Protective effect of coenzyme Q10 on methamphetamine-induced apoptosis in adult male rats

Background: The negative consequence of methamphetamine abuse is due to neuropathologic changes in the brain, which reduces dopaminergic neurons and result in damage to different brain areas. Neurotoxicity induced by methamphetamine increases the oxidative stress and associated with neuronal apoptosis. The role of the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 probably produces its neuroprotective effects. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the protective effect of coenzyme Q10 on methamphetamine-induced apoptosis in adult male rats

Materials and Methods: Fifty Wistar eight-week adult rats randomly divided into 5 groups: Healthy control, methamphetamine injection [Meth], methamphetamine injection and CoQ10 5mg/kg treatment [Meth+Post CoQ10 5mg/kg], methamphetamine injection and CoQ10 10mg/kg treatment [Meth+Post CoQ10 10mg/kg], methamphetamine injection and CoQ10 20mg/kg treatment [Meth+Post CoQ10 20mg/kg]. Methamphetamine with a purity of 96% with a dosage of 20 mg/kg was injected Intraperitoneal. Coenzyme Q10 for three treatment groups was injected intraperitoneally for 14 days in a dosage of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg/day. The protein expressions of Baxand Bcl2 were evaluated by western blotting technique

Results: Bax protein expression was significantly lower in Meth+Post CoQ10 5mg/kg [p=0.010] and so Meth+Post CoQ10 10mg/kg [p=0.004] comparing to Meth group. In addition, Bcl2 protein expression was significantly higher in Meth+Post CoQ10 5mg/kg comparing to Meth group [p=0.018]. However, there were no significant differences between control and CoQ10 treatment groups. Bax/Bcl2 ratio was significantly lower in Meth+Post CoQ10 5mg/kg [p=0.005], Meth+Post CoQ10 10mg/kg [p=0.008] and Meth+Post CoQ10 20mg/kg [p=0.044] comparing to Meth group

Conclusion: We suggest that CoQ10 reduces the methamphetamine-induced apoptosis in the striatum of the rats through the reduction of apoptotic factors and increase of anti-apoptotic pathways

Efficacy of group obstetric consultation in mild to moderate anxiety of pregnancy

Anxiety is a common mental disorder of pregnancy leading to adverse maternal and fetal pregnancy outcomes. Hence, preparation of effective approaches for reduction of anxiety is an issue of importance. Accordingly, this study was performed to determine the efficacy of group obstetric consultation on anxiety control in pregnant women in non-severe cases. In this randomized clinical trial, 90 pregnant women attending to a Health Care Center in Tehran, Iran from April 2010 to March 2012 with first pregnancy aging from 18 to 35 years and gestational age of eight to eighteen weeks were evaluated. They were randomly assigned into consultation and control groups. The consultation group was designed according to the different needs of pregnancy for five sessions in five weeks [each session 60 to 90 minutes] and the control group only received routine perinatal care. There was statistically significant difference between after-intervention scores in anxiety state [P=0.014]; but the anxiety trait showed no difference [P=0.19]. Also the changes in trait anxiety scores was more in consultation group compared with control group [P=0.002] that was also seen for anxiety state scores [P=0.0001]. Totally, it may be concluded that group consultation is effective in reduction of state and trait anxiety in pregnant women with non-severe non-pathological cases of anxiety

[Cultural adaptation, validity and reliability of Persian version of experience of caregiving inventory in families of patients with severe mental disorders]

This study aims to evaluate the cultural adaptation, validity and reliability of the Persian version of Experience of Caregiving Inventory [ECI] in families of patients with severe mental disorders. After the translation and cultural adaptation of ECI, 225 family members of patients with severe mental disorders completed the ECI, the General Health Questionnaire [GHQ-28] and a demographic questionnaire. The Split half test was used to assess reliability. To determine internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha test and the concurrent validity was calculated by Pearson's correlation between the GHQ-28 and the ECI total negative score. Reliability of the Inventory as assessed by the Spearman-Brown correlation coefficient was 0.80. The range of the Cronbach's alpha for each subscale, total negative score and total positive score was 0.51 to 0.90. Pearson's correlation between the GHQ-28 score and the total negative score was 0.37 [p<0.01]. The Persian version of the ECI has good reliability and validity for family members of patients with severe mental disorders

C677T Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR] gene polymorphism in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: an association study in Iranian population

The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR] gene polymorphism C677T is suspected to be a risk factor for psychiatric disorders, but it remains inconclusive whether the MTHFR polymorphism C677T is imputed to vulnerability to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We prompted impetus to appraise this polymorphism in an Iranian population. Therefore, 90 patients with bipolar disorder type I [BID], 66 patients with schizophrenia diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria, and 94 unrelated controls with no history of psychiatric disorders were recruited for this study. Genotype distribution and allelic frequencies of C677T polymorphism were investigated. We found no robust differences between patients with BID and schizophrenia with control participants either for allele frequencies or genotype distribution of MTHFR C677T polymorphism. However, a trend toward an increased risk for T allele was observed in the BID patients [with odds ratio [OR] of 1.28[CI 95%: 0.8-1.31], p>0.05]. However, the present and some previous studies failed to elucidate possible interaction between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and vulnerability to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; still some associations have been revealed in performed meta-analyses that warrant further studies

Influence of nitric oxide in the central amygdala on the acquisition and expression of morphine-induced place preference in morphine sensitized rats

Effects of intra-central amygdala administration of L-arginine, a nitric oxide precursor, and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl-ester [L NAME], a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, on the morphine-induced sensitization and also on the expression of morphine-induced place conditioning in rats were studied. Subcutaneous [s.c.] administration of morphine [2.5, 5 and 7.5 mg/kg] induced place conditioning. Repeated pretreatment of morphine [5 mg/kg, i.p.] followed by 5 days no drug treatment, increased place conditioning induced by morphine [0.5 mg/kg]. Repeated intra-central amygdala administration of L-arginine [0.3, 1 and 3 µg/ rat], with morphine during acquisition of sensitization, significantly increased or reduced morphine place conditioning in sensitized rats. The drug administration before testing also increased and reduced the expression of morphine place conditioning in sensitized animals. Repeated intra-central amygdala injections of L-NAME [0.3, 1 and 3 µg/rat] with morphine during acquisition of sensitization, reduced the acquisition of morphine place conditioning in the sensitized animals. The drug injection before testing also reduced morphine induced conditioning. The results indicate that nitric oxide [NO] within the central amygdala may be involved in the acquisition and expression of morphine place conditioning in morphine-sensitized rats

Association between infertile women's anxiety with art success rates

Anxiety increases blood cortisol and prolactin concentrations which may lead to infertility, but in contrast lower anxiety levels may help natural fertility. However, there is not much evidence that lower anxiety levels may lead to higher success rates in Assisted Reproductive Techniques [ART] among infertile women. This study aimed to determine the association between infertile women's anxiety and ART success rates. This cohort study was done on 180 infertile women who enrolled as candidates for ART. The cases were recruited in their last visit before starting the treatment cycle by quota sampling in two select infertility treatment centers in Tehran, Iran. The individuals' anxiety was assessed by using State and Trait Anxiety Inventories. They were allocated to high and low anxiety groups according to the achieved scores of 20-49 and 50-80, respectively. A positive pregnancy test was considered the criterion for treatment success. The individuals' state and trait anxiety scores were 47.33 +/- 10.6 and 43.89 +/- 9.8, respectively. Nineteen [10.6%] out of 180 women became pregnant. Pregnancy rates in the group with high and low levels of state anxiety were 11.1% and 10.1% and in groups with high and low levels of trait anxiety they were 14.5% and 9%, respectively. Pregnancy rates between high and low state or trait anxieties were not significantly different [p>0.05]. There were no relationship between infertile women's state and trait anxiety status with assisted reproductive technology outcomes. The results of this study can ensure infertile women that their anxiety would not affect their treatment success rates, although counseling and reducing infertile women's anxiety are necessary to improve their quality of life