[Effect of kombucha tea on depression and motor activity in mice]

Background: Depression is a threatening disease. Due to adverse effects of chemical antidepressant drugs, researcher's attention has been shifted toward natural drug

Objective: In this work, the antidepressant effect of Kombucha tea [KT] evaluated against reserpine induced depression in mice

Methods: In this experimental study, 42 male mice were randomly divided into 6 groups of 7 mice. Vehicle mice received normal saline [1 mg/kg, i.p.], negative and positive control groups received reserpine [5mg/kg, i.p.] and fluoxetine [20 mg/kg, i.p.] respectively and treatment groups received Kombucha tea at doses of 250, 500, 1000 mg/kg, 18 h after administration of reserpine. Mice were then tested with forced swimming and rotarod tests. At the end of behavioral tests, blood sample were collected and used to assess blood antioxidant capacity

Results: There was significant difference in the duration of immobility time between vehicle and reserpine treated groups [P<0.001]. Administration of Kombucha tea at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg into depressed mice significantly reduced the duration of immobility time. KT administration significantly improved blood antioxidant capacity of mice blood

Conclusion: These results provide support for the potential antidepressant effects of Kombucha tea against

[Combination thrapy of hydroalcoholic extract of Pistacia atlantica kurdica and fluvoxamine on spatial memory of immobilization rat]

Background and Objective: Oxidative stress causes disorder in the brain processes including memory. Pistacia atlantica kurdica [pistachio] contains antioxidant compounds, oleic and linoleic acid. Fluvoxamine is an antidepressant medicine which inhibits serotonin reuptake. This study was done to determine the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of pistachio and fluvoxamine on spatial memory of male rats under immobilization stress

Methods: This experimental study was done on 30 adult male Wistar rats in 5 groups [n=6]. The control group was not under immobilization stress. Animals in the stress group were just under immobilization stress. Animals in the pistachio group were under immobilization stress and were received 400 mg/kg/bw hydroalcoholic extract of pistachio. Animals in the fluvoxamine group under immobilization stress were received 120 mg/kg/bw fluvoxamine. Animals under immobilization stress, in the pistachio plus fluvoxamine group were received 400 mg/kg/bw hydroalcoholic extract of pistachio and fluvoxamine 120 mg/kg/bw. The radial arm maze test was used for evaluation of spatial memory. After the animals' decapitation, the malondialdehyde and catalase level in hippocampus and the serum level of corticosterone and blood glucose were measured

Results: The stress significantly increased the time of reaching to target, malondialdehyde, corticoestron and blood glucose level, and reduced the catalase in stress group in comprasion with controls [P<0.05]. In the pistachio and the pistachio+fluvoxamine treated groups, the time of reaching to target, malondialdehyde, corticoestron and blood glucose level significantly reduced and the catalase level significantly increased in comprasion with stress group [P<0.05] but fluvoxamine significantly increased the time of reaching to target, malondialdehyde and blood glucose, and reduced the corticoestron and catalase in compared to controls [P<0.05]

Conclusion: The immobilization stress led to attenuation of spatial memory and the fluvoxamine administration as an antidepressant drug caused to deterioration of memory,while the treatment with pistachio extract lead to improve the memory

Effect of melatonin on peripheral neuropathic pain in diabetic rat

Diabetes mellitus is often accompanied by chronic neuropathic pain. Studies indicate that oxidative stress has an important role in the appearance of neurological and behavioral changes in diabetes. Necessitating researching therefore the antioxidants effects in alleviation of diabetic neuropathic pain. In this study, 32 male Wistar rats weighing 200 +/- 20 g were used, and were divided into four groups: Control[C], melatonin[M], diabetic[D] and melatonin-treated diabetic[MD]. Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg streptozotocin [STZ]. Melatonin was injected [10 mg/kg/day, i.p.] for 2 weeks, after 21 days of diabetes induction. At the end of administration period, nociceptive biphasic behavior in rats was assessed using the 0.5% formalin test, and then observed for up to 60 min, according to spontaneous flinching and licking responses. In this study, lipid peroxidation levels, glutathione-peroxidase and catalase activities were measured in spinal L4-S3 dorsal root ganglia. Experimental data were then statistically analyzed Formalin-evoked flinching increased in both acute and chronic phases of pain in diabetic rats as compared to non-diabetic ones, whereas administration of melatonin reduced flinching frequency in both phases in MD rats. Total time of licking in diabetic rats was significantly [p < 0.05] more than the control rats in both acute and chronic phases of pain melatonins injection significantly reduced this time in both phases of pain in the MD as compared D group, whereas was no significant difference between M and C rats in the indices mentioned. Assessment of dorsal root ganglia homogenates indicated an increase in Lipid peroxidation levels and a decrease in GSH-Px and CAT activities in the D group as compared to the controls [C]. While melatonin administration ameliorated these in diabetic rats. Results suggest that oxidative stress contributes to appearance of pain in diabetes and melatonin, as an antioxidant, is effective in reducing the acute and chronic pain in diabetic rats

[Effect of melatonin on sexual behavior in male diabetic rats]

Several clinical studies indicate deterioration of sexual behavior in diabetic patients. The pathophysiological mechanisms of diabetic sexual impotence remain obscure. In this study the therapeutic effects of melatonin on sexual behavior were investigated through the central serotonergic system in diabetic rats. In this study, 30 male adult Wistar rats, weighing 200 +/- 20 g, were used. Animals were divided into three groups, the controls [C], diabetic [D] and the melatonin-treated diabetic [M] group. Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg streptozotocin. Melatonin was injected [10 mg/kg i. p.] after 3 days of streptozotocin injection for 30 days. At the end of the administration period, the sexual behavior of each male rat to an ovariectomized female rat was assessed for 40 min. Serotonergic type 2 [5-HT2A] receptor activities were investigated through spontaneous WDS behavior, and experimental data were statistically analyzed. First mount, first intromission and first ejaculation latencies significantly [p<0. 05] increased in diabetic rats as compared to controls. Melatonin treatment significantly [p<0. 05] reduced these responses in the M group, compared to the D one. Also the number of mounts, intromissions and ejaculations significantly [p<0. 05] decreased in diabetic rats compared to controls. Administration of melatonin significantly [p<0. 05] increased these activities in the M group as compared to the D one. Calculation of copulatory efficiency and the sexual activity index of each rat indicate that reproductive activity in diabetic rats was significantly [p<0. 05] less than other two groups. The number of WDS responses was significantly [p<0. 05] different in all three groups. Sexual dysfunction in diabetic animals was accompanied by decreasing of 5-HT2A receptor activities, and melatonin prevented the diabetes-induced sexual impotence by modulating of central serotonergic system activity

[ necessity for specialty education in nursing MS program: viewpoints of the faculty members of school of nursing and midwifery in Iran]

Academic specialty nursing courses are so limited in our country, being available just in a few schools. This study was performed in order to determine the necessity for having specialty education programs in MS level and the type of educational program needed. This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed through year 2008 in schools of nursing and midwifery of the country. The study population was faculty members of the schools of nursing and midwifery who were selected clustery and randomly [n=300]. A questionnaire was sent to schools of nursing and midwifery. Nursing faculty members were asked to send the completed questionnaires back to nursing organization. Data was analyzed by SPSS software using Chi[2]. 76.6% of participants believed that graduates of nursing MS are not efficient in clinical settings. 92.7% stated that presenting specialty clinical courses is necessary in MS level. From these persons' viewpoints, the reasons for establishing these specialized courses are prioritized as follows: promotion of service quality, the increasing requirement of society for specialized function of medical professions, establishing a desirable occupational position for nurses, and reducing the expenses of health services. MS graduates are not efficient enough in clinical settings, so it calls for making some revisions in educational courses of MS level. It is recommended to conduct more comprehensive researches on this area considering evaluation of educational programs

[Comparison of blood culture with acridine orange stained smear of buffy coat in diagnosis of septicemia]

Different methods, with varying degrees of specificity and/or sensitivity, are used for diagnosis of sepsis. The present study was designed to determine and compare the sensitivity and specificity of blood culture with Acridine Orange [A.O.] stained smear of buffy coat in patients with sepsis. This research was conducted on 101 hospitalized patients with clinical signs and symptoms compatible with sepsis. Blood cultures were taken and A.O. staining was done on blood samples of all patients. Blood cultures were positive in 20 [19.8%] patients. Sensitivity and specificity of blood cultures were 26% and 92% respectively. A.O. stained smears of buffy coats were positive in 54 [54.5%] patients. Sensitivity and specificity of A.O. Stained smears of buffy coats were 83% and 100% respectively. A.O. stained smear of buffy coat, as a diagnostic test of sepsis is more sensitive than blood culture. In addition, it takes less than one hour to be performed, as compared to blood cultures that give results in 2-3 days