Preventive effects of Naringenin (Citrus flavonone) on intestinal ischemia–reperfusion injury in the rat

The intestinal mucosa is known to be adversely affected by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). It has been demonstrated that Naringenin has protective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury in various organs. The aim of this study is to determine whether Naringenin has any protective role in I/R injury of the intestine in rats. For this purpose, forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups as control (group 1), sham IR (group 2), intestinal IR group (group 3) and Naringenin plus intestinal IR (group 4). Intestinal IR was produced by 30 minutes of intestinal ischemia followed by a 60 minutes of reperfusion. Rats in group 4 received Naringenin (20 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, 120 minutes before ischemia. After the experiments, the jejunum was removed and the tissues were processed for histopathological examination. Serum total antioxidant activity (TAA), and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were measured in jejunal tissue. Histopathologically, jejunal tissues of the intestinal IR group showed severe inflammatory cell infiltration, villus shortening and blunting and hemorrhage in lamina propria, as well as epithelial cell necrosis. Administration of Naringenin alleviated the jejunal damage in group 4. Levels of TAA, SOD, CAT, GPx and GR decreased in the intestinal IR group, but increased significantly (

Effectiveness of Spiritually Augmented Psychotherapy on Dysfunctional Attitudes in Patients with Dysthymic Disorder

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of spiritually augmented psychotherapy (SAPT) on the dysfunctional attitudes of patients with dysthymic disorder. Methods: A mixed qualitative and quantitative method was used in the present study. SAPT model was prepared in the first phase, and in the second phase, a double-blind randomized clinical trial was performed. The study subjects consisted of 62 patients with dysthymic disorder selected from several clinical centers of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Isfahan, Iran. The participants were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups and 1 control group. The first group received 8 sessions of SAPT treatment, the second group also had 8 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which was specific to dysthymic disorder, and third group were under antidepressant treatment. The Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale was used to evaluate all the participants in 4 measurement stages. The data were analyzed using repeated measures MANCOVA. Results: Findings showed that SAPT had higher efficacy on the modification of dysfunctional attitudes than CBT and medication (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: These findings supported the efficacy of psychotherapy enriched with cultural structures and spiritual teachings.</p

Study on protective effect of Naringenin (Citrus flavonone) on incipient diabetic hepatopathy in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract    Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder and its incidence is considered to be high all over the world. Hepatic insufficiency is one of the most important consequences in this disease. A multitude of drugs has been described for the treatment of diabetes throughout the world. The aim of the present study was to assess the protective effect of Naringenin on early liver injury in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 different groups of 10 rats each, including healthy control rats, normal healthy rats receiving Naringenin (50 mg/kg), diabetic rats and diabetic rats receiving Naringenin (50 mg/kg). Diabetes was induced with a single injection of alloxan (120 mg/kg i.p.). Naringenin groups received the drug daily for 3 weeks through gavage. At the end of the experiment, levels of liver function marker enzymes AST (Aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (Alanine aminotransferase) and ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase), TB (Total Bilirubin), Alb (Albumin) and TP (Total Proteins) were assessed in serum. Product of lipid peroxidation (Malondialdehyde; MDA), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were also assayed in liver homogenate to evaluate antioxidant activity. Moreover, histopathological observations were made to assess the degree of hepatic injury. In alloxanized diabetic rats, Naringenin significantly decreased the levels of serum biomarkers of hepatic injury and TB, and elevated the levels of Alb and TP. Furthermore, Naringenin significantly decreased the lipid peroxidation and elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes in these rats. Histopathological changes were in agreement with biochemical findings. The findings of this study indicated that Naringenin due to its antioxidant activities protects rats liver from early diabetic hepatopathy

A qualitative exploration of motives of suicide attempts among Iranian women

Objective The increased attempted suicide rate is one of the main problems healthcare systems face in many societies. Social meaning is one of the main fields of studying suicide attempts. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the motives of suicide attempts among Iranian women. Method To explore suicide motives, history of medical or psychological issues, family relationships, and environmental conditions, participants were interviewed individually. The present study comprised semi‐structured interviews involving 52 women who had attempted suicide and subsequently been hospitalised. Finally, the data were transcribed, categorised and narrated. Results The study identified two types of suicide meanings: escape and appeal. Escape suicide attempts were motivated by a desire to run away from intolerable situations in the family or social life. Escape suicide attempts were characterised by flight from grief, loss of honour, shame, infamy or memories of failure incidents. In appeal suicide attempts, participants experienced high pressure or control from husbands or other heads of families and the suicide attempts were used as a strong request to make her husband or family change. Other participants attempted suicide when their honours or masteries were threatened, or when they had committed deeds associated with great shame. The results also showed that several participants provided clear examples of patriarchic oppression as a strong underlying mechanism for suicide motivation. Conclusions As the results of our study revealed that family and gender structures play integral roles in motives of suicide attempts, future research among Iranian men is suggested

Cardioprotective effect of Resveratrol on Isoproterenol-induced experimental myocardial infarction in rat

Myocardial infarction affecting the mechanical, electrical, structural and biochemical properties of the heart, accounts for one of the causes of death in developed countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of resveratrol on isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial infarction in rats. For this purpose, fourty male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four equal groups including: 1-control, 2-resveratrol treatment, 3-Isoproterenol treatment and 4-Isoproterenol plus resveratrol treatment groups. Isoproterenol (85 mg/kg) was administered at two consecutive days with 24h interval subcutaneously and resveratrol (20 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally for 30 consecutive days. Finally, blood samples were collected for measurement of cardiac biomarkers, creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase. All animals were euthanized for histopathological examination and the assay for myocardial antioxidant status, by measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. Microscopically, myocardial tissues of the isoproterenol treated group showed severe degenerative and necrotic changes, while resveratrol alleviated myocardial necrotic damage. Levels of SOD, CAT and GPx decreased significantly (

Effect of Calcium Phosphate Bone Cement and Type I Collagen Mixture on Healing of Segmental Bone Defect in Rabbit Radius

Abstract: Osteogenesis is one the essential elements of bone regeneration along with the final binding between host bone and grafting material. Collagen type I (Col) is one of the most widely used bonefilling biomaterial in present bone tissue engineering. Calcium phosphate bone cements (CPC) have gained importance in orthopaedics as repair materials for bone defects. A combination of Col/CPC mixture would probably create a composite with both osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the combination of collagen type I and calcium phosphate bone cement mixture on healing of rabbit radius segmental defects. 54 adult male New Zealand white rabbits were used. A segmental bone defect of 10 mm in length was created in the middle of the right radius shaft. The defects were stabilized with miniplate in control group and CPC was used to fill the bone defect in group II and a mixture of CPC/Col was used to fill the bone defect in group III. The animal was evaluated clinically and radiologically in the postoperative period. Rabbits were sacrificed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery and evaluated histopathologically. Differences observed in radiological findings were not significant between groups but differences observed in histopathological findings were significant between group 3 and groups 1 and 2 and also was significant between group 2 and group 1. The results of this study show that the mixture of collagen type I and calcium phosphate bone cement is a good choice for the healing of segmental bone defects, and provides a more rapid regeneration of bone defects