mahin dianat

Laboratory experiences are needed to develop practical skills in medical education. Strengthening practical skills is important for the future career development in medical students. This study aims to survey the perceptions of medical students about practical physiology course in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (AJUMS), Iran.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2022. Participants were 177 medical students from the Faculty of Medicine at the AJUMS. Data collection tools included a demographic form and a researcher-made questionnaire. SPSS software, version 22 was used for data analysis.

The student’s grade point average (GPA) for the practical physiology course was 16.98 ±2.32, ranging from 10.5 to 20. The mean total score of the questionnaire was 66.44 out of 95, which is higher than the average, indicating a favorable perception of the practical physiology course. There was a significant relationship between students’ perceptions and practical physiology GPA (P<0.05).

Medical students of AJUMS have positive perceptions of practical physiology course presentation in the university.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sudden shift towards the use of online teaching method in medical education. This study aims to investigate the knowledge and attitude of medical students towards the online learning of physiology at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (AJUMS).

This is a descriptive-analytical study conducted in 2021. The study population consists of all students of the School of Medicine (semesters 2-4) at AJUMS. Data collection tools included a demographic form and a researcher-made questionnaire with a content validity index of 0.80-1 and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) of 0.937.

Among 176 participants, 92 (52.3%) were female and 84 (47.7%) were male, with a mean age of 21.76±1.12 years. The knowledge and attitude of medical students regarding online learning of physiology were relatively favorable and positive. The knowledge and attitude scores were 3.51±0.81 and 4.23±1.07, respectively. The mean knowledge score was significantly different between male (Mean=3.65) and female (Mean= 4.11) students, but there was no significant difference in the attitude score between male (Mean=4.36) and female (Mean=4.11) groups.

The knowledge and attitude of medical students of AJUMS regarding the online education of physiology during the COVID-19 pandemic is relatively favorable. The results can be helpful for the studies in the future during health-related critical situations.

Liver cirrhosis often leads to various cardiovascular complications. Given the protective role of antioxidant agents in cardiovascular diseases, vanillic acid (VA) may play a preventive role due to its antioxidant properties. In this experiment, we examined the effects of VA on the ECG and vascular responses in the knee joints of rats with cholestasis-induced cirrhosis.  Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: sham, cirrhosis, cirrhosis + VA, and VA. Liver cirrhosis was induced by chronic (4-week) bile duct ligation (BDL). ECG (lead II) recordings were obtained on the first day and 4 weeks post-surgery. Laser Doppler flowmetry was employed 4 weeks after the surgery to assess blood flow changes in the knee joints of the animals.  On the first day, no significant differences were observed in the QRS complex voltage and QTc interval. However, 4 weeks post-BDL induction, the QTc interval significantly increased, while the QRS complex voltage and the blood vessel response decreased in the cirrhosis group. VA was found to have a mitigating effect on these parameters.  Cardiovascular complications in cirrhotic patients may result from an increase in free radicals. Therefore, it can be inferred that the reduction in cardiovascular complications observed in the cirrhosis group treated with VA is likely attributable to its antioxidant properties. (Iranian Heart Journal 2024; 25(4): 13-21)

Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) often results in failure of the right ventricle or even the left ventricle. Rosmarinic acid (RA), a natural polyphenol, is commonly found in Boraginaceae species and some species of ferns and hornworts. This study looked at how RA affects oxidative stress and left ventricular hemodynamic functions as well as RVH in monocrotaline (MCT) induced RVH model rats.

To cause RVH, MCT (60 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally (IP) injected. Rats were given saline or RA (10, 15, and 30 mg/kg, gavage, over 21 days). In anesthetized rats, the lead II electrocardiogram was recorded. The hemodynamic functions of the isolated heart were measured using the Langendorff apparatus (at constant pressure). Investigations were made into the right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI), the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and Wnt and β-catenin gene expressions in the left ventricle. H&E staining was used.

A significant decline in electrocardiogram parameters and anti-oxidant enzyme activities, an increase in QTc (Q-T corrected) intervals, MDA (Malondialdehyde), RVHI, and Wnt/β-catenin gene expression, and also significant changes in the hemodynamic parameters were demonstrated in the MCT group.  RA improved the above-mentioned factors.

According to the findings, RA may act as a cardioprotective agent against cardiovascular complications brought on by RVH due to its capacity to boost the activity of cardiac anti-oxidant enzymes and decrease the expression of genes involved in vascular calcification.

 Exams are considered one of the tools for measuring academic success. The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between the grades of different academic levels of the general medical doctorate course at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, as well as to assess the extent to which the test score of each course predicts the student's success in the subsequent course and the validity of the prediction criteria.

 The research was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in 2022. The participants were included in the study by census. The data included the scores of the comprehensive tests of basic sciences, pre-internship, and clinical qualification of incoming medical students in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Pearson's correlation test was used to assess the correlation between course scores. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered.

 In this study, the scores of 133 medical doctoral students were examined. The average scores for basic science, pre-internship, and clinical competence were 120.50, 116.16, and 16.72, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the score of the basic science test and the pre-internship of the doctoral course in the studied population.

 The correlation between the average scores of each comprehensive test and the subsequent test has gradually decreased. The decrease in correlation between the average scores of each test and the next test may be attributed to changes in the nature of the test and the lack of accurate assessment of students.

One of the high-risk groups for contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), are students of basic sciences and internships in the field of medicine. Therefore, the study was designed to determine the anxiety level of medical students and its relationship with their GPA (grade point average) at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (AJUMS) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in the academic year of 2020-2021 on medical students. Required information, including demographic characteristics, educational level, and level of anxiety was collected from a standard questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was using Cronbach's alpha method (α=0.919). The significance level was deemed p<0.05.

This study included 158 female students (47.4%) and 175 (52.6%) male participants. The average age of students was 22.65 years and the GPA was 15.36. The level of anxiety in female students was 48.1% higher than the male students 29.7% (p=0.001). Age had an inverse relationship with anxiety level (P<0.001). GPA had an inverse relationship with anxiety level (P=0.014) as well. The level of anxiety in basic science students was 68.5% more than internship students by 2.6% (P<0.001).

Anxiety caused by the COVID-19 in medical students at AJUMS showed an inverse relationship with GPA, and as the grade point average increased, the anxiety score decreased.Anxiety was higher in basic science students than intern students. The most concern of the students in both levels was related to the possibility of transmitting the COVID-19 to the people around them.

Serum and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 (SGK1) is an enzyme that may play an important role in ischemic-reperfusion (I/R) injury and myocardial dysfunction. Although many studies have been conducted on individual antioxidants, little attention has been paid to the effects of co-administration of an antioxidant with an SGK1 inhibitor on cardiac function after I/R.

This study aimed to determine the effects of gallic acid (as an antioxidant) combined with an SGK1 inhibitor on I/R-induced cardiac dysfunction and inflammation. Sixty male Wistar rats were randomized into 6 groups, pretreated with gallic acid or vehicle for 10 days. Subsequently, the heart was isolated and exposed to I/R. In groups that received the SGK1 inhibitor, the heart was perfused with the SGK1 inhibitor GSK650394, 5 min before induction of ischemia. After that, cardiac function, inflammatory factors, and myocardial damage were evaluated.

The combination of these two compounds improved cardiac contractility, heart rate, rate pressure product, left ventricular developed pressure, left ventricular systolic pressure, perfusion pressure, and QRS voltage significantly (P < 0.05). In addition, concomitant therapy of these two agents reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6, and the activity of creatine kinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase, and troponin-I (P < 0.05).

The results indicated that administration of gallic acid with the SGK1 inhibitor may have a potentiating effect on the improvement of cardiac dysfunction and I/R-induced inflammation.

Oxidative stress and serum and glucocorticoid-induced Kinase 1 gene (SGK1) perform a central role in the consequences of ischemia in the heart. This research aimed to investigate the effect of coadministration of gallic acid and the GSK650394 (as SGK1 gene inhibitor) on the ischemic complications of a rat model of cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. 

Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups with or without pretreatment with gallic acid for 10 days. After that, the heart was isolated and perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution. A 30 min of ischemia was performed followed by a 60 min reperfusion.  In 2 groups, GSK650394 was infused 5 min before ischemia induction. Ten minutes after reperfusion commencement, cardiac marker enzyme (CK-MB, LDH, and cTn-I) activities were measured in the cardiac perfusate. At the end of reperfusion, the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes (Catalase, Superoxide dismutase, and Glutathione peroxidase), lipid peroxidation (MDA), total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC), intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), infarct size, and SGK1 gene expression were measured in the heart tissue. 

The results indicated that dual therapy with both drugs significantly improved endogenous anti-oxidant enzyme activity and TAC more than each drug alone. However, the heart marker enzymes (CK-MB, LDH, and cTn-I), MDA, ROS, infarct size, and SGK1 gene expression were reduced significantly compared with the ischemic group. 

The results of this study suggest that concomitant administration of both drugs in the case of cardiac I/R injury may have a more beneficial effect than each one alone.

Studies show that chronic injuries like air pollution or acute damage such as hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) cause various cellular pathologies such as oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammation in hepatocytes. p-Coumaric acid (p-CA) is known as an antioxidant with many therapeutic impacts on inflammatory-related pathologies. In this experiment, we aimed to assess the hepatoprotective effects of p-CA on liver damage induced by dust and IR injury in adult male rats. 

Forty-eight adult male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups; Control (CTRL); sham; DMSO+Dust+Laparotomy (LPT); DMSO+Dust+Ischemia-reperfusion (IR); p-CA+Dust+LPT; and p-CA+Dust+IR. Clean air, DMSO, p-CA, and dust were administrated 3 days a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Animals were sacrificed, the blood samples were aspirated and the liver sections were prepared for biochemical and histopathological assessments. 

Significantly (P<0.05), the results represented that dust and IR can potentially increase the levels of ALT, AST, direct and total bilirubin, triglyceride, and cholesterol in serum. Also, MDA, TNF-α, NF-κB, HMGB-1, and ATG-7 levels were increased in hepatocytes. Gene expression of Nrf2, HOX-1, IL-6, HOTAIR, and miR-34a showed an incremental trend in the liver tissue. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in hepatocytes was decreased following dust exposure and IR induction. Also, miR-20b-5p, MEG3, and SIRT1 in the liver were decreased in dust and dust+IR groups. 

p-CA alleviated pathological changes caused by dust exposure and IR injury. p-CA protected hepatic injury induced by dust and IR by inhibition of oxidative injury, inflammation, and autophagy.

Particulate matter (PM) increases the risk of heart disorders. Gallic acid (GA) with strong antioxidant properties has shown an effective role in reducing the complications of various diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of Gallic acid in preventing cardiac arrhythmias due to exposure to particulate matter.

In this study, 40 rats were placed in 4 groups including: control, Particulate matter (5 mg/kg), Gallic acid (30 mg/kg) and particulate matter + Gallic acid. The rats were anesthetized, blood pressure was measured with a tail cuff, and the lead Π of electrocardiogram was examined to record the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias. Oxidative stress factors were evaluated in blood samples of all groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16 and ANOVA statistical test.

The results showed the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmia in rats exposed to particulate matter compared to the control group. Gallic acid significantly reduced the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias ventricular tachycardia (P=0.006), ventricular fibrillation (P=0.0005) and premature ventricular contraction (P=0.0041) in the particulate matter group. The Malondialdehyde levels in the particulate matter group showed a significant increase (P=0.0049) that this increase caused oxidative stress and reduced the levels of superoxide dismutase (P=0.00031) and catalase (P=0.0019) in the particulate matter group compared to the control group. The Gallic acid administration improved the levels of antioxidant enzymes.

The results of this study show that Gallic acid as a natural antioxidant agent could prevent cardiac complications caused by exposure to particulate matter.

Exposures to particulate matter (PM) have been related to increased risk for cardiovascular health effects and can promote cardiac ischemia and oxidative stress. Crocin has strong antioxidant properties and stress-reducing effects. Therefore, this study considered the effect of crocin on cardiovascular parameters in rats exposed to PM10. Forty Wistar rats (male, 250–300 g) were grouped as control, receiving normal saline and crocin, receiving PM10, receiving PM10+Crocin. Instillation of PM10 into the trachea was done. Forty-eight hours after exposure to the normal saline or PM, the heart was separated. Hemodynamic and electrophysiological factors were measured. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase activity (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), xanthine oxidase, were evaluated by kits. The voltage of the QRS complex was significantly reduced and PR and QTc intervals increased in PM10 groups. Hemodynamic parameters before ischemia and in the ischemic-reperfusion stage, in the PM10 group, showed a significant decrease. In the ischemic hearts of the PM10 group, a significant decline in the activity of CAT, SOD, and GPx, and a significant increase in MDA and XOX enzymes activity were observed, and crocin improved all of these factors.  Cardiac ischemia causes abnormal hemodynamic factors of the heart, which are exacerbated by PM10 and further reduce the heart’s contractile strength. Increased oxidative stress due to PM10 is probably one of the important reasons for these changes. This study suggests that the use of antioxidants such as crocin improves the cardiovascular adverse effects of myocardial ischemia and PM10 exposure.

Myocardial ischemia leads to electrical disturbance in the heart because of reactive oxygen specious. This study aimed to investigate the effects of gallic acid and cyclosporine A (CsA) together on electrocardiogram parameters in myocardium following ischemia - reperfusion (I/R) in isolated hearts.

In this research, 50 Wistar rats weighing 250-300g were randomly divided into the 5 following groups: control, sham and gallic acid (7.5, 15 and 30mg/kg) in combination with CsA (0.2μM). On the eleventh day, the hearts were removed and perfused with Krebs solution and ischemia was induced for 30min. Then, cyclosporine was administered for 10min at the 10 minutes before reperfusion and 10 minutes the beginning of reperfusion. By placing the electrode, the parameters of RR, PR, QT, TpeakTend, JT and QTcB interval, ST elevation, R, P, Q, S, T amplitude were recorded before ischemia and during reperfusion.

This study showed that RR, JT, interval, p duration, ST elevation and PVC numbers of control were increased during ischemia compared with sham and decreased using gallic acid (7.5, 15 and 30mg/kg) in combination with CsA. In addition, P, R, S, T amplitude during the ischemia were decreased in control compared with sham and increased with gallic acid (15mg/kg) in combination with CsA.

In conclusion, the optimal combination of both drugs decreased arrhythmia occurrence while increased electrical velocity of conduction and wave amplitudes in isolated myocardium after ischemia reperfusion injury.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome that causes brain disturbances. Thymoquinone (TQ) has a wide spectrum of activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TQ on spatial memory and hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in rats with thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver injury and hepatic encephalopathy. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into six groups randomly: 1) Control; 2) HE, received TAA (200 mg/kg); 3-5) Treated groups (HE+TQ5, HE+TQ10, and HE+TQ20). TQ (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally (IP) for 12 consecutive days from day 18 to 29. Subsequently, spatial memory performance was evaluated by the Morris water maze paradigm and hippocampal LTP was recorded from the dentate gyrus (DG) region. Activity levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in the hippocampal tissue. Data showed that the hippocampal content of MDA was increased while SOD activities were decreased in TAA-induced HE. TQ treatment significantly improved spatial memory and LTP. Moreover, TQ restored the levels of MDA and SOD activities in the hippocampal tissue in HE rats. Our data confirm that TQ could attenuate cognitive impairment and improve LTP deficit by modulating the oxidative stress parameters in this model of HE, which leads to impairment of spatial cognition and LTP deficit. Thus, these results suggest that TQ may be a promising agent with positive therapeutic effects against liver failure and HE defects.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is one of the major components of honeybee propolis and its structure is similar to flavonoids. CAPE has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties. Despite a wide range of biological activities of CAPE, detailed biochemical mechanisms of its action are poorly described. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effect of CAPE on isolated rat trachea.

A 20 mm long portion of rat tracheal spiral was submerged in 20 ml Krebs solution in an isolated organ bath at 37°C. Changes in tracheal contractility in response to the application of agonist agents were measured using an isometric transducer connected to a Harvard polygraph.

Acetylcholine (ACH), histamine (HIS), and CaCl2 caused the trachea to contract in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation of trachea with 10-7 M and 10-6M of CAPE induced a significant reduction in contraction induced by ACH and HIS. The degree of drug-induced tracheal contraction or relaxation was dose-dependent.

The CAPE potential to relax the trachea may antagonize cholinergic and histaminergic receptors of the trachea. The findings provide new insight into the effectiveness of CAPE in the control of asthma and the possible use of propolis for its treatment. The results highlight the anti-muscarinic, anti-histaminic, anti-inflammatory, and relaxant activities of CAPE and critically show its potential therapeutic effects.

Ocimum basilicum (OB) contains more than 30 plant species that are found in different regions, especially in Africa. OB contains various substances, especially Chavikol, Methyl Ether or Strangol, Linalool, and Agenol, which have antioxidant, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and anti-lipid properties. On the other hand, along with lifestyle changes, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, such as arrhythmias, which cause high mortality, is increasing. Moreover, the modern drugs used for arrhythmia can also induce another type of abnormal heart rhythm. Regarding the effectiveness and fewer side effects of herbal medicine, we decided to study the preventive effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of OB on CaCl2-induced arrhythmias in rats. Male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into the control group (2 weeks, normal saline, gavage) and three groups receiving different concentrations of hydro-alcoholic extract of OB (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, gavage for 2 weeks). The arrhythmia model was established using CaCl2 (IV, 140 mg/kg). The number of ventricular fibrillation (VF), ventricular premature (PVC), and ventricular tachycardia (VT) were studied. Also, the oxidative stress parameters, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were measured in heart tissue samples. Statistical analysis was done using Fisher’s exact test and ANOVA, and also, P < 0.05 was considered as a significant level. The obtained results showed that administration of OB caused a decrease in MDA and an increase in SOD levels, which were associated with improved electrocardiogram parameters and reduced cardiac arrhythmias, which suggests the therapeutic potential of the plant in cardiovascular disorders.

Particulate matter (PM) is an organic and inorganic mixture of particles of different sizes and chemical compositions. Positive correlations exist between the concentrations of air PM and respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, causing premature mortality and morbidity. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of PM on cardiac electrophysiology and the lipid profile in rats.
 
A total of 72 male Wistar rats (250–300 g) were divided into 6 groups: control (intratracheal instillation of 0.1-mL normal saline), PMA (intratracheal instillation of 0.5-mg/kg particles less than 10 μm [PM10]), PMB (intratracheal instillation of 2.5-mg/kg PM10), PMC (intratracheal instillation of 5-mg/kg PM10) twice at 48-hour intervals, calcium chloride (CaCl2) (140 mg/kg, intravenous), and isoproterenol (100 mg/kg, subcutaneous). After 48 hours, lead II electrocardiography was recorded and the inotropic and chronotropic properties of the heart and the incidence of arrhythmias were evaluated. Cardiac lipid parameters, including plasma cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides, and cardiac markers of myocardial infarction, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured.
 
After the administration of PM10, there was a significant decrease in the voltage of the QRS complex and the R-R interval in comparison with the control group. There was a significant increase in the number of arrhythmias (premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation) after PM10 administration. The administration of PM10 led to an increase in LDL, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDH, and CK-MB and a decrease in HDL in all the concentration groups.
 
PM10 can be introduced as an arrhythmogenic agent with the potential to affect the cardiac lipid profile by inducing cardiac damage and infarction. (Iranian Heart Journal 2021; 22(1): 33-41)

Cardiac arrhythmias are identified as the major cause of mortality and morbidity in neonates. Most term and preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) suffer from respiratory diseases, and generally aminophylline as a nonselective phosphodiesterase inhibitor is used. Although aminophylline has several physiological effects on the heart tissue, it has been recognized to have some side effects. Neonates are more prone to its cardiac side effects, notably arrhythmias.

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of fast and slow aminophylline injections on electrocardiographic parameters and arrhythmias in neonate rats.

Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats (10 days old, 50 g) were divided into 4 groups (8 in each): Group I and Group II were treated with 5 mg/kg of normal saline intravenously for 3 and 20 minutes, correspondingly, and Group III and Group IV were treated with a 5-mg/kg bolus of aminophylline intravenously for 3 and 20 minutes, respectively. On the experiment day, the rats were anesthetized with a mixture of ketamine (50 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg) with intraperitoneal injection, and lead II electrocardiograms were recorded. The femoral vein was cannulated using polyethylene catheters (PE50) for the intravenous injection of aminophylline (5 mg/kg) or normal saline.

The rats receiving aminophylline showed a dramatic reduction in the heart rate. Additionally, the PR interval and QTc significantly increased in the rats receiving aminophylline for 3 minutes. Moreover, complete heart blocks, premature ventricular beats, atrioventricular blocks (Mobitz I and Mobitz П), sustained and nonsustained ventricular tachycardias, and AV dissociations were observed.

The results of the current study indicated that a slow infusion rate could prevent the cardiac complications of aminophylline, particularly arrhythmias, in neonate rats.(Iranian Heart Journal 2020; 21(4): 33-42)

Cardiovascular disease has an important role in mortality caused by lung injury. Emphysema is associated with impaired pulmonary gas exchange efficiency and airflow limitation associated with small airway inflammation. The aim was to evaluate the interactions between lung injury, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. Since gallic acid has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, we hypothesized that gallic acid protects the lung and the related heart dysfunction in elastase-induced lung injury. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into six groups: Control, Porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) , PPE+GA, and 3 groups for different doses of gallic acid (GA 7.5, GA 15, GA 30 mg/kg). PPE was injected intra-tracheally on days 1 and 10 of the test. In each group, electrocardiography, hemodynamic parameters, oxidative stress, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were examined. PPE administration showed a decrease in HR and QRS voltage of electrocardiogram parameters, as well as in hemodynamic parameters (P<0.05, P<0.01, and P<0.001) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)  (P<0.05). Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α) (P<0.001), interleukin 6 (IL-6) (P<0.001), interleukin 6 (MDA) (P<0.001), and the total number of white blood cells (P<0.001) showed an increase in PPE groups. Gallic acid preserved the values of hemodynamic properties, oxidative stress, inflammation, and electrocardiogram parameters in comparison to the PPE group. Briefly, this study showed the valuable effect of gallic acid in cardiac dysfunction related to elastase-induced lung injury. These findings suggested that gallic acid, as a natural antioxidant, has a potential therapeutic effect on preventing oxidative stress, inflammation, and subsequent cardiovascular disease.

In cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory response plays an important role and affects heart function. As a flavonoid compound, p-coumaric acid (pCA), commonly exists in many fruits and vegetables and has a therapeutic effect on inflammatory diseases due to its anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of the present study was to investigate pCA anti-inflammatory effect and the miRNAs (miRs) signaling pathway involved in cardiac inflammation following lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into 4 groups: control (received saline for 10 days, i.p.), LPS (received saline for 10 days+5 mg/kg LPS on day 8, intratracheally), pCA (received pCA 100 mg/kg for 10 days, ip), and LPS+pCA (received LPS+pCA). The level of IL-1β, IL-18 in heart tissue and IL-1β in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was determined by ELISA kits. Also the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in heart tissue and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in lung tissue were measured, and pCA effect on miR- 146a in heart tissue was analyzed. Data showed that 100 mg/kg of pCA significantly suppressed LDH activity (p<0.05), IL-18 (p<0.05) and IL-1β (p<0.01) level in heart tissue. Also, in BAL, IL-1β and MPO levels were significantly reduced (p<0.001). Finally, pCA modulated activation of miR-146a (p<0.05) in LPS -induced cardiac injury. These findings indicated that LPS causes cardiac dysfunction and pre-treatment with pCA, as an anti-inflammatory agent, improved cardiac inflammation through modulation of miR-146a, and reducing cytokines and LDH activity.

Ventricular arrhythmias including ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are the most important causes of mortality rate. Gallic acid (GA) has beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of GA on electrophysiological parameters such as QRS complex, heart rate (HR), PR interval parameters, and ventricular arrhythmia following chemical induction in rat. Seventy-two male rats were divided into 9 groups (n=8). Chronic groups pretreated by GA (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg, orally) and normal saline (N/S, 1 ml/kg, orally) for 10 days. At the start of the experiments (the first day) and on the final day of the experiments (tenth day), the electrocardiogram (lead II) was recorded. At acute group, GA (50 mg/kg), and anti-arrhythmic drugs such as propranolol, amiodarone, and verapamil injected via intravenous (IV). Then, arrhythmia induced by a CaCl2 2.5% solution (140 mg/kg, IV). Afterward, percentage of premature ventricular beats (PVB), VF, and VT were recorded at 1, and 3 min. These findings showed that chronic and acute doses of GA have positive inotropic and anti-dysrhythmic effects by significant reduction of PVB, VT and VF on comparison with the control group. These actions are comparable to anti-arrhythmic drugs such as quinidine, propranolol, amiodarone, and verapamil. GA has not significant effect on chronotropic and dromotropic properties. Findings showed that GA has antiarrhythmic, and inotropic characteristics that suggested GA has effective for mild congestive heart failure, and cardiovascular disorders patients which susceptible to incidence of arrhythmias.

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) could increase the reactive oxidative stress in the cardiomyocytes. Also, some studies report cardiac arrhythmias following oxidative stressor such as I/R. Hence, this study was aimed to investigate the effects of ellagic acid (EA) against arrhythmias in a cerebral I/R model.

Thirty-two male rats were randomly allocated into four groups: Sham (normal saline, 10 days), EA (100 mg/kg EA, 10 days), I/R (20 min ischemia followed by 30 min reperfusion, 10 days), and EA + I/R (100 mg/kg EA before I/R). In all animals, electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded pre-ischemia and postischemia on the first and 11th days, respectively.

The I/R group showed an abnormally prolonged QTc interval after ischemia compared to the preischemia and control groups. EA administration in the EA+I/R group significantly reduced this prolonged QTc interval (P< 0.01). In the I/R group, ischemic/reperfusion resulted in a prolonged QRS complex and an elevated ST, which EA significantly prevented (P<0.01). In addition, EA significantly prevented the dramatically shortened RR interval induced by reperfusion (P<0.01). The incidence of ventricular fibrillation significantly increased in the I/R group; then it dramatically decreased following the administration of EA (P<0.0001).

EA pretreatment repaired the adverse effects of I/R on the ECG parameters, which can be attributed to its negative chronotropic effects. EA pretreatment can prevent the cerebral I/R-induced heart arrhythmias.

Many risk factors, including nutritional ones, contribute to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Increased fructose consumption, for example, can lead to an increase in CVD risk factors, i.e. an increase in blood lipids and the development of insulin resistance.

In the present study, Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups: control group (free access to tap drinking water for seven weeks), and a group that received fructose 10% in drinking water for seven weeks, (n═8 per each group). In all groups, before starting the test period and seven weeks after it, electrocardiogram was recorded by Power lab system. Unpaired t-test and two-way ANOVA were used for data analysis. Also, oxidative stress parameters were measured.

In the group received high doses of fructose, a significant reduction (P <0.05) was observed in the PR interval (P<0.001) and a significant increase (P<0.05) in the QTc interval. However, there was no significant change in the RR interval and the voltage of the QRS complex. A significant decrease in catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (P<0.05) and a significant increase (P<0.05) in malondialdehyde and lactate dehydrogenase were observed in the group that received fructose in comparison with the control group at the end of the experiment.

According to our results, the chance of arrhythmias in the rats receiving high doses of fructose was possibly due to the increased oxidative stress in the healthy rats.

Acute lung injury (ALI) has a high mortality rate and is characterized by damage to pulmonary system giving rise to symptoms such as histological alteration, lung tissue edema and production of proinflammatory cytokine. p-Coumaric acid (p-CA), as a phenolic compound, that is found in many types of fruits and vegetables has been reported to exhibit a therapeutic effect in several inflammatory disorders. The aim of our study was evaluation of pretreatment with p-CA against heart dysfunction, oxidative stress and nuclear factor-erythroid 2 -related factor 2 (Nrf2) modifications following lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung inflammation. The rats were divided into four groups (n=8): Control, LPS (5 mg/kg, it), p-CA (100 mg/kg, IP), and LPS+pCA. Inflammatory response and oxidative stress were evaluated by measurement of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in heart tissue. For evaluation of the effect of LPS on cardiac response, electrocardiography (ECG) and hemodynamic parameters were recorded. A significant increase in lipid peroxidation (P<0.001, cytokine parameters (TNF-α and IL-6 (P<0.01), gene expression of Nrf2 (P<0.05), and antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione (P< 0.05) in addition to glutathione peroxidase (P<0.01) was demonstrated in heart tissue of ALI rats. LPS can impair cardiac function (in in vitro measurement of hemodynamic parameters by using Langendorff setup, and in in vivo measurement of ECG parameters), and pretreatment with p-CA recovered these parameters to control levels in heart. Pretreatment with p-CA causes modulation of cytokines and MDA level that protected cardiac injury caused by LPS in ALI model. Our results showed anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effect of p-CA on LPS-induced ALI.

Several studies in the past have shown that lead causes elevated blood pressure in humans and animals and exerts devastating effects on various organs of the body, including the cardiovascular system. This study was typically conducted to investigate the effects of the grape seed extract on the treatment of lead-induced hypertension and the correction of the aortic response to isolated vascular factors. Experiments were carried out from January to March 2009 in the Physiology Research Center of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. In total, 50 experiments were carried out on 5 groups of Wistar rats in 5 groups, each group receiving water containing lead acetate and the grape seed extract in different patterns for 8 weeks, in accordance with the groups listed in the original text. Blood pressure was measured weekly through the tail-cuff. The response of the isolated aorta to the vasoconstrictor and vasorelaxant was evaluated in the groups. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPAS software, version 22, via one-way ANOVA followed by the LSD test. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant. Discontinuation of lead and administration of the extract caused a faster drop in blood pressure. Increased contractile responses to phenylephrine were observed in the rats that continued to consume lead and did not receive the extract. Additionally, the response to acetylcholine in the extract group was higher than that in the continued lead group. The current study showed that the use of the grape seed extract, even after the occurrence of lead-induced hypertension, could be a useful treatment. Considerably, the grape seed extract failed to have an effect on vascular responsiveness to vasodilator and vasoconstrictor drugs.

Gallic acid (GA), a potent anti-oxidant, plays an important role in reducing diabetic induced cardiac disorders. Therefore, the present investigation was purposed to determine the beneficial effect of GA in cardiac arrhythmias during reperfusion in diabetes induced by alloxan. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200–250 g) were randomly divided into three groups (eight in each group): control (C), diabetic (D), and diabetic treated with GA (D+G) groups. GA was administered by gavage (25 mg/kg, daily) for eight weeks. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (120 mg/kg). Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury was performed by ischemia and then reperfusion (30 and 120 min, respectively). The score and magnitude of arrhythmias, creatine kinase (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of the heart, electrocardiographic, and hemodynamic parameters were measured. One-way ANOVA followed by LSD tests were used for the differences between groups. The percentage of incidence was also evaluated by Fisher’s exact test. The duration (P<0.05), onset (P<0.01), score and incidence of arrhythmia, QT interval (P<0.001), LDH, and CK-MB (P<0.05) were significantly elevated and the contractility of the heart (±dp/dt, P<0.01), LVSP, QRS complex voltage (P<0.05), and heart rate (P<0.01) were significantly reduced in the diabetic animals compared with the control rats. However, administration with GA significantly improved these alterations in the diabetic group compared with the diabetic animals. This study indicated the beneficial effects of GA on cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias during reperfusion in diabetes.