The effect of quince leaf (Cydonia oblonga miller) decoction on testes in hypercholesterolemic rabbits: A pilot study

Current medical literature lacks any evidence of the protective effects of quince leaf on testes. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) leaf decoction on testicular injury and impaired spermatogenesis induced by hypercholesterolemia in rabbits. Eleven mature New Zealand white male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: group 1 (hypercholesterolemia, n=3), group 2 (hypercholesterolemia plus quince treatment, n=6), and group 3 (control, n=2). Groups 1 and 2 received a cholesterol-enriched diet for six weeks. Group 2 received C. oblongaleaf decoction as drinking supplement as well. After six weeks, a normal diet was substituted in groups 1 and 2 for another six weeks. Group 3 (control group) was maintained throughout the study on a regular diet. At the end of the 12th week, the left testes of the animals were resected for light microscopic study with particular attention to the maturity of germ cells in seminiferous tubules using Johnsen’s score. Increase in intertubular connective tissue and diameter of vessels, abundant spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes along the reduced germinal epithelium were noted in all rabbits of the group 1. The remaining animals in groups 2 and 3 had no significant changes in their testicular sections. The mean Johnsen’s score of group 1 (4.20±1.92) was significantly lower than that of group 2 (7.33±0.52) and group 3 (7.05±0.07). (P=0.01). Inconclusion, quince leaf decoction (C. oblonga Miller) protected rabbit testes and spermatogenesis from damage induced by hypercholesterolemia

Vitrimer chemistry for 4D printing formulation

Vitrimerization is one of the new methods under development to convert polymer wastes into high-value compounds. The chemistry of vitrimers is such that the presence of dynamic chemical bonds changes the permanent covalent bonds into covalent adaptable networks, which are reversible. This allows for recycling and reprocessing of polymers by maintaining their initial properties after several cycles, which is included in the preparation of polymer resins to convert polymer waste into materials that can be formulated for three-dimensional (3D) printing resins. Four-dimensional (4D) printing has also been recently introduced as sustainable 3D printing of responsive polymers with dynamic applications, such as soft robotics, medicine, and medicals. Therefore, the synthesis of polymers with dynamic chemistry based on vitrimers can add unique properties such as shape memory, shape recovery, self-healing, and flexibility to the 3D printed products. Vitrimerization chemistry could contribute to polymer waste by producing 4D-printed resins. This article presents the vitrimerization chemistry used in different polymers to produce 4D printing resins with the mentioned capabilities and lists their recipes for the preparation of formulations used in 4D printing so that the researchers can use them in a practical way to possibly achieve simultaneous shape-programmable, self-healing, and recyclable features in printed structures

Vat polymerization 3D printing of composite acrylate photopolymer-based coated glass beads

Vat photopolymerization-based three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques have been used as an efficient method for complex and special geometries in various applications. Composites are also a group of polymer materials that are obtained by adding a reinforcing component such as filler, fibres with different origins. Therefore, the development of 3D printable composites is paramount due to their high precision and speed of production. Glass beads (GBs) have been favorites as economical reinforcement agents for their chemical stability, water resistance in acidic environments, dimensional stability, and eco-friendly properties. In this study, 3D printable composites based on coated glass beads (CGBs) have been prepared. First, the beads are coated with ultraviolet (UV) curable resins to improve the interface with the polymer matrix. Then, CGBs are mixed with 3D printing resin and formulated for digital light processing (DLP) printing. The coating process is checked by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the mechanical properties of the 3D-printed composite structures have been evaluated by bending and compression tests. Also, the fracture behavior of cured resin has been checked with SEM. Mechanical property investigations have shown the success of the 3D printing of the CGBs into a photopolymer resin (PR) composite with behavior modification and compatibility of the interface with the matrix in practice

Preventive effects of garlic (Allium sativum) on oxidative stress and histopathology of cardiac tissue in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Since some complications of diabetes mellitus may be caused or exacerbated by an oxidative stress, the protective effects of garlic (Allium sativum) were investigated in the blood and heart of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, garlic, diabetic, and diabetic+garlic. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) in male rats. Rats were fed with raw fresh garlic homogenate (250 mg/kg) six days a week by gavage for a period of 6 weeks. At the end of the 6th week blood samples and heart tissues were collected and used for determination of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and histological evaluation. Induction of diabetes increased MDA levels in blood and homogenates of heart. In diabetic rats treated with garlic, MDA levels decreased in blood and heart homogenates. Treatment of diabetic rats with garlic increased SOD, GPX and CAT in blood and heart homogenates. Histopathological finding of the myocardial tissue confirmed a protective role for garlic in diabetic rats. Thus, the present study reveals that garlic may effectively modulate antioxidants status in the blood and heart of streptozotocin induced-diabetic rats

Exercise training attenuates diabetes-induced cardiac injury through increasing miR-133a and improving pro-apoptosis/anti-apoptosis balance in ovariectomized rats

Objective(s): The useful and effective role of exercise program to prevent cardiac tissue apoptosis and fibrosis in ovariectomized type 2 diabetic (T2DM) rats (OVR.D) is well known. The current study aimed to investigate the simultaneous effects of T2DM and swimming plan on the expression of some apoptotic, anti-apoptotic biomarkers and glycogen changes in the cardiac muscle tissue of ovariectomized (OVR) rats. Materials and Methods: Forty rats were randomly sorted into 4 equal categories; sham, OVR, OVR.D and diabetic ovariectomized with an 8 week of swimming plan (OVR.D.E). Lipid profile and miR-133, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-8 levels were evaluated in the cardiac tissue. Results: Ovariectomy significantly (P-value<0.05) increased cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, Bax, caspase-3, caspase-8 and decreased (P-value<0.05) HDL, miR-133, Bcl-2 in the cardiac tissue and a further reduction in the expression of miR-133, Bcl-2 and an enhancement in Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-8 in OVR.D rats was observed (P-value<0.01). However, exercise training significantly reversed all the measured parameters (P-value<0.05). Also, exercise training improved abnormal tissue structure, fragmentation and irregular form of glycogen granules in the OVR.D.E compared to OVR and OVR.D animals. Conclusion: Exercise training could prevent the cardiac disturbance, enhance the expression of anti-apoptotic markers and decrease apoptotic biomarkers in the hearts of OVR.D animals. Therefore, based on the findings of this study suggested using the exercise's beneficial effects for prevention of the cardiac cell death in OVR.D animals

An overview of advanced biocompatible and biomimetic materials for creation of replacement structures in the musculoskeletal systems: focusing on cartilage tissue engineering

Tissue engineering, as an interdisciplinary approach, is seeking to create tissues with optimal performance for clinical applications. Various factors, including cells, biomaterials, cell or tissue culture conditions and signaling molecules such as growth factors, play a vital role in the engineering of tissues. In vivo microenvironment of cells imposes complex and specific stimuli on the cells, and has a direct effect on cellular behavior, including proliferation, differentiation and extracellular matrix (ECM) assembly. Therefore, to create appropriate tissues, the conditions of the natural environment around the cells should be well imitated. Therefore, researchers are trying to develop biomimetic scaffolds that can produce appropriate cellular responses. To achieve this, we need to know enough about biomimetic materials. Scaffolds made of biomaterials in musculoskeletal tissue engineering should also be multifunctional in order to be able to function better in mechanical properties, cell signaling and cell adhesion. Multiple combinations of different biomaterials are used to improve above-mentioned properties of various biomaterials and to better imitate the natural features of musculoskeletal tissue in the culture medium. These improvements ultimately lead to the creation of replacement structures in the musculoskeletal system, which are closer to natural tissues in terms of appearance and function. The present review article is focused on biocompatible and biomimetic materials, which are used in musculoskeletal tissue engineering, in particular, cartilage tissue engineering