The effect of vitamin E on lung pathology in sulfur mustard-exposed guinea pigs.

Pulmonary complications of exposure to sulfur mustard (SM) gas range from no effect or mild symptoms to severe bronchial stenosis. In the present study, the protective effect of vitamin E on the lung inflammation of SM-exposed guinea pigs was examined. Guinea pigs (n = 5 for each group) were exposed to ethanol (control group), 40 mg/m3 inhaled SM (SME group), SME treated with vitamin E (SME + E), SME treated with dexamethasone (SME + D), and SME treated with both treatments (SME + E + D). Pathological evaluation of the lung was done 14 days postexposure. The epithelial desquamation of trachea and other pathologic changes in the lung of the SME group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Furthermore, the pathological changes of trachea and lung in the SME + E and SME + E + D groups were significantly improved compared with those of SME group. In addition, the pathological changes of trachea and lung of SME + E and SME + E + D animals were significantly less than those of SME + D group.

Prediction equations for pulmonary function values in healthy children in Mashhad city, North East Iran.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are used in assessing physiological to clinical status of the respiratory system, which is expressed as a percentage of predicted values. Predicted PFTs values are varies in different ethnics. Predicted PFTs values were studied in a sample of Iranian children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prediction equations for PFTs were derived from urban children in the city of Mashhad (northeast Iran). Regression analysis using height and age as independent variables was applied to provide predicted values for both sexes. PFT values were measured in 414 healthy children (192 boy and 222 female, aged 4-10 years). Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), peak expiratory flow (PEF), MEF at 75%, 50% and 25% of the FVC (MEF75, MEF50 and MEF25 respectively) were measured. RESULTS: There were positive correlations between each pulmonary function variable with height and age. The largest positive correlations were found for FVC (r = 0.712, P < 0.0001) and FEV1 (r = 0.642, P < 0.0001) in boys and girls respectively with height and for PEF (0.698, P < 0.0001) and MEF (r = 0.624, P < 0.0001) with age. Comparison of PFTs derived from the equations of the present study showed significant differences with those of several previous studies (P < 0.001 for most cases). CONCLUSION: A set of PFT reference values and prediction equations for both sexes has been derived using relatively large, healthy, Iranian children for the first time, which the generated results were differ from several prediction equations.

The effect of Nigella sativa alone, and in combination with dexamethasone, on tracheal muscle responsiveness and lung inflammation in sulfur mustard exposed guinea pigs.

UNLABELLED: ETHNOMEDICAL RELEVANCE: The anti-inflammatory activity of both systemic and local administrations of essential oil from Nigella sativa L. has been shown. AIM OF THE STUDY: Therefore, the effect of Nigella sativa on tracheal responsiveness (TR) and lung inflammation of sulfur mustard (SM) exposed guinea pigs was examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Guinea pigs were exposed to diluent solution (control group), inhaled SM (SME group), SME treated with Nigella sativa (SME+N), SME treated with dexamethasone (SME+D) and SME treated with both drugs (SME+N+D), (n=7 for each group). TR to methacholine, total white blood cell (WBC) and differential WBC count of lung lavage, and serum cytokines were measured 14 days post-exposure. RESULTS: The values of TR, eosinophil, monocyte, lymphocyte, interleukine-4 (IL-4) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) of SME group were significantly higher than those of controls (p<0.05 to p<0.001). The TR in SME+N, SME+D and SME+N+D was significantly lower compared to that of SME group (p<0.01 for all cases). The percentage of eosinophil in SME+D, and the percentage of monocyte in SME+N+D (p<0.05 to p<0.01) were significantly lower than those in SME group. The neutrophil number was decreased in SME+N and SME+N+D groups compared to SME animals (p<0.05 to p<0.01). IL-4 levels in serum of SME+N (p<0.01), SME+D (p<0.05), SME+N+D (p<0.01) and IFN-γ in SME+N (p<0.05) were greater than those in SME animals. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed a preventive effect of Nigella sativa on TR and lung inflammation of SM exposed guinea pigs.

The effect of vitamin E on tracheal responsiveness and lung inflammation in sulfur mustard exposed guinea pigs.

Pulmonary complications of sulfur mustard (SM) range from mild respiratory symptoms to even severe bronchial stenosis. In the present study, the protective effect of vitamin E on tracheal responsiveness (TR) and lung inflammation of SM-exposed guinea pigs were examined. Guinea pigs were exposed to ethanol (control group), 40 mg/m(3) inhaled SM and ethanol vehicle (sulfur mustard exposed (SME) group), SME treated with vitamin E (SME + E), SME with dexamethasone (SME + D) and both drugs (SME + E + D), (n = 8 for each group). TR to methacholine, total and differential white blood cell (WBC) count of lung lavage and serum cytokines were evaluated 14 days post-exposure. TR, WBC, interleukin 4 (IL-4), interferon gamma (INF-γ), eosinophil, and monocyte levels in SME guinea pigs were significantly higher, but lymphocyte was lower than those of controls (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). TR, IL-4, and eosinophil levels in SME + E, SME + D and SME + E + D, INF-γ in SME + E and SME + E + D and WBC in SME + E were significantly decreased compared to that of the SME group (P < 0.01 to P < 0.001). In addition, the TR of SME + D + E was significantly higher than that of SME + E (P < 0.01) and SME + D (P < 0.05) groups. The results showed a preventive effect of vitamin E, dexamethasone and their combination on TR and lung inflammation in SME guinea pigs.