Antidiabetic effects of Eucalyptus globulus on pancreatic islets: a stereological study

The leaves of Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) are used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of eucalyptus on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced damage in pancreatic islands by stereological methods. Fifty mature normoglycaemic male Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 g, were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 10): control; STZ-induced diabetic (D) - by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin; treated control (TC); and treated diabetic (TD1, 2), respectively, received 20 and 62.5 g/kg of eucalyptus in their diet, and 2.5 g/L aqueous extract of eucalyptus in their drinking water from one week after induction of diabetes. After four weeks of the experiment, stereological estimation of volume density and total volume of islets and beta cells, volume-weighted mean islet volume, mass of the islets and pancreas, and total number of islets were carried out. Administration of eucalyptus significantly decreased the weight loss and increase of water and food intake in the treated diabetic groups in comparison to the STZ-induced diabetic (D) group. Volume density and total volume of islets, volume-weighted mean islet volume, mass of islets, and mass of pancreas of both treated diabetic groups were higher than the D group. In TD2, these stereological parameters increased significantly compared to the D group (p < 0.001). Volume density and total volume of beta cells increased 21% and 65%, respectively, in the TD2 group, but it was not statistically significant compared to the diabetic group (p > 0.05). The results suggested that Eucalyptus globulus with a dose-dependent manner ameliorates diabetic states by partial restoration of pancreatic beta cells and repair of STZ-induced damage in rats. This study suggests a beneficial effect of eucalyptus in the treatment of diabetes. (Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 2: 112-118

Anthropometric measurements of the external nose in 18&#8211;25-year-old Sistani and Baluch aborigine women in the southeast of Iran

The human nose differs in its anatomy and morphology between different racial and ethnic groups. The objective of this survey was to provide data for clinical plastics of the nose, medical aesthetics and cosmetology, anthropology, nationality study, and medical jurisprudence in Sistani (Fars) and Baluch aborigines in the southeast of Iran. The subjects participating in this study were 400 volunteer Baluch and Sistani aborigine women (in both groups the number of subjects was 200) within the age range of 18&#8211;25 years. Anthropometric data were obtained from all subjects using standard anthropometric methods with a sliding calliper. The data were analyzed using SPSS 11.0. Values were expressed as mean &#177; standard deviation (SD). Student t-test was used to compare the results. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. The mean total length and height of the nose in the Sistani group was significantly (p < 0.001) lower than in the Baluch group (46.5 &#177; 1.8 vs. 53.0 &#177; 1.3; 44.0 &#177; 2.2 vs. 49.5 &#177; 2.0). The mean anatomic width of the nose in the Sistani group was higher than in the Baluch group (32.3 &#177; 1.3 vs. 31.4 &#177; 1.5 mm). The nasal index in the Sistani group was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than in the Baluch group (69.7 &#177; 3.5 vs. 59.2 &#177; 3.3). The most common type of nose was leptorrhine (fine nose), accounting for 55.5% in the Sistani group and 98.5% in the Baluch group. The most common type of face in both groups was leptoprosopic. In spite of significant differences in measurements of noses in the Sistani and Baluch groups, the most common types of nose and face were similar in these two groups

BREAST CANCER SCREENING KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE AMONG WOMEN IN SOUTHEAST OF IRAN

&quot;nBreast cancer is the most common cancer occurring among women. The mortality rate of breast cancer can be reduced by regular breast cancer screening program. This study was carried out to identify the knowledge and practice of women about breast cancer screening in Zahedan, southeast of Iran. In this cross- sectional study, 384 women were selected as an improbability sample of women referring to Qouds maternity hospital. Knowledge and practice of them about breast cancer screening were investigated through face-to-face interview based on a purposed questionnaire, and data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Only 8.3% of women were aware of breast cancer screening methods. About breast self-examination 21.6%, and about mammography 3.4% had good knowledge. Overall knowledge of breast cancer screening was insufficient in 67.4%. There was statistically significant relationship between knowledge of breast cancer screening and level of education, history of individual breast disease, and history of breast cancer in their families (P &amp;lt; 0.001). There was statistically significant and inverse relationship between knowledge of how to examine the breasts and knowledge about mammography with age (P &amp;lt; 0.001). Practices of women in Zahedan about Breast cancer screening were very low. Only 4.5% of women performed breast self examination (BSE), on a regular basis, 4.1% had ever had a clinical breast examination (CBE), and %1.3 had a mammography throughout their life. Our findings suggest that knowledge and practice about breast cancer screening was relatively in a weak level and it needs to be improved

Structural changes in the brain of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis compared to controls: a MRI-based stereological study

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination, inflammation, gliosis, and axonal loss. Nowadays, increasing scientific reports have focused on neurodegenerative processes and structural changes of the disease underlying pathogenesis. Aim: The aim of this study is a structural analysis of brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) comparing with normal individuals. Methods: This case-control study was carried out on MRIs of 20 patients with RRMS and 20 healthy controls in Zahedan, Iran. MR images with 4-mm slice thickness and 0.5-mm intervals in three anatomical planes (coronal, sagittal, axial) were acquired. Then, stereological parameters, including volume and volume density of different parts of the brain, based on Cavalries� point counting method were measured in both groups. Data analyses were performed using Mann-Whitney U and Pearson�s correlation tests. Results: The results of the study showed that there were no significant differences in total brain, hemispheres, gray matter, and basal nuclei volume and volume density between the two groups (p � 0.05). However, the left hemisphere, cerebellum, lateral ventricles, brainstem, corpus callosum, and white matter volume in RRMS patients were significantly lower than those in controls (p � 0.05). Conclusion: The findings showed that quantitative assessments based on stereological method on brain MRIs facilitate clarifying neuropathology of the disease. Also, it can be helpful as a simple index for following up the clinical situation and assessing therapeutic efficiency in MS patients. It may provide a precise treatment approach and justification of symptoms in patients with MS. © 2020, Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland