Polymorphisms of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, angiotensin converting enzyme and coagulation factor XIII genes in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion

We investigated polymorphisms of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE ) and coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) genes and their association with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) in Iranian patients and normal healthy controls. Ten (18.5%) patients were homozygote (4G/4G) for PAI-1 polymorphism, in contrast with two (2%) controls (p = 0.001). Patients with homozygote 4G mutation were significantly more prone to RSA in contrast to others (odds ratio: 11.0, 95% CI: 2.3-52.4). Nineteen (30.2%) patients and 25 (26.6%) controls were homozygote (DD) for ACE polymorphism. We observed only two patients and one control with homozygosity (34leu) for FXIII polymorphism. 4G/4G polymorphism for PAI-1 gene could be a thrombophilic mutation leading to abortion in Iranian population

The effects of nanoemulsion cream containing lavender essential oil and licorice extract on healing of deep skin wound in rats

Background: Despite the very good medicinal properties of lavender essential oil and licorice extract, some factors, such as allergic reaction and being biodegradable, limit the application of them as candidates for pharmacotherapeutic treatments. Nano-emulsification is one of the ways to overcome these limitations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nanoemulsion cream containing lavender essential oil and licorice extract on healing of deep skin wound in rat model. Methods: In this experimental study, nanoemulsion cream containing lavender essential oil and licorice extract was made using self-emulsifying method. To investigate its effect on wound healing process, a full-thickness skin wound was produced on 85 male Wistar rats. The wound area was digitally photographed at 2 nd , 5 th , 7 th , 10 th , and 14 th days after surgery using a digital camera; then, the area was quantified using an image analysis system (Image J). Moreover, the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), type I collagen (Col I), and Col III genes was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) at days 2, 7, and 14. Findings: Nanoemulsion cream significantly decreased the surface area of the wounds faster than lavender essential oil and licorice extract cream (P < 0.010) and phenytoin (P < 0.050). Moreover, real-time PCR showed that topical treatment of wounds with nanomulsion cream increased the expression of TGF-β1, Col I, and Col III genes in rat�s skin (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Nanoemulsion cream containing lavender essential oil and licorice extract exhibits a promising wound healing potential towards excisional wound models in rats. © 2019, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved

Eavaluation of antinociceptic effect of nano-emulsion gel conataining rosemary and peppermint essential oils in a rat model of osteoarthritis

Background and Aim: Despite identification of the antinociceptive effects of rosemary and peppermint essential oils, use of these essential oils has been limited due to its low solubility in water and low bioavailability. Use of nanoparticles is one of the ways to overcome these limitations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of nano-emulsions containing rosemary and peppermint essential oils in an animal model of osteoarthritis (OA). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study nano-emulsions containing rosemary and peppermint essential oils were prepared by spontaneous emulsification. In order to investigate the analgesic effect, 30 male rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups: sham (receiving saline injection into the knee), osteoarthritis(receiving intra-articular injection of 2 mg monosodiumiodoacetate), OA (receiving gels containing nano-emulsion, or rosemary and peppermint essential oil or diclofenac sodium). Treatments were administered topically at a dose of 1 ml daily. Mechanical and thermal allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia tests were performed on the 1 st , 4 th , 7 th and 14 th days after injection. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Results: OA group showed a significant increased behavioral response to the mechanical and thermal stimuli on all days of the experiment compared to the control group (P<0.001). Use of nano-emulsion or diclofenac gel led to significant increase in the response threshold to von-Frey fillamets (P<0.001), decreased response to acetone (P<0.05), and increased paw withdrawal latency (P<0.05). Histopathology of knee tissues confirmed the results of behavioral tests. Conclusion: Nano-emulsion containing essential oils of rosemary and peppermint reduced pain of osteoarthritis in rats. The nano-emulsification process seems to enhance the antinociceptive effect of rosemary and peppermint essential oils. © 2018, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Simultaneous measurement of vitamin A and E using reversed phase HPLC

Background : Measurement of vitamin A and E is of utmost importance since they have antioxidant and protective activity that could be helpful to prevent cancer. Thus precise measurement is important. In the present study we have measured the se two vitamins using HPLC technique. Materials and methods : It was an exploratory survey. Having prepared the serum sample, 50 microliter was injected to HPLC instrument. Reversed phase chromatography with UV detector and a Super Pacpep-S column with a flow rate of 1.5ml/minute was used. Retention time, coefficient of variation, and reliability as well as the amount of recovered vitamins were determined. Results : Vitamin A, retinil acetate, and vitamin E were removed from the column at minutes of 3.4, 4.7, and 11.5. the limit detection was 25ng/ml and 1 μ g/ml for vitamin A and E respectively. The recovery rate of vitamin A and E were 78.2 and 90.8. Conclusion : Reversed phase HPLC is a reliable technique to measure vitamin A and E. Further studies in order to improve this technique is highly recommended

To study various concentrations of magnesium and aluminium on amylin hormone conformation

Type 2 diabetes mellitus can be defined as a conformational disease since a beta cell producing protein called amylin undergoes a change in the tertiary structure followed by self-aggregation and deposition. Amylin deposition causes destruction of pancreatic (3-cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether different concentrations of magnesium and aluminium alter amylin conformation under near-physiological circumstances. Conformational variations were monitored by fluorescent method before and after incubation by shaker incubator in 37°C by LS55 spectrofluorometer instrument. This in vitro study showed that magnesium had contradictory effects on amylin folding and these effects were magnesium concentration dependent. Magnesium with concentration of 1 to 1.5 mM had inhibitoiy effect but in 2.5 to 3.5 mM promoted amylin misfolding significantly (p<0.05). The obtained data also demonstrated that aluminium with concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 juM had stimulatory effects on formation of beta-amyloid sheet significantly (p<0.05). It may be concluded that islet amyloid misfolding and cytotoxicity to 3-cells might be magnesium dose dependent in diabetic patients. © 2011 Asian Network for Scientific Information

To determine the possible roles of two essential trace elements and ascorbic acid concerning amyloidal betasheet formation in diabetes mellitus

Amylin is a peptide hormone that is made and co-secreted along with insulin. Human amylin is the main component of amyloid beta-sheet found in the pancreas of majority of diabetic patients. Amyloidogenesis causes destruction of pancreatic β-cells. The subsequent lack of insulin leads to increased blood and urine glucose. In this article, the fluorimetric assay was used to examine the role of ascorbic acid and two essential trace elements including zinc and iron on beta-amyloid formation of human peptide of amylin hormone under near-physiological circumstances. Results obtained from in vitro study showed that after 120 h incubation by shaker incubator at 37°C, zinc element at 10 μM inhibited amylin 10 μM from amyloid fibril formation by 9.1 (p<0.05) while the similar value of iron element promoted the formation of β-sheet structure by 13.1 (p<0.05). The obtained data also demonstrated that ascorbic acid with concentration of 150 μM had inhibitory effects on formation of beta-amyloid sheet significantly (p<0.05). It may be concluded that if islet amyloid is cytotoxic to β-cells then zinc and ascorbic acid should protect these cells against degeneration in diabetic patients. © 2011 Academic Journals

Serum adipokines might predict liver histology findings in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

AIM: To assess significance of serum adipokines to determine the histological severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. METHODS: Patients with persistent elevation in serum aminotransferase levels and well-defined characteristics of fatty liver at ultrasound were enrolled. Individuals with a history of alcohol consumption, hepatotoxic medication, viral hepatitis or known liver disease were excluded. Liver biopsy was performed to confirm nonalcoholic liver disease (NAFLD). The degrees of liver steatosis, lobular inflammation and fibrosis were determined based on the non-alcoholic fatty liver activity score (NAS) by a single expert pathologist. Patients with a NAS of five or higher were considered to have steatohepatitis. Those with a NAS of two or lower were defined as simple fatty liver. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the independent association of adipokines with histological findings. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to determine cut-off values of serum adipokines to discriminate the grades of liver steatosis, lobular inflammation and fibrosis. RESULTS: Fifty-four participants aged 37.02 ± 9.82 were enrolled in the study. Higher serum levels of visfatin, IL-8, TNF-α levels were associated independently with steatosis grade of more than 33 β = 1.08 (95%CI: 1.03-1.14), 1.04 (95%CI: 1.008-1.07), 1.04 (95%CI: 1.004-1.08), P < 0.05. Elevated serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels were associated independently with advanced lobular inflammation β = 1.4 (95%CI: 1.09-1.8), 1.07 (95%CI: 1.003-1.15), P < 0.05. Similarly, higher TNF-α, resistin, and hepcidin levels were associated independently with advanced fibrosis stage β = 1.06 (95%CI: 1.002-1.12), 19.86 (95%CI: 2.79-141.19), 560.72 (95%CI: 5.98-5255.33), P < 0.05. Serum IL-8 and TNF-α values were associated independently with the NAS score, considering a NAS score of 5 as the reference value β = 1.05 (95%CI: 1.01-1.1), 1.13 (95%CI: 1.04-1.22), P < 0.05. CONCLUSION: Certain adipokines may determine the severity of NAFLD histology accurately. © 2016 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved

Lead toxicity on kinetic behaviors of high and low molecular weight alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes of rat, in vivo and in vitro studies

The relationship between lead (Pb) toxicity and changes in the kinetic characteristics of serum, liver and brain high and low molecular weight alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes has been examined in this document. Alkaline phosphatase is a family of phosphomonoesterases that was measured in serum, liver and brain using paranitrophenol phosphate (pNPP) as substrate and 2-amino-2-methyl-l-propanol as buffer. Protein concentration was determined as described by Bradford. Results obtained showed that every other day intrapritoneally injection of 39.5 ug kg-1 of lead as (Pb (CH3COO)2 3H20), in male rats for 2 consecutive weeks resulted in decreasing level of liver and brain alkaline phosphatase by 16.7 and 10.9, respectively, whereas an elevation of serum enzyme activity by 28.4 was seen in comparison to untreated controls (p&lt;0.05). Long-term exposure to 13.2 ug kg-1 of this salt, showed a statistically significant reduction in liver and brain levels of alkaline phosphatase by 18.7 and 13.2 respectively and an increment in serum activity of the enzyme by 37.6 in compared to control group (p&lt;0.05). Using gel filtration chromatography technique with sephacryl S300 showed that, in comparison to control groups, serum and liver homogenate from lead treated groups had a significant level of high molecular weight alkaline phosphatase, which might be considered as a potential biomarker for lead toxicity. In vitro experiments showed that lead inhibited all the isoenzymes. © 2010 Asian Network for Scientific Information

Prediction of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via a novel panel of serum adipokines

Considering limitations of liver biopsy for diagnosis of nonalcoholic liver disease (NAFLD), biomarkers' panels were proposed. The aims of this study were to establish models based on serum adipokines for discriminating NAFLD from healthy individuals and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from simple steatosis. This case-control study was conducted in patients with persistent elevated serum aminotransferase levels and fatty liver on ultrasound. Individuals with evidence of alcohol consumption, hepatotoxic medication, viral hepatitis, and known liver disease were excluded. Liver biopsy was performed in the remaining patients to distinguish NAFLD/NASH. Histologic findings were interpreted using "nonalcoholic fatty liver activity score." Control group consisted of healthy volunteers with normal physical examination, liver function tests, and liver ultrasound. Binary logistic regression analysis was applied to ascertain the effects of independent variables on the likelihood that participants have NAFLD/NASH. Decreased serum adiponectin and elevated serum visfatin, IL-6, TNF-A were associated with an increased likelihood of exhibiting NAFLD. NAFLD discriminant score was developed as the following: (-0.298�adiponectin) \+ (0.022�TNF-a) \+ (1.021�Log visfatin) \+ (0.709�Log IL-6) \+ 1.154. In NAFLD discriminant score, 86.4% of original grouped cases were correctly classified. Discriminant score threshold value of (-0.29) yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 91% and 83% respectively, for discriminating NAFLD from healthy controls. Decreased serum adiponectin and elevated serum visfatin, IL-8, TNF-A were correlated with an increased probability of NASH. NASH discriminant score was proposed as the following: (-0.091�adiponectin) \+ (0.044�TNF-a) \+ (1.017�Log visfatin) \+ (0.028�Log IL-8)-1.787 In NASH model, 84% of original cases were correctly classified. Discriminant score threshold value of (-0.22) yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 90% and 66% respectively, for separating NASH from simple steatosis. New discriminant scores were introduced for differentiating NAFLD/NASH patients with a high accuracy. If verified by future studies, application of suggested models for screening of NAFLD/NASH seems reasonable. © 2016 Wolters kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved

In vivo and in vitro studies of kinetic changes of serum, liver and brain high and low molecular weight alkaline phosphatase following aluminium exposure in rat

Alkaline phosphatase is a family of ecto-phosphomonoesterases that can be resolved into two bands on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a high-molecular mass form (Mr&gt;1 000 000) and a low molecular mass form (Mr: 150000). The relationship between aluminium treatment and changes in the activity of serum, liver and brain high and low molecular weight alkaline phosphatase has been investigated in this manuscript. Results obtained from in vivo study showed that every other day intrapritoneally injection of 186 μmol kg-1 of aluminium (AlCl3.6H2O), in male rats for 2 weeks resulted in decreasing the level of liver and brain alkaline phosphatase by 14.9 and 9.9, respectively, whereas an elevation of serum levels of this enzyme by 21.1 was seen in comparison to untreated controls (p&lt;0.05). Long-term exposure of 74.5 μmol kg-1 of this salt, showed a statistically significant reduction in liver and brain level of alkaline phosphatase by 15.8 and 12.3, respectively and an increment in serum activity of the enzyme by 30.9 in compared to control group (p&lt;0.05). Gel filtration chromatography technique with sephacryl S300 showed that, in comparison to control groups, serum and liver homogenates from aluminium treated groups had a significant level of high molecular weight alkaline phosphatase. In vitro experiments showed that aluminium inhibited all the isoenzymes non-competitively. Low molecular weight alkaline phosphatases were more heat and urea stable than high molecular weight fractions. © 2010 Academic Journals Inc