Evaluating the effectiveness of melatonin in reducing the risk of foot ulcers in diabetic patients.

Objectives: Diabetes and its complications, as a major health concern, are associated with morbidity and mortality around the world. One of these complications is diabetic foot ulcer. Factors such as hyperglycemia, neuropathy, vascular damage and impaired immune system can cause foot ulcers. The present review aims to study the potential effects of melatonin, the main product of pineal glands, on diabetic foot ulcers. Methods: A narrative review was performed using present literature in an attempt to identify the different aspects of melatonin's impact on diabetic foot ulcers by searching related keywords in electronic databases without any restriction. Results: This review shows that, melatonin has anti-diabetic effects. It is effective in reducing the risk of hyperglycemia, neuropathy, vascular damage and immune system impairment in diabetic patients. By reducing these complications with melatonin, correspondingly, the incidence of diabetic foot ulcers may also decrease in these patients. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate promising properties of melatonin while dealing with diabetic foot ulcers and their common underlying conditions, but still, it needs to be investigated more in future studies.

Beneficial effects of ROCEN (Topical Nano-arthrocen) on atopic dermatitis in mice.

OBJECTIVE: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease mainly caused by immune stimuli. The current study was conducted to investigate the effects of ROCEN and to compare it with betamethasone (Beta) on mice subjected to AD. METHODS: First, the safety of topical ROCEN was tested to determine possible sensitization induction in vivo. Then, the mice were subjected to oxazolone (Oxa) to induce chronic AD. Consequently, they underwent treatment with ROCEN and Beta. Scratching and wiping behaviors related to dermatitis were evaluated in treated animals for 35 days. The histopathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) cytokines were performed on the dorsal skin of the treated mice. RESULTS: Topical administration of ROCEN and Beta to the dorsum of sensitized mice for 5 weeks significantly alleviated scratching and wiping symptoms and reduced erythema, scaling, and edema in the skin of the mice with AD. Moreover, histological indices showed that ROCEN effectively reduced leucocyte infiltration and improved skin healing parameters in treated AD mice. Application of ROCEN or Beta reduced IHC markers including IL-8 and TNF-α significantly. CONCLUSION: ROCEN alleviated the AD symptoms similar to betamethasone in an experimental animal model.

Novel osteoprotective nanocochleate formulation: A dual combination therapy-codelivery system against glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis.

Phosphatidylserine nanocochleates (Nanocochs) are novel delivery systems that may play a prominent osteoprotective role with their cargo, vitamin D3 (Vit-D3), against osteoporosis. Therefore, this study was conducted to characterize a Nanococh containing vitamin D3 (Nanococh-D3) and investigate its potential role in improving GIO in a rat model. Roll-shaped Nanococh-D3 particles were obtained in a size range of 320 nm with a sustained release performance. Oral Nanococh-D3 significantly increased the bioavailability of Vit-D3, enhanced bone mechanical strength, and improved osteogenic biomarkers including B-ALP, osteocalcin, Ca, and OPG in GIO rats. This formulation markedly suppressed gene expression of RANK and RANKL in treated rats. Histomorphometric analysis showed significant repairs in bone tissues and TRAP staining indicated a significant decrease in osteoclasts using Nanococh-D3 in osteoporotic rats. Nanococh alone similar to Nanococh-D3 acted better than AL as a standard anti-osteoporotic drug in the improvement of bone strength. In conclusion, our results established the potential role of Nanococh-D3 against osteoporosis in rats.

Phosphatidylserine nanoliposomes inhibit glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: A potential combination therapy with alendronate.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of phosphatidylserine liposomes (PSLs) and phosphatidylserine liposomes containing alendronate (AL-PSLs) on the improvement of methylprednisolone (MP) induced osteoporosis in a rat model. AL-PSLs formulation was prepared, characterized, and evaluated in different pH media to simulate gastrointestinal condition. Osteoporosis was induced by 3 weeks oral administration of MP (10 mg/kg) and then treatment by PSLs, AL-PSLs, and alendronate (AL). Bone metabolic and biomechanical markers were measured in treated rat groups. Also, Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and histomorphometry were evaluated on bone tissues of treated rats. AL-PSLs were obtained in a size range of 155 nm and negatively surface charge with an entrapment efficiency of 42%. The AL leakage from AL-PSLs did not exhibit a significant difference in acidic or basic media in comparison with the neutral condition. The concentrations of calcium, osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) of serum were significantly increased in PSLs and AL-PSLs treated groups compared to the MP group. Also, PSLs and AL-PSLs significantly improved the thickness and volume of the cortical and trabecular bone mass in treated groups. In addition, TRAP staining indicated a significant decrease of osteoclast number in osteoporotic rats treated with AL-PSLs and PSLs. In this study, AL-PSLs and even PSLs alone made a potential bone mechanical strength in glucocorticoid-induced bone loss more than AL in rats. In conclusion, our findings suggest that PSLs consumption with or without an anti-osteoporotic drug might be an applicable choice in control of osteoporosis.