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Background & objectives: Zinc as one of the most important trace elements is needed for proper functioning of the nervous system and homeostasis. Many studies show that stress causes memory impairment through various mechanisms, including oxidative stress induction and some mechanisms which are directly effecting brain function. So, in this work we assessed the effect of zinc chloride on passive avoidance memory and oxidative stress following acute stress in male rats.

Methods: In this study, 50 male Wistar rats were used in five groups: control, sham, stress, zinc chloride treatment and zinc chloride treatment before stress induction. For stress induction, rats were restrained (not immobilized) for 6 h/day, 7 days in a Plexiglas restrainer, and treated rats received an oral dose of zinc chloride 32 mg/kg/day by gavage for 6 days. At the end of the experiment, passive avoidance memory was avaluated by shuttle box and some oxidative damage markers were determined in all groups.

Results: Results of this study showed that animals which were exposed to stress showed a significant decrease in passive avoidance memory compared to control group (p<0.01) and the oxidative stress parameters in this group showed significant changes compared to the control group (p<0.05). While passive avoidance memory and oxidative stress parameters in group treated with zinc chloride were nearly closed to control group.

Conclusion: According to our results, zinc chloride with antioxidant properties can have a protective effect on memory impairment and oxidative stress induced by stress.

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Background & objectives: Terfezia boudieri (TB) has more than 15 types of proteins, gallic acid, catechins, flavonoids, tannins and other compounds such as beta-carotene and linoleic acid. Some of these compounds have antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemia effects. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the antioxidant and protective effects of this fungus on the liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride.

Methods: 30 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into 5 groups (each group containing 6). Group 1 (normal control group) and group 2 (control CCl₄) were given normal saline for 14 days. Group 3, 4 and 5 received 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/ kg doses of methanol extract of TB for 14 days, respectively before the injection of carbon tetrachloride. In the fourteenth day, all groups except group 1 were given 1.5 ml/kg of carbon tetrachloride (V / V 1: 1 dissolved in olive oil). Group 1, instead of carbon tetrachloride, received 1.5 ml/kg of olive oil on the fourteenth day.

Results: Injection of carbon tetrachloride in rats increased serum activity of ALT, AST, ALP and serum degrees of triglycerides, VLDL, LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, glucose, and reduced HDL and total antioxidant capacity (TAC); while pre-treatment with methanol extract of TB significantly reversed the changes.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that methanol extract of TB can protect the liver against oxidants and free radicals produced by carbon tetrachloride metabolism.

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Background & aim: Nowadays because of difficulty in the supply and injection of insulin and blood sugar reducing drugs and considering the side effects of chemical drugs, researcher’s attention is drawn to using herbal medicines. Liver is one of the organs affected by diabetes in different functional aspects. The purpose of this research was studying the effect of Rosa canina extract on reducing the adverse effects and improving diabetes symptoms related to histophysiology, amount of biochemical serum factors and liver enzymes in male rats.

Methods: 32 male Wistar rats, weighed 200-220 gr, were divided into 4 groups. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60mg/kg). The period of experiments was 4 weeks. At the end of experiments, the rats were sacrificed and their serums were collected for measurement of liver enzymes. Also, histological sampling of liver was done. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA).

Results: The results of this study showed that treatment with ethanol extract of Rosa canina led to significant reduction of liver enzymes in the Rosa extract-treated groups in comparison with the diabetic group, indicating the protective effect of alcoholic extract of Rosa canina on liver tissue against diabetes-induced damages. In liver histopathology, a distinct fat change in the lobular center areas was created in the diabetic group. Pathological changes were not significant in the liver of the Rosa extract-treated groups; liver in this group was relatively healthier than in diabetic group.

Conclusions: Rosa extract improved this organ's function in STZ-induced diabetic rats by reducing serum biomarkers of liver pathology and reducing histological damages.

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Background & objectives: Propolis is a natural product with powerful antioxidant and therapeutic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of propolis on passive avoidance memory in adult male mice.

Methods: In this study, 40 adult male mice were divided into 8 groups, including control, sham (solvent) and 3 treatment groups orally treated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of propolis, respectively for two weeks before and one week after treatment. Then, passive avoidance learning and memory were recorded in timescales of 24 and 48 hours, 4 days and a week after shock by the shuttle box. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Dunnett’s post hoc tests, and p<0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Administration of propolis (50 mg/kg) significantly increased the dark chamber entering time at intervals of 24 and 48 hours (p<0.001) and at concentrations of 100 and 200 mg/kg in all time periods after the shock (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Oral administrations of propolis can improve learning and memory dose-dependently in adult male mice.

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Background & objectives: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, and its prevention is expected to increase in the future appreciably. Following the emergence of the new field of nutritional genetics and investigations about the effect of natural antioxidants on the hypermethylation of genes, this study was performed to measure the effect of  Vaccinium arctostaphylos poly phenols and anthocyanins on PC-3 cell line as well as methylation and expression changes of GSTP1 gene.
Methods:  In order to evaluate the survival potency of PC-3 cell line in a completely randomized design, MTT test was used and these cells were treated with different concentrations of Vaccinium arctostaphylos extract (4500, 2250, 1125, 562.5, 140.62, 70.31, 35.15, 17.57, 8.78, 4.39 µg/ml) for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Expression level of GSTP1 gene was analyzed by Q-RT-PCR method in 2500, 1250, 625, 312 and 156 µg/ml concentrations of Vaccinium.
Results: Statistical results showed that Vaccinium arctostaphylos poly phenolic extract at 35-70 ppm concentration  significantly reduced the survival rate of  PC-3 cells. Moreover, compared to control cells, the expression level of GST gene significantly increased in PC-3 cells treated with 1250ppm extract.
Conclusion: Anthocyanin- polyphenolic extract from Vaccinium arctostaphylos can decrease the survival rate of cancerous cells and GST gene expression in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. This may be explained by changes in cell carcinogenesis pathway or CpG demethylation process.
Keywords: Vaccinium arctostaphylos; Antioxidant; Cancerous Cells; Prostate.
  Background & objectives: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, and its prevention is expected to increase in the future appreciably. Following the emergence of the new field of nutritional genetics and investigations about the effect of natural antioxidants on the hypermethylation of genes, this study was performed to measure the effect of  Vaccinium arctostaphylos poly phenols and anthocyanins on PC-3 cell line as well as methylation and expression changes of GSTP1 gene.
Methods:  In order to evaluate the survival potency of PC-3 cell line in a completely randomized design, MTT test was used and these cells were treated with different concentrations of Vaccinium arctostaphylos extract (4500, 2250, 1125, 562.5, 140.62, 70.31, 35.15, 17.57, 8.78, 4.39 µg/ml) for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Expression level of GSTP1 gene was analyzed by Q-RT-PCR method in 2500, 1250, 625, 312 and 156 µg/ml concentrations of Vaccinium.
Results: Statistical results showed that Vaccinium arctostaphylos poly phenolic extract at 35-70 ppm concentration  significantly reduced the survival rate of  PC-3 cells. Moreover, compared to control cells, the expression level of GST gene significantly increased in PC-3 cells treated with 1250ppm extract.
Conclusion: Anthocyanin- polyphenolic extract from Vaccinium arctostaphylos can decrease the survival rate of cancerous cells and GST gene expression in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. This may be explained by changes in cell carcinogenesis pathway or CpG demethylation process.

 
 
 
 
  

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Background & objectives: Curcumin has antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of curcumin on bax, bcl-2, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation of sperm after freezing procedure.
Methods: In this experimental study, semen samples were collected from four mature Holstein bulls, twice a week in eight innings. Semen samples were divided into four groups. Zero (control), 10 (Experimental group one), 20 (Experimental group two) and 30 (Experimental group three) mg/ml of curcumin with diluents were added to the semen samples. After thawing, Bax, Bcl-2 and malondialdehyde levels as well as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase enzymes were measured in sperm samples using ELISA.
Results: According to the results, Bcl-2, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase levels  in sperm samples treated with 20 and 30 mg/ml curcumin significantly increased and Bax and malondialdehyde levels significantly decreased compared to control groups (p<0.05). This difference was not significant for sperm samples treated with 10 mg/ml curcumin.
Conclusion: Dose-dependent administration of curcumin decreased oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and increased anti-apoptosis proteins in freeze-thawing sperms.

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Infertility, especially in the last decade, has been rising as a global problem, affecting approximately 10-15% of the world's population. The abundance and origin of various types of infertility are different. Studies have shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in infertility, in particular in male infertility. Although ROS is essential for normal physiological functions of sperm such as capacitation, hyper activation, acrosome reactions, and binding to the oocyte, excessive levels can be one of the main causes of defective sperm function, which not only impairs the health of sperm DNA, but also affects fertilization via oxidation of proteins, in particular the fatty acids of the sperm cell membrane. Also, the elevated ROS levels facilitate sperm DNA damage, which leads to activation of apoptotic pathway and cell death. Therefore, the quality of semen is functionally reduced. Since the oxidative damage to sperm DNA is associated with both miscarriage and development abnormalities in the offspring, it is essential to find new strategies to recognize the cellular and molecular biology of sperm. Therefore, considering different mechanisms of oxidative stress affecting sperm can contribute significantly to the etiology of male infertility

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Background & objectives: The purpose of this study was to show the dose response relationship of anti-inflammatory effect of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) on carrageenan induced rat paw edema as an acute model of inflammation.
Methods: A total of 54 male, Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 180-190 g, were used. One hundred, 200, 400, 800 and 1200 mg/kg of MSM were administered intraperitoneally to the rats 30 minutes before induction of paw edema with injection of 0.1% carrageenan. Diclofenac was used as a control drug. Rats were divided into three groups: MSM, diclofenac and normal saline, and their paw tissue were collected for the study of inflammatory and oxidative markers (MDA, GSH, TNF-α and IL-1 β). The relationship between the different concentrations of MSM and decrease in rat paw edema was calculated using a simple Emax model.
Results: the ED₅₀ value for effect of MSM on carrageenan induced rat paw edema was 193±9.7 mg/kg. A significant reduction in paw edema following administration of MSM at 200, 400, 800 and 1200 mg/kg was observed, but statistical analysis did not reveal any significant reduction in paw edema after administration of 100 mg/kg. MSM did not show statistically significant difference from control group in tissue level of GSH, but it was able to decrease MDA level significantly. MSM was able to significantly alleviate IL-1 β and TNF-alpha tissue levels.
Conclusion: The recommended anti-inflammatory dosing range of MSM is 200-800 mg/kg for pharmacological studies in rats and the average appropriate dose is 400 mg/kg. Also, it seems that anti-inflammatory effect of MSM is more profound than its anti-oxidant effects.
 

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Background & objectives: Suicidal thoughts have been found to be associated with a wide variety of factors. A key factor is a history of childhood and family adversity. Previous studies have shown that troubled romantic relationships are associated with higher risk factors for mental health. Also, evidence suggests that those who have a secure attachment styles in childhood have fewer symptoms of psychopathology and higher psychosocial functioning throughout the lifespan (especially romantic relationship) compared to individuals with an insecure attachment style. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of emotional failure and attachment styles in predicting suicidal thoughts among university students of Azad university of Ardabil.
Methods: In this study, descriptive and correlational design was defined as a research method. The statistical population of this study was all university students of the Ardabil Azad University, who studied in the academic year of 2018 (N=4231). The sample consisted of 80 people who were selected by purposive sampling. Beck's suicidal thoughts questionnaire, Simpson's attachment style questionnaire and Ross's love hit questionnaire were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate regression analysis.
Results: The results of the research showed that emotional failure (r=0.35) and unsafe attachment style (r=0.23) had a positive correlation with suicidal thoughts, and secure attachment style (-0.40) had a significant negative correlation with suicidal thoughts (p<0.01). The results of regression analysis showed that 12 percent of the variance of suicidal thoughts can be predicted by emotional failure and 25 percent by attachment styles. Secure attachment style (β=3.35), emotional failure (β=3.35) and insecure attachment style (β=3.3) were the most effective factors in the prediction of suicidal thoughts, respectively.
Conclusion: Overall, the results of this study emphasized that attachment styles (secure and unsafe) and severity of emotional failure are good predictors of suicidal thoughts among university students.  
 

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Background & objectives: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - induced peptic ulcer disease is a common gastrointestinal disorder affecting many people worldwide. Rosa canina L. is a member of Rosa species that has been widely used as an herbal medicine in many countries. Rosa canina has therapeutic effects against various disorders through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential beneficial effect of Rosa canina on indomethacin-induced ulceration in mice.
Methods: Experiments were performed on male Swiss albino mice. Indomethacin (80 mg/kg, orally) was used to induce gastric ulceration. The extract of Rosa canina fruits (200 and 400 mg/kg/day) was given orally five days before the administration of indomethacin. Normal mice were used as a normal control group.
Results: Macroscopic evaluation of gastric mucosa revealed that indomethacin administration (80 mg/kg) produced apparent gastric mucosal ulcers, while pretreatment with Rosa canina (200 and 400 mg/kg) effectively protected gastric mucosa against indomethacin induced ulcers. Rosa canina significantly increased the level of glutathione (GSH) and decreased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the gastric tissues compared with those in the control group.
Conclusion: Oral treatment with the Rosa canina fruit extract decreased the gastric ulcer induced by indomethacin through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms

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Background & objectives: Paraquat is a toxic herbicide that is widely used in many countries. Paraquat selectively accumulates in the lung tissue and leads to severe pulmonary injury through the oxidative and inflammatory processes. The plant Rosa canina L. has been used for long years as an herbal medicine throughout the world. Rosa canina L. is a member of Rosacea family and shows therapeutic effects against numerous disorders by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant effect of Rosa canina fruits on the paraquat induced lung injury in a mouse model.
Methods: Animal experiments were performed on male NMRI mice. Paraquat was injected at a single dose (20 mg/kg, ip) to induce pulmonary damage in mice. The extract of Rosa canina fruits (200 and 400 mg/kg/day, orally) administered by gavage for four days after the injection of paraquat. The treated mice were compared to normal mice as a control group. At the end of the experiment, lung tissue samples were collected for biochemical analysis.
Results: The results showed that administration of paraquat caused an oxidant-antioxidant imbalance in the lung tissue. However, treatment with Rosa canina increased the levels of glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) antioxidants and decreased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the lung tissues compared with those in the paraquat group.
Conclusion: Treatment of paraquat-exposed mice with the extract of Rosa canina fruits improved oxidant-antioxidant balance in the lung tissue of mice. In other words, the present study demonstrated that Rosa canina has remarkable antioxidant effects against paraquat induced oxidative damage.
 

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Background & objectives: Endoscopy is an invasive and painful procedure. The use of sedatives, especially in children, is expanding. The aim of this study was to compare the sedative effects of ketofol and the combination of midazolam-ketamine in upper endoscopy in children aged 1 to 14 years who referred to Taleghani Hospital in Gorgan.
Methods: In this study, 55 children entered the study 1 to 14 years after obtaining parental consent. They were then divided into two groups, ketamine-propofol (KP) and ketamine-midazolam (KM), by simple randomization. At all stages of the work, patients underwent cardiac and respiratory monitoring. All hemodynamic parameters and ramsy sedation score (RSS) were recorded for all participants in the 5 time periods before, during and after endoscopy. ANOVA test and bonferroni tracking test were used in spss software to analyze and compare data.
Results: 54.5% were male patients. The ANOVA test showed that the scores of the two groups at the time of the study had a statistically significant difference (p=0.02). In the KM group, the mean blood pressure and heart rate of patients increased at all times compared to before the intervention (p=0.005). Blood pressure in the KP group had a steady trend over time (p<0.001).
Conclusion: There was a statistically significant difference between the scores of the two groups and the group (KM) had higher scores, but the use of two drug regimens Propofol-Ketamine and Ketamine-Midazolam caused a good sedation in pediatric endoscopy. The propofol-ketamine compound resulted in greater hemodynamic stability in cardiovascular parameters during and after endoscopy

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Background & objectives: Toluene as a systemic toxin and industrial solvents has different effects on vital organs of the body. There is little mechanistic study of the interactions between toluene and human lymphocytes. In this study, the direct toxicity of toluene and the potential of agents with antioxidant, mitochondrial/lysosomal protective effects to reduce its possible toxicity in human lymphocytes were studied.
Methods: Blood lymphocytes were isolated from healthy male volunteer's blood, using Ficoll Paque Plus followed by gradient centrifugation. In this study, cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, lipid peroxidation (LPO), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), lysosomal membrane damage, glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels, were determined in blood lymphocytes after incubation with toluene and antioxidant, mitochondrial and lysosomal protective compounds.
 Results: Results showed that toluene reduced lymphocyte viability, increased ROS levels, LPO content, damage to lysosomal membranes, mitochondrial damages and GSH depletion, which these damages were significantly inhibited by dibutyl hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a synthetic antioxidant, cyclosporine A (Cs. A) as an inhibitor of mitochondrial pores, and chloroquine as a lysosomotropic agent.
Conclusion: Results of our study suggest that using of antioxidants, mitochondrial and lysosomal protective agents can be effective in reducing toluene-induced toxicity in exposed individuals.

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Background & Objectives: Based on the probably positive role of exercise on total oxidative status (TOS) and total antioxidant system (TAS) and their effect on the process of angiogenesis, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of one course of moderate-intensity endurance training on the gene expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor-B (VEGF-B) and angiopoietin-1(ANGPT-1) and TAS and TOS status in cardiac tissue of male rats.
Methods: In this study, 20 male Wistar rats were divided into two equal groups as follows:   1-training group and 2- control group: no sports activities were performed on them. Rats in the training group performed moderate endurance training for 6 weeks and 5 sessions per week from the twelfth week of life. Twenty-four hours after the last training session, heart tissue samples were extracted to measure gene expression levels of VEGF-B and ANGPT-1 and the TAS and TOS status in heart tissues. T-test with the statistical level of (p˂0.05) was used for between groups comparison.
Results:­ Findings showed that after six weeks of endurance training, the expression level of ANGPT-1 and VEGF-B and the amount of TAS in the exercise group significantly increased (p=0.001) and the amount of TOS significantly decreased compared to the control group (p=0.008).
Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, it seems that moderate-intensity endurance training can be effective in preventing cardiovascular disease by increasing factors involving in angiogenesis, improving TAS and reducing TOS in heart tissue of rats.

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Background & objectives: Vincristine (VIN) is a broad-spectrum anticancer drug has been used to treat various cancers. Resveratrol (Res) is a natural polyphenol found in many plant sources. Many studies have reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of resveratrol. We have explored the protective effect of resveratrol on vincristine-induced oxidative stress in mouse ovarian tissue.
Methods: In this study, 32 female mice weighing 25-30 grams were randomly divided into four groups (each group n=8): 1- control group, 2- Vin- group, 3- Vin-Res group and 4- Res group. The mice received a single IP injection of vincristine (3 mg/kg) weekly for 4 weeks. Res treatment was done 28 days by gastric gavage (daily 30 mg/kg).At the end of the study, Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymes were measured in ovarian tissue and uterus of the studied animals. Also, ovarian follicles were counted.
Results: The results indicated that the MDA level was elevated and TAC, GPx as well as SOD activities were decreased in Vin- group significantly. Resveratrol reduced MDA level and increased GPx and SOD activities in Vin-Res group significantly. Also histological findings showed that Res increased primordial and primary follicles and reduced atretic  follicles in Vin-Res group significantly.
Conclusions: These results indicate the protective effect of resveratrol on ovarian and uterine tissue against oxidative damage of vincristine in mice

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Background & objectives: Research on intelligent nanomaterials that accelerate the process of nerve regeneration and treatment by different methods such as antioxidant effects, stimulation of nerve cell proliferation, modulation of the immune system and inflammatory factors is great importance. The aim of this study was to prepare cinnamon-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles and evaluate its antioxidant and cytotoxicity effects on PC12 cell line.
Methods: Cinnamon-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles were prepared and their structural properties were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). To evaluate the antioxidant properties of the compounds, free radical trapping methods 2 and 2 diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl were used. Cell viability in the presence of compounds was measured by a toxicity test (MTT) [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide]. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test.
Results: FTIR spectra and TEM images showed the processing of nanoparticles with an average size of less than 100 nm with cinnamon coating on their surface. Also, the antioxidant capacity of cinnamon-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles was significantly higher (*p<0.038) than extracts and nanoparticles alone at similar concentrations. Evaluation the results of cytotoxicity showed that the lowest toxicity was observed in the cinnamon-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles group.
Conclusion: Results showed higher antioxidant properties and low cytotoxic effects of cinnamon-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles compared to other groups, which leads to better efficacy, proliferation, longer cell survival, its green synthesis and coverage by cinnamon

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Background& objectives: Renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) damage occurs during renal transplantation in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients which activate immune responses. Inflammatory responses by increased levels of cytokines can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI) that contributes to the loss of renal grafts and graft dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to review the therapeutic effects of nanoparticles in AKI.
Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was identified relevant studies on AKI models, using the Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar databases, from 2000 until 2020. The search strategy included keywords like ischemia-reperfusion and nanoparticles.
Results: Oxygen free radicals are produced during the reperfusion phase, which cause lipid peroxidation and promote tissue damage. Oxidative damage to DNA and proteins and lipid membrane peroxidation can cause cell death and apoptosis. Some strategies to reduce the tissue damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion are nanoscale materials. Antioxidant nanoparticles reduce oxidative stress in tissues. Also, they have flexibility in the delivery of therapeutic agents and drugs to the ischemic cells, and imaging of the ischemic regions at the molecular or cellular level.
Conclusion: This potential of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of renal ischemic regions is an innovation in the development of new therapies and a unique achievement in recent medical advances.
 

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Background & objectives: Menopause and especially acute menopause due to surgery is associated with many complications in women. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of genistein and regular swimming exercise (alone/or in combination) on pain through a possible mechanism of inflammation and oxidative stress in ovariectomized rats.
Methods: In this study, rats were divided into six groups, including: control, sham, ovariectomy (OVX), ovariectomized with eight weeks of swimming exercise training (OVX.E), ovariectomized with eight weeks of genistein administration (OVX.G), and ovariectomized with eight weeks of combined treatment (OVX.G.E). The effects of genistein and/or exercise were evaluated by examining the pain intensity with tail-flick and formalin tests. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also evaluated by ELISA and spectrophotometer.
Results: In the OVX group compared to the control group, tail-flick and formalin tests showed an increase in pain response. Also, a significant increase in the serum levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, MDA, TOS and a decrease in TAC was observed in the OVX group, however, in the OVX.E, OVX.G and especially OVX.E.G groups, pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress as well as pain responses showed a significant decrease compared to the OVX group.
Conclusion: A combination of genistein and regular swimming exercise was synergistically more effective in reducing acute and chronic pain than using them alone in the postmenopausal period.
 

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Background & objectives: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is one of the most ancient and well-known medicinal plants, and its useful role has been well - established in treating of many diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Fenugreek on spermatogenesis, total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in male diabetic rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 24 male Wistar rats weighing approximately 200±20 gram were used. The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of six. group1: control group, Group2: diabetic, Group3: diabetic+Fenugreek (8gram /kg diet), group4: diabetic+Fenugreek (2gram /kg diet). This treatment continued for 4 weeks. Blood glucose, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and sperm profiles were determined.
Results: Blood glucose in diabetic rats which received Fenugreek significantly reduced compared with diabetic animals. Fenugreek also reduced body weight and MDA level of semen (p<0.05).On the other hand, Fenugreek increased the total antioxidant capacity of semen (p<0.05) and normalized sperm profiles (p<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the present results, it can be concluded that consumption of Fenugreek extract probably reduced MDA level, body weight, and normalized sperm profile thus, Fenugreek extract can be used to treat sexual dysfunction in males.
 

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Background & objectives: Parkinson’s disease is a disorder that causes progressive degeneration of neurons, and oxidative stress is increasingly implicated as a factor that contributes to its pathophysiology. Carnosic acid, a compound found in rosemary, can scavenge free radicals in the brain and decrease the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Thus, this study explored the effect of this plant on the improvement of Parkinson’s disease.
Methods: The study used 35 male mice that were randomly divided into five groups (n=7 mice each). A control group, a Parkinson's group induced by MPTP toxin, and three groups that received aqueous extracts of rosemary at doses of 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg were included in the study. Measurements were made of lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase activity, muscle rigidity, and grip strength. Scores were calculated based on rotational behavior tests and scoring systems.
Results: Rosemary treatment at doses of 150 and 200 mg/kg significantly changed the level of superoxide dismutase activity, muscle rigidity test and rotational behavior of animals relative to the MPTP group. Moreover, the dose of 200 mg/kg of rosemary significantly modified lipid peroxidation relative to the MPTP group, although lipid peroxidation was still significantly higher than the control group.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the aqueous extract of Rosemary at a dose of 200 mg/kg can alleviate the signs of Parkinson’s disease and manage the disease.