farhad koohpeyma

Long-term consumption of pump inhibitors causes osteoporosis. Some possible mechanisms are gastrin over-secretion and hypochlorhydria. Octreotide is a somatostatin analog that inhibits the secretion of many hormones such as gastrin. This study aimed to assess the effects of pantoprazole on the bone when used with octreotide in an animal model. 

Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups: A) pantoprazole 3 mg/Kg/day orally; B) Sandostatin LAR 1 mg/month intramuscular injection; C) Pantoprazole and Sandostatin LAR; and D) Control group. After 90 days of the experiment, bone densitometry was done and serum and urine samples were collected for analysis. 

The results indicated a significant decrease in the global, spine, femur, and tibia bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) in the pantoprazole group compared to the control group (P<0.05). There was a significant increase in the levels of PTH, gastrin, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the pantoprazole group compared to the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the serum levels of gastrin, PTH, ALP, and also BMD in the rats that received sandostatin+ pantoprazole or sandostatin alone, compared to the control group.

This study showed that the pantoprazole-induced bone loss, through elevation of serum gastrin and PTH, was preventable by concomitant use of a long-acting somatostatin analog.

Paricalcitol has been proposed for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with renal failure and vitamin D deficiency (VDD); however, VDD is related to a range of clinical complaints. We aimed to investigate the effects of paricalcitol on body composition in VDD rats. Thirty adult male rats aged 10 weeks were randomly divided into three groups of 10, comprising control, VDD, and VDD plus paricalcitol (32 ng/rat intraperitoneal injection) (VDD+P), at the Animal Lab of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz, Iran, in 2020. Body composition was assessed after three weeks via serum biochemical tests and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Finally, the data were analyzed by using the paired-sample t test, the one-way ANOVA, and the Tukey post hoc test. Global lean mass and fat mass were lower in the VDD and VDD+P groups than in the controls (P<0.001). Global fat percentage was reduced significantly in the VDD+P group (P=0.029). Paricalcitol reduced global fat mass and fat percentage in a rat model with VDD. Evaluation of insulin and adiponectin levels is suggested to clarify the physiology of paricalcitol in VDD states.

Osteoporosis, as a skeletal disorder caused by aging, is considered a major health problem. This work was planned to assess the effect of the black olive hydroalcoholic extract on bone mineral density and biochemical parameters in ovariectomized rats.

Ninety 6-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 7 sets: control (received saline); sham-operated control, Ovariectomized (OVX) rats (received saline); 3 groups of black olive-supplemented OVX rats (respectively, receiving 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg body wt black olive extract orally); and estrogen group (receiving 3 mg/kg/day estradiol valerate). Blood samples were collected 2, 4 and 6 months after treatment to measure calcium (Ca), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and phosphorus (P). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was applied to measure the bone mineral density (BMD). Global, lumbar spine and lower limb BMD was measured.

Ca concentration was significantly increased in the group treated with the highest dose of black olive hydroalcoholic compared to the OVX group (p <0.001). In addition, a significant decrease in ALP concentrations in the group treated with the highest dose of black olive hydroalcoholic comparing with the OVX group was observed (p <0.001). The global, tibia, femur and spine BMD in the group treated with the highest dose of black olive hydroalcoholic and estrogen group were significantly increased compared to the OVX group (p <0.05).

Black olive hydroalcoholic extract at the dose of 750 mg/kg, prevented bone loss and augmented bone mineral density and could be a possible candidate for the management of osteoporosis.

Resveratrol and Berberis integerrima (B. integerrima) are known to be natural antioxidants and regulators of human metabolism. However, the effects of resveratrol and B. integerrima on the ovarian morphology in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are not obvious.

This study aimed to determine the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of B. integerrima in combination with resveratrol on some biochemical parameters and ovarian morphology in the letrozole-induced PCOS rat.

Seventy adult female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 10-12 weeks  weighing 200 ± 20 gr were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 10/each). Group I): normal; Group II): vehicle; Group III): letrozole-induced PCOS 1 mg/kg letrozole orally, rats receiving 1 cc normal saline orally; Group IV): PCOS + receiving 150 mg/kg metformin orally; Group V): PCOS + receiving 20 mg/kg resveratrol orally; Group VI): PCOS + 3 gr/kg barberry orally; and Group VII): PCOS + receiving 3 gr/kg barberry and 20 mg/kg resveratrol orally. All animals were followed-up for 63 days. The biochemical parameters and histological assessments of ovaries were performed.

Resveratrol alone and/or in combination with B. integerrima treatment in rats led to a significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, malondialdehyde , and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations (p = 0.02). The groups IV, V, VI, and VII showed a decrease in insulin resistance and an increase in the superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, and high-density lipoprotein (p =0.01). No significant difference was observed between the level of serum glucose in the treatment groups. Number of cystic follicles had a significant decrease in barberry, resveratrol, and their combination groups (p < 0.001).

Resveratrol, B. integerrima, and their combination as natural products with fewer side effects might be effective as an alternative medicine in treatment of PCOS.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease resulting from inflammatory destruction of islets β-cells. Nowadays, progress in cell therapy, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) proposes numerous potential remedies for T1D. We aimed to investigate the combination therapeutic effect of these cells with insulin and metformin on neuropeptide Y, melanocortin-4 receptor, and leptin receptor genes expression in TID.

One hundreds male rats were randomly divided into seven groups: the control, diabetes, insulin (Ins.), insulin+metformin (Ins.Met.), Wharton’s Jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs), insulin+metformin+WJ-MSCs (Ins.Met.MSCs), and insulin+WJ-MSCs (Ins.MSCs). Treatment was performed from the first day after diagnosis as diabetes. Groups of the recipient WJ-MSCs were intraportally injected with 2× 10⁶ MSCs/kg at the 7th and 28th days of study. Fasting blood sugar was monitored and tissues and genes analysis were performed.

The blood glucose levels were slightly decreased in all treatment groups within 20th and 45th days compared to the diabetic group. The C-peptide level enhanced in these groups compared to the diabetic group, but this increment in Ins.MSCs group on the 45th days was higher than other groups. The expression level of melanocortin-4 receptor and leptin receptor genes meaningfully up-regulated in the treatment groups, while the expression of neuropeptide Y significantly down-regulated in the treatment group on both times of study.

Our data exhibit that infusion of MSCs and its combination therapy with insulin might ameliorate diabetes signs by changing the amount of leptin and subsequent changes in the expression of neuropeptide Y and melanocortin-4 receptor.

The tendon repairs slowly. Platelets’ alpha granules contain polypeptide growth factors that stimulate proliferation of normal connective tissue cells. The acute phase of inflammation is necessary for healing progress and fibroplasia. Platelet growth factors initiate and accelerate the inflammatory response by the host. This study aimed to investigate if platelet-rich plasma (PRP) helps tendon gap healing. Aseptic surgery was performed on 24 mature guinea pigs in four groups to excise a 7-mm piece of the deep digital flexor (DDF) tendon of the right hind leg. In groups 1 and 2, the two ends of the severed tendon were sutured in the fascia conduit; group 2 received PRP injection into the conduit. In groups 3 and 4, the two ends of the severed tendon were sutured in a silicone tube conduit, and group 4 received PRP injection. After 42 days, the animals were euthanized and tendon samples were collected for further study. The histopathological and stereological data showed that inflammation was far less in PRP-treated groups as they showed more fibroblastic proliferation. The synergistic effects of silicone tube and PRP injection showed the least inflammatory response. The diameter of collagen bundles and their volume were higher in the groups which received PRP in the silicone conduit. The present study found that PRP improved healing of tendon injury and silicone conduit served as good surgical technique with synergistic effect beside PRP.

Oxidative stress leads to reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction, which causes tissue injury in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Zataria multiflora extract on TNF-α, oxidative stress products, and insulin levels as well as lipid profile in diabetic rats. Rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 10 animals. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Control and diabetic control rats orally received 1 mL/day of normal saline, whereas the other three groups received 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day of Z. multiflora extract, and one non-diabetic group orally received 1000 mg/kg/day Z. multiflora extract, for 28 days. At the end of the treatment course, rats were anesthetized and their serum samples were analyzed for TNF-α, malondialdehyde (MDA), super oxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), lipid profile, total plasma protein, blood glucose, insulin, and liver enzymes levels. Our results showed that cholesterol, LDL, TG, MDA and TNF-α levels decreased, but HDL, SOD, TAC, and total protein increased significantly in the diabetic group receiving 1000 mg/kg Z. multiflora compared to the diabetic control group (P<0.05). Moreover, blood glucose level was significantly reduced following administration of different concentrations of Z. multiflora. Liver sections of diabetic rats treated with Z. multiflora 1000 mg/kg showed normal hepatocytes and restoration of liver architecture. Z. multiflora extract ameliorated oxidative stress, TNF-α serum level, lipid abnormality, blood glucose, and liver damage in rats with diabetes mellitus.

Several plants have been shown to possess antioxidant and estrogenic properties that can be useful in postmenopausal bone-loss prevention. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-osteoporotic effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of the Psidium guajava (PG) fruit in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Sixty female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: a control positive group, a sham-operated group, an OVX group given normal saline (OVX-only group), and 3 treatment groups comprising 2 OVX groups treated orally with 500 and 1000 mg/kg/d of the hydroalcoholic extract of the PG fruit respectively and an OVX group treated with an injection of 0.15 mg/kg of estradiol. The study was conducted over a 12-week period. Samples from the animals’ blood, femoral bones, and uteri were collected for stereological and biochemical analyses. The data were analyzed using SPSS, version 19. A P value equal to or less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results revealed a significant decrease in the levels of calcium, total antioxidant capacity, and phosphorus as well as uterus weight, femoral ash density, femoral volume and weight, and numbers of osteocytes and osteoblasts. Moreover, there was an increase in the levels of alkaline phosphatase and urine deoxypyridinoline together with a rise in the number of osteoclasts in the OVX-only group compared to the control and treatment groups (P≤0.05). The hydroalcoholic extract of the PG fruit increased femoral weight and volume, femoral ash density, numbers of osteocytes and osteoblasts, and trabecular volume of the bones in comparison with the OVX-only group in a dose-dependent manner. No significant difference was observed between the groups in the levels of malondialdehyde and interleukin-6. The hydroalcoholic extract of the PG fruit prevented OVX-induced bone loss in the rats, with no proliferative effect on atrophic uteri; it should, therefore, be considered for treatment purposes.

The current study aimed at evaluating testis parameters and spermatogenesis changes in male rats administrated by different busulfan doses and time to construct a subfertile animal model by stereological methods. In the present study, 150 male Wistar rats randomly divided into 5 groups. All experimental groups were treated by different concentrations of busulfan (0.0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 mg/kg). Rats were sacrificed 1, 15, and 30 days after busulfan treatment. The tissue processing was done for stereological study and the results were analyzed by the one-way ANOVA followed by the Duncan test. The most stereological parameters such as testes weight and volume, tubules volume density, interstitial tissue (P<0.05), and germinal epithelium (P<0.01) were significantly reduced by busulfan treatment. Also, at different busulfan doses, the number of spermatogenic cells including spermatogonia (P<0.05), spermatocyte, round and elongated spermatid, and the Sertoli and Leydig cells (P<0.01) significantly decreased, compared with those of the control group. The decline was more obvious in higher busulfan doses and time (from the day 15 to 30) (P<0.05). Most of testicular stereological parameters reduced during 15 days onwards after busulfan treatment in a dose-dependent manner.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is characterized by increased fracture risk. However, each approved treatment has specific side effects. Therefore, foods with plant origins have increasingly attracted attention as an alternative treatment. Studies have shown that Elaeagnus angustifolia (EA) has antioxidant properties. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of EA hydroalcoholic extract on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats using stereological methods.
Material and 55 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control, sham operated (normal saline), ovariectomized (OVX), OVX EA fruit extract (600 mg/kg BW/day), and OVX estradiol benzoate (3 mg/kg BW) for 16 weeks. Blood samples were collected to measure calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) plasma levels. Then, specimens from tibia and fifth lumbar vertebra (L5) bones were prepared and stereological analysis was done.
Ovariectomy significantly decreased the calcium level and increased the ALP level in the OVX group. In spite of improvement in calcium hemostasis in groups treated with estrogen and EA fruit extract (p The results showed that EA extract exerted more effects, markedly, on osteoblastogenesis in the OVX rats. Thus, it could be considered as a potential agent to treat patients with osteoporosis.