Ipomoea aquatica extract reduces hepatotoxicity by antioxidative properties following dichlorvos administration in rats.

Ipomoea aquatica (IA) with antioxidant properties is used in therapeutic trends. An organophosphate, dichlorvos (Dich), is a common insecticide with various side effects on living tissues. This study examines the role of IA on Dich-induced hepatotoxicity in male rats. Sixty-four male rats were divided into eight groups including sham, Dich (4 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally), IA 1, 2, and 3 (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day, respectively, orally), and Dich + IA 1, 2, and 3. All treatments were applied daily for 60 days. At the end of the treatment, the animals were sacrificed. The histopathological changes, leukocyte infiltration, and apoptosis were assessed by light and fluorescent microscopy. The serum levels of hepatic enzymes, nitrite oxide (NO), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were evaluated biochemically. Dich statistically significantly increased the NO level, hepatic enzyme activity, apoptosis, leukocyte infiltration, the mean diameter of hepatocytes (DHs), and central hepatic vein diameter (CHVD) and also decreased the TAC, mean weight of liver, and the total weight of rats compared to the sham group (P < 0.01). In all IA and Dich + IA groups, a statistically significant decrease was detected in apoptosis, leukocyte infiltration, hepatic enzyme activity, NO level, mean DH, and CHVD, whereas an increase in TAC level, mean liver weight, and total weight was detected compared to the Dich group (P < 0.01). IA, due to the antioxidant property, recovers the Dich-related catastrophic changes in liver.

The Effectiveness of Group Spiritual Intervention on Self-esteem and Happiness Among Men Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Drug dependence or substance use disorder not only affects a person's life but also brings a lot of challenges for families and communities and imposes heavy burdens on them. There are various therapies in the domain of addiction whose main purposes are to reduce or to cut down substance abuse. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of group spiritual intervention on selfesteem and happiness among male clients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. METHODS: This study was an intervention study in which 60 clients affected with substance abuse and undergoing methadone maintenance treatment were recruited. The study samples were selected through convenience sampling method and then divided randomly into two groups of 30 individuals: intervention and control. The intervention group attended group spiritual interventions for 10 sessions. Self-esteem and happiness among the study participants were also measured through Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The results showed a significant difference between both intervention and control groups in terms of self-esteem and happiness (P < 0.05); so that the participants in the intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in their self-esteem and happiness. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that group spiritual intervention as a useful method could be effective in enhancing self-esteem and happiness among addicted individuals undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. The given treatment could be also used as a complementary therapy beside methadone maintenance treatment to reduce the likelihood of people returning to substance abuse.

Methamphetamine Abusers' Personality Traits and its Relational with Spiritual Well-being and Perceived Social Support.

BACKGROUND: Psychoactive substance abuse is a psychosocial disorder that its, emergence, continuation, and treatment are associated with personality factors, spiritual well-being, and social support. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between personality traits with spiritual well-being and perceived social support in methamphetamine users undergoing treatment in 2016 in the clinics of Kermanshah City, Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 117 methamphetamine users undergoing treatment in addiction clinics of Kermanshah City, Iran. The formed study population was prepared by convenience sampling according to the inclusion-exclusion criteria. Data were collected using a demographic form, NEO Five-Factor Inventory, Paloutzian and Ellison's spiritual wellbeing scale, and perceived social support inventory of Fleming et al. The collected data were analyzed by parametric and nonparametric tests in SPSS v.23. RESULTS: The results showed that 82.2% of participants had a moderate level of agreeableness, 88.1% had moderate neuroticism, 93.2% had moderate extraversion, 87.2% had moderate conscientiousness, and 92.2% had a moderate level of openness to experience. In addition, 76.9% of participants had a low level of spiritual well-being and the remaining 23.1% had a moderate spiritual wellness. The mean spiritual well-being and perceived social support scores of participants were 69.94±10.86 and 33.94±7.55, respectively. The findings showed a significant relationship between personality traits and spiritual well-being and social support in methamphetamine users (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that personality traits, perceived social support, and spiritual wellbeing can be considered as risk factors for methamphetamine abuse.

Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on the Fatigue and Quality of Life Among Iranian Aging Persons.

Since the elderly population is increasing rapidly in developing countries which may decrease the physical activity and exercise and in turn could affect the elderly's quality of life, this study aimed to investigate the effect of progressive muscle relaxation on the elderly's quality of life in Iran. In a randomized clinical trial, participants were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. For the intervention group, muscular progressive relaxation was run three days per week for three months (totally 36 sessions). In relaxation, a patient contract a group of his/her muscles in each step and relaxes them after five seconds and finally loosens all muscles and takes five deep breaths. Each session lasts for 45 minutes. The instrument of data gathering consisted of questionnaires on individual's demographic data and quality of life SF-36. After intervention, quality of life increased significantly in the patients undergoing muscular progressive relaxation and fatigue severity decreased significantly in the intervention group compared to prior to intervention. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference in mean score of physical performance, restricted activity after physical problem, energy, socially function, physical pain, overall hygiene, and quality of life between intervention and control groups. By implementing regular and continuous progressive muscle relaxation, quality of life could be increased in different dimensions in the elderly and the context could be provided to age healthily and enjoy higher health and autonomy. Therefore, all of the therapeutic staffs are recommended to implement this plan to promote the elderly's quality of life.

Healing effect of quince seed mucilage on T-2 toxin-induced dermal toxicity in rabbit.

This study was performed to examine the healing effects of creams prepared from quince seed mucilage on dermal toxicity induced by T-2 toxin. Creams were prepared from quince seed mucilage in eucerin base as 5, 10, and 15% (w/w). To induce dermal toxicity, 100 µg T-2 toxin was dissolved in 12 µl methanol and applied on the shaved skin of rabbit for 2 consecutive days. A separate group received only solvent (methanol). On the third day, the prepared creams were applied on the skin lesions twice a day until complete healing was occurred. Healing, was defined by decreased wound margin, treatment erythema and blisters. Time required for healing was 14, 14, 12, 10, and 9 days for groups of no treatment, eucerin, quince seed cream 5%, 10%, and 15%, respectively. Results obtained by this study shows that quince seed mucilage (15%) has more and better healing effects on dermal toxicity caused by T-2 toxin comparing to no treatment or eucerin cream without mucilage.

Improvement of MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) images after black tea consumption.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the efficacy of black tea as the negative oral contrast agent in MRCP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRCP was performed before and 5 and 15 min after tea consumption for 35 patients. Depiction of the gall bladder (GB), cystic duct (CD), proximal and distal parts of the common bile duct (CBD), intrahepatic ducts (IHD), ampulla of vater (AV), main pancreatic duct (MPD) and signal loss of stomach and three different segments of the duodenum were investigated according to VAS and Likert scores. RESULTS: Twenty-one of the patients (60%) were female (mean age, 50.3 ± 19.2 years). Regarding visibility of different anatomical parts of the pancreatobiliary tree, the post procedure images were better visualized in the distal part of CBD, AV and MPD in Likert and VAS scoring (all P ≤ 0.001). Regarding obliteration of high signal in the stomach and three different parts of the duodenum, all post procedure images showed significant disappearance of high signal in Likert and VAS scoring systems (all Ps ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: Black tea is a simple and safe negative oral contrast agent which reduces the signal intensity of gastrointestinal tract fluid and provides improved depiction of the MPD, the distal CBD and the ampulla during MRCP. Key Points •Tea is an effective negative oral contrast agent for gastrointestinal MRI •Ingestion of black tea improves conspicuity of the distal CBD in MRCP.

Protective effect of Cassia fistula fruit extract on bromobenzene-induced nephrotoxicity in mice.

The efficacy of a crude hydro-alcoholic extract of Cassia fistula (golden shower tree) fruit to protect the kidney against bromobenzene-induced toxicity was studied. Negative control mice received normal saline; positive control mice were given 460 mg/kg of bromobenzene; Cassia fistula treated mice received 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg of Cassia fistula fruit extract followed by 460 mg/kg bromobenzene (daily by oral gavage for 10 days). On the 11th day, the mice were sacrificed, blood samples were obtained to assess blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels, and kidneys were removed for histological examination. We found that bromobenzene induced significant nephrotoxicity reflected by an increase in levels of BUN and creatinine that was dose dependently prevented by the Cassia fistula fruit extract. The nephroprotective effect of the Cassia fistula fruit extract was confirmed by the histological examination of the kidneys. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the protective effect of Cassia fistula in nephrotoxicity.

Protective effect of Cassia fistula fruit extract against bromobenzene-induced liver injury in mice.

In the present study, hepatoprotective effect of Cassia fistula fruit extract was investigated in mice. Animals were divided into six groups receiving normal saline (1), bromobenzene (460 mg/kg) alone (2) and together with increasing doses (200, 400, 600, 800 mg/kg) of a crude hydro-alcoholic extract of Cassia fistula fruit (3-6, respectively). All administrations were carried out orally, daily, for 10 days. On the 11th day, animals were sacrificed. Serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (γGT) were determined; serum levels of direct and total bilirubin were measured; furthermore, livers were prepared for histological examination. Our results showed that bromobenzene treatment alone elicited a significant increase in activities of AST, ALT, ALP (but not γGT), and it significantly elevated the levels of direct and total bilirubin. Co-treatment with Cassia fistula fruit extract, however, significantly and dose-dependently decreased the above-mentioned enzyme activities (with exception of γGT) and bilirubin levels, producing a recovery to the naive state. The protective effect of Cassia fistula fruit extract against liver injury evoked by bromobenzene was confirmed by histological examination as well. In conclusion, the Cassia fistula fruit extract has significant hepatoprotective effect in our murine model.

Swallowed opium packets: CT diagnosis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to report our experience in diagnosis of the opium body packers with CT scan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For 12 cases who confessed to opium packet ingestion, we did an abdominal and pelvic CT scan without contrast and evaluated the presence, number and location of opium packets and also measured the density of packets in Hounsfield unit (HU). RESULTS: Mean age of our cases was 28.2 +/- 5.9 years (ranging 17-35 years). Eleven (91.6%) patients were male and only one case was female. In all patients, the packets were visualized in gastrointestinal (GI) lumen by CT scan. The mean of minimum HU was 163.8 +/- 19.6 and its maximum was 205.3 +/- 32.8. We had mortality in an 18-year-old female due to opium overdose. CONCLUSION: CT scan could be a suitable imaging modality in identifying opium packets, similar to that reported for cocaine and heroin.