ABSTRACT
Some plants and their aqueous extracts are used as traditional treatments for, diabetes. Cinnamon as a preferred candidate shows anti-diabetic and hypoglycemic effects. To determine the effect of cinnamon extract on blood glucose level of diabetic -rats. The present work was an experimental study in which seventy NMRI male rats[180-250gr] were divided into 2 major groups named as normal and diabetic group. Normal group was further subdivided as control, cinnamon and insulin subgroups in which the latter two received suspensions of cinnamon 60mg/kg per day and intraperitoneal injections of insulin [5micro g/kg], respectively. In four diabetic subgroups, diabetes was induced by ip injection of streptozotocin [40mg/kg]. These groups were marked as diabetic control, diabetic/cinnamon, diabetic/insulin and cinnamon plus insulin subgroups. Our results showed that the oral administration of cinnamon had not significant effect on normal cinnamon subgroup. Insulin injection in normal rats reduced glucose concentration from99.1to 52.1mg/dl. Glucose concentration in diabetic groups with treatment of cinnamon, Insulin and both of them were measured 121.6, 69.6 and 41.4 mg/dl, respectively. Reduction of glucose concentration in these subgroups show a significant change in comparison with control diabetic subgroup, 366.5 mg/dl [p<0.001].Cinnamon can reduce blood glucose concentration in diabetic rats and it seems that the cinnamon effect to be probably linked with potentiating action of cinnamon on insulin
ABSTRACT
Atrial septal defect [ASD] closure by surgery is a standard method with low mortality and complication rate. Nowadays, surgeons prefer to use less invasive methods including interventional and limited thoracotomy. The aim of this study was to compare the post surgical results in two groups undergoing ASD surgery, by sternotomy or thoracotomy method. This retrospective study was performed in Shahid Madani heart hospital from 1998-2003 on 73 patients who underwent ASD surgery. Data were collected by filling out a questionnaire. Group I [thoracotomy] included 38 patients with mean age of 23.84 +/- 3.2 years and group II [complete sternotomy] included 35 patients with mean age of 21.82 +/- 2.3 years. The results were almost the same in both groups except for longer operation time [p=0.01] and shorter hospitalization period [p=0.01] in group I. Considering lower injury by surgery and better cosmetic results, ASD repair by thoracotomy seems to be a suitable method
Subject(s)
Humans , Thoracotomy/methods , Thoracotomy/adverse effects , Sternum/surgeryABSTRACT
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting [CABG] is usually performed with Cardio Pulmonary Bypass [CPB]. However CPB has been associated with several adverse effects. Recently off-pump CABG technique is offered as an alternative to the standard on-pump technique. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of the technique by estimating and comparing serum markers of myocardial ischemia; CK, CK-MB, LDH, AST, Cardiac Troponin 1 and some peri and postoperative complications after two types of surgical procedures. Seventy-three patients [58 males and 15 females] with angiographically defined CAD admitted to the hospital for CABG were selected. The off-pump technique was performed in 38 patients with mean age of 60 +/- 10.5 years. In 35 other patients with mean age of 55 +/- 10.4 years, the on-pump technique was applied. CK, CK-MB, LDH and AST activities and Cardiac Troponin 1 concentration were measured pre and postoperatively into first 24 hours. Characteristics of the patiaents and some pre and postoperative data regarding incidence of complications were also recorded. The activities of cardiac enzymes; CK, CK-MB, LDH and AST after on-pump CABG technique were higher than those of off-pump technique [P<0.05 in all cases]. The levels of Troponin I were significantly higher after on-pump CABG throughout the entire measurement period [P<0.01]. In other groups of the patients no preoperative myocardial infarction was observed. In the off-pump technique procedure time was shorter and transfusion of blood and blood products was less than those of on- pump technique, but no differences were noticed among the other recorded data. Significantly lower release of the enzymes and Troponin 1 during operation by off-pump technique suggests that the technique causes less myocardial injury. On the basis of little change in the activities of cardiac enzymes and Troponin 1 and presented data including a marked decrease in blood transfusion and shorter procedural time it is concluded that off-pump CABG is a safe and effective technique in selected patients with appropriate coronary lesions