Clinical Outcomes After Posterior Open Elbow Arthrolysis for Posttraumatic Elbow Stiffness

Background: Loss of motion is a well-known complication after elbow trauma and in severe cases, arthrolysis of elbow is the procedure of choice. The posterior approach might have some advantages especially in post-traumatic patients who have undergone the same surgical approach in the past. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term outcomes of elbow arthrolysis through posterior approach. Moreover, we assessed the effect of operation on the patients’ quality of life. Patients and Methods: During a retrospective-cohort study, the medical records of 14 patients (12 men, two women) whose range of movement had been limited post-traumatically and had undergone elbow arthrolysis with posterior approach were reviewed. Before intervention, the patients had a flexion less than 100 degrees or an extension lag of 30 degrees or more. For evaluation of the final outcomes, they were invited to participate in our study and the final range of motion, visual analogue score (VAS), disability of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH), Mayo elbow score (MES) and short form health survey (SF-36) scores were measured in the patients. Results: Mean age of the participants was 28.7 years. The interval from initial injury and arthrolysis was 16 months and the patients were followed for 14 months. The mean range of motion in patients before surgery was 35.8 degrees, which was increased to a mean of 108.9 after the surgery, indicating a 73.1 degrees improvement. The means of VAS, DASH, Mayo elbow and SF-36 scores in the patients were 1.6, 34, 68 and 43, respectively. A significant inverse correlation was found between the preoperative range of motion and final range of motion. Conclusions: According to our results, elbow arthrolysis through posterior approach could be an effective technique with low complications. Since the final range of motion improved significantly, it might be a valuable method in promoting the patients’ quality of life

Sun protection factor, total phenol, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of medicinal plants from Iran

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between sun protection factor (SPF) and the content of phenol and flavonoid and antioxidant activity. Methods: Different parts of 9 medicinal plants were extracted with methanol using three extraction methods (percolation, Soxhlet and ultrasonically assisted extraction) to obtain 42 crude extracts. Their phenol and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activities were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, aluminum chloride method and DPPH radical-scavenging activity, respectively. The SPF values were determined and correlated with the phenol and flavonoid contents as well as antioxidant activities. Results: The phenol and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activities ranged from 54.16-688.97mg GAE/g, 13.38-146.60 mg QE/g and 9.5-1472.4 µg/mL, respectively while the SPFs were between 0.067 and 0.841. The highest SPF was related to Cucumis melo L. ultrasonically assisted leaf extract (0.841) and Artemisia absinthium L., aerial parts extracted with percolation method (0.717). A significant correlation was found between SPF and phenolic (p= 0.003) and flavonoid contents (p= 0.023). Conclusion: This study showed a correlation between SPF and phenolic and flavonoid contents. Ultrasonically assisted extract of C. melo leaf has suitable SPF and can be used in sun screen formulations

The antioxidant activity of wild medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) fruit, stem bark and leaf

The medlar is an edible fruit. Modern medicine has recognized its healing properties in the treatment of some diseases. There is no scientific data in the literature about the antioxidant activity of methanol or aqueous extract of medlar fruit, leaf or stem bark. Antioxidant activities of these parts were evaluated by employing six test systems. Stem bark extract (aqueous and methanol) showed best activity in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity with IC50 = 10.7 ± 0.6 and 11.4 ± 0.8 μgml-1, respectively. All extracts showed weak Fe2+ chelating ability. Methanol extract of fruit had better activity in nitric oxide scavenging model than others (IC50 = 247 ± 12.2 μgml-1). The leaves and bark extracts showed good reducing power than fruit extract. In reducing powers, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) among the stem bark and leaves extracts that were comparable with vitamin C (p< 0.05). Extracts exhibited good antioxidant activity in the ferric thiocyanate (FTC) method. They manifested almost the same pattern of activity as vitamin C and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) at different incubation times (until 72nd hour) but stem bark extract showed higher peroxidation inhibition than vitamin C and BHA at the 96th hour (p < 0.05). The extracts were capable of scavenging H2O2 in a concentration-dependent manner. Leaves methanol extract showed good activity that was comparable with quercetin (p > 0.05). Bark and leaf extracts had higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents than fruit.Keywords: Antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging, Mespilus germanica, medlar, phenolic contents, flavonoids content

Actividad antihipóxica y actividad antioxidante de semilas de Hibiscus esculentus

The antihypoxic and antioxidant activities of Hibiscus esculentus seeds were investigated employing eight in vitro assay systems. Antihypoxic activity was investigated in two models, haemic and circulatory. The effects were pronounced in both models of hypoxia. The antihypoxic effects were dose-dependent. The results indicated that the extracts have a protective effect against hypoxia induced lethality in mice. The extracts showed antioxidant activity in some models. IC50 for DPPH radical-scavenging activity was 234 ± 8.9 μg ml-1. The extracts showed weak nitric oxide-scavenging activity between 0.1 and 1.6 mg ml-1. The extracts showed weak Fe2+ chelating ability. IC50 were 150 ± 13 μg ml-1. The extracts also exhibited low antioxidant activity in the linoleic acid model but were capable of scavenging hydrogen peroxide in a concentration dependent manner. The total amount of phenolic compounds in each extract was determined as gallic acid equivalents and total flavonoid contents were calculated as quercetin equivalents from a calibration curve. Pharmacological effects may be attributed, at least in part, to the presence of phenols and flavonoids in the extracts.La actividad antihipóxica y antioxidante de semillas de Hibiscus esculentus fue investigada empleando ocho ensayos in vitro. La actividad antihipóxica fue investigada en dos modelos, uno de caracter hemínico y otro circulatorio. Los efectos fueron pronunciados en ambos modelos de hipoxia. Los efectos antihipóxicos fueron dependientes de la dosis. Los resultados indican que los extractos tienen un efecto protector contra la letabilidad inducida por hipoxia en ratones. Los extractos mostraron actividad antioxidante en algunos modelos. El IC50 para la actividad captadora de radicales fue 234 ± 8.9 μg ml-1. Los extractos muestran una débil actividad captadora de óxido nítrico comprendida entre 0.1 y 1.6 mg ml-1. Los extractos muestran una débil capacidad quelatante de Fe2+. El IC50 fue de 150 ± 13 μg ml-1. Los extractos también muestran una baja actividad antioxidante en modelos con ácido linoleico aunque fueron capaces de eliminar peróxido de hidrógeno en una manera dependiente de la concentración. La concentración de compuestos fenólicos totales en cada extracto fue determinado como equivalents de ácido gálico y el contenido total de flavonoides fue calculado como equivalentes de quercitina para la curva de calibración. Los efectos farmacológicos pueden ser atribuidos, al menos en parte, a la presencia de fenoles y flavonoides en el extracto

Effect of organophosphorous pesticides on acetyl cholinesterase activity in agricultural workers

زمینه و هدف: استفاده از سموم ارگانوفسفره به عنوان حشره کش یا علف کش از دیر باز در استانهایی مانند مازندران بعلت وفور مزارع کشاورزی رواج داشته است. از آنجا که بسیاری از کارگران مزارع در تماس با این سموم قرار می گیرند بنابراین امکان جذب این سموم از طریق پوست وجود دارد. این کار تحقیقی به منظور بررسی میزان جذب سموم از طرق مختلف در این کارگران انجام شده است. روش مطالعه: بدین منظور از روش رنگ سنجی المن در سنجش فعالیت آنزیم استیل کولین استراز (AchE) استفاده شد. نمونه ها از 35 کارگر زمین کشاورزی برنج که 10 تا 15 روز پس از استفاده از سموم ارگانو فسفره، در داخل زمین کشاورزی بطور پا برهنه کار می کردند، گرفته شد و 35 نفر نمونه به عنوان شاهد از بین افراد سالم با شرایط یکسان انتخاب شدند با این تفاوت که در تماس یا مواجهه با این سموم نبوده و در زمین کشاورزی نیز کار نمی کردند. فعالیت آنزیم استیل کولین استراز به صورت واحد در میلی لیتر گلبول قرمز محاسبه شد. نتایج: تفاوت معنی داری بین میانگین فعالیت آنزیم در مردان و زنان شاهد بدست نیامد اما این تفاوت در مردان و زنان کارگر از نظر آماری معنی دار نشان داده شد (05/0

Effects of aqueous methanolic extract of Salvia limbata on antinociceptive activity and withdrawal syndrome in mice

It is quite clear that the repeated use of opioid drugs leads to physical dependence and tolerance. Dependence can be measured by evaluation of self-restraint signs from abrupt drug withdrawal or administration of a narcotic antagonist or both. Effects of some Salvia genesis, of Salvia aerial parts extract on morphine dependence were investigated in mice. After induction of dependence by morphine, distilled water was injected into the control group and different concentrations of plants aerial extract were injected into the other five groups. To assess morphine withdrawal, mice were injected with naloxone (5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.) on the 5th day. After four consecutive days of morphine injection, withdrawal syndrome was assessed by placing each mouse in a 30 cm high glass box and recording the incidence of escape jumps for 60 min. Animal receiving acute treatment with morphine displayed dependence. The animals treated with different Salvia limbata aerial (flowered browse) parts extracts concentration decreased incidence of escape jumps in number or decreased development of morphine dependence and on the other hand, addiction was observed following naloxone administration (P<0.001). Results from the present study showed that the methanolic extract from aerial parts of Salvia limbata produced a statistically significant inhibition of pain induced by hot plate latency at (500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg) i.p. dose, as compared to the control groups. A significant increase in pain threshold after 30 and 60 min of i.p. injection of extract, compared with the control groups (P<0.001). The activity was comparable to that of morphine (30 mg kg-1 i.p., p> 0.05). The anti-nociceptive activity of S. limbata increased until the 60th min as compared to morphine (P<0.05).Key words: Morphine dependence, anti-nociceptive activity, Salvia limbata, jumping, hot plate method

The use of nanoparticles in the formulation of essential oils

زمینه و هدف: نانوتکنولوژی توانایی کنترل ویژگی های مواد در مقیاس اتمی و مولکولی است. حوزه پزشکی مدرن و داروسازی هم تحت تأثیر این فناوری قرار گرفته است. در این زمینه بیشترین تمرکز تحقیقاتی بر درون گیری ترکیبات فعال دارویی مخصوصاً داروهای سایتوتوکسیک بوده است. اسانس ها ترکیباتی هستند که کاربردهای درمانی و بهداشتی و آرایشی دارند. آن ها مخلوط پیچیده ای از انواع مولکول های فرار آروماتیک و آلیفاتیک هستند. استفاده از اسانس ها به عنوان عوامل ضد باکتری، ضد ویروس، ضد قارچ، ضد انگل و ضد حشره سابقه‌ای به قدمت تاریخ دارد. امروزه نانوتکنولوژی در جهت رفع عیوب آن ها وارد عمل شده و به بهبود حلالیت و کاهش فراریت کمک کرده است. هدف از مطالعه حاضر بررسی کاربرد نانوتکنولوژی و نانوذرات مختلف در درون گیری اسانس ها و نقش آن ها در بهبود اثرات درمانی و پایداری آن ها می باشد. روش بررسی: در مطالعه حاضر داده ها (با استفاده از کلمات کلیدی نانوذرات شناخته‌شده شامل نانوذرات لیپیدی جامد، لیپوزوم، امولسیون، سیکلودکسترین، نانوذرات مغناطیسی) از پایگاه‌های داده های الکترونیکی شامل Pubmed، Google Scholar، Magiran، Irandoc، IranMedex و پایگاه داده‌های علمی جمع آوری شد. یافته ها: با توجه به ماهیت فیزیکی اسانس ها، دو دسته از نانوحامل ها بیشتر استفاده شده است. دسته اول حامل های لیپیدی از جمله لیپوزوم ها، نانوذرات لیپیدی جامد، نانوامولسیون ها و میکروامولسیون ها هستند. دسته دوم شامل فرمولاسیون های حاوی نانوذرات پلیمری است که سبب بهبود قابل‌ توجه فعالیت ضد میکروبی اسانس‌ها شده اند. سیکلودکسترین ها و نانوذرات مغناطیسی هم در انتها اشاره شده است. نتیجه گیری: فناوری نانو و استفاده از نانوذرات سبب افزایش پایداری شیمیایی اسانس‌ها شده است، به‌علاوه کاهش سمیت و عوارض جانبی حاصل از آن را به همراه داشته است

Quality of life and knee function in patients with knee dislocation

Background: Knee dislocations are uncommon (Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of knee dislocation management. Subjects and Methods: A total of 20 consecutive adult patients with knee dislocation were enrolled in this cross-sectional study between 2011 and 2014. A single knee surgeon examined all the patients for knee instability for subjective evaluation of knee function using the Lysholm Knee Questionnaire, Knee Society Score (KSS), and Short Form-36 (SF-36). Results: The average Lysholm Knee Scores and KSS were 68 (range: 18100) and 65 (range: 1597), respectively. All domains of SF-36 among the studied patients were lower than that of the normal population. We could not find any correlation between age, body mass index, and interval between initial trauma and operation with outcome variables (Lysholm Knee Score, KSS, and SF-36 Physical Component Score, and SF-36 Mental Component Score). Conclusions: The knee function after proper management of dislocation is reasonable, but prolonged course of management and multiple operations may decrease the patients' quality of life

Synthesis and formulation of diethyltoluamide as an insect repellent

During World War II more than 10,000 chemical substances were tested as insect repellents. Perhaps the best and all-purpose repellent developed since then is diethyltoluamide, which in various tests has been shown to be the most effective agent against a wide variety of insects. In this study diethyltoluamide was synthesized and formulated as a gel. Reaction of primary acid with thionylchloride produced acyl halide, which in reaction with diethylamine produced diethyltoluamide, with 96% yield. Reaction of diethylamine with ethyl ester of primary acid did not yield diethyltoluamide even in different experimental conditions. For production of diethyltoluamid gel, various gelling agents such as carbapol and hydroxy propyl methylcellulose (HPMC) were tested. The results showed that a suitable gel could be formulated by HPMC. Physical stability, spread and viscosity of gels were evaluated. The gels that contained 14 and 18% of diethyltoluamide were stable. Rheograms of the gels that were plotted by brockfild viscometer showed that the gels have a psudoplastic characteristic