[Protective role of green tea [camellia sinensis] hydroalcholic extract on sperm parameters and testicular tissue in NMRI mice exposed to sodium arsenite]

Background and Aim: Sodium arsenite is an environmental pollutant with the capacity of generating free radicals and tissue damage. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of green tea extract [GTE], as an antioxidant, on sperm parameters and testis tissues of the mice treated with sodium arsenite

Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult male NMRI mice with mean body weight 30 +/- 5g were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: control, sodium arsenite [5mg/kg/d.], GTE [100mg/kg/d.] and sodium arsenite+GTE. Oral treatments were performed as long as 34 days. At the end of treatments, body and left testis weight were recorded and the left caudal epididymis of each subject was cut under Ham's F10. Then, the released spermatozoa were used to analyze sperm parameters. Sperm chromatin quality was assessed by nuclear staining using acridine orange and aniline blue. The left testis of each mouse was used for histopathological observation. The serum malondialdehyde [MDA] level was measured as an index of lipid peroxidation. Finally, the obtained data was analyzed by means of one-was ANOVA at the significant level P<0.05

Results: A significant decrease in the number, motility, viability [P<0.001] and normal morphology of sperm [P<0.01] and also in mean diameter of seminiferous tubules, germinal epithelium thickness [P<0.001] were found in the mice treated with sodium arsenite compared to the controls. The mice treated with sodium arsenite revealed a significant increase in the mean diameter of seminiferous tubules lumen and MDA levels [P<0.001]. The above parameters were significantly compensated in the sodium arsenite+GTE group. Sodium arsenite had no effect on the body and testis weight, diameter of spermatogonial nucleus, sperm DNA integrity, and histone-protamine replacement

Conclusion: The results indicate that green tea extract can partially be useful in reducing sodium arsenite-induced toxicity

[Basics of dentistry from the viewpoints of Rhazes, Ahwazi and Avicenna and their comparison with contemporary dental science]

The ancient Iranian medicine, before and after Islam, has a long and prolific history which has been emphasized by many famous historians like Andalosi [11[th] century AD]. Dentistry was among the important fields related to medicine and ancient physicians were interested in it. This study aimed at reviewing the viewpoints of famous pioneer practitioners in Persia regarding various fields of dentistry. Accredited text books of the Persian Empire especially the Al-Hawiby Rhazes [865-925 AD], Kamel al-Sana by Ali Ibn Abbas Ahwazi [930- 994], and Avicenna's Al-Qanun [980-1037] all authored in Arabic which was the scientific language of the time were thoroughly evaluated and topics related to dentistry were extracted from them and compared with contemporary dental science. Also, several dictionaries, encyclopedias and reference books were used for correct understanding of the meaning of ancient medical terms and idioms. The findings demonstrated that many of the topics mentioned in the ancient Iranian textbooks had a scientific foundation and are compatible and comparable with the contemporary dental science. Based on the results of the present study and similar previous researches, we can state that the ancient Iranian medicine is not at all distant from the contemporary science. It is the foundation of the contemporary medicine and further researches on the medical history of ancient Persia can reveal many valuable findings that can be used for educational, therapeutic and research purposes

[Teratogenic effects of caffeine and clomipramine on rat fetus]

Obsessive-compulsive disorders and depression have a high prevalence during pregnancy; therefore, pregnant women may take clomipramine and also take other drugs or consume foods that contain caffeine. As investigations about the teratogenic effects of clomipramine and its concurrent administration with caffeine during organogenesis period are scarce, we aimed to study the teratogenicity of simultaneous administration of clomipramine and caffeine in rat fetus. After dividing 42 pregnant rats to several case and control groups, we injected different doses of caffeine and clomipramine to the animals. All the injections were performed on the eighth until the 15th day of pregnancy. We removed the fetuses on the 17th day of pregnancy and studied the morphological features and apparent anomalies of the fetuses macroscopically. We found a significant rate of mortality, apparent anomalies, abnormal torsion, shrinkage of skin and subcutaneous bleeding in fetuses of rats receiving high doses of caffeine or a combination of caffeine and clomipramine. Statistical analysis of the data revealed a significant increase [P

Determination of soluble HER-2/neu [dHER-2/neu] in Iranian patients with lung cancer

The HER-2/neu gene is located on chromosome 17q21 and encodes a 185-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein with tyrosine kinase activity reported to be released in soluble form in various malignancies. To evaluate the clinical significance of soluble Her-2/neu as a diagnostic marker in lung cancer. Serum levels of soluble HER-2/neu were measured in 43 patients with lung cancer and 42 age and sex matched controls by an enzyme immunoassay method. Mean serum level of soluble Her-2/neu in cancer patients was 6.07 +/- 10.37 ng/ml which was significantly higher than the control group [P < 0.05]. Cigarette smoking had no effect on the level of soluble HER-2/neu. A cut off value of 6.1ng/ml revealed a high specificity [95%] for diagnosis of lung cancer, but a very low sensitivity [14%]. The results of this study show an increased level of soluble HER-2/neu in the sera of lung cancer patients with a high specificity but low sensitivity for diagnosis of lung cancers

case of thymoma with multiple autoimmune presentations

A 40 year old female presented with a history of cough for 1.5 years and diarrhea for 5 days. She further had a history of pinkish discoloration of skin and red-crusted papules on the anterior and posterior parts of the trunk. Chest X-ray and chest CT-Scan revealed focal nodular densities in lung besides an anterior mediastinal mass. The mediastinal mass was surgically removed and the pathologic diagnosis was a lymphocytic type of thymoma [Fig. 1]. Laboratory data showed low albumin [2.9 gr/dl], high alkaline phosphatase [1448 units/1], high SCOT and SGPT [107 units/1 and 128 units/1, respectively] with total billirubin of 1.38 [mg/dl], direct billirubin of 0.52 [mg/dl] and yGt: 440 [Normal < 40]. Other positive findings included ANA: 1/640 speckled pattern, low hemoglobin: 9.1 [g/dl], mild eosinophilia [595/mm[3]] and positive occult blood in stool, with normal WBC, BUN, Na, K, Ca, PO4 and uric acid. Serum immunoelectrophoresis, abdominal sonography, fine needle aspiration of liver and endoscopic retrograde cholongiography were all normal. The report of skin biopsy indicated a lichen planus bolus type lesion. Colonoscopy detected points of inflammation with thick mucosa and biopsy was in favor of ulcerative colitis. Due to severe photophobia, she had previously consulted with an ophthalmologist revealing keratoconjuctivits sicca due to dry eye. Four months later, she was expired due to severe pneumonia and sepsis