Decreased endogenous progesterone and ratio of progesterone to estrogen in stroke ischemia

Progesterone and estrogen are two steroid hormones whose exposure may decrease the risk and delay the onset of ischemic stroke. The main objective of this study was to determine the plasma level of progesterone, estrogen and ratio of progesterone/estrogen in ischemic stroke patients. The plasma levels of progesterone, estrogen and ratio of  progesterone/estrogen in 30 patients (15 men and 15 women) with acute ischemic stroke was determined within 12 h of the onset of the attack as well as in 30 control subjects (15 men and 15 women) of comparable age. There were significant differences between the progesterone and ratio of progesterone/estrogen of stroke and control group (p = 0.022 and p = 0.001, respectively). Compared with control, stroke patients had lower levels of progesterone and ratio of progesterone/estrogen. There were not significant differences between levels of estradiol in stroke and control groups. The results showed ischemic stroke is accompanied by reduction ofprogesterone and ratio of progesterone/estradiol. These reductions might be involved in the decreased protection of brain to ischemic injury

Serum cholinesterase level reduction in pesticide factory workers

In this study the sampling from 63 subjects was carried out for two sessions in days 1 and 90. Cholinesterase determination was performed with butyrylthiocholine substrate and enzymatic test was done using kinetic techniques. The mean serum cholinesterase level in phase 1 was 9569±2496 IU L-1 and in second phase the activity of cholinesterase was 7970±2067 IU L-1. This drop in cholinesterase level statistically was meaningful (paired t-test, mean = 1599, 95% CI = 1140-2058, p<0.001). ALT increase in second phase compared to first phase statistically was meaningful (Paired t-test, mean = -7.9, 95% CI = -10.9 -4.9, p<0.001). In this study eight subjects (12.7%) bad more than 35% reduction in cholinesterase activity. In regard to reduction in cholinesterase activity of 17 workers which include 27% of working personals in a three months period it seems logical to set a program to have a routine check on the cholinesterase activity in working personal engaging in such occupations

Decreased polyunsaturated and increased saturated fatty acid concentration in spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic males as compared with normozoospermic males

The lipid composition of the sperm membrane has been shown to exert a significant effect upon the functional quality of spermatozoa. We have studied fatty acid composition of the phospholipids in spermatozoa in asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic men and determined the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to saturated fatty acids of spermatozoa of these two groups. Fatty acid concentration of spermatozoa was determined in 15 asthenozoospermic and eight normozoospermic semen samples by thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography. The most abundant polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids in normozoospermic samples were docosahexaenoic acid (DHA 22: 6 ω3, 98.5 ± 4.5 nmol per 108 spermatozoa, mean ± SE) and palmitic acid (103 ± 17 nmol per 108 spermatozoa) respectively. The mean ± SE values of DHA and palmitic acid in asthenozoospermic samples were 53.9 ± 11.6 and 145 ± 14.7 nmol per 108 spermatozoa respectively. Compared with normozoospermic samples, asthenozoospermic samples showed lower levels of PUFA and higher amount of saturated fatty acids. The mean ± SE ratios of sperm PUFA/saturated fatty acids in asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic samples were 0.66 ± 0.06 and 1.45 ± 0.16 (P < 0.001) respectively. This study demonstrates that spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic men have lower levels of PUFA compared with saturated fatty acids. This may be contributory to the poor motility noted in samples from these men. © 2006 The Authors

The effect of silymarin on the expression of urotensin�ii and urotensin�ii receptor genes in the liver tissue of type 2 diabetic rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown that the increase in urotensin � II is associated with diabetes disorders. Considering that using herbal medicines for the treatment of diseases leads to fewer complications compared to most chemical drugs, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of silymarin on glucose, and insulin levels and the expression of urotensin � II (U�II) and urotensin � II receptor (U�II R) genes in the liver tissue of type 2 diabetic male rats. METHODS: In this experimental study, 36 male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=6): 1. Control group; 2 and 3. Control groups treated with 60 and 120 mg / kg / day silymarin; 4. Type 2 diabetic group which received an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 60 mg / kg streptozotocin and 120 mg / kg nicotinamide; 5 and 6. Diabetic rats treated with 60 and 120 mg/kg/day silymarin. After 60 days of treatment, serum and liver tissue samples were collected. Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR index and liver enzymes were evaluated by spectrophotometry and ELISA methods, while gene expression in liver tissue was analyzed by Real-time PCR method. FINDINGS: Insulin levels increased significantly in diabetic groups treated with silymarin (60 and 120 mg/kg) (9.6±1.11 and 9.8±0.96, respectively) in comparison with the diabetic control group (7.10±1.06) (p<0.05). Moreover, glucose level, HOMA-IR, liver enzymes, U�II and U � II R expression in diabetic group treated with silymarin significantly decreased compared to diabetic control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that administration of silymarin improves liver function in diabetic rats. © 2019, Babol University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Association between GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 variants and the risk of end stage renal disease

Introduction: There are some evidences indicating DNA damage by oxidant and mutant agents has an essential role in the chronic renal failure and end stage renal disease (ESRD). To investigate the possible association of GSTs variants with ESRD, we investigated the frequency of GST- T1, M1, and P1 genotypes, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with ESRD.Materials and methods: The present case-control study consisted of 136 ESRD patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis and 137 gender- and age-matched, unrelated healthy controls from the population of west of Iran. The GST- T1, M1, and P1 genotypes were determined in all individuals using multiplex-PCR and PCR-RFLP. The level of MDA was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results: We found that GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes (GSTT1-/GSTM1-) increased the risk of ESRD by 1.8 times (p<0.001) and the increased risk of ESRD for GSTM-null (T1+-M1-) genotype was 3.04 times (p=0.002). ESRD patients carriers the GST (GSTM1-null+GSTT1-null+GST-null) genotypes compared to GST normal genotype increased the risk of ESRD by 3.3 (p<0.001) times. ESRD patients carriers of GST-null, GSTM1-null, and GSTT1-null genotypes had greater MDA concentration compared with the same genotypes of control subjects. Our results indicated that the GST-null allele (GSTT1-null/GSTM1-null) is a risk factor for ESRD and carriers of this allele have high levels of MDA.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that oxidative stress, impairment of the antioxidant system and abnormal lipid metabolism may play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of ESRD and its related complications. These data suggest that patients with ESRD are more susceptible to vascular diseases

Association of plasma nitric oxide concentration and endothelial nitric oxide synthase T-786C gene polymorphism in coronary artery disease

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from l-arginine by endothelium nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) and plays important roles in many physiologic and pathologic processes. NO involved in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis. In the present study we hypothesized that polymorphisms of NOS gene might be associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and plasma NO concentrations. The eNOS gene polymorphism was investigated in 241 unrelated CAD patients with positive coronary angiograms and 261 ages matched control subjects without a history of symptomatic CAD. The NOS3 gene polymorphisms were analyzed by RFLP. Plasma NO, lipid profile and other risk factors were also assessed. The genotype frequencies for T-786C polymorphism differed significantly between CAD patients and controls (p=0.041). The mean plasma NO x concentrations showed significant differences according to genotypes of T-786C polymorphism in total population only. The mean plasma NO x increased in those individuals that are homozygote for C allele in promoter compared with those individuals are heterozygote for this allele and homozygote for T allele in total population and Controls, but no in CAD patients. The present study provides evidences that T-786C polymorphism of the NOS3 gene is associated with CAD. T-786C polymorphism was not associated with increased plasma NO in CAD patients. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Lipid composition of spermatozoa in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic males

Introduction: Lipids play an important role in the structural and functional activity of spermatozoa. We investigated the phospholipids composition and fatty acid-bound phospholipid of spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic men. Patients and methods: Semen samples were analyzed in 15 asthenozoospermic and eight normozoospermic subjects and the sperm phospholipids and fatty acids were determined using high performance thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography, respectively. Results: The most abundant (mean±SE) phospholipids in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic samples were phosphatidylethanolamine (70.9±11.5 and 44.2±8.5 nmol/108 spermatozoa, respectively) and phosphatidylcholine (58.6±9.5 and 34.6±3.2 nmol/108 spermatozoa, respectively). Compared to normozoospermic samples, asthenozoospermic samples showed lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; p&lt;0.01) and higher levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA; p&lt;0.05). Discussion: Changes in content of phospholipids and its fatty acid composition of spermatozoa may be related to infertility in asthenozoospermic males. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Hepatoprotective effects of silymarin on liver injury via irisin upregulation and oxidative stress reduction in rats with type 2 diabetes

Background: Diabetes is one of the most prevalent metabolic diseases. Irisin (FNDC5 protein) is involved in the new strategy of combating type 2 diabetes. In the liver, the antidiabetic mechanism of silymarin at the molecular level is unknown. This study investigated the effects of silymarin on irisin and the related gene expression and oxidative stress status in the liver of type 2 diabetic rats. Methods: Thirty-six rats were divided into 6 groups (n=6 each) by simple randomization: control, control+silymarin (60 mg/kg daily in normal saline orally for 60 days), control+silymarin (120 mg/kg daily in normal saline orally for 60 days), diabetic, diabetic+silymarin (60 mg/kg daily for 60 days), and diabetic+silymarin (120 mg/kg daily for 60 days). Biochemical parameters were measured by spectrophotometric and immunoassay methods, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate gene expression. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by the Tukey test, using SPSS software, version 16.0. The results were considered statistically significant at a P value less than 0.05. Results: In the diabetic rats treated with silymarin (60 and 120 mg/kg), by comparison with the diabetic group, body weight (P=0.04 and P=0.02), insulin (P<0.001), expression of PGC-1α (P=0.04 and P=0.02), expression of FNDC5 (P=0.03 and P=0.01), and concentration of irisin in the liver (P=0.02 and P=0.01) and serum (P<0.001) were significantly increased, whereas the levels of glucose (P<0.001), HOMA-IR (P=0.03 and P=0.01), and liver injury markers (P<0.001) were significantly reduced. Oxidative stress status and histopathological changes were improved in the treated groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that silymarin because of its ability to upregulate irisin and antioxidant effects can be considered an antidiabetic agent. © 2019, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved