Volume 30, Issue 3

Background Infrared thermography (IRT) provides accurate measurements of surface temperatures. In inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, tissue temperature is elevated, which can be measured on the periarticular skin surface by IRT. The aim of this review is to evaluate the evidence for the relationship between skin temperature (measured by IRT) and arthritic knee pain and discuss the limitations of IRT in clinical settings of arthritis. Method To reach this goal, a mini-review of all the relevant papers indexed in PubMed was conducted. Results Several studies suggest a significant correlation between skin temperature assessed by IRT and the severity of arthritic knee pain (especially in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis). Conclusion IRT is a reliable technique to assess inflammatory arthritis pain.

Background Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae) is used locally in the management of depressive illnesses, and its antidepressant-like effect has been previously reported. The present study was aimed at determining the effect of the methanol extract of the stem bark of A . digitata (MEAD) on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and the possible mechanism responsible for its antidepressant activity. Methods Acute toxicity of MEAD was determined using the OECD guideline 420. The CUMS model was used to induce depression, and behavioral tests such as sucrose preference test (SPT), open field test (OFT), novel-object recognition test (NORT), and tail suspension test (TST) were carried out in mice. The concentrations of plasma cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein in the brain were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed using colorimetric methods. Results The LD 50 was established to be ≥5000 mg/kg. On CUMS-induced depression, MEAD significantly (p ≤ 0.05) and dose dependently reversed the weight loss, increased the line-crossing activity in OFT, increased sucrose consumption in SPT, decreased the duration of immobility in TST, and increased the novelty exploration time in NORT. The MEAD extract significantly (p ≤ 0.05) and dose dependently increased the levels of BDNF, decreased the levels of plasma cortisol, increased the levels of total SOD activity, and decreased the levels of plasma MDA. Conclusion Our findings show that MEAD ameliorates CUMS-induced depressive-like behavior and its effect is possibly mediated via the neuroendocrine, neurotrophic, and oxidative stress pathways.

Background Typha capensis is one of the medicinal plants commonly used to manage male fertility problems. The objective of the present study was to assess its fertility-promoting effects in a rat model of cadmium-induced infertility. Methods A total of 30 male Wister rats were randomly divided into five groups of six animals each. Animals of group I, which served as control, were administered with cadmium chloride (CdCl 2 ; 2.5 mg/kg) and normal saline (2 mL/kg). Group II was served with 0.5 mL normal saline only. Animals of groups III–V were treated with CdCl 2 (2.5 mg/kg) plus T. capensis extract at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Animals were sacrificed under sedation. Testes and epididymal weights and sperm count were determined. Histological assessment of the testes was conducted. Results T. capensis at any dose did not improve (p > 0.05) testicular and epididymal weights compared with those of the CdCl 2 -exposed control group. Histology revealed moderate necrosis in the same group. T. capensis modestly increased the sperm count by 14%, 31%, and 35%, for groups treated with the extract at doses 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively, when compared with the CdCl 2 control group, although the differences were not significant statistically (p > 0.05). Conclusions Results of our study demonstrated that T. capensis can neither offer protective effects against oxidative stress nor promote fertility in an animal model of cadmium-induced infertility.

Background Osteoporosis represents the most common metabolic bone disease. Bambusa vulgaris (Poaceae) is a plant with potential antiosteoporotic effects, due to its phytoestrogenic, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of aqueous and methanol extracts of B. vulgaris on osteoporosis in rats. Methods Adult female Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal (n = 6) and ovariectomized (n = 42) groups. Twelve weeks after ovariectomy, animals were treated for 4 weeks as follows: distilled water (10 mL/kg, per os (p.o.)), 17β-estradiol (10 μg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)), soya oil (1 mL/kg, i.p.), aqueous or methanol extract of B. vulgaris (55 or 110 mg/kg, p.o.). All rats were weighed daily and sacrificed on day 29. Plasma was collected, and the uterus and femur were dissected out, weighed, and used for biochemical and histological measurements. Results In the untreated ovariectomized females, a non-significant (p > 0.05) increase in body weight and a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the uterine and bone weights were recorded. Ovariectomy also significantly (p < 0.001) lowered the bone calcium and phosphorus concentrations, and deteriorated the microarchitecture of the femur. Interestingly, B. vulgaris extracts significantly (p < 0.001) improved the bone calcium concentration and femur microarchitecture (increase in trabecular bone density, reorganization of the trabecular network, and increase in bone marrow) with estrogenic-like effects compared to 17β-estradiol. Conclusion These results suggest that B. vulgaris is a potential therapeutic drug for the treatment of osteoporosis. The present findings further justify the ethno-medicinal claims of B. vulgaris.

Background Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic chemicals that exert neurotoxic and endocrine disrupting effects. The aims of this study were to examine the effects of prenatal Aroclor 1254 (PCBs mixture) exposure on central nervous system tissues DNA and to evaluate the effects of curcumin. Methods Rat pups were assigned to three groups: [Group 1], Aroclor 1254 administrated group; [Group 2], Aroclor 1254 and curcumin administrated group; and [Group 3], control group. Plasma, cerebrum, cerebellum, pons and medulla oblongata tissue homogenates 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine [8-(OH)DG] levels and plasma freeT4 levels were determined. Global DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation status were determined in cerebrum, cerebellum, pons and medulla oblongata. To this aim, DNA 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and 5-methylcytosine levels were measured, respectively. Results Mean cerebellum and cerebral cortex 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and 5-methylcytosine levels were higher in the control group than in the experimental groups. Mean plasma, cerebellum and cerebral cortex 8-(OH)DG concentrations were higher in Group 1 than the control group. No statistically significant difference was observed between Group 2 and the control group in terms of cerebellum and cerebral cortex 8-(OH)DG concentrations. Histopathological changes were also observed in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of rat pups exposed to Aroclor 1254. PCBs exposure changes both DNA methylation and hypomethylation status and induces cerebellar and cerebral cortex DNA damage in the prenatal period. Exogenous curcumin may have protective effect on PCBs-induced DNA damage in cerebellum and cerebral cortex.

Background Somatotype is a quantified expression of the morphological conformation of a person in terms of three-numeral rating each representing one component; fat (endomorphy), muscle mass (mesomorphy) and bone length (ectomorphy) in the same order. Certain somatotypes are more prone to develop the particular disease. Obesity and overweight are already epidemic among Indian adolescents and are increasing at an alarming rate, and obesity is linked to cardiovascular (CV) risk in this age group. Identifying the heart rate variability (HRV) is an established non-invasive test to identify the CV risk. The objective of this study is to record the HRV data for each somatotype category and to compare the HRV data among these somatotype categories in adolescents. Methods The volunteer adolescents in the age group of 12–17 years were classified into a different somatotyping categories based on the Heath Carter somatotyping method. The short-term HRV was recorded in all the subjects using wireless BioHarness 3.0. Results Based on the time domain and frequency domain parameters, the parasympathetic activity showed decreasing order as follows: central>ectomorphy>mesomorphy>endomorphy, whereas sympathetic activity showed increasing order as follows: central<ectomorphy<mesomorphy<endomorphy in both boys and girls. Girls have higher parasympathetic activity and lesser sympathetic activity than boys in ectomorphy and mesomorphy. In the central somatotype and endomorphy categories, genders were comparable. Conclusion Our study suggests that endomorphy and mesomorphy have poorer autonomic tone when compared to other somatotype categories.

Background Acrylonitrile (AN) is a neurotoxin that is widely used to manufacture synthetic fibres, plastics and beverage containers. Recently, we reported the ameliorative role of 6-gingerol-rich fraction from Zingiber officinale (Ginger, GRF) on the chlorpyrifos-induced toxicity in rats. Here, we investigated the protective role of GRF on AN-induced brain damage in male rats. Methods Male rats were orally treated with corn oil (2 mL/kg, control), AN (50 mg/kg, Group B), GRF (200 mg/kg, Group C), AN [50 mg/kg+GRF (100 mg/kg) Group D], AN [(50 mg/kg)+GRF (200 mg/kg) Group E] and AN [(50 mg/kg)+N-acetylcysteine (AC, 50 mg/kg) Group F] for 14 days. Then, we assessed the selected markers of oxidative damage, antioxidant status and inflammation in the brain of rats. Results The results indicated that GRF restored the AN-induced elevations of brain malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and Nitric Oxide (NO) levels. GRF also prevented the AN-induced depletion of brain glutathione (GSH) level and the activities of Glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in rats (p<0.05). Furthermore, GRF prevented the AN-induced cerebral cortex lesion and increased brain immunohistochemical expressions of Caspases-9 and -3. Conclusions Our data suggest that GRF may be a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of AN-induced model of brain damage.

Background Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. is a plant used in traditional medicine in Burkina Faso in the treatment of several diseases, of which diabetes is characterized by oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant potential of the extracts of leaves of this plant. Methods The crude hydroethanolic extract (HEE) of the leaves of Z. mauritiana and their partitionates in n -hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate, and in the residual aqueous solution (the F1, F2, F3, and F4 fractions, respectively) were first prepared. The content of polyphenols was determined and the antioxidant effects of the extracts were evaluated by their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, inhibition of lipid peroxidation (TBARS), and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Results The HEE as well as the F3 and F4 fractions were rich in polyphenols with contents between 58 and 84 mg equivalent gallic acid per 100 mg. The flavonoid content was 4 mg quercetin equivalents in the HEE and the F4 fraction. Except for the F1 fraction, the HEE and the other fractions showed significant DPPH scavenging activity (IC 50 between 8 and 12 μg/mL). The IC 50 of TBARS by different extracts was in the range 1–5 μg/mL, and the FRAP activity was 7–85 mg ascorbic acid equivalent per 100 mg. Total polyphenol content was highly correlated with the antioxidant activities. Conclusions The HEE, F3, and F4 fractions were found to be the richest in polyphenols and had the best antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity of the extracts of the leaves of Z. mauritiana is due to these polyphenolic compounds.

Background Hibiscus sabdariffa beverage (HSB) is widely consumed as a medicinal herb and sometimes used concomitantly with drugs. This study evaluated the in vitro inhibitory potential of the aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa calyces (AEHS) on selected cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes and the effect of HSB on the pharmacokinetics of caffeine in vivo . Methods In vitro inhibitions of eight major CYP isozymes by AEHS were estimated by monitoring CYP-specific model reactions of 10 CYP probe substrates using N -in-one assay method. Subsequently, an open, randomized, two-period crossover design was used to evaluate the effect of HSB on the pharmacokinetics of single-dose 200 mg caffeine in six healthy human volunteers. Blood samples were obtained at specific times over a 24 h period. Probe drugs and metabolites were analyzed in their respective matrices with ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer/mass spectrometer and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/ultraviolet detection. Results The H. sabdariffa aqueous extract weakly inhibited the selected CYP isozymes in vitro , with IC 50 of >100 μgmL -1 in the order of CYP1A2 > CYP2C8 > CYP2B6 >> CYP2D6 > CYP2C19 > CYP3A4 > CYP2A6 > CYP2C9. HSB decreased terminal t 1/2 and T max of caffeine by 13.6% and 13.0%, respectively, and increased C max by 10.3%. Point estimates of primary pharmacokinetic endpoints, C max = 1.142 (90% confidence interval (CI) = 0.882, 1.480) and AUC 0–∞ = 0.992 (90% CI = 0.745, 1.320), were outside the 90% CI of 0.8–1.25 bioequivalence limits. Conclusion The aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa weakly inhibited eight CYP isozymes in vitro , but HSB modified the exposure to caffeine in human. Caution should be exercised in administering HSB with caffeine or similar substrates of CYP1A2 until more clinical data are available.

Background We sought to clarify the role of testosterone substitution in terms of insulin resistance and metabolic profile dysregulation in hypogonadism. Methods Twenty-nine male Wistar rats aged 11–12 weeks were divided in three groups: control (C, n = 10), sham operation; orchiectomy (ORX, n = 9); and orchiectomy + testosterone substitution (ORX+T, n = 10). Blood samples were obtained at day 1 (operation), after 10 days (intramuscular T injection 100 μg/100 g b.w.), 25 days (second T injection) and 40 days (sacrifice). Results Hormonal replacement significantly attenuated the negative effect of orchiectomy on insulin resistance as indicated by the successive changes in both insulin levels (1.44 ± 2.94 vs. 4.10 ± 2.47 vs. 1.78 ± 0.68 ng/mL, for D1, D10 and D40, respectively; p = 0.028 and p = 0.022, respectively) and HOMA-IR index (1.36 ± 2.75 vs. 3.68 ± 1.87 vs. 1.74 ± 0.69 ng/mL, for D1, D10 and D40, respectively; p = 0.024 and p = 0.026, respectively) in the ORX+T group. Irisin levels peaked at the 10th postoperative day and were decreased at the end of the experiment (0.27 ± 0.11 vs. 0.85 ± 0.54 vs. 0.02 ± 0.07 ng/mL for D1, D10 and D40, respectively; p = 0.028 in both cases), whereas resistin levels did not differ. Experimental hypogonadism results in an unfavorable lipid profile and insulin resistance, which is not observed when the ORX animals are substituted for T.

Background Antioxidant agents have positive effects on wound healing process and on the other hand probiotics also have great antioxidation or oxidation-resistance properties. Methods In this study, we investigated the effects of Lactobacillus reuteri derived ointment as a probiotic bacterium on the wound healing process using a full-thickness rat skin model. The wound diameter and contraction percent measurement, histopathological examination, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme activity evaluation were carried out during the period of study. Results Amount of deposit collagen was significantly increased; epithelization speed and epidermis production were also observed in the ointment-treated group, while the inflammation rate was also significantly lower than the control group. In addition, a significant reduction in the activity of enzyme MPO was also detected in the ointment-treated group. Conclusions According to the results, probiotic ointment effectively accelerates the wound healing process and it can be used as a promising drug for wound dressing application.

Background The etiology of gingival overgrowth due to cyclosporine A (CsA) is still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the possible role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) on extra-cellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis when treated with different levels of CsA and its difference between fetal and adult human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Methods Each group of cells (adult and fetal) was cultured in 40 wells that consisted of four different CsA treatment concentrations. Every 10 wells were treated with 0, 50, 100, and 150 ng/mL of CsA which makes a total of 80 wells. Supernatants of every well were used to determine the concentration of MMPs and TIMPs using the Elisa kits from Boster, CA, USA. Results MMP-1 level increased with the treatment of CsA when treated with 50 and 150 ng/mL of CsA (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04) as TIMP-1 decreased (p < 0.0001) in adult group; while in the fetal group, TIMP-1 level increased with treatment of 150 ng/mL (p < 0.0001). MMP-2 level increased in both adult and fetal groups (p < 0.0001). MMP-3 level decreased in adult group (p < 0.0001) but went up in fetal HGFs (p = 0.01) when treated with 150 ng/mL CsA. TIMP-2 level increased in all wells significantly when treated with CsA (p < 0.0001). The s tudy showed that CsA affects secretion of MMPs and TIMPs. MMP-1 increment and TIMP-1 decrement were observed, which indicate more degradation of ECM. This may be due to single donor use in this study. TIMP-2 and MMP-2 were both more active when treated with CsA which may be due to the gelatinase activity of them and that in CsA gingival overgrowth. There was more inflammation rather than fibrosis.