The effect of Saliva officinalis extract on the menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women: An RCT

Background: The menopausal symptoms are the most common problems in postmenopausal women. Due to the side effects of hormone replacement therapy, the use of medicinal herbs has increased for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Saliva officinal is on the decreasing of the severity of the menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on 30 postmenopausal women aged 46–58 yr referred to the healthcare center of Darab who experienced various degrees of postmenopausal symptoms. The severity of menopausal symptoms is recorded by a Menopause Rating Scale. Participants received a 100 mg capsule of sage extract daily for 4 wk. The severity of postmenopausal symptoms was compared before and after four weeks of the consumption of sage extract. Results: The results showed the severity of hot flashes, night sweats, panic, fatigue, and concentration had significant differences before and after the consumption of sage extract. Conclusion: It was concluded that Saliva officinal is were effective to change the severity of some of the menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women

Bioinformatics Study of the Effect of Brain-derived Neurogenic Factor (BDNF) on Gene Expression in SH-SY5Y Cell Line

Introduction: Considering the importance of the evaluation and identification of BDNF protective pathways, this study was conducted to analyze the expression rate of genes registered in the NCBI database to identify the genes expressed in SH-SY5Y cell line due to BDNF protection and oxidative stress and also to identify the protective pathways of BDNF. Method: In this study, bioinformatics and NCBI databases and libraries including 48000 datasets were explored and data were collected using Illumina and Bid studio software. In the first phase, sampling was performed manually based on the P-value, and in the second phase, based on the relationship with compatibility of neurons, the Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman's correlation coefficient, and linear relationship were calculated by measuring fit or regression using SPSS version 20. Results: The Pearson correlation between CMP and CTR data was positive; and the linear regression between them was also positive. The frequency percentage of neuron adapter proteins obtained from CTR data was higher than that from CMP data; and a great number of protective proteins were related to the protection of cell shape and cellular skeleton, and neuron survival. Conclusion: Due to the contact of neurons with BDNF, some genes are specifically expressed, therefore, BDNF can increase the life and compatibility of neurons

Reliability and Validity of the Temperament and Character Inventory

Objective: The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was developed to assess temperament including Novelty Seeking (NS), Harm Avoidance (HA), Reward Dependence (RD), Persistence (PS), and Character including Self-Directedness (SD), Cooperativeness (CO) and Self Transcendence (ST) dimensions of Cloninger's biopsychosocial model of personality in adults. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of this inventory. Materials & Methods: In this validity test and standardization study, after translation of TCI into Farsi and back translation, the final form was prepared and administered to 220 students who were selected via simple sampling. Cronbach's alpha procedure and test-retest method was used to assess the reliability, and factor analysis of promax rotation was utilized to determine the validity of the inventory. Correlation of interscales and age with scales of TCI was calculated by Pearson correlation. A comparison of TCI scores between sex and also cross-cultural was down using independent t-test. Results: The alpha cofficients for the inventory ranged from 0.44 for the Persistence scale to 0.81 for the ST scale with a median 0f 0.68. The overall alpha cofficients for the whole inventory was 0.74. The Pearson correlation cofficient for the test-retest on 31 students after two months ranged from 0.53 for Novelty Seeking and Persistence to 0.82 for Harm Avoidance scales and from 0.24 for disorderliness vs regimentation (NS4) to 0.86 for fear of uncertainty vs self-confidene (HA2) subscales. The factor analysis showed six factors. Significant correlations were obtained between scales of Self–Directedness with Harm Avoidance (0.57), Self–Directedness with Cooperativeness (0.46). Conclusion: The current study confirms that Persian version of the Temperament and Character Inventory has satisfactory psychometric properties and acceptable reliability and validity for the use students of university population

The Effect of Radioactive Iodine (Iodine 131) on the Parameters of Sperm in Adult Male Rats

Background and Objectives: Humans live in the world of the waves and energies; the waves that are emitted from various sources and are harmful. One of the possible side effects of radioactive substances on the body is its effect on the amount of sperm production and fertility. In the present study, the effect of iodine 131, was investigated on the motility and number of sperm in male rat.   Methods: In this experimental study, 40 adult male rats were divided into two groups: Treatment group treated with oral gavage of iodine 131 and control group. After 24 hours, the number and motility of sperms in both groups, were analyzed by T statistical test.   Results: In this study, there was a significant difference in motility and number of sperm between the iodine 131 treatment group and the control group. Moreover, the number of active progressive and dead immotile sperm in the group treated with iodine 131, respectively, showed significant decrease and increase compared to the control group, but, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the less motile and non-progressive sperms. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, considering iodine 131 is used in the treatment of various diseases, thus, treatment with this method can have harmful effects on male reproductive system, such as motility and sperm count

The effect of electromagnetic waves emitted from the tablet connected to internet on count and motility of male rat sperms

Introduction: Today, we are dealing with the waves including, the waves emitted from wireless devices connecting to the Internet, which can have a different negative impact on human health. The aim of the present study was investigated the effect of electromagnetic waves emitted from the tablet connected to internet on the movement and number of sperm in adult male rat. Materials & Methods: 40 male rats were divided into two control and treatment groups with electromagnetic radiation emitted from a tablet connected to the Internet, respectively. Sperm count and sperm motility in both groups were analyzed by T-test. Results: The results showed that the electromagnetic waves emitted from the tablet connected to the Internet caused a significant decrease in the total number of sperms and had a significant effect on sperm motility. In the treatment group with electromagnetic waves from tablet, the number of healthy and damaged sperm had significantly decrease and increase respectively compared to the control group, but there was no significant difference between semi motile sperms in the two experimental groups. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the electromagnetic waves emitted from the internet-connected tablet lead to reduced count and motility of sperm

The Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Thyme (Zataria multiflora Boiss.) on Mechanical Activity of Isolated Colon of Male Rat

Background & Objective: Thyme have been used as a medicinal plant traditionally for the treatment of digestive system disorders. In present study, the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of thyme on motility of isolated colon of male rat and its interaction with cholinergic, adrenergic and nitic oxide systems was performed.  Materials & Methods: Ten adult male rats (180- 250 g) were kept in standard condition for one week. Then rats were anaesthetized by ethyl ether and their colon was isolated and divided in to 1 cm strips. The strips were held to a force transducer and inserted to organ bath contained Tyrode solution. The mechanical activity of strips was recorded by Power Lab system with administration of thyme extract (0.0175 mg/ml) and its solvent in experimental and sham groups, and after administration of acetylcholine, epinephrine and L-NAME drugs. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and independent-samples T-test.  Results: The result showed a significant decrease in the mechanical activity of isolated colon after administration of the effective dose of thyme extract in base line and after of administration of acetylcholine. There was no significant difference of mechanical activity of the strips at the presence of extract and its solvent after epinephrine and L-NAME administration. Conclusion: It can be concluded that thyme extract caused colon relaxation via inhibition of cholinergic pathway and independent from adrenergic and nitric oxide systems

The Effect of Interaction of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Ginger Rhizome (Zingiber Officinale) with Nitric Oxide System on Mechanical Activity of Isolated Trachea of Male Rats

Background &Objectives: Ginger is a plant that was used for bronchodilation from the ancient times. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Zingiberofficinale on mechanical activity of isolated trachea and its interaction with nitric oxide system. Materials & Methods: 15 adult male rats after adapting with their environment for one week were anesthetized with intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital and theirs trachea were isolated and divided into 3-mm strips. Then the isolated tracheal strips were divided into control and experimental groups that were inserted to organ bath contained krebs solution. The mechanical activity of trachea was recorded by power lab system. After establishing the basic conditions, in experimental group, hydroalcoholic extract of ginger (0.3mg/ml) and to control group in the same conditions, ethanol 70% as solvent was added. Then, mechanical activity of each group in the presence of L-NAME was recorded. The data were analyzed through paired sample t- test at P ≤ 0.05 as the significant level. Results: The results showed significant decrease of mechanical activity of tracheal strips in the group which was exposed to ginger. These effects were not reversed after administration of L- NAME in comparison with the control group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that ginger has an inhibitory effect on mechanical activity of trachea which is probably independent from nitric oxide system

The effect of gold, silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles on oxidative stress parameters level in the liver, heart and lung of male mice

Background & Objective: Nowadays, the beneficial effects of nanomaterials are accepted in medicine and industry. Considering the increasing use of nanoparticles and their possible toxicity, the effect of nanoparticles on oxidative stress markers was investigated in this study. Material & Methods: In this experimental- interventional study, 32 Balb mice were divided into 4 groups of 8. The control group received saline, and other three groups received gold, silver, and zinc oxide nanoparticles at a concentration of 100 PPM with IP injection during 28 days. After anesthesia, the tissues of liver, heart and lung were removed, and the activity level of oxidative stress markers was evaluated. Results: MDA level was significantly increased in zinc oxide treatment group in all three tissues and in gold treatment group in liver tissue. This factor showed a significant decrease in silver nanoparticle treatment in these tissues. The activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes in the treatment of silver nanoparticle showed a significant increase. While in the treatment group with zinc oxide and gold nanoparticles, the activity of these enzymes decreased, this decrease was significant only in zinc oxide nanoparticle. Conclusion: It is concluded that the silver nanoparticle acts as a useful nanoparticle by decreasing MDA and oxidative stress and inducing antioxidant enzymes, while the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticle shows its toxicity