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Objectives: The purpose of this study is investigating curcumin role in mood alterations in male rats after spinal cord injury through focusing on the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome. Methods: Fourteen  adualt male Wistar rats (220–250 g) were divided to five animal groups (n = 8 per group): Control: healthy animals which  received normal saline for 14 days; spinal cord injury: spinal cord injury-induced animals which received normal saline for 14 days; spinal cord injury + curcumin (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg/ i.p): spinal cord injury-induced animals treated with 3 doses of curcumin for 14 days. To assess the mood of animals, the elevated plus maze test, forced swimming test, tail suspension test, and open field test were performed. Graph-pad prism software was used for data analysis. Statistical analysis was done by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test. P < 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: Treatment with curcumin with two doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg increased open arm time and decreased close arm time as compared to the spinal cord injury group. The administration of curcumin (40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg) enhanced the altered behaviors. Spinal cord injury caused an increase in the protein levels NLRP3, ASC and Casp1 in the hippocampus of animals as compared to the sham group. Curcumin regulated the protein levels of NLRP3, ASC and Casp1 in the hippocampus of animals. Conclusion: Depression is prevalent in person with spinal cord injury and our findings indicated that curcumin appears to constitute a suitable agent to reduce neuroinflammation and through it, relieve a depressive-like state.

Background: During hypoxia, the increased production of reactive oxygen species occurs during the re-oxygenation phase of periodic continuous hypobaric hypoxia. Objectives: In this study, we surveyed the effect of supplementary flaxseed (Fx) on oxidative damage to the hippocampus of the hypoxic rat model. Methods: In this study, 24 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided and studied in four groups: (1) The control group with normal oxygen and food (Co.), (2) The sham group placed in a hypoxia chamber with normal oxygen and food (Sh.), (3) Hypoxia induction group with normal food (Hx), and (4) Hypoxia induction group with 10% Fx food (Hx + Fx). Both the Hx and Hx + Fx groups were kept in a hypoxic chamber for 30 days while the atmospheric pressure was reduced (oxygen 8%, nitrogen 92%) for four hours daily. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were evaluated in the hippocampus region of the brain tissue. Neuronal damage was examined using histological studies. Blood samples were collected to measure interleukin-18 (IL-18). Results: A significant increase was recorded in the IL-18 level and hippocampal dark neurons of the CA1, CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) areas in the Hx group as compared to Co. and Sh. groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, a significant decrease was noted in the dark neurons in the Hx + Fx group as compared to the Hx group (P < 0.05). A significant increase was observed in the TAC concentration in the Hx + Fx group in comparison with the Co., Sh., and Hx groups (P < 0.05), while a significant increase was observed in the MDA concentration in the Hx group as compared to the Co. and Sh. groups and a significant decrease in the Hx + Fx group as compared to the Hx group (P < 0.05). Conclusions:This study suggested that the consumption of flaxseed could be a useful strategy for preventing the harmful effect of hypoxia on the hippocampus of the rat brain.

Objective Stature estimation is an important biological factor for forensic medicine to identify an individual. Forearm length can be used for the prediction of the stature in different populations. In the present study, the relation between forearm length and height was evaluated. Methods In a cross sectional study, a sample of 100 males and 100 females (aged 18 to 25 years) medical students from Iranian population was randomly entered into the study. Left forearm was measured by measuring tape. Stature was measured in standard position. The linear regression analysis was used to estimate the relation between forearm length and the stature. Results The mean age of subjects was 22 ± 2.21 years. Mean age of male cases was 22 ± 2.8 years and female cases was 21.9 ± 1.81 years and there wasn't significant difference in the age of sex groups (P = 0.314). A significant differences were recorded in the height and forearm length of subjects between two sex groups (P = 0.0001). There was a correlation between height and forearm length of all subjects (r = 0.643, P = 0.0001). According to the linear regression, there was a relation between height and upper arm length of subject in all cases. Conclusion According to the results, forearm length was a moderate predictor for stature estimation of medical students in Iranian population.

About 50% of infertility problems are related to male factors and reduced sperm motility. The important factor that affects the structure and function of sperm is reactive oxygen species (ROS), and over-concentration of ROS reduces the quality and motility of sperm. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) using red to near-infrared (NIR) light is useful in oxidative stress restoration. It plays a therapeutic role in disorders such as asthenospermia, oligospermia cases, and cryopreserved sperm. It also enhances the metabolic capacity of sperm and increases the low-level and non-harmful intracellular content of Ca2+, nitric oxide (NO), and ROS in the stressed cells. Likewise, it modulates survival intracellular pathways and maintains the motility, viability, DNA, and acrosome integrity of sperm. This article reviews the state-of-the-art preclinical and clinical evidence regarding the efficacy of semen PBMT.