Persian herbal medicines with anxiolytic properties

Anxiety disorders are amongst the most popular diseases which interfere with normal life. Benzodiazepines are used as a first line of treatment, but difficulties with pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders such as dependence and low response rate, encourage researchers to find new approaches. From the past, the role of medicinal plants have been a subject of intense interest. In this respect, Citrus aurantium, Coriandrum sativum, Crocus sativus, Echium amoenum, Nepeta persica Boiss, Stachys lavandulifolia and Salix aegyptiaca are widely used by Iranian population. This review summarized the information on Iranian plant species that have been explored for their potential anti-anxiety profile using validated animal models, doses and possible mechanism

[ investigation of association between craniotomy and serum cortisol and growth hormone levels in severe traumatic braininjury]

Different hormonal responses may appear in severe head injured patients [including increase in serum Cortisol and GH level]. These changes can also be seen in recovery and rehabilitation periods, so influencing the patients' outcome.Forty severely head injured patients, referred to emergency units of Alzahra and Kashani hospitals were studied in a cohort study [selected by convenient sampling] after dividing into two equal groups. Craniotomy was performed for one group and conservative [non-surgical] therapy for the other. In the first and seventh day of admission serum Cortisol and growth hormone were checked [using RIA method]. Data was analyzed by paired and student t tests.There were significant differences between mean of GH in the first and also in the seventh day[both with P<0.05] and between mean of GH and Cortisol from first to seventh day in two study groups[P<0.05]. But there were no significant differences between mean of Cortisol in the first or seventh day in two study groups.Results of this study showed that craniotomy as an independent factor can raise serum GH and Cortisol levels in severely head injured patients

[Formulation of erytromycine and tretinoin in a topical gel base]

Acne vulgaris is a chronic and prevalent usually self-limited disorder. Topical medication is the main route for acne therapy. In this disorder, the most widely used topical preparations are antibiotics such as Erythromycin and keratolytic agents such as Tretinoin. Excellent results with minimal side effects may be achieved by a fixed combination of Tretinoin and Erythromycin. This combination therapy increases efficacy and a faster response in the treatment of acne may be achieved. The purpose of this work was to assess a suitable formulation of Erythromycin and Tretinoin in a topical gel base. UV spectrophotometer analysis was chosen for Erythromycin and Tretinoin assay. This method was adapted to assay Erythromycin and Tretinoin in their combination. The proposed method for Erythromycin was the formation of a complex with O- nitro benzaldehyde, in glacial acetic acid and in the presence of hydrochloric acid, which manifested maximum absorbance at 486nm. For the measurement of Tretinoin, the absorption peak at 355nm in acidic Ethanol-Water-Iso Propyl alcohol [IPA] mixture was suitable. In order to formulate the Tretinoin and Erythromycin in a gel base, gelling agents, plasticizers, solvents, cosolvents such as Carbopol, HPC, HPMC, Ethanol, Propylene Glycol [PG], Isopropyl Alcohol [IPA] and Water have been used. By using tertiary diagrams, the most proportionate percentage of gel constituents have been determined. The formulations have been controlled for rheological, organoleptic properties and physical and chemical stability under several conditions [4, 25, 40 degree C]. The release of drugs from the gels was studied using Franz diffusion cell and the best formulations were chosen. Drug release rates followed Higuchi's law. The results indicated that Erythromycin and Tretinoin could be formulated in a gel base with a suitable release profile and presented to pharmaceutical market

Significance of DNA study in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] is the most common malignant disease affecting children, accounting for approximately 30% of childhood cancers. The potential for clinical cure is correlated with a number of prognostic variables. These variables include clinical parameters at the time of diagnosis [e.g. age and white blood cell count], and biologic features of leukemic cells [cytogenetics and DNA content]. This prospective study was conducted on 22 Egyptian leukemic patients. All patients were subjected to complete history and physical examination, chest X-ray, abdominal sonography, complete blood count, bone marrow examination and karyotypic study. Cases were classified into group I [group of good prognosis] and group II [group of bad prognosis] according to their follow up for one year after initiation of treatment. Group I consisted of 11 cases, 10 of them were of normal karyotype and one case showed hyperdiploid >/= 50 chromosomes. Group II consisted of 11 cases, where 2 of them were hyperdiploid [from 46 - 49 chromosome], 2 cases were hypodiploid, 6 cases showed translocations and one case showed deletion of the short arm of chromosome No. 9. One year survival rate was 100% to 10 patients with normal karyotype and 100% to 5 patients with numerical chromosomal abnormalities. Five cases with structural chromosomal abnormalities died [71.4%] out of the 7 detected cases. There is a strong association between certain chromosomal abnormalities and bad prognosis which can be of much benefit in dealing with leukemic children