Antispasmodic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of thymus vulgaris on the guinea-pig ileum

The widespread use of medicinal herbs among the general population gives rise to the possibility of therapeutic or toxic effects in patients that use these plants. The effects of Thymus vulgaris [TV] hydroalcoholic extract on the contractile responses of the isolated guinea-pig ileum were investigated. Male guinea pigs that were starved for 24 hours were decapitated after cervical dislocation, and terminal ileum were removed. Segments were fixed at a resting tension of 0.5 g in an organ bath containing in Tyrode solution at 37°C, which was bubbled with 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide. The effects of the Thymus vulgaris extracts at six concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 6 mg/ml. Each segment served as its own control. Paired Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis. p < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Thymus vulgaris inhibited the contractile response in a dose-dependent manner in 0.6mg/mI concentration decreased the amplitude of the muscles up to 60% [t = -5.67, P<0.02]. This inhibitory activity was blocked by Granisetron and inhibited the contractions induced by acetylcholine, the activities of this plant may be due to the anticolinergic effect and block of serotoninergic pathways. Regression analysis had shown that with increasing in extract concentration the effect of extract was increased [r = 0.96, p<0.001]. The coefficient of extract dose was 0.089 mg. Our results demonstrate that extract prepared from the plant of Thymus vulgaris inhibited electrical induced contractions of the guinea-pig ileum when tested in vitro. This effect is dose dependent and reversible

Study of response rate to PCNL therapy for renal and upper ureteral stones

Percutaneous surgery is based on needle and guidewire access to the kidney and the upper urinary tract. This study designed to assess retrospectively the safety and efficacy of the percutaneous nephrolithotripsy [PCNL] for treating the renal and upper Ureteral stones. 613 patients underwent PCNL, between September 2000 and September 2004, for renal or upper ureteral stones in Ekbatan and Beheshti hospitals in Hamadan. PCNL was done as a standard method under X-ray guidance and after tract dilatation with metal dilators; pneumatic lithotripsy was used for fragmentation. Complete clearance was 90.7%. Complete stone free rate among patients who need 1 tract [93.8%] obviously was more than the others that more than 1 tract was needed [61.7%]. Variables such as age, sex, weight, grade of hydronephrosis, type of anesthesia, and incision site did not have effect on stone free rate. PCNL, is a safe and effective method for any type of renal and upper ureteral stone especially in developing countries that renal stone is more common

[Evaluation of change in etiology and epidemiology of upper GI bleeding in a population study]

Acute upper GI bleeding [UGIB] is a common medical emergency situation. In the past years, important changes have taken place that might have influenced the incidence, etiology, and outcome for patients with acute UGIB. The aim of this study was to determine current time trends in the incidence, management, and prognosis of patients with UGIB in 14 years period in a region in center of Iran. All of the patients with UGIB who hospitalized in all hospitals from 1991 to 2004 in Semnan city were evaluated in a retrospective study. The patients with permanent residency in this area and age more than 15 years enrolled in the study. The patients were divided in two subgroups based on endoscpic diagnosis; peptic ulcer [PU] and non-peptic ulcer [Non-PU]. Again, analysis was performed by dividing the patients to acid-pepsin disorders [APDs] and non-acid pepsin disorders [Non-APDs]. 873 patients [617 male [70.7%], Mean +/- SD [46.9+/-21.2]] enrolled in the study. The incidence rate of UGIB has decreased from 98.4 to 40.1 in 100.000 person in year in this period [p<0.001]. The incidence rates of bleeding due to PU and Non-PU have decreased. However, in the second analysis the rate of APDs has decreased, but the rate of non-APDs has remained unchanged, during the study period. In regard to prognosis, the rates of endoscopic therapy, surgery and mortality were not changed significantly in this period. The overall incidence of UGIB, and bleeding due to APDs was declined in recent years that may be due to better approach to peptic ulcers and eradication of helicobacter pylori and wide spread use of PPIs and H2 blockers in APDs

[ study on prevalence of helicobacter pylori in acute coronary syndrome]

Coronary artery disease is the main cause of mortality in developing countries like Iran. Due to failure of classic risk factors to completely explain epidemiologic variability of the disease, other risk factors, for example infection diseases are under investigation. One of these infectious agents is Helicobacter pylor which have been investigated in numerous studies. This study was designed to assess the controversies about Helicobacter pylor prevalence in acute coronary syndrome. All the patients with ACS including unstable angina and myocardial infarction who referred to Fatemie Hospital between 20 Feb 2003 to 9 Feb 2004 and were admitted in CCU ward were included in this cross-sectional study. A total of 411 patients with ACS were evaluated for prevalence of Helicobacter pylor antibody. Mean age of patients was 59.97and 56% of them were male. The serological test for Helicobacter pylor infection was positive in 45.6%of cases, negative in 43.8% and borderline in 10.6% of patients. 191 patients had unstable angina and 220 patients had myocardial infarction. This study showed that prevalence of Helicobacter pylorinfection in patients with acute coronary syndrome was not high. Thus acute or chronic infection with Helicobacter pylor could not be a risk factor for ACS

[Causes of attempted suicide among women of Babol town [2001-2002]]

Female suicide is an important indicator of cultural, social and legal improvement of women in different societies. Incidence of female suicide rate is low in societies in which women have proper individual, familial and social rights. This study was done to determine the incidence and causes of women suicide in Babol town. This study was performed on 136 women attempt to suicide who referred to teaching hospitals of Babol university of medical sciences and burn center of Mazandaran province from Jan 2001 to Jan 2002. Data were collected by trained personnel and then analyzed by SPSS and X[2] test. Incidence of women suicide was estimated 60 per 100000 women population during one year. Rate of suicide under 20 years of age was more than other age groups [15.5%]. Suicide was more in autumn and winter. Suicide rate of single women was as same as married ones. Acute crisis and familial problems were 2 main causes of suicide. Suicide was more in the afternoon and nights. Methods of female suicide were drugs [87.5%], poisons [6.6%] and self-burning [5.9%]. High incidence of women and adolescents suicide, equality of suicide among singles and married and acute crisis and familial problems as main causes of suicide are indicated that preventive programs should be directed for young adults as target group and role of marriage as protection of suicide has been decreased

[ value of clinical presentation in diagnosis of reflux in noncardiac chest pain patients]

Non-cardiac chest pain [NCCP] presents as a frequent diagnostic challenge, with patients tending to use a disproportionate level of health care resources. Gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD] is the most frequent cause of NCCP. Thus the typical symptoms of reflux like Heartburn and regurgitation, when present as predominant symptoms are quite specific for diagnosing GERD patients but in patients with NCCP the clinical diagnos of reflux is difficult and need to utilize invasive methods or omeprazol [PPI] test for its detection. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of clinical presentation in diagnosing GERD in NCCP patients. NCCP patients underwent upper endoscoy, Bernstein test and short course of omeprazol test. the patients were divided in two groups based on the GER or non-GER related chest pain. In the end, clinical presentation of the patients was compared in two groups. GERD was considered positive as evidences of mucosal injury on upper endoscopy and or Bernstein and PPI tests had been positive together. From 78 NCCP patients [41 male; mean age 50.4 +/- 2.3], the chest pain in 35 patients [44.8%] were related to GERD. Two groups were the same based on sex and age. The chest pain; severity, site, radiation and relation to food, exercise, and sleep were the same in two groups, except two symptoms; the pain that was relived by anti-acid [p<0.031] and presence of classical reflux symptoms [p<0.009] were seen in GERD patients. It was interest that in the history of the patients, heart burn [p<0.036] and regurgitation [p<0.002] were seen in patients with GERD-related chest pain. Clinical examination is important in diagnosing GERD in NCCP. Although the chest pain is the same in reflux and non reflux related NCCP, but the symptoms of heartburn or regurgitation in present or recent past history of patients are diagnostic for GERD-related chest pain

[ value of clinical presentation in diagnosis of reflux in noncardiac chest pain patients]

Non-cardiac chest pain [NCCP] presents as a frequent diagnostic challenge, with patients tending to use a disproportionate level of health care resources. Gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD] is the most frequent cause of NCCP. Thus the typical symptoms of reflux like Heartburn and regurgitation, when present as predominant symptoms are quite specific for diagnosing GERD patients but in patients with NCCP the clinical diagnos of reflux is difficult and need to utilize invasive methods or omeprazol [PPI] test for its detection. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of clinical presentation in diagnosing GERD in NCCP patients. NCCP patients underwent upper endoscoy, Bernstein test and short course of omeprazol test. the patients were divided in two groups based on the GER or non-GER related chest pain. In the end, clinical presentation of the patients was compared in two groups. GERD was considered positive as evidences of mucosal injury on upper endoscopy and or Bernstein and PPI tests had been positive together. From 78 NCCP patients [41 male; mean age 50.4 +/- 2.3], the chest pain in 35 patients [44.8%] were related to GERD. Two groups were the same based on sex and age. The chest pain; severity, site, radiation and relation to food, exercise, and sleep were the same in two groups, except two symptoms; the pain that was relived by anti-acid [p<0.031] and presence of classical reflux symptoms [p<0.009] were seen in GERD patients. It was interest that in the history of the patients, heart burn [p<0.036] and regurgitation [p<0.002] were seen in patients with GERD-related chest pain. Clinical examination is important in diagnosing GERD in NCCP. Although the chest pain is the same in reflux and non refluxrelated NCCP, but the symptoms of heartburn or regurgitation in present or recent past history of patients are diagnostic for GERD-related chest pain

[Azithromycin in one week quadruple therapy for H, pylori eradication]

In developing countries primary antibiotic-resistance and poor compliance are the main causes of helicobacter pylori [HP] eradication failure of standard regimens. AIM: To investigate eradication rate, patient's compliance and tolerability of a 1-wk Azithromycin based quaruple therapy versus the 2-wk conventional therapy. A total of 129 HP-positive patients were randomized to either omeprazole 20mg, bismuth subcitrate 240 mg, azithromycin 250 mg, metronidazole 500 mg, all twice daily for 1- wk [BOAzM] or omeprazole 20mg, bismuth subcitrate 240 mg, amoxicillin 1g, metronidazole 500 mg all twice daily for 2-wk [B-OAM]. HP infection was defined at entry by histology and rapid urease test and cure of infection was determined by negative urea breath test. HP eradication rates of B-OAzM and B-OAM were74.1% and 70.4% respectively at intention to treat and per-protocol analysis 78.1%versus 75.7% respectively. incidence of poor compliance was lower, although not significant, in patients randomized to B-OAzM than for B-OAM [3.5% versus 4.3%] but intolerability was similar in two groups [35% versus 33.3%]. 1-wk azithromycin based quadruple regimen achieves an HP eradication rate comparable to that of standard 2-wk quadruple Therapy and is associated with same patient's compliance and complications

[Study of high glucose-induced toxicity and reactive oxygen species production and the protective effect of saffron extract in PC12 cells]

Background and Objective: diabetic neuropathy is one of the most frequent complications of diabetes. Despite some studies, the exact mechanism of glucose neurotoxicity has not been fully elucidated. Increased reactive oxygen species [ROS] has been proposed as a possible mechanism. Crocus sativus L. [saffron] has been known as a source of antioxidants. Therefore, neuroprotective effect of saffron extract was studied in glucose-induced neurotoxicity, using PC12 cells as a suitable in vitro model of diabetic neuropathy

Materials and Methods: cell viability was quantitated by MTT assay. ROS was measured using DCF-DA by flow cytometry analysis

Results: the result showed that glucose reduced the cell viability of PC12 cells. Saffron extract and GSH could decrease this toxicity. Glucose toxicity was consistent with increased ROS production which was reduced by saffron and GSH pre-treatment

Conclusion: these results suggest that the glucose-induced cell toxicity could be mediated through the generation of ROS. Due to antioxidant effects of Saffron, it could be considered in diabetic neuropathy treatment in animal models