Proxisome prolifrator-activated receptors alpha and delta in diabetic cardiomyopathy

Peraxisome prolifrator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a group of nuclear receptors comprising three isoforms termed alpha, beta/delta and gamma. PPARs can modulate metabolic processes especially fatty acid (FA) metabolisms via exerting transcriptional control on activating genes involved in fuel utilization. Thus, they can exert positive role in controlling chronic diseases such as diabetes. As development of diabetes leads to functional and structural alterations at the myocardium termed diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), metabolic controller seems to be able to affect on cardiomyocytes. Herein, the role of PPARα, and PPARδ, is emerged and compared. This minireview discusses about these receptors in diabetes

Review Paper: Polyphenolic Antioxidants and Neuronal Regeneration

Many studies indicate that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative stress can induce neuronal damages, modulate intracellular signaling and ultimately leads to neuronal death by apoptosis or necrosis. To review antioxidants preventive effects on oxidative stress and neurodegenerative diseases we accumulated data from international medical journals and academic informations' sites. According to many studies, antioxidants could reduce toxic neuronal damages and many studies confirmed the efficacy of polyphenol antioxidants in fruits and vegetables to reduce neuronal death and to diminish oxidative stress. This systematic review showed the antioxidant activities of phytochemicals which play as natural neuroprotectives with low adverse effects against some neurodegenerative diseases as Parkinson or Alzheimer diseases

Evaluation of antidepressant synergic effect of sativus crocus extract and fluoxetine in mice with swimming and tail suspension tests

Introdution:. Over the past several years, therapeutic properties of saffron extract have been proven. Because of antioxidant components of this herb, it has been candidate for some disorders as depression, considering that the effects of saffron on depression and anxiety syndromes are few, the present study aimed to investigate these aspects. Methods: This was an experimental study that 36 Swiss Webster male mice with 25 to 30 g weight were randomly divided into 6 groups, including first group (normal saline), second group, Fluoxetine (10mg/kg). third group (extract50,50mg/kg), fourth group (extract 100,5mg/kg), fivth group (extract50,2.5 mg/ml and fluoxetine 5mg/kg), sixth group (extract 100,5mg/kg and fluoxetine 5mg/kg). All injections were done intraperitoneally as single dose a day, for 21 days. After the treatment period, swimming and tail suspension tests have been done for depression assay and Plus Maze test as model of anxiety test.Finally for data analysis ,one way ANOVA statistical analysis were used by SPSS, 21 software Results: The extract has shown anti-depressant effect, which was in parallel with fluoxetine, almost as a dose dependent manner, but not in synergic with fluoxetine and the DATA of Plus Maze test for anxiety test, were not significant. Conclusion: According to our findings, Crocus sativus, hydroalcoholic extract has anti-depressive which has not synergistic effect with Fluoxetine so that its' anti-depressant mechanism is less related to anti-anxiety mechanism of flouxetine &nbsp

Utilization of curcumine and nanocurcumine compounds in cancer therapy

Curcumin is a polyphenol extracted from the Curcuma plant. Curcumin has been used widely in ayurvedic medicine for centuries; it has a variety of biological properties including anti-oxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic activity. Curcumin has shown anti-cancer activities through variety of biological pathways engaged in mutagenesis, oncogene expression, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, tumorigenesis and metastasis. Curcumin has proved anti-proliferative effect in many cancers, and is an inhibitor of the transcription factor NF-κB and downstream gene products (including c-myc, Bcl-2, COX-2, NOS, Cyclin D1, TNF-α, interleukins and MMP-9). Furthermore, curcumin affects a variety of growth factor receptors and cell adhesion molecules involved in tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. However, a limiting factor is its extremely low bioavailability which hinders its use as therapeutic agent. Therefore, many technologies have been developed to overcome this limitation. We summarize to develop curcumin delivery aims and increase solubility for improving curcumin bioavailability and anticancer potential for therapy. &nbsp

Evaluation of Relationship between Single-nucleotide Polymorphism in TNF-gene Promoter and Susceptibility to Atherosclerosis in Fatemeh Zahra Hospital

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a cytokine of proinflmmatory that elicits a polyvalent initial response of inflammatory cells in coronary atherosclerosis. Polymorphism and susceptibility to atherosclerosis may be related to the TNF-α gene promoter. The aim of this study was to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms of the TNF-α gene promoter at two sites in patients with atherosclerosis referred to the Fatemeh al-Zahra Hospital, Sari City. Methods: This study was a case control study which involved 120 patients (>50% stenosis) and 120 healthy individuals (<10% stenosis). Genomic DNA was extracted with the phenol-chloroform method from white blood cells. Genotypes and TNF-α gene polymorphisms were analyzed using RFLP-PCR. Genotype frequency analysis, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test, and chi-square analysis have been conducted using SPSS software, version 22. Results: Genotype frequencies of GA, GG, and AA at position –308 of the TNF-α gene promoter in patients were 12.5%, 75%, and 12.5%, respectively. The respective values in healthy subjects were 7.5%, 21.7%, and 70.8%. Allele A to G polymorphism increased the risk of disease by 12.716%. The genotype frequencies of the AC, CC, and AA at position –863 of the TNF-α gene promoter in patients were 3.3%, 69.2%, and 27.5%, respectively. The respective values in healthy individuals were 2.5%, 11.7%, and 85.8%. Allele A to C polymorphism increased the risk of the disease by 16.373%. The difference in the risk of atherosclerosis was significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Mutations in TNF-α gene promoter could increase susceptibility to atherosclerosis. Determination of the genotypes of the individuals in these regions can help identify patients at risk for this disease

Anti-mitogenic and apoptotic effects of 5-HT1B receptor antagonist on HT29 colorectal cancer cell line

Purpose: There is lack of evidence about impact of 5-HT receptors on colorectal cancers. The current study was designed to investigate the role of serotonin and its receptors in colorectal cancer cell line and tissues. Methods: In cell cultures, we investigated the effects of 5-HT and 5-HT agonists and antagonists on proliferation of HT29 cells. We also tested apoptosis for the receptor antagonists. The expression of 5-HT1 receptor subtypes was examined by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Results: Our data indicated that 5-HT receptor was fully expressed in HT29 cell line and tumor tissues. MTT proliferation assay also revealed that serotonin and CP93129 dihydrochloride, a selective 5-HT receptor agonist, stimulated growth of HT29 cells. Further, SB224289 hydrochloride (that is a selective 5-HT receptor antagonist) had anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects on HT29 cells. Conclusions: The findings of this study provide evidence for the potential role of 5-HT receptor in colorectal cancer. Further investigation is required to explore the effect of receptor antagonists on the prevention, prognosis and treatment of patients with colorectal cancer

Evaluation of anti-diabetic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of green tea and cinnamon on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Today diabetes is one of the most common diseases in the world that affects half of the world population. The use of medicinal herbs especially green tea and cinnamon has been taken into consideration for relieving the symptoms of diabetes, but there were some different ideas about their effectiveness. So, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of cinnamon and green tea extract, individually and in combination, on blood glucose and weight loss in diabetic mice with Streptozotocin (STZ). The experiment was performed on 50 Wistar rats.&nbsp; A total of 50 rats were divided into 10 groups of 5 and STZ was injected at the dose of 40 mg/kg/day for 5 days intraperitoneally. After diabetes induction, three groups received, 50, 100 and 200 mg doses of green tea extract, &nbsp;three groups received 50, 100 and 200 mg doses of cinnamon extract&nbsp; and three final groups received 50, 100 and 200 mg doses of&nbsp; cinnamon&nbsp; and green tea in combination by gavages daily for 6 weeks. After each period of treatments, blood glucose and the weight of animals were determined. At the end of the sixth week, blood glucose and weight loss were improved in diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner and the dose of 200 mg/kg extract cinnamon with green tea had the most appropriate synergic effect

The protective effect of curcumin against lithium-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Lithium is an element which has been used as salts of chloride or carbonate for many years in the treatment of some psychological disorders such as mania, bipolar or schizophrenic diseases. Chronic application of lithium may induce some serious nephropathies such as natriuresis, renal tubular acidosis, tubulointerstitial nephritis progression to progressive chronic kidney disease and hypercalcemia and, most commonly, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Curcumin is an antioxidant derived from Curcuma longa (turmeric or curcuma) which has the ability to react directly with reactive species and up-regulation of many cytoprotective and antioxidant proteins. The preventive roles of curcumin in nephropathies were reported, but there was little information on the protective effect of curcumin against lithium-induced nephrotoxicity. In this study, male Wistar rats divided into five groups of six each and were treated as follows: group1; animals were received lithium chloride as 2 mmol/kg, group 2; animals were received normal saline (0, 5%), group 3; animals were received curcumin (200 mg/kg), group 4 animals were received curcumin plus lithium and group 5; animals were received solvent intraperitoneally for three weeks. Then the animals were killed and biochemical parameters of blood were assayed and histopathological assessment was performed. The results have shown that curcumin significantly improved the biochemicals (BUN, creatinine, malondialdehyde). Curcumin prevented significantly the histological parameters that were changed by lithium administration in rats. Our results provide new insights into beneficial usages of curcumin in chronic nephrotoxicity induced by lithium salts

Association between rs2119882 (MT1A) Melatonin Receptor Polymorphism and Childhood Leukemia Using RFlP-PCR Method

Background and purpose: Melatonin is a well-known neuroendocrine reproductive hormone-based hormone that has an important role in the circadian clock system and has potent antioxidant properties. New studies have also suggested an antitumor role for melatonin. The role of melatonin receptors is proven in many cancers, including colon and breast cancers, but so far, no study has been performed in children with leukemia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate MT1A receptor polymorphism in children with leukemia using RELP-PCR. Materials and methods: In this case-control study, 84 patients and 70 healthy individuals were included. After informed consent had been obtained, 10 ml of peripheral blood were taken from the participants. Genomic DNA was extracted using salting-out method and PCR-RFLP was used to evaluate the frequency of allelic and genotypic polymorphisms. Results: The genotypes of MT1 gene rs2119882 polymorphism in control group included 40% TT genotype, 50% TC genotype, and 10% CC genotype. In patients, 40% had TT genotype, 35% had TC genotype, and 25% had CC genotype. Chi-square test showed a significant difference in genotypes between the groups studied (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study confirmed the association between MT1 gene rs2119882 polymorphism and increased risk of childhood leukemia, Therefore, screening for melatonin receptor polymorphism can be helpful in prognosis and prevention of disease and appropriate treatment strategies in this cancer