Effect of Hydro-alcoholic Extract from Prosopis Farcta Leaves on Liver Injury Caused by High-fat Diet in Rats / Efecto del extracto hidro-alcohólico de las hojas de Prosopis Farcta en la lesión hepática causada en ratas por una dieta rica en grasas

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Prosopis farcta (P farcta) leaves on high fat diet-fed (HFDF) rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups - group 1: normal control group; group 2: untreated control group, fed a high-fat diet; group 3: hyperlipidaemic + P farcta (500 mg/kg orally per day); and group 4: hyperlipidaemic + simvastatin (1.0 mg/kg). All groups were treated for 30 days. Liver enzymes, levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation and liver histopathology were assessed. Results: Prosopis farcta extract reduced the elevated levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and body weight. Catalase and superoxide dismutase activity were reduced in the HFDF animals, whose levels were increased statistically significantly by extract of P farcta leaves. The statistically significant increases in liver malondialdehyde in HFDF rats were reduced after treatment with P farcta. Histopathological findings also revealed positive effects of the extract. Conclusion: These results indicate the lipid-lowering and antioxidative activity of extract of P farcta leaves.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Determinar los efectos hepatoprotectores y antioxidantes del extracto hidroalcohólico de las hojas de Prosopis farcta (P farcta) en ratas alimentadas con dieta rica en grasas (ADRG). Métodos: En este estudio experimental, 40 ratas macho Wistar se dividieron en cuatro grupos - Grupo 1: Grupo de control normal; Grupo 2: Grupo de control no tratado, alimentado con una dieta alta en grasas; Grupo 3: hiperlipidémico + P farcta (500 mg/kg por vía oral por día); y Grupo 4: hiperlipidémico + simvastatina (1.0 mg/kg). Todos los grupos fueron tratados durante 30 días. Se evaluaron las enzimas hepáticas, los niveles de colesterol total, los triglicéridos, la lipoproteína de baja densidad (LBD), la lipoproteína de alta densidad (LAD), el nitrógeno ureico y la creatinina en sangre, la actividad enzimática antioxidante, la peroxidación lipídica, y la histopatología hepática. Resultados: El extracto de Prosopis farcta redujo los niveles elevados de colesterol total, los triglicéridos, la LBD, y el peso corporal. La actividad de la catalasa y el superóxido dismutasa se redujo en los animales ADRG, cuyos niveles se incrementaron estadísticamente en grado significativo mediante el extracto de hoja de P farcta. Los aumentos estadísticamente significativos en el malondialdehído hepático en ratas ADRG, disminuyeron después del tratamiento con P farcta. Los hallazgos histopatológicos también revelaron efectos positivos del extracto. Conclusión: Estos resultados indican la actividad de reducción de lípidos y la actividad anti-oxidantes del extracto de las hojas de P farcta.

Detection of Schmallenberg virus antibody in equine population of Northern and Northeast of Iran.

AIM: Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a newly emerging virus in Simbu group that 1st time is reported in 2011 in Germany and now spread to Europe. The clinical signs of infection to this virus are fever, loss of appetite, reduced milk yield and in some cases, diarrhea and in pregnant animals congenital malformations in calves, lambs, and kid goats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study for a serologic survey of SBV, blood samples from 200 horse in different rural areas of the northern and northeast of Iran with the high equine population collected and were analyzed using an indirect ELISA test. RESULTS: Based on our results 5% (n=10) of total 200 samples were positive for SBV antibody and 2% (n=4) was doubtful and 93% (n=186) was negative. There were no significant differences between age and sex and breed properties (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the presence of antibodies against the SBV on horse populations in Iran. The high population and activity of Culicoides biting midges and their proper living conditions, especially the areas of temperate and humid environmental conditions, are the possible causes of arboviruses related diseases seen in this country.

Polymeric Based Therapeutic Delivery Systems Prepared Using Electrohydrodynamic Processes.

The development of therapeutic dosage (e.g. pharmaceutical) systems is an ongoing process which, in recent times has incorporated several emerging disciplines and themes at timely intervals. While the concepts surrounding dosage forms have developed and evolved, many polymeric excipients remain as the preferred choice of materials over existing counterparts, serving functions as matrix materials, coatings and providing other specific functional properties (e.g. adhesion, controlled release and mechanical properties). There have been, however, developments in the deployment of synthetic polymeric materials (e.g. polycaprolactone, poly lactic co-glycolic acid) when compared to naturally occurring materials (e.g. lactose, gelatin). Advances in pharmaceutical process technologies have also provided novel engineering platforms to develop a host of exciting structure based materials ranging from the nanometer to the macro scales. Some of these structure enabling technologies include spray drying, super critical processing, microfluidics and even wet chemical methods. More recently electrohydrodynamic (EHDA) engineering methods have emerged as robust technologies offering potential to fabricate a plethora of generic structures (e.g. particles, fibres, bubbles and pre-determined patterns) on a broad scale range. This review focuses on key developments using various EHDA technologies for the pharmaceutical and biomaterial remits when selecting synthetic and/or naturally occurring polymers as pharmaceutical (and therapeutic) excipients. In addition, the underlying EHDA process principles are discussed along with key parameters and variables (both materials and engineering). EHDA technologies are operational at ambient conditions and recent developments have also demonstrated their viability for large scale production. These are promising technologies which have potential in established (e.g. films, dressings and microparticles) and emerging scientific themes (e.g. nanomedicines and tissue engineering).

Electrohydrodynamic Preparation of Nanomedicines.

The preparation of nanomedicines can be achived using a host of methods ranging from wet-chemical approaches to more engineering related techniques. As a maturing branch of nanotechnology, nanomedcines are being tailored to serve multiple pharmaceutic and biomedical related funcitons (e.g. targeted delivery, imaging, healing, sensing which may require the utilisaiton of one or more actives or excipients. In some instances, handling of materials (such as sensitive biomolecules or active pharmaceutical ingredient) becomes a limiting factor along with issues related to fabrication steps (loss or degradation of active components and functional materials, deposition location & procedure (removal of formed structures, process environment sensitivity and scale-up potential. This short review focuses on the electrohydrodynamic preparation of emerging nanomedicines that have potential to serve as therapeutic platforms. An insight into the underpinning process (jet-formation, related paramerts (material and process and strucutral outcomes (particles and fibres is given in relation to highlighted research. The ambient temperature processing, user friendly preparation and present industrial scale up potential (now in kg/hr make such processes valuable in the preparation of future nano-scaled and sensitive dosage forms.

Effect of abomasal emptying rate on the apparent efficiency of colostral immunoglobulin G absorption in neonatal Holstein-Friesian calves.

Inadequate absorption of colostral IgG in calves increases the risk of morbidity and death and is an important source of economic loss to the dairy industry. We hypothesized that an increased rate of abomasal emptying in colostrum-fed calves would be associated with an increased apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA) of colostral IgG. This is because an increase in abomasal emptying rate causes IgG to reach the site of absorption in the small intestine earlier and at a higher luminal concentration. The main objective was, therefore, to determine the association between the AEA of colostral IgG and abomasal emptying rate in neonatal calves. Twenty-four neonatal Holstein-Friesian calves were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: control, 2 mL of 0.9% NaCl intramuscularly; erythromycin, 8.8 mg/kg of body weight intramuscularly; ivermectin, 200 µg/kg intravenously; and gentamicin, 6.6 mg/kg intramuscularly. These treatments were selected because we have previously demonstrated that erythromycin and ivermectin increase, and gentamicin decreases, the rate of abomasal emptying in milk-fed calves. Calves were fed 3 L of pooled cow colostrum containing acetaminophen (50mg/kg of body weight) by oroesophageal intubation at 1h of age and 30 min after each treatment was administered. Jugular venous blood samples were obtained periodically after the start of feeding. Abomasal emptying rate was assessed by the time to maximal plasma acetaminophen concentration. Erythromycin increased and gentamicin decreased the abomasal emptying rate and AEA of colostral IgG compared with control, respectively, whereas ivermectin had no effect. Using data from all 24 calves, the AEA of colostral IgG was linearly and negatively associated with abomasal emptying rate (R(2)=0.22). We conclude that the abomasal emptying rate is an important determinant of the AEA of colostral IgG. Identifying a non-antimicrobial method for increasing abomasal emptying rate will provide a practical and effective method for facilitating transfer of passive immunity in colostrum-fed dairy calves.

Hypoparathyroidism and intracerebral calcification in patients with beta-thalassemia major.

BACKGROUND: Hypoparathyroidism is one of the most important endocrine complications of thalassemia major. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of intracerebral calcifications in patients with thalassemia with and without hypoparathyroidism. METHODS: 47 beta-thalassemia patients with hypoparathyroidism underwent a brain CT scan to investigate the presence and extent of intracerebral calcification. 30 age- and sex-matched beta-thalassemic patients with normal parathyroid function who had undergone brain CT for headache, or some other minor neurologic problems were also enrolled in the study serving as controls. The amount of intracerebral calcification, hematologic parameters, and some clinical findings were compared between both groups. RESULTS: Intracerebral calcification was present in 54.2% of beta-thalassemia patients with hypoparathyroidism. The most frequent sites of calcification were basal ganglia, and frontoparietal areas of the brain. Thalami, internal capsule, cerebellum and posterior fossa were other less frequently calcified regions of the brain. In contrast, there was no evidence of intracerebral calcifications in the 30 thalassemic patients with normal parathyroid function. There was not a statistically significant difference between serum ferritin concentrations in thalassemia patient with hypoparathyroidism and those with normal parathyroid function (2781 vs. 2178, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Intracranial calcification is a common finding in thalassemia patients with hypoparathyroidism, it can be extensive and involves most regions of the brain.