Protective effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Nasturtium Officinalis Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Damage in Rats

Abstract: Background and aim: Leaves and flowers of Nasturtium officinalis L. contain flavonoid compounds. This plant has several characteristics, such as anticancer properties, blood suger insucer and blood lipids. In the present study, the protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of grasses in liver toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride in Wistar rats was investigated. &nbsp; Methods: In this research, 32 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four equal groups of&nbsp; control (received olive Oil), positive control (received olive Oil + CCl4), and four groups as treatment 1 and 2 received olive oil intraperitoneal administration and 250, 500mg/kg body weight hydroalcoholic extract Nastartium officinals respectively. Animals were treated orally by gavage daily for 32 days. At the end of experiment, serum levels of aspartate and alanine transferase, alkaline phosphatase and total proteins were assessed. The Data was analyzed with using of one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's HSD tests using SPSS 21. &nbsp; Results: The mean of ALT, AST, ALP reduced and total protein increased significantly in the in the fourth group compared to the second group (P<0.05). Histological investigation demonstrated that necrosis and inflammation of liver reduced following carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity. &nbsp; Conclusion: Hydroalcoholic extract of Nasturtium officinal's can protect liver cells against toxic oxidative damage caused by carbon tetrachloride. &nbsp; &nbsp

Asymmetric membranes: A potential scaffold for wound healing applications

10.3390/sym12071100Symmetry127110

Teaching Cardiac Arrhythmias Using Educational Videos and Simulator Software in Nurses: An Educational Interventional Study

Background: Cardiac arrhythmias are among the most prominent causes of mortality in patients with heart diseases. By timely diagnosis of arrhythmias, nurses can provide necessary therapeutic measures to these patients. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of teaching cardiac arrhythmias using educational videos and simulator software in nurses. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 22 novice nurses were selected based on the census method. Evaluations were performed before and after educational interventions for cardiac arrhythmia. The interventions included using simulator software and face-to-face education. A questionnaire with 20 questions regarding cardiac arrhythmias organized in 4 parts of sinus arrhythmias, atrial arrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias, and blocks and junctional rhythm, and each with 5 questions was used to collect data. Each question was scored 1 point, and the final score ranged from 0 to 20. The scores were categorized into poor (< 10), moderate (11-15), and good (16-20) levels. Data were analyzed using SPSS V.20 software. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean of total score regarding the diagnosis of arrhythmias before (9.9) and after (15.68) the education (P value = 0.022). This indicated an increase of about 6 scores at post-intervention. The classification of the scores showed that 9 (40.9) and 13 (59.1) nurses had poor and moderate diagnostic abilities before training. However, following education, 10 nurses (50) acquired moderate and 10 (50) nurses obtained good scores. Conclusions: Arrhythmia scores varied before and after training, with the mean scores after training increased, and arrhythmia detection rate was increased after the intervention. It is advisable to use modern educational methods as good alternatives for reviewing educational content and concepts. © 2020, Author(s)

3D nanostructures for tissue engineering, cancer therapy, and gene delivery

10.1155/2020/1852946Journal of Nanomaterials2020185294

A successful implementation of an idea to a nationally approved plan: Analyzing Iran's national health roadmap using the kingdon model of policymaking

Introduction: Hospital beds, human resources, and medical equipment are the costliest elements in the health system and play an essential role at the time of treatment. In this paper, different phases of the NEDA 2026 project and its methodological approach were presented and its formulation process was analysed using the Kingdon model of policymaking. Methods: Iran Health Roadmap (NEDA 2026) project started in March 2016 and ended in March 2017. The main components of this project were hospital beds, clinical human resources, specialist personnel, capital medical equipment, laboratory facilities, emergency services, and service delivery model. Kingdon model of policymaking was used to evaluate NEDA 2026 development and implementation. In this study, all activities to accomplish each step in the Kingdon model was described. Results: The followings were done to accomplish the goals of each step: collecting experts' viewpoint (problem identification and definition), systematic review of the literature, analysis of previous experiences, stakeholder analysis, economic analysis, and feasibility study (solution appropriateness analysis), three-round Delphi survey (policy survey and scrutinization), and intersectoral and interasectoral agreement (policy legislation). Conclusion: In the provision of an efficient health service, various components affect each other and the desired outcome, so they need to be considered as parts of an integrated system in developing a roadmap for the health system. Thus, this study demonstrated the cooperation process at different levels of Iran's health system to formulate a roadmap to provide the necessary resources for the health sector for the next 10 years and to ensure its feasibility using the Kingdon policy framework. © Iran University of Medical Sciences