[ role of oxytocin on cardiac ischemia-reperfusion-induced oxidative stress in rats]

Oxidative stress is caused by the imbalance between production of pro-oxidants and the antioxidant defenses. Reactive oxygen species [ROS] can play an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The present study aimed at investigating whether administration of oxytocin ameliorates oxidative stress induced by experimental myocardial infarction in rats. Cardiac ischemia-reperfusion [I/R] was induced by occlusion of left main coronary artery of rats for 25 min, followed by a period of reperfusion for 2h. OT at doses of 0.0001-1 microg was administered intraperitoneally 30 min prior to ischemia. Following reperfusion, blood samples were taken for measuring the plasma MDA levels, as an index of lipid peroxidation. We observed a dose-dependent association between dose of oxytocin and plasma MDA. Oxytocin 0.01microg significantly reduced MDA levels as compared to control group. Blockade of specific OT receptors by atosiban attenuated the anti-oxidative effect of OT. The MDA level in the L-NAME and atropine groups were higher than those in the OT group and reach to control group, whereas the MDA levels in the anantin group were same as OT group and significantly lower than those in the control group. Oxytocin has a beneficial effect, mediated by NO and Ach, on cardiac tissue against oxidative damage due to I/R, suggesting that oxytocin can be used to tissue protection against oxidative stress

[Effects of high-fat diets based on butter or soybean, olive or fish oil on insulin resistance and plasma desacyl-ghrelin in rats

There is evidence on reciprocal effects of insulin and desacylghrelin [DAG], but associations between secretions of hormones [insulin and DAG] and saturated and unsaturated proportions of edible oils in high-fat diets have not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different sources of dietary fat and the extent of fatty acid saturation on plasma insulin and DAG levels and determine the association between DAG and insulin action in rats. Weaning male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups to be fed on one of 4 high-fat diets containing, as the source of fat, butter [HF-b], soybean oil [HB-S], olive oil [HF-O], or fish oil [HF-F]. A fifth group was put on a standard diet [SD]. Blood samples were collected after 8 weeks at non-fasting state and after a 24h fast. Body weight, food intake, and plasma parameters - glucose, insulin, DAG, and HOMA-IR, as an insulin resistance index - were measured. Body weight and food intake in the HF-S and HF-B groups were higher than in the other groups [p<0.05]. In the HF-B group the fasting insulin level and HOMA-IR were both higher as compared to the ST, HF-O or HF-F group [p<0.05]. In addition, the fasting DAG level in the HF-B group was lower than in HF-F, HF-O or ST group [p<0.05]. Finally, the HF-F group had a significantly higher DAG level than the HF-S group [P<0.05]. Diets containing polyunsaturated omega -3 and monounsaturated fatty acids cause lower weight gains and energy intakes. It is likely that these dietary fats could bring about a decrease in appetite through increasing the DAG level, thereby causing weight reduction. It is concluded, then, that they may have a role in lowering HOMA-IR or insulin level

[Serum visfatin concentration in patients with metabolic syndrome]

Recent studies indicate that Visfatin, a newly identified adipocytokine, may have potential proinflammatory effects. Since, the relationship between serum visfatin levels and metabolic syndrome [MetS] has not been established, the aim of this study was to explore the association between serum visfatin levels and anthropometric variables and the metabolic syndrome. Thirty-seven patients with MetS and 37 age matched controls [mean age 46.35 +/- 1.6 years] were included. Metabolic syndrome in patients was defined based on the 2005 criteria of the International Diabetes Federation, and anthropometric and biochemical profiles were documented. Serum Visfatin was measured using an enzyme immunoassay [EIA] kit. Using the t-test, data were compared between groups and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationship between continuous variables. P values <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Serum Visfatin level was significantly lower in metabolic syndrome patients [P<0. 05] compared controls, log visfatin: 1.74 +/- 0.27 nanogram/ml vs. 1.86 +/- 0.13 nanogram/ml, respectively. There was no significant correlation between serum visfatin levels and any anthropometric or any metabolic parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome or the control group. The results of this study showed that serum visfatin level was decreased in patients with MetS, indicating that Visfatin cannot be considered as a new proinflammatory adipocytokine for the metabolic syndrome

[Study of the general mental health status in an area of Tehran: Tehran lipid and glucose study [TLGS]]

There are significant correlations between the mental health status of individuals and non-communicable mental or physical diseases. Epidemiological data regarding mental health indices plays an important part in the planning and designing of mental health programs. This study was conducted to evaluate the general mental health status of inhabitants in an area of Tehran as part of the TLGS. Materials and Method: In this cross-sectional study, 927 residents [20 years and older] of a specific area were randomly selected. Subjects completed the demographic data forms alongwith the General Health Questionnaires [GHQ], validated for the Iranian population. A cut off of 6 and above was used as threshold to identify the group suspected of having psychiatric disorders. To compare the scores of total GHQ and subscales between different demographic variables, the Chi square, Mann whitney and Kruskal wallis test were used. Logistic regression was used to identify variables related to the group that scored above threshold. The total sample studied consisted of 927 adults, of whom 401 [43.3%] were males and 526 [56.7%] females. Among them 489 [52.8%] were suspected of having psychiatric disorders. Mean score of total GHQ was 7.0 +/- 5.4 and regarding the subscales of the questionnaire including physical symptoms, anxiety and sleep disorders, social dysfunction and depression, mean scores were 1.2 +/- 1.7, 1.7 +/- 2.0, 3.4 +/- 2.0, 0.75 +/- 1.4 respectively and the median of mentioned subscales were 0, 1, 3 and 0 respectively. Frequency of women suspected of mental disorders was significantly higher than that of men [59.7% vs. 43.6%, p<0.001]. Taking into consideration the sample group and the method of gathering data, the frequency of those suspected of having psychiatric disorders in our study was higher as compared to other studies. Since mental health plays an important role in health promotion and community development, as well as the financial and psychological burden of illnesses, inplementation of policies in regard to implementation of related programs for prevention especially in women, seems vital