Mohammad Afshar

Comparison of the Efficacy of Honey and Animal Oil in Accelerating Healing of Full Thickness Wound of mice skin

Existen algunos medicamentos y procedimientos que pueden ser utilizados para acelerar la cicatrizacion de las heridas de la piel. Algunos estudios han demostrado una mejora en la curacion de heridas de quemaduras con el tratamiento de miel. Por otra parte, sobre la base de la medicina tradicional, se ha mejorado la curacion de heridas con aceite animal. Este estudio se realizo para comparar la eficacia del aceite animal y la miel en la aceleracion de la cicatrizacion de la herida en todo el espesor de la piel en ratones. En este estudio experimental 36 ratones NMRI machos fueron sometidos a heridas de piel de espesor total bajo anestesia general. Los animales fueron asignados aleatoriamente para recibir aplicaciones unicas diarias de placebo, aceite animal o miel (n=12 para cada grupo), respectivamente. En los dias 4, 7 y 10, cuatro ratones de cada grupo fueron sacrificados mediante una sobredosis de anestesia. Las caracteristicas macroscopicas y microscopicas de las heridas fueron estudiados patologica e histologicamente. Los resultados de este estudio mostraron que la formacion de tejido de granulacion, densidad y activacion de fibroblastos, queratinizacion en la superficie de la herida, espesor de la membrana basal y la epidermis en el grupo de tratamiento con miel fue mayor que el grupo con aceite animal. La miel disminuyo mas que el aceite animal la inflamacion, edema y dehiscencia de la herida en los ratones. La tasa de cicatrizacion de la herida en el grupo con miel fue mas alta que en el grupo de aceite animal (p<0,05). Este estudio demostro que la miel acelera mas que el aceite animal la cicatrizacion de la herida en todo el espesor de la piel en ratones.

Teratogenic effects of carbamazepine on embryonic eye development in pregnant mice.

Background: Carbamazepine is an antiepileptic drug used widely for the treatment of epileptic seizures and neuropathic pain. Several malformations in humans, mainly neural tube defects, have been reported as a consequence of its use during pregnancy. The association between maternal use of carbamazepine and congenital eye malformations is not very well understood. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine this association after intraperitoneal injection of carbamazepine during the period of organogenesis in mice. Methods: Balb/c timed-pregnant mice were divided into 4 experimental and control groups. Two experimental groups received daily intraperitoneal injections of 15 mg/kg (group I) or 30 mg/kg (group II) of carbamazepine on gestational days 6 to 15. Two control groups received normal saline or Tween 20 (polysorbate 20). Dams underwent Cesarean section on gestational day 18 and embryos were harvested. External examination for eye malformations, routine histological processing of malformed fetuses to study eye morphology, and skeletal staining were performed. Results: The mean weight and crown-rump of the fetuses in both experimental groups were significantly reduced compared with those of the control groups. Various malformations were detected such as brachygnathia, calvarial deformity, vertebral deformity, short tail, and brachydactyly. Premature opening of one or both eyes with mild to severe exophthalmos occurred in the 2 experimental groups. Deformed lens, retinal folds with undeveloped layers, and corneal folds with absence of surface epithelium were detected in both experimental groups. Conclusions: This study, to the best of our knowledge, showed for the first time that intraperitoneal administration of carbamazepine at clinically comparable doses during organogenesis can induce several eye malformations in mice. The implication of these results needs to be considered when carbamazepine is administered during human pregnancy.

Innervation of Muscular Axillary Arch by a Branch from Pectoral Loop

El musculo latisimo del dorso es un musculo triangular aplanado que cubre la region lumbar y la parte inferior del torax. Este musculo esta inervado por el nervio toracodorsal (C6, C7,C8), un ramo del fasciculo posterior del plexo braquial. Algunos reportes han mostrado que el arco muscular de la axila, es un musculo aplanado que se origina desde el borde lateral del musculo latisimo del dorso y que ha sido encontrado en el 7% de la poblacion, pero es poca la informacion existente acerca, de la inervacion del mismo. Se relata un caso de arco muscular de la axila encontrado en una diseccion de un cadaver de sexo masculino de 41 anos, en el cual se observo la inervacion del musculo por un simple nervio ramo del arco pectoral

Evaluation of teratogenic effects of crocin and safranal, active ingredients of saffron, in mice.

Saffron (Crocus sativus) is a widely used food additive for its color and taste. Crocin and safranal are two main components of this plant. Numerous studies are underway to introduce saffron and its active ingredients as pharmacological agents. Safety assessments of these compounds are important parts of this endeavor. In this study, the effects of crocin and safranal administrations during embryogenesis have been investigated in mice. A total of 75 BALB/c pregnant mice were divided into six experimental and control groups. Four experimental groups received intraperitoneal injection of crocin (200 mg/kg or 600 mg/kg) daily or safranal (0.075 ml/kg or 0.225 ml/kg) on gestational days (GDs) 6 to 15. Control groups received normal saline or paraffin as solvents of crocin and safranal. Dams were dissected on GD18 and embryos were collected. Routine maternal and fetal parameters were recorded. Macroscopic observation of external malformations was also performed. Fetuses were then selected for double skeletal staining with alizarin red and alcian blue. All experimental groups caused significant decrease in length and weight of fetuses when compared with the control groups and revealed malformations such as minor skeletal malformations, mandible and calvaria malformations, and growth retardation. Minor skeletal malformations were the most commonly observed abnormality, which were statistically significant when compared with the control groups (p < 0.05). The severities of malformations were comparable in the crocin- and safranal-treated groups. This study suggests that crocin or safranal can induce embryonic malformations when administered in pregnant mice. Due to the wide use of saffron, further elaborate studies to understand the malformation mechanisms of these ingredients are recommended.

Anti-atherosclerosis effect of different doses of CETP vaccine in rabbit model of atherosclerosis

AIM To evaluate atheroprotective effects of different doses of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) vaccine, three doses of Tetanus toxoid-CETP (TT-CETP) peptide including 10, 50 and 100/rabbit, termed FA10, FA50, FA100, respectively, were administered in rabbit model of atherosclerosis. METHODS Animals were vaccinated subcutaneously (S.C.) with 100μl of vaccine in presence of complete Freunds adjuvant (CFA) for the first administration. Rabbits were boosted 4 times at 3 weeks intervals with the same peptide dose formulated in incomplete Freunds adjuvant (IFA). Animals were fed with diet supplemented with 2% cholesterol from week 11 to week 19. Anti-TT-CETP specific antibody and CETP activity in sera were determined. Therapeutic response was examined by tracking plasma lipoprotein levels (HDL-C, LDL-C and total cholesterol), and pathologic observation of intima/media thickness at the site of aortic lesions. RESULTS All TT-CETP vaccine doses generated strong anti TT-CETP antibody response. CETP activity reduced in rabbits vaccinated with FA100 (P=0.031). FA100 showed significant increase in level of HDL-C rather than control group (P=0.006). However, no significant reduction were found in atherosclerotic lesion when compared to control. CONCLUSION Inhibition of CETP activity and increased HDL-C were found with FA100, but the vaccine failed to prevent aortic lesion development in immunized rabbits when compared to control. Our result supports the hypothesis stated that CETP may not be an attractive therapeutic target for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Effects of Topical Emu Oil on Burn Wounds in the Skin of Balb/c Mice

The goal of this study was to determine the effect of topical Emu oil on the healing of burn wounds and hair follicle restoration in superficial II-degree burns in the skin of Balb/c mice. Thirty-two male Balb/c mice with burns on the back of the neck were divided into two groups: The Emu oil group received topical Emu oil twice daily, whereas the control was left untreated. Skin biopsies were obtained on days 4, 7, 10, and 14 of the experiment. Then the specimens were viewed with Olympus SZX research microscope. The Emu oil treated burns were found to heal more slowly and inflammation lasted longer in this group. The number of hair follicles in the margins of the wounds increased through time in the Emu oil group compared to the control group. Also, the hair follicles in the Emu oil group were in several layers and seemed to be more active and mature. Moreover, Emu oil had a positive effect on fibrogenesis and synthesis of collagen. The findings indicate that although Emu oil delays the healing process, it has a positive effect on wound healing and it increases the number of hair follicles in the margins of the wound.

Connection between Radial and Ulnar Nerves at Humeral Level And Its Clinical Significance: A Cadaveric Case Report

Las variaciones de los ramos terminales del plexo braquial en el miembro superior son abundantes y reportadas con frecuencia. Sin embargo, la conexion entre los nervios radial y ulnar a nivel humeral es muy rara. Durante la diseccion rutinaria de un brazo derecho en un cadaver de sexo masculino de 75 anos, en el Departamento de Anatomia de la Birjand University of Medical Sciences (BUMS) en Iran, se observo una relacion entre los nervios radial y ulnar. En la literatura, encontramos solo dos casos que habian sido reportados previamente, uno bilateral y otro unilateral. Conocer estas variaciones es de importancia para los cirujanos, asi como para disminuir posibles complicaciones en la colocacion de anestesia regional y procedimientos quirurgicos.

The Preventive and Treatment Effect of Urtica dioica on Astrocyte Density in the CA1 and CA3 Subfields of Hippocampus in STZ Induced Diabetic Rats

Varios estudios en modelos animales han mostrado que la diabetes mellitus puede afectar la actividad de los astrocitos del hipocampo, pero estos resultados son controvertidos. Este estudio se realizo para evaluar el efecto preventivo y de tratamiento de la Urtica dioica (U. dioica) en la densidad de los astrocitos en los subcampos CA1 y CA3 del hipocampo en ratas diabeticas inducidas por estreptozotocina (STZ). Veintiocho ratas Wistar albinas macho fueron asignadas al azar por igual en grupos control, diabetico, con tratamiento U. dioica y preventivo con U.dioica. La hiperglucemia se indujo por STZ (80 mg/kg/peso corporal). Una semana despues, los animales del grupo tratamiento recibieron el extracto hidroalcoholico de U. dioica (100 mg/kg/peso corporal/dia) durante 4 semanas via intraperitoneal. El grupo preventivo, recibio 100 mg/kg/peso corporal/dia de extracto hidroalcoholico U. dioica durante 5 dias antes de la inyeccion de STZ. Los animales fueron sacrificados, se tomaron secciones coronales del hipocampo dorsal derecho y se tineron con PTAH. Fueron medidas las densidades de area de los astrocitos. El numero de astrocitos en CA1 de los grupos de ratas control, diabeticas, con tratamiento de U. dioica y preventivo con U. dioica fue 19,00±5,5, 17,14±6,4, 21±8,1 y 16,48±3,2, respectivamente. Las densidades de los astrocitos en CA3 de los grupos de ratas control, diabeticas, con tratamiento de U. dioica y preventivo con U. dioica fue 25,45±7,60, 21,54±7,5, 23,75±5,6 y 19,89±3,8, respectivamente. La densidad de los astrocitos en las ratas diabeticas se redujo en comparacion con los controles (P <0,05). En CA1 y CA3, a pesar de la administracion preventiva, solo el tratamiento de ratas diabeticas con U. dioica aumento significativamente los astrocitos. Este estudio mostro que el tratamiento con extracto de U. dioica puede ayudar a compensar los astrocitos de los subcampos CA1 y CA3 del hipocampo en ratas diabeticas.

Unilateral duplication of the parotid duct, its embryological basis and clinical significance: a rare cadaveric case report

The parotid gland is the largest salivary gland in humans, and produces mainly serous secretions. The secretion of this gland reaches the oral cavity through single parotid duct (Stensen’s duct). The parotid duct begins at the anterior border of the gland, crosses the masseter, and then pierces the buccinator and open the mouth. The present study reports a rare variation of a unilateral double parotid duct that was observed in the right side of the face of a 75-year-old male cadaver during dissection. The embryological basis of this variation can be explained as follows. A sprout originates from epithelium lining the primitive oral cavity, grows dorsally, and bifurcates. The end parts of these branches invaginate into the adjacent mesenchyme separately, proliferate, and make the parotid gland, while their proximal parts later form communicating ducts (D1 and D2) connecting the gland to the mouth. Furthermore, the clinical importance of this variation was discussed.

Evaluation of NPP1 as a Novel Biomarker of Coronary Artery Disease: A Pilot Study in Human Beings

Purpose: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is utilized as an important tool for global risk assessment of cardiovascular events in individuals with intermediate risk. Ecto phosphodiesterase/nucleotide phosphohydrolase-1(ENPP1) converts extracellular nucleotides into inorganic pyrophosphate and it is a key regulator of tissue calcification that adjusts calcification in tissues like vascular smooth muscle cells. The main purpose of this clinical study was to find out the correlation between ENPP1 serum concentration and CAC in human for the first time. Methods: In this study 83 patients (16 diabetic patients and 67 non-diabetic patients) with coronary artery disease who fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria, entered the study. For all patients a questionnaire consisting demographic data and traditional cardiovascular risk factors were completed. Computed tomography (CT)-Angiography was carried out to determine coronary artery calcium score and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used for measuring ENPP1 serum concentrations. Results: There was a reverse significant correlation between ENPP1 serum concentration and total CAC score and also CAC of right coronary artery (RCA) (P<0.05) in non-diabetic patients. Conclusion: On the basis of our results, ENPP1 serum concentration may be a suitable biomarker for coronary artery disease at least in non-diabetic patients. However, more studies with higher sample size are necessary for its confirmation.