Investigating the impact of silymarin on liver oxidative injury.

INTRODUCTION: Various drugs affect liver problems caused by general hypoxia, including silymarin. Due to the fungal killer toxins, nowadays, silymarin (milk thistle) is used as an effective drug in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases and liver toxicity. In addition, silymarin protects the liver cells from solvents and chemical substances. The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of silymarin on liver problems induced by general hypoxia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was a double-blinded clinical trial on patients with hypoxia who referred to the hospital emergency department. Patients were randomly divided into case and control groups. The case group was treated with silymarin at a dose of 280 mg with orally gavage technique and the control group was treated with a placebo every 8 h for 3 days. To investigate the leukocytosis, liver enzymes levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin (PTT), international normalized ratio (INR), and white blood cell (WBC) were measured before and after the intervention. SPSS 21 software was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: In the silymarin group, liver enzymes were lower than the placebo group on the third day after treatment (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of coagulation factors and WBC count on the third day after treatment (P > 050). On the third day after treatment, the amount of GGT was lower in the silymarin group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Silymarin decreased liver enzymes (ALT, AST, and CPK) and the level of GGT. Therefore, it is recommended to be used in patients with hypoxic liver injury.

Randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of omega-3 as supplemental treatment in schizophrenia.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies found omega-3 fatty acid deficiency in brain cell membranes of schizophrenic patients. Conventional antipsychotics have many adverse reactions. Safety, availability and low price made omega-3 as a potential supplement for treatment of these patients. This study investigated the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid as add-on treatment in schizophrenia. MATERIALS & METHODS: A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled fixed-dose, add-on clinical trial conducted over 8 weeks. 60 patients with documented schizophrenia randomly divided into two groups: omega-3(1000 mg/day) (n=30) and placebo (n=30). Patients received omega-3 or placebo in addition to their standard antipsychotic treatment. Patient follow up was done using Positive and Negative syndrome Scale (PANSS). Data analyzed using SPSS software v.20. RESULTS: At the end of 8 weeks treatment, PANSS score decreased significantly in both groups (p<0.05) in comparison to baseline. Efficacy of omega-3 in decreasing general psychopathologic and total scores was significant in comparison to placebo group from 4 and 6 weeks after onset of treatment, respectively (p<0.05). Totally, omega-3 supplement therapy efficacy in comparison to sole conventional antipsychotics was 0.86 which was not significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: we found that supplemental omega-3 might increase efficacy of conventional antipsychotics in decreasing symptoms of schizophrenia. Low price, rare adverse reactions and availability of omega-3 made this substance a potential supplement in improved treatment of schizophrenia 

Oxidative stress in acute human poisoning with organophosphorus insecticides; a case control study.

Free radicals play an important role in toxicity of pesticides and environmental chemicals. Organophosphorus insecticides (OPIs) may induce oxidative stress leading to generation of free radicals and alteration in antioxidant system. To complete the previous surveys, this study was conducted to evaluate the existence of oxidative stress, balance between total antioxidant capacity and oxygen free radicals in patients with acute OPI exposure. In this case control study, a total of 22 acute OPI poisoning patients were included and blood samples were analyzed for lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity, total thiol groups, and cholinesterase levels. The results showed significant lipid peroxidation accompanied with decreased levels of total antioxidant capacity, total thiols, and cholinesterase activity. A significant correlation existed between cholinesterase depression and reduced total antioxidant capacity. It is concluded that oxygen free radicals and their related interactions like lipid peroxidation are present in acute OPI poisoning. Use of antioxidants may be beneficial in treatment of OPIs acute poisoning which remains to be elucidated by further clinical trials.