Crocus sativus L., commonly known as saffron, is a perennial stemless herb in Iridaceae family. It has been used in traditional medicine as well as in modern pharmacological studies for variety of conditions including depression. Recent studies have suggested brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), VGF Neuropeptide, Cyclic-AMP Response Element Binding Protein (CREB) and phospho-CREB (p-CREB) may play roles in depression. In this research the molecular mechanism of antidepressant effect of aqueous extract of saffron and its effect on the levels of BDNF, VGF, CREB and p-CREB in rat hippocampus, were investigated. The aqueous extract of saffron (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg/day) and imipramine 10 mg/kg/day were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 21 days to rats. The FST (forced swimming test) was performed on the days 1(st) and 21(st). The protein expression and transcript levels of BDNF, VGF CREB and phospho-CREB in rat hippocampus, were evaluated using western blot and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The results of FST showed that saffron reduced the immobility time. The protein levels of BDNF, CREB and p-CREB were significantly increased in saffron treated rats. VGF protein expression was also increased, but not significantly. The transcript levels of BDNF significantly increased. No significant changes in CREB and VGF transcript levels were observed. It was concluded that aqueous extract of saffron has antidepressant effects and the mechanism of its antidepressant effect may be due to increasing the levels of BDNF, VGF, CREB and P-CREB in rat hippocampus.
Background:This study was performed to examine quality of life's dimensions and its relationship with some clinical and demographic characteristics on women with breast cancer under chemotherapy referred to the oncology hospital, Isfahan University of medical sciences, Iran.Methods:This Cross sectional study was conducted among 330 breast cancer patients with simple sampling methodology. Data collection instrument included a questionnaire contains 2 parts (clinical and demographic characteristics information and version 2.0 of the SF-36 questionnaire (the international version). The data were analyzed with 99% confidence by carried out using SPSS18 with using descriptive and analytic statistics.Results:The majority of subjects’ quality of life was moderate (53.93%). there was a statistically significant relationship between quality of life among breast cancer patients with chemotherapy sessions (P < 0.05, df =4, χ2 = 16.37). One way Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA) suggested the absence of any significant relationship between quality of life with marital status (f = 0.21; P = 0.92) and employment status (f = 0.26; P = 0.77). Also, Spearman test showed the absence of any significant relationship between quality of life with age (P = 0.60), and the elapsed duration from diagnosis (P = 0.68), however Spearman test showed significant relationship between quality of life and education status (P = 0.002, r = -0.84).Conclusion:With regard to results of this study, there was a direct correlation between the number of chemotherapy sessions and patients quality of life. The attitude of the population toward chemotherapy is usually inhibiting and negative, so patients, students and nurses should be trained about chemotherapy efficacy to improve their attitude about chemotherapy, which in turn would lead to improvement of the patients’ quality of life.
Background:Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common finding in luteal phase of menstrual cycle resulting in several changes in woman life including pain sensation.Objectives:This study evaluated the alterations of postoperative pain sensation in those with and without a history of PMS.Patients and Methods:A total of 140 women in in postoperative period were assigned to four groups regarding luteal or follicular phase of menstrual cycle and the history of PMS and were evaluated regarding scale of pain sensation and morphine demand in recovery room. To evaluate the difference among the groups, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Bonferroni tests were used.Results:Patients with PMS presented higher pain sensation and analgesia request (P = 0.003). Patients in luteal phase showed less pain and analgesia request in two out of five studied outcomes (P = 0.075).Conclusions:The most comfortable postoperative women were those in luteal phase without history of PMS group.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.