Comparison of protective effects of omega3 fish oil and aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root on biochemical factors and liver tissue changes induced by thioacetamide in male rats

Background and aims: Thioacetamide can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. This study was aimed to evaluate the ability of omega3 fish oil and Glycyrrhiza glabra aqueous extract to attenuate biochemical factors and liver tissue changes induced by thioacetamide. Methods: In this experimental study, 63 wistar male rats were divided into 9 groups. Control group, Sham group received 0.4ml olive oil orally per day for 3 months. Thioacetamide group received 150 mg/kg of TAA intraperitoneally in a single dose for 3 months. Experimental groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 received 100, 200, 300 mg/kg of omega3 fish oil and aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root orally per day for 3 months and 150 mg/kg of TAA intraperitoneally in a single dose for 3 months. The provided blood samples were tested for serum levels of bilirubin, albumin, and total protein. The pathological examination of hepatic tissue samples was done after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: Treatment with 100 mg/kg of omega3 fish oil (0.06±0.013) significant reduced the serum level of billirubin comparing with thioacetamide group (0.38±0.015). Treatment with the aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root at all doses (0.37±0.034) (0.34±0.027) (0.15±0.028) showed no significant difference in the serum level of billirubin comparing with thioacetamide group (0.38±0.015). Treatment with the omega3 fish oil (4.40±0.02) (4.32±0.10) (4.34±0.10) and aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root at all doses (4.33±0.06) (4.31±0.5) (4.20±0.07) significant reduced the serum level of albumin comparing with thioacetamide group (4.70±0.00). The mean levels of total protein showed no significant difference in the experimental groups (8.77±0.31) (8.53±0.20) (8.63±0.24) (8.58±0.05) (8.57±0.10) (7.92±0.21) comparing with thioacetamide group (8.56±0.08). In all experimental groups, the hepatic tissue changes induced by thioacetamide improved which were dose dependent (P<0.05). Conclusion: The study suggests that biochemical factors and liver tissue changes induced by thioacetamide in male rats can be ameliorated by oral administration of aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root and omega3 fish oil

Conceptual models for describing virtual worlds

A conceptual model of a virtual world is a high-level representation of how the objects behave and how they are related to each other. The conceptual models identify the most essential elements of the reality to be simulated. This is the first and a very important step in the process of designing a virtual world. Afterwards, specific and complex models can be implemented and inserted into these conceptual models. This paper provides an overview of existing conceptual models used to design virtual worlds. A number of existing frameworks and architecture for describing virtual worlds are classified into six kinds of conceptual models: unstructured, graphic-oriented, network-oriented, object-oriented, environment-oriented and relational graph-oriented representations. The advantages and issues regarding virtual world design, management, reusability and interoperability are discussed

Extended Gaussian wave packet dynamics

We examine an extension to the theory of Gaussian wave packet dynamics in a one-dimensional potential by means of a sequence of time dependent displacement and squeezing transformations. Exact expressions for the quantum dynamics are found, and relationships are explored between the squeezed system, Gaussian wave packet dynamics, the time dependent harmonic oscillator, and wave packet dynamics in a Gauss-Hermite basis. Expressions are given for the matrix elements of the potential in some simple cases. Several examples are given, including the propagation of a non-Gaussian initial state in a Morse potential

Human amniotic membrane mesenchymal stem cells-conditioned medium attenuates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by targeting oxidative stress

Objective(s): Ischemic heart diseases (IHD) are one of the major causes of death worldwide. Studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells can secrete and release conditioned medium (CM) which has biological activities and can repair tissue injury. This study aimed to investigate the effects of human amniotic membrane mesenchymal stem cells (hAMCs)-CM on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats by targeting oxidative stress. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats (40 rats, weighing 200�250 g) were randomly divided into four groups: Sham, myocardial infarction (MI), MI + culture media, and MI + conditioned medium. MI was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 min. After 15 min of reperfusion, intramyocardial injections of hAMCs-CM or culture media (150 μl) were performed. At the end of the experiment, serum levels of cardiac troponin-I (cTn-I), myocardial levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as cardiac histological changes were evaluated. Results: HAMCs-CM significantly decreased cTn-I and MDA levels and increased SOD and GPx activities (P<0.05). In addition, hAMCs-CM improved cardiac histological changes and decreased myocardial injury percentage (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that hAMCs-CM has cardioprotective effects in the I/R injury condition. Reduction of oxidative stress by hAMCs-CM plays a significant role in this context. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that hAMCs-CM can be offered as a therapeutic candidate for I/R injury in the future, but more research is needed. © 2020 University of Baghdad-College of Science. All rights reserved