The serum zinc concentration as a potential biological marker in patients with major depressive disorder

Despite many clinical trials assessing the role of zinc in major depressive disorder (MDD), the conclusions still remain ambiguous. The aim of the present clinical study was to determine and comparison the zinc concentration in the blood of MDD patients (active stage or remission) and healthy volunteers (controls), as well as to discuss its potential clinical usefulness as a biomarker of the disease. In this study 69 patients with current depressive episode, 45 patients in remission and 50 controls were enrolled. The zinc concentration was measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS). The obtained results revealed, that the zinc concentration in depressed phase were statistically lower than in the healthy volunteers [0.89 vs. 1.06 mg/L, respectively], while the zinc level in patients achieve remission was not significantly different from the controls [1.07 vs. 1.06 mg/L, respectively]. Additionally, among the patients achieve remission a significant differences in zinc concentration between group with and without presence of drug-resistance in the previous episode of depression were observed. Also, patients in remission demonstrated correlation between zinc level and the average number of depressive episodes in the last year. Serum zinc concentration was not dependent on atypical features of depression, presence of psychotic symptoms or melancholic syndrome, age, age of onset or duration of disease, number of episodes in the life time, duration of the episode/remission and severity of depression measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS), and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Concluding, our findings confirm the correlation between zinc deficit present in the depressive episode, and are consistent with the majority of previous studies. These results may also indicate that serum zinc concentration might be considered as a potential biological marker of MDD

Phytotherapy in treatment of Parkinson's disease: a review

Context: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder due to gradual loss of dopaminergic nerves in the substantia nigra (SN) in the midbrain. PD leads to certain motor disorders including resting tremor, muscle stiffness and slow movement. Medicinal plants have shown positive pharmacological effects in treating different models of PD. Objective: Tendency to use natural products, especially plants, for the treatment of PD has been growing. This article reviews the basic aspects of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds that could be used to treat PD. Methods: Reliable articles indexed in databases ISI, SID, PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus and Web of Science were used. A total of 12 plant-derived active ingredients and 18 herbal extracts were included. Different compounds have so far been isolated from plants that affect PD especially by targeting pathways associated with the pathogenesis of the disease. Results: Although some herbal extracts such as Hibiscus asper Hook. f. (Malvaceae), Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgoaceae), Carthamus tinctorius L (Asteraceae) and certain active ingredients, such as berberine and curcumin, have shown positive effects in animal models of PD, potential active ingredients and mechanisms of action should be investigated in additional studies. Discussion and conclusions: Despite the wide variety of plants in the world, a limited number of them have been studied for anti-Parkinsonian activity, and therefore, there are numerous perspectives in this field for future studies on plants and their bioactive compounds

Effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction program on quality of life in cardiovascular disease patients

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is one of the most fatal physical illnesses that impose many financial losses on societies every year. Aim: This study was to investigate the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on self-efficacy and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease. Material and methods: The samples of this clinical trial were 60 patients who were selected by convenience sampling from patients were diagnosed, clinically interviewed by a cardiologist and randomized to two groups; experimental and control, and then completed Sherer et al. General Self-Efficacy Scale and 36-item Short Form Survey three times; pre-test, post-test, and after 3 months of follow-up. MBSR Program includes the methods that patients learn to calm their minds and body to help them cope with disease that was based on self-efficacy and quality of life. Data analysis was performed by the SPSS v22 using t-test and ANOVA. Results: The results show that the mean pre-test scores of self-efficacy and quality of life of patients were not significantly different between the experimental and control groups (P > 0.05). However, the mean scores of the two variables were found to be significantly different between the experimental group and the control group on the post-test and follow-up as the research hypotheses were examined (P < 0.01). So that the means of self-efficacy were 60.80 ± 5.91 and 60.40 ± 7.03 and quality of life were 103.80 ± 9.35 and 101.10 ± 9.13 at post-test and 3 months later respectively in experimental group. Conclusion: Self-efficacy and quality of life of cardiovascular patients could be improved by providing an MBSR program

Layered double hydroxide-galactose as an excellent nanocarrier for targeted delivery of curcumin to hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Targeted drug delivery systems have been developed as a promising strategy for targeted delivery of the drugs, genes, and biomolecules to the target tissue. In this study, a drug delivery system based on layered double hydroxide (LDH), as a carrier, and galactose (Gal), as a ligand, was designed for targeted delivery of curcumin (Cur) to hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Gal was conjugated onto Cur/LDH nanohybrid using SiO2 nanodot-coating and amine-functionalization strategy to fabricate a Gal-Cur/LDH delivery system. The physicochemical properties were determined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The cell viability, cellular uptake, and apoptotic effects of the Gal-Cur/LDH nanoparticles for human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2 cells) were evaluated. Additionally, in the cell viability test, to investigate the specific targeting efficiency of Gal-Cur/LDH nanoparticles into hepatoma cells, Murine fibrosarcoma L929 cells were utilized as control cells for studying the specific targeting efficiency of Gal-Cur/LDH nanoparticles for HepG2 cells. Results demonstrated the successful synthesis of LDH and the intercalation of Cur in LDH with 31.0 ± 0.0 loading efficiency. According to the cyto assay results, LDH did not significantly induce cytotoxicity in both L929 and HepG2 cells. Gal-Cur/LDH nanoparticles showed higher cytotoxicity effects against HepG2 cells than L929 cells, compared with free Cur and Cur/LDH nanohybrid. Additionally, Gal-Cur/LDH nanoparticles significantly exhibited a higher rate of apoptosis than the other groups, which might be attributed to higher cellular uptake efficiency via ASGP-receptors in HepG2 cells surface. Our findings suggest the Gal-Cur/LDH nanoparticles as an excellent carrier system for targeted delivery of Cur to the hepatocellular carcinoma cells. © 202

Zinc monotherapy increases serum brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and decreases depressive symptoms in overweight or obese subjects: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Objective: Previous studies have shown a positive effect of zinc as an adjunctive therapy on reducing depressive symptoms. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined the effect of zinc monotherapy on mood. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of zinc monotherapy on depressive symptoms and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in overweight or obese subjects. Methods: Fifty overweight or obese subjects were randomly assigned into two groups and received either 30 mg zinc or placebo daily for 12 weeks. At baseline and post-intervention, depression severity was assessed using Beck depression inventory II (BDI II), and serum BDNF and zinc levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, respectively. Results: The trial was completed with 46 subjects. After a 12-week supplementation, serum zinc and BDNF levels increased significantly in the zinc-supplemented group compared with the placebo group. BDI scores declined in both the groups at the end of the study, but reduction in the zinc-supplemented group was significantly higher than the placebo group. More analysis revealed that following supplementation, BDI scores decreased in subgroup of subjects with depressive symptoms (BDI � 10) (n = 30), but did not change in the subgroup of non-depressed subjects (BDI < 10) (n = 16). Moreover, a significant inverse correlation was observed between serum BDNF levels and depression severity in all participants. Interestingly, a significant positive correlation was found between serum BDNF and zinc levels at baseline. Conclusion: Zinc monotherapy improves mood in overweight or obese subjects most likely through increasing BDNF levels. © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2015

INVESTIGATION OF PREVALENCE OF RUBELLA AMONG WOMEN OF PREMARITAL AND PRECONCEPTIONAL AGE

An evaluation of the prevalence of immune status to rubella was made among 1151 premarital and preconceptional counseled females (17-40 years old) visiting the Genetic Clinic in Tehran. Population of Tehran, like any other large city, consists of mixtures of various communities and ethnic groups in the country. The method of analysis was rubella haemagglutination inhibition (Hl.) test. Immunity to rubella was observed in 97.14% of the population and most was immune before the age of 29. This high prevalence of positive cases shows a change in the community orientation by more social participation and mixing such as attendance of kindergarten. Because of the high prevalence obtained for rubella immunity, instead of general vaccination programs, measurement of rubella titer is recommended for each premarital or preconceptional female individual