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Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent neurological disability among young adults. Anti-inflammatory drugs have shown to be effective in MS. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of Zingiber officinale (ginger) have been shown and proven in many phytotherapy studies. This study aimed to evaluate effects of ginger essential oil on preventing myelin degradation in a rat model of MS. Materials and Methods: In this study, we divided 49 rats into 7 groups; 4 control and 3 experimental groups that received 3 different dose of ginger essential oil (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg/day) for treatment of cuprizone-induced demyelinated rats. Basket test and transmission electron microscopy were performed in this study. Olig2 and Mbp genes and proteins were respectively evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Histologically, cuprizone created demyelination in the corpus callosum fibers. Remyelination of fibers was seen in the group treated with the medium dose of ginger essence, by toluidine blue staining. transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed increased thickness of the myelin of fibers in all 3 treated groups (p<0.05). Feeding by the medium dose of ginger essence significantly increased the levels of Mbp and Olig2 genes (p<0.05). ELISA test showed that 100 mg/kg/day of ginger caused a significant difference between experimental and the cuprizone-induced groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggested that administration of ginger essential oil prevented demyelination and improved remyelination of rats` corpus callusom and can be used as an effective substance in the prevention of MS.

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INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease is the principal cause of mortality and morbidity in developed countries, leading to the formation of atherosclerosis plaques and thrombosis. Apoptosis of endothelial cells is one of the primary factors in vascular thrombosis. Lipids, when oxidized by endothelial cells, result in an increased thickness of the arterial wall. Iron is also recognized as an atherogenic element that induces atherosclerosis. There remains uncertainty about the antioxidative role of vitamin E in the formation of atherosclerosis. In this study, the authors evaluated the effect of iron and vitamin E on the apoptosis of endothelial cells in the carotid arteries of hypercholesterolemic male rabbits. METHOD: Thirty white male rabbits were randomly divided into five groups and fed the following diet for six weeks: Group 1: control, Group 2: cholesterol (1%), Group 3: cholesterol (1%) + vitamin E (50 mg/kg), Group 4: cholesterol (1%) + Iron (50 mg/kg), and Group 5: cholesterol (1%) + vitamin E (50 mg/kg) + Iron (50 mg/kg). Serum cholesterol, TG, HDL, and LDL levels were assessed after six weeks. Finally, the animals were sacrificed with ketamine, and carotid arteries were removed. The samples were fixed in 10% formalin, and TUNEL staining was used after the tissue processing. Cell counts were carried out under a light microscope. RESULTS: Vitamin E decreased Serum cholesterol and apoptotic endothelial cells in the hypercholesterolemic + vitamin E diet (P< 0.05). However, they increased significantly in the interference groups compared to the control group (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to our findings, vitamin E showed to have a beneficial effect on preventing cardiovascular diseases and may play a positive role in the prevention of atherosclerosis.

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OBJECTIVE: The role of adiponectin in sperm function is inconclusive and there is a paucity of evidence. Obesity shows an ambiguous influence on sperm motility, and male subfertility. The aim of this study was to compare the role of adiponectin and sperm functional parameters among obese and non-obese men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this comprehensive study, 64 male patients were included, and were classified as nonobese [body mass index (BMI)< 24.9 kg/m2, n=32] and obese (BMI >25 kg/m2, n=32) groups. Sperm analysis, was conducted using World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 standards. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used for the analysis of adiponectin gene expression and protein levels, respectively. Sperm viability was assessed using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT test), Acridine orange (AO) test was utilized to detect DNA denaturation, and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) technique was used to investigate the fragmentation of DNA. RESULTS: In obese men, adiponectin gene expression (P<0.0001) and protein levels (P<0.001) were significantly lower compared to the non-obese group. Additionally, sperm motility, was significantly lower in the obese group. The rapid progressive (RP) motility was less in obese men in comparison to the non-obese group (P<0.001). Sperm count and morphology were not significantly different in the two groups. DNA denaturation and DNA fragmentation were significantly more frequent in the obese group than in non-obese men (P<0.05) and (P<0.01), respectively. The obese men showed significantly lower sperm viability compared to the non-obese group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed no significant correlation between the evaluated variables (sperm parameter, sperm viability, DNA fragmentation and integrity), and obesity in men. Based on these results, adiponectin may potentially play positive role in sperm function for acquiring fertility.

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BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the older population and characterized by progressive memory and cognitive impairment. Cyperus rotundus, a traditional medicinal herb, has analgesic, sedative, and anti-inflammatory effects and also used to increase memory in Islamic traditional medicine. This study was designed to consider the effects of C. rotundus extract on memory impairment and neurogenesis in the Beta-Amyloid rats' model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 7) for the evaluation of baseline training performance in the Morris water maze test. Then, amyloid-beta (Aß1-42) was injected in animal hippocampal CA1 bilaterally in four groups. The first probe trial was performed 21 days after Aß injection. Then, 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg of C. rotundus extract were administered to three Aß-injected groups for 1 month; after that, the second probe trial was performed, and rats were sacrificed after 28 days of the second probe trial. The neurogenesis was detected in the hippocampus, by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: This study showed that spatial memory increased in the behavioral test in AD treated group with C. rotundus extract, compared with the AD group (P = 0.02). Immunohistochemical staining revealed that neuronal differentiation has been occurred in the hippocampus in the AD-treated group with C. rotundus extract compared with the AD group (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that C. rotundus extract, repaired spatial memory impairment in the Aß rats, through increased neurogenesis in the hippocampus, which could be related to the flavonoid components in the extract.

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disturbance leading to memory deficit, cognitive decline, and behavioral disturbance. Deposition of Amyloid beta plaques, neurofibrillary tangle and mitochondrial impairment are common neuropathological signs in AD. In this study, the effect of standardized Cyperus rotundus(C. rotundus) extract in three different doses of 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg on memory, neurogenesis and mitochondrial mass in the beta amyloid rat model was assessed. For this purpose, 42 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 7) to evaluate baseline training performance in Morris water maze test. Amyloid beta (Aß) was injected in animal hippocampal CA1 bilaterally in four groups. After 21 days, a decrease was observed in spending time in target quadrant in the first probe trial in Aß injected groups. Following that, 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg of C. rotundus extracts were administered to three out of four groups for a period of one month. BrdU (Bromodeoxyuridine) was intraperitoneally injected in all groups on the last 7 days of treatment. Then, 28 days after the last BrdU injection, the second probe trial was run, and rats were sacrificed. The neurogenesis and mitochondrial distribution were detected in hippocampus, by immunohistochemical staining. At last, it was observed that C. rotundus, almost recovered memory impairment, in addition to increasing in mitochondrial mass in CA1 and neurogenesis in dentate gyruse in the beta-amyloid rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

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BACKGROUND: The previously established methods for type 2 diabetes (T2D) have mainly concentrated on overt diabetes model development. Here, our intention was to create an animal model passing through distinct phases such as obesity with insulin resistance, prediabetes, and gradual progress to the overt diabetes stage. A high-fat high-carbohydrate diet formulation was prescribed combined with multiple low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) injections after obesity establishment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen male Wistar rats were separated randomly into two groups and fed a normal diet for 1 week after which the body weight and biochemical indices of each rat were measured and recorded. Subsequently, one group (n = 8) switched to the high-fat high-carbohydrate diet formulated by us for 10 weeks, whereas the other group (n = 8) continued with the normal diet. Body weight and biochemical indices of the rats in the high-fat diet (HFD) group were measured at the end of 10 weeks, and each rat received 30 mg/kg intraperitoneal STZ injections with 1-week intervals in two steps and was continued on a high-fat high-carbohydrate diet. The differences between the groups were analyzed using the Student's t-test or one-way analysis of variance and by post hoc multiple comparisons. RESULTS: A significant change in weight, fasting blood glucose, and triglyceride was observed in rats fed with a HFD after 10 weeks. The HFD rats showed typical characteristics of T2D mellitus (T2DM) such as insulin resistance and hyperglycemia following 30 mg/kg STZ. CONCLUSIONS: The novel high-fat high-carbohydrate formulation we used, along with multiple low doses of STZ, can mimic peculiar characteristics of T2DM development.

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In maxillofacial imaging, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is currently the modality of choice for assessment of bony structures of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Factors affecting the quality of CBCT images can change its diagnostic accuracy. This study aimed to assess the effect of field of view (FOV) and defect size on the accuracy of CBCT scans for detection of bone defects of the TMJs. This study was conducted on 12 sound TMJs of 6 human dry skulls. Erosions and osteophytes were artificially induced in 0.5, 1, and 1.5-mm sizes on the anterior-superior part of the condyle; CBCT scans were obtained with 6, 9, and 12-inch FOVs by NewTom 3G CBCT system. Two maxillofacial radiologists evaluated the presence/absence and type of defects on CBCT scans. The Cohen kappa was calculated to assess intra- and interobserver reliability. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare the diagnostic accuracy of different FOVs.In comparison of 6- and 12-inch, 9- and 12-inch FOVs in detection of different sizes of erosive lesions, difference was significant (P <0.05), whereas difference between 6- and 9 inch just in 0.5-mm erosive lesion was significant (P = 0.04). In comparison of 6- and 12-inch FOVs in detection of different sizes of osteophyte lesion, difference was significant (P < 0.05), whereas between 6- and 9-inch FOVs statistically significant difference was not observed (P > 0.05). The highest and the lowest diagnostic accuracy of CBCT scans for condyle defects were obtained with 6-inch and 12-inch FOVs, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of CBCT scans increased with an increase in size of bone defects.

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OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract and essential oil of Heracleum persicum (Apiaceae) on lipid profile of male hyperlipidemic rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty rabbits were randomly divided into six groups of five each. One group received normal diet and the other groups fed with a high cholesterol (2% W/W) diet for 7 weeks. Vehicle, hydroalcoholic extract (500 and 1000 mg/kg), essential oil (200  l/kg), and lovastatin (5 mg/kg) were administered orally to animals and their effects on lipid profile were evaluated. RESULTS: Essential oil of H. perscum significantly (p<0.05) lowered serum triglyceride level and increased HDL-cholesterol concentration. Moreover, hydroalcoholic extract (1000 mg/kg), essential oil (200  l/kg), and lovastatin significantly (p<0.01) reduced serum concentration of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that essential oil of the plant fruits may have some benefits in reducing cardiovascular risk factors.

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BACKGROUND: Hypercholesterolemia is among the most common health problems treated with traditional remedies. Nigella sativa (NS) is an effective plant for treating hypercholesterolemia. However, the effects of this herb on hematologic factors and hemostasis system have not been elucidated. This study was designed to investigate the effects of NS on these factors in both normal and hypercholesterolemic rabbits. METHODS: In this research, twenty rabbits were randomly distributed into four groups of five. The groups received four different diets, namely normal, normal + NS (5%), hypercholesterolemic (1% cholesterol), and hypercholesterolemic (1% cholesterol) + NS (5%), for 8 weeks. After this period, WBC (white blood cell), RBC (red blood cell), HTC (hematocrit), HGB (hemoglobin content), PLT (platelet), fibrinogen (FIB) and factors VII (F VII) were measured. RESULTS: Using NS significantly increased PLT count in the normal group. In addition, it significantly decreased WBC counts in the hypercholesterolemic group (P < 0.05). However, dietary use of NS did not have any effects on other hematologic factors including RBC, HTC, HGB, FIB, and F VII (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Increased PLT numbers might cause enhanced coagulation. The achieved results call for more research on the effects of various diets (hypercholesterolemic and normal diet) supplemented with NS on different coagulation factors and hemostasis system.

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Angiogenic therapy is one of the new treatments of ischaemic heart disease. Oestrogen has angiogenic properties under hypoxic condition, and if oestrogen also induces angiogenesis under normoxic condition, it could be used in combination with other angiogenic therapies in the treatment of ischaemic heart disease. In this study, we evaluated the angiogenic effect of high-dose oestrogen treatment in normoxic rat heart tissue. Fifty-two ovariectomized rats were randomized in oestrogen-treated and control groups. 17beta-oestradiol (1 mg/week) and normal saline (1 mg/week) were administered intramuscularly in the treatment and control groups for 2 months. After that, coronary capillary density and coronary vessel permeability were measured. The serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level was also measured before and after the treatment. The results indicate that coronary capillary density (number of capillary per square millimetre) and coronary vessel permeability (fluorescence intensity) were significantly higher in the oestrogen-treated group than in the control group (628 +/- 26 per mm(2) versus 540 +/- 26 per mm(2); P < 0.05 and 207 +/- 10 versus 147 +/- 19 per gram tissue; P < 0.05). Oestrogen treatment increased serum VEGF level in the oestrogen-treated group compared to the control group (52 +/- 3 versus 33 +/- 6 pg/ml; P < 0.05), but interestingly VEGF was also increased in the control group after placebo treatment. It seems that high-dose oestrogen administration has angiogenic properties even in normoxic conditions. These angiogenic properties may result from oestrogen's direct effect on VEGF or other mechanisms, such as endothelial progenitor cell mobilization. Because of the broad effect of oestrogen on angiogenic growth factors and endothelial cells, more studies are required to clarify angiogenic properties of high-dose oestrogen.

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