Early maladaptive schemas and asthma: disconnection and rejection domains may have an effect on the severity of asthma

Introduction: Early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) that are being shaped through the early period of development of humans have been reported to affect the functions of asthmatic patients. This study focuses on the probable relationship between the personality schemas and areas with severity of asthma. Material and methods: Fifty asthmatic patients were entered this descriptive cross-sectional study in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences from March to August, 2016. We measured the personality schema of patients by using the Young Schema Questionnaire — Short Form (YSQ-SF; Young, 1994). On the other hand, patients’ clinical findings and severity of asthma were assessed by spirometry and the Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire. Results: Uncontrolled (ACT score < 20) and controlled (ACT score ≥ 20) asthma had significant defect in ‘Disconnection domain’ (p = 0.001). Also, significant reverse linear correlation was found between FEV1 and ‘Disconnection domain’, ‘Rejection’ schema area (r = –0.29, p = 0.03), and ‘Over vigilance domain’ (r = –0,36, p = 0.01). Whereas, significant reverse linear correlation was revealed between FEV1/FVC and Over vigilance domain (r = –0.41, p = 0.003). Conclusion: EMSs possibly have potential effects on clinical characteristics and severity of asthma in asthmatic patients

Evaluation of antimalarial, free-radical-scavenging and insecticidal activities of Artemisia scoparia and A. Spicigera, Asteraceae

Artemisia species (Asteraceae), widespread throughout the world, are a group of important medicinal plants. The extracts of two medicinal plants of this genus, Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kit. and A. spicigera C. Koch, were evaluated for potential antimalarial, free-radical-scavenging and insecticidal properties, using the heme biocrystallisation and inhibition assay, the DPPH assay and the contact toxicity bioassay using the pest Tribolium castaneum, respectively. The methanol extracts of both species showed strong free-radical-scavenging activity and the RC50 values were 0.0317 and 0.0458 mg/mL, respectively, for A. scoparia and A. spicigera. The dichloromethane extracts of both species displayed a moderate level of potential antimalarial activity providing IC50 at 0.778 and 0.999 mg/mL for A. scoparia and A. spicigera, respectively. Both species of Artemisia showed insecticidal properties. However, A. spicigera was more effective than A. scoparia

Melilotoside Derivatives from Artemisia splendens (Asteraceae)

A combination of solid-phase-extraction (SPE) and reversed-phase preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC) of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia splendens (common name: “Asia Minor Wormwood”), an endemic Iranian species, afforded Z- and E-melilotosides (1 and 2), Z- and E-4-methoxy-melilotosides (3 and 4), and a new dimer, bis-ortho-Z-melilotoside (5, named: splendenoside). Whilst the structures of these compounds (1-5) were elucidated unequivocally by spectroscopic means, the in vitro free-radical-scavenging property of 1-5 was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. This is the first report on the occurrence of any melilotoside derivatives in the genus Artemisia

Fatty Acid Profile of Roots and Aerial Parts of Ruscus hyrcanus Woronow

Background: Ruscus specie are used as traditional medicine, food, and foliage. The aim of this work is the determination of fatty acid composition of Ruscus hyrcanus as a native medicinal plant of Iran for the first time together with comparison of different esterification methods. Methods: Two different esterification methods were used for preparation of esterified fatty acids from different extracts of underground and aerial parts of the herb. GC/MS analysis were used for identification and quantification of fatty acids. Finally, the results were compared. Results: Findings showed that R. hyrcanus is rich in essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid (13-25%) and linolenic acid (23-44%). Also, oil samples contain remarkable amount of palmitic acid (19-57%). Conclusion: The results showed that R. hyrcanus could be considered as a source of essential fatty acids. Also, it could be concluded that a simple esterification method with methanolic KOH and 2 min vortex is suitable for fatty acid analysis of Ruscus species

Facile and Accelerated Method for Detection of Adulteration in Commercially Available Lime Juice Products in Iranian Marke

Background: The present study was aimed to introduce a rapid, simple and cost-effective method to detect adulterated lime juice products commercially available in the Iranian market. Methods: Twelve different brands of marketed lime juice products were randomly purchased from the local stores in Tabriz, Iran. Fresh lime juice, as a control, was prepared by squeezing lime fruits using a plain hand juicer. Ehrlich’s reagent was used for a colorimetric analysis; solid phase extraction-thin layer chromatography (SPE-TLC) technique was utilized for fingerprinting of methanol/water fractions of samples on the silica gel plates at two wavelengths of 366 and 254 nm, before and after spraying aluminum chloride reagent; and attenuated total reflectance-infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) was used for further studies. Results: The obtained results from colorimetric analysis indicated appearance of orange-brown color indicating presence of limonoids in fresh lime juice and only five commercially available products. Regarding SPE-TLC fingerprinting, except for five products with identical or comparable TLC patterns to the fresh lime juice, other samples represented completely different TLC patterns, suggesting the presence of adulterants in these products. Therefore, the developed colorimetric and SPE-TLC techniques revealed some extents of adulteration in half of the studied products (58.3%). However, in the case of ATR-IR analysis, the obtained spectra were not illustrating enough to be applied for the detection of adulterated samples. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the described colorimetric method in combination with the developed SPE-TLC technique could be utilized for the preliminary screening of adulterated lime juice products

Melilotoside derivatives from Artemisia splendens (Asteraceae)

All rights reserved.A combination of solid-phase-extraction (SPE) and reversed-phase preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC) of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia splendens (common name: “Asia Minor Wormwood”), an endemic Iranian species, afforded Z- and E-melilotosides (1 and 2), Z- and E-4-methoxy-melilotosides (3 and 4), and a new dimer, bis-ortho-Z-melilotoside (5, named: splendenoside). Whilst the structures of these compounds (1-5) were elucidated unequivocally by spectroscopic means, the in vitro free-radical-scavenging property of 1-5 was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. This is the first report on the occurrence of any melilotoside derivatives in the genus Artemisia. © 2016 ACG Publications

Wczesne nieadaptacyjne schematy a astma. Domeny rozłączenia i odrzucenia mogą mieć wpływ na ciężkość astmy

WSTĘP: Wczesne nieadaptacyjne schematy (EMSs, early maladaptive schemas), kształtujące się we wczesnym okresie rozwoju człowieka mogą mieć wpływ na funkcjonowanie chorego na astmę. Prezentowane badanie dotyczy prawdopodobnego związku pomiędzy schematami i obszarami osobowości a ciężkością astmy. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Do niniejszego opisowego przekrojowego badania prowadzonego na Uniwersytecie Medycznym w Tabriz włączono w okresie od marca do sierpnia 2016 roku pięćdziesięciu chorych na astmę. Autorzy niniejszej pracy zbadali schematy osobowości za pomocą kwestionariusza Younga (YSQ-SF, Young Schema Questionnaire — Short Form, Young, 1994). Ocenę kliniczną i ocenę ciężkości astmy przeprowadzono za pomocą badania spirometrycznego i testu kontroli astmy (ACT, Asthma Control Test). WYNIKI: U chorych na astmę niekontrolowaną (ACT &lt; 20 punktów) i kontrolowaną (ACT ≥ 20 punktów) stwierdzono istotne upośledzenie w obszarze rozłączenia (Disconnection domain; p = 0,001). Stwierdzono również odwrotną korelację liniową pomiędzy wartością FEV1 i obszarem rozłączenia i odrzucenia (rejection schema; r = –0,29, p = 0,03) i obszarem nadmiernej czujności (over vigilance domain; r = –0,36, p = 0,01). Ponadto ujawniono ujemną korelację liniową pomiędzy wartością FEV1/FVC a obszarem nadmiernej czujności (r= –0,41, p = 0,003). WNIOSKI: Wczesne nieadaptacyjne schematy mogą wywierać wpływ na parametry kliniczne i ciężkość astmy.WSTĘP: Wczesne nieadaptacyjne schematy (EMSs, early maladaptive schemas), kształtujące się we wczesnym okresie rozwoju człowieka mogą mieć wpływ na funkcjonowanie chorego na astmę. Prezentowane badanie dotyczy prawdopodobnego związku pomiędzy schematami i obszarami osobowości a ciężkością astmy. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Do niniejszego opisowego przekrojowego badania prowadzonego na Uniwersytecie Medycznym w Tabriz włączono w okresie od marca do sierpnia 2016 roku pięćdziesięciu chorych na astmę. Autorzy niniejszej pracy zbadali schematy osobowości za pomocą kwestionariusza Younga (YSQ-SF, Young Schema Questionnaire — Short Form, Young, 1994). Ocenę kliniczną i ocenę ciężkości astmy przeprowadzono za pomocą badania spirometrycznego i testu kontroli astmy (ACT, Asthma Control Test). WYNIKI: U chorych na astmę niekontrolowaną (ACT < 20 punktów) i kontrolowaną (ACT ≥ 20 punktów) stwierdzono istotne upośledzenie w obszarze rozłączenia (Disconnection domain; p = 0,001). Stwierdzono również odwrotną korelację liniową pomiędzy wartością FEV1 i obszarem rozłączenia i odrzucenia (rejection schema; r = –0,29, p = 0,03) i obszarem nadmiernej czujności (over vigilance domain; r = –0,36, p = 0,01). Ponadto ujawniono ujemną korelację liniową pomiędzy wartością FEV1/FVC a obszarem nadmiernej czujności (r= –0,41, p = 0,003). WNIOSKI: Wczesne nieadaptacyjne schematy mogą wywierać wpływ na parametry kliniczne i ciężkość astmy

Formulation and Clinical Evaluation of A Topical Dosage Form of Alkanna orientalis Root Extract for Management of Pressure Lesions: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Clinical Trial

Background: Pressure lesions are chronic wounds causing the development of infection and inflammation into deeper structures and finally necrosis. In Persian medicine, Alkanna orientalis (Boraginaceae) has been used for centuries as a naturally derived remedy for managing lesions. A cross-sectional pilot clinical trial was conducted to assess the wound healing effect of an ointment made of chloroform extract of roots of A. orientalis (CERAO). Methods: Sixty patients (36 men and 24 women) diagnosed with bedsore staging 1-2 entered the study for one year. They were divided into two groups of control and treatment with equal proportions. The control group received conventional treatment from the hospital, including irrigation serum, mupirocin, phenytoin ointments, and gauze dressing. After rinsing and cleansing with normal saline, in the intervention group, patients received a thin layer of CERAO once daily for four weeks. Clinical outcomes were measured at weeks 2 and 4. Results: Recovery assessment was carried out by measuring wound area, days of epithelia formation, and complete wound closure. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P-value <0.05) in terms of the mentioned criteria. The recovery percentage was 26.7% and 60% for the control and treatment groups, respectively. In the control group, 16.7% of the study population experienced the development of wounds, while in the intervention group, wound progression was not observed. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study indicated that the clinical efficacy of CERAO could be promising and a replacement for conventional treatment of pressure ulcers

Electrosprayed Nanoparticles Containing Hydroalcoholic Extract of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench Stimulates Immune System by Increasing Inflammatory Factors in Male Wistar Rats

Purpose: Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is a member of the Asteraceae family and is traditionally used mainly due to its immunostimulatory properties. Various compounds including alkylamides and chicoric acid were reported as active ingredients of E. purpurea. Here, we aimed to prepare electrosprayed nanoparticles (NPs) containing hydroalcoholic extract of E. purpurea using Eudragit RS100 (EP-Eudragit RS100 NPs) to improve the immunomodulatory effects of the extract. Methods: The EP-Eudragit RS100 NPs with the different extract:polymer ratios and solution concentrations were prepared using the electrospray technique. The size and morphology of the NPs were evaluated using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). To evaluate the immune responses, male Wistar rats were administrated with the prepared EP-Eudragit RS100 NPs and plain extract in the final dose of 30 or 100 mg/kg. The blood samples of the animals were collected and the inflammatory factors and complete blood count (CBC) were investigated. Results: In vivo studies indicated that the plain extract and EP-Eudragit RS100 NPs (100 mg/kg) significantly increased the serum level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1-β (IL1-β) whereas the EP-Eudragit RS100 NPs (30 mg/kg) significantly increased the number of white blood cells (WBCs) compared to the control group. Lymphocytes’ count in all groups was increased significantly compared to the control group (P<0.05) whereas other CBC parameters remained unchanged. Conclusion: The prepared EP-Eudragit RS100 NPs by electrospray technique caused significant reinforcement in the immunostimulatory effects of the extract of E. purpurea