[Effects of knotweet or polygonum aviculare herbal extract on proliferation of HeLa cell line]

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women living in developing countries. Recently, for treatment of diseases such as cancer, herbal medicine is used as a supplementary. The aim of this study was assessment of anticancerous effects of polygonum aviculare herbal extract on Hela cervical cancer cell line. HeLa cells were cultured in RPMI - 1640 with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum in 5% Co2 and at 37 [degree sign] C in different concentrations [0, 0.005, 0.05, 0.01, 0.025, 0.075, 0.1, 0.125, 0.15, 0.175, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.5, 5 mg/ml] of polygonum aviculare. For assessment of viability of cells, trypan blue staining was performed. MTT assay was used for proliferation detection. Our results showed that in 0.15, 0.20 and 0.35 mg/ml proliferation of HeLa cells decreased according to MTT assay. It was proved that polygonum aviculare had antioxidant component and could be a scavenger of free radical. Because of high production of free radicals in diseases such as cancer, the use of the herbal medicine with high amount of antioxidant could be a supplementary treatment in cancer and other diseases

Evaluation of vascular access using cryopreserved jugular vein [experimental study]

Background: While considering the rise in the mean age of the chronic renal failure [CRF] patients and increasing frequency of those who need constant hemodialysis, the creation of a native arteriovenous fistula [AVF] is not possible, which could be due to the inaccessibility of the superficial veins. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the vascular access, using cryopreserved jugular vein

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 15 sheep [Wt.= 30-40 kg] were selected between the year 2001 and 2002. The external jugular vein of each sheep was excised and after cryopreservation was put in liquid nitrogen [-196°C]. Twenty-eight days later, the sample veins were used as allograft [in another sheep], and autograft [in the same sheep] and were placed between carotid artery and external jugular vein as bridge AVF. The efficacy, function, and patency were evaluated using doppler sonography and pathologic report

Results: Patency rate of sample was 100% after 3 months in both allografts and autografts. Thrombosis, hematoma, and infection were not seen. No inflammation was detected in pathologic report

Conclusion: This study showed that using allograft vein for vascular access is feasible and suitable, and it is recommended specially for those with previously infected fistula