Flaxseed can reduce hypoxia-induced damages in rat testes

Background: Hypoxia causes detrimental effects on the structure and function of tissues through increased production of reactive oxygen species that are generated during the re-oxygenation phase of intermittent and continuous hypobaric hypoxia. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of flaxseed [Fx] in reducing the incidence of hypoxia in rat testes

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 24 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: i. Control group [Co] that received normal levels of oxygen and food, ii. Sham group [Sh] that were placed in hypoxia chamber but received normal oxygen and food, iii. Hypoxia induction group [Hx] that were placed in hypoxia chamber and treated with normal food, iv. Hypoxia induction group [Hx+Fx] that were placed in hypoxia chamber and treated with 10% flaxseed food. Both the Hx and Hx+Fx groups were kept in a hypoxic chamber for 30 days; during this period rats were exposed to reduced pressure [oxygen 8% and nitrogen 92%] for 4 hours/day. Then, all animal were sacrificed and their testes were removed. Malondialdehyde [MDA] and total antioxidant capacity [TAC] levels were evaluated in the testis tissue. Tubular damages were examined using histological studies. Blood samples and sperm were collected to assess IL-18 level and measure sperms parameters, respectively. All data were analyzed using SPPSS-22 software. One way-ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed for statistical analysis

Results: A significant difference was recorded in the testicular mass/body weight ratio in Hx and Hx+Fx groups in comparison to the control [P=0.003 and 0.027, respectively] and Sh [P=0.001 and 0.009, respectively] groups. The sperm count and motility in Hx+Fx group were significantly different from those of the Hx group [P=0.0001 and 0.028, respectively]. Also sperm viability [P=0.0001] and abnormality [P=0.0001] in Hx+Fx group were significantly different from Hx group

Conclusion: This study therefore suggests that the oral administration of flaxseed can be useful for prevention from the detrimental effects of hypoxia on rat testes structure and sperm parameters

Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid on the expression of ABCG1 gene in the human monocyte THP-1 cells

Cardiovascular disease [CVD] is the leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. Atherosclerosis is the major cause of CVD, accounting for about half of the attributed deaths. Cholesterol homeostasis is one of the most important factors in atherosclerosis. ATP-Binding cassette transporters cholesterol. Omega [omega] 3 fatty acids are important ligands for regulation of ABC transporters such as ABCG1. Concern has been raised that the low absolute intakes of EPA and high ratios of omega -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids [omega-6 PUFA] to EPA may predispose some individuals to CVD. Eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] is the most abundant omega 3 fatty acid in the diet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of EPA on the expression of ABCG1 gene in the human monocyte THP-1 cells. In this study, THP-1 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium, THP-1 monocytes were then differentiated to macrophages with PMA [phorbol myristic acid] and stimulated with 50, 75 and 100 micro M of EPA for 24 h at 37°C. We examined the effects of EPA treatment on the expression of ABCG1 gene using Quantitative Real time RT-PCR [qRT-PCR]. Our results, indicate that ABCG1 mRNA expression was significantly reduced by 50, 75 and 100 micro M EPA fatty acid treatments as compared to the control cells [p = 0.009, p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively]. These results suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFAs] such as EPA have an effect on the cholesterol homeostasis in macrophages, and they can change the expression of ABCG1 gene. It seems that EPA has different effects on gene expression and lipid metabolism

Survey of serum procalcitonin in cirrhotic patients

Procalcitonin [PCT] is a prohormone that has been used as a marker for the diagnosis of bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to survey PCT levels in patients with cirrhosis. Sixty-four patients with hepatic cirrhosis and 32 healthy blood donors were enrolled in this study. Serum PCT levels was detected using immunoluminometric assay. The rate of positive PCT was higher in patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis [92.8%] than the other groups. Among other cirrhotic patients, positive PCT levels were 77% for hepatitis B, 70% for cancer and 53.3% for unknown groups respectively. Serum procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients with bacterial infection [2.65 +/- 1.11 ng/ml] than those without infection [0.59 +/- 0.16 ng/ml, P=0.0001]. PCT assay in cirrhotic patients may help diagnosis of sepsis and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use

Significance of albumin and C-reactive protein variations in 300 end stage renal disease patients in Tehran university of medical sciences hospitals during year 2010

Protein-energy malnutrition, wasting and inflammation are frequent complication among patients with end-stage renal disease [ESRD]. Malnutrition is associated with cardiac co-morbidity, inflammation and poor survival in ESRD patients. Serum albumin is a well-known marker of nutrition in ESRD patients. Serum albumin is still the most commonly used nutritional marker in ESRD patients. C-reactive protein [CRP], the major acute phase response [APR] protein is elevated in these patients. High CRP levels are linked to the degree of atherosclerosis in coronary, peripheral, and extracranial brain arteries. The aim of the present study was to investigate nutritional factor [albumin] and CRP levels in ESRD patients. In this cross-sectional study a total of 300 patients who had ESRD and had been on hemodialysis treatment for at least 6 months were selected. The laboratory tests consisted of measurement of CRP and albumin using high sensitive ELISA kits. The study patients included 157 males [52.3%] and 143 females [47.7%] with average age of 41.5 +/- 14.3 years. Mean CRP level was 7.96 mg/ dl [+/- 1.52], mean serum albumin was 4.07 g/dl [+/- 0.19].Of 300 patients, 21 died [7%]. These were patients with serum albumin<4 g/dl and CRP>9.5 mg/dl. This study showed that low albumin and high CRP levels are the main predictors for death. There was a significant difference between CRP and albumin levels in ESRD patients [P<0.0001]. Measuring CRP as a marker of inflammation can be helpful in managing these patients

Neonatal hypoglycemia: prevalence and clinical manifestations in tehran children's hospital

To measure the prevalence of hypoglycemia among newborn infants in Children Hospital using a standard laboratory glucose method and to evaluate the evidence of clinical manifestations of hypoglycemia, designing appropriate strategies for prevention and treatment. The study population consisted of 673 neonates in Tehran Children's Hospital and was conducted between June 2004 and March 2005. The incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia in the present study group was 15.15% live births. The clinical features which remained significantly associated with the hypoglycemic neonates were refusal of feeding [45%], hyporeflexia [36.2%], irritability [30%], cyanosis [28.4%], tackypnea [24.5%], seizure [16.6%], weak cry [15.8], apneic spels [9.8%], pallor [1.9%], cardiac arrest [9.1%] and sweating [1%]. Hypoglycemia does occur frequently in newborn infants and requires careful monitoring and therapy of serum glucose

Study of dermatologyhic patterns of hands in women with breast cancer

Study the relationship of digital dermatogletphic patterns of hands in women with breast cancer and or at risk for developing breast cancer. Fingerprints were studied in 616 women in three groups: [1] 154 breast cancer patients, [2] 154 females at increased risk for developing breast cancer and [3] 308 control females for the purpose of finding patterns that would identify those women with breast cancer or those who are predisposed to its development. A pattern of 6 or more digital Whorls was identified more frequently in women with breast cancer [48.7%] as compared in the control group to [27.5%] [P < 0.05]. It was also more frequent in women with known risk factors for breast cancer [47.4%] as compared in the control group to [27.5%] [P < 0.05]. No obvious differences were noted in women at increased risk for developing breast cancer [47.4%] when compared with women who had breast cancer [48.7%]. Digital dermatoglyphics may play an important role in identifying women either with or at increased risk for breast cancer so that either risk reduction measures or earlier therapy may be instituted