Efficacy of a standardized herbal product from Pistacia atlantica subsp. Kurdica in type 2 diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia: A triple-blind randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia is one of the consequences of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that puts the patients at the risk of getting cardiovascular disease. Pistacia atlantica subsp. Kurdica is used by local people for the improvement of lipid and glucose indices. This study was carried out to evaluate clinical effects of P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica on hyperlipidemia related to T2DM patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized, triple-blind, and placebo-controlled study, type 2 diabetes patients with hyperlipidemia were randomly allocated to receive either P. atlantica kurdica or placebo capsule for 2 months. 58 Patients were followed up at the beginning and after the end of each month for assessment of lipid profiles, glucose indices, and liver and renal function tests. The herbal capsule was standardized according to volatile and nonvolatile compounds by GC-MS/FID and RP-HPLC-PDA, respectively. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined with a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: After 1 and 2 months of the intervention period, mean differences of 2HPP, total cholesterol, and LDL-c have been reduced significantly (P < 0.05) between the two groups, but there were not reported any significant statistical changes in FBS, HbA1c, TG, HDL-c, ALT, AST, and Cr. The herbal capsule was standardized according to benzoic acid, ballic acid, rutin, and quercetin standard (6.5, 2.1, 1.4, 0.7 mg, respectively), and also α-pinene as major volatile constituent 28.51%. CONCLUSION: According to results the P. atlantica kurdica is effective in the improvement of lipid profile and glucose indices in line with its local application. CLINICAL TRIAL ID: (IRCT201708109014N178).

Flowering phenology in a Eucalyptus loxophleba seed orchard, heritability and genetic correlation with biomass production and cineole: breeding strategy implications.

Reproductive synchronicity within a seed orchard facilitates gene exchange and reduces self-fertilisation. Here we assessed key flowering traits, biomass and foliar 1,8-cineole concentrations of Eucalyptus loxophleba (subsp. lissophloia and gratiae) in an open-pollinated seed orchard. Monthly flowering observations were made on 1142 trees from 60 families and nine provenances across 2 years. The percentage of trees flowering in both years was similar at 87%. There were differences between provenances and families within provenances for flowering traits, biomass and 1,8-cineole and interactions between provenances and year for flowering traits. Heritability of start and end flowering, and 1,8-cineole were high to moderate ([Formula: see text] = 0.75-0.45) and duration of flowering, propensity to flower and biomass estimates were moderate to low ([Formula: see text] = 0.31-0.10). Genetic and phenotypic correlations between flowering traits were high (rg = 0.96-0.63 and rp = 0.93-0.34) except between duration and end of flowering. The correlations were weaker between flowering traits and biomass or 1,8-cineole. 'Dual flowering', when trees underwent two reproductive cycles in a year, was responsible for out-of-phase flowering and those with low biomass and 1,8-cineole concentration should be removed from the breeding programme to hasten selection for desirable traits.

Seven-year follow-up of spontaneous bone regeneration following segmental mandibulectomy: Alternative option for mandibular reconstruction.

Bone formation in small deposits following the loss of part of the mandible has often been reported in the literature, but the long-term follow-up reports of bone regeneration extending over the mandible are rare. Even rarer, are reports on the behavior of such new bone in terms of facial development, over a long period and the effect of load on it. A unique case of bone regeneration after resection of a large portion of the mandible in a 9-year-old male patient with myxofibrosarcoma in the body of the mandible is presented here. Intermaxillary fixation and insertion of reconstruction plate after resection without continuity defect were employed. Spontaneous bone regeneration was noted 8 weeks after surgery, and the resected portion of the mandible was regenerated when the patient was seen again 7 years later. Mandibular growth was not significantly affected and almost 7 years after his treatment, without relapsing of pathologic condition, the shape of the mandible is satisfactory without any evidence of bone resorption.

Study of serum bactericidal and splenic activity of Total-OMP- CagA combination from Brucella abortus and Helicobacter pylori in BALB/c mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Brucella is a Gram-negative and facultative intracellular organism that causes brucellosis, a common zoonotic disease. Over 500,000 people are annually affected by brucellosis. Brucella is highly infectious through inhalation route; for this reason it is used for biological warfare aims. This study aimed to study the serum bactericidal and splenic activity of Total-OMP-r CagA immunogens from Brucella abortus and Helicobacter pylori in a BALB/c mouse model. METHODS: Immunization of BALB/c mice was performed with immunogenic proteins three times subcutaneously (S.C.) at 14-day intervals. The protective effects of two component vaccines with CpG adjuvant were evaluated after mice were challenged with H. pylori ss1 and Brucella abortus strain 544. The specific IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies in sera were assessed using ELISA test. For measuring the antigen-specific IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-γ responses in sera of immunized mice after challenge, RT-PCR technique was applied. Twenty days after the challenge, mice were killed then gastric, splenic and serum samples were assessed and bacterial colony count was measured based on the pour plate count agar. RESULTS: The results indicated that rCagA + OMP decreased bacterial colonization in these tissues, and significant difference was observed between test and control groups (p value˂0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the combination vaccine was effective against an oral exposure and the bacterial burden in the spleen, serum and gastric tissues were reduced in mice immunized with the Total- OMP-CagA.