Ajwa Improves Nicotine Induced Ovarian Toxicity in Murine Model

Introduction: Nicotine, a major component of cigarette smoke, alters ovarian function and Ajwa (Phoenix dactylifera) being an antioxidant prevents its toxicity. Aims & Objectives: This experimental study was designed to evaluate protective effect of Ajwa against ovarian toxicity induced by nicotine in adult albino rats. Place and duration of study: The study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex, Lahore for duration of 3 months (January 2017-March 2017). Material & Methods: 40 adult female albino rats were divided into four equal groups. 1ml distilled water was given to the rats of control (A) group by gastric intubation, experimental group B was given nicotine injection intraperitoneally (0.1 mg/kg body weight) for 28 days. The rats of experimental group C were given Ajwa fruit extract 1gm/kg body weight daily by gastric intubation, while rats of experimental group D were given 0.1mg/kg body weight nicotine intraperitoneally plus 1gm/kg body weight Ajwa fruit extract by gastric intubation for 28 days. Results: In group B, secondary and Graafian follicles were mostly atrophic, degeneration of granulosa cells, pyknotic nuclei and stromal vacuolization were present. Zona pellucida was torn and irregular. Mean diameters of secondary and Graafian follicles were significantly lower in nicotine group B (p-value<0-001*). Experimental group C revealed normal histological architecture and diameter of ovarian follicles. Near normal restoration of follicular structure was seen in group D. Conclusion: Ajwa fruit extract is counterbalancing for nicotine induced oxidative stress in ovarian follicles of rat, so it may be useful to improve infertility or sub-fertility induced by smoking in females.

Treatment of rotenone induced neurodegeneration by taurine and hesperidin

Taurine (2-aminoethane sulphonic acid) is a sulphonic acid which is derived from cysteine and is widely distributed in animal tissues. It is one of the most abundant amino acid in mammals and plays several crucial roles including modulation of calcium signaling, osmoregulation and membrane stabilization. Hesperidin occurs in the cells in crystalline, feather-like aggregates or sphaerocrytalline masses and it exhibits pharmacological and biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, inhibit bone loss, lowering of lipid, hypoglycaemic and antioxidant activities. The current study was performed to evaluate the effect of taurine and hesperidin on neurodegeneration resulted from rotenone administration by a dose of 1.5 mg/kg b.wt three times per week for two months. Also we summarize recent findings emphasizing the role of catecholamines neurotransmitters, Tyrosine hydroxylase and oxidative stress in neurodegenerative disease model. These rats received taurine and hesperidin through gastric intubation daily for one month after rotenone administration. The results revealed that taurine and hesperidin treatment significantly ameliorated the decreased levels of the catecholamines neurotransmitters and Tyrosine hydroxylase which were decreased as after rotenone injection. Moreover, taurine and hesperidin treatment ameliorated lipid peroxidation and catalase levels.

EFFICACY OF TRIDHAM AND 1,2,3,4,6-PENTA-O-GALLOYL-β-D-GLUCOSE IN REVERSING LIPID PEROXIDATION LEVELS AND MITOCHONDRIAL ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN 7,12-DIMETHYLBENZENEANTHRACENE (DMBA) INDUCED BREAST CANCER IN SPRAGUE-DAWLEY RATS

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To determine the effect of <em>Tridham</em> (TD) and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose(PGG) on lipid peroxidation levels and mitochondrial antioxidants status in experimental mammary carcinoma.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>:<strong> </strong><em>Elaecoarpus ganitrus </em>(fruits), <em>Terminalia chebula </em>(seed coats), <em>Prosopis cineraria </em>(leaves)<em>, </em>adult female albino rats of Sprague-Dawley strain weighing 170–190 g and 7,12-dimethylbenzeneanthracene (DMBA) were used for this study. Group I control rats, Group II rats mammary carcinoma induced with DMBA (25 mg in 1 ml olive oil) by gastric intubation. Group III, IV and V DMBA induced rats were treated with TD (400 mg/kg. b. wt/day), PGG (30 mg/kg. b. wt/day) and standard drug, Cyclophosphamide (30 mg/kg. b. wt/day), respectively for 48 d by gastric intubation. Group VI and VII rats served as TD and PGG treated controls, respectively for 48 d by gastric intubation. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were anaesthetized and sacrificed. Mammary glands were isolated and used for biochemical assays and histopathological evaluation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In rats with cancer, the lipid peroxide levels (LPO) were significantly increased and mitochondrial antioxidant levels were decreased. Treatment with TD and PGG decreased LPO levels and increased mitochondrial antioxidant status in mammary carcinoma bearing rats. Histopathological analysis also confirmed the therapeutic effect of TD and PGG. No significant adverse effect was observed in sole drug treated group of rats.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>TD and PGG have definite therapeutic effect in experimental mammary carcinoma and inhibit growth of cancer cells by restoring mitochondrial antioxidant status and energy metabolism to normal states.</p>

Incidence of gastric extubation of users in a home care program of a university hospital

This quantitative, prospective study, aimed to characterize the profile of users and caregivers and to measure the incidence of gastric extubation, identifying the type and the reasons for the extubation of these users in a Home Care Program of a university hospital. The population consisted of 37 subjects and the data were collected from April to August 2010. For the analysis, descriptive statistics, test of significance of 5% and calculation of indicators were adopted. It was found that 51.4% of the users were female, 67.5% in the age group >60 years and 67.6% presented neurological diseases. Regarding the caregivers 89.2% were female and their mean age was 50.6 years. The incidence of extubation, considering 100 days of intubation, corresponded to 1.08, with 0.26 planned and 0.82 unplanned (p=0.009). These results allowed the rates to be calculated of the extubation of patients with gastric intubation for nutritional support in domicile care, providing support in establishing care and management goals for the continuous improvement of quality.