Association between plasma homocysteine and diabetic retinopathy in type II diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the complications occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and is the leading cause of new onset blindness. This study aimed to determine the possible association between plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and the development and progression of DR. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled diabetic patients who referred for ocular consultation from the Diabetes Clinic of Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj, Iran, in 2013. Patients with type 2 DM (n = 156) were randomly assigned to evaluate the association between Hcy and DR. Participants were randomly divided into two groups; with or without DR. Patients in both groups were matched for confounding factors. Detection and grading of retinopathy was performed by indirect ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay and fasting plasma Hcy levels measured by chromatography. Plasma Hcy more than 15 µmol/l was defined as hyperhomocysteinemia. RESULTS: The results showed that there were no significant differences in Hcy levels in diabetic patients with or without retinopathy. Also, we found that there was no association between HbA1c level and plasma Hcy. In addition, data analysis indicates that no association was observed between disease duration and Hcy levels. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we found that there was not a significant association between plasma Hcy level and DR in patients with type II DM

Association between plasma homocysteine and diabetic retinopathy in type II diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the complications occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and is the leading cause of new onset blindness. This study aimed to determine the possible association between plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and the development and progression of DR. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled diabetic patients who referred for ocular consultation from the Diabetes Clinic of Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj, Iran, in 2013. Patients with type 2 DM (n = 156) were randomly assigned to evaluate the association between Hcy and DR. Participants were randomly divided into two groups; with or without DR. Patients in both groups were matched for confounding factors. Detection and grading of retinopathy was performed by indirect ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay and fasting plasma Hcy levels measured by chromatography. Plasma Hcy more than 15 µmol/l was defined as hyperhomocysteinemia. RESULTS: The results showed that there were no significant differences in Hcy levels in diabetic patients with or without retinopathy. Also, we found that there was no association between HbA1c level and plasma Hcy. In addition, data analysis indicates that no association was observed between disease duration and Hcy levels. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we found that there was not a significant association between plasma Hcy level and DR in patients with type II DM

Pancytopenia as a rare complication of acute Brucellosis: A case report

Human Brucellosis still challenges many physicians, especially in developing countries where it is still a very common, but sometimes ignored disease. Its reemergence in developed countries and its status as a class B bioterrorist agent has recently attracted much interest. Having over 500,000 new cases annually, Brucellosis is known as one of the most common zoonotic infections in the world and “the great imitator” because of many clinical and hematological manifestations. Brucellosis is still endemic in many developing countries and remains under-diagnosed and sometimes missed reported. Although this province (Kurdistan, Iran) is a Brucella endemic area with a very high prevalence and incidence rate, except for very few and negligible case reports, we did not find any reports or epidemiological study regarding this zoonotic infection. This is the first reported case of Brucellosis with pancytopenia from this western province of Iran which has been neglected. Our case was a 16-year-old girl referred with protracted fever during the last month and undetermined diagnosis. She also suffered from generalized pain, pale skin, sweating, anorexia, and weight loss. After clinical surveying, taking history, and physical examination, Brucella infection was suspected. Diagnosis confirmed by standard tube agglutination test (STA), 1/640. The patient was successfully treated with doxycycline, rifampicin, and ceftriaxone

Targeting the balance of T helper cell responses by curcumin in inflammatory and autoimmune states

CD4+ T helper (Th) cells are a crucial player in host defense but under certain conditions can contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Beside the Th1/Th2 subset, several additional Th subsets have been identified, each with a distinctive transcription factor, functional properties, signature cytokine profile, and possible role in the pathophysiology of diseases. These newer Th subsets include Th17, regulatory Th cells (Tregs), and more recently, Th9, Th22, and follicular T helper cells. Interestingly, imbalance of Th subsets contributes to the immunopathology of several disease states. Therefore, targeting the imbalance of Th subsets and their signature cytokine profiles by a safe, effective and inexpensive nutraceutical agent such as curcumin could be helpful to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In this study different Th subsets and how the imbalance of these subsets could promote pathology of several diseases has been reviewed. Furthermore, the role of curcumin in this process will be discussed and the impact of targeting Th subsets by curcumin

Cupping: a reasonable choice for attenuating morphine withdrawal symptoms in Wistar rats

Background: Nowadays, the sedative drugs are the main treatments to attenuate the opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, physical therapies are found a safe alternative treatment without any serious adverse effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cupping treatment on the morphine withdrawal symptoms in rats.Methods: Eighty rats were divided into two main groups; treated with morphine or saline, and each group was also divided to cupping and sham cupping subgroups (with single or daily treatment). Injection of morphine and saline were done in the morphine and saline groups twice a day for nine days. On the ninth day, the naloxone was administered and the withdrawal symptoms including jumping, rearing, body grooming, abdominal writing, and wet-dog shaking were recorded for 60 minutes. Cupping or sham cupping was applied on the GV14 once before or daily after withdrawal induction in each group.Results: The results revealed that a single cupping before the withdrawal induction significantly attenuated the withdrawal symptoms in the morphine group (p<0.01).But, the daily cupping failed to decrease the withdrawal symptoms in this group. The results also indicated that the daily cupping in the saline group increased the naloxone-induced withdrawal symptoms significantly (p<0.01).Conclusions: Single session cupping before the withdrawal induction could decreased the withdrawal symptoms. This finding might be related to the modulation of GABAergic system

Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract has antidepressant-like effects by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor in prefrontal cortex of rats

Objective: Depression is one of the most common mood disorders. Considering the evidence on the effect of Cinnamomum on mood disorders, this study investigatedthe effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cinnamomum (HEC) in an animal model of depression. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two male rats were selected and divided into four groups (n=8) including: control, depressed, and depressed treated with200 and 400 mg/kg HEC. Depression induction protocol was conducted in all groups except for the control group. Sucrose preference test (SPT) and forced swimming test (FST) were done to analyze the depression score. After four weeks, the animals brain cortex was removed and BDNF protein and tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) gene expression levels were determined by ELISA and Real Time PCR, respectively. Results: The results of this study showed that 400 mg/kg of HEC increased the tendency to drink the sucrose solution. Furthermore, immobility time significantly increased in the depressed group compared to the control group while it was attenuated by administration of 400 mg/kg extract on the 28th day versus the depressed group. Also the extract at both doses increased swimming time compared to the depressed group. In addition, an increase in the BDNF protein and TrkB gene expression levels was observed in the prefrontal cortex of the treatment groups. Conclusion: We found that HEC ameliorated depression symptoms in rats and these effects were probably due to an increase in BDNF proteins and its receptor, TrkB, gene expressions in the prefrontal cortex