یوسف رسمی

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. Pioglitazone can lower insulin resistance and has anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this work was to develop pioglitazone-loaded nanofibers and to evaluate their effect as a dermal implant device to lower blood glucose levels. The effect of pioglitazone-loaded nanofiber was investigated as a wound dressing in diabetic Wistar rats.

In this work, nanofibers were developed using the electrospinning method. The structure and characteristics of the fibers were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The effect of nanofiber implants was evaluated on blood glucose levels , and their wound healing effect was investigated in diabetic wounds in a Wistar rat model.

The developed formulations did not show any effect in lowering blood glucose when used as an implant; however, they were able to accelerate the wound healing rate when used as a dressing in the wound model. This effect might be due to the anti-inflammatory properties of the drug. The developed wound dressing was able to accelerate the formation of the epidermis and dermis layers in the wound model.

Histological studies indicate that wounds treated with pioglitazone-loaded nanofibers exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect and therefore can increase the wound healing rate. These drug-loaded nanofibers enhanced the development of collagen and improved the formation of the epidermis and dermis while reducing the number of inflammatory cells. The developed drug delivery system was not able to significantly decrease blood glucose levels in the animal model. This effect may be due to the low drug loading capacity as well as its poor aqueous solubility.

Betaine, a multifunction molecule, has a cardio protective feature but the mechanism is not well-understood. Hence, we evaluated the effect of betaine on cardiac tissue and serum biomarkers. Betaine administered to Albino rats at 50, 150 and 250 mg/kg, and sham group received deionized water. Myocardial infarction was induced by isoproterenol (100 mg/kg). The tunnel test and immunohistochemistry were performed on heart tissue to detect apoptosis and nitric oxide levels respectively. Serum levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured with colorimetric methods. The apoE and Bcl-2 gene expression were measured by RT-PCR in heart tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The results showed that betaine pretreatment at 250mg/kg for 60 days which reduces the apoptotic cells in the heart tissue after isoproterenol-induced myocardial infraction (P= 0.038). Cardiac Bcl-2 levels were upregulated by betaine, in which the maximum levels were observed in 150 mg/kg dosage. Similar finding was observed in the apoE expression in PBMCs. The tissue NOS levels were not change by betaine pretreatment significantly. Both superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidation levels were reduced by betaine pretreatment dose dependently. Our results confirm the protective effect of betaine pretreatment that is mediated by Bcl-2 and anti-oxidative properties.

Testicular function is modified by maturational gonadostatic control highly susceptible to negative physiologic niche-altering factors like UV-rays.

This study was performed in order to uncover new aspects of Compact Florescent Lamps (CFLs) induced damages on the testicular tissue of rats and evaluating the effect of curcumin on testis of rats after exposure to compact florescent Lamps.

Twenty-four adult male Albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group (ethyl oleate 0.2 ml, IP, for 45 days, without CFLs exposure), fluorescent group (ethyl oleate 0.2 ml, IP, daily and treated with 12 hr CFLs exposure for 45 days) and curcumin group (curcumin 20 μ M, IP along with 12 hr CFLs exposure for 45 days). The rats were anesthetized at the end of the experiment. Gonadotropin hormones and prolactin levels were measured; Histopathological and histomorphometrical analysis of the testis was carried out.

Results of this study showed that CFLs significantly decreased serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin, testicular weight, sperm motility, TDI, and SPI. Furthermore, CFLs had no effect on serum levels of luteinizing hormone and sperm count and also, increased abnormal sperm shapes. Our results also showed that curcumin supplementation following CFLs reversed these alterations.

These results strongly suggest that CFLs severely impairs testis while curcumin as an antioxidant had protective effects on undesirable effects in testis induced by CFLs.

The altered levels of some essential trace elements and antioxidant minerals have been observed in diabetic patients. Zinc, as an antioxidant and essential trace element, plays a significant role in the function of many enzymes. Altered zinc content seems to be one of the contributing factors in the pathogenesis of this disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate serum level of zinc (Zn) and the correlation between zinc and fasting blood sugar (FBS) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and their first-degree relatives (FDR). Methods & Materials: 46 subjects with T2DM, 46 FDR and 50 healthy subjects were involved in this study. Serum concentrations of Zn were measured by colorimetric kit (Biorex, UK). Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was assayed using the standard kit (made by Pars Azmoon Inc., Tehran, Iran).

We found decreased levels of Zn (P<0.001) in FDR when compared to healthy controls. FBS levels were negatively correlated with Zn (r=0.431,P=0.003) in patients with T2DM. However, there was no correlation between FBS level and Zn (r=0.024,P=0.8) in FDR.

Finally, patients with T2DM and their FDR has altered metabolism of Zn which may contribute to increased risk of developing T2DM later on in FDR’s life.

Effect of different concentrations of salicylic acid on postharvest life of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) cultivar Hayward at 0 ±.5 °C and 90-95% RH was studied. Fruits were treated with salicylic acid (0, 1 and 2 mmol/L-1) and stored at 0±.5°C for 16 weeks. Fruit quality attributes assessment including firmness, total acidity, soluble solid content, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity, catalase enzyme activity and total protein content was conducted after 8 and 16 weeks of cold storage. Salicylic acid treatment significantly retained fruit firmness and 2 mmol/L-1 was the most effective treatment in retaining fruit firmness. salicylic acid treatment also had a significant effect on total acidity after 16 weeks and ascorbic acid after 8 weeks, but had no significant effect on soluble solid content. Salicylic acid significantly affected on antioxidant activity. Effect of salicylic acid had a significant increase in catalase enzyme activity and total protein content after 16 weeks of cold storage.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the key enzyme required for the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Two cycloxygenase isoforms have been identified and are referred to as COX-1 and COX-2. Both enzymes are blocked by nonselective anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), such as indomethacin and ibuprofen. COX-1 is an enzyme normally found in tissues and is involved in physiological functions, while COX-2 is an acute phase reactant associated with inflammation. Recently, COX-2 has been found to be associated with hyperalgesia, angiogenesis, cancer and Alzheimers disease. The suggestion that COX-2 is causally linked to cancer offers a new approach to extending our knowledge about the neoplastic phenomenon and improving management of human malignant diseases.