In vitro and in vivo susceptibility of Leishmania major to some medicinal plants

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of some medicinal plants and systemic glucantime in a comparative manner against the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis both in vitro and in BALB/c mice. Methods For in vivo testing, inbred mice were challenged with Leishmania major parasites and the resultant ulcers were treated with extract based-ointments applied topically two times per day for a period of 20 days. A group of 56 mice were randomly divided into 7 subgroups. The control group received the ointment void of extracts, whereas the reference group received glucantime only. The efficacy of treatments was evaluated by measuring ulcer diameter, parasite burden and NO production. Results Our results indicated that plant extract based-ointments were effective in reducing ulcer size and parasite burden in spleens, but their effects did not differ significantly from that of glucantime. The plant extracts tested in this study were able to increase NO production that helped parasite suppression. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the tested plant extracts are effective against Leishmania major both during in vitro and in vivo experiments, but further researches are required to recommend a potential plant extract as an alternative drug.

Significance of albumin and C-reactive protein variations in 300 end stage renal disease patients in Tehran university of medical sciences hospitals during year 2010

Protein-energy malnutrition, wasting and inflammation are frequent complication among patients with end-stage renal disease [ESRD]. Malnutrition is associated with cardiac co-morbidity, inflammation and poor survival in ESRD patients. Serum albumin is a well-known marker of nutrition in ESRD patients. Serum albumin is still the most commonly used nutritional marker in ESRD patients. C-reactive protein [CRP], the major acute phase response [APR] protein is elevated in these patients. High CRP levels are linked to the degree of atherosclerosis in coronary, peripheral, and extracranial brain arteries. The aim of the present study was to investigate nutritional factor [albumin] and CRP levels in ESRD patients. In this cross-sectional study a total of 300 patients who had ESRD and had been on hemodialysis treatment for at least 6 months were selected. The laboratory tests consisted of measurement of CRP and albumin using high sensitive ELISA kits. The study patients included 157 males [52.3%] and 143 females [47.7%] with average age of 41.5 +/- 14.3 years. Mean CRP level was 7.96 mg/ dl [+/- 1.52], mean serum albumin was 4.07 g/dl [+/- 0.19].Of 300 patients, 21 died [7%]. These were patients with serum albumin<4 g/dl and CRP>9.5 mg/dl. This study showed that low albumin and high CRP levels are the main predictors for death. There was a significant difference between CRP and albumin levels in ESRD patients [P<0.0001]. Measuring CRP as a marker of inflammation can be helpful in managing these patients