سعید یعقوبی بکلر

Cyclophosphamide (CP), as an anticancer agent, causes ovarian toxicity and subsequent infertility in women. Atorvastatin (ATV) at a low dose has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of ATV against CP-induced ovarian injury in rat.

In this experimental study, thirty-two female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups as I) control, II) ATV (10 mg/kg), III) CP (150 mg/kg), and IV) CP ĵ. The ATV treated groups were received ATV for 10 days via oral gavage. In the CPĵ group, ATV was administrated on 5 days before and 5 days after CP injection. Histological structure, apoptosis (caspase-3), oxidative stress parameters as malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, protein carbonyl levels and cell viability were evaluated in ovary tissue by histological scores, immunohistochemistry, histochemical and biochemical assays. The levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones were measured on the 12th day of study.

ATV pretreatment significantly decreased the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers as malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and protein carbonyl levels and increased cell death in CP-treated rats as compared with the CP alone group. ATV significantly increased estrogen and progesterone levels in CP-treated rats. In addition, the histological examination showed ATV mitigated acute inflammation, degenerative cells in stroma and follicles, stromal edema, vacuolization, atresia of the follicles and congestion of blood vessels in the CP-treated animals. Furthermore, ATV significantly reduced immunoreactivity level of caspase-3 in CP-treated rats.

Our results showed that the ATV with antioxidant and anti-apoptosis (caspase-3) activities protected ovarian against CP-induced toxicity.

Background and Diazinon (DZN), as an organophosphate insecticide, is used in agriculture and have destructive effects on heart. Zingiber officinale (ginger), as a medicinal plant has antioxidant properties. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of ginger against DZN-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.
In this experimental study, 32 adult female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, including control, and experimental groups that received ginger (100 mg/kg/day, gavage), DZN (10 mg/kg/day, IP injection), and ginger plus DZN. Ginger was given one hour before diazinon. All drugs were treated for 30 consecutive days. One day after receiving the last drug, oxidative stress parameters (MDA and GSH), serum biochemical, and histopathological assays of heart have been done. Data were analysed using One-Way ANOVA and Tukey test.
The results revealed that DZN significantly increased oxidative stress (increased MDA and decreased GSH content). Histopathological changes induced in heart tissue, were associated with a significant increase in level of cardiac injury markers (CPK and LDH level) in serum. Ginger significantly reduced oxidative stress, decreased CPK, LDH, and improved histopathological damages.
Ginger with antioxidant activity has an effective role against DZN-induced cardiac injury by reducing oxidative stress.

Background and Drug-poisoning is amongst major health problems throughout the world. Evidence shows high prevalence of drug-poisoning in Iran. This study investigated the epidemiology of drug-poisoning death in central cities of Mazandaran province (Sari, Qaemshahr, Behshahr, Juybar, and Chhardangeh).
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of all fatality records caused by drug-poisoning over a five-year period (2011-2016) in Sari Department of Forensic Medicine. Data was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. SPSS V21 was applied for data analysis.
The cases included 31.1% females and 68.9% males. The majority of people (43.6%) aged 15-30 years. The most prevalent medicine were Aluminium phosphide (65.5%), Opium (24.3%), Ethylic alcohol (5.7%), and Tramadol (4.5%).
In this study, a high prevalence of drug toxicity was seen in young individuals, therefore, further investigations on psychological and social problems of young people are needed. Aluminium phosphide was found to be the most common type of drugs since it is found easily. Necessary measurements such as early diagnosis and patient’s participation could decrease the rate of mortality caused by drug poisoning.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease with hyperglycemia, decrease in insulin secretion or de-sensitization of peripheral cells to insulin. Onosma is a species of Boraginaceae which although it is used in traditional medicine for its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties, data on its anti-diabetic effects are limited. This research has been designed to assess it's anti-diabetc, anti-neuropathy and anti-oxidative stress effects in an in-vivo model of diabetes.
Hydroalcoholic extract was prepared from over-ground organs, (shoots and leaves) and underground organs (roots), and administered by gavage (50 mg/kg) for 3 weeks to mice in a streptozocin induced diabetic model. After the treatment period, blood glucose, weight and neuropathy were determined and for positive control, metformin (50 mg/kg) was used. After removing the brain and liver of mice and homogenization of tissues, the MDA and Glutathione contents of the tissues have been assayed by a colorimetric method.
Results of this research show that hydroalcoholic extract of Onosma d. has anti-diabeti properties which have beneficial effects for some parameters such as hypoglycemia and reducing MDA, the effect of underground organs as roots extracts were better. However for increasing weight, diminishing neuropathy and increasing GSH contents, the effects of over-ground organs as leaves and shoots extracts were more significant.
Results of this research indicate the anti-diabetic and anti-neuropathy properties of Onosma dichroanthum as a herbal medicine, related to its anti-oxidant abilities and limited side effects, can hence be used for treatment with other anti-diabetic drugs.

Background and Cyclophosphamide (CP) is used as an anti-cancer and immunosuppressive agent and it is accompanied with severe cardiotoxicity and anemia. Atorvastatin (ATV) is a widely used medication in hypercholesterolemia that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties at low dose. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of ATV on cyclophosphamide-induced cardiotoxicity and hematotoxicity in rats.
Thirty two rats were randomly divided into four groups as following: control group that received normal saline; CP group that received CP intraperitonealy single dose (150 mg/kg); the ATV group that were treated through gavage (10 mg/kg) for 10 days; and ATV CP that received ATV five days before and five days after CP treatment. The animals were killed three days after the last treatment.
Administration of CP caused heart damage through increased activity of cardiac marker enzymes, such as CK-MB and LDH. Histological evaluation of heart tissue showed interstitial edema, necrosis, hemorrhage, congestion, and vacuole around the nucleus. The number of red and white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin and hematocrit significantly decreased in the group that received CP. ATV significantly reduced the amount of oxidative stress enzymatic activity and heart tissue damage and preserved blood cell counts induced by CP.
These findings prove the protective role of ATV on CP-induced cardiotoxicity and hematotoxicity in mice.