BackgroundToday, the plant Prosopis farcta is frequently used for traditional medicinal purposes. The aim of this study was the identification of luteolin in P. farcta extract (PFE) and to evaluate its effect on morphine discontinuation syndrome in rats.Material/MethodsUsing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPCL), luteolin was evaluated in PFE. The frequency of behavioral symptoms of morphine withdrawal (jumping, rearing, and teeth chattering) induced by naloxone challenge were illustrated in morphine-dependent rats receiving PFE, luteolin, saline, or clonidine. LD50 of PFE and luteolin was 540 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg, respectively. Signs of behavioral morphine withdrawal in rats were significantly inhibited by chronic co-administration of PFE, luteolin, or clonidine with morphine.ResultsThis study showed that PFE was less effective than clonidine at a dose of 100 mg/kg, and at doses of 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg it was comparable to clonidine, and did not show a significant difference in the reduction of morphine withdrawal symptoms. Luteolin was comparable in 30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, and 90 mg/kg with clonidine to reduce the frequency of morphine withdrawal symptoms. PFE can be used as a source of luteolin.ConclusionsThe study findings suggest that PFE and luteolin might reduce the signs of narcotic withdrawal. Due to a similar effect to clonidine, its mechanism of action might be through the protein kinase A pathway and might have human therapeutic potential.

Introduction: Stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD) are intended to replace lost dopaminergic neurons. The basis of this treatment is to guide the migration of transplanted cells into the target tissue or injury site. The aim of this study is an evaluation of the homing of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) labeled adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) by an external magnetic field in a rat model of PD. Methods: ADSCs were obtained from perinephric regions of male adult rats and cultured in a DMEM medium. ADSC markers were assessed by immunostaining with CD90, CD105, CD49d, and CD45. The SPION was coated using poly-L-lysine hydrobromide and transfection was determined in rat ADSC using the GFP reporter gene. For this in vivo study, rats with PD were divided into five groups: a positive control group, a control group with PD (lesion with 6-HD injection), and three treatment groups: the PD/ADSC group (PD transplant with ADSCs transfected by BrdU), PD/ADSC/SPION group (PD transplant with ADSCs labeled with SPION and transfected by GFP), and the PD/ADSC/SPION/EM group (PD transplant with ADSCs labeled with SPION and transfected by GFP induced with external magnet). Results: ADSCs were immunoreactive to fat markers CD90 (90.73±1.7), CD105 (87.4±2.9) and CD49d (79.6±2.6), with negative immunostaining at the hematopoietic stem cell marker (CD45: 1.4±0.4). The efficiency of cells with SPION/PLL was about 96% of ADSC. The highest number of GFP-positive cells was in the ADSC/SPION/EM group (54.5±1.3), which was significantly different from that in ADSC/SPION group (30.83±3 and P<0.01). Conclusion: Transfection of ADSC by SPION/PLL is an appropriate protocol for cell therapy. External magnets can be used for the delivery and homing of transplanted stem cells in the target tissue.

Introduction: Treatment of cardiovascular risk factors seems to be necessary and involves a number of changes in drug treatment and lifestyle. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Matricaria chamomilla L. hydroalcoholic extract on antioxidant activity, atherosclerotic plaques, lipid profile and inflammatory indicators in rats. Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into five experimental groups consisting of group 1 (Sham; normal dietary), group 2 (control; high cholesterol diet (2%)), group 3 (high cholesterol diet plus 55 mg/kg of chamomile hydroalcoholic extract), group 4 (high cholesterol diet plus 110 mg/kg of chamomile hydroalcoholic extract), and group 5 (high cholesterol diet plus 10 mg/kg of lovastatin). At the beginning and end of the study, blood samples of all the animals were taken for determination of antioxidant activity and the level of biochemical parameters. The hearts and aorta were also isolated for ontological tests. Results: No symptom of plaque formation was observed in experimental groups 3, 4 and 5 that received the high cholesterol diet. High cholesterol diet (2%) resulted in a significant increase in serum cholesterol level, TG and LDL-c levels in groups 2 and 3 as compared to group 1 (P<0.001). No significant difference was observed in serum cholesterol, TG and LDL-c levels in experimental groups 4 and 5, compared to experimental group 1. In group 4, serum HDL-c concentration did not show significant changes as compared to group 1. In groups 4 and 5, no significant change was observed in inflammatory factors as compared to group 1. The levels of superoxide dismutase in red blood cells and malondialdehyde in plasma of groups 3 and 5 showed no significant change when compared with group 1. Conclusion: Chamomile led to the management and correction of changes in risk factors of cardiovascular diseases.

Introduction: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of treatment with flaxseed oil (FSO) on renal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR) injuries in rats. Materials and methods: In this study, 32 Wistar rats were randomly studied in four groups: Co+NS (Control group with normal saline administration), Sh+NS (sham group with normal saline administration), RIR+NS and RIR+FSO. FSO (0.2 ml) was administered orally (gavage) for 14 days (~ 800 mg/kg body weight). Blood samples were collected for the detection of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were evaluated in the renal tissue. Tubular damages were examined using histopathological studies. Results: Significantly elevated MDA (P<0.05) and depressed SOD levels (P<0.05) Comparison between RIR+NS group and Control+NS and Sh+NS groups revealed in the condition of RIR. Treatment with FSO, however, significantly lowered the MDA (P<0.05) and enhanced SOD levels (P<0.05) after RIR injury. Histopathological results confirmed the biochemical studies and tubular necrosis score was reduced in the RIR+FSO group. Conclusion: This study therefore suggests that the aqueous flaxseed oil may be useful agents for the prevention of renal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR)-induced oxidative injury in rats.

The distribution pattern of internal iliac artery (IIA) implies its bifurcation to two branches, the anterior and the posterior trunks. According to previous research, IIA indicates several anatomical variations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the types of these variations. The presence of these variations in the arteries is an important topic to urologists, gynecologists, radiologists, and general surgeons because they can be ruptured during surgical procedures in the perineal and pelvis region. Three databases were searched for the period from 1810 to January 2018 and a total of 75 studies were investigated. This study evaluated the branching of the internal iliac artery in several literatures and compared it with Adachi's classification. This finding can lead to improve surgical technique and safety in medical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Research methodThe report of this review study was based on a systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) (7). PUBMED, ISI web of knowledge and SCOPUS were Cite this article : Mohammadbaigi H, Darvishi M, Moayeri A. Variations of anterior and posterior division of internal iliac artery: A systematic review and clinical implications. Biomed. Res. Ther.; 6(5):3189-3206.

Introduction: It is well documented that some forced exercises can have bad effects on the genital system. Melatonin is a potent antioxidant that is effective in reducing the physical stress.&nbsp; Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the supportive effect of melatonin on the quality of spermatogenesis, including count, motility, morphology, viability, and apoptosis of sperm following a forced treadmill exercise. Materials and methods: A total of 40 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this experimental study. All rats were divided into five groups: control group, sham M group, melatonin (M) group, forced treadmill exercise group (Ft), and melatonin with forced treadmill exercise (MFt) group. The experimental group was trained to force treadmill stress for one hour of forced treadmill exercise daily, five days weekly for eight weeks. Then the sperm quality parameters were measured after dissection and removal of epididymis. Spermatogenesis and germ cell apoptosis were evaluated using Miller and Johnsen&rsquo;s score and TUNEL staining separately. Results: Results showed the count, motility, morphology, and viability of sperm in forced treadmill-melatonin administrated group, significantly enhanced by melatonin treatment compared to the treadmill exercise group (p&le;0.01). Also the number of apoptotic germ cells significantly decreased in treadmill exercised-melatonin administrated group compared to the treadmill exercised group. Conclusions: These results suggest that administration of melatonin can protect the testis against the detrimental effect of forced treadmill exercise in adult male rats.

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Introduction: Lung fibrosis is a progressive, fatal disease that is characterized by increasing fibroblasts proliferation and extracellular matrix precipitation. Studies have shown that cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) could play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. In the current study, the effect of thalidomide on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis was qualitatively studied in a laboratory animal model.Methods: Thirty-two adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to the following four groups: Group one received 2 mg bleomycin, group two received bleomycin in addition to 4 mg of thalidomide; group three received 4 mg of thalidomide, and Group 4 received 0.1 mg of 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) via intraperitoneal (IP) administration. Finally, the expression of Cox-2 protein and the percentage of contact points of alveolar spaces and pulmonary connective tissue were determined. Results: Our results showed that in the Bleo + Thal group compared to the Bleo group, the percentage of contact points of pulmonary connective tissue decreased significantly (P<0.001), while the percentage of contact points among the alveolar spaces increased significantly (P = 0.01). Also, immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated the number of Cox-2 + cells in the volume unit in the Bleo + Thal group decreased significantly in comparison with the group that received only Bleo (P = 0.012). Conclusion: In conclusion, these results suggest thalidomide could alleviate the bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and decreases the expression of Cox-2 protein.