Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Volume:18 Issue: 70, 2010

Resistance to chloroquine (CQ) in Plasmodium falciparum malaria has become a major health concern in the developing countries. This problem has prompted investigators for finding alternative antimalarials that may be effective against resistant strains. Amodiaquine (AQ) is an antimalarial which is effective against many chloroquine-resistant strains of P. falciparum. However, clinical use of AQ has severely been restricted because of its hepatotoxicity and agranulocytosis side effects. The aim of this study was to design and examine the effects of new analogues of amodiaquine. A successful four-step synthesis of a new series of 4-fluoro analogues was designed and applied to the synthesis of an array of 10 analogues. Antimalarial activity of these agents was assessed against chloroquine-resistant (TM6) and sensitive strains (3D7) of P. falciparum. Several analogues have shown potent antimalarial activity against sensitive 3D7 strain of the parasite. The 6h analogue was superior to the pyrollidino analogue 6b against all of the strains examined. The N-tert butyl analogue 6b was potent against chloroquine resistant strains, though it was not quite as active as amodiaquine (AQ) against both chloroquine sensitive and resistant parasites. From the different analogues made, it was shown that the analogue 6h was more potent than the others. However, this analogue has equal or slightly less potent than amodiaquine and chloroquine against P. falciparum. Further studies on the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of 6h are recommended.

Cannabinoids are a class of psychoactive compounds that produce a wide array of effects in a large number of species. In the present study, the effects of bilateral intra-CA1 injections of L-arginine on WIN55, 212-2 induced state-dependent memory of passive avoidance task was examined in mice. One-trial step-down paradigm was used for the assessment of memory retention in adult male NMRI mice. Post-training intra-CA1 administration of cannabinoid receptor agonist, WIN55, 212-2 (0.5 and 1 µg/mouse), decreased the memory retrieval. The memory impairment induced by post-training administration of WIN55, 212-2 (1µg/mouse) was restored by pre-test administration of the same dose of the drug, showing the state-dependent memory of WIN55, 212-2. Single intra-CA1 administration of L-arginine (0.3, 1 and 3 µg/mouse) 5 min pre-test could not alter the memory retrieval. On the other hand, in the animals in which retrieval was impaired due to post-training administration of WIN55, 212-2 (1µg/mouse), pre-test intra-CA1 administration of L-arginine (1 and 3 µg/mouse), 24 hr after training restored memory retrieval. Furthermore, in the animals under influence of post-training administration of WIN55, 212-2 (1µg/mouse), pre-test co-administration of non-effective doses of WIN55, 212-2 and L-arginine, increased the restoration of memory by the pre-test WIN55, 212-2. The findings of the present study suggest that NO system of dorsal hippocampus may play an important role in Win55,212-2-induced amnesia and WIN55,212-2 state-dependent memory.

Epileptic seizures are generally considered as complex and abnormal hyperexcitable phenomena in the brain. Probable changing of excitability in visual cortex by dark rearing (DR) might lead to clonic seizure. In this study the possible effect of dark rearing on Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) - induced generalized clonic seizure was studied. To assess the generalized clonic seizure (GCS) threshold and incidence and latency of GCS, 0.5% Pentylenetetrazol was administrated intravenously and 80 mg/kg subcutaneously to the control and dark reared animals. Our results showed that generalized clonic seizure threshold in DR group was not changed but occurring of GCS in DR animals was significantly lower and its latency was higher than the control animals. The tonic – clonic seizure was not different between the two groups. In spite of increasing seizure susceptibility in visual cortex by light deprivation, a kind of protection was observed in dark reared animals. Further studies seem to be necessary to elucidate the role of other factors such as melatonin.

Black seed (Nigella sativa L.) is one of the most revered medicinal plants which has been used to treat many diseases including hypercholesterolemia in some folk medicines. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of dietary supplementation with crushed black seed on serum lipid profile, body weight and food intake in hyperlipidemic rabbits. Twenty-four New Zealand male rabbits after 2 weeks of adaptation received a hypercholesterolemic diet with 0.5 % cholesterol for 1 month. Then the rabbits were randomly assigned into two groups, the control group was continued on the 0.5 % cholesterol diet and the black seed group received 7.5 g/kg bw/day crushed black seed along with the 0.5% cholesterol diet, for 2 months. The diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Fasting blood sampling and measurement of body weight was carried out at baseline, after hyperlipidemia, 1 month and 2 months of treatment and the levels of serum lipid profile were determined. Daily food intake also was measured by subtracting the given food from its residues. The concentrations of serum TC, TG, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C and LDL.C/HDL-C were significantly lower in black seed group as compared to the control group during the 2 months of treatment, but there was no significant difference in body weight and food intake between the two groups. According to these findings, dietary black seed favorably decreased serum lipid profile in hyperlipidemic rabbits therefore, black seed may be used as a useful therapy for hyperlipidemia.

Adiponectin is a novel adipose tissue-specific adipokine that can increase insulin sensitivity. Many studies have shown anti obesity and anti diabetic effects of green tea consumption. In this study we examined the effects of green tea extract on circulating adiponectin levels and insulin resistance status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this double blind randomized clinical trial 58 type 2 diabetic patients with BMI ≥ 25 were recruited from an unselected population from the outpatient clinic of Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Patients were randomly divided into two groups green tea extract and placebo. All the patients received the capsules for 8 weeks. Laboratory measurements including fasting serum adiponectin, insulin, HOMA-IR, FPG, OGTT, HbA1c and lipid profile and anthropometric were performed before and after the intervention. Nutrient intakes were obtained via 24- hour recall from each patient in three successive days. The data were analyzed using appropriate software. We found a significant effect of green tea extract on increasing the logarithm of serum adiponectin in diabetic patients (0.15±0.10 µg/ ml, P < 0.05). A significant independent correlation between the logarithm of serum adiponectin and WHR (Waist to Hip Ratio) was found (P= 0.009, t= -2.7). The consumption of green tea extract had a significant effect in control the levels of HbA1C, weigh and also BMI in green tea group (P < 0.05). The results showed that consumption of green tea extract can be useful in the control of T2DM by increasing the levels of serum adiponectin and controlling the weight, BMI and HbA1C levels in patients with T2DM.

For most of cancers there is no treatment and most of them ended in death. So, the first investigational stage is evaluation of toxic effects of drug fractions on cancer cells. Artemisia species are important medicinal plants throughout the world. In this study, anti-tumoral effects of seven Artemisia spp. fractions from Iran were studied on cancer and normal cells. Ethanol, ethylacetate, dichloromethane and hexane fractions of seven Artemisia species from Iran were prepared by step to step procedure. Cultivated cancer and fibroblast cells were incubated with different concentrations of fractions for 72 hours and cytotoxicity was determined using MTT assay. Results were reported as IC50 (concentration that kills 50 percent of cells). Obtained results showed strong and dose-dependent inhibition of cancer cell growth by different Artemisia fractions. The most cytotoxicity effects were for dichloromethane fraction from Artemisia biennis on cervix cancer cells, dichloromethane fraction from Artemisia ciniformis on gastric cancer cells and dichloromethane fraction from Artemisia diffusa on colon cancer cells. Ethylacetate, dichloromethane and hexane fractions from Artemisia biennis, hexane fraction from Artemisia ciniformis, hexane fraction from Artemisia santulina and ethylacetate fraction from Artemisia vulgaris had the least toxic effect on normal L929 cells. Some isolated fractions caused a significant decrease in cancer cell growth and had less toxicity on normal cells. So, study on Artemisia in prevention or efficient treatment of different cancers is useful. Study the effect of effective fractions on apoptosis induction and determination of their mechanisms of actions is suggested.

Oil pollutions are one of the most important environmental problems worldwide that researchers have tried different methods for its degradation. In this regards biological methods attracted the attention of the researchers more than other methods. The main objective of this study was to find microorganisms that could degrade aromatic components in the floating crude oil. In order to find such microorganisms, some samples were taken from areas contaminated by petroleum compounds. Microorganisms that could live with crude oil as sole carbon source were isolated. From these samples 14 microorganisms isolated which all were bacteria. The variations of aromatic compounds concentration were measured by gas chromatography method. Among 14 microorganisms two microorganisms that called A-3 and A-14 had more ability and degraded the aromatic components 89% and 86% respectively. By microbiological techniques it was found that A-14 is pseudomonas aerogenusa. The results of this study showed that biodegradation of aromatic compounds that are one of the must toxic materials in crude oil are possible. Also indicated that some oil-degrading microorganisms exist in the nature that do not need to adaptation for biodegradation of oily compounds.

Regarding high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among bakery workers and due to lack of information concerning posture analyzing, this study was carried out to identify working postures precisely in order to revise their work stations. In this cross-sectional study 334 Araki bakery workers were randomly selected. The data was collected using Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) through interview and Ovako Working-posture Analysis System (OWAS) by video tapes. Based on OWAS postural analyzing, recommended actions based on different body regions for different jobs was separately introduced. The averages of age and job experiences were 33±10.4 yr and 13.9±10 yr respectively. Most musculoskeletal disorders were in the knees (62.2%), low back (58.8%) and legs (53.9%) respectively. This research revealed that 42.2% of Araki bakery workers postures were in slightly up to very harmful postures. High prevalence of MSDs in different body regions caused 33.7% of workers to leave the work stations. Meanwhile awkward postures occurred in bent back (5.1%), twisted back (4.3%), bent and twisted back (2.8%) bent of knees (8.8%) and arms upper the shoulder (22.2%). The most awkward postures observed in job group of Shatters and there was a significant relation between neck, elbow, shoulder, knee disorders and work experiences (p<0/05). With regard to the results of this study, due to a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and harmful postures (bending, rotation and combined postures with time prolonged percentage) in bakery workers, revision of work operation and use of appropriate equipments in these jobs seems imperative. Therefore, an ergonomic intervention in order to correct poor postures is suggested.

Hospitalization of a family member especially in the intensive care units (ICUs) is a crisis that can cause anxiety in the whole family. The present study was conducted to determine some effective factors that can lead to anxiety in families of patients hospitalized in Rasht ICUs in 2006. In this cross–sectional study 218 family members of 130 inpatients of Rasht Poorsina and Razi hospital ICUs were selected. Data were collected using researcher–made and hospital anxiety depression (HADS) questionnaires. The results showed that the majority (77.1%) of patients’ family members were anxious. The anxiety odd ratio (OR) by logistic regression showed that anxiety rate increased with the decrease of patients’ consciousness level (OR= 9.726 per additional point), family members’ sex (OR= 6.171), making decision by family members (OR= 6.433) and older age (OR= 0.939 per additional year). The results confirmed the role of several important factors in inducing anxiety to the ICU inpatients’ families which require further consideration. These factors are recommended to be investigated upon admission and provide nursing care for preventing and overcoming anxiety in both patients and families.

Unwanted pregnancy is a common health problem worldwide. Emergency contraception (EC) is the best effective approach for solving this problem. For reorganizing and correcting misunderstandings about the use of these methods, the present study was carried out on Zanjan Islamic Azad university student's in order to assess their attitudes towards emergency contraception. The attitude of 1019 students towards EC was investigated using a self administered questionnaire including questions about demographic data and their attitude status. The data analyzed using appropriate software. About one third of the students (35.2%) had positive attitude, over half of them (64.1%) had impartial and less than one percent (0.7%) had negative attitude towards emergency contraception. Over half of them tended to use it and about one third believed that EC was very effective. 36% wished to obtain it from private health sectors and 35% cited that they did not do anything for the reason of modesty and shyness. Over one third of the subjects believed that using these methods is confronted with their religion. The most important obstacles for obtaining these devices were modesty, shyness and religious reasons which created a negative attitude. Consulting sessions can solve many of these barriers and will support a positive attitude.