Effects of Nasturtium officinale Extract on Antioxidant and Biochemical Parameters in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Increased oxidative stress play an important role in the risk of cardiovascular disease, mortality, and mortality patients undergoing dialysis. Nasturtium officinale (watercress) contains numerous phytochemical compounds that act as an antioxidant by preventing oxidative damage to biomolecules. Therefore, this research aimed to explore the effect of the ethanolic extract of Nasturtium officinale (EENO) on antioxidant and biochemical markers of hemodialysis patients. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 46 hemodialysis patients were randomly recruited to consume either 500 mg/day EENO (n = 23) or placebo capsule (n = 23) for 4 weeks, at Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Yasuj, Iran, in 2019. Biomarkers of oxidative stress including glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total sulfhydryl protein (T-SH) and biochemical parameters such as BUN, Hb, WBC, PLT, Ca, Ph, K, ALB, TChol, TG, LDL, and HDL were evaluated on days 0 and 28. RESULTS: The serum levels of MDA and BUN significantly decreased after taking EENO supplementation (P < 0.001); however, SOD activity increased during the same period (P < 0.001). The serum levels of TAC remained constant in the intervention group, while it significantly declined in the placebo group (P < 0.09). The extract also prevented elevation in the serum levels of LDL and TG compared to the placebo group, although it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicated that the consumption of EENO improved some of the antioxidant parameters and minimizes the change in TG and LDL in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, due to the role of these factors in mortality and morbidity of dialysis patients, EENO can improve the condition of dialysis patients. However, more studies with longer intervention times and different doses of EENO are recommended.

Nutritional literacy status and its related factors in students of Yasuj University of Medical Sciences

INTRODUCTION: it is necessary to evaluate the level of nutritional literacy before performing any educational measurement related to nutrition. As a matter of fact, an effective education is the result of proportional education level with the level of understanding the target group. This study is aimed to determine nutritional literacy status. OBJECTIVES: In this study, students of Yasuj University of Medical Sciences were considered as research sample set. Then, factors affecting the nutritional literacy status were designed and implemented for the study. METHODS: A total of 397 students were selected for this descriptive-analytical study. A systematic sampling method was developed and nutritional literacy status was assessed through a localized questionnaire based on the Evaluation Instrument of Nutrition literacy on Adults (EINLA). SPSS Statistics 23 software package was employed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In this study, students participated in 11 disciplines with the mean and standard deviation of 22.04 ± 2.33 years. The results showed that the mean score of students' nutritional literacy was 24.9 out of 35. According to the results, 1% of students were dealt with the problem of inadequate nutritional literacy and 50.9% and 48.12% of students had borderline nutritional literacy and adequate nutritional literacy, respectively. In addition, the results revealed that higher semester students had more nutritional literacy than other students. Furthermore, nutritional literacy was significantly correlated with the semester, field of study, students' residence and body mass index (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that most of the students had borderline and sufficient nutritional literacy, but they had a significant weakness in determining their nutritional units

No disponible

Effect of Antioxidants (ß-mercaptoethanol and Cysteamine) on Assisted Reproductive Technology In vitro.

INTRODUCTION: Oocyte Culture of Germinal Vesicle (GV) and its growth improves Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) invitro and infertility. Inappropriate culture medium environment, low quality of oocytes, increase in Oxidative Stress (OS) events, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and free radicals production are the main factors that result in unsuccessful Invitro Maturation (IVM) and decrease in reproduction. AIM: The present study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the effect of ß-mercaptoethanol (BME) and Cysteamine (CYS) on IVM improvement, embryo fertilization and development of blastocyst of mouse immature oocyte. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oocytes were obtained from 4-6 weeks old Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) female mice, 48 hours after stimulation with Intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 10 IU Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG). GV oocyte with and without cumulus cells were isolated from ovaries and cultured in Tissue Culture Medium (TCM) 199 with availability of 100 µM of antioxidants (BME and CYS). After 24 hours, mature oocyte in metaphase II (MII) were fertilized with sperm in In vitro Fertilization (IVF) medium (T6) and evaluated for fetal development into blastocyst. RESULTS: BME and CYS could significantly (p<0.05) increase the rate of IVM and oocyte evolution, and embryo formation in medium culture. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that existence of Cumulus Oocyte Complexes (COC) significantly showed better IVM, fertilization and evolution trend as compared to oocytes without cumulus cover or Denuded Oocytes (DO), especially in TCM199 plus BME and CYS. So that the change in GV stage oocytes to MII (maturation rate), fertilization rates or 2PN formation, and two cell embryos formation or blastocyst development rate in the treatment group with addition of BME & CYS and COC was statistically significant as compared to the DO group (p-value < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Both cellular and environmental factors could be important and involved in ART improvement.

The Hydroalcoholic Extract of Matricaria chamomilla Suppresses Migration and Invasion of Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7 Cell Lines.

BACKGROUND: Matricaria chamomilla is an aromatic plant with antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the inhibitory role of M. chamomilla on migration and invasion of human breast cancer cells remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the methods to evaluate these anticancer mechanisms of M. chamomilla on human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cells were treated with hydroalcoholic extract of M. chamomilla at different concentrations (50-1300 µg/mL) for 24, 48, and 72 h in a culture medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. This study quantified the 50% growth inhibition concentrations (IC50) by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay; apoptosis and necrosis through Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide staining; cell proliferation and clone formation by clonogenic assay as well as cellular migration, invasion, and attachment. After 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment, the IC50levels were 992 ± 2.3 µg/mL, 893 ± 5.4 µg/mL, and 785 ± 4.8 µg/mL against MDA-MB-468, respectively, and 1288 ± 5.6 µg/mL, 926 ± 2.5 µg/mL, and 921 ± 3.5 µg/mL, against MCF-7, respectively. Furthermore, increasing the extract concentrations induced cellular apoptosis and necrosis and decreased cellular invasion or migration through 8 µm pores, colonization and attachment in a dose-dependent manner. RESULTS: It indicated time- and dose-dependent anti-invasive and antimigrative or proliferative and antitoxic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of chamomile on breast cancer cells. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated an effective plant in preventing or treating breast cancer. SUMMARY: Antioxidant compounds in Matricaria chamomilla have anticancer effects.Hydroalcoholic extract of M. chamomilla controls cellular proliferation and apoptosis induction.Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide staining suggested that the extract induces apoptosis more than necrosis.Hydroalcoholic extract of M. chamomilla prevents colonization and cellular migration of human breast cancer MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7 cell lines in a time- and dose-dependent manner.M. chamomilla has low cytotoxic effects on natural cells. Abbreviations Used: IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer; WHO: World Health Organization; FBS: Fetal bovine serum; MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide; PI: Propidium iodide; LN: Live cells with normal nucleus; LA: Live cells with apoptized nucleus; DN: Dead cells with normal nucleus; DA: Dead cells with apoptized nucleus; BSA: Bovine serum albumin; ANOVA: Analysis of variance; IC50: 50% growth inhibition concentration; GSE: Grape seed extract.

The Nuclear Maturation and Embryo Development of Mice Germinal Vesicle Oocytes with and without Cumulus Cell after Vitrification.

BACKGROUND: Cryobiology is an essential tool in assisted reproductive technology. Research in this area focuses on the possibility of restoring fertility in women with reproductive problems or after cancer treatments. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate viability of oocytes, In vitro maturation and embryo development in vitrified germinal vesicle oocytes with and without cumulus cell after single and stepwise vitrification procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Germinal vesicle oocytes with or without cumulus cells were obtained from 4 weeks old female mice 48h after intraperitoneal injection of 7.5 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). For vitrification collected oocytes vitrification were exposed to cryoprotectant, which was composed of 30% (v/v) ethylene glycol, 18% (w/v) Ficoll-70, and 0.3 M sucrose, either by single step or in a step-wise way. After exposure to cryoprotectant and immerged in liquid nitrogen, the oocytes were thawed and washed in medium TCM199 two times. Then the oocytes transferred to IVM medium for maturation and embryo development to blastocyst. RESULTS: The oocytes survival rates after vitrifying-warming, maturation rate, the capacity of fertilization and embryonic development to blastocyst were examined in vitro. The oocytes survival, maturation to MII, fertilization developmental rate in the step-wise exposure and with cumulus cell was significantly higher (p<0.05) as compared with corresponding rate in the single step procedure without cumulus cell. CONCLUSION: The results of present study indicated that oocytes vitrified with cumulus cells and stepwise procedure had positive effect on maturation and developmental rate to blastocyst than oocytes without cumulus cell and single step procedure.

Effects of Pomegranate Seed Oil on the Fertilization Potency of Rat's Sperm.

BACKGROUND: Pomegranate has been taken great scientific attention in recent years due to its health benefits. Pomegranate seed oil is a rich source of 9-cis, and 11-trans conjugate linolenic acid. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary pomegranate seed oil on the fertilization potency of rat's sperm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The first group, which served as the control group, received 1 mL of corn oil for seven weeks. Groups II, III, IV served as the experimental groups received 200, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of pomegranate seed oil, for the same period of time respectively. After seven weeks, all of the rats were sacrificed, and their epididymis sperm was collected and added to IVF medium (T6) containing metaphase II oocytes. Almost 21 oocytes had been removed from every female rat oviduct. In this medium, oocyte fertilization, cleavage rates, and embryo development into blastocysts, were evaluated by inverted microscopy. RESULTS: Levels of LD50 in the oral route in male rats were more than 5000 mg/kg body weight. Our data showed that the rates of fertilization, cleavage and embryo development into blastocysts were higher in the groups that had received 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of pomegranate seed oil. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that pomegranate seed oil had a positive effect on the fertilization potency of male rats. These beneficial effects may be useful in assisted reproductive technology.

Influence of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I on Maturation and Fertilization Rate of Immature Oocyte and Embryo Development in NMRI Mouse with TCM199 and α-MEM Medium.

INTRODUCTION: In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes and subsequent, in vitro fertilization (IVF) for the generation of embryos in the laboratory has important values. Growth factors are a component of a complex system of autocrine and paracrine factors that have a regulatory role in ovarian function and affect oocyte maturation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of IGF-I on IVM and IVF of mice oocytes during culture with α-MEM and TCM199 medium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) and denuded oocyte were obtained from 4-6 week old NMRI mice and underwent in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization in presence or absence of IGF-I with α-MEM and TCM199. RESULT: Maturation rate (79.6%), fertilization rate (87.2%), two cells development rate (79.5%) and blastocyst rate(43.2%) was higher in COCs cultured in α-MEM with IGF-I, while lower maturation rate (50.6%) fertilization rate (61%), two cells development rate (48.8%) and blastocyst rate(14.6%) were seen in cultured denuded oocytes (DOs) in TCM199 without growth factor. As well as, maturation fertilization, two cells development and blastocyst rates in COCs were higher than DOs. CONCLUSION: Our findings have shown that IGF-I is involved in the oocyte biology and improve the oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryo development to blastocyst competence in vitro. In addition, it has also shown that cumulus cells are vital for oocyte development when IGF-1 added to the mediums.

Hepatitis B Infection among high risk population: a seroepidemiological survey in Southwest of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global health problem. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk behaviors for HBV infection among high risk groups in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province, in Southwest of Iran. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 2009 subjects, between 2009 and 2010 in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province, in southwest of Iran. Recruited subjects were the high risk groups for HBV infection, including inmates, injecting drug users, health care workers, patients on maintenance haemodialysis, hemophilic patients and patients with a history of blood transfusion. Their serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (HBc IgM, IgG) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Seropositive specimens were tested for HBsAg. Demographic features of participants were recorded during sample collecting. RESULTS: HBsAg was detected in 24 of the 2009 subjects, giving an overall prevalence of 1.2%. All HBsAg positive cases were males. The prevalence of HBsAg among injection drug users was 3.2%. Significant correlation was found between HBV infection and drug abuse, level of education and place of residence (p<0.05), while no significant correlation was found between HBV infection and previous history of blood transfusion, unprotected sexual behavior, and thalassemia. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, incarceration and drug abuse are the most important risk factors for acquiring HBV infection in this region. Modifying behavior, improving the individual education and expanding the HBV vaccination coverage may reduce the rate of infection in the region.