Reno-protective effect of Rheum turkestanicum against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity

Objective(s): Gentamicin belongs to the family of aminoglycoside antibiotics and is a preferred drug in developing countries because of its low cost, availability, and potent effects against bacterial. However, gentamicin can induce nephrotoxicity. In this research, hydroalcoholic extract of Rheum turkestanicum was used against gentamicin- induced nephrotoxicity. Rheum turkestanicum is used against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity and in this study its effect against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats has been investigated.Materials and Methods: The rats were placed into one of these groups: saline group, gentamicin group that received gentamicin 80 mg/kg/day for six days, and two treatment groups that received R. turkestanicum intraperitoneally at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively, 1 hr before gentamicin injections. Urine samples were collected at 24 hr to measure glucose and protein concentration. Blood samples were collected to determine serum urea and creatinine. One kidney was homogenized to measure malondialdehyde and thiol, and the other kidney was kept for pathological studies. Results: Gentamicin increased the level of urinary glucose and protein, and increased malondialdehyde while it decreased thiol in kidney tissue, and increased the concentration of urea and creatinine in the serum. Histopathological pathology revealed renal damage following gentamicin usage; however, the extract was able to improve gentamicin toxicity. Conclusion: R. turkestanicum has positive effects in the attenuation of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity

Regulatory NK cells in autoimmune disease

NK cells are defined as the major components of the immunological network which exerts defense against tumors and viral infections as well as regulation of innate and adaptive immunity, shaped through interaction with other cells like T cells. According to the surface markers, NK cells can be divided into CD56dim NK and CD56bright NK subsets. CD56bright NK cells usually are known as regulatory NK cells. Once the immune system loses its self-tolerance, autoimmune diseases develop. NK cells and their subsets can be altered during autoimmune diseases, indicative of their prominent regulatory roles and even pathological and protective functions in autoimmune disorders. In this regard, activation of CD56bright NK cells can suppress activated autologous CD4+ T cells and subsequently prevent the initiation of autoimmunity. In this review article, we summarize the roles of regulatory NK cells in autoimmune disease occurrence which needs more research to uncover their exact related mechanism. It seems that targeting NK cells can be a promising therapeutic platform against autoimmune diseases

Macroprolactinoma in a 14-Year-Old Girl in the Northeast of Iran: A Case Report

Prolactinoma is frequently found not only in females but also in males with abnormal reproductive and/or sexual function. Patients typically complain about amenorrhea and infertility because of anovulation. Approximately 15% to 20% of cases of secondary amenorrhea are caused by prolactinemia. Galactorrhea may occur simultaneously, before or after menstrual disorders, and sometimes it may not be clinically obvious, or only detected by breast examination. We reported a case of a 14-year-old girl who presented primary amenorrhea accompanied by frequent headaches and blurred vision. Hormonal tests showed severe hyperprolactinemia (prolactin [PRL] concentration: 1,570 ng/ml). Further tests confirmed a mass in the pituitary with an extension to the left parasellar and suprasellar regions. Some parts of the sella turcica tumor were removed by transcranial surgery. During the follow-up, the clinicopathological examinations revealed the patient had hyperprolactinemia. Clinicians should be aware of the diagnostic and therapeutic problems regarding the management of hyperprolactinemia

The Pattern of Albumin Consumption in Teaching University Hospitals in Northeastern Iran: Albumin Consumption

Insufficient information on accurate indications of albumin administrations and the lack of acceptable protocols emphasize the importance of performing further studies on the albumin consumption. So, the current study aimed to explore the albumin administration in the teaching hospitals to not only provide an effective pattern, but also to provide low-cost strategies for rational use of this drug. Herein, one hundred patients were given albumin during the study period, who were randomly selected from hospitals affiliated with a large public university. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 22). Our findings showed that 46% of the patients finally received albumin in terms of the approved guideline. In total, 777 albumin vials were used for 100 cases, for whom 414 vials (53.2%) were rationally prescribed. The albumin was frequently administrated in the ICU wards with 62% of total vials. In accordance with some previous studies, our results demonstrated that most of the albumins were prescribed inappropriately, which impose high-cost on the patients as well as on health care system. Therefore, long-term monitoring of albumin therapy implemented by trained physicians, is suggested to promote rational albumin consumption

The Effect of Ciprofloxacin Injection on Genetically Absence Prone (Wag/Rij) Rat\'s Electroencephalogram Characteristics

Introduction: Ciprofloxacin which was used in this study is a Fluoroquinolone (FQ). This kind of drug may cause epileptic seizures probably because of the inhibition of GABA binding to its receptors. Wag/Rij rats (an animal model for generalized absence epilepsy), were used as experimental subjects. Methods: For EEG study, electrodes were inserted into the cortex of animals according to paxinos coordinates. After and before ciprofloxacin injection, EEG was recorded and their SWDs were compared with each others. Results: Findings showed a significant increase in the mean number of seizures during recording period. But the mean number of SWDs during seizures did not show any significant differences between groups. Discussion: These results may be due to involvement of GABA antagonistic effects of FQs and/or Mg2+ linked blockade of NMDA receptors. More researches are going to determine physiopathology of SWDs and .nd new effective substance against this kind of epilepsy

The Effect of Ciprofloxacin Injection on Genetically Absence Prone (WAG/Rij) Rats Electroencephalogram Characteristics

  Introduction: Ciprofloxacin which was used in this study is a Fluoroquinolone (FQ). This kind of drug may cause epileptic seizures probably because of the inhibition of GABA binding to its receptors. Wag/Rij rats (an animal model for generalized absence epilepsy), were used as experimental subjects.   Methods: For EEG study, electrodes were inserted into the cortex of animals according to paxinos coordinates. After and before ciprofloxacin injection, EEG was recorded and their SWDs were compared with each others.   Results: Findings showed a significant increase in the mean number of seizures during recording period. But the mean number of SWDs during seizures did not show any significant differences between groups.   Conclusion: These results may be due to involvement of GABA antagonistic effects of FQs and/or Mg2+ linked blockade of NMDA receptors. More researches are going to determine physiopathology of SWDs and find new effective substance against this kind of epilepsy

Effect of Probiotics on Enteral Milk Tolerance and Prevention of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Neonates

Background: There is a dearth of studies in Iran on the efficacy of probiotics in reducing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), yielding contradictory results. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effect of probiotics on milk tolerance and the prevention of NEC in preterm neonates. Methods: This randomized triple-blind clinical trial study was conducted on all preterm neonates between 30 and 36 weeks gestation and birth weight >1250 g hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Bentolhoda Hospital in Bojnurd, Iran. Thereafter, 76 eligible neonates were randomly assigned to two groups of oral placebo (n=38) and BB care probiotic (n=38). Subsequently, the following information was extracted based on the hospital checklist: early or late NEC (after 7 days of birth), types of NEC (grade I, II, and III), length of hospitalization, time to reach complete oral nutrition, weight at discharge, and milk tolerance. Results: In the current study, 52.6% and 47.4% of newborns in control and intervention groups were male, and no significant difference was observed between the two groups (P= 0.646). The incidence of NEC was significantly reduced among the intervention group. The feeding onset in the placebo group was significantly later, as compared to that in the intervention group. A significant difference was detected between the two groups in the length of hospital stay and weight gain during hospitalization. Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the administration of probiotics in preterm neonates might prevent NEC. Moreover, it can shorten the onset time of feeding and hospitalization duration

Cardiogenic effects of characterized Geum urbanum extracts on adipose-derived human mesenchymal stem cells

Stem cell therapy is considered as a promising treatment for cardiovascular diseases. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) have the ability to undergo cardiomyogenesis. Medicinal plants are effective and safe candidates for cell differentiation. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate cardiogenic effects of characterized (HPLC-UV) G. urbanum extracts on ADMSCs of adipose tissue. The methanolic extracts of the root and aerial parts of G. urbanum were obtained and MTT assay was used for studying their cytotoxic effects. Then, cells were treated with 50 and 100 Âľg/ml of the root and aerial parts extracts of G. urbanum. MTT assay showed that the extracts of G. urbanum did not have any toxic effects on ADMSCs. Immunostaining results showed increase in the expression of Îą-actinin and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and quantitative real time reverse transcription-PCR data confirmed the upregulation of ACTN, ACTC1 and TNNI3 genes in ADMSCs after treatment. According to HPLC fingerprinting, some cardiogenic effects of G. urbanum extracts are probably due to ellagic and gallic acid derivatives. Our findings indicated that G. urbanum extracts were effective in upregulating of some essential cardiogenic markers, which confirmed the therapeutic role of this plant as a traditional heart medicine.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author