Cost-utility analysis of IEV drug regimen versus ESHAP drug regimen for the patients with relapsed and refractory hodgkin and non-hodgkin�s lymphoma in Iran

Background: Chemotherapy for lymph nodes cancer is often composed of several drugs that are used in a treatment program. Objectives: The aim of this study was to perform a cost-utility analysis of IEV regimen (ifosfamide, epirubicin and etoposide) versus ESHAP regimen (etoposide, methylprednisolone, high-dose cytarabine, and cisplatin) in patients with lymphoma in the south of Iran. Patients and Methods: This was a cost-utility analysis done as a cross-sectional study in the south of Iran. Using decision tree, expected costs, quality -adjusted life years (QALYs) and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were estimated. In addition, the robustness of results was examined by sensitivity analysis. Results: The results of this study indicated that the total lymphoma patients were about 65 people that 27 patients received IEV regimen and 38 patients ESHAP (43 patients with Hodgkin�s and 22 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma). The results of decision tree showed that in the IEV arm, the expected cost was 20952.93 and the expected QALYs was 3.89 and in the ESHAP arm, the expected cost was 31691.74 and the expected QALYs was 3.86. Based on the results of the study, IEV regimen was cost-effective alternative to the ESHAP regimen. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, it is recommended that oncologists use IEV instead of ESHAP in the treatment of patients with lymphoma and because of high costs of IEV drug costs, it is suggested that IEV drugs should be covered by insurance. © 2015, Iranian Journal of Cancer Prevention

The effect of Aloe vera extract on humoral and cellular immune response in rabbit

Some plant polysaccharides are well known to possess immunostimulatory effects. Aloe vera possesses confirmed curative or healing actions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the administration of A. vera plant extract on cellular and humoral immune response in rabbits. 20 healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into five treatment groups: Groups consisted of: 1) control group (normal saline); 2) A. vera control; 3) vaccine control; 4) 50 mg A. vera extract + vaccine; 5) 150 mg A. vera extract + vaccine. The used vaccine was for myxomatosis. Blood samples were obtained at four time points: days 0, 7, 14 and 21 of the study. CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes frequency and serum immunoglobulin concentrations were evaluated. According to the results, oral administration of A. vera affected the composition of lymphocyte subsets and serum immunoglobulins positively. These findings demonstrated that A. vera may stimulate both cellular and humoral immune responses after immunization.Key words: Aloe vera, cellular and humoral immune, immunization, rabbits

Protective Effects of Regular Exercise Combined With Curcumin Supplementation Against Lead-Induced Cerebellar Oxidative Damage in an Animal Model

Lifestyle modifications, such as physical exercise and dietary supplements, were recommended as protective measures against some neurological disorders. We examined the effects of regular exercise combined with curcumin supplementation against lead-induced oxidative damage of the cerebellum in male rats. Experimental animals (n = 50) were randomly divided into five groups. Lead acetate (20 mg/kg) was i.p. administered to three groups (except sham and control ones), while the sham group received ethyloleate (30 mg/kg) three times per week. The curcumin and curcumin + exercise groups received curcumin (30 mg/kg) i.p. five times per week for eight weeks. The exercise program consisted of progressive running on a treadmill, speed from 15 to 22 m/min, 25 to 64 min per day, five times per week for eight weeks. Two days after the last application, the rats were euthanized, and their cerebellum was removed and homogenized to measure the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARSs). Chronic administration of lead significantly increased the cerebellar TBARS levels but did not alter considerably the BDNF levels. Curcumin and curcumin + exercise treatments significantly lowered the cerebellar TBARS levels; a significant increase in the BDNF level was observed in the cerebellum of rats treated with combined intervention. Thus, regular exercise combined with curcumin supplementation may exert a significant neuroprotective effect against lead-induced cerebellar injury by attenuating oxidative stress and improving the brain state through an increase in the BDNF amount.Модифікації стилю життя, такі як фізичні тренування та вживання добавок до дієти, рекомендуються як протективні заходи щодо низки неврологічних розладів. Ми дослідили впливи регулярних тренувань, поєднаних з уведенням куркуміну, на індуковане свинцевою інтоксикацією оксидативне ушкодження мозочка у самців щурів. Експериментальні тварини (n = 50) були рандомізовано поділені на п’ять груп. Ацетат свинцю (20 мг/кг) уводився тваринам трьох груп (дві слугували контролем). Одна з контрольних груп отримувала етилолеат (30 мг/кг) тричі на тиждень. У двох інтоксикованих групах тварини отримували 30 мг/кг куркуміну п’ять разів на тиждень протягом восьми тижнів. Програма тренувань включала в себе прогресивно збільшувані епізоди бігу на тредбані (від 15 до 25 м/хв, від 25 до 64 хв/добу, п’ять разів на тиждень протягом восьми тижнів). Через дві доби після закінчення курсів щурів піддавали евтаназії, мозочок видаляли та гомогенізували для вимірювання рівнів мозкового нейротрофічного фактора (BDNF) та речовин, реактивних щодо тіобарбітурової кислоти (TBARSs). Хронічне введення свинцю викликало вірогідне збільшення рівнів TBARS, але не змінювало істотно рівнів BDNF. У групах «куркумін» та «куркумін+тренування» спостерігалися значно нижчі рівні TBARS; вірогідно більший рівень BDNF у мозочку відмічався в групі з комбінацією заходів. Отже, регулярні фізичні тренування, поєднані з уведенням куркуміну, можуть забезпечити істотний протекторний ефект щодо індукованого свинцем ушкодження мозочка, опосередкований зменшенням оксидативного стресу та поліпшенням стану мозку завдяки певному збільшенню кількості BDNF