The liver is the major site for storage and metabolism of folate. Folate deficiency is common in many liver diseases and causes severe effects on cellular metabolism and increases oxidative stress and the homocysteine (Hcy) level. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of folic acid on dyslipidemia and serum Hcy concentrations in an experimental rat model of cholestasis. Eighty-one male Wistar rats were divided into nine groups: control, sham-operated, folic acid control, bile duct-ligated (BDL), and BDL+ folic acid groups. In folic acid treated groups, folic acid (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg body weight) was given orally for 28 days. After taking blood and liver samples, plasma lipid profiles and Hcy and hepatic reduced and oxidized glutathione concentrations were measured. Histopathological features of cholestasis were assessed by Masson's trichrome staining. Treatment of folic acid in BDL rats significantly prevented the progression of hepatic fibrosis and improved the serum and liver biochemical changes. These results suggest that folic acid protects the liver against cholestasis by reducing serum Hcy and by its antioxidant properties. Folic acid can be an important therapeutic intervention in dyslipidemia caused by cholestasis.
Summary The rostral ventral tegmental area (VTAR) and central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) are considered the main regions for induction of psychological dependence on abused drugs, such as morphine. The main aim of this study was to investigate the transient inhibition of each right and left side as well as both sides of the VTAR and the CeA by lidocaine (2%) on morphine reward properties using the conditioned place preference (CPP) method. Male Wistar rats (250±20 g) 7 days after recovery from surgery and cannulation were conditioned to morphine (7.5 mg/kg) in CPP apparatus. Five minutes before morphine injection in conditioning phase, lidocaine was administered either uni‐ or bilaterally into the VTAR (0.25 μL/site) or CeA (0.5 μL/site). The results revealed that lidocaine administration into the left side, but not the right side of the VTAR and the CeA reduced morphine CPP significantly. The reduction was potentiated when lidocaine was injected into both sides of the VTAR and the CeA. The number of compartment crossings was reduced when lidocaine was injected into both sides of the VTAR and the CeA as well as the left side. Rearing was reduced when lidocaine was injected into the right, but not the left side of the VTAR. Sniffing and rearing increased when animals received lidocaine in the right side and reduced in the group that received lidocaine in the left side of the CeA. It was concluded that the right and the left side of VTAR and the CeA play different roles in morphine‐induced activity and reward.
Background: Thalassemia, as an autosomal recessive disorder, leads to life-threatening anemia, in which patient's life depends on long term blood transfusion and regular medical care. In this study, body composition, nutritional intake and biochemical parameters of blood transfusing dependent major thalassemia patients were evaluated.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 74 major thalassemia volunteers referred to educational hospital in Yasuj city were recruited. Body composition, demographic and biochemical parameters were measured. Data were statistically analyzed using parametric and non-parametric statistical tests. P-values less than 0.05 were defined as statistically significant.Results: Data analysis showed that mean of age of participants in this cross-sectional study was 21.09± 7.7 years old. 21.6% of our patients were underweight, 68.9% of them were normal weight, 9.5% were overweight and none of them were obese. 8.1% of < 20 years old patients were short stature. About 80% of patients had low blood HDL concentration. About 30% of participants were at borderline levels and 42% of patients were at high and toxic levels of Ferritin. Approximately, all patients had hemoglobin lower than standard of healthy individuals. The mean body fat percent of patients was 24 ± 6.6%, which was higher than the normal value (P <0.001), with exception of copper, phosphorus and vitamin K and percent of protein and carbohydrates from total energy were significantly lower than standard values. The Binary logistic regression analysis also showed that the interval between sessions of blood transfusion (P=0.03), daily intake of vitamin D (P=0.01) and vitamin K (P=0.028) and fatness (0.006) were significant predictors of the Ferritin equation as iron overload in thalassemia patients.Discussion and Conclusion: Malnutrition, especially underweight was evident among our patients. Intake of the energy and most nutrients were lower than standard values. Biochemical parameters such as Ferritin and hemoglobin were also abnormal. Blood levels of vitamin D in thalassemia patients should be routinely monitored. Clinical trials on the effect of supplementation with nutrients such as vitamin D and calcium and zinc are recommended. Blood levels of vitamin D in thalassemia patients should be routinely monitored every six months.
Background: Kidney diseases are prevalencing rapidly. The nutritional transition has caused the diet of Iran community to increase the dietary acid load (DAL) and thus exacerbate metabolic disorders. Therefore, our goal was to determine the DAL of the diet in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the study population was composed of 90 patients with renal insufficiency. DAL was included of Potential Renal Acid Load(PRAL), Net EndogeneusAcid Production(NEAP) and Net Acid Excretion(NAE) that were extracted using data of food frequency questionnaire and their correlation with anthropometric and biochemical indices such as Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) and creatinine were analyzed by SPSS v.26 software with a significance level of < 0.05.Results: Mean of dietary acid load of participants were 17.15±9.85,-8.7±0.35 and 59.04±10.9 mEq/day for PRAL, NEAP and NAE respectively. Daily intake of energy (P<0.001) and protein percent of energy (P<0.01) in third tertile (T3) of PRAL were significant higher than first tertile (T1). Mean of age (P<0.05) and blood creatinine concentration (P<0.01) were significant higher in T1 than T1 of NEAP index and GFR was significant low (P<0.05). Daily energy intake (p<0.05), blood calcium concentration (p<0.05) and GFR (p<0.05) were significantly more in higher tertiles of NAE index. Based on Crude General linear model, the higher tertiles of PRAL compared to first tertile had significant lower GFR (P<0.05). In adjustment model, T3 group had more not significant GFR than T1 group. Only in model II adjustment, T2 group of NAE compared to T1, had higher GFR. Mean difference of GFR did not significant across tertiles of NEAP index. In case of Creatinine, based on model I adjustment, T3 group of NAE had more creatinine concentration than T1 group (P<0.01). T3 group of NEAP than T1 group had significant lower creatinine in crude and modelI adjustment (P<0.01). Discussion: Dietary Acid Load was associated with kidney function in CKD patients. In order to obtain logical results and to understand the cause-and-effect relationships, long-term studies with larger populations and consideration of blood factors such as blood bicarbonate are recommended.
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