Effects of the Mixture of ‎ Cynara cardunculus var scolymus and Cinnamomum zeylanicum on Hepatic Enzymes Activity and Lipid Profiles in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Objective:Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly going to be one of the most common metabolic diseases which can negatively affect the liver function and needs to be more explored within the context of new and efficient therapies. The aim of this study was to determine the benefit of Cynara cardunculus var scolymusand Cinnamomum zeylanicummixture infusion (1.5 and 0.25 g/100 mL and twice/day) on patients with NAFLD. Methods:The study was designed as a before-after clinical trial and performed on 20 patients having NAFLD. They were asked to use the mixture of extracts prepared in special bags twice a day for 30 days. Before and after using the mixture, Liver markers of NAFLD including alanin aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphates (ALP), cholesterol (chol), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and also, fatty liver ultrasonograhic grading were measured. Results:Treatment with mixture of extracts in patients with NAFLD resulted in a significant decrease in ALT, AST, and ALP. Also there was a significant improvement in lipid profile of the patients given by decreased TG, Chol, and LDL and increased HDL in serum. Moreover, a significant decrease in grade of sonographic examination was showed. No significant linear correlation was found between age, BMI and gender one way side and biochemical parameters and liver enzymes.Conclusion:Taken together, it is concluded that the mixture of Cynara cardunculusvar scolymus, Cinnamomum zeylanicumcan have beneficial effects on hepatic function and lipid profiles of patients with NAFLD

The Story of Beta-sitosterol- A Review.

Aims: Phytosterols are a subgroup of the steroids, as an important class of bioorganic molecules, widespread in plants, animals, marines as well as fungi and have similarity to cholesterol in structure. These compounds have a long history of consumption as food or pharmaceutical products, and generally recognized as safe without undesirable side effects. Place and Duration of Study: Medicinal plants Research Center and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, between March 2013 and May 2013. Results: Amongphytosterols, β-sitosterol is usually used for heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, modulating the immune system, prevention of cancer, as well as for rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, cervical cancer, hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Furthermore, diverse biological activities whereby natural compounds or the extracts were considered including trypanocidal and mosquito larvicidal, even neutralization of viper and cobra venom characteristics was recorded. Conclusion: Some of the above indications are evidence based, but others are still in doubt and need more investigations to confirm its efficacy and safety. Regarding to the importance of these natural sterols and β-sitosterol as the most abundant of them, the main pharmacological and biological activities together with their clinical trials is reviewed here.

Comparison of the effects of enoxaparin and heparin on inflammatory biomarkers in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction: a prospective open label pilot clinical trial

Heparin and enoxaparin possess anti-inflammatory properties. We compared the effects of these drugs on inflammatory biomarkers in patients with ST-segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction [STEMI]. Thirty four patients with STEMI randomly separated in two groups and received standard doses of heparin and enoxaparin. The serum concentration of Serum Amyloid A [SAA], C-Reactive Protein [CRP], Interleukin [IL]-6. ferritin and Myeloperoxidase [MPO] were measured at baseline ,12 .24 and 48 hours after drug administration. Serum concentrations of SAA [P: 0.02], CRP [P: 0.02] and ferritin [P: 0.01] significantly reduced in heparin group during measurements compared to baseline, circulating levels of IL-6 [P: 0.002], SAA [P: 0.009], CRP [P: 0.01] were significantly decreased in enoxaparin group. The overall difference in inflammatory biomarkers between heparin and enoxaparin group was not significant. Both heparin and enoxaparine reduced serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with STEMI. This effect may provide additional clinical benefit of these drugs in the treatment of STEMI patients

Efficacy of Setarud (IMOD®), a novel drug with potent anti-toxic stress potential in rat inflammatory bowel disease and comparison with dexamethasone and infliximab.

The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic, immune-mediated and chronic intestinal condition. In the present study, the effect of Serarud (IMOD®), a novel natural drug with known immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties was investigated in experimental colitis in rats and compared with the dexamethasone and infliximab. Immunologic colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of a mixture of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) and absolute ethanol in male Wistar rats. Animals were divided into 6 groups of sham (normal group), control (vehicle-treated), positive control (dexamethasone 1 mg/kg/day given orally and infliximab 5 mg/kg/day given subcutaneously) and 3 Setarud-treated groups (13.3, 20, 30 mg/kg/day given intraperitoneally). The treatment continued for 14 consecutive days and then animals were decapitated on the day 15 and distal colons were removed for macroscopic, microscopic, and biochemical assays. Biochemical markers, including TNF-, IL-1, ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and thiobarbitoric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) were measured in the homogenate of colonic tissue. A remarkable reduction in macroscopic and histological damage scores was observed in the animals treated with Setarud. These findings were confirmed by decreased levels of TNF-, interleukin-1, MPO activity and TBARS, and raised levels of FRAP in the colon tissue. These observations confirmed the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Setarud in experimental colitis, which was comparable to those of dexamethasone and infliximab.

Biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles using Klebsiella pneumoniae and their recovery by a simple sterilization process

The use of biologically derived metal nanoparticles for various proposes is going to be an issue of considerable importance; thus, appropriate methods should be developed and tested for the biological synthesis and recovery of these nanoparticles from bacterial cells. In this research study, a strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae was tested for its ability to synthesize elemental selenium nanoparticles from selenium chloride. A broth of Klebsiella pneumoniae culture containing selenium nanoparticles was subjected to sterilization at 121ºC and 17 psi for 20 minutes. Released selenium nanoparticles ranged in size from 100 to 550 nm, with an average size of 245 nm. Our study also showed that no chemical changes occurred in selenium nanoparticles during the wet heat sterilization process. Therefore, the wet heat sterilization process can be used successfully to recover elemental selenium from bacterial cells.

[Efficacy of AIDS prevention training program on knowledge, attitude and practice of chabahar sailors, Iran]

AIDS is one of the epidemic diseases around the world and in the developing countries in particular. To define the pattern of transmission of AIDS in the southern regions of Sistan-va-Baluchestan province namely Chabahar this research was done on Chabahar sailors traveling regularly between Chabahar and overseas. This research is a Quasi-Experimental study carried out with 130 participants. Questionnaires were used as the data collection tool. Questionnaires were completed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of the sailors about AIDS. Then training programs including the educational materials, lectures, face to face discussions, and educational films were presented. Knowledge, attitude and practice of the sailors were evaluated for the second time two months after the educational programs. The data were analyzed according to suitable statistical methods. 21% of sailors had history of sexual intercourse while residing in abroad; and our health educational programs promoted knowledge [27.74 vs. 36.33], attitude [29.45 vs. 42.48] and practice [23.91 vs. 30.45] significantly. Use different educational methods for improvement of knowledge, attitude, and practice of sailors [as a high risk group] have to be considered seriously and by health managers