Correlation between HDL-C and smoking in teachers residing in Shiraz, Iran

It has been established that serum HDL-C is a main predictor for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of HDL-C to smoking in teachers residing in Shiraz in order to improve the health status of the group under study and community as a whole. The present study comprised a total of 3115 teachers working in Shiraz recruited in a prospective cohort study. Of these, two groups of 235 smokers and 235 non-smokers were randomly selected for evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors, and to determine any association between serum HDL-C, LDL, triglyceride [TG], systolic and diastolic blood pressure with smoking, gender and BMI. One way ANOVA, Pearson correlation and independent sample t tests by SPSS version 16 were used for statistical analysis and all means were followed by SD. Mean age of subjects was 45.5+/-6.7 years. Of smokers 4.7% were females. Among smokers males had a significantly higher mean of HDL [P=0.002] compared to females [42 vs. 32.4 mg/dl]. HDL level was significantly lower [P<0.001] in heavy smokers compared to non-smokers and light smokers [36.5 vs 41.7 and 43.5]. However, light smokers had a higher mean of HDL than non-smokers, although the difference was not statistically significant [43.5 vs. 41.7 mg/dl, P=0.131]. Serum HDL was not affected by other factors. Smoking was associated with a low serum HDL in the subjects under study who were intellectual class of the population. It is thus warranted to take preventive measures to combat cardiovascular diseases in this sector of community

[Chondro-protective effects of pomegranate on experimental osteoarthritis]

To study the effectiveness of pomegranate juice [PJ] on osteoarthritis [OA], we used mono-iodoacetate [MIA], an inhibitor of glycolysis, in tibiofemoral joint of mice that promotes loss of articular cartilage similar to that noted OA. Pomegranate juice [PJ] is increasing in popularity because of its high antioxidant content, already known to help prevent heart disease. However, no histopathological studies have undertaken in vivo to investigate whether PJ protect articular cartilage. We described the histopathology in the subchondral bone and cartilage of mice knee joint treated with a single intra-articular injection of MIA [0.1 mg] and sacrificed at 1, 14 and 28 days post injection. Then, the beneficial effect of oral PJ was studied in different groups; group 1: administration of PJ [4ml/kg], group 2: administration of PJ [10ml/kg] and group 3: administration of PJ [20ml/kg]. Histopathological changes in knee joints were studied after two weeks. Histologically, the early OA was characterized by areas of chondrocytes degeneration/ necrosis sometimes involving the entire thickness of the articular cartilage in the tibial plateaus and femoral condyles. Changes to the subchondral bone and proteoglycane contents, were observed and also, there was focal fragmentation and collapse of bony trabeculae with fibrosis and necrosis. Synovial cell proliferation was noted. Interestingly, administration of PJ in different group of mice prevented the negative effects of iodoacetate, in a dose dependent manner. Chondrocyte damages were significantly prevented and proteoglycane were less affected, especially in group receiving high amount of PJ and no cell proliferation and inflammatory cell were detected in synovium. Fast and progressive damage to articular cartilage is induced by single intra-articular injection of MIA, which mimic exactly human OA. In this study, the effectiveness of PJ in improvement of histopathological damages is emphasized and its chondroprotective effects in vivo are highlighted

Study of anti-inflammatory and healing effects of achillea millefolium in the treatment of indomethacin-induced gasthic ulcer in rat

According to numerous sources, the plant "Achillea millefolium" is used for various ailments, mainly for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract or tonically for the healing of wounds. In this research, the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract [8:2V/V] of the plant Achillea millefolium on the treatment of gastric ulcer and possible hepatotoxicity of the plant in rat were studied. Hydro-alcoholic extraction of the plant was carried out using maceration, followed by concentrating under vacuum. Gastric ulcer in rat was induced by oral administration of indomethacin suspension [30mg/kg] in 1% carboxy methyl cellulose following 72 hours of fastin. Hydro-alcoholic extract of the plant was orally administrated as a single dose but in different concentrations of 125, 250, 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg for 14 days following induction of gastric ulcer in rats. At the end of the experimental period, animals were killed and the stomachs were examined both macroscopically and microscopically. All different concentration of Achillea millefolium were effective in treating of gastric ulcer specially those with concentrations of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg which showed to be the most effective ones. The extract with concentration of 500 mg/kg was considered to be the most effective dose in treatment as no liver disorder was observed. Achillea millefolium is a suitable preparation in treatment of gastric ulcer

Bleomycin Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

Bleomycin is a widely used antineoplastic drug which produces dose and time-dependent interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in human and animals. The mechanism of bleomycin-induced lung injury is not well understood. However, current studies have shown that bleomycin can generate free oxygen radicals such as super -oxide and hydroxyl radical. In this study the antioxidant effect of vitamin C in biological system and its effect on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in rat has been investigated. In this study rats were divided into four groups: Control, bleomycin and Saline, bleomycin and vitamin C and saline and vitamin C. The degree of tissue injury in the bleomycin and vitamin C group was significantly lower than bleomycin and saline group. Results of this study suggest that vitamin C may reduce the fibrosis formation effect of belomycin in lung tissue