مجله دانش و تندرستی در علوم پایه پزشکی
سال هجدهم شماره 1 (بهار 1402)

Menopause is a natural and inevitable component of women's lives and encompasses physiological, psychological, and social changes, including hot flashes, depression, muscle aches, inflammation, osteoporosis, and weight gain. Using herbal dietary supplements is an attractive approach to controlling obesity and associated complications. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of exercises in the water along with oleaster supplementation on C-reactive protein (CRP) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in overweight and obese postmenopausal women.

Forty-two postmenopausal women with a mean age of 52.97± 5.08, mean weight 73.95± 8.09 kg and mean height 156.057±7.56 Cm randomly divided into four groups: control (n=10), exercise+ placebo (n=10), supplement (n=10), and exercise+ supplement (n=12). The exercise+ placebo group conducted eight weeks of water exercise with an intensity of 60-74% of maximum heart rate twice a week, the supplement group received daily supplementation of 15 g daily, the exercise+ supplement group eight weeks both used supplements and exercised in water and the control group did not undergo any exercise or supplements during eight weeks. Blood samples were collected from subjects in two stages to evaluate the variables under fasting conditions. CRP and IGF-1 concentrations in serum were measured using an ELISA kit and mass spectrometry, respectively.

The results revealed a significant difference in C-reactive protein within the exercise+ supplement and supplement groups. Besides, there was a significant difference in insulin-like factor-1 among the three experimental groups (P<0.05).

The use of oleaster supplements and exercise in water has not been able to affect growth and inflammatory factors, so continuously taking oleaster supplements is not recommended for overweight postmenopausal women.

The presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the extract of different parts of pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum) makes this tropical fruit potentially an antitumor and antioxidant. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the toxicity effect of pomegranate peel and flower extract on MCF-7 breast cancer and to compare the antioxidant activity of pomegranate peel and flower extract.

The hydroalcoholic extract of pomegranate flowers and peel was extracted separately by the Soxhlet method. Then, MCF-7 cancer cells were cultured and proliferated, and the cytotoxicity of both extracts at different concentrations was measured by MTT assay for 48 hours. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of pomegranate flower and peel extract was compared by using a free radical scavenging assay (DPPH).

The results indicated that hydroalcoholic extracts of pomegranate flowers and peel significantly reduced the growth of MCF-7 cancer cells compared to the control group (P<0.05). IC50s of pomegranate flower and pomegranate peel extract were determined 417.6 μg/ml and 186.6 μg/ml, respectively. Besides, the antioxidant activity of pomegranate peel extract was higher than that of flowers. The highest antioxidant activity of pomegranate flower extract and pomegranate peel was determined at concentrations of 250 μg/ml and 62.5 μg/ml, respectively .

Based on our findings, extracts of pomegranate flowers and peel indicated antioxidant and anti-tumor properties.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease and so it is important to identify risk factors of CAD. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the genesis and the progression of CAD by affecting different pathways. The glutathione S-transferase is an enzyme that reduces ROS in the body. Therefore, polymorphisms that affect the activity of these enzymes must be recognized.

After collecting samples from 191 CAD patients and 191 healthy individuals identified by a cardiologist, the multiplexpolymerase chain reaction (multiplex-PCR) technique was used to diagnose null genotypes of glutathione S transferase T1(GSTT1) and M1(GSTM1). The lipid profile was assessed by the conventional colorimetric method.

The results indicated that the frequency of null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 in patients was 49.7% and 21.5%, respectively. However, in the control group, it was 37.7% and 16.8%, respectively. Only the null genotype of GSTM1 was associated with CAD (P=0.018, OR=1.46). Further analysis confirmed that the GSTM1 null genotype was not a significant risk factor for early-onset CAD (P=0.169).

In conclusion, the GSTM1 null genotype is involved in the susceptivity to CAD in the study population.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients suffer from anxiety and depression. Pioglitazone (PIOG) is effective in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of PIOG on anxiety and depression symptoms in the Streptozotocin (STZ) rat model of AD.

All the animals were divided into six groups: Control, DMSO, PIOG, sham-operated, STZ, and STZ plus DMSO or PIOG. For induction of AD, STZ (3mg/kg, 5μl/injection site) was injected into the lateral ventricles. After injection of PIOG (10 μl) or DMSO for 21 days, the behavioral tests were performed using sucrose preference, light-dark box, and elevated plus maze test.

The results showed that the STZ injection significantly reduced the entries, duration of presence in the light compartment and open arm of the elevated plus maze, and a percentage of sucrose preference compared to the control group. PIOG treatment in STZ-treated rats significantly increased the entries, duration of presence in the light compartment and open arm of the elevated plus maze, and a percentage of sucrose preference that indicated anti-depression and anxiolytic-like effects.

Based on our findings, the PIOG injection can reduce anxiety and depression-related behaviors in Alzheimer's rats.

Copper (Cu) involves in oxidation-reduction reactions, and its aggregation in the brain induces oxidative stress. However, previous studies reported a correlation between Cu plasma level and the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this study, the association between serum Cu level and dopaminergic neuronal death in substantia nigra was assessed in a 6- hydroxydopamine animal model of PD.

The 6-OHDA was injected into the medial forebrain bundle of rats by stereotaxic surgery. Behavioral tests were carried out in the second, fourth, and eighth weeks after the toxin injection to assess the severity of PD. Bloodletting was performed in the eighth week after the toxin injection. Then, dopaminergic neuron death in substantia nigra was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Copper content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

The severity of behavioral symptoms increased gradually after the toxin injection. However, there was no significant difference in serum copper levels among the experimental groups. According to the severity of behavioral symptoms, 6-OHDAtreated rats were divided into two subgroups symptomatic and asymptomatic. DAergic cell survival in symptomatic and asymptomatic subgroups was 83±16 and 45±10 %, respectively, which was lower than that in the control group. The serum copper level in the symptomatic subgroup was significantly lower than in the asymptomatic and solvent groups.

In conclusion, the decrease in serum copper level leads to intensive dopaminergic neuronal death in the substantia nigra.

Fluoxetine is a drug used to treat depression and has toxic effects on liver cells. Thymoquinone, the most important active ingredient in black seed (Nigella sativa), has several pharmacological effects, including sedation, reduced motor activity, and muscle relaxation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of thymoquinone on reducing the hepatotoxicity effects of fluoxetine.

A total of forty Wistar rats were treated with fluoxetine, thymoquinone, and silymarin for four weeks. Different techniques, including biochemical analysis, qRT-PCR, and histopathological examination, were performed to investigate the effect of drugs on the oxidant/antioxidant system and inflammatory responses.

Our results revealed that fluoxetine increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation and inhibited antioxidant systems in rat hepatocytes. In addition, fluoxetine increased the expression of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α and also the migration of lymphocytes to liver cells. In contrast, thymoquinone (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) significantly decreased MDA, PC, and TNF-α levels. Moreover, thymoquinone enhanced the catalytic activity of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and GSH. Thymoquinone only at a dose of 40 mg/kg can inhibit the infiltration of lymphocytes into the liver.

Thymoquinone exerted liver protective effects against fluoxetine hepatotoxicity by inducing antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. This study suggests that thymoquinone, in combination with fluoxetine, can be used to reduce liver damage.

According to previous reports, treatment of infertile women who are candidates for in vitro fertilization (IVF), about 15% of the oocytes remains immature. Therefore, finding an efficient approach to make these types of oocytes usable in the clinic, especially in women with limited oocytes, is necessary. One of these approaches is the laboratory culture of immature oocytes in such a way that the expression of genes involved in cytoplasmic maturation increases.

Forty-eight infertile women candidates for IVF donated their immature oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval. The obtained immature oocytes were randomly divided into two groups: the control group without in-Vitro culture and the intervention group in the form of 24-hour culture. The total oocytes of both groups (ninety-five immature oocytes) were pooled separately and analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR).

The level of expression of MT-ATP6 and BMP15 genes in the intervention group has a significant increase compared to the control group, with a fold change of 7.867± 3.12 and 6.327 ± 0.78, respectively (P<0.001). Furthermore, according to the morphological changes, 54% of the immature oocytes in the intervention group had resumed meiosis.

Increasing the expression of two cytoplasmic maturation genes, MT-ATP6 and BMP15 can cause the resumption of meiosis in immature oocytes. Therefore, this strategy can be promising in women with low eggs.

Methamphetamine abuse has been a global concern in the last few decades. An estimated 3.5 million people have been affected by methamphetamine abuse. Methamphetamine induces apoptosis in most cell lines. Pentoxyphilline, as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, can reduce methamphetamine-induced cell death by inflammation reduction.

PC12 cells were grown in a DMEM culture medium. Assays used in this study are listed below: MTT test for cell viability detection, LDH test for cytotoxicity measurement, caspase activity colorimetric assay kit (Bio-techne) for caspase- 3 activity diagnosis, Rhodamine 123 for detection of mitochondrial membrane potential, fluorescence microscope for measurement of antioxidant enzyme activities.

Pentoxyphilline increased cell viability and the Rhodamine-123 absorbance. Besides, it reduced cell cytotoxicity, caspase-3 activity, and (OH) generation in all concentrations of 1 nM to 100 μM (P<0.05) by an optimal concentration of 100 μM.

In conclusion, Pentoxyphilline, as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, can significantly reduce methamphetamineinduced cell death through its anti-inflammatory effects.