RESUMO
Backgrounds and Aim: Treatment of diabetes by ethnomedicinal plants which have fewer side effects than chemical drugs has been on the rise. In this study we assessed hepatoprotective and antidiabetic effects of aqueous extract of internal septum of walnut fruit [ISWF] on diabetic mice
Material and Methods: In this experimental study 35 mature male mice were made diabetic by administration of 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin intraperitoneally. The mice were randomly divided into 5 groups. The negative [non diabetic] and positive [diabetic] control groups received normal saline and the 1[st], 2[nd] and 3[rd] treatment groups received 0.5 mg/kg of glibenclamide, 200 and 400 microl/kg of aqueous extract of ISWF through gavage respectively for 15 days. On the last day, serum levels of blood glucose, ALT [alanine aminotransferase], AST [aspartate aminotransferase] and ALP [alkaline-phosphatase] were measured. After tissue processing, we measured total volume of the liver, hepatocytes, sinusoids, portal vein, central vein, hepatic arteries and bile ducts in the sections of the tissues
Results: Use of aqueous extract of ISWF in the treatment groups led to significant decrease in blood glucose levels, AST and ALP enzymes and also total volume of liver, sinusoids and central vein [p<0.05] compared to those in the non-treated diabetic group
Conclusion: According to the results, aqueous extract of ISWF, can regulate the blood glucose level and inhibit hepatic damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice
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Geographic information systems [GIS] analysis has not been widely used in underdeveloped countries to ensure that vulnerable populations have accessibility to primary health-care services. This study applied GIS methods to analyse the spatial accessibility to urban primary-care centres of the population in Kermanshah city, Islamic Republic of Iran, by age and sex groups. In a descriptive-analytical study over 3 time periods, network analysis, mean centre and standard distance methods were applied using ArcGIS 9.3. The analysis was based on a standard radius of 750 m distance from health centres, walking speed of 1 m/s and desired access time to health centres of 12.5 mins. The proportion of the population with inadequate geographical access to health centres rose from 47.3% in 1997 to 58.4% in 2012. The mean centre and standard distance mapping showed that the spatial distribution of health centres in Kermanshah needed to be adjusted to changes in population distribution
Assuntos
Sistemas de Informação Geográfica , Países em Desenvolvimento , Atenção Primária à SaúdeRESUMO
Asbestos applications were limited during past two decades in developed nations due to its debilitating health problems, while in developing countries it's various usages continues. The aim goals of present study were evaluation of asbestos concentrations in ambient outdoor and indoor air and occupational exposure, as well as exposure effects on pulmonary function. Sampling procedure was carried out during May and June 2010 at four outdoor and seven indoor air sampling stations. Ten persons were selected based on their exposure limits including high, moderate and low exposure. Also to assess pulmonary function of workers, 42 spirometry cases were tested. Samples were analyzed by SEM with EDXA. Obtained results revealed that average concentrations of asbestos fibers were 1.885 x 10 [-5] f/mL and 0.065 f/mL in outdoor and indoor air, respectively. Occupational exposure contents were between 1.5 x 10[-5] - 0.2 f/mL [based on exposure limits]. Spirometry tests showed that 28% of workers had impaired lung functions. Lung restrictive pattern in workers were 2% severe, 12% moderate and 14%. Results showed pattern of fibrous particles as actinolite> termolite> chrysotile in indoor air. Generally, it is clear that there is positive meaningful relationship between more than ten occupational ages and malfunction of lungs in studied workers due to asbestos effects