Effects of Administration of Perinatal Bupropion on the Population Spike Amplitude in Neonatal Rat Hippocampal Slice

Objective(s)Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant that is widely used in smoke cessation under FDA approval. The study of synaptic effects of bupropion can help to finding out its mechanism(s) for stopping nicotine dependence. In this study the effects of perinatal bupropion on the population spike (PS) amplitude of neonates were investigated. Materials and Methods Hippocampal slices were prepared from 18-25 days old rat pups. The experimental groups included control and bupropion-treated. Bupropion (40 mg/Kg, i.p.) was applied daily in perinatal period as pre-treatment. Due to the studying acute effects, bupropion was also added to the perfusion medium (10, 50, 200 μM for 30 min). The evoked PS was recorded from pyramidal layer of CA1 area, following stimulation of Schaffer collaterals. ResultsA concentration of 10 μM bupropion had no significant effects on the PS amplitude. The 50 μM concentration of bupropion reduced the amplitude of responses in 50% of the studied cases. At a concentration of 200 μM, the recorded PS amplitudes were reduced in all slices (n= 22). Amplitude was completely abolished in 8 out of the 22 slices. The decrease of the PS amplitude was found to be more in the non-pre-treated slices than in the pre-treated slices when both were perfused with 200 μM bupropion.Conclusion The results showed the perinatal exposure to bupropion and its acute effects while indicating that at concentrations of 50 and 200 μM bupropion reduced the PS amplitude. It was also found that there was evidence of synaptic adaptation in comparison of bupropion-treated and non-treated slices whereas they were both perfused with 200 µM

Enhancing rooting efficiency and nutrient uptake in Rosa damascena Mill. cuttings: insights into auxin and cutting type optimization

Auxin application plays a crucial role in successfully propagating and cultivating Rosa damascena Mill., a valuable plant species with cultural and economic significance. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of auxin dose and leaf presence on rooting success and nutrient uptake efficiency in Rosa damascena cuttings. Our results demonstrated that applying IBA significantly improved rooting success and nutrient absorption capacity, with a concentration of 1000 ppm being the most effective, resulting in a remarkable rooting percentage (48 ? 6%), increased root length (2.52 ? 0.25 cm) and improving leaf area (70.18 ? 5.10 cm2). The inclusion of leaves on cuttings has greatly magnified root success (90 ? 10%), leaf area (98.86 ? 17.86 cm2) and nutrient absorption efficiency, highlighting the vital role of leaves in early root development. Our findings provide valuable insights into the development of sustainable and productive cultivation methods for this significant plant species. Furthermore, our investigation emphasized the importance of optimizing auxin application, with leafy cuttings treated with 1000 ppm of auxin showing the most promising results regarding growth attributes, nutrient assimilation and survival rate

Platelet to lymphocyte and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in the first trimester of pregnancy, are they useful for predicting spontaneous miscarriage? A case-control study

Background: In 15% of all clinical pregnancies, a miscarriage can occur, but the exact cause of this phenomenon is not fully understood. However, it is believed that a faulty placenta, which triggers an inflammatory response in the mother’s body, may be one of the causes. Medical literature has increasingly focused on 2 indicators of inflammation, the plateletlymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Despite this, there has yet to be a study conducted that examines the rates of PLR and NLR in cases of miscarriage. Objective: This study aims to determine whether there is an increase in complete blood count inflammatory parameters such as NLR and PLR in women who experience miscarriages. Materials and Methods: This retrospective case-control study was conducted from March 2021 to March 2022, across 3 academic hospitals in Tehran, Iran. A total of 240 participants were enrolled comprising individuals with either miscarriages or normal pregnancies (n = 120/each). Data were collected from the medical records of participants aged between 18-42 yr old, with gestational age ranging from 6-13 wk. The demographic information, including age, body mass index, parity, history of abortion, number of abortions, number of living children, hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, platelet distribution width (PDW), PLR, NLR, mean platelet volume, and platelet were extracted from their records. The gestational age was also recorded. Results: A total of 240 participants were recruited for the study. PDW, NLR, PLR, and lymphocyte values were higher in the miscarriage group compared to the healthy normal pregnant women (p < 0.001). Mean platelet volumes were found to be lower in the miscarriage group compared to the healthy normal pregnant women (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although, no statistically significant difference was observed in the hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, and neutrophils in these 2 groups of pregnant women. The higher inflammatory markers including PDW, NLR, and PLR could potentially aid in the speculation of defective placentation as a contributing factor to the development of miscarriage. Measurement of these markers may be useful to predict pregnancy leading to miscarriage. Key words: Spontaneous abortion, Inflammation, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Blood platelet, Pregnancy

Deep brain stimulation in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder modifies forebrain neuronal activity and serum corticosterone

Objective(s): Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), one of the most devastating kinds of anxiety disorders, is the consequence of a traumatic event followed by intense fear. In rats with contextual fear conditioning (CFC), a model of PTSD caused by CFC (electrical foot shock chamber), deep brain stimulation (DBS) alleviates CFC abnormalities.Materials and Methods: Forty Male Wistar rats (220–250 g) were divided into 5 groups (n=8) and underwent stereotactic surgery to implant electrodes in the right basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLn). After 7 days, some animals received a foot shock, followed by another 7-day treatment schedule (DBS treatment). Next, freezing behavior was measured as a predicted response in the absence of the foot shock (re-exposure time). Blood serum corticosterone levels and amygdala c-Fos protein expression were assessed using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot, respectively. Furthermore, freezing behaviors by re-exposure time test and general anxiety by elevated plus-maze (EPM) were evaluated. Results: PTSD decreased serum corticosterone levels and increased both amygdala c-Fos expression and freezing behaviors. Therefore, DBS treatment significantly (

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell and simvastatin treatment leads to improved functional recovery and modified c-Fos expression levels in the brain following ischemic stroke

Objective(s): The beneficial outcomes of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) treatment on functional recovery following stroke has been well established. Furthermore, 5-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors have also been shown to increase neuronal survival and promote the movement of BMSCs towards the sites of inflammation. However, the precise mechanisms mediating the improved neurological functional recovery in stoke models following a combination treatment of Simvastatin and BMSCs still remained poorly understood. Materials and Methods: Here, an embolic stroke model was used to experimentally induce a focal ischemic brain injury by inserting a preformed clot into the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Following stroke, animals were treated either with an intraperitoneal injection of Simvastatin, an intravenous injection of 3 ×106 BMSCs, or a combination of these two treatments.Results: Seven days after ischemia, the combination of Simvastatin and BMSCs led to a significant increase in BMSC relocation, endogenous neurogenesis, arteriogenesis and astrocyte activation while also reducing neuronal damage when compared to BMSC treatment alone (PConclusion: These results further demonstrate the synergistic benefits of a combination treatment and help to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms mediating this beneficial effect

Home Visit Services Provided for Elderly Dwellers in Isfahan Province: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: As the elderly population increases, chronic diseases and disabilities also become more prevalent. Home care programs as hospital services supplement, not only can prevent elderly from get worse in their disabilities but also make it easier for governments to manage elderly people's needs therefore, we aimed to determine the home visit services provided for elderly residing in Isfahan province, Iran.  Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 elderly persons aged 60 years and above who were randomly selected from the list of the aged people which took services from seven home visit service centers. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. Results: Mean± standard deviation age of the participants was 76±8.8 years and about 70% were illiterate. Only about 56% of included participants were able to care themselves. A large number (56.3%) of participants' income source was personal and 5.7% were did not have any insurance at all. The costs of 93.5% of services were provided by the Welfare Organization. The services provided at these centers include general physician visits, nursing cares, physiotherapy and occupational therapy services, psychologist and social worker visits.  Conclusion: As the home visit services might be effective for providing health care for the aged people and increasing their quality of life, policymaking to spread these services seems to be crucial especially for Iran

The prevalence of hypertension among the elderly in patients in Al-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran

   BACKGROUND: In this study, we discussed aging and common diseases associated with it which can lead to hospitalization. Hypertension was also evaluated as one of the factors affecting morbidity and mortality in elderly people.      METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data was collected using checklists and extracting information from medical records in Al-Zahra Hospital (Isfahan, Iran). Data was then analyzed using descriptive statistics according to the research questions in SPSS.    RESULTS: A total number of 11,018 people aged 60-99 years were studied. Cardiovascular diseases were the most common cause of hospitalization (2063 patients (18.7%)). In patients with cardiovascular diseases, 84 were suffering from hypertension, 76 had primary hypertension, 7 had hypertensive heart disease with or without congestive heart failure, and 1 had secondary hypertension. Among all hypertensive patients, there were 37 males (44.05%) and 47 females (55.95%). Moreover, 34 people aged 60-69, 30 aged 70-79, 18 aged 80-89 and 2 aged 90-99 years. Duration of hospitalization was less than 1 day for 12 people, 1-2 days for 27, 3-5 days for 25, 6-10 days for 14, 15-11 days for 6, and more than 15 days for 1 person.      CONCLUSION: Prevention and treatment of hypertension is important in order to control this disease. Untreated or poorly/untimely controlled hypertension would thus leave permanent side effects. It may thus leave sustained side effects if remain untreated or poorly/untimely controlled. However, people with hypertension were in minority in our study. Therefore, more research in this field with larger sample size is necessary for further identification of factors affecting quality of life in elderly people.   Keywords: Elderly, Hypertension, Cardiovascular Disease, Hospitalize

Effects of Administration of Perinatal Bupropion on the Population Spike Amplitude in Neonatal Rat Hippocampal Slices

Abstract Objective(s) Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant that is widely used in smoke cessation under FDA approval. The study of synaptic effects of bupropion can help to finding out its mechanism(s) for stopping nicotine dependence. In this study the effects of perinatal bupropion on the population spike (PS) amplitude of neonates were investigated. Materials and Methods Hippocampal slices were prepared from 18-25 days old rat pups. The experimental groups included control and bupropion-treated. Bupropion (40 mg/Kg, i.p.) was applied daily in perinatal period as pre-treatment. Due to the studying acute effects, bupropion was also added to the perfusion medium (10, 50, 200 µM for 30 min). The evoked PS was recorded from pyramidal layer of CA1 area, following stimulation of Schaffer collaterals. Results A concentration of 10 µM bupropion had no significant effects on the PS amplitude. The 50 µM concentration of bupropion reduced the amplitude of responses in 50% of the studied cases. At a concentration of 200 µM, the recorded PS amplitudes were reduced in all slices (n= 22). Amplitude was completely abolished in 8 out of the 22 slices. The decrease of the PS amplitude was found to be more in the non-pre-treated slices than in the pre-treated slices when both were perfused with 200 µM bupropion. Conclusion The results showed the perinatal exposure to bupropion and its acute effects while indicating that at concentrations of 50 and 200 µM bupropion reduced the PS amplitude. It was also found that there was evidence of synaptic adaptation in comparison of bupropion-treated and non-treated slices whereas they were both perfused with 200 µM

Comparative evaluation of normal saline, 1/3-2/3, and ringer's lactate infusion on labour outcome, PH, bilirubin, and glucose level of the umbilical cord blood in nulliparous women with labour induction: a randomised clinical trial

This study aimed to compare the effects of infusion of normal saline, 1/3-2/3, and Ringer's lactate fluids on labour outcome, pH, bilirubin, and glucose level of umbilical cord blood. In this randomised clinical trial, 450 nulliparous women with Bishop score ˂5 and indication of pregnancy termination were randomly divided into three groups to receive normal saline, 1/3-2/3, or Ringer's lactate infusion at a rate of 125 mL/h for hydration, upon starting induction of labour. Results of this study indicated that the incidence of hypoglycaemia (p = .19), hyper bilirubinemia (p = .87) and acidosis (p = .10) was similar in neonates of the three groups. Also, there were no statistically significant differences between the three groups with regard to the duration of labour; glucose, bilirubin and pH level of cord blood; and mode of delivery. It can be concluded that infusion of Ringer's lactate, normal saline or 1/3-2/3 fluid during labour is not associated with different maternal or foetal/neonatal outcomes, and none of the fluids has superiority to the others.Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Several studies have been conducted on the association between type and volume of infused fluid on labour duration and neonatal outcomes. However, there has been some controversy. What do the results of this study add? This is the first study that has investigated the association between infusion of Ringer's lactate, normal saline or 1/3-2/3 fluid during labour with labour outcome and pH, bilirubin, and glucose level of the umbilical cord blood and results showed that these fluids have no effect on maternal or foetal/neonatal outcomes and also none of these fluids has superiority to the others. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Due to contradictory results of previous studies, further research with greater sample sizes and different fluids type and volumes may be needed to examine the association between infusion of fluids and neonatal and labour outcomes more precisely

Malnutrition is associated with depression in rural elderly population

Background: Aging induces physiological changes and affects all of organs. Nutritional status and mental health deteriorate with aging. As malnutrition and depression are main problem in elderly this study was performed to assess the association between malnutrition and depression among rural elderly. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and seventy rural elderly aged over 60 years were examined in a cross-sectional study by systematic sampling method and using mini nutritional assessment (MNA), which is a standard questionnaire for evaluating nutrition status. Depression was evaluated by a validated questionnaire in the elderly. Correlation between Socio-demographic characteristic, diseases, and nutrition status was obtained by t-test, Chi-square test and logistic regression in elderly population. Results: Mean ± SD age was 70.6 ± 7.3 years. Frequency of malnutrition was similar in both genders. According to MNA, 3.8% of subjects suffered from malnutrition, 32.7% were at risk of malnutrition and 63.5% were well-nourished. Nutrition status correlated with body mass index (P = 0.028) and depression (P = 0.001). The risk of severe depression in patients with malnutrition was 15.5 times higher than non-depressed persons (odd ratio: 15.5; 95% CI: 2.9-82.5). Conclusion: Depression could act as a powerful risk for malnutrition in elderly population that it should be controlled by physicians