The Effect of Curcumin on the Gut-Brain Axis:Therapeutic Implications

The gut-brain axis describes the bidirectional communication between the gut, the enteric nervous system, and the central nervous system. The gut-brain axis has attracted increasing attention owing to its regulatory effect on dysbiosis and a wide range of related diseases. Several types of nutrients, such as curcumin, have been proposed as regulators of the dysbiotic state, and preclinical experiments have suggested that curcumin is not only beneficial but also safe. This review focuses on the interplay between curcumin and the gut microbiota. Moreover, it provides a comprehensive review of the crosstalk between the gut-brain axis and disease, whilst also discussing curcumin-mediated gut-brain axis-dependent and -independent signaling about modulation of gut microbiota dysbiosis. This will help to define the utility of curcumin as a novel therapeutic agent to regulate intestinal microflora dysbiosis.

Antibiotic resistance of Neisseria species in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of antibiotic resistance of Neisseria species in Iran. Methods: A systematic and electronic search using relevant keywords in major national and international databases was performed until 6th July, 2018 in order to find studies reporting the prevalence of antibiotic resistance of Neisseria species in Iran. Results: A total of nine studies were found to be eligible based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Our analysis indicated that the prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae resistance to different antibiotics was as follows: 66.9% to penicillin, 59.1% to ciprofloxacin, 11.1% to ceftriaxone, 21.6% to spectinomycin, 13.8% to cefixime, 82.4% to co-trimoxazole, 52.7% to tetracycline, 29.9% to gentamicin, 87.5% to ampicillin, 11.1% to azithromycin, 2.2% to chloramphenicol, 50.1% to cefepime and 50.0% to vancomycin. Antimicrobial resistance rates of Neisseria meningitidis was as follows: 30.0% to penicillin, 33.3% to amoxicillin, 33.3% to cephalexin, 55.6% to ampicillin and 0.0% to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, amikacin, co-trimoxazole, gentamicin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol and ceftizoxime. Conclusion: Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis isolates of Iran show resistance to different types of antibiotics. Therefore, care should be exercised for the use of penicillin, ciprofloxacin, co-trimoxazole, tetracycline, gentamicin, ampicillin, cefepime and vancomycin for gonococcal infections, and also with respect to the use of penicillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin and cephalexin for meningococcal infections in Iran.

Effects of combined prokinetic administration on gastric emptying in critically ill patients

Background and study aims: Combination of prokinetic drugs with different mechanisms of action is frequently used when feeding intolerance is not improved with a single agent. In this study, we evaluated the effect of combined infusion of neostigmine and metoclopramide on gastric passage in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit [ICU]

Patients and methods: This study is a randomized double-blind controlled trial in 90 patients between 20 and 60 years of age who were under mechanical ventilation and had gastric residual volumes [GRVs] >120 mL 3 h after the last lavage. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: intravenous neostigmine 2.5 mg, intravenous metoclopramide 20 mg, and combination of both agents at the mentioned doses. Gastric volume aspiration was first performed before starting the study and then at 3, 6, 9, and 12 h after the infusion of study drugs was finished. Increase in gastric lavage was defined as an aspiration volume of >120 mL

Results: In total, 86 cases in the three groups completed the treatment [all 90 patients included in the study were analysed according to an intention-to-treat approach]. There was no significant difference detected at baseline in age, intubation duration, albumin, haemoglobin, haematocrit, total leucocytic count [WBC], Na, K, Mg, and sequential organ failure assessment score between the study groups. In the combination group, 96.7% of patients showed GRV improvement [GRV < 120 cc], whereas in the metoclopramide and neostigmine groups, 50% and 43.3% of the patients, respectively, showed improvement [p < 0.001]. The frequency of overall adverse effects in the metoclopramide, neostigmine, and combination groups were 3.3%, 16.7%, and 10%, respectively [p = 0.28]

Conclusions: The present results suggested that combination therapy with metoclopramide and neostigmine decreases GRV in critically ill patients with a higher efficacy than monotherapies

Angiographic findings after supplementation with heracleum persicum extract: results of a randomized controlled trial

Objective: Heracleum persicum is a common dietary spice with several traditional medicinal properties important for cardiovascular health including antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and anti?inflammatory effects. This study explored the effects of supplementation with H. persicum fruit on the angiographic findings of patients with minimal coronary artery disease [CAD]

Methods: Subjects who were diagnosed with <50% stenosis in any of their coronary arteries by angiography were selected for this trial and randomly assigned to H. persicum hydroalcoholic fruit extract [n = 15; 300 mg/day] or placebo [n = 12] for 6 months. At the end of the trial, participants underwent a second coronary angiography in order to evaluate the progression of their disease

Results: Posttrial angiography did not reveal any improvement in the number of stenosed vessels after consumption of H. persicum extract versus placebo [P > 0.05]. Similarly, there was no significant difference between the study groups in terms of disease progression and chest pain score [P > 0.05]

Conclusion: The present results do not support any clinically significant benefit of supplementation with H. persicum extract on the angiographic findings of in patients with minimal CAD

Malondialdehyde-modified LDL IgG antibody levels and indices of cardiac function in valvular heart and coronary artery disease patients

To compare the changes in anti-malondialde-hyde-modified low-density lipoprotein [MDA-LDL] IgG levels among patients undergoing off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] or valvuloplasty. A total of 38, 39 and 34 patients who underwent off-pump CABG, on-pump CABG and valvuloplasty, respectively, were enrolled in this study. Serum anti-MDA-LDL IgG values were measured 24 h before and after the operative procedures and at discharge. Echocardiogra-phy was also done before surgery and before discharge. The results were compared with values from 50 healthy controls. In all patients, a reduction in antibody titers was observed post-operatively. However, the decrease was significant only in the off-pump CABG - before surgery: 42.33 [25.83-58.51], after surgery: 30.86 [16.36-51.33] and at discharge: 10.96 [6.82-23.57; p = 0.027]. There was a significant positive association between anti-MDA-LDL IgG levels and ejection fraction [r = 0.248, p = 0.036] and a negative association with E/E', a marker of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, in the coronary patients [r = -0.345, p = 0.012], but no significant associations were found in patients with valvular heart disease. Serum anti-MDA-LDL IgG levels were associated with cardiac function indices in coronary patients undergoing CABG

An investigation of the effects of curcumin on anxiety and depression in obese individuals: A randomized controlled trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effectiveness of curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, on the frequency of symptoms of anxiety and depression in obese individuals.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this double blind, cross-over trial, 30 obese subjects were randomized to receive either curcumin (1 g/day) or placebo for a period of 30 days. Following a wash-out interval of 2 weeks, each subject was crossed over to the alternative regimen for a further 30 days. Severity of anxiety and depression was assessed at baseline and at weeks 4, 6 and 10 of the trial using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scales, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean BAI score was found to be significantly reduced following curcumin therapy (P=0.03). However, curcumin supplementation did not exert any significant impact on BDI scores (P=0.7).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Curcumin has a potential anti-anxiety effect in individuals with obesity.</p>

Biological activities of essential oils from the genus Ferula (Apiaceae)

The genus Ferula (Apiaceae) comprises about 170 species occurring from central Asia westward to northern Africa. This genus is well-known in folk medicine for the treatment of various organ disorders. Most of Ferula species possess strong aromatic smell that is due to the presence of essential oil or oleoresin in their different organs. This article reviews anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and other biological activities of Ferula oils reported todate. For medicinal applications, the chemical composition of volatile oils obtained from different Ferula species is summarized in Appendix.Keywords: Apiaceae, essential oil, Ferula

Newly detected hypertension in an Iranian population: an epidemiological study

Background: Early detection of undiagnosed hypertension may prevent or reduce the onset and progression of many diseases.Objective: To investigate the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in an Iranian population and its relation with socio-demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical factors.Methods: Four thousand five hundred nineteen subjects, aged 15-65 years, were eligible for the study. They were entered into the study through the cluster sampling method.Results: The overall prevalence of previously unknown hypertension was 24.2%. It was higher among urban dwellers who were poorly educated, married, and were manual laborers by occupation compared to other groups.Conclusion: Poor literacy status as well socioeconomic conditions may be positively associated with hypertension. Undiagnosed hypertension can be lowered by increasing access to routine blood pressure measurement, pre-employment medical examination, and improvement of the health seeking behavior in these groups.

Synthesis and purification of 7-prenyloxycoumarins and herniarin as bioactive natural coumarins

7-prenyloxycoumarins including 7-isopentenyloxycoumarin, auraptene and umbelliprenin, and herniarin have been widely recognized as bioactive coumarins. This paper presents the ways to synthesis these compounds. 7-prenyloxycoumarins were synthesized by reaction between 7-hydroxycoumarin [1 M] and relevant prenyl bromides [1.5 M] in acetone at room temperature. The reaction was carried out in the presence of DBU [1, 8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0] undec-7-ene] [2 M]. After 24 hr. the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. The compounds were purified by column chromatography. Three bioactive 7-prenyloxycoumarins, namely, umbelliprenin, auraptene and 7-isopentenyloxycoumarin, together with herniarin were synthesized from 7-hydroxycoumarin under alkaline conditions [DBU] and then purified by column chromatography. The structures of the products were characterized by NMR spectroscopic method including [1]H- and [13]C-NMR experiments. The method of synthesis for 7-prenyloxycoumarins and herniarin which is presented here has not been reported yet. Moreover, for the first time, umbelliprenin was chemically prepared in this work

Effect of a high dairy diet on serum antibody titers to heat shock protein 27 in overweight and obese children

An immune response to heat shock proteins appears to be involved in atherogenesis. To date, there has been no report on the impact of dairy or calcium consumption on serum antibody titers to heat shock protein 27 [anti-HSP27]. We have investigated whether an increase in dairy food consumption is capable of affecting serum antibody titers to heat shock protein 27 [anti-HSP27] level in children. Overweight and obese children [n=99, age: 12-18 y, body mass index: 27-40 kg/m2] were randomized to receive a calorie restricted diet providing a 500 kcal/d deficit from total energy expenditure and two [n=38], three [n=26] or four [n=35] servings of dairy products/day. Serum anti-HSP27 level in addition to the serum hs-CRP and lipid profile were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. Serum anti-HSP27 concentrations did not change significantly in any of the mentioned groups. Serum hs-CRP and lipid profile did not change significantly either, apart from a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol in the low-dairy group. An increased intake of dairy products does not lead to a significant change in serum anti-HSP27 level in overweight and obese children