Internal Medicine Today
Volume:22 Issue: 1, 2016

Wound healing delay is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. Considering the antioxidant properties of the Launaea acanthodes, this study aimed to examine the effects of this plant on open skin wound healing in diabetic rats. In this experimental study, 32 male rats were allocated into the equal groups of control, diabetic control and experimental diabetic 1 and 2. The diabetes in diabetic control and experimental diabetic groups was induced using an intraperitoneal injection of alloxan. In all samples, 4 wound with 7mm diameters were created in two lateral posterial parts of body. Then experimental diabetic groups 1 and 2 treated with 10 and 20% of Launaea acanthodes ointment and control and diabetic control groups treated with eucerin for 12 days. Histological studies were performed on each of the days 3, 6, 9 and 12. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and post-hoc Tukey tests in SPSS 20 software. The highest and lowest density of inflammatory cells in control group are 3th and 12th day, diabetic control 9th and 3th day, experimental diabetic 1 and 2 6th and 12th day. The highest and lowest thickness of the epithelium in control group are 6th and 12th day, diabetic control 12th and 3th day, experimental 1 9th and 12th day and experimental 2 6th and 12th day. The highest and lowest density of blood vessels in control group are 6th and 12th day, diabetic control 12th and 3th day, experimental 1 6th and 3th day and experimental 2 6th and 12th day. Topical treatment of aqueous extract of Launaea acanthodes accelerates the healing of diabetic ulcers.

Doxorubicin is an important anti-cancer drug which can cause renal toxicity. Nigella sativa has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella sativa on doxorubicin-induced functional damage of kidney in rats. This experimental study was implemented, using 32 male Wistar rats which were divided randomly into 4 groups control, doxorubicin (5mg/kg), Nigella sativa extract (200mg/kg) and Nigella sativa plus doxorubicin. The groups were treated for 5 consecutive weeks and on days 0, 6, 10, 14, 21, 28, 35 the 24-hour urine samples and serum were collected to measure the levels of serum and urine glucose, serum urea, urea clearance and Glomerular Filtration Rate. Statistical analyses were made using one-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey’s test and paired T test. The mean of serum urea on day 10 in doxorubicin group was significantly increased compared to the pre-injection state. The mean of urine glucose on day 28 in Nigella sativa plus doxorubicin group was significantly decreased compared to doxorubicin group. The means of GFR on days 21 and 35 in doxorubicin group were significantly decreased compared to control day. The means of GFR on days 21, 28, 35 in Nigella sativa plus doxorubicin group were significantly increased compared to doxorubicin group. The means of glucose on days 21 and 28 in doxorubicin group were significantly decreased compared to control day. The hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella sativa reduces the doxorubicin-induced functional damage of kidney in rats and helps improve the Glomerular Filtration Rate rate and decreases the glucosuria.

Nowadays, using the derivatives of steroids has been increased among athletes, despite their vast gradient side effects. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 17&alpha-alkyl steroids and 17&beta-hydroxy steroids on levels of liver enzymes and hematological factors in male bodybuilders. In this causal comparing study in 2014, 24 male bodybuilders of Mashhad City, Iran, were entered to the study by census method. The samples were divided into three groups (each 8 persons) consumers of oral steroids (17&alpha-alkyl), consumers of injected steroids (17&beta-hydroxy) and athletes without the experience of using steroids. The blood samples from cubital vein for measurements of the liver enzymes and hematological factors were taken 48 hours after training following 12 hours of overnight fasting. Data were analyzed using ANOVA in SPSS 19 software. The level of ALT and AST enzymes in the first group were increased over the second (p=0.032) and third (p=0.001) groups significantly. The amount of red blood cells were significantly higher in second group then first and third groups and in first group than control group (p=0.01). The levels of hematocrit and hemoglobin in the first and second groups significantly were higher than third group (p=0.01). However, there were no significant differences in values of lymphocytes, Neutrophils, ALP, MCV, MCH, MCHC, WBC and PLT between the groups. AST and ALT enzymes merely increase by taking oral steroids (17&alpha-alkyl) however, increase in erythrocyte, hematocrit and hemoglobin are expected by taking any form of medication.

Herbal medicines and their derivatives were considered for treatment of diabetes and its side effects, for a long time. On the other hand, aerobic training considered as an essential treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aerobic training and Pistacia atlantica extract consuming on plasma levels of Lipocalin-2 and insulin resistance index in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats. In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups normal control, diabetic control, diabetic+training, diabetic+extract, and diabetic+training+extract. Diabetes was induced by Streptozotocin (40mg/kg) intrapritoneal injection. 6 weeks of aerobic training on treadmill was the training program (5 sessions per week, each session 40 minutes at a speed of 20 meters per minute and the slope 5 degrees). At the end of each training session, extract groups received Pistacia atlantica extract (25mg/kg), based on the body weight. After six weeks, plasma levels of insulin, glucose and Lipocalin-2 were determined. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS 19 software by one-away ANOVA and LSD as a post hoc test. No significant difference was observed, among the 5 groups in the Lipocalin-2 level (p=0.115), but the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), showed a significant difference among the 5 groups (p=0.025). The mean amount of HOMA-IR index in diabetes+training (p=0.025) and diabetes+training+extract consuming (p=0.017) groups in comparison to diabetic control group was significantly lower. There was no significant difference between HOMA-IR index in other diabetic groups (p>0.05). Aerobic training, alone and combined with Pistacia atlantica extract consumption, by reducing insulin resistance, improves the oxidation disturbance effects of diabetes.

Long term prognosis of hemodialysis patients are influenced by adequacy treatment. Thus, it is important to study the factors that improve the adequacy dialysis. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of isometric and isotonic movements during hemodialysis on dialysis adequacy. In this clinical trial in 2014, 50 patients in the two dialysis centers of Gonabad City and Qaen City, Iran, were selected by simple random sampling method and considering the inclusion criteria. The samples were randomly divided into two equal experimental and control groups. Experimental group patients performed isometric and isotonic movement according to tutorial film for 60 minutes in the first 2 hours of hemodialysis. These sport movement were repeated 3 times a week during hemodialysis session for 6 weeks. Dialysis adequacy was calculated before and after intervention in 2 groups. Data was analyzed by SPSS 14.5 software using independent T, Chi-square, Pearson- and Spearman correlation coefficients tests. After the intervention, there was a significant difference between two groups in adequacy of dialysis (p=0.01), in a way that before intervention, 80% of patients in experimental group had dialysis adequacy less than 1.2 which was reduced to 40% after intervention. However, the number of patients with less than 1.2 adequacy of dialysis in control group was increased from 72 to 76%. Performing isometric and isotonic movements during hemodialysis improves the adequacy of dialysis in hemodialysis patients.

Chemical compouds of Echium amoenum extract is effective in the treatment of anxiety. The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effect of aqueous extract of Echium amoenum with Buspirone which is widely used in treatment of anxiety disorders. In this experimental study, 80 adult male rats were divided randomly into 2 parts of acute and chronic treatment each part with 5 groups (each 8 mice) including control (without treatment), sham (recieving strilled water as drug solvent) and 3 experimental groups which received Buspirone, Echium amoenum hydroalcoholic extract and Buspirone+Echium amoenum hydroalcoholic extract. All treatments were performed for 7 days in acute and for 14 days in chronic group. Cruciate-maze test was used to measure anxiety and the time and frequency of rat's presence in the open and closed levers of the maze were recorded. Data were analyzed in SPSS 18 software using one-sided ANOVA and Tukey's statistical tests. In acute groups, the means level of anxiety in Echium amoenum (p<0.001), Buspirone (p<0.0001) and Buspirone+Echium amoenum (p<0.0001) groups were reduced significantly compared to the control group, but the anti-anxiety effect of Echium amoenum was significantly less than Buspirone and Buspirone+Echium amoenum. In chronic groups, the means level of anxiety were reduced in all experimental groups compared to the control group (p<0.0001). Buspirone and Echium amoenum extract both cause the reduction of anxiety level and the effect of Echium amoenum increase by increasing the time of treatment period

Self-controling and non-drug intervention methods such as aerobic activities and diet programs have a significant impact on insulin resistance and quality of life in type II diabetic patients. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of aerobic training with diet on insulin resistance and quality of life in type II diabetic patients. In this quasi-experimental research in 2013-14, obese female with type II diabetes in Taybad City, Iran, were selected by achievable sampling method and were divided into aerobic training (n=12) and aerobic training with diet (n=11) groups. Aerobic training in both groups was performed in 36 sessions of exercise training 3 sessions per week with an intensity of 50-70% heart rate reserve. In addition to aerobic training, the second group participated in diet that included 500kcal of energy less than the estimated daily energy requirement. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16 software by paired and independent T tests. The levels of blood glucose, insulin and insulin resistance reduced significantly just in aerobic training with diet group (p<0.05) just the fasting blood sugar difference was significant between 2 groups (p=0.035). Also, there were significant differences between groups in subscales of role limitations due to physical health problems (p=0.001), role limitations due to emotional problems (p=0.002), social functioning (p=0.002), pain (p=0.001) and general health (p=0.002). 12 weeks of aerobic training with diet lead to improvement in blood sugar, fasting insulin, insulin resistance and some subscales of quality of life in type II diabetic patients.

One of the most important needs of hospitalized patients in intensive care units is patients visiting by their family members, but it is very limited in these units. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of increased visiting to patients’ time on pain and level of consciousness of hospitalized patients in intensive care units. In this clinical trial, 60 hospitalized patients in intensive care units of Vali-Asr Hospital in Arak City, Iran, in 2013-2014 were selected by convenience sampling method and were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. Each visiting was done for 10 minutes, 3 times a day (9- and 12am and 15pm) in the intervention group and for 10 minutes once a day (15pm) in the control group. Then patients’ pain and level of consciousness was measured before, during, and after 10 and 30 minutes of visiting by family. Data was analyzed in SPSS 20 software using Chi-square, paired T, independent T, and repeated measure ANOVA tests. There was no significant difference between pain and level of consciousness between 2 groups before intervention (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the means of pain and level of consciousness before and 30min after the visiting at 15pm in control group (p>0.05). There were significant differences between the means of pain before and 30min after visiting at 9am, 12am and 15pm in intervention group (p<0.05), but no significant differences were seen in the level of consciousness (p>0.05). Increasing the time of visiting to patients decreases the pain of the hospitalized patients in intensive care units.

In traditional medicine, lavender is known as one of the effective herbal drugs on liver function, but so far, side effects of the lavender flower extract on liver biochemistry have not been studied. The aim of this study was to find the effect of lavender hydro-alcoholic extract on liver’s tissue and enzymes. In this experimental study, 50 mature female small mice were divided into 5 groups (each 10) control, placebo and 3 experimental groups. Placebo group received normal saline and treatment groups received the hydro-alcoholic extract of lavender in 50, 100, 200mg/kg doses 10 times every other day, interperitoneally. The levels of liver enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP) were measured and liver tissue was studied after 20 days. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software and variance test. ALT enzyme was increased significantly in 200mg/kg group comparing with the control group (p<0.05). The level of AST enzyme was decreased significantly in 100- and 200mg/kg groups and the ALP amount was decreased significantly in 200mg/kg group in proportion to control group (p<0.05). In histological studies, liver tissue of 50- and 100mg/kg did not show significant pathological changes but obvious pathological changes (necrotic tissue) was observed in liver tissue of 200mg/kg group. The hydro-alcoholic lavender extract causes reduction of AST and ALP enzymes in 100- and 200mg/kg doses, but the 200mg/kg dose results in severe liver tissue necrosis.