Physiological study on the effect of pomegranate juice and antiosteoporotic drug in ovariectomized adult female rats

Osteoporosis [OP] is a disease characterized by disruption of trabecular bone structure and loss of its minerals, which increase the risk of fracture. Estrogen deficiency is a critical factor that leads to many problems in women. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of pomegranate juice and bisphosphonate [risedronate sodium] alone or in combination on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats. A total of 126 adult female rats were subjected to abdominal operation under a sterile condition. 54 rats were divided into three groups [18 rats each]: Gp. [l] served as control [sham], Gp. [2] received pomegranate [sham+p], Gp. [3] received risedronate sodium [sham+R]. The remained 72 rats were subjected to ovarictomy and then divided into equal 4 groups [4-7]. Gp [4] remained ovarictomized and served as positive group [OVX], Gp. [5] received-pomegranate [OVX+P], Gp. [6] received risedronate sodium [OVX+R] and Gp. [7]: received pomegranate and risedronate sodium [OVX+P+R]. All treatments were started at the 1[st] day of operation and the experiment lasted for 8 weeks, Estradiol, progesterone, parathyroid and calcitonin hormones were assayed as well as serum alkaline phosphtase, ingornic phosphorus and T.calcium. Bone mineral density BMD and bone density [BD] were also recorded: The results revealed that pomegranate juice play a very important role in preventing all the problems accompanied ovariectomy due to its rich content of polyphenols and estrogens like effect

Methylene blue prevents carbon monoxide induced-hematological and cardiac toxicity in adult female albino rats

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of concurrent administration of methylene blue [MB] [1mg/kg, i.p. day] on heart and blood under repeated CO intoxication [1% for 4 minutes / day] for a period up to 30 days in female adult albino rats. Animals were divided into four groups. First group is the control group where the animals admistered saline and breathed natural air. Methylene blue group, where the animals received methylene blue [MB] [1mg/kg/day, i.p]. Carbon monoxide group [CO] that inhaled carbon monoxide [CO, 1%] for 4 minutes day in a closed chamber. Carbon monoxide plus methylene group where the animals pretreated with MB followed by CO inhalation at the aforementioned doses. A group of eight rats from each group was sacrificed at time intervals of 10, 20 and 30 days. Levels of methemoglobin [met Hb] and gas analysis [P02 and PCO[2]] were measured in arterial blood. Superoxide dismutase [SOD], reduced glutathione [GSH], malondialdehyde [MDA] as oxidative stress parameters and adenosine triphosphate [AlP] content were measured in heart and blood serum. Carbon monoxide increased PCO[2] and decreased P02 levels, decreased the ATP content and increased the level of met Hb in blood in comparison to control. Moreover, CO-treated animals showed increased levels of MDA and decreased levels of GSH and SOD in blood and heart tissues. Methylene blue pretreatment significantly minimized the adverse effect of CO and restored normal levels of tested blood gases, cleans the hemoglobin [decreased met Hb], normalized the levels of ATP, GSH. The study suggests that carbon monoxide induced its harmful effects by poisoning hemoglobin and /or induction of oxidative stress. The restorative effects of methylene blue on the physiological functions might be due to the potential of MB as antioxidant and to replace CO in Rb molecule

Comparative studies on the possible therapeutic effect of a natural remedy and hypertensive drugs on hypertension-induced gonadal dysfunction in male rats

Several studies suggested the involvement of hypertension in the gonadal dysfunction, however the exact mechanisms of action remained to be clarified. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of high salt diet-induced hypertension on the gonadal activity and the possible therapeutic effect of concurrent treatment with karkade, as natural antihypertensive plant and furosemide and losartan as hypertensive drugs in male adult albino rats. This was achieved by determining thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], triiodothyronine [T3], tetraiodothyronine [T4] and free testosterone in blood serum of different treatments. Feeding of high-salt diet for one and half months significantly increased the systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure as well as increased the levels of TSH, T3 and T4 and depressed level of free testosterone in comparison to control rats. Treatments with the antihypertensive drugs [furosemide and losartan] and karkade remarkably restored the normal blood pressure. Losartan treatment significantly regained the normal levels of TSH, T3, T4 and free testosterone. Combined treatment with either furosemide or karkade to hypertensive rats did not restore the normal levels of TSH, T3, T4 and free testosterone in comparison to control rats. In addition, individual treatment with furosemide and karkade to normotensive rats induced moderate decrease in the levels TSH, T3, T4 and free testosterone. The present study indicates that hypertension induced hormonal disorder and gonadal dysfunction. In addition, not all anti-hypertensive drugs are successful candidates for reversing gonadal dysfunction. The study conclude that although, the excessive use of natural antihypertensive remedy, karkade, can produce a beneficial effect on blood pressure, it might produce undesirable effect on the gonadal activity

Possible protective effect of coenzyme Q-1O against rotenone-induced neurodegeneration in rats

Rotenone, a plant extract pesticide, destroys dopamine-producing neurons and causes symptoms of Parkinson's disease in the experimental animals. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the neurochemical and histopathological effects of repeated exposure to rotenone and testing the probable preventive effect of coerizyme Q-10 [CoQ-10, a mitochondrial enhancer and antioxidant] in specified rat brain areas. Rotenone was injected subcutaneously at a dose of 2 mg/kg every other day up to six injections for a total period of II days, another group of rats fed with coenzyme Q-10 orally at a dose of 100mg/kg/day, starting from the first day of rotenone injection and continued for a total period of 11 days. A combination of rotenone and coenzyme Q-10 was given to a third group of rats. Dopamine [DA] and norepinephrine [NE] were measured in brain cortex and striatum. The levels of oxidative stress parameters including nitric oxide [NO] [as total nitrite and nitrate] and reduced and oxidized glutathione, the enzymatic activity of total superoxide dismutase [SOD], malondialdehyde [MDA], and protein carbonyls and adenosine triphosphate [ATP] in brain cortex and striatum of the treated animals were determined. Besides, the histopathological changes of the aforementioned brain tissues were studied. Results revealed that subchronic treatment of rotenone significantly reduced the levels of DA, NE and ATP, and increased the levels of nitric oxide, induced lipid and protein peroxidation mirrored by elevated levels of MDA and protein carbonyls, respectively, and induced remarkable histological abnormalities in both brain cortical and striatal regions. Concurrent treatment with CoQ-10 considerably protected the cortex and striatum, through its antioxidant potential, against rotenorie-induced transmitters depletion and oxidative stress. The study might indicate that rotenone induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction and that pesticide's effect represents a common, non-specific, brain toxicity and raises a question about the agreeability of rotenone to produce an in-vivo experimental model of Parkinson's disease

Results of surgical release of the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve in the treatment of chronic heel pain

Forty patients [44 feet] were diagnosed as having entrapment neuropathy of the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve and were treated by surgical decompression of that nerve. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 41 years. There were 32 females and 8 males. The right side was affected in 18 patients, the left in 18 patients and 4 patients had bilateral affection. All patients received long courses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and local injections of corticosteroids. The mean duration of complaints before implementing surgery was 18.6 months. The mean preoperative start-up pain score was 9.77. This had improved to a mean value of 2.45 at the final follow up. The mean preoperative standing pain score was 9.55. This had improved to a mean value of 2.86 at the final follow up. Postoperatively, the length of time required to develop pain was reduced markedly. Excellent results were encountered in 20 feet, good results in 18 feet and poor results in 6 feet. The shorter was the duration of complaints [less than one and half years], the better were the results. Over-weight was associated with more unsatisfactory results. The presence of calcaneal spur was associated with more satisfactory results. Superficial wound infection and delayed healing occurred in 4 heels, deep wound infection and sinus formation was encountered in 4 heels. All were treated successfully. Eight heels had persistent numbness at the site of the incision that persisted at the end of the follow up period, but did not interfere with their activities. According to the results of this study, surgical release of this nerve is expected to provide excellent relief of pain and facilitate return of normal activity with minimal complications, provided that the clinical diagnosis is surely correct