Protective effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Allium cepa on biochemical and morphometric parameters of mice kidneys exposed to formaldehyde

Background and Aim: Formaldehyde is an air contaminant which has wide applications in industry and medicine and its destructive effects have been reported on the body systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different doses of onion extract on biochemical parameters and histopathology of mice kidneys exposed to formaldehyde

Material and Methods: 48 adult male mice were randomly divided into six groups. The control group did not receive any injection. The second group received formaldehyde 10 mg/kg for 14 days and the 3[rd], 4[th] ,5[th] and 6[th] groups received 5,10,20 and 40 mg/kg/day of onion extract respectively in addition to intraperitoneal doses of formaldehyde

After 14 days, tissue preparation was done and using stereological technique, the sizes of the kidneys and glomeruli were measured. Also, serum urea and creatinine levels were measured. Data were analyzed by SPSS software

Results: We found significant decrease in the number of renal glomeruli in all of the groups that received onion and also decrease in the volume of glomeruli in the group which had received 10 mg onion/day, compared to those in the control group [P = 0.000]. There were significant increase in the level of urea in the groups which had received doses of 10 and 20 mg of onion and in the creatinine levels of the groups which had received daily doses of 5, 20 and 40 mg of onion compared to those in the control group [P = 0.000]

Formaldehyde caused renal damage and an increase in the levels of urea and creatinine as well as a decrease in the number and volume of the glomeruli of the kidneys

Conclusion: Administration of daily doses of 40 mg hydro-alcoholic extract of onion for two weeks caused protective effect on kidney tissue exposed to the formaldehyde

[Maternal nexposure on collagen type IV pulmonary changes in mouse offspring's]

In this study we evaluated the effect of maternal nicotine administration during pre and postnatal period on collagen IV changes in lung of mouse newborns. Female Balb/C mice were mated and finding vaginal plug was assumed as day zero of pregnancy. Pregnant mice, were divided into 2 experimental and 2 control groups. Experimental group 1, received 3 mg/kg nicotine intrapritoneally from day 5 of gestation to last day of pregnancy. Experimental group 2 received the same amount of nicotine during the same gestational days as well as the first two week after birth [lactation]. The control groups received the same volume of normal saline during the same periods. At the end of exposure time, all of newborns [experimental and control] were anesthetized and their lungs were removed and immunohistochemical study for tracing collagen were carried out. Our finding indicated that collagen reaction in the bronchial basement membrane [BBM] and extra cellular matrix [ECM] of lung parenchyma in experimental increased significantly in comparison to control groups. Cell necrosis definition in lung parenchyma of experimental group 2 were the other finding that our investigation achieved. These data indicate that maternal nicotine exposure may induce a noticeable increasing collagen reasonable in BBM and ECM of respiratory system of next generation. The lungs of these animals which were exposed to nicotine via the placenta and mother's milk, are more susceptible to damages such as abnormal collagen synthesis and cell necrosis

[ comparison of serum CRP levels measured by a highly sensitive method in healthy subjects and asthmatic patients]

C- reactive protein [CRP] is a plasma protein which is a marker of inflammation. Recently it has been shown that the increased level of CRP is associated with increased risk of MI, IHD, DM and hypertension. There are plenty of published articles in regard to the role of CRP in the pathogenesis of COPD. Also a potential role for CRP in the pathogenesis of asthma has been proposed. The local inflammation is an established pathology in the asthma however, little is known about role of systemic inflammation. We compared serum levels of highly sensitive CRP between steroid inhaling asthmatic patients and non asthmatic healthy controls. This case-control study, based on standard criteria, included fifty known cases of asthmatic patients who met the inclusion criteria and fifty non asthmatic subjects. Serum levels of CRP were measured and compared with each other in both groups by ELISA method. All asthmatics were at the same stage of treatment. The mean age of the asthmatic patients was 46.9 +/- 9.8 years and that of control group was 44 +/- 14.35 years. Durations of pulmonary symptoms were <3 years in 20%, 3-5 years in 36%, 6-12 years in 24% and >13years in 20% of the patients. HS-CRP levels were significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in control patients [34.79 mg/dl versus 12.8 mg/dl respectively] [P=0.001]. HS-CRP levels had no significant relation with age, gender and duration of asthma. In asthma inflammation is not limited to airways and like COPD, evidence of systemic inflammation such as increased CRP can be detected

[ effects of Selenium on changes in sperm antioxidant capacity in old and adult rats]

Selenium as an antioxidant is essential for normal function of testis and spermatogenesis. It can reduce formation of free oxygen radicals and as a result it is expected to improve male fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate alterations in antioxidant capacity of old rats sperms after prescription of 0.2 mg/kg of Selenium. In this study, 15 old male rats of 10-12 months of age and 15 adult male rats of 2-3 months of age were randomly divided into three groups: control, sham and experimental groups. Control group did not receive any treatment; sham group rats received intra peritoneal injections of equal volume of Selenium solvents [normal saline] as Selenium in experimental group. Experimental groups of male rats received daily intraperitoneal injection of Selenium [0.2 mg/kg] for 5 weeks. After 42 days from initiation of injection, the rats were killed by cervical dislocation and after obtaining sperm, total antioxidant capacity of the sperms was measured by FRAP assay. The absorbance of TPTZ-fe[+2] was read at 593 nm by spectrophotometery. For the statistical analysis, SPSS software was used and data analysis was performed by means of Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Withney U tests. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results of this study showed significant differences in mean values of total antioxidant capacity in both old and adult rats in experimental and control groups [P<0.05]. Also comparison of mean values of antioxidant capacity of sperm solution in adult and old control groups showed a significant difference [742.26 +/- 1.06 vs. 672.061 +/- 0.78 respectively] [P<0.05]. The results of this study showed that Selenium treatment in old rats [0.2 mg/kg after 35 days] can improve total antioxidant capacity of the sperms of old rats. Regarding low levels of antioxidants in old rats, it can be suggested oxidative stress can result in diminution of antioxidant levels. Therefore antioxidant therapy could be considered as a method for improvement of the quality of sperms of old men

[Comparative efficacy of deferrioxamin and combination of deferiprone and deferrioxamine on echocardiographic indices in beta thalassemic patients]

Regular blood transfusions in beta thalassemic patients can lead to accumulation of extra iron in the body which may result in cardiac complications and death. Deferrioxamin [DFO] is the standard treatment for this condition but 12-8 hours subcutaneous [SQ] injection of this drug per day can cause local pain which together with lack of patients' compliance, it is necessary to use another drug to improve the condition of the patients. Deferiprone [DFP], is an approved drug for this purpose and removes iron from cells including cardiac muscle cells. The aim of this study is to compare efficacy of deferrioxamin with that of combined deferiprone and deferrioxamin on echocardiographic indices in beta thalassemic patients. In this randomized clinical trial 40 thalassemic patients who met the inclusion criteria of this study were divided into two equal groups. Controls group received SQ deferrioxamin for six days/ week and intervention group received deferrioxamin for three days/week and deferiprone orally for four days/week. Cardiac indices were measured and compared before and after the study. Mean values of the age of the patients were 15.6 +/- 5.1 and 14.1 +/- 6 years in the intervention and control group respectively. Right ventricle diameter [RVD] indices in control group was 18.7 +/- 7.6 and 20.8 +/- 6.6 mm before and after treatment respectively [P<0.05]. In the intervention group RVD indices were 19.5 +/- 5.8 and 18.0 +/- 4.7 mm before and after treatment respectively [P>0.05]. Other indices such as LVEDD, LVESD, aortic root diameter, EF and Fs of left ventricle and also indices of the heart valves revealed no significant differences between the two groups. We didn't observe any side effect of the drugs in the patients. We concluded combined therapy with 4 days DFP and 3 days DFO per week did not lead to cardiac complications and deterioration of echocardiographic indices