effects of subacute exposure of peracetic acid on lipid peroxidation and hepatic enzymes in wistar rats

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of subacute exposure of peracetic acid on lipid peroxidation and hepatic enzymes in Wistar rats. 48 male animals in Treatment Group I, II and III received 0.2%, 2% and 20% peracetic acid daily for 2 and 4 weeks. Serum malondialdehyde increased and Alanine Transaminase and Aspartate Transaminase decreased significantly in groups 2 and 3, compared to the control group. The malondialdehyde, Alanine Transaminase and Aspartate Transaminase with 0.2% and 2% doses of peracetic acid for 2 weeks do not lead to the alteration of malondialdehyde and enzyme activities. This study demonstrated that the enhancement of malondialdehyde could provide an oxidative damage induced by disinfectant peroxidation at 20% and 2% doses at 2 and 4 weeks. The consumption of peroxidation with 20% for 2 weeks and 2% for 4 weeks can cause the increase of malondialdehyde and the decrease of enzyme activities, respectively

Teratogenic effects of gabapentin on the skeletal system of balb/C mice fetuses

To evaluate the effects of gabapentin [GBP] administration on mice fetuses. This study was carried out in Birjand University of Medical Sciences during 2008. Thirty Balb/c pregnant mice were divided randomly into 3 groups: 2 experimental groups that received 25 mg/kg [I] and 50 mg/kg [II] of GBP intraperitoneally for the first 15 days of pregnancy, and a control group that received normal saline. External observations of day 18 fetuses and skeleton double staining were performed. Both experimental groups showed similar disorders that can be categorized as the following: 1] decrease of fetal body weight and increase of fetal resorption, 2] macroscopic malformations, and 3] skeletal malformations. Fetal body weights were significantly lower, and fetus resorptions were significantly higher in both treated groups compared to the control group. Macroscopic malformations included exencephaly, limbs defects, brachygnathia, vertebral column deformity, and fetuses with severe retarded growth. Skeletal malformations included delayed ossification, scoliosis, calvaria deformity, and mandibular hypoplasia. This study revealed that GBP can induce previously unreported severe malformations if it is used continuously during the implantation, neurulation, and organogenesis stages of pregnancy. Therefore, it is suggested that great caution should be exercised in using GBP during the early stages of pregnancy until further studies are performed to better understand these effects

Prolongation of AV nodal refractoriness by Ruta graveolens in isolated rat hearts. Potenial role as an anti-arrhythmic agent

To evaluate concentration-dependent effects of total extract of Ruta graveolens and its purified alkaloid fraction on the nodal basic and functional properties. In the present experimental study, we used the Langendorff model for perfusion of isolated rat hearts to determine the effects of various concentrations of methanolic extract of Rue 1.25x10-6% weight per volume percent [W/V]; 2.5x10-6% W/V; 3.75x10-6% W/V and total alkaloid of Rue 0.25x10-6% W/V; 0.5x10-6% W/V on electrophysiological properties of cardiac tissue. Selective stimulation protocols were used to independently quantify atrioventricular AV nodal recovery, facilitation, and fatigue. We used 3 groups N=24 of isolated perfused rat AV nodal preparations to assess the effect of Rue extracts. The study was carried out in October 2006 in the electrophysiology laboratory of the Cardiovascular Research Center of Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Gorgan, Iran. Our results showed that both the total plant extract and the alkaloid fraction of Ruta graveolens had a similar trend of action on nodal conduction time and refractoriness. Furthermore, we observed increased atrioventricular conduction time 83 +/- 4 to 108 +/- 5 msec and functional refractory period 157.6 +/- 3 to 163.7 +/- 4 msec at a maximum concentration of 3.75x10-6% W/V. The above results indicated a potential antiarrhythmic effect of Ruta graveolens in treating supra ventricular tachyarrhythmia

Epidemiologic aspects of neural tube defects in South East Iran

To investigate the rate of neural tube defects [NTDs] and their relation to gender, maternal age, consanguineous marriage, season, and drug consumption in Birjand, Iran. This research was carried out on 16,785 live or stillborn newborns in Birjand, Iran from April 1997 to December 2001. The rate of NTDs was 2.97 per 1000. This rate was 1.97 per 1000 in males, and 3.55 per 1000 in females. The rate of anencephaly was 1.37 per 1000, and spina bifida was 0.88 per 1000. We found that 32% of mothers with affected newborns had taken drugs during the first trimester of pregnancy, 90% of mothers did not consume folate before and during the first trimester, and 54% of parents had consanguineous marriage. We concluded that folate deficiency, usage of drugs during pregnancy, and consanguineous marriage may play a role of predisposition to NTD