Comparative study of gavage and intraperitoneal administration of gamma-oryzanol in alleviation/attenuation in a rat animal model of renal ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury.

OBJECTIVES: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is the leading cause of acute kidney injury. This study aimed to elucidate the reno-protective effect of gamma-oryzanol (GO) by comparing gavage and intraperitoneal (IP) administration methods on renal I/R injury in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were divided into four groups including (group 1) sham, (group 2) I/R-control, (group 3) I/R+GO gavage-treated, and (group 4) I/R+ GO IP-treated. A single dose of GO was administrated to groups 3 and 4 (100 mg/kg body weight), 60 min before induction of I/R. After anesthesia, I/R was created by 45 min of ischemia, followed by 6 hr of reperfusion. Then, blood and tissue samples were subjected to evaluation of renal function, anti-oxidant capacity, inflammation, apoptotic proteins, and IKB/NF-kB pathway. RESULTS: The two GO administration methods showed improvement of renal function along with attenuation of histological abnormalities. An increase in antioxidant capacity along with a decrease in pro-inflammatory markers, decline in the expression levels of BAX, Bax/Bcl-2, and caspase-3, and up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression were recorded. Moreover, a significant decrease in NF-Kb, p-IKBα, and MMP-2/9 with an increase in IKBα levels were also observed. Overall, in a comparative evaluation between the two gavage and IP administration methods, we did not find any differences in all examined parameters, except IL-6 which had a better result via gavage. CONCLUSION: A single dose of GO administration has a reno-protective effect against renal I/R injury. Gavage and IP administration exhibit similar efficiency in alleviation of I/R injury.

Serum Levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and TGF-ß in Chronic HBV-Infected Patients: Effect of Depression and Anxiety.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of depression and anxiety on serum cytokine levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 60 healthy control individuals and 60 patients with CHB participated after filling out standard questionnaires. We examined their serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and TGF-ß levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. RESULTS: In patients with CHB compared with healthy controls, serum levels of IL-8 were significantly increased, whereas IL-6 and TGF-ß levels were significantly decreased. Serum levels of TGF-ß were significantly decreased in the patients with CHB who had mild depression, compared with patients with CHB without depression and with moderate and severe depression. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of IL-8 and TGF-ß, respectively, is a corresponding mechanism for induction of chronic inflammation in patients with CHB. Depression also seems to induce inflammation via downregulation of TGF-ß in these patients.

Psychosocial Factors and Musculoskeletal Pain Among Rural Hand-woven Carpet Weavers in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is a common and disabling problem among carpet weavers and is linked to physical and psychosocial factors of work. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MSP, its psychosocial risk factors, and association of pain in each pair of anatomical sites among carpet weavers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed among 546 hand-woven carpet weavers in rural small-scale workshops of Iran. Data were collected by using parts of a standardized CUPID (Cultural and Psychosocial Influences on Disability) questionnaire focused on MSP in 10 body sites, including the low-back, neck, both right and left shoulders, elbows, wrists/hands, individual, physical and psychosocial risk factors. Statistical analysis was performed applying logistic regression models. RESULTS: Prevalence of MSP in at least one body site was 51.7% over the past month. The most common sites were low back and right shoulder pain 27.4% and 20.1%, respectively. A significant difference was found between the mean number of painful anatomical sites and the level of education, age, physical loading at work, time pressure, lack of support, and job dissatisfaction. In pairwise comparisons, strongest association was found between pain in each bilateral anatomical site (odds ratio = 11.6-35.3; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In home-based workshops of carpet weaving, psychosocial factors and physical loading were associated with MSP. This finding is consistent with studies conducted among other jobs. Considering the preventive programs, the same amount of attention should be paid to psychosocial risk factors and physical loading. Also, further longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the relationship of psychological factors.