Anticonvulsant and Anti-anxiety Effects of Royal Jelly in Adult Male Syrian Rats

Objective Royal jelly is a honey bee secretion with beneficial effects on the nervous system. The present study aims to investigate the effects of royal jelly in reducing seizure and anxiety-like behaviors in Syrian rats. Methods This is an experimental study. In the seizure model, 25 male white Syrian rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control, royal jelly 100 mg/kg, royal jelly 200 mg/kg, royal jelly 400 mg/kg, and phenobarbital. After 30 minutes, strychnine was injected to induce seizure in animals. The time of seizure onset, seizure duration, and mortality rate in animals were recorded. In the anxiety model, 35 male white Syrian rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control, royal jelly 50 mg/kg, royal jelly 100 mg/kg, royal jelly 200 mg/kg, and diazepam. Anxiety-like behaviors were examined by using the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, and P<0.05 was statistically significant. Results Royal jelly at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg delayed the time of seizure onset and reduced the seizure duration compared to the control group (P<0.05). The mortality rate was also reduced after using different doses of royal jelly compared to the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, royal jelly at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg increased the time spent in the open arms of the EPM platform and the number of entries to the open arms compared to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Administration of royal jelly can reduce strychnine-induced seizure and modulate anxiety-like behaviors in rats

Characterization of Common β-Thalassemia Major Mutations in Southwest Iran with Respect to Biochemical Parameters, Oxidative Status and Complications

Background & Objective: Beta-thalassemia are among the most common autosomal recessive genetic disorders in Iran, especially in Khuzestan province. Beta-thalassemia exhibits significant phenotype heterogeneity and there are currently more than 200 known mutations in this region. Oxidative stress exacerbates multiple disorders, including thalassemia, an inherited hemolytic anemia caused by globin gene mutations. We aim to characterize significant mutations of widespread β-thalassemia in south-western Iran with respect to biochemical parameters, oxidative status and complications of diseases. Material & method: Forty-five patients, aged between 15-35 years with β-thalassemia major were selected. The patients were receiving regular blood transfusion and chelation therapy and have been previously characterized to bear beta globin gene mutations. The subjects’ medical histories were documented by review of previous medical records. We also determined biochemical parameters including glycemic and iron indices, hepatic and renal function tests, oxidative stress markers and levels of advanced glycation end product species (Carboxy methyl lysine and Pentosidin).  Results: The most common mutation was found to be CD36/37(28.9%) followed by IVSII-1, and IVSI-110. Values of iron indices were significantly different in various mutation groups. Carboxy methyl lysine and pentosidine were found to be higher in the β-thalassemia patients with IVSII-1 and IVSI-110, respectively. Also sLOX-1 was found to be significantly higher in IVSI-110 group. Complications of the disease were differently presented in mutation groups and hemochromatosis, hepatomegaly, and diabetes were among the most common problems. Conclusion: About 72 % of β-thalassemia major cases in southwest Iran result form 3 common mutations with different clinical and laboratory presentations. Molecular genetic testing can be helpful to evaluate the patients’ situation

Angiotensin II Differentially Induces Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 Production and Disturbs MMP/TIMP Balance

Abstract Angiotensin II, the main component of the renin-angiotensin system, is associated with cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, vascular remodeling and inflammation. Remodeling process results from dysregulation of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs). MMPs are considered as important target genes for angiotensin II. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of angiotensin II on MMP-9 and TIMP-1 production and MMP/TIMP balance in a monocytic cell type. Human monocytic U-937 cells were cultured and treated with 100 nM angiotensin II. Supernatants were analyzed for MMP-9 and TIMP-1 using ELISA and zymography methods. Real-time PCR was utilized to evaluate relative MMP-9 and TIMP-1 genes expression following treatments. Cytotoxicity potentials of treatments were determined by assaying lactate dehydrogenase leakage from the cells. Stimulation of the monocytic cells with angiotensin II significantly increased MMP-9 and TIMP-1 secretion as measured by ELISA (p&lt;0.05). It also augmented gelatinolytic activity of MMP-9 in the conditioned media as much as 49% (p&lt;0.05). Incubation of the cells with angiotensin II for 12 hr increased MMP-9 and TIMP-1 gene expression 2.7 and 1.8 folds, respectively (p&lt;0.05). Angiotensin II treatments did not establish significant cytotoxic effects. In summary, our data provide further evidences that monocytic MMP-9 is a major effector of angiotensin II. It is induced more efficiently than TIMP-1 by angiotensin II that leads to MMP/TIMP imbalance. Our data also reveal the pivotal participation of these cells in pathological cardiovascular remodeling mediated by angiotensin II

COMPARE THE BEHAVIOR FACTOR OF THE ULTIMATE RESISTANCE OF MOMENT FRAME, PLAIN AND PERFORATED STEEL PLATE SHEAR WALLS AND BUCKLING RESTRAINED BRACE AS YIELDING METAL DAMPER

Steel moment frame systems, steel plate shear walls and also buckling restrained brace (BRB) are considered as the most widely used seismic resistant systems of the world. Firstly, in this research, in order to validate the finite element models, the tested sample of steel plate shear walls of 4 floors at the University of Alberta, Canada, and the tested sample of buckling restrained brace at the University of Berkeley California, with the software ABAQUS 6.10-1 were used. Then, the obtained results of the test and analysis have been compared. The confirmed models have been used for the analysis of two-dimensional frame of plain and perforated steel plate shear walls with a regular pattern of positing holes in the screen, buckling restrained brace and moment frame of 4 floors

Increased level of advanced glycation end-products in renal transplant patients is associated with decreased measured GFR and grafted kidney function

Background: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) cause proinflammatory responses and macromolecular damages. Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) are protein biomarkers for oxidative stress. Levels of AGEs and AOPPs increase with the progression of chronic renal dysfunction. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to measure these species in patients with renal transplantation and to analyze their correlation with the measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal function parameters. Patients and Methods: Eighty renal transplant patients and normal subjects were recruited. GFR was measured by the two-sample plasma method with technetium-99m-labeled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (TC99m-DTPA) clearance. Biochemical measurements included creatinine, cystatin C, urea, total protein, and pentosidine. Serum AGEs were determined using a fluorometric assay and AOPPs were estimated spectrophotometrically. Results: The measured GFR found to be significantly decreased in renal transplant patients compared to the control subjects (P< 0.001). Levels of AGEs, AOPPs, serum creatinine, and cystatin C were increased in renal transplant patients with lower values of measured GFR (mGFR). A significant association between the levels of AGEs species (serum fluorescence and pentosidine) and mGFR when adjusted for creatinine and other risk factors in multiple linear regression model analysis was found (P=0.05 and P=0.001, respectively). Conclusions: This study demonstrated increased levels of pentosidine and AGEs in transplant recipients were associated with decreased mGFR. Their accumulation can be predictive for the progression of chronic allograft loss of function

Association of rs7903146 polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene with diabetic nephropathy and decreased estimated GFR in an Arab population in southwest Iran

Background: Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) acts as a downstream effector in the Wnt signaling pathway. It plays important roles in the proliferation and differentiation of islet betacell, insulin secretion and kidney development. Objectives: This study aimed to demonstrate whether rs7903146 variant is associated with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and measures of kidney function in a diabetic and healthy Arab population in southwest of Iran. Patients and Methods: This study is comprised of 132 diabetic subjects (T2DM) and 66 healthy participants. The diabetic subgroups were composed of patients with DN (n=56) and early onset of diabetes (n=71). The rs7903146 polymorphism was genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in all the participants. Blood glucose, HbA1c, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and urinary albumin were evaluated by a biochemistry analyzer and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed for cystatin C measurement. Results: The frequency of genotypes was significantly different between all the diabetic cases and control subjects (P<0.05). The TT variant odds ratio (OR) versus CT/CC genotypes for diabetes was 2.47 (95% CI 1.11-5.48). An association was observed between TT homozygous and DN (OR for TT 2.78, 1.13-6.84). Early onset diabetic patients showed stronger association (OR: 4.64, 1.64-13.14, P=0.003). The TT genotype was also found to be a risk variant for decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)(Cys-Cr) below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR: 3.36, 1.4-8.1, P=0.005). Conclusions: The results confirmed that the TCF7L2 gene rs7903146 variants are significantly associated with T2DM in Arab population of Iran. The TT genotype of this SNP is also predisposed to the risk of developing DN especially in subjects with early onset diabetes. Patients with TT genotype were also at risk of decreased GFR

Additional file 1 of Capparis spinosa improves non-alcoholic steatohepatitis through down-regulating SREBP-1c and a PPARα-independent pathway in high-fat diet-fed rats

Additional file 1: Additional main text