Protective Effect of Galega officinalis Extract on Streptozotocin-Induced Kidney Damage and Biochemical Factor in Diabetic Rats

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is impairing secretion of insulin or resistance to insulin. Herbal medicine plays an important role in the management of DM. We aimed to test antidiabetic effects of Galega officinalis on diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=7). Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg/kg). Diabetic rats were calcified into a diabetic control group (DC), DHEG group (50 mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract of G. officinalis), DG group (5 mg/kg glibenclamide). After 20 days, rats" blood samples, kidney, liver, and pancreas were kept in -70°C to test blood levels of glucose, insulin, lipid profile, some oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzymes. Results: The fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels in the normal, DHEG, and DG groups were significantly lower than the DC group (P < 0.05); The levels of insulin in the DC, DHEG, and DG groups were significantly lower than the normal group (P < 0.05); The serum level of urea and creatinine was significantly increased in DC group and significantly decreased in other group (P < 0.05). Diabetes causes degenerative damages in rats kidney and treatment with G. officinalis extract protected kidney tissue against diabetes-induced damages. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicated that G. officinalis could be beneficial for the treatment of diabetes through improving tissue sensitivity to insulin and preventing tissue damages

Comparing the Therapeutic Effects of Finasteride Gel and Tablet in Treatment of the Androgenetic Alopecia

Background: Finasteride, a type P-selective 5a-reductase inhibitor, as a causative agent of decreasing dihydroxy testestrone (DHT) level, is effective in the treatment of male androgenic alopecia. Aim: We compared the local and oral finasteride in the treatment of androgenic alopecia. Method: This is a double blind, randomized clinical trial study of 45 male patients, who were referred with alopecia to the private clinics and departments in Boo-Ali Sina Hospital, in Sari. Patients with male androgenic alopecia were selected according to the history and physical examinations. The patients were randomly divided into two: topical finasteride (A) and oral finasteride (B) groups. Topical finasteride group (A) received a topical gel of 1% finasteride and placebo tablets, while the oral finasteride group (B) received finasteride tablets (1 mg) and gel base (without drug) as placebo for 6 months. The patients were followed by clinical observation and recording of side effects prior to the treatment and at the end of first week, and then by a monthly follow-up. The size of bald area, total hair count, and terminal hair were studied. Data were analyzed by descriptive and Chi-square statistical test. Results: The mean duration of hair loss was 18.8±23.10 months. Each month the terminal hair, size of bald area and hair count between the two groups were compared. There were no significant differences between the two groups as a viewpoint of hair thickness, hair counts and the size of bald area. Serial measurements indicated a significant increase in hair counts and terminal hair counts between the two groups. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the therapeutic effects of both finasteride gel and finasteride tablet were relatively similar to each other

Eugenol improves tissue damage and oxidative stress in adult female rats after ovarian torsion/detorsion

The current study was designed to investigate the effect of eugenol on histopathological changes and oxidative stress caused by torsion/detorsion in the ovary of adult female rats. In this study, forty-eight female Wistar rats were classified into six groups; Sham and 2 healthy group receiving 30, 60 mg/kg eugenol; ovarian torsion/detorsion; and 2 experimental groups receiving 30, 60 mg/kg eugenol. After ten days, the plasma levels of oestrogen, testosterone, and some oxidative stress markers were assessed. also, the histomorphometric study was performed. A marked degenerative changes in the TD group was observed (p < .001). The oestrogen, GPX, and SOD levels were remarkably declined in the G2 group, while they were reversed to the baseline values in groups receiving eugenol. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) was remarkably increased during the ischaemia (p < .001). The treatment with eugenol significantly diminished MDA levels in different groups (p < .001). Our finding indicated that eugenol could protect the ovarian tissue against oxidative stress and tissue injury induced by torsion/detorsion.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known about this subject? Ovarian torsion is one of the commonest gynecological emergencies in all age groups of the female gender. Timely diagnosis and management of ovarian torsion are crucial, especially for women of reproductive age. Detorsion is one of the interventions used for the prevention of ovarian tissue damage. Ovarian ischaemia/reperfusion is a pathophysiological condition in which decreased blood flow, and oxygen deficiency (ischaemia) are observed in ovarian tissues as a result of ovarian torsion. Following torsion, the inflammatory response induced by detorsion (reperfusion) leads to vascular endothelial cell apoptosis and microcirculation abnormalities, which are responsible for the cause of ovarian tissue damage. What do the results of this study add? This study found that eugenol, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, could be used experimentally to diminish the I/R damage in the ovary through the attenuation of detrimental histological events, decreasing the serum level of MDA and testosterone, and increasing the level of SOD and GPX enzymes. To date, there is no report on the application of eugenol for diminishing T/D-induced oxidative stress in the ovary. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice? Eugenol has been shown to possess therapeutic properties in patients with ovarian torsion. Further clinical studies are necessary to prove the beneficial effect of eugenol on the prevention of I/R-induced ovarian damage

Different types of bisphenols alter ovarian steroidogenesis: Special attention to BPA

Endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A (BPA) and some of its analogues, including BPS, BPAF, and BPE, are used extensively in the manufacture of plastics. These synthetic chemicals could seriously alter the functionality of the female reproductive system. Although the number of studies conducted on other types of bisphenols is smaller than the number of studies on BPA, the purpose of this review study was to evaluate the effects of bisphenol compounds, particularly BPA, on hormone production and on genes involved in ovarian steroidogenesis in both in vitro (human and animal cell lines) and in vivo (animal models) studies.The current data show that exposure to bisphenol compounds has adverse effects on ovarian steroidogenesis. For example, BPA, BPS, and BPAF can alter the normal function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis by targeting kisspeptin neurons involved in steroid feedback signals to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) cells, resulting in abnormal production of LH and FSH. Exposure to BPA, BPS, BPF, and BPB had adverse effects on the release of some hormones, namely 17-β-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and testosterone (T). BPA, BPE, BPS, BPF, and BPAF are also capable of negatively altering the transcription of a number of genes involved in ovarian steroidogenesis, such as the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR, involved in the transfer of cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane, where the steroidogenesis process begins), cytochrome P450 family 17 subfamily A member 1 (Cyp17a1, which is involved in the biosynthesis of androgens such as testosterone), 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme (3β-HSD, involved in the biosynthesis of P4), and cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1 (Cyp19a1, involved in the biosynthesis of E2). Exposure to BPA, BPB, BPF, and BPS at prenatal or prepubertal stages could decrease the number of antral follicles by activating apoptosis and autophagy pathways, resulting in decreased production of E2 and P4 by granulosa cells (GCs) and theca cells (TCs), respectively. BPA and BPS impair ovarian steroidogenesis by reducing the function of some important cell receptors such as estrogens (ERs, including ERα and ERβ), progesterone (PgR), the orphan estrogen receptor gamma (ERRγ), the androgen receptor (AR), the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), the FSHR (follicle-stimulating hormone receptor), and the LHCGR (luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor). In animal models, the effects of bisphenol compounds depend on the type of animals, their age, and the duration and dose of bisphenols, while in cell line studies the duration and doses of bisphenols are the matter

Success Rate of Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty in the Treatment of Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction

Objectives: Hydronephrosis is a common problem of renal disease in neonates, and it is shown that ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is the most common cause of hydronephrosis. Several therapeutic surgical approaches have been introduced among which pyeloplasty have some advantages. In this study, the effciency of this technique was studied on 30 patients with UPJO. Materials and Methods: In this prospective clinical trial, 30 patients with UPJO who had undergone pyeloplasty during 2013 to 2017 were studied and the intraoperative and postoperative complications, as well as the success of the operation, were evaluated. Results: In this study, 30 patients with UPJO participated. Their mean age was 24.76 ± 13.95. The results of this study showed that none of the patients needed blood transfusion, and 28 patients responded well to surgery while 2 patients had postoperative complications such as pain and urinary tract infection at the end of follow-up. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that since the operation time, recovery, and duration of hospital stay, in addition to postoperative complications such as blood loss, and the need for blood transfusion were reduced in pyeloplasty method, this surgical method can be considered as the method of choice for both surgeons and patients for the treatment of hydronephrosis

A Rare Case Report of Idiopathic Primary Hypoparathyroidism Coexisting With Shortening of Third to Fifth Metacarpal Bones

A 20-year-old Iranian male after injury in a football match with pain in the fnger was referred to the hospital. X-Ray images of his hand showed no fractures, but the shortening of third to ffth metacarpal bones was clearly observed. The short metacarpal bone is a very helpful diagnostic marker in the patients suffering from idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (IHP), pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia (PHP-Ia) with Albright"s hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) phenotype, pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP), and brachydactyly type E. Briefly, in hypoparathyroidism disease, the serum calcium level decreases and the serum phosphorus level increases in blood. PHP-Ia disorder is clinically similar to hypoparathyroidism; in this disease, the level of parathyroid hormone is normal but there is resistance to it. PPHP disease is not an endocrine disorder but is related to PHP-Ia. In this disease, serum levels of calcium and phosphorus are normal, also symptoms and signs in PPHP are similar to PHP-Ia, but there is no resistance to parathyroid hormone. In brachydactyly type E, shortening of metacarpal or metatarsal bones is caused by abnormal development of phalanxes, metacarpals, or both. His laboratory tests revealed a low serum calcium level, high serum phosphate level, and low serum PTH level; therefore a diagnosis of IHP was reached