Serum oxidative stress markers in patients with senile cataract and healthy controls

Objective: To investigate the role of oxidative stress in patients with senile cataract

Study Design: Case-control study

Place and Duration of Study: North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran, from 2014 to 2015

Methodology: Non-randomised sampling was conducted on 74 patients with senile cataract and 79 healthy people. The oxidative stress level, glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and superoxide dismutase [SOD] enzymes were measured in serum. The results were analysed using SPSS software and followed by t-test analysis. P<0.05 was considered to be significant

Results: The median activity of GPx and SOD antioxidant enzymes in patients with cataract, was higher than healthy people [p=0.018 and p<0.0001, respectively]. Peroxide-antioxidant [PAB] levels in patients with cataract was significantly higher than in healthy people [p<0.0001]

Conclusion: This study showed that despite the high level of oxidative stress in patients, the activity rate of GPx and SOD enzymes also increased

effects of aqueous extract of Alpinia galangal on gastric cancer cells [AGS] and L929 cells in vitro

Although the incidence of gastric cancer is declining during the last half century, this cancer still is the second morbid cancer in the world after lung cancer. The incidence of gastric cancer is 26 per 100,000 in Iran. This study evaluated the effect of Alpinia galangal on AGS cells [human gastric adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line] and L929 cells [as a standard cell line originated from mouse fibroblast cells]. After culturing the cells in Roswell Park Memorial Institute [RPMI] medium, the cells were incubated with different doses of Alpinia galangal [0 [control], 125, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 micro g/ml] in 24, 48 and 72 hour periods and then, cells viability were assessed using MTT based cell proliferation assay. After 24 hours, the percentage of living AGS cells compared to the control group showed no significant decrease at the concentrations of 125 and 250 micro g/ml. But in the rest concentrations were significant [p<0.05]. Only, the percentage of surviving L929 cells at concentration of 125 micro g/ml of the extract was not significant, but these percentages in the other concentrations were significant. After 48 and 72h incubation, in the last three extract concentrations, the percentage of living AGS and L929 cells significantly decreased compared to control cells [p<0.05]. We have demonstrated, using cell culture model, anti-proliferative effect of aqueous extract of Alpinia galangal on human gastric tumor [AGS] and L929 cell lines. This effect was prominent in high concentrations

Preventive effect of Cynodon dactylon against ethylene glycol-induced nephrolithiasis in male rats

This study was carried out to investigate the preventive effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Cynodon dactylon [C.dactylon] roots on calcium oxalate calculi in rat. 24 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A received tap drinking water while, Groups B, C, and D received 1% ethylene glycol daily for 28 days. Rats in groups C and D received ethanolic extract of C.dactylon at doses equivalent to 3.2 mg/kg and 12.6 mg/kg of root powder, respectively in drinking water from day 0 to day 28. Urine and blood were collected on days 0 and 28 and analyzed for biochemical elements. After 28 days, the kidneys were removed and prepared for histological evaluation of calcium oxalate deposits [CaOx]. The number of CaOx deposits in 10 microscopic fields of kidney slices in group B was 24.5 +/- 4.40 which was significantly higher than group A [p<0.001]. In group C, the number of deposits was significantly lower than group B. The weight of the kidneys was increased in group B vs group A [p<0.05]. However, C.dactylon was able to decrease the weight of kidneys in group C [p<0.05]. Urine oxalate level decreased in nephrolithiatic rats treated with the extract. This study showed that C. dactylon extract was able to reduce the growth of urinary stones in the rat. Therefore, the beneficial action of C.dactylon extract on human kidney stones may be suggested. However, further studies must clarify the mechanism

Effect of commercial [vimang] and hydroalcoholic extract of Mangifera indica [mango] on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rat

Mangifera indica [Mango] is used in folk medicine for treatment of different types of diseases, and its anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging activities have been demonstrated. The present study evaluated the effects of commercial [vimang] and hydroalcoholic extract of Mango on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rat. Female Wistar rats were treated with vimang [50 and 100 mg/kg] for 18 days, or hydroalcoholic extract [200 and 400 mg/kg] for 18 days as preventive groups and others with vimang [100 mg/kg] for 8 days, or hydroalcoholic extract [400 mg/kg] for 8 days as treatment groups and also gentamicin [GM] was used at 80 mg/kg/day for eight days, starting from day 10. At the end of treatment, blood and urine samples were taken for measurement of creatinine [Cr] and BUN. The kidney was prepared for histological evaluation. Serum Cr and urea concentrations as well as renal tissue injury increased significantly in GM group compared with the control group. Hydroalcoholic extract of Mango at 200mg/kg was able to reduce plasma Cr and urea concentrations significantly as well as kidney tissue necrosis. Vimang [50 and 100 mg/kg] and hydroalcoholic extract of Mango [200mg/kg] also prevented kidney tissue damage compared with the control group. Mango products were able to improve kidney function in an established model of GMinduced nephrotoxicity in the rat. The beneficial effects of Mango on the rat kidney seem to be dose and time-dependent. However, more investigations are needed to elucidate Mango action on GMinduced renal toxicity

effects of female sex steroids on gastric secretory responses of rat following traumatic brain injury

Gastric ulceration is induced by various forms of stress like surgery, ischemia and trauma. The female sex has more resistance to stress and the gastrointestinal lesions happen fewer than male sex. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of estradiol and progesterone on the gastric acid and pepsin levels following traumatic brain injury [TBI] induction. Materials and Methods Diffuse TBI was induced by Marmarou method in female rats. Rats randomly assigned into 9 groups: intact, OVX [ovarectomized rat], Sham+OVX, TBI [intact rats under TBI], TBI+OVX [ovarectomized rats under TBI] and treated OVX rats with vehicle [sesame oil], E2 [estradiol], P4 [progesterone] or E2+P4 combination. The acid content and pepsin levels of each gastric washout sample were measured 5 days after the TBI induction. There was no significant difference in gastric acid output between groups either after TBI induction or after treatment with E2 or P4 or E2+P4. Gastric pepsin levels were increased in Sham+OVX, TBI [P< 0.001] and TBI+OVX [P< 0.05] compared to intact group. Gastric pepsin levels were significantly lower in E2 and E2+ P4 treated rats than vehicle treated group [P< 0.01]. P4 treatment increased gastric pepsin level compared to TBI+OVX group [P< 0.05] and this increment was higher than rats that were treated with the E2 and E2+P4. These results suggest that protective effect of estradiol and E2+P4 combination against mucosal damage after TBI, might be mediated by inhibition of pepsin secretion