Background & Objective: It is reported that acute forced swimming stress induces analgesia immediately, and chronic stress induces hyperalgesia. Whereas in response to nociceptive stimulation, small-diameter C-fibers of the excitatory system in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord are activated, therefore, in the present study, the effects of C-fiber lesion in stress and dexamethasone-induced analgesia and hyperalgesia in acute and chronic forms were investigated using Tail-Flick test. Methods: Adults Wistar male rats (180-200 g) were assigned into three groups (n=7): C-normal (intact C-fibers), sham (received capsaicin vehicle at neonate stage) and C-lesion (received capsaicin at neonate stage). Forced swim stress (10 min/day) in water (18±1 ºC) was considered as acute stress and repeated daily forced swim stress as chronic stress, also single-dose of dexamethasone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) was considered as acute dexamethasone and repeated for three days as chronic dexamethasone. Neonatal capsaicin treatment was used for C-fibers depletion. The nociceptive thermal threshold was assessed using Tail-Flick test. Results: In C-lesion group, thermal pain sensitivity was reduced (P<0.001). Acute stress in C-normal group, reduced pain (P<0.001) and in C-lesion group, it caused deeper antinociception in Tail-Flick (P<0.001). Chronic stress and acute-chronic dexamethasone in C-normal group, created hyperalgesia (P<0.001) and induced analgesia in C-lesion groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: It seems that presence of C-fiber is so important in thermal pain transmission in Tail-Flick test; therefore, C-fiber lesion, reduces pain sensitivity (analgesia), increases antinociception effects of acute stress, decreases hyperalgesia of chronic-stress and acute-chronic dexamethasone
Analgesia ; Hyperalgesia

Various allergens are implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases in different regions. This study attempted to identify the most common allergens among patients with allergies based on the results of skin prick tests in different parts of Iran. Relevant studies conducted from 2000 to 2016 were identified from the MEDLINE database. Six common groups of allergen types, including animal, cockroach, food, fungus, house dust mite, and pollen were considered. Subgroup analysis was performed to determine the prevalence of each type of allergen. The Egger test was used to assess publication bias. We included 44 studies in this meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of positive skin test results for at least one allergen was estimated to be 59% in patients with allergies in various parts of Iran. The number of patients was 11,646 (56% male and 44% female), with a mean age of 17.46±11.12 years. The most common allergen sources were pollen (47.0%), mites (35.2%), and food (15.3%). The prevalence of sensitization to food and cockroach allergens among children was greater than among adults. Pollen is the most common allergen sensitization in cities of Iran with a warm and dry climate; however, sensitization to house dust mites is predominant in northern and southern coastal areas of Iran.
Adult ; Allergens ; Animals ; Child ; Climate ; Cockroaches ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Iran ; Male ; Mites ; Pollen ; Prevalence ; Publication Bias ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin ; Skin Tests

Introduction: The aim of the current study is to evaluate the antihyperlipidemic and antioxidative effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of marjoram (HAEM) in rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: In the experimental study, the rats were randomly divided into four groups of five rats in each and fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks as follows: One group (normal diet group) was fed with a standard diet, one group was fed with HFD, and two groups were fed with HFD and orally fed with 150 and 450 mg/kg/day HAEM. The serum samples and liver tissues were used for measuring the biochemical and oxidative parameters and histopathological studies. HFD induced hepatosteatosis in rats as evidenced by the altered liver enzymes activity, serum lipid profile and oxidative status. Results: Serum lipid profile (triglyceride, cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein) in rats fed with HFD + HAEM (150 and 450 mg/kg/day) was significantly decreased. Furthermore, the evaluation of oxidative stress showed a reduction of the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and an increase in ferric-reducing anti-oxidant power. Meanwhile, liver enzyme activities declined in response to HAEM. Conclusion: Using the HAEM could be a future therapeutic agent in treating hepatosteatosis and reducing oxidative damages of HFD in the liver.

Various allergens are implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases in different regions. This study attempted to identify the most common allergens among patients with allergies based on the results of skin prick tests in different parts of Iran. Relevant studies conducted from 2000 to 2016 were identified from the MEDLINE database. Six common groups of allergen types, including animal, cockroach, food, fungus, house dust mite, and pollen were considered. Subgroup analysis was performed to determine the prevalence of each type of allergen. The Egger test was used to assess publication bias. We included 44 studies in this meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of positive skin test results for at least one allergen was estimated to be 59% in patients with allergies in various parts of Iran. The number of patients was 11,646 (56% male and 44% female), with a mean age of 17.46±11.12 years. The most common allergen sources were pollen (47.0%), mites (35.2%), and food (15.3%). The prevalence of sensitization to food and cockroach allergens among children was greater than among adults. Pollen is the most common allergen sensitization in cities of Iran with a warm and dry climate; however, sensitization to house dust mites is predominant in northern and southern coastal areas of Iran.
Adult ; Allergens* ; Animals ; Child ; Climate ; Cockroaches ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Iran ; Male ; Mites ; Pollen ; Prevalence ; Publication Bias ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin ; Skin Tests

PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important growth factors for metastatic tumors. To clarify the role of VEGF-A and C in patients with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) or gastric cancer (GC), we evaluated the expression levels of these two molecules. We also analyzed the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on VEGF-A and C expression levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with dyspepsia who needed diagnostic endoscopy were selected and divided into three groups: non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD), PUD, and GC, according to their endoscopic and histopathological results. Fifty-two patients with NUD, 50 with PUD, and 38 with GC were enrolled in this study. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by the rapid urease test. After RNA extraction and synthesis of cDNA, the expression levels of VEGF-A and C were determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The VEGF-C expression level in the PUD and GC groups was significantly higher than that in the NUD group. Moreover, the VEGF-A expression level in the PUD and GC groups was higher than in the NUD group, although the differences were not statistically significant. Significant positive correlations were also observed between the expression levels of these two molecules in the PUD and GC groups. In addition, the expression levels of these two molecules were higher in H. pylori positive patients with PUD or GC than in H. pylori negative patients of the same groups; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Up-regulation of VEGF-C expression during gastric mucosal inflammation may play a role in the development of peptic ulcers or GC.
DNA, Complementary ; Dyspepsia ; Endoscopy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Up-Regulation ; Urease ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors*