The Protective Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Rosa canina (Dog Rose) Fruit on Liver Function and Structure in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Rats.

This study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of Rosa canina (R. canina) extract on streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetes in rats by measuring the fasting blood glucose (FBG), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and liver enzyme activity, including serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups and treated daily for 42 days as follows: group I (control) received saline as a vehicle; group II (diabetic) received saline; groups III and IV (diabetic) treated with 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (BW) per day R. canina extract, respectively. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg BW). At the end of the study, blood samples were collected via heart puncture and sera were used for estimation of the mentioned parameters. Then all the rats were sacrificed and their livers used for histopathological evaluations. In the untreated diabetic group, the results showed a significant increase in FBG, ALT, and AST levels compared to the other groups (p < .05). The level of TAC decreased in this group, but not significantly compared to the other groups (p > .05). In the treated groups, administration of R. canina extract significantly improved the mentioned parameters in a dose-dependent manner (p < .05). Histological evaluations indicated that R. canina extract ameliorated defective liver caused by STZ. It can be concluded that R. canina extract has a hepatoprotective effect in STZ-induced diabetes in rats.

Tamoxifen Induces Apoptosis of Leishmania major Promastigotes in Vitro.

Tamoxifen is an antagonist of the estrogen receptor and currently used for the treatment of breast cancer. The current treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with pentavalent antimony compounds is not satisfactory. Therefore, in this study, due to its antileishmanial activity, effects of tamoxifen on the growth of promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania major Iranian strain were evaluated in vitro. Promastigotes and amastigotes were treated with different concentrations (1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 µg/ml) and time periods (24, 48, and 72 hr) of tamoxifen. After tamoxifen treatment, MTT assay (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 biphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay) was used to determine the percentage of live parasites and Graph Pad Prism software to calculate IC50. Flow cytometry was applied to investigate the induction of tamoxifen-induced apoptosis in promastigotes. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of tamoxifen on promastigotes was 2.6 µg/ml after 24 hr treatment. Flow cytometry analysis showed that tamoxifen induced early and late apoptosis in Leishmania promastigotes. While after 48 hr in control group the apoptosis was 2.0%, the 50 µg/L concentration of tamoxifen increased it to 59.7%. Based on the in vitro antileishmanial effect, tamoxifen might be used for leishmaniasis treatment; however, further researches on in vivo effects of tamoxifen in animal models are needed.

Outcome of surgery in patients with solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura.

BACKGROUND: Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura is rare, and the origin is submesothelial tissue. These tumors are seen in lung infrequently, and most are benign. We report our experience in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura. METHODS: We studied 13 patients (6 men and 7 women, aged 26 to 76 years) with a diagnosis of benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura who were operated on from 2001 to 2014. One had a recurrent tumor after 10 years, and the others had primary tumors. Our approach was complete resection in all cases. RESULTS: After surgical excision, the most essential characteristic on histopathology was a neoplastic lesion composed of spindle-shaped tumor cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and eosinophilic bands of collagen. On immunohistochemical analysis, the cells were positive for desmin and negative for actin, synaptophysin, chromogranin, and CD117. CONCLUSIONS: The essential step in the treatment of a patient with a diagnosis of benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura is complete resection. These patients should be followed up for a long time because of the possibility of late recurrence. Due to the rarity of these tumors, there has been no systematic assessment of the role of adjuvant therapy for benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.

Antidiabetic and Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Ethanol Extract of Rosa canina L. fruit on Diabetic Rats: An Experimental Study With Histopathological Evaluations.

Rosa canina L. (Rosaceae) has been traditionally used as a medicinal plant. This study was undertaken to evaluate the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of Rosa canina fruit extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The results showed oral administration of Rosa canina fruit extract significantly ameliorated the high levels of blood glucose compared with the control group. Serum triglyceride levels significantly decreased by the administration of Rosa canina extract compared with control. Histopathological examinations showed that the Rosa canina extract improved islets necrotic and regenerated pancreatic islet cells. Rosa canina extract has the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Protein-Protein Multilayer Oil-in-Water Emulsions for the Microencapsulation of Flaxseed Oil: Effect of Whey and Fish Gelatin Concentration.

The impact of whey protein isolate (WPI) and fish gelatin (FG) deposited sequentially at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, and 0.75% on the surface of primary oil-in-water emulsions containing 5% flaxseed oil stabilized with either 0.5% fish gelatin or whey protein, respectively, was investigated. The results revealed that the adsorption of WPI/FG or FG/WPI complexes to the emulsion interface led to the formation of oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions with different stabilities and different protection degrees of the flaxseed oil. Deposition of FG on the WPI primary emulsion increased the particle size (from 0.53 to 1.58 µm) and viscosity and decreased electronegativity (from -23.91 to -11.15 mV) of the complexes. Different trends were noted with the deposition of WPI on the FG primary emulsion, resulting in decreasing particle size and increasing electronegativity and viscosity to a lower extent. Due to the superior tension-active property of WPI, the amount of protein load in the WPI primary emulsion as well as in WPI/FG complex was significantly higher than the FG counterparts. A multilayer emulsion made with 0.5% WPI/0.75% FG exhibited the lowest oxidation among all of the multilayered emulsions tested (0.32 ppm of hexanal) after 21 days, likely due to the charge effect of FG that may prevent pro-oxidant metals to interact with the flaxseed oil.

Variations in Intraplatelet Phospho-VASP Expression Due to Pre-analytical Sample Preparations, Illustration of a Quality Control Issue in Platelet Pharmacology.

Intraplatelet vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) analysis is a commonly used laboratory approach for monitoring of the anti-platelet therapy with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor blocking agents; however, it's testing in clinical laboratory needs a high level of experience and proficiency. The ability to recognize how the pre-analytical variations can change the results would be helpful for the interpretation of data from intraplatelet VASP analysis. The aim of this study was to describe the possible differences of intraplatelet phospho-VASP expression between washed and platelet rich plasma (PRP) samples, both at baseline levels and following experimentally induction of VASP phosphorylation. PRP and washed platelet samples were treated with different inducers of VASP phosphorylation, including forskolin (10 µM), prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) (50 nM) and sodium nitro-prusside (SNP) (100 µM). Untreated PRP and washed platelet samples were also included in study as baseline controls. After labeling of platelets with either anti P-Serine(157)-VASP or anti P-Serine(239)-VASP, the samples were subjected to flow cytometric analysis to monitor the levels of intraplatelet phospho-VASP expression. Washed platelet samples tend to show increased expression of intraplatelet P-Serine(157)-VASP at baseline state and also more expression of P-Serine(157)-VASP and P-Serine(239)-VASP in response to forskolin and SNP, compared with PRP samples. Though, reduced levels of PGE1-induced VASP phosphorylation at both residues were detected for washed platelets. In this study we have provided some background information required for performing of intraplatelet VASP analysis on differently handled platelet samples and interpretation of the obtained results.

Effectiveness of hysteroscopic repair of uterine lesions in reproductive outcome.

BACKGROUND: Small intrauterine lesions such as septum, adhesion, polyp, and submucous myoma may be of greater significance in causing implantation failure, poor reproductive performance and abnormal uterine bleeding. We studied effectiveness of therapeutic intervention through operative hysteroscopy in improvement of pregnancy outcome and cessation of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) in women with pregnancy and fertility problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study was performed between 2003- 2009 on 65 patients with primary or secondary infertility, recurrent abortion and structural uterine lesions reported in sonography or hysterosalpingography. After hysteroscopic metroplasty, myomectomy, adhesiolysis and polypectomy under laparoscopic guide, we evaluated reproductive outcome, early and late complications, one year after surgery. RESULTS: Among all patients with recurrent abortion, 6 patients (75%) complete their pregnancy successfully. Our results showed that pregnancy rate after metroplasty was 58%. Reproductive outcome was poor after myomectomy and adhesiolysis. Abnormal uterine bleeding was improved in 62% of patients. CONCLUSION: Structural uterine lesions has been assumed to cause infertility, while several studies have shown very poor reproductive performance with high miscarriage and low term delivery rates when malformation is not treated. We show improvement in conceptional outcome and in patient's chief complaints after hysteroscopy surgery of these anomalies.

Expression of galectin-3 as a testis inflammatory marker in vasectomised mice.

OBJECTIVE: Vasectomy, though in some cases are being confronted with irreversibility, has been accepted as an effective contraceptive method. It is estimated that near 2-6% of vasectomised men ultimately show a tendency to restore their fertility. In some cases, vasectomy has been considered as an irreversible procedure due to many post-vasectomy complications causing this debate. The aim of present study was to investigate the pattern of expression of galectin-3, an inflammatory factor secreted by macrophages and immune cells, following the vasectomy in mice testis tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IN THIS EXPERIMENTAL STUDY, TWENTY MATURE MALE BALB/C MICE, AGED TWO MONTHS, WERE DIVIDED INTO TWO EQUAL GROUPS: sham and vasectomised groups (n=10). They were sacrificed four months after vasectomy, while the pattern of galectin-3 expression was investigated using a standard immunohistochemistry technique on testicular tissues. Stereological analyses of testes parameters in vasectomised and shamoperated groups were compared by mixed model analysis. RESULTS: Based on observations, although galectin-3 was not expressed in sham-operated group, it was expressed in 40% of testicular tissues of vasectomised mice, like: seminiferous tubules, interstitial tissues and tunica albugina. Also, our result showed a significant alteration in number of germ and sertoli cells of testicular tissue in vasectomised group in comparison to sham-operated group. In addition, the result of mixed model method confirmed a significant reduction in germ and sertoli cells of vasectomised group. CONCLUSION: The expression of galectin-3 at different parts of testicular tissue in vasectomised group is higher than sham group. This express illustrates the increase of degenerative changes and inflammation reactions in testicular tissue, leading to chronic complications and infertility, after the vasovasostomy.

Modulation of hyperthermia-induced platelet aggregation inhibition in the presence of urea.

PURPOSE: This study has been conducted to evaluate the effect of urea on aggregation responses of heat-treated platelets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The urea was added to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) samples in final concentrations of 50 and 100 mM. PRP samples, with or without exogenous urea, were incubated at 37 °C, 39 °C and 41 °C for 90 min and then were stimulated with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or epinephrine for measuring of platelet aggregation responses. The average reduction in aggregability of heat-treated samples with reference to mean value obtained for control samples treated at 37 °C was expressed as inhibition percentage. RESULTS: Aggregation responses of the samples treated in the presence of 50 mM and 100 mM urea were significantly less inhibited by hyperthermia treatments compared with those treated without exogenous urea. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the inhibitory effect of hyperthermia on platelet aggregation responses could be significantly modulated by urea.

Effects of cardiac rehabilitation program on right ventricular function after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation has been recognized as one of the most effective strategies for managing cardiovascular indices as well as controlling the cardiovascular risk profile, in particular after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). However, the effect of this program on right ventricular function following CABG is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cardiac rehabilitation on the right ventricular (RV) function in a cohort of patients who underwent CABG. METHODS: A total of 28 patients who underwent CABG and participated consecutively in an 8-week cardiac rehabilitation program at Tehran Heart Center were studied. The control group consisted of 39 patients who refused to attend cardiac rehabilitation and only received postoperative medical treatment after registration in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinic. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography was performed to assess the RV function in both groups at the three time points of before surgery, at the end of surgery, and at the end of the rehabilitation program. RESULTS: Significant increase of RV function parameters were observed in both rehabilitation group (RG) and control group (CG) at the end of the rehabilitation program compared with post-CABG evaluation in terms of tricuspid annular plane systolic execution (RG: 12.50 mm to 14.18 mm; CG: 13.41 mm to 14.56 mm), tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity (RG: 8.55 cm/s to 9.14 cm/s; CG: 9.03 cm/s to 9.26 cm/s), and tricuspid annular late diastolic velocity (RG: 8.93 cm/s to 9.39 cm/s; CG: 9.26 cm/s to 9.60 cm/s).The parameters of the RV function did improve in both groups, but this improvement was not associated with participation in the complete cardiac rehabilitation program. CONCLUSION: The RV function parameters gradually improved after CABG; this progress, however, was independent of the exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program.

Evaluation of cytotoxicity of two root canal filling materials by MTT assay.

The aim of this study was to assess the cytotoxicity of two root filling materials GuttaFlow (GF) and gutta-percha (GP) on mouse fibroblasts cell line L-929. In this study there were four groups: GP and GF were considered as study groups and the other two were negative control groups. GP and GF were prepared according to manufacturer's instruction. L-929 fibroblast cells of mouse were passaged with trypsin (Merck, Germany) after elimination of freeze phase. Adequate trypsin was added to cells and they were prepared with 95% of cell vitality. After 24 h, 150,000 cells were put in each well. The cell and dimethyl methacrylate were used as negative and positive controls. Ten specimens from each group were brought into contact with the culture medium and were incubated under sterilised conditions 24 h later. The cytotoxicity of all samples was assessed by dimethylthiazol diphenyltetrazolium bromide test after 1 h, 24 h and 72 h. The results showed that cytotoxicity of GF was less than GP when assessed at 24 h and 72 h, but there was no significant difference at 1 h. In GF, the most and least cytotoxicity were observed at 24 h and 72 h while cytotoxicity of GP increased with time.