Protective Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Clove on Thioacetamide-Induced Hepatotoxicity Animal Model: Effects Hydroalcoholic Extract of Clove Against Hepatotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: The drug-induced liver injury (DILI) has a wide range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic liver enzyme elevations to cirrhosis. Herbal dietary supplements may be beneficial to reduce the risk of hepatotoxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different doses of clove extracts on humoral factors in rats with hepatotoxicity induced by thioacetamide. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, rats were divided into nine groups (10 rats per each). The Control group received no treatment. The Sham group was treated with oral administration of distilled water (0.5 ml) for 21 days. The positive control group received thioacetamide (50 mg/kg for three days) intraperitoneally. The clove group was divided into three subgroups and given daily oral administrations of 50, 150, and 300 mg/kg of clove hydroalcoholic extracts (for 21 days). Rats in the experimental group were divided into three subgroups and subjected to 50 mg/kg thioacetamide injection after receiving hydroalcoholic extracts of clove (50, 150, and 300 mg/kg, respectively) for 21 days in the last three days. All rats were sacrificed after 48 hours to measure liver function parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total plasma protein, and albumin). RESULTS: The rats that received thioacetamide showed liver damage by increased serum liver biomarkers and decreased levels of total plasma protein and albumin compared to the control group. The different doses of clove extract resulted in a significant improvement of liver damage by reduced serum liver enzymes levels and increased total plasma protein and albumin. CONCLUSION: Oral administration of the different doses of the clove extract (50, 150, and 300 mg/kg) for 21 consecutive days could significantly improve the changes associated with serum biomarkers of hepatotoxicity. [GMJ.2022;11:e1603].

The Effect of Exercise and Psychological Stress on Anti- and Proinflammatory Cytokines.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Research evidence regarding immune system responses and adaptations to psychological or physical stresses is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 8-week psychological stress and exercise activity (chronic adaptation) and the acute response of possibly adapted rats to psychological stress and exercise considering IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-4/IFN-γ. METHODS: Thirty-two rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 animals including control, exercise, psychological stress, and combination of exercise with psychological stress. IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines were measured pre-experiment (preEX), immediately postexercise (IpostEX), and 72-h postexperiment protocol (72hpostEX). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the study groups regarding IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-4/IFN-γ in preEX (p > 0.05), IpostEX (p > 0.05), and 72hpostEX (p > 0.05). However, IL-4 increased significantly in IpostEX compared with preEX in exercise (p = 0.012) and combination of exercise with psychological stress (p = 0.03) groups. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise and combination of exercise and psychological stress induce similar acute response to IL-4 in chronic trained and stressed rats. Also, exercise may induce an acute synergistic effect with psychological stress on IL-4.

The effect of low-level laser on postoperative pain after tibial fracture surgery: a double-blind controlled randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain is a common complication that can lead to serious morbidities and delayed recovery. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy on acute pain after tibial fracture surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 54 patients who were candidate for tibial fracture surgery were allocated randomly to two groups, namely, control and laser therapy. Both groups had the same type of surgery and technique of spinal anesthesia. Patients in laser group were treated with the combination of two lasers (GaALAs, 808 nm; and GaALInP, 650 nm) at the end of the surgery while control group received laser in turn-off mode with the same duration as laser group. Patients were evaluated for pain intensity according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the amount of analgesic use during 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: Laser group experienced less pain intensity in comparison with control group at second, fourth, eighth, 12(th), and 24(th) hours after surgery (P Value < 0.05). In addition, the amount of consumed opioid in laser group was significantly less than the control group (51.62 ± 29.52 and 89.28 ± 35.54 mg, respectively; P Value, 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Low Level Laser Therapy is a proper method to reduce postoperative pain because it is painless, safe, and noninvasive and is easily accepted by patients.

Reproductive hormonal changes after incremental exercise in female rats.

Regular physical exercises can affect hormonal system of female athletes. This study evaluated the reproductive hormonal changes after an incremental exercise in female rats. Forty female 2 months old Sprague Dawley rats (200 +/- 5 g) were randomly divided into 4 equal groups including group 1 as control, group 2 undergoing incremental exercise, group 3 receiving supplement soy milk and group 4 undergoing incremental exercise together with a supplement of soy milk. The incremental exercise consisted of running on a flatted treadmill 3 days/weak for 10 weeks. The speed of treadmill gradually increased from 18 to 36 m min(-1) and the duration of each exercise started from 5 min in the first week and reached 8 min in the last week of exercise. The supplemented soy milk was administered for 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, animals were bled and the level of estrogen, progesterone, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) were determined. The LH level was statistically significant different between groups 1 and 2, 1 and 4, 2 and 3 (p < 0.05) and groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). FSH level was statistically significant between groups 1 and 4 (p < 0.05), 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). Regarding the estrogen level, the difference was not significant between the groups. Progesterone level was statistically significant between groups 1 and 4, 2 and 3, 1 and 3 (p < 0.05) and 2 and 4 (p < 0.05). It may be said that changes in the sex hormone are affected by various factors, but what should be considered is the interaction of these hormones. Internal hormonal changes are dependent on the sport history, intensity, duration, level and duration of soy milk supplementation.