Fourth Week Of Study Research Articles

Tinospora cordifolia and arabinogalactan exert chemopreventive action during benzo(a)pyrene-induced pulmonary carcinogenesis: studies on ultrastructural, molecular, and biochemical alterations.

The aim of the present study was to unveil the chemopreventive potentials of aqueous Tinospora cordifolia stem extract and its active component viz. Arabinogalactan against Benzo(a)pyrene-induced pulmonary carcinogenesis. Animals were divided into six groups: (I) Control, (II) aqueous Tinospora cordifolia (200 mg/kg b.wt, p.o.), (III) arabinogalactan (7.5 mg/kg b.wt, p.o.), (IV) benzo(a)pyrene (50 mg/kg b.wt, i.p.) at second and fourth week of study, (V) benzo(a)pyrene + aqueous Tinospora cordifolia, and (VI) benzo(a)pyrene + arabinogalactan. The benzo(a)pyrene treatment resulted in severe alterations in the cellular arrangement and morphology of the alveolar tissue in benzo(a)pyrene group. However, benzo(a)pyrene + aqueous Tinospora cordifolia and benzo(a)pyrene + arabinogalactan groups revealed classical features of apoptosis including chromatin condensation and formation of apoptotic bodies. Furthermore, Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy analysis showed disturbed phospholipid saturation and protein secondary structures in benzo(a)pyrene treated animals. Depletion in relative glycogen and enhancement in total nucleic acid content was observed in benzo(a)pyrene treated animals, and the same was found to be restored upon arabinogalactan and aqueous Tinospora cordifolia supplementation. Benzo(a)pyrene insult also upregulated the phase I carcinogen metabolizing enzymes and differentially modulated the phase II metabolizing enzymes during pulmonary carcinogenesis. Also, depleted (reduced glutathione) and increased lipid peroxidation levels were observed in benzo(a)pyrene treated animals, which was found to be normalized upon aqueous Tinospora cordifolia and arabinogalactan administration. Clastogenic damage inflicted by benzo(a)pyrene was also reversed in benzo(a)pyrene + aqueous Tinospora cordifolia and benzo(a)pyrene + arabinogalactan group. Thus, the present study infers that aqueous Tinospora cordifolia and arabinogalactan showed promising anticancer activity against lung tumorigenesis in terms of ultrastructural, biochemical, and biomolecular aspects.

A randomized comparative trial of corticosteroid phonophoresis, local corticosteroid injection, and low-level laser in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most prevalent peripheral neuropathy and has a considerable burden on health services. We tried to compare the therapeutic effects of local corticosteroid injection, low-level laser, and corticosteroid phonophoresis in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. We performed a randomized clinical trial with three parallel groups. The study was carried out at a University Hospital. In total, 42 participants including 31(73.8%) women were randomly allocated to the treatment groups with equal sizes. We assessed pain, symptom severity and functional status with Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, and performed median nerve conduction velocity studies. Evaluations were done before the interventions and in the fourth week of study. For the group corticosteroid, under the guidance of sonography, methylprednisolone with lidocaine was injected into the carpal tunnel. For laser therapy, we administered 10 sessions, each lasting 10 seconds. We used topical hydrocortisone acetate gel 10% as the anti-inflammatory agent with phonophoresis, 3 times per week for 10 sessions. Within-group analyses with paired t-test showed that local corticosteroid, laser, and phonophoresis are all effective treatments. Between-group analyses with ANOVA indicated that there were significant differences among the groups after four weeks in terms of pain (p = 0.004), in favor of corticosteroid; and in sensory delay (p = 0.001), in favor of laser. For the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and median nerve motor latency, the results were not significant. There was no important side-effect after four weeks of follow-up. The three treatments are comparable and beneficial for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Determination of Effect of Platelet Rich Plasma Injection on Improving Pain and Function in Young Healthy Athletes with Isolated Grade 2 or 3 Knee Medial Collateral Ligament Sprains

Background: Knee medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain is common in athletes, which keeps them away from trainings. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection is used as an adjunct for treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. This study was supposed to define effect of PRP injection on high-grade MCL sprain healing, in comparison to rehabilitation alone. M aterials and Methods: This study was performed on 46 healthy athletes with high-grade MCL sprains who came to sports medicine clinic of Taleghani Hospital, Tehran over a one-year period (2017-2018). In first visit injury grade, its location, baseline pain, Lysholm score and joint stability was determined. Participants randomly allocated to 2 groups (n=23), “group A” had 12-week functional rehabilitation and “group B” had the same rehabilitation plus a single PRP injection. At 4-week intervals valgus stress testing, pain and Lysholm scores was reassessed. The scores of 4 th , 8 th and 12 th weeks was compared to the baseline scores. R es ults: Mean baseline pain score in control and intervention group was 5.09±0.949 and 5.26±0.810 respectively that in the fourth week of study reduced to 1.30±0.765 and 2.43±0.507 (p<0.001). In intervention group, fourth week pain was significantly reduced while stability and Lysholm scores of the groups had no significant difference. C onclusion: PRP injection had a short-term statistically significant pain reduction effect that may assist in faster rehabilitation progress, shorter return to play and less detraining which is crucial to professional athletes.

Efficacy of a traditional herbal formula based on Colchicum autumnale L. (Rhazes tablet) in low back pain: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common and costly chronic diseases in the world today. The use of herbal medicines based on Colchicum autumnal is one of the solutions recommended by Persian medicine for treatment of LBP. One of these products is Rhazes tablet. This study aimed to determine effect of the Rhazes tablet on LBP pain relief and symptoms. Methods: Fifty patients with chronic LBP, aged 19-59 years old, who had LBP for more than 12 weeks, were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly divided in to intervention group (n=26) and control group (n=24). The patients in the intervention and control groups were treated with Rhazes tablet + Ibuprofen pearl (400mg) PRN and placebo tablet + Ibuprofen pearl (400mg) PRN, respectively. All patients received one tablet in the first week, 2 tablets in week 2-4 and 3 tablets in week 5-8. Pain severity was measured and recorded using VAS and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire for all patients at weeks 0, 4 and 8. Results: The results indicated that Rhazes tablet as a traditional Persian medicine caused a significant reduction in LBP in the intervention group compared to control group (P&lt;0.039). Using the Rhazes tablet for 8 weeks reduced pain severity in the group suffering from severe pain from 50% in the first visit to 15.4% in the third visit; while the pain severity was increased from 20% to 25% in the control group. In the intervention group, a woman in the fifth week of study got severe diarrhea, and the severity was decreased by reducing the number of Rhazes tablet. In the intervention group, a man experienced increased libido in the fourth week of study. Conclusion: Rhazes tablet can be used as a pharmacological intervention to reduce pain in patients with LBP. Results showed promising effects of Rhazes tablet on pain relief and LBP symptoms.&#x0D;

Oral magnesium for relief in pregnancy‐induced leg cramps: a randomised controlled trial

Leg cramps are common in pregnant women. Currently, there is no standard treatment for pregnancy-induced leg cramps. The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of oral magnesium in pregnant women with leg cramps. This double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial included 86 healthy pregnant women, 14-34 weeks of gestation who had leg cramps at least twice per week. The study period was 4 weeks. Eighty women completed the study. Forty-one women were assigned to magnesium bisglycinate chelate (300 mg per day) and 39 women to placebo. Details of leg cramps were recorded before beginning the treatment and the fourth week of study. Outcome measure was the reduction of cramp frequency after treatment and cramp intensity measured by 100-mm visual analogue scale. Fifty per cent reduction of cramp frequency was significantly higher in the magnesium group than the placebo group (86.0% vs. 60.5%, P=0.007). The 50% reduction of cramp intensity was also significantly higher in the treatment group than in the placebo group (69.8% vs. 48.8%, P=0.048). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of side effects such as nausea and diarrhoea. These results demonstrated that oral magnesium supplement can improve the frequency and intensity of pregnancy-induced leg cramps. Therefore, oral magnesium may be a treatment option for women suffering from pregnancy-induced leg cramps.

Glycemic indices of three commonly consumed foods: a clinical trial in Iranian healthy adults

Type of carbohydrate and glycemic index of traditional foods is still a challenge in nutritional man- agement of diabetics. This study was conducted to deter- mine the GI of pasta (ordinary and infused), made from either nol (common wheat) or semolina (durum wheat) flour, compared to white rice in subjects. Twelve healthy volunteers with body mass index 23.5 ± 1.45 kg/m 2 and age 36 ± 2.85 years participated in this study. Twelve hours overnight fasting capillary blood samples were col- lected from subjects at baseline by finger stick using a sterile lancet pen immediately before ingestion of either 50 g of D-glucose anhydrate dissolved in 300 ml distilled water, 192.3 g cooked pasta or 185.2 g of rice (50 g car- bohydrate) alongside 300 ml water. Blood samples were collected again at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min. All subjects consumed the test meals at 1-week interval. The standard glucose solution was administered at the first and fourth week of study. Blood samples were analysed using an Accu-Chek Aviva Blood Glucose Monitor. The area under the curve was calculated as the incremental area under the blood glucose response curve for each test in each individual. The GI values were determined according to FAO/WHO standard methods. This study indicated that the GI of ordinary pasta made from semolina {47} is sig- nificantly lower than nol flour pasta {68} or cooked rice {73}. There was a reverse, but non-significant, difference between the GI of semolina-infused pasta {63} versus nol- infused pasta {60}. Glycemic index for pasta (semolina and non-infused) was significantly less than that of nol wheat pasta, cooked rice and white bread. This study underscores the importance of consuming ordinary pasta made from semolina as part of a low GI diet for controlling blood glucose levels.

Effects of preweaning parenteral supplementation of vitamin E and selenium on hematology, serum proteins, and weight gain in dairy calves

The beneficial effects of nutritional or parenteral administration of vitamin E (vit E) and selenium (Se) have not been universal among studies, and potentially confounding factors, such as Se or vit E status at the time of administration, duration and dose, and preexisting incidence of disease within a herd before administration, can all affect the outcome of treatment. Forty calves were used in the present study. The animals were divided into two groups (test, n=20; control, n=20). The two groups of calves were homogeneous for parity of dams, sex, and month of birth. In the test group, vit E and Se were injected at a dose of 300 U vit E (?-tocopherol acetate) plus 6 mg Se (sodium selenite) per 45 kg body weight (vit E + Se, BASF, Spain) at 24--48 h and 14 days after birth. Sampling was conducted from the jugular vein between 24 and 48 h after birth (before drug administration in the test group) and days 7, 14, 21, and 28, and erythrogram, leukogram, total serum protein, and fibrinogen amounts were determined. The amounts of beta and gamma globulins and the osmotic fragility of red blood cells were measured only at the end of the trial. Calves were weighed after birth, at days 7, 14, 21, and 28, and after 3 months. A general linear model showed significant changes for packed cell volume (PCV), fibrinogen, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte levels in the control group and total protein and lymphocyte in the test group, but interaction between sampling time and group for all parameters was not significant. White blood cells and hemoglobin levels at the third week and PCV and beta globulin amounts at the fourth week of study showed significant differences between groups (p<0.05). There were no significant differences for other measured parameters and weight gain between groups.

Effect of a phosphate supplement on urine pH in patients with neurogenic bladder receiving intermittent catheterization

Pilot study; prospective design. University Hospital, Virginia, USA. To examine a phosphorus supplement as a urine-acidifying agent in patients with neurogenic bladder on clean intermittent catheterization. Seven patients were followed for 4 weeks. For the first week of study urine pH was measured three times a day: first morning urine sample, afternoon sample, evening sample. For the second and third weeks urine pH was measured and the patients drank a phosphorus supplement three times a day. For the fourth week of study the patients did not take the phosphorus supplement but the measurement of urine pH was continued. The patients were visited in their homes twice a week. During each visit a sample of urine was collected for culture. A supplement container count was performed and urine pH recordings were checked. There was no significant change in urine pH during the 2-week period when a patient was on phosphorus supplementation compared to when the patient was off supplementation. In addition, urine acidification was not achieved over the time period when urine pH was monitored. Phosphate supplementation had no effect on urine pH in patients with neurogenic bladder.

A clinical study on the use of codeine, oxycodone, dextropropoxyphene, buprenorphine, and pentazocine in cancer pain

The authors report a prospective study on 944 cancer pain patients treated with one of the following opioids: codeine, oxycodone, dextropropoxyphene, buprenorphine, and pentazocine. Level of analgesia, duration of treatment, side effects, and drop out were evaluated for each drug. Twenty-four percent of the patients still benefitted from treatment at the fourth week of study, even if high drug dosages were not used. Pentazocine did not show an evident analgesic effect during the first 2 wk of treatment. The other opioids were found to be valid therapeutic instruments for chronic cancer pain control in a limited number of patients.

Taurine nutrition in man.

The high brain taurine concentration during fetal development of the rat, monkey, rabbit and man at a time when the presumed synthetic pathway, via cysteinesulfinic acid decarboxylase, has little measurable activity suggested a dietary source of taurine to be necessary (3,19,20). In studies investigating the effects on preterm infants of feeding formulas containing different protein quantity and quality and comparing them with infants fed pooled human milk, an interesting pattern of plasma and urine amino acid concentrations was observed. The concentrations of most plasma and urine amino acids were either increased or unchanged when compared with those of infants fed pooled human milk (10,11). Taurine was the striking exception (4). The concentration of taurine in the urine of infants fed casein-predominant formulas was lower from the first week of study than was that of infants fed pooled human milk. The plasma taurine decreased steadily and by the fourth week of study was significantly lower in the plasma of infants fed such formulas than it was in infants fed the pooled human milk. Plasma and urine concentrations of preterm infants fed whey-predominant formulas did not have such consistent decreases, and whether or not there was a decrease was a function of the amount of taurine provided by the formula (4). This effect of commercial formulas on plasma and urine taurine concentrations has been shown to occur in infants on total parenteral nutrition, which is devoid of taurine (14). The small concentrations of taurine in plasma of human preterm infants fed artificial formulas have been documented by others, but not commented on (2).KeywordsBile AcidHuman MilkTotal Parenteral NutritionBile Acid ConjugationTaurine ConcentrationThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.