Pharmaceutical Sciences
Volume:18 Issue: 3, 2012

Addiction is a kind of disease that affects all the body, brain, behavior, and personality of a person. Although narcotics have been used for a long time, we cannot determine the exact time that human was acquainted with it. Tobacco was introduced to Muslims in 17th A.D (10 centuries after creation of Islam). Although, narcotic's abuse was not so important during the time of Honorable Prophet Mohammed and innocent Imams (S), and we dont have any specific verse or narration in this regard, since Islam is a universal and eternal religion, and have completely provided all the needs of the society at all ages, and has met all the humankind's wishes, so it has paid attention to this subject and has warned people from different sides about not using narcotics. Because of many adverse effects of drugs and smoke, and referring to some verses of Quran and some hadith, which have forbidden the malevolence we can conclude that muslims should avoid of smoking and drug abuse.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of plasmid molecular weight, plasmid aggregate size, plasmid concentration and DC current application on the transport of plasmids across Durapore, as a model membrane. Two plasmids (pUC19 and pCMVβ) with different molecular weights were amplified in Escherichia coli and purified on ion exchange columns (Qiagen). Plasmid integrity was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The concentrations of DNA were determined by the absorbance at 260 nm. Passive and Iontophoretic (cathodal) permeation experiments were performed through the sclera and the amount of plasmid was assessed using Quant-iT™ PicoGreen probe with fluorimeter. The aggregate size of plasmids in HEPES buffer (pH=7.4) were determined using particle size apparatus. The passive study results revealed no trans-membrane flux of plasmids. Application of cathodal Iontophoresis at current intensities of 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mA.cm-2 resulted in a higher transport of pUC19 across the membrane in comparison with pCMVβ. The permeation increased as the current or plasmid concentration increased. Electrophoresis studies revealed that use of platinum electrodes can degrade the plasmids. The aggregate size of pUC19 and pCMVβ were 62 ± 4 and 76 ± 7 nm respectively. Use of platinum electrodes in gene delivery can damage the DNA molecules. Application of Iontophoresis technique could be helpful in gene delivery especially for low molecular weight plasmids. Plasmid aggregates size is a characteristic property of plasmids in gene delivery across membranes.

The present study is designed to evaluate the radical scavenging activity, total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the MeOH extracts and their solid phase extraction fractions of A. spicigera and A. splendens. The antioxidant activity of the extracts and fractions were examined by DPPH method. Total phenol and total flavonoid quantities of the samples were determined spectrophotometrically using Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 reagents respectively. The 40% MeOH-water fractions in both plants exhibited the highest degree of free radical scavenging property (RC50 0.0094 ± 0.002, 0.0121 ± 0.003 mg/ml for A. splendens and A. spicigera, respectively) compared to that of the positive control quercetine 0.0039 mg/ml. As assumed, the amount of total phenolics was very high in 40% MeOH-water fractions (33.69 ± 1.49, 36.67 ± 2.26 mg GAE /100 g of dry extract of A. spicigera and A. splendens, respectively) and also this fraction has been found to be rich in flavonoids (96.41 ± 8.74, 129.80 ± 7.76 mg rutinoside per 100 g dry extract of A. spicigera and A. splendens, respectively). A positive result observed between the free radical scavenging activity potential and total phenol and flavonoid levels of samples.

Health care funders are struggling to meet the rising costs of medical treatments. Thalassemia is a costly disease. We aimed to examine the economic burden of thalassemia treatment in Iran. All thalassemic patients, registered at two hematology clinics of Tabriz in 2009 were invited to the study. Those who consented (100 patients) completed a simple questionnaire. The total cost of treating thalassemia was €1,730.52 per patient/year. Total annual direct cost was €146,621.49 and indirect cost was €26430.22 for 100 patients. Blood transfusion and nursing charges were the most costly expenditures. It is estimated that up to €26 million/year is spent for treatment of all registered thalassemic patients in Iran. This study showed that a large amount of money is paid for thalassemia treatment by the government and patients. When the income of an average Iranian is considered, the magnitude of problem emerges.

Athletes use variety of ergogenic aids such as caffeine to improve their performance. Many factors such as oxidative stress, muscular-damage and decreased immune function may have negative effect on athletic performance. However effects of caffeine on mentioned factors in female athletes after supramaximal exercise are rare and obscure. In this double-blind, cross-over study, 26 female basketball players supplemented with 5mg.kg-1 caffeine or dextrose as a placebo followed by Wingate test. Blood samples were obtained before and 5 minutes post-exercise for determining the serum malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), creatine kinase (CK) activity and blood’s white blood cells (WBC). Kolmogrov-smirnov statistic test and paired t-test were used to analyze data. After the Wingate test, WBC, lymphocyte, granulocyte count and serum MDA levels, were increased significantly in both groups(P<0.001). No significant differences were observed in increased levels between caffeine supplemented and placebo groups(P>0.05). Furthermore the changes in CK activity and TAC levels were not statistically significant in any of the groups (P>0.05). The findings indicated that 5mg.kg-1 caffeine supplementation did not have significant adverse effect on oxidative stress, exercise-induced muscle damage and leukocytosis after Wingate test.

It is well clear that repeated use of opioid drugs leads to physical dependence and tolerance. Dependance can be measured by evocation of abstinence sign by abrupt drug withdrawal or administration of a narcotic antagonist or both. Effect of Salvia macrosiphon aerial parts extract and Withania coagulans root extract on morphine dependence were investigated in mice. After induction of dependence by morphine, distilled water was injected to the control group and different concentrations of plants aerial and root parts extract were injected to the other groups. To assess morphine withdrawal, mice were injected naloxone (5mg/kg) i.p. on the5th day. After four consecutive days of morphine injection, withdrawal syndrome was assessed by placing each mouse in a 30cm high glass box and recording the incidence of escape jumps for 60 minutes. Animal receiving acute treatment with morphine displayed dependence. The animals treated with different Salvia macrosiphon aerial (flowered browse) parts extracts concentration could decrease incidence of escape jumps in number or decrease development of morphine dependence and on the other hand, addiction was observed following naloxone administration. Results of the present study showed that the highest activity in methanolic extract of roots that at 200 mg/kg i.p. inhibited 97% incidence of escape jumps (for 60 minutes).