Crescent Journal of Medical and Biological Sciences
Volume:10 Issue: 2, Apr 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of anthocyanin on oxidative stress, sperm, and testis structure in diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ).

In this experimental research, diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (50 mg/kg). A total of 64 rats were assigned into four groups as follows: a control group, a diabetic control group, a diabetic group daily administrated with anthocyanin at a dose of 100 mg/kg, and a healthy group daily administrated with anthocyanin for 56 days. After intervention, all the rats were anesthetized, their blood samples were taken, and the serum levels of insulin, glucose, and oxidative stress markers were measured. Finally, the testicles were removed and histological parameters were assessed.

Treating diabetic rats with anthocyanin significantly improved the testis tissue damage, glucose, and insulin plasma levels (P = 0.001). Furthermore, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was up-surged and the serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were reduced (P = 0.001). Also, anthocyanin administration (100 mg/kg BW) significantly rectified these parameters (P < 0.05).

Our results confirmed the antioxidant role of anthocyanin in improving the sperm parameters and testicular oxidative damage caused by diabetes.

Congenital prothrombin (factor II) deficiency is an inherited rare bleeding disorder with an autosomal recessive manner. The prevalence of this disorder is about one in 2 000 000 people in general population, but it is more common in areas with a high rate of consanguinity. To date, there is no report on the absence of prothrombin, which is a life-threating disorder. Considering the importance of factor II in body homeostasis, this study aimed to find any possible mutation of coagulation factor II codons in patients with inherited factor II deficiency in southeastern Iran.

This study was conducted on 12 patients with inherited deficiency of prothrombin. Early diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms, laboratory evaluation, and family history. Then, the function level of prothrombin was measured, the initial diagnosis of disease was confirmed, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was performed. Finally, gene sequencing and genotyping of factor II was done.

Molecular analysis indicated a point mutation in exon 7 in three patients and a frameshift mutation in exon 14 due to addition of a thymine base at position 1760-1761 in one patient, both of which have been reported for the first time.

Molecular methods performed on patients from Southeastern Iranian population in terms of coagulation factor II deficiency revealed a substitution mutation in exon 7 in three patients and a frameshift mutation in exon 14 in one patient, both of which were reported for the first time. Considering the significant difference between the clinical symptoms of the present study and previous studies, probably the type of mutations reported in this study (for the first time) caused these clinical symptoms, but statistical studies did not show any relationship between the type of mutation and the occurrence of clinical symptoms. And it needs more investigations on more patients, with a larger population.

Insufficient physical activity is considered one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the effects of six weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on serum levels of Klotho, interleukin 10 (IL-10), IL-1, and oxidative stress in young women with a sedentary lifestyle.

The present study was a semi-experimental study with a control group. Out of all volunteers, 20 young women eligible to participate in the study were selected and divided into the two groups (n=10) of experimental (i.e., six weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise) and control (i.e., no exercise). Members of the experimental group performed an aerobic exercise program including running on a treadmill with an intensity of 55%-70% of their maximum heart rates (220-age). The running plan started with 50% of their maximum heart rates and reached 70% at the end of the six-week exercise program (three sessions per week). Paired t-test and independent t-test were conducted to examine intra-group and inter-group differences. All statistical procedures were performed using the SPSS version26 statistical package (P ≤ 0.05).

At the beginning of the study, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of the markers. Six-week aerobic training increased Klotho (mean: 540, lower: 141.5, upper: 938.4) and IL-10 (mean: 0.43, lower: -1.56 upper: -0.47) in experimental group in comparison to control group (P = 0.001). Six-week aerobic training decreased IL-1 (mean: 0.78, lower: -1.16 upper: -0.39) and H2O2 (mean: 0.41, lower: -0.96, upper: 0.12) in experimental group in comparison to control group (P = 0.001).

In sum, six-week moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program increased Klotho and IL-10 levels and decreased IL-1 and oxidative stress levels in young women with a sedentary lifestyle. According to these results, the decrease in oxidative stress and IL-1 levels due to exercise caused an increase in Klotho, and an increase in Klotho level, in turn, increased IL-10.

Treatment of cardiac syndrome X (CSX) remains a major challenge for conventional medicine. In this regard, developing new natural treatments could be an alternative choice. This study was planned to appraise the efficacy of chamomile-lemon balm syrup on chest pain and quality of life in patients with conventional drug-resistant CSX.

29 participants with conventional drug-resistant were enrolled in a single-arm clinical trial, and 14 participants completed the study protocol. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)-lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) syrup was provided for the treatment for the 90-day study period. All conventional treatments of CSX remained unchanged. Efficacy assessment included Seattle Angina Questionnaires (SAQ), 36-item short form survey, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

An improvement was observed in the total score of all questionnaires with statistically significant changes over time of the study (P < 0.001).

Chamomile-lemon balm syrup showed promising results in improving effect on angina symptoms, quality of life, and anxiety and depression in the patients with drug-resistant CSX. However, a placebo-controlled trial should be performed to verify these data.

According to the available evidence, changes in the design of medical centers, which can create a more comfortable, pleasant, and natural environment, have reduced the patient tensions and increased their satisfaction with the quality of treatment in the given centers. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the architecture and design of a supportive care environment on the treatment process in hospitals adopting a qualitative study design.

This qualitative study with a phenomenological approach was conducted to investigate the effect of an optimal supportive care environment in hospitals based on the experiences and opinions of experts, university professors of architecture, and doctors in hospitals. To this end, experts were interviewed qualitatively and, then, eight main themes as well as 22 sub-themes were classified by performing content analysis. Furthermore, the effect of the environment on the patients, treatment control length, blood pressure control, and subjective nature of the disease’s impact, as well as the effect of social relations on the vital signs, comprehensiveness and acceptability, place of using the supportive care model and a completely mechanical attitude towards humans in the modern period were all evaluated.

The effect of the optimal supportive care environment on the patients’ treatment processes was confirmed by qualitatively reviewing the experts’ viewpoints and collecting comprehensive information from other sources.

In sum, it was recommended that that the heads of the hospitals should consider the concepts of optimal supportive care environment when designing and/or reconstructing hospitals.

Patients with diabetes often suffer from chronic wounds which can occur due to the impairment of wound healing in these patients. Scientists have been trying to address this issue by using wide spectrum of antibiotics and drugs. However, overusing antibiotics in recent years has led to antibiotic resistant crisis; therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new approaches in order for controlling microbial infections in diabetic patients. This study aimed to determine if cold plasma was effective in wound healing in the infectious diabetic conditions.

In this experimental study, 40 adult male rats with diabetes infected with Staphylococcus aureus were included. The animals were randomly divided into two groups of 20 rats and four sub-groups (i.e., day 3rd, day 7th, day 14th, and day 21st). The rats in the treatment group were exposed to helium plasma irradiated for 3 minutes per day for 21 days. Wound healing in the samples was evaluated using five healing indexes including epithelium formation, Inflammatory cells, new vascularization, fibroblast, and collagen formation.

A significant difference (P<0.05) was found between the indexes in the plasma radiation group compared to the control group. The results showed that the speed of wound healing in the group treated with cold helium gas plasma was higher than that in the control group. Collagen formation was always completed faster in the helium plasma group, indicating the positive effects of helium plasma on infected diabetic wounds.

Helium plasma was remarkable effective in healing wound and controlling infections in diabetic rats.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of crocin and treadmill exercise on oxidative stress, sperm parameters, and testis structure in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

In this experimental study, 64 diabetic rats induced by a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of STZ (50 mg/kg) were assigned to the following groups (n=8/each): healthy control group, diabetic control group, diabetic group treated daily with crocin at a dose of 50 mg/kg, and one healthy group receiving daily crocin at a dose of 50 mg/kg for 56 days. Some groups such as the controls and diabetics exercised with treadmill, as well as the healthy and diabetic groups performed daily exercise with treadmill and crocin. After crocin treatment, all rats were anesthetized, their blood samples were taken, and the serum level of insulin, glucose, and oxidative stress markers were measured. Finally, the testicles and epididymis were removed and sperm parameters were assessed.

Treatment of diabetic rats with crocin along with treadmill exercise significantly replaced the testicular tissue damage, sperm parameters, glucose, and insulin plasma levels (P = 0.001). In diabetic rats, moreover, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was increased and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes activity were reduced in the testicular tissue (P = 0.001). Crocin administration (50 mg/kg BW) and exercise significantly improved these parameters (P < 0.05).

Our results confirm the antioxidant role of crocin and the positive role of treadmill exercise in improving the sperm parameters and testicular oxidative damage caused by diabetes.

Gastroduodenal perforation (GDP) is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain in children.

A 12-year-old boy presented with abdominal pain around the periumbilical and epigastric region on 7previous days. His familial history was significant for sickle cell anemia in the mother and minor thalassemia in the father. He had been diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at the age of 4 years and had received blood transfusion and hydroxyurea every month. At physical examination, a distended abdomen and decreased intestinal sounds were seen. Also, he had a history of cholecystectomy (for cholelithiasis). Fecal occult blood was detected, while no Helicobacter pylori antigen was present. Abdominal ultrasound examination revealed splenomegaly and evidence of free fluid. Surgical results showed bile discharge in the abdominal cavity, and perforation of duodenum and pylorus.

Since the symptoms of GDP in children are non-specific, especially in children with sickle cell anemia, it should be considered in these patients with abdominal pain.