The Effects of Clove Oil on The Biochemical and Histological Parameters, and Autophagy Markers in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Model Rats.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine whether syzygium aromaticum (clove) could help polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, forty adult female Wistar rats (weighing 250 ± 10 g) were divided randomly into five groups; G1: control, G2: PCOS group, G3: PCOS+clove (30 mg/kg/ orally/daily) group, G4: PCOS+clove (60 mg/kg/orally/daily) group, and G5: PCOS+gonadectomy group. The PCOS was induced by a single dose injection of estradiol valerate (16 mg/kg/IM). Following PCOS induction, the rats were treated for 14 days. Histological parameters, follicle apoptosis, mRNA expression of autophagy markers (Lc3, Beclin1), oxidative stress markers, insulin and blood glucose levels, as well as serum levels of aromatase and testosterone were evaluated in these rats. Finally, the ratio of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels was also calculated. RESULTS: The autophagy markers (Lc3, Beclin1), histological parameters, oxidative stress, insulin, and hormone levels changed significantly in the PCOS rats (G2). In G3 and G5 groups, it was observed that the levels of LH/FSH and testosterone decreased significantly in comparison to the PCOS group, and inhibition of autophagy was also observed in these groups. Treatment with cloves in the G3 group significantly improved oxidative stress, histological parameters, and insulin levels. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that oxidative stress, apoptosis, and excessive autophagy could be improved by treatment with low doses of clove and gonadectomy. Cloves may help to improve these parameters by regulating and inhibiting excessive autophagy. However, discovering the direct role of this extract in regulating the parameters such as oxidative stress, insulin, and androgens requires further investigation. In the present study, P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Preventive impacts of vitamin C on memory damage caused by unpredictable chronic mild stress in relation to biochemical parameters in the hippocampus of male rats.

The present study focused on examining the impact of vitamin C (Vit C) administration on the function of memory and the status of oxidative stress (OS) in the hippocampal area of the brain using an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) model in rats. To this end, 50 male Wistar rats (11-12 weeks of age at the start of the study) were assigned to five groups of six animals, including control, UCMS, UCMS + Vit C 50 mg/Kg, UCMS + Vit C 100 mg/Kg, and UCMS + Vit C 400 mg/Kg. The animals received daily intraperitoneal injections of Vit C at a certain time (9 am) before the initiation of a stressor. UCMS, including a progression of typical stressors, was applied for four weeks. Subsequently, using the passive avoidance (PA) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests were performed to investigate learning and memory. Eventually, hippocampal tissues were evaluated in terms of OS criteria. The results revealed that the latency to enter the dark chamber (P < 0. 01 and P < 0.05, PA test) and the time spent in the target quadrant (P < 0.0001, MWM test) were shorter in the UCMS group, while latency to discover the platform was longer (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, MWM test) compared to the control group. However, UCMS decreased the content of thiol (P < 0.0001), as well as the activities of catalase (P < 0.0001) and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.0001), whereas the concentration of malondialdehyde (P < 0.01) increased in the hippocampal region of the brain in comparison to the control group. Interestingly, Vit C treatment reversed the mentioned effects of UCMS. Therefore, the latency to enter the dark chamber (P < 0. 05 and P < 0.01,1 and 24 h after the shock, PA test, UCMS + Vit C 400) and the time spent in the target quadrant (P < 0. 01 and P < 0.05, MWM test, UCMS + Vit C 400 and UCMS + Vit C 100, respectively) were longer in the UCMS + Vit C groups. Moreover, Vit C increased the content of thiol (P < 0.05, UCMS + Vit C 400), as well as the activity of catalase (P < 0.001, UCMS + Vit C 400) and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.0001, UCMS + Vit C 400, UCMS + Vit C 100), whereas the concentration of malondialdehyde (P < 0. 05 and P < 0.01, UCMS + Vit C 100, UCMS + Vit C 400) decreased in the hippocampal region of the brain in comparison to the UCMS group. Overall, these results suggest that Vit C could reverse UCMS-induced learning and memory impairment possibly through the modulation of brain OS.Key points Memory and learning impairments were induced by unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)Vitamin C could prevent cognitive impairments caused by UCMS in rats by attenuation of oxidative stress in the brain.

Exploring nursing faculty, managers, newly graduated nurses, and students' experiences of nursing internship program implementation in Iran: a descriptive qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students are required to acquire the necessary clinical knowledge and skills to provide safe and quality care. The method of providing training, particularly for final-year nursing students, is of utmost importance. An internship is a program during which students work in shifts similar to nurses employed in a hospital; however, the number of their shifts and patients is less than nurses; a nurse and the faculty supervise the care they provide, and they are paid a monthly salary. This study was conducted to explore nursing faculty, managers, new graduates, and students' experiences of nursing internship program implementation. METHODS: This descriptive qualitative study was conducted from November 2021 to March 2022. The participants were selected from among nursing managers, newly graduated nurses, nursing internship students (final-year undergraduate), and faculty of Iran. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The qualitative content analysis approach was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Participants in this study included 17 nursing internship students, 12 nursing managers, three faculty members, ten nursing preceptors, and five newly graduated nurses from the internship program, 47 participants in total. After analyzing the data, five themes, including 'facilitation of socialization process,' 'filling the gap between theory and practice,' 'improving self-confidence and independence,' 'an opportunity for clinical skill training,' and 'Achilles' heel of the clinical setting,' and nineteen subthemes were extracted from the participants' experiences. CONCLUSION: Implementation of an internship program for final-year nursing students plays a role in preparing them for better professional performance, enhancing clinical skills, increasing self-confidence and independence, inspiring the nursing profession, strengthening professional commitment, and improving the chances of employment after graduation. In order to alleviate the identified challenges of the internship program, holding a briefing meeting with managers, supervisors, and faculty to determine working hours, performance standards, and amenities such as lunch, dinner, and resting place is efficient.

The effect of planned presence of the family at the time of weaning on the length of weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with brain injury admitted to intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: Weaning the patient from mechanical ventilation (MV) is one of the common treatments in intensive care units (ICU). Among the factors that can complicate the weaning process are psychological problems caused by a lack of family visits. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of scheduled visiting on weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with brain injury admitted to ICUs. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 60 patients with brain injury referred to one of the hospitals in Central Province, Iran in 2020. The selection of samples based on inclusion criteria and random allocation to the two groups of intervention and control by permuted block randomization was done. The first-degree relatives of the patients at the time of weaning in the intervention group were present at the patient's bedside twice a day at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM for 30-45 min and performed what they had been trained to do. Participants in the control group visited patients from the area outside the patient room. Length of weaning, length of mechanical ventilation, and length of stay in the ICU were recorded and measured using a researcher-conducted checklist. The results were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and chi-square and independent t-tests in SPSS16. RESULTS: The study results showed that the number of patients weaned from mechanical ventilation in the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P ≤ 0.05). The mean length of weaning in the intervention and control groups was not statistically significant, but it was clinically significant in the intervention group (P > 0.05). In addition, the length of mechanical ventilation and the length of stay of the intervention group in the ICU were significantly shorter than that of the control group (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the study results, scheduled visiting resulted in faster weaning from mechanical ventilation. As a result, nurse managers are suggested to make arrangements for family members to be present at the patient's bedside in order for patients to be weaned off the mechanical ventilator more easily.

The Impact of Chrysin on The Folliculogenesis and Ovarian Apoptosis in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in The Rat Model.

BACKGROUND: The ovarian Ischemia/reperfusion is one of the gynecological emergency concerns that may lead to the ovary damage and folliculogenesis. The present research aimed to evaluate the impact of the Chrysin (CH) on the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental research, 48 adult female rats, 8 weeks age and 180-200 g weight, have been categorized into 6 equal groups (n=8) including one sham and 5 ovarian torsion groups (OT+CH groups) that received different treatments. Each group has been treated 30 min before detorsion with gavage of CH or normal saline for 1 week and pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) has been injected on the day 5 for initiating folliculogenesis. Finally, bio-chemical, molecular, histopathological, apoptotic and hormonal evaluations were performed. RESULTS: The anti-oxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, ameliorated in the ovarian tissues of the OT+CH groups in comparison with the OT group (P<0.001). Moreover, the level of serum Luteinizing hormone considerably declined and estradiol level (P<0.001), partly enhanced in the rats treated with CH in comparison with the ones in the OT group (P<0.05). In addition, histopathological scores of the OT+CH groups ameliorated in comparison with the OT group scores (P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression Caspase-3 and Bax genes were significantly increased while the expression of Bcl-2 was notably decreased in the OT group in comparison with the sham group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Here, it seems that CH is possibly beneficial for the protection of ovaries against reperfusion injury and ischemia.

Minocycline can reduce testicular apoptosis related to varicocele in male rats.

The current research aimed to assess the impacts of Minocycline on varicocele-induced regulation of apoptotic-related genes and oxidative stress in the testis of adult Wistar rats. Thirty-two rats were divided into 4 groups: sham, varicocele (VcI), varicocele treated with Minocycline (VcI + Mno) for 56 days and healthy rats treated with minocycline (Mno). After 8 weeks, the oxidative stress markers levels in serum were investigated, afterwards, the level of Bax and Bcl-2 expression were assessed through 'immunocytochemistry' and RT-qPCR assays. Also, the rate of apoptosis was evaluated through the TUNEL method. Johnson's score, 'the width of epithelium' and 'seminiferous tubules diameter' were ameliorated in the VcI + Mno group in comparison with the Vcl group. Administration of Minocycline raised the 'Glutathione peroxidase' and 'Superoxide dismutase' levels in serum and declined the Malondialdehyde level in serum (p = 0.001). Furthermore, current study represented that minocycline reduced Bax and enhanced the expression of Bcl-2 gene and protein in comparison with the Vcl group (p < 0.05). In addition, Minocycline administration significantly declined the rate of apoptosis in germ cells (p < 0.05). Our study demonstrated that the administration of Minocycline could improve testicular injury in varicocele-induced rats by its antioxidant activity.

Exploring the experiences of nurses and physicians infected with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Health-care providers, including physicians and nurses, are vital resources of the health-care system, and their health is essential to ensure safe care and to control outbreaks in the community. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of physicians and nurses infected with COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive exploratory qualitative study was conducted in 2020. To conduct this study, 19 participants (5 physicians and 14 nurses) were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was performed using conventional content analysis. RESULTS: Eight main categories of "Fear and anxiety," "Fighting against COVID-19," "Feeling abandoned during home quarantine period," "Denial of disease despite testing positive," "Recovery: the second opportunity," "Imposition of psychological burden after returning to work," "Promotion of the health professional perception," and "Promising supportive resources," as well as 21 subcategories, were extracted from the participants' experiences. CONCLUSION: The experiences of physicians and nurses with COVID-19 revealed that their perception of the profession and providing care had changed. This experience has highlighted the focus and effort to promote patient-centered care and interprofessional collaboration among them.

Protective Effect of Minocycline on Bax and Bcl-2 Gene Expression, Histological Damages and Oxidative Stress Induced by Ovarian Torsion in Adult Rats.

BACKGROUND: Minocycline is a widely used bacteriostatic antibiotic with various functions. The aim of this study was to investigate impact of apoptotic genes in ovary of the torsion/detorsion treated rat model by minocycline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This experimental study was performed in 32 female Wistar rats classified in four groups, including: i. sham, ii. TD: torsion/detorsion group received normal saline, iii. TDM: torsion/detorsion group treated with 40 mg/kg Minocycline, and iv. MC: healthy group received 40 mg/kg Minocycline. After treatment period (7 days), histoplogical parameters, oxidative stress markers and hormone profile of serum as well as the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes were measured in the ovary of rats. RESULTS: Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and estrogen were decreased in the TD group and significantly increased in the treated groups (P=0.001). Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and testosterone were increased in the TD group and decreased in the treated groups (P=0.001). Expression level of Bax was elevated in the TD group, while it was attenuated in the treated groups (P=0.001). Expression level of Bcl-2 was significantly increased in treated groups (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Minocycline can repair oxidative damage in ovarian tissue and regulate apoptotic-related gene expressions.

Patient Safety Culture in Burn Care Units from the Perspectives of Healthcare Providers: A Cross-sectional Study.

Creating a positive patient safety culture is a key step in the improvement of patient safety in healthcare settings. Patient safety culture (PSC) is a set of shared attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions about patient safety (PS) among healthcare providers. This study aimed to assess PSC in burn care units from the perspectives of healthcare providers. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2020 in the units of a specialty burn center. Participants were 213 healthcare providers recruited to the study through a census. A demographic questionnaire and the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture were used for data collection. Data were managed using the SPSS16 software and were summarized using the measures of descriptive statistics. The mean of positive responses to PSC items was 51.22%, denoting a moderate-level PSC. The lowest and the highest dimensional mean scores were related to the no punitive response to error dimension (mean: 12.36%) and the teamwork within departments dimension (mean: 73.25%), respectively. Almost half of the participants (49.3%) reported acceptable PS level in their workplace and 69.5% of them had not reported any error during the past 12 months before the study. Given the great vulnerability of patients with burn injuries in clinical settings, improving PSC, particularly in the no punitive response to error dimension, is essential to encourage healthcare providers for reporting their errors and thereby, to enhance PS. For quality care delivery, healthcare providers in burn care units need a safe workplace, adequate managerial support, a blame-free PSC, and an incentive error reporting system to readily report their errors.

Adaptation of Practice Guidelines to Prevent Functional Decline in Hospitalized Elderly in Iran.

Background: In Iran, many efforts have been made to improve the Quality of Life (QOL) of the elderly; however, despite the efforts made, there is no practice guideline based on the consensus of experts that can be used to prevent the functional decline of hospitalized elderly. Accordingly, the present study was conducted with the aim of adaptation of a practice guideline to prevent the functional decline of hospitalized elderly. Materials and Methods: This study is a developmental study based on the adaptation steps of the practice guideline. First, a search was conducted in 8 databases. The only practice guideline that met the inclusion criteria was then evaluated by the research team using the Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch and Evaluation (AGREE II) tool. After content analysis of this guideline, the recommendations were categorized in the Canadian Senior Friendly Care (sfCare) Framework and according to the community conditions. Relevant evidence was used to supplement the content. The draft practice guideline was evaluated and modified in two expert panels through the RAND technique. Results: The categorized recommendations were developed in the eight chapters of introduction to the prevention of functional decline of the elderly, general practice guideline, organizational support, care processes, physical ecology, emotional and behavioral environment, ethics in care, and evaluation of function. Conclusions: To prevent functional decline in hospitalized elderly individuals according to the adaptive practice guideline, the hospital and health team need to be aware of support, care processes, and effective function appraisal to be able to provide care with coherent and coordinated solutions.

Effect of vasopressin on electrocardiographic changes produced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

The present study was conducted to identify the effect of vasopressin (AVP) on electrocardiographic changes produced by ischemia-reperfusion. Male rats were divided into seven groups (n=8-13) subjected to 30min ischemia and 120 min reperfusion. In protocol I (control group), saline was administered before ischemia. In protocol II, different doses of AVP (0.015, 0.03, 0.06 and 0.12µg/rat) were infused 10 min before ischemia. In protocol III SR49059 (1 mg/kg), was injected 20 min prior to ischemia with and without the effective dose of AVP (0.03 g/rat). Ischemia-induced arrhythmia and myocardial infarct size (IS) were measured. Different doses of vasopressin decreased IS. There were no significant differences in PR, QRS duration and &DGR;T/amp;DGR;ST ratio between control and intervention groups in ischemia. ST elevation was significantly increased in control and AVP 0.015, 0.03, 0.06 groups during ischemia. In AVP 0.12 group there was no significant difference in ST deviation between the baseline and ischemia phase. JT interval was significantly increased in control and antagonist group during ischemia. AVP 0.12µ/rat prevented the increase of JT interval in ischemia compared to the baseline. In summary, AVP mediated preconditioning improved ST resolution, prevented prolongation of JT interval and decreased the likelihood of subsequently ventricular arrhythmia.

Effects of hypothermia and pentoxifylline on the adnexal torsion/detorsion injuries in a rat testis model.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of separate and combined administration of hypothermia and pentoxifylline to preserve the effects on the testicles in an experimental model of testicular torsion/ detorsion injuries in rats. Forty male adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups, control, torsion/detorsion (TD), torsion/detorsion/hypothermia (TD+ICE), torsion/detorsion received of pentoxifylline (40mg/kg, ip) (TD+PTX) and torsion/detorsion/hypothermia/PTX (TD+ICE+PTX). Left testicular torsion (TT) was performed for 4 and half hours, and ice fragments have been used at the beginning of torsion. After the reperfusion period (a week), oxidative maker's serum levels, testosterone hormone, sperm parameters, and histopathological and gene expression evaluations have been performed. Significant adverse changes were observed in the TD group for histological variables, sperm count, oxidative marker, testosterone hormone, Bax, BCL2 and caspase-3 expression. The parameters studied in the group receiving PTX improved in comparison with the TD group, while macroscopical parameters of both the hypothermia and PTX+ICE groups were not different compared with the TD group. The results revealed that PTX, as an antioxidant component, was protective against testicular torsion, while hypothermia and hypothermia plus PTX did not exhibit this property, which may have been due to the duration of hypothermia (4 hr) or reperfusion period.

Up-regulation of chemokine receptor type 4 expression in the ischemic reperfused heart by alcoholic extract of Cichorium intybus rescue the heart from ischemia injury in male rat.

OBJECTIVES: Cichorium intybus is used in traditional medicine for various diseases including heart disease. This study aimed at evaluating the chemokine receptor type 4 up-regulation and cardioprotective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of C. intybus in a rat model of ischemic reperfusion. METHODS: Animals in four groups of eight rats each received vehicle or one of three doses of C. intybus (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg/d) for 14 days. Then they were subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 7 days of reperfusion. At the end of the experiment, blood specimens were prepared for serum assays. The level of myocardium chemokine receptor type 4 was also measured using RT-PCR. KEY FINDINGS: Cichorium intybus (CI-50) improved infarct size, episodes of the ventricular ectopic beat, ventricular tachycardia, and duration of ventricular tachycardia, QTc shortening. It also stabilized the ST segment changes and increased heart rate during ischemia. The blood pressure decreased in CI-50 group in comparison to the control and CI-200 group. C. intybus increased serum superoxide dismutase and reduced lactate dehydrogenase activity, Cardiac Troponin I and malondialdehyde levels. C. intybus led to an increase in the expression of chemokine receptor type 4. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that C. intybus administration before ischemia is able to induce cardioprotective effect against ischemic reperfusion injury, probably through chemokine receptor type 4 over-expression and antioxidant activity.

Eugenol improves tissue damage and oxidative stress in adult female rats after ovarian torsion/detorsion.

The current study was designed to investigate the effect of eugenol on histopathological changes and oxidative stress caused by torsion/detorsion in the ovary of adult female rats. In this study, forty-eight female Wistar rats were classified into six groups; Sham and 2 healthy group receiving 30, 60 mg/kg eugenol; ovarian torsion/detorsion; and 2 experimental groups receiving 30, 60 mg/kg eugenol. After ten days, the plasma levels of oestrogen, testosterone, and some oxidative stress markers were assessed. also, the histomorphometric study was performed. A marked degenerative changes in the TD group was observed (p < .001). The oestrogen, GPX, and SOD levels were remarkably declined in the G2 group, while they were reversed to the baseline values in groups receiving eugenol. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) was remarkably increased during the ischaemia (p < .001). The treatment with eugenol significantly diminished MDA levels in different groups (p < .001). Our finding indicated that eugenol could protect the ovarian tissue against oxidative stress and tissue injury induced by torsion/detorsion.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known about this subject? Ovarian torsion is one of the commonest gynecological emergencies in all age groups of the female gender. Timely diagnosis and management of ovarian torsion are crucial, especially for women of reproductive age. Detorsion is one of the interventions used for the prevention of ovarian tissue damage. Ovarian ischaemia/reperfusion is a pathophysiological condition in which decreased blood flow, and oxygen deficiency (ischaemia) are observed in ovarian tissues as a result of ovarian torsion. Following torsion, the inflammatory response induced by detorsion (reperfusion) leads to vascular endothelial cell apoptosis and microcirculation abnormalities, which are responsible for the cause of ovarian tissue damage.What do the results of this study add? This study found that eugenol, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, could be used experimentally to diminish the I/R damage in the ovary through the attenuation of detrimental histological events, decreasing the serum level of MDA and testosterone, and increasing the level of SOD and GPX enzymes. To date, there is no report on the application of eugenol for diminishing T/D-induced oxidative stress in the ovary.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice? Eugenol has been shown to possess therapeutic properties in patients with ovarian torsion. Further clinical studies are necessary to prove the beneficial effect of eugenol on the prevention of I/R-induced ovarian damage.

Fumaria parviflora regulates oxidative stress and apoptosis gene expression in the rat model of varicocele induction.

Varicocele is one of the leading causes of male infertility in which oxidative stress induces DNA damages in spermatozoa of patients with varicocele. Recent studies indicated that the treatment with antioxidant agents has protective effects against the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our research aimed to evaluate the impact of Fumaria Parviflora (FP) on the varicocele-induced testicular injury. For this purpose, 32 adult male Wistar rats (n = 8 per group) were randomly assigned to four groups as follows: sham group, varicocele group, varicocele treatment group and the control treatment group. The experimental groups daily received FP (250 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. The induction of varicocele was conducted by partial occlusion on the left renal vein. The diameter of seminiferous tubules, Johnsen's score and the epithelium thickness improved in the treated-varicocele group as compared to the varicocele group. FP extract could increase the biochemical parameters including superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and also decrease malondialdehyde level in the varicocele group. Furthermore, varicocele markedly increased both mRNA and intensity of Bax, while treatment with FP could alleviate them. We concluded that FP could alleviate varicocele, possibly by lowering oxidative stress and testicular damage.

Cardioprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Echinophora cinerea against aluminum phosphide poisoning in rats.

Rice tablet, also known as aluminum phosphide (ALP), is a nonorganic material used as an insecticide and rodenticide in the storage and transportation of grains. Phosphine gas, released from the chemical material, in contact with humidity and weak acid, can induce poisoning and death. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of Echinophora cinerea leaves on ALP poisoning in heart in rats. In this study, factors such as blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiography, and biochemical biomarkers of oxidative stress of cardiac tissue were evaluated. The use of Echinophora extract at a dose of 200 mg per/kg primarily improved bradycardia, hypotension, and cardiac conduction. Echinophora extract at a dose of 400 mg could protect body against oxidative stress. It seems that Echinophora extract has significant clinical positive effects that can be employed in treatment protocols of acute poisoning associated with ALP. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Administration of the Echinophora cinerea extract can improve bradycardia, hypotension, and conduction disturbances of the heart caused by poisoning with rice tablet. E. cinerea extract also can increase the levels of antioxidant enzymes and protect the body against oxidative damage caused by poisoning with rice tablet. Therefore, Echinophora extract has significant clinical positive effects that can be used in treatment protocols of acute poisoning associated with aluminum phosphide.

The effect of clomiphene citrate and human chorionic gonadotropin on the expression of CatSper1, CatSper2, LHCGR, and SF1 genes, as well as the structural changes in testicular tissue of adult rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of clomiphene citrate and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) on the structural changes, as well as the evaluation of the expression of cation channel sperm-associated protein 1 (CatSper1), cation channel sperm-associated protein 2 (CatSper2), luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR), and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) genes in testicular tissue of rats. All rats divided into five groups as follows; G1 as the control group that received normal saline, G2 received olive oil, G3 received 100 IU/kg HCG, G4 received 5 mg/kg clomiphene citrate, and G5 received 5 mg/kg clomiphene citrate and 100 IU/kg HCG. At the end of the experiment period, Day 56, blood samples were taken and the serum was isolated. Then, histomorphometric analysis, hormonal assess, and real-time polymerase chain reaction to measure the expression of CatSper1, CatSper2, LHCGR, and SF1 genes were performed. The results showed that the concentrations of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were decreased in the G4 group, whereas these parameters were increased in the G3 group. A comparison of the sperm quality indicated a significant reduction in the quality of sperm cells in the G4 group compared with other groups. The quality of sperm was significantly enhanced in the G3 and G5 groups in comparison with the G1 group. Also, our findings demonstrated that the expression of CatSper1, CatSper2, LHCGR, and SF1 genes were significantly elevated in the G3 group when compared with other experimental groups. According to the obtained results, it seems that clomiphene citrate reduces the process of spermatogenesis and the detrimental impacts of this compound would be neutralized by the administration of HCG.

Effect of Digital Storytelling on Anxiety in Patients Who Are Candidates for Open-Heart Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Open-heart surgery in persons with cardiovascular disease is associated with high levels of anxiety. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine the effect of digital storytelling on anxiety in patients who were candidates for open-heart surgery. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, 80 patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups. The intervention group received routine training and digital storytelling. In each group, anxiety was measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory anxiety scale before surgery and 5 days after surgery. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software V18. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the anxiety of both groups during the 2 days before the surgery (P = .40). After the surgery, the mean of anxiety scores in the intervention group was lower than that of the control group (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Digital storytelling is an effective method to reduce anxiety in patients who are candidates for open-heart surgery.