The association of diabetes mellitus and gender with risk of bone fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Bone fracture shows a growing trend. This increase is a result of several factors occurs. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to examine the relationship of fracture risk with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and gender. For this purpose, we searched the credible databases including PubMed, ISI, and Scopus for the related epidemiologic studies that were published up to May 2016. The data provided in these articles was extracted and then analyzed by a random-effects model. Funnel plot was used to check for publication bias. Statistical analyses were carried out by R version 3.2.1 and STATA (version 11.1). After filtering irrelevant articles, 30 studies were selected for meta-analysis. The analyses showed that type 2 diabetes mellitus is positively associated with overall fracture risk (summary RR. 1.05, 95 CI: 1.04, 1.06). The incidence of fractures was higher in men than in women (Phet=0.043). The interpretation of the meta-regression showed that no significant relationship exists between the gender risk factor in diabetic patients and years of study (P=0.280). The results highlight the importance of adopting suitable strategies for prevention of bone fracture in T2DM patients

INVESTIGATION THE ANTI-HYPERLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF SAFFRON PETALS' OF HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT IN RATS

The use of medicinal herbs has been customary in traditional medicine since very long ago and according to the intolerances exhibited by some of the patients for chemical drugs due to the emergence of side effects, the medicinal herbs can be utilized as alternative treatments through adhering to evidence-based medical principles. The current research paper investigates the effects of saffron petal hydroalcoholic extract on the lipid profiles. Thirty Wistar rats were assigned to six groups: a control group and a sham group that received ordinary dietary regime and high cholesterol (2) dietary regime, respectively, and experimental groups one to four that, besides the high cholesterol dietary regime, were also, correspondingly, treated by 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of their body weights saffron petal hydroalcoholic extract per day and 10 mg/kg of the body weight lovastatin per day. Blood samples were collected of the animals after eight weeks to determine their serum lipid profiles. SPSS (version16) was employed to perform the analysis. The serum levels of cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-C were found significantly increased in sham group and experimental group three (high cholesterol dietary regime plus 200 mg/kg of the extract) in contrast to the control group (P<0.001). The significance level was found lower in experimental group 1 (high cholesterol regime plus 50 mg/kg of the extract) (P<0.05, P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively). The serum levels of these three factors and HDL-c were not found significantly different in experimental groups two and four in comparison to the control group. The results are indicative of the favorable effects of saffron petal hydroalcoholic extract, especially in lower dosages, on the regulation and correction of the serum lipid profile

Fracture risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and possible risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have an increased risk of bone fractures. A variable increase in fracture risk has been reported depending on skeletal site, diabetes duration, study design, insulin use, and so on. The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between T2DM with fracture risk and possible risk factors. Methods: Different databases including PubMed, Institute for Scientific Information, and Scopus were searched up to May 2016. All epidemiologic studies on the association between T2DM and fracture risk were included. The relevant data obtained from these papers were analyzed by a random effects model and publication bias was assessed by funnel plot. All analyses were done by R software (version 3.2.1) and STATA (version 11.1). Results: Thirty eligible studies were selected for the meta-analysis. We found a statistically significant positive association between T2DM and hip, vertebral, or foot fractures and no association between T2DM and wrist, proximal humerus, or ankle fractures. Overall, T2DM was associated with an increased risk of any fracture (summary relative risk = 1.05, 95 confidence interval: 1.04, 1.06) and increased with age, duration of diabetes, and insulin therapy. Conclusion: Our findings strongly support an association between T2DM and increased risk of overall fracture. These findings emphasize the need for fracture prevention strategies in patients with diabetes

THE EFFECTS OF TEUCRIUM POLIUM L. ON ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUES IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC IN RATS

Cardiovascular diseases are amongst the most important mortality causes worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary to offer a drug that meanwhile lacking the side effects of the similar chemical medications is capable of reducing the risk factors of such diseases. In the present study, the effect of hydroalcoholic extract taken from the plant Teucrium Polium on the atherosclerotic plaques has been studied herein. In the current research paper, 20 male Wistar rats with mean weights ranging from 150 g to 180 g were randomly divided to four groups: a control group and a sham group that, respectively, received ordinary dietary regimen and high cholesterol (2) nutrition. Experimental groups 1 and 2 that received ordinary dietary regimens plus Teucrium Polium extracts, with dosages equal to 0.85 mg/ml and 1.7 mg/ml, respectively, on a daily basis. After eight weeks of treatment, the rats' aortas were dissected and kept in 10 formalin solution to undergo histological evaluations. The weight results were analyzed in SPSS software by the use of one-way variance analysis (ANOVA). There was not observed any atherogenic lesion in the control group that had received a normal nutrition. In sham group that had received high cholesterol dietary regimen, atheroma plaques were visible. Experimental groups 1&2 that had been treated with extract dosages of 0.85 mg/ml and 1.7 mg/ml, no sign of any atherogenic lesion and plaque formation was observed even with their being fed on a high cholesterol dietary regime. Also, the sham group members' mean weights showed a significant increase in respect to the control group. Experimental group two demonstrated a significant reduction of weight in contrast to the control group. The hydroalcoholic extract of Teucrium Polium was interestingly successful in preventing the atherosclerotic plaques. According to the side effects of the anti-atherosclerotic chemical medications, it seems that the use of traditional medicine and the medicinal herbs can be an appropriate solution to the reduction of cardiovascular diseases

Studying the Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Teucrium polium L. Leaves on Antioxidant Activity and Lipid Profile Alterations

Background: Antioxidants are the most important factors preventing oxidative stress and scavenging free radicals. Nowadays, natural antioxidant compounds are highly important in prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we have investigated the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Teucrium polium L. leaves (HETPL) on enzymes related to antioxidant activity and lipid profile alterations in rats. Materials and Method: Male Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups for 8 weeks: Experimental groups of 1 and 2, which had a normal diet and high cholesterol diet (2) respectively, and experimental groups of 3 and 4, which were treated with high cholesterol diet (2) with HETPL at doses of 85 and 170 mg/kg, respectively. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) of red blood cell (RBC) and lipid profile were measured at the beginning and at the end of the study. Results: The levels of SOD in RBC and plasma MDA in the experimental Group 2 had a significant increase compared to the experimental Group 1 (P < 0.001). The level of these two enzymes in the experimental groups of 3 and 4 was significantly lower than the experimental Group 2 (SOD by P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 and MDA by P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). The mean serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level in experimental Groups 1 and 4 at the end of study had no significant alteration compared to the beginning of the study, but in the experimental groups of 2 and 3, a significant decrease was observed at the end of the study than the beginning of the study (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Mean serum levels of triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in experimental Groups 2 (LDL-c and cholesterol: P < 0.001 and TG: P < 0.01) and 3 (P < 0.01) significantly increased compared to the beginning of the study. Conclusion: We conclude that T. polium can play an important role in preventing cardiovascular diseases caused by oxidative stress through its antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities

Investigating the Effect of Saffron Petal Extract on Antioxidant Activity and Inflammatory Markers in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Introduction: High-cholesterol diet is one of the major causes of cardiovascular disease leading to the death of millions of people annually. One of the ways to prevent this risk is the use of chemical drugs, but herbal compounds at controlled levels have less adverse effects than chemical compounds. In the present study, we investigated the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of a saffron petal on malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes, inflammatory markers and lipid profile and compared it with lovastatin in hypercholesterolemic rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 equal groups (n = 5). Group 1 (sham) received a normal diet and Group 2 (control) received only a high-cholesterol diet (2). Group 3 to 6 were treated with a high-cholesterol diet (2) in the first 4 weeks and 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg of saffron petal extract and 10 mg/kg of lovastatin, respectively, in the second 4 weeks. At the end of the study, the level of activity of antioxidant enzymes and the level of lipid profile and inflammatory markers were measured. Results: The mean plasma MDA level, SOD enzyme activity of red blood cell, lipid profile and inflammatory markers were significantly increased in the control group (high-cholesterol diet) compared to the sham group (P <0.001). However, these cases in the other groups treated with hydroalcoholic extract of the saffron petal (groups 3, 4 and 5) and lovastatin drug (group 6) showed a significant decrease (minimum significant difference, P <0.05), despite receiving high-cholesterol diet (p<0.05) compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that a non-toxic dose o f saffron petal extract has an effective role in preventing cardiovascular diseases by reducing the risk factors associated with these diseases

Surveying Antioxidant Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Matricaria chamomilla L. and Comparing it to Lovastatin in Rat

Background: One of the most known reasons of the majority of diseases is oxidative stress, created by free radicals, and the most important defensive factors against these free radicals are antioxidants that can be naturally found in most herbs; hence, we studied antioxidant activity of Matricaria chamomilla L. hydroalcoholic extract (MCHAE) and compared it to lovastatin in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: In this research, 30 Wistar rats (165 +/- 15 g) were used that were randomly put in the control group (common diet), sham group (high cholesterol diet 2%), experimental Groups of 1 and 2 (high cholesterol diet 2%) and arrangement with 0.55 and 1.1 mg/ml doses of M. chamomilla L. extract), and experimental Group 3 (high cholesterol diet 2% and 10 mg/kg lovastatin). At the beginning and end of the study, blood sampling was performed on the rats, and plasma serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and red blood cell (RBC) superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations were measured. The results were analyzed by SPSS 16 software and P < 0.05 was considered as the limit of statistical inference. Results: The amount of SOD in RBC and plasma MDA in control group did not show a significant difference. In addition, the levels of these two enzymes in experimental Groups of 1 and 3 that, respectively, received 0.55 mg/ml MCHAE and 10 mg/kg lovastatin drug did not show a significant difference at the beginning and end of the study and were in normal level, "in spite of receiving high cholesterol (2%) diet. But 1.1 mg/ml dose of hydroalcoholic extract of Matricaria chamomilla L. that experimental group 2 was treated by it, could not prevent increase of Superoxide Dismutase in Red Blood Cell and Malondialdehyde in plasma at the end of the study compared to its beginning. Conclusion: The results of this research indicate that M. chamomilla L. has good antioxidant activity and can contrive making natural antioxidant compounds to prevent diseases caused by oxidative stress

A NOVEL STRATEGY FOR CORRECTION OF LIPID PROFILES VIA MATRICARIA CHAMOMILLA L

Statins which are most useful in reducing blood fat have a chemical combination and present various side effects. Identifying some plants with positive effects on reducing blood fat can be a great alternative to these chemical drugs. The current study has been carried out to compare the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Matricaria chamomilla on the serum lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats. Twenty-five male Wistar Rats, ranging in weight from 150 to 180 grams, were assigned to five groups: the control group received an ordinary dietary regimen, the sham group was fed on a high cholesterol (2) dietary regimen, experimental groups 1, 2 and 3 were given an ordinary nutrition plus chamomilla extract and Lovastatin dosages equal to 0.55 mg/ml, 1.1 mg/ml and 10 mg/kg were also, respectively, administered. Blood samples were taken on the first and the last days of the study period. To determine the blood's lipid profile and the serum cholesterol concentration, LDL-c, HDL-c and TG were measured and the results obtained for the groups were compared. The data were analyzed in SPSS 16 software. The results of the current research paper indicated that the treatment with 1.1 mg/ml chamomile hydroalcoholic extract and 10 mg/kg lovastatin significantly reduced (P<0.001) the total serum cholesterol concentration, LDL-c and TG in experimental hypercholesterolemic groups 2 and 3 as compared to the Sham Group. Also, it was found causing a significant increase in serum HDL-c in experimental hypercholesterolemic groups 2 and 3 in contrast to the Sham Group (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively). The mean weight scores of the Sham group and experimental group 1 were demonstrative of a significant increase in respect to control group (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). The present study showed that the use of chamomile extract in hypercholesterolemic rats can bring about clearly discernible hypocholesterolemic effects and cause considerable and desirable effects on the serum lipid profile