytokine response after strenuous training periods in female elite swimmers. Twenty-four elite female swimmers volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly divided into two groups, the experimental [Vitamin-mineral supplemented] and the control [Placebo]. Both groups were in a monthly swimming programs, 3 times a week, for a total of 4 weeks and swimming, almost 3.5 to 4 km/d. Blood sampling was done before and after the training period to assess inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha, and also MDA. 100 m crawl records were measured at the beginning and the end of the training period. Results showed that inflammatory cytokines decreased significantly in the vitamin-mineral supplemented group, and MDA decreased, though not significantly, in this group. There was no significant change between the groups. No significant change was observed in swimming performance in either groups. In conclusion, ROS was found to affect exercise-induced cytokine production, in which vitamin-mineral supplementation was found to play an effective role

Effects of antioxidant supplementation on oxidative stress and muscle injury in elite female swimmers after a strenuous training period

Reactive oxygen species [ROS] are produced due to prolong and intensive exercises, such as intense swimming training, leading to cell injury. Antioxidant supplementation seems to reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the effects of antioxidant ? vitamin-mineral ? supplementation on oxidative stress and muscle injury indices after a strenuous training period in elite female swimmers. Twenty-four elite female swimmers [aged 12.93 +/- 1.22 years, weight 45.80 +/- 10.39 Kg, height 153.1 +/- 12.9 cm], members of Tehran and Karaj Swimmimg Clubs, volunteered to participate in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups: a vitamin-mineral-supplemented [n=12] and a control [n=12] group. Both groups participated in streneous swimming sessions for a period of 4 weeks [3 times a week, each time swimming 3.5 to 4 km]. Blood samples were taken before and after the period to determine muscle injury indices, such as aspartat aminotransferase [AST], creatine kinase [CK], lactate dehydrogenase, and myoglobin, as well as malon dialdehyde [MDA]. In addition, 100m crawl records were determined at the beginning and at the end of the period. Paired sample and independent t- tests were used for data analysis. Results showed that some of the muscle injury indices, namely, CK and AST, decreased significantly in the vitamin-mineral-supplemented group [p=0.011 and 0.04, respectively]. The decrease in MDA was not statistically significant. Inter-group comparisons showed a difference only with regard to CK [p=0.021]. No significant differences [intra- and inter-group comparisons] were observed in swimming performance. ROS affects exercise-induced muscle injury indices. Vitamin-mineral supplementation can have a beneficial role in such injury

[Review on new techniques in tropane alkaloids production]

Increasing from day to day tendency of human societies to plant based drug usage increased demand of secondary metabolite application. Although artificial production of these compounds greatly progressed, but the only way to achieve these fine medicinal compounds has been to extract them from plant resources. Alkaloid field, although very old, is still in its infancy with regard to being fully understood, and biotechnologically exploited. Up to now, approximately 5000 different alkaloids, in 15% of plants that belong to 150 families, have been recognized, that tropane alkaloids such as hyosyamine, scopolamine, atropine and cocaine, with a broad medical usage are a class of them. Industrial tropane alkaloid production by modern techniques such as cell and tissue culture, somatic hybridization, metabolic engineering and commercial large scale culture, is highly concerned nowadays and in this review, the authors have tried to point out some of the results obtained by application of these techniques

[Comparative study on the essential oil content and composition of achillea eriophora DC. in field and wild conditions]

Achillea eriophora is an important species of Achillea that is native [Endemic] in Iran. It grows exclusively in the South provinces of Iran especially "Fars" province. It contains higher level of essential oil in comparison to other species. Study on the essential oil composition of Achillea eriophora DC. in wild conditions and comparison to field condition. Top flowering part of the Achillea eriophora wild population was collected from "Jahrom" ["Mohammad Abad" village in 10 [th] Km of the South-East of "Jahrom"] in the South of "Fars" province on June 2006. The essential oils of the samples were extracted by "Clevenger" apparatus and its constituents determined by GC and GC-MS. Also, the seeds of this plant also cultivated in September 2006 in Mashhad region. On July 2007, top flowering parts of the cultivated plants harvested at full flowering stage. After drying, essential oils content of the samples determined and its components detected as mentioned for wild samples. The essential oils content of the wild and cultivated samples were 2% and 2.25% v/w respectively. In wild samples thirty components were identified and the major components were: Camphor [30.4%], 1,8-Cineole [25.24%], Camphene [6.21%]? alpha-Pinene [4.49%] and Myrcene [3.91%]. Thirty-six components determined in the cultivated samples and the main components were: Camphor [28.98%], 1,8-Cineole [26.98%], Camphene [5.98%] and alpha -Pinene [4.23%]. In cultivated samples, essential oil content and constituents increased but the relative content of the main constituents decreased

Cardiac resynchronisation - a new standard in heart failure therapy

Chronic heart failure is a clinical syndrome and the final common pathway of different cardiac diseases. A rising incidence is reported all over the world, leading to enormous cost and spending of health care resources. Although medical therapy with beta blockers, ACE-inhibitors and spironolactone has proved to be efficacious, mortality remains high. Therefore the introduction of supplemental methods is very welcome and indeed, electrical therapies with implanted devices become increasingly important in this regard. Besides the implanted cardioverter defibrillator [ICD], cardiac resynchronisation therapy [CRT] has recently been shown not only to improve exercise tolerance, but also to prolong survival in patients with heart failure and cardiac asynchrony. Therefore, an overview of cardiac resynchronisation therapy, including additional CRT-ICD capabilities, is given herein according the literature. This includes current guidelines, our own implantation experience, and follow-up data of 500 patients during 1999 - 2007

[ frequency of SspI polymorphism in intron II of beta globin gene in Mazandaran province]

Due to the high annual birth rate of thalassemia major in our country, its prevention by prenatal diagnosis is of important priority. Gene mutation remains unknown in 10-20% of thalassemia trait people in Iran. In these cases, linkage analysis using polymorphic sites which are located near or within the gene is necessary to follow the mutant or the normal chromosome. SspI polymorphic site which is studied for the first time in Iran is located in the second intron of beta globin gene. The aim of this study was to determine the polymorphism frequency of this site in Mazandaran province. Peripheral blood of 211 thalassemia trait patients living in Mazandaran province was collected. After DNA extraction and amplification of the beta globin gene region containing the SspI polymorphic site, the effect of SspI restriction enzyme was evaluated on agarose gel. In 422 analyzed chromosomes, 20.6% were negative for SspI polymorphic site. Negative sites were almost equally associated with normal and mutant alleles [11.9% and 14.3% respectively]. SspI site analysis can be applied to follow the normal or mutant alleles of beta globin gene

[Covered self-expanding metal stent in palliative treatment of dysphagic patient with end-stage malignancy of cardia: the first experience in stent placement and literature review]

Background: More than 50% of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus or gastric cardia have incurable disease at presentation and require palliative treatment for dysphagia. lnsertion of a self-expanding metal stent has become the treatment of choice for these patients. We report successful placement of a covered self-expanding metal stent in a patient with malignant squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] of esophagogastric junction

Case report: A 62-year-old man referred to the gastrointestinal division of the 501 medical center, Tehran, lran due to dysphagia. During upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a seven cm tumor was seen 35 cm distal to dental line. Histologic examination of the biopsy samples confirmed malignant SCC. The tumor was in stage lll/lV and therefore it was inoperable. Palliative therapy with 11-cm covered Choo stent [Ml-Tech Ltd., Seoul, South Korea] was considered for this patient. On March 12, 2006 after sedation with midazolam, the stent was placed under the fluoroscopic and endoscopic guide. The patient underwent radiotherapy, thereafter. During the two-month follow-up, the patient's general condition recovered and he gained weight

Conclusions: Fluoroscopically guided insertion of covered self-expanding metal stents is a safe and comfortable method of palliation for patients suffering with malignant dysphagia. For prevention of restenosis, covered types should be given priority

Subepithelial hematoma of the renal pelvicalyceal system simulating renal cystic tumor

Only 13 cases of subepithelial hematoma of the renal pelvicalyceal system have been reported. We report the fourteenth case. In 11 of the 13 reported cases, nephrectomy of the involved kidney was performed. Our case is the third case in which only partial nephrectomy was done in this benign lesion. A 38 year old male was referred due to hematuria and left flank pain. Intravenous pyelogram revealed a mass in the lower pole of the left kidney. Ultrasound and CT scanning revealed a cystic mass in the same area. Partial left lower pole nephrectomy was done. Pathology report was benign Anthopol Goldman lesion [subepithelial hematoma of renal pelvicalyceal system]