Background: Pistachio is one of the main nutrients, not only as a strategic crop but also as a

Background This study was undertaken to determine the effect of wood dust on the respiratory system and oxidative stress in furniture workers and to determine whether any associations exist between respiratory parameters and oxidative stress. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed on 45 furniture workers and 45 office workers as a reference group in Iran. The NIOSH method 0600 was used to determine the concentration of particulates. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was estimated via the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire. Oxidative stress biomarkers and respiratory parameters were also measured. Results The mean concentrations of respirable and non-respirable dust were found to be 1.51 mg/m 3 and 1.23 mg/m 3 , respectively. Pulmonary function parameters, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, and antioxidant capacity biomarkers such as total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly lower, while the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, were significantly higher in the furniture workers than in the reference group. There were significant positive associations between FVC and FEV1 with SOD and TAC. Conclusion The present study results indicated that exposure to wood dust significantly increased respiratory disorders and confirmed the association between lung function parameters and oxidative stress.

BackgroundParaoxonase 1 (PON1) enzyme is known enzyme with, aryl esterase, phosphatase, peroxidase, and lactonase activities. According to some studies, the activity of PON1 enzyme is decreased in type 2 diabetic patients. We analyzed the enzyme activity and its single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distribution on promoter regions (-108, -126, and -162) in type 2 diabetic patients compared with non-diabetic individuals to reveal the likely relationship between PON1 activity and its gene promoter polymorphisms.MethodsOn the whole, 98 diabetic and 104 non-diabetic individuals were examined in this study. The enzyme activity and the genotypes were studied using spectrophotometry, real-time PCR-HRM, and sequencing techniques, respectively.ResultsThere was no meaningful difference in enzyme activity between two under-studied groups (P.V = 0.671). Moreover, no meaningful difference was also seen between two groups in terms of the frequency of polymorphism -108 (P.V = 0.277). The frequencies of SNPs -126 and -162, however, showed a meaningful difference between two groups (P.V = 0.000 and P.V = 0.017, respectively).ConclusionsWe indicated PON1 activity could be similar in DM-2 patients and non-DM-2 individuals. The significant role of SNP -108 in PON1 activity in DM-2 patients compared with non-DM-2 individuals was confirmed in the study too. On the other hand, the role of -162 and -126 SNPs in causing diabetes cannot be easily overlook because of a meaningful difference of their distribution in understudied groups. However, they may be attributed to DM-2-associated genes.

Background: Hepatotoxicity is one of the most important side effects of anticonvulsant drugs. This study compared the hepatotoxicity of sodium valproate, carbamazepine, phenytoin, lamotrigine, and vigabatrin in male rats. Methods: Based on the results, 56 rats were randomly divided into seven groups of eight and treated intraperitoneally for four weeks. Groups 1 and 2 received 500 mg/kg of carbamazepine and sodium valproate, and groups 3, 4, and 5 were injected with 200 mg/kg of phenytoin, 200 mg/kg lamotrigine, and 500 mg/kg vigabatrin, respectively. As control groups, the sixth and seventh received distilled water and sesame oil. Biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in the serum samples, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) contents in liver homogenates, were measured at the end of the experiment. Results: MDA levels in carbamazepine and phenytoin groups were significantly higher than that in sodium valproate, lamotrigine, vigabatrin, and control groups (P<0.05). GSH levels in carbamazepine and phenytoin groups were meaningfully higher compared to the groups that received sodium valproate (P<0.05), vigabatrin, and control groups (P<0.001). Based on the results, the GGT level in the carbamazepine group was remarkably higher in comparison with the other groups (P<0.01). ALT and AST represented considerably higher levels in the phenytoin group compared to the vigabatrin, sodium valproate, and control groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: Overall, carbamazepine-induced hepatotoxicity caused the most significant changes in GSH, GGT, and AST. The induction of hepatotoxicity with sodium valproate had the least effect on enzymes and was significantly different compared to carbamazepine and phenytoin groups. Because of no hepatic metabolism, the level of biomarkers did not demonstrate a considerable difference between vigabatrin and the control groups.

Background: Lack of farmers' knowledge, illegal production and import, and economical