Effects of Common Fig ( Ficus carica

Formaldehyde (FA) is the leading cause of cellular injury and oxidative damage in testis that is one of the main infertility causes. There has been an increasing evidence of herbal remedies use in male infertility treatment. This assay examines the role of Ficus carica (Fc) leaf extracts in sperm parameters and testis of mice intoxicated with FA. Twenty-five adult male mice were randomly divided into control; sham; FA-treated (10 mg/kg twice per day); Fc-treated (200 mg/kg); and FA + Fc-treated groups. Cauda epididymal spermatozoa were analyzed for viability, count, and motility. Testes were weighed and gonadosomatic index (GSI) was calculated. Also, histoarchitecture of seminiferous tubules was assessed in the Haematoxylin and Eosin stained paraffin sections. The findings showed that FA significantly decreased GSI and increased percentage of immotile sperm compared with control group. Disorganized and vacuolated seminiferous epithelium, spermatogenic arrest, and lumen filled with immature germ cells were also observed in the testes. However, Fc leaf extracts improved sperm count, nonprogressive motility of spermatozoa, and GSI in FA-treated testes. Moreover, seminiferous tubule with spermatogenic arrest was rarely seen, indicating that Fc has the positive effects on testis and epididymal sperm parameters exposed with FA

Suitable Concentration of Anti-Inflammatory Herbal Extracts in Cell Culture

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An Experience to develop and deliver Clinical Nutrition educational content for medical students

Background & Objective: The duty of physicians in the new world is to promote health, prevent diseases and deliver primary health care. But in accordance with the Edinburgh Declaration, physicians are not trained to deal with these issues. One of the key areas that has an important role in the health of the population, contains the issues related to life style and particularly nutritional issues. Proper nutrition plays a major role in achieving optimal health outcomes and inpatient health care costs will be reduced. This article describes the experience of the implementation and results of the evaluation of providing a course of clinical nutrition for medical students. Material & Methods: This action research study was conducted using census method, in collaboration with 50 students of Fasa University of Medical Sciences in the academic year 96-1395. In this study, clinical nutrition course was presented along with clinical courses for students. The data were gathered through pretest and posttest questionnaire, in each training session, and EDC questionnaire was applied to evaluate students' satisfaction. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results of the questionnaires. Results: The comparison of students' score after each training session with pre-test scores, showed a significant increase in students' knowledge of clinical nutrition. Most students' satisfaction was related to the presentation (4.37) and the use of resources (4.32), respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated a positive effect of teaching clinical nutrition which can be considered by policymakers to insert this topic in the clinical course for medical students

Effect of Theory of Planned Behavior-based Educational Intervention on Breastfeeding Behavior in Pregnant Women in Fasa City, Iran

Background and Objective: Breastfeeding is a matter of significant importance. Given the role of such factors as attitude and subjective norms on the behavior of mothers and the low level of exclusive breastfeeding, the present study aimed to determine the effect of educational program based on the theory of planned behavior on breastfeeding behavior among the pregnant women in Fasa, Iran. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 pregnant women with the gestational age of 30-35 weeks who referred to the health care centers of Fasa, Iran, in 2017. The study population was selected using random sampling technique, and then assigned into two groups of control (n=50) and intervention (n=50). The data were collected using a demographic form, components of the theory of planned behavior questionnaire, and a breastfeeding checklist. The intervention group received three 55-to-60-minute training sessions. The mothers' breastfeeding behavior was evaluated before the training sessions and 40 days post-delivery in both groups. The data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 22, using Chi-square test, independent t-test, and paired sample t-test. Results: According to the results, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the components of the theory of planned behavior before the educational intervention (P=0.208). However, after the training sessions, the intervention group showed a significant improvement in all components of the theory of planned behavior, including intention and breastfeeding behavior, compared to the control group (P=0.001). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, appropriate training programs, social network support, and suitable conditions for breastfeeding in the community are among the effective factors that can change the mothers’ attitudes towards lactation and result in successful breastfeeding in the first three months after childbirth

Association of IL18 gene polymorphisms (positions -656 G/T, -137 G/C and +105A/C) with Kala-Azar

Background & Objective: Host resistance to Leishmania infection is mediated by cellular immune responses leading to macrophage activation and parasite killing. IL-18 known as interferon-γ inducing factor, stimulate IFN-γ production by T-cells. According to the important role of IL-18 in defense against VL and known effect of IL-18 gene polymorphisms on its production, the aim of this study was to investigate the probable relation between IL-18 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to VL in Iranian patients. Materials & Methods: The study groups included 118 pediatric patients suffered from VL and 156 non-relative healthy persons from the same endemic area as the patients. In both study groups IL-18 gene polymorphisms at positions -656 G/T, -137 G/C and +105A/C (codon 35/3) were analyzed by PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fregment Length Polymorphism). Results: The result showed that the frequency of T allele at position -656 was significantly higher in the controls compared to that in the patients (P=0.047). But in none of the genotypes of IL-18 there was significant difference between patients and controls. In addition, the distribution of ATG haplotype and AGG/ATG haplo-genotype were significantly higher in the controls compared to that in patients with VL (P=0.043and P=0.044, respectively). Furthermore a strong LDs (P<0.001) were detected between the -607, -137 and codon 35/3 SNPs. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study showed that the frequency of T allele at position -656 and ATG haplotype and AGG/ATG haplogenotype (positions +105, -656 and -137) were significantly higher in the controls. To the best of our knowledge no study has been conducted on IL-18 gene polymorphisms and VL in other countries, therefore, we were not able to compare our results with other investigations, so it seems that more researches in this field on other populations will be worthy

<i>In vitro</i> cytotoxicity effects of date palm (<i>Phoenix dactylifera</i> L.) pollen on neonate mouse spermatogonial stem cells

<div><p>There is a fast growing tendency in the use of herbal remedies in developing countries. One of the traditional medicines used for male infertility treatment is date palm (<i>Phoenix dactylifera</i>) pollen (DPP). Isolated spermatogonial stem cells and sertoli cells using enzymatic digestion were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 4% foetal bovine serum in the absence or presence of 0.06, 0.25 and 0.62 mg/mL concentrations of aqueous extract of DPP for 2 weeks. The assessment of mean number of the whole cells and the living cells showed that there were no significant differences between the mean viability percentage and proliferation rate between control and experimental groups (<i>P</i>>0.05). As there are no cytotoxicity effects of DPP in our cultural system, this system can be utilised for the enrichment or differentiation of these cells in clinical applications, cell replacement therapy, tissue regeneration and tissue engineering applications.</p></div

Bilosomes as Nanocarriers for the Drug and Vaccine Delivery against Gastrointestinal Infections: Opportunities and Challenges

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) environment has an intricate and complex nature, limiting drugs’ stability, oral bioavailability, and adsorption. Additionally, due to the drugs’ toxicity and side effects, renders are continuously seeking novel delivery systems. Lipid-based drug delivery vesicles have shown various loading capacities and high stability levels within the GIT. Indeed, most vesicular platforms fail to efficiently deliver drugs toward this route. Notably, the stability of vesicular constructs is different based on the different ingredients added. A low GIT stability of liposomes and niosomes and a low loading capacity of exosomes in drug delivery have been described in the literature. Bilosomes are nonionic, amphiphilic, flexible surfactant vehicles that contain bile salts for the improvement of drug and vaccine delivery. The bilosomes’ stability and plasticity in the GIT facilitate the efficient carriage of drugs (such as antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and antifungal drugs), vaccines, and bioactive compounds to treat infectious agents. Considering the intricate and harsh nature of the GIT, bilosomal formulations of oral substances have a remarkably enhanced delivery efficiency, overcoming these conditions. This review aimed to evaluate the potential of bilosomes as drug delivery platforms for antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic GIT-associated drugs and vaccines

The Effects of Ecologic Condition on Antimicrobial Activity of Endemic Herbal Extracts in Fars Province

Background & Objectives: Ecologic conditions affect production of effective pharmaceutical products. We evaluate the effect of ecologic conditions on antibacterial effects of herbal plants in Fars. Materials & Methods: We collected eight plant species including Trachyspermum copticum, Withania somnifera, Laurus nobilis, Carum carvi, Thymus, Rosemary, Zataria multiflora, and Lavandula in Fasa and Sepidan.. Their antibacterial effects were studied by disk diffusion method, well assay method, and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Ecological and weather conditions were derived from internet. Results: Comparing with standard antibacterial indexes the following results were achieved. Fasa herbs including Trachyspermum copticum, Zataria multiflora, Laurus nobilis, and Rosemary had the most effect on Staphylococcus aureus, while Carum carvi had the least effect. This effect in Sepidan herbs was the most in Trachyspermum copticum, Zataria multiflora, and Rosemary, while Carum carvi had the least effect. Surveying the effects against E.coli among Fasa herbs, Zataria multiflora had the most and Carum carvi and Lavandula had the least effects. On the other hand, among Sepidan herbs, Trachyspermum had the highest and Carum carvi, Lavandula, and Laurus nobilis had the lowest effects on E.coli. Antibacterial effects of Fasa herbs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most in Zataria multiflora and Thymus and the least in Carum carvi. In Sepidan herbs, it was the highest in Zataria multiflora and the lowest in Carum carvi.Conclusion: Considering the differences in antibacterial effects of the herbs in two ecologic conditions, we suggest other researchers to pay attention to the mentioned effects in their studies

The effect of aqueous extract of Phoenix Dactylifera Pollen on In vitro viability and proliferation rate of neonatal mouse spermatogonial stem cells

Introduction: There is a fast growing tendency in the consumption of herbal remedies in the developing countries. One of the traditional medicines used for male infertility is Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) pollen (DPP). The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of DPP on In vitro viability and proliferation rate of neonate mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Methods: cell suspension includes sertoli cells and SSCs were isolated from neonatal 6 day-old mice testes by 2 steps enzymatic digestion. The cell suspension was cultured in DMEM and FCS 4% in the absence or presence of 0.06, 0.25 and 0.62 mg/ml of aqueous extract of DPP for 2 weeks. In order to evaluate the rate of SSCs expansion at the end of culture, the mean number of whole cells and living cells were considered as proliferation and survival rates respectively. Data analysis was done with ANOVA test. The significancy of the data was analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey post test. Results: The results showed that there were no significant differences between the mean percent of viability and proliferation rate between control and 0.06, 0.25 and 0.62 mg/ml of DPP-treated groups (P> 0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed that treatment of neonatal mouse testicular cell suspension with DPP had no toxic effects on viability percent and proliferation rate of these cells. Thus, we can use DPP for evaluate the in vitro pattern of SSCs colonization in the future studies