An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants administered for the treatment of hypertension.

INTRODUCTION The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is very high in human societies and their prevention and treatment are the most important priority in many countries. Hypertension makes an important contribution to the development of CVDs. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to collect the ethno-medicinal knowledge of the traditional healers of Shiraz on medicinal plants used in the treatment of hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ethno-medicinal data were collected from September 2012 to July 2013 through direct interview. Twenty-five healers were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and their traditional ethno-medicinal knowledge was recorded. Questionnaires were included apothecary personal information, plant local name, plant parts used, method of preparation, season of harvest and traditional use. Data collected from surveys and interviews were transferred to Microsoft Excel 2007 and analyzed. RESULTS Analysis of data showed that, 27 medicinal plants from 22 families are used for the treatment of hypertension. The families with most antihypertensive species were Apiaceae (8%), Rosaceae (8%) and Papaveraceae (8%). The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (36%) followed by fruits (30%), aerial part (17%) and branches (7%). The most frequently used preparation method was decoction (95%). Borago officinalis (51.85%), Berberis vulgaris (51.58%) had the highest frequency of mention. CONCLUSION The ethno-medicinal survey of medicinal plants recommended by traditional healers for the treatment of hypertension provides new areas of research on the antihypertensive effect of medicinal plants. In the case of safety and effectiveness, they can be refined and processed to produce natural drugs

Comparison of outcome of assisted reproductive methods in patient with polycystic ovaries syndrome and tubal factor

چکیده: زمینه و هدف: تخمدان پلی کیستیک شایع ترین علت در زنان با نازایی به دلیل عدم تخمک گذاری است. شواهدی از ارتباط این اختلال با وجود هورمون های غیر طبیعی در خون وجود دارد. مشخصه های آندوکرینی غیر طبیعی در زنان مبتلا به این سندرم وجود دارد که اثرات آن بر روی تکامل ابتدایی سلول تخم و حاملگی روشن نیست. مطالعه حاضر برای تعیین این اثرات به مقایسه میزان لقاح، کیفیت رویان و میزان حاملگی در زنان با سندرم تخمدان پلی کیستیک و زنان با نازایی لوله پرداخته است. روش بررسی: نوع مطالعه کوهورت آینده نگر است و بر روی 130 زن با سندرم تخمدان پلی کیستیک و 130 زن با نازایی لوله ایی که در مرکز ناباروری اصفهان تحت درمان با تکنیک های کمک باروری قرار گرفته بودند انجام شد. تعداد اووسیت به دست آمده، میزان لقاح (نسبت تعداد اووسیت لقاح یافته به تعداد اووسیت)، تعداد رویان، کیفیت رویان، میزان حاملگی کلینیکی در دو گروه مورد ارزیابی و مقایسه قرار گرفت. یافته ها: نتایج نشان داد میانگین تعداد اووسیت، تعداد رویان و اسکور تجمعی کیفیت رویان در زنان با سندرم تخمدان پلی کیستیک بیش از گروه زنان با نازایی لوله ایی بود (05/0(

Stylistic Comparison between Two Odes from Shiite Poet Ali ibn Isa Al Arbeli and its Resound in the Poem

Stylistic studies are those that possess a high place in linguistics and are regarded as a class of styles that are stable and conservative regarding linguistics and stylistic text analysis. This article aims to have a stylistic survey over two odes from the Shiite poet Ali ibn Isa Al Arbeli. One of the odes is in the eulogy of Al Imam Hasan ibn Ali (peace be on him) and the other in the eulogy of Ala Aldin as one of the great men in Imam's government at his time. The study also aims at examining the scale of similarities and differences in Al Arbeli's style in his divan, particularly in these two odes, and investigating the effects of persuasion on his style. The results showed that persuasion has a great effect on his style, particularly with respect to the use of imagery. This led to a great difference between his style in the eulogy of Ahlulbayt and other personages

Identification of medicinal plants for the treatment of kidney and urinary stones.

INTRODUCTION Kidney stones are the third most common urinary tract problems after urinary tract infections and prostate pathology. Kidney stones may cause extreme pain and blockage of urine flow. They are usually treated with medications that may cause a number of side-effects. Medicinal herbs are used in different cultures as a reliable source of natural remedies. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to determine native medicinal plants used by traditional healers of Shiraz for the treatment of kidney stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS The ethno-medicinal data were collected between July and September 2012 through face-to-face interview with local herbalist. RESULTS A total of 18 species belonging to 19 botanical families were recorded in study area. Species with the highest frequency of mentions were Alhagi maurorum (51.58%), Tribulus terrestris (51.58%), and Nigella sativa (48.14). The most frequently used plant parts were aerial parts (38%), leaf (33%) and fruits (17%). Decoction (68%) was the most frequently prescribed method of preparation. Most of the medicinal plants recommended by Shirazian herbalists have not been investigated in animal and humane models of renal stone which provides a new area of research. CONCLUSION In the case of safety and effectiveness, they can be refined and processed to produce natural drugs

Harnessing the Power of CAR-NK Cells: A Promising Off-the-Shelf Therapeutic Strategy for CD38-Positive Malignancies

Background: CD38 is highly expressed on multiple myeloma (MM) cells and has been successfully targeted by different target therapy methods. This molecule is a critical prognostic marker in both diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Objective: We have designed and generated an anti-CD38 CAR-NK cell applying NK 92 cell line. The approach has potential application as an off-the-shelf strategy for treatment of CD38 positive malignancies.Methods: A second generation of anti-CD38 CAR-NK cell was designed and generated, and their efficacy against CD38-positive cell lines was assessed in vitro. The PE-Annexin V and 7-AAD methods were used to determine the percentage of apoptotic target cells. Flow cytometry was used to measure IFN-γ, Perforin, and Granzyme-B production following intracellular staining. Using in silico analyses, the binding capacity and interaction interface were evaluated.Results: Using Lentivirus, cells were transduced with anti-CD38 construct and were expanded. The expression of anti-CD38 CAR on the surface of NK 92 cells was approximately 25%. As we expected from in silico analysis, our designed CD38-chimeric antigen receptor was bound appropriately to the CD38 protein. NK 92 cells that transduced with the CD38 chimeric antigen receptor, generated significantly more IFN-γ, perforin, and granzyme than Mock cells, and successfully lysed Daudi and Jurkat malignant cells in a CD38-dependent manner.Conclusion: The in vitro findings indicated that the anti-CD38 CAR-NK cells have the potential to be used as an off-the-shelf therapeutic strategy against CD38-positive malignancies. It is recommended that the present engineered NK cells undergo additional preclinical investigations before they can be considered for subsequent clinical trial studies

Genetic Polymorphisms of CCL22 and CCR4 in Patients with Lung Cancer

Background: An association between lung cancer and chemokines has been advocated in the recent years. This study aims at investigating the association between lung cancer and 16C/A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs. 4359426) in C-C motif chemokine 22 (CCL22) as well as C1014T SNP (rs. 2228428) in C-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CCR4), which serves as the receptor for CCL22. Methods: Genotyping was performed in 148 lung cancer patients and 148 normal controls using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction-Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The data were verified by direct automated sequencing. Results: Frequencies of CC, CA and AA genotypes of 16C/A SNP in CCL22 gene were 112 (75.7%), 33 (22.3%) and 3 (2.0%) in patients, and 119 (80.4%), 24 (16.2%) and 5 (3.4%) in controls respectively. No significant differences were observed in genotype frequencies at this position between cases and controls (P=0.34). Moreover, there was no significant association between CCL22 polymorphism and types of lung cancer in patients. The distribution of CC, CT and TT genotypes of C1014T SNP in CCR4 gene, was 76 (51.4%), 60 (40.5%) and 12 (8.1%) in patients, and 80 (54.1%), 49 (33.1%) and 19 (12.8%) in controls respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed in genotypes frequencies of CCR4 gene between patients and controls (P=0.24). The genotype inherited by patients observed not to be associated with the type of lung cancer (P>0.05). Conclusion: Results reveal that CCL22 gene polymorphism at position 16C/A and CCR4 gene polymorphism at position C1014T, appear not to be associated with susceptibility to lung cancer

The effect of dried algae (powdered chlorella) on growth factors and body composition of rotifer Brachionus plicatilis in comparison of fresh algae (Isochrysis galbana and Nannochloropsis oculata)

Various researches have proved that growth and biochemical content of rotifers can be affected by type and concentration of food. Microalgae as a source of food are essential for the rotifer rearing, especially for its growth, survival, protein, lipid and fatty acids contents. The present study was carried out to compare the effects of dried algae (powdered chlorella) (equivalent weight of fresh algae) on growth factor, and proximate body composition of rotifer Brachionus plicatilis in comparison with fresh algae (Isochrysis galbana and Nannochloropsis oculata) at 5×106 cells/mL. Rotifers were cultured in standard conditions in 500 mL plastic containers with initial density of 30 ind/mL. The results showed that the population growth rate of rotifers fed with I. galbana (5×106 cells/mL) was higher than the treatments fed with the chlorella powder and N. oculata (P<0.05).  High specific growth rate was in treatment fed with I. galbana (P<0.05), while the lowest was in rotifers fed with powdered chlorella. The protein and lipid contents were significantly higher in rotifers fed with chlorella powder and I. galbana, respectively. The highest DHA and DHA/EPA were significantly found in treatments fed with I. galbana, while the high amount of EPA was significantly showed in treatment fed with N. oculata. The present study showed that fresh algae can be better to create growth in marine rotifer than chlorella powder

Short-term effects of date palm extract (Phoenix dactylifera) on ischemia/reperfusion injury induced by testicular torsion/detorsion in rats

This find is registered at Portable Antiquities of the Netherlands with number PAN-0002772

Anti-inflammatory effect of Helichrysum oligocephalum DC extract on acetic acid - Induced acute colitis in rats

Background: Helichrysum oligocephalum DC. from Asteraceae family is an endemic plant growing wild in Iran. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of H. oligocephalum hydroalcoholic extract (HOHE) on ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by acetic acid (AA) in rats. Materials and Methods: Rats were grouped (n = 6) and fasted for 24 h before colitis induction. Treatments were started 2 h before the induction of colitis and continued for two consecutive days with different doses of HOHE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) orally (p.o.) and intraperitoneally (i.p.). The colon tissue was removed and tissue damages were scored after macroscopic and histopathologic assessments. Results: Among the examined doses of HOHE, 100 mg/kg was the most effective dose that reduced the extent of UC lesions and resulted in significant alleviation. Weight/length ratio as an index of tissue inflammation and extravasation was also diminished in the treatment group administered HOHE at a dose of 100 mg/kg, and the results showed correlation with macroscopic and histopathologic evaluations. These data suggest that HOHE (100 mg/kg) administered either p.o. or i.p. was effective in diminishing inflammation and ulcer indices in this murine model of acute colitis in a non-dose-related manner. Conclusions: H. oligocephalum could be considered as a suitable anticolitis alternative; however, further studies are needed to support this hypothesis for clinical setting

High sensitivity ammonia detection using metal nanoparticles decorated on graphene macroporous frameworks/polyaniline hybrid

In this paper, we presented the fabrication and properties of new ammonia (NH) sensors with sensitive layer of nickel nanoparticles decorated on three-dimensional nitrogen-doped graphene-based frameworks/polyaniline (NiNPs@3D-(N)GFs/PANI) hybrid. The hybrid are synthesized through in-situ oxidative polymerization on flexible thin substrate. Synergetic behavior between both components manifested outstanding sensitivity (750.2 at 1000 ppm NH) and quick response (95 s) and recovery (25 s) times and a lower limit of detection (~ 45 ppb) at room temperature. The sensitivity of NiNPs@3D-(N)GFs/PANI hybrid sensor was shown to be about 14 times more than its of pure PANI sensor at 1000 ppm of NH. The excellent sensitivity of the as-prepared hybrid is mainly originated from the substantial rise of hole-like carriers by NiNPs@3D-(N)GFs as well as improved inter-molecule interactions via π- π electron networks. The obtained results revealed significant advantages for the synthesized hybrid sensor, making it a suitable choice for real-world applications of NH detection