Short communication: Occurrence of Ophidonais serpentina in Potamon persicum from Jajrood River, Iran

Crustaceans are ecologically important, because of their effective role in food web and community structure of ecosystems. Taxonomic identity of fresh water crabs has been studied in Iran representing Potamidae family as dominant fluvial crabs. In 2001 Khatami recorded an unknown oligochaete in the mantle cavity of fresh water crab Potamon persicum. The present study further separated and identified an oligochaete from Potamon persicum in Jajrood River, east of Tehran, Iran. Two hundred and fifteen specimens of Potamon persicum were collected using a trap during four seasons from Jajrood River (51° 41´ to 51° 48´N and 35° 37´ to 35° 47´E) during March to August 2004. The specimens were taken to the research laboratory, dissected after biometry and the mantle and branchial cavities were examined for the existence of oligochaetes

Noscapine suppresses angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors-induced cough

Background: Dry cough is a common side-effect of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and is a major limiting factor of their use. It has been suggested that ACEI cause this side-effect by potentiation of the bradykinin effect. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that noscapine, an antitussive drug, inhibits the effect of bradykinin. Methods: To investigate the effect of noscapine on ACEI-induced cough, 611 hypertensive patients who were being treated with ACEI were evaluated for the incidence of persistent dry cough. Results: A cough had developed in 65 (10.6) patients, two (3.1) of whom also had severe respiratory distress that required hospitalisation and immediate discontinuation of the ACEI. Forty-two (64.6) patients had developed a mild cough and 21 (32.3) patients had developed a moderate to severe cough. The patients with moderate to severe cough received 15 mg of noscapine, orally three times daily, while they continued ACEI. Noscapine effectively resolved the cough in 19 (90) patients within 4-9 days of starting treatment. Conclusion: Noscapine, possibly by inhibition of bradykinin synthesis, eliminates ACEI-induced cough in the majority of patients and allows them to continue with ACEI therapy. © 2005 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology

Spatial distribution and assemblage structure of macrobenthos in a tidal creek in relation to industrial activities

The impact of petrochemical special economic zone activities on the health status of Jafari Creek was studied by assessing the changes in macroinvertebrate assemblages in nine sites during September 2006- January 2008. The relationship between spatial pattern of macroinvertebrate assemblages and ambient factors (i.e. water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, sediment grain size distribution, sediment organic content, heavy metals contents) was measured. Background enrichment indices, contamination factor and contamination degree, were used to assess the health status in the study area based on nickel, lead, cadmium and mercury contents of the sediments. The macrobenthic communities had a low diversity and were dominated by opportunistic taxa. The BIO-ENV analysis identified salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH and silt/clay content of sediments as the major environmental variables influencing the infaunal pattern. This suggests that management should attempt to ensure minimal disturbance to environmental variables underlying the spatial variation in macroinvertebrate assemblages. Background enrichment indices showed that the health of Jafari Creek has declined over time due to the constant discharge of heavy metals to the Creek system. These indices also identified a significant degree of pollution in the study area. The decrease in the ecological potential of Jafari Creek was best highlighted by the alteration in macrobenthic assemblages

Simvastatin ameliorates gentamicin-induced renal injury in rats.

Gentamicin nephrotoxicity is one of the most common causes of acute renal failure. Simvastatin is one of the antioxidative drugs, which has anti-inflammatory and anabolic effects and modulates the immune system. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of simvastatin on ameliorating the gentamicin-induced renal injury in 87 Sprague-Dawley rats, which were allocated randomly to 11 study groups: (A) and (B) groups with only gentamicin in 2 dosages; (C), (D), and (E) gentamicin 50 mg/kg/day and simvastatin with different dosage; (F), (G), and (H) gentamicin 80 mg/kg/day and simvastatin with different dosage; (I) only simvastatin; (J) Injected normal saline; (K) control (no gentamicin and no simvastatin) group. Our study intervention period for injection of drugs was 12 days. Serum creatinine level and clearance were measured in all groups. At the end of the study, the rats were killed and both kidneys were removed and processed for histopathologic examination using the standard methods. The 50 mg/kg/day dose was utilized because it induces a mild form of renal toxicity, whereas the 80 mg/kg/day dose cause a more severe degree of renal injury. Morphologic examination of specimens from all rats was qualitatively assessed with blindness to treatment groups and proximal tubular profiles that were presented in each file were counted. The results demonstrated amelioration of gentamicin-induced renal toxicity in rats by simvastatin due to its antioxidant drug dose-related effect