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Background: Nowadays opium addiction is most important problem in most countries. There are some false beliefs about role of opium in prevention and control of heart disease in society, thus suggestion about opium usage is common in this regard. This review is written based on studies that were performed about relation between opium addiction and heart disease. Materials and Methods: In this review study, relevant articles indexed in Information Sciences Institute, PubMed, Scientific Information Database, IranMedex, SID, PubMed and Scopus were used to search between 1980 and 2017, with further emphasis on those indexed from 2008 to 2019. We used these keywords to search: opium addiction, lipid peroxidation, blood sugar, blood fat, atherosclerosis, infarct size, arrhythmia and heart disease done in people opium addiction. Results: Data showed the relation between opium addiction and lipid peroxidation, blood sugar, infarct size, arrhythmia and Malondialdehyde index. Different effects have been observed in different studies. This difference may be due to the effect of anesthesia, the dose of the drug, the site of action in the brain, respiratory changes, and the characteristics of the receptors. Conclusion: Opium addiction associated with different effects on blood sugar, blood fat, blood pressure, atherosclerosis, infarct size, arrhythmia and heart disease. Keywords: Opium, Addicted, Blood fat & sugar, Heart disease.

Dialysis itself increases oxidative stress. The causes of oxidative stress in patients are not yet known, but uremic toxins, dialyzer interactions, and dialysis fluid contamination have been suggested as three major causes of the stress. Peripheral blood cell-dialysis membrane interaction is another hypothesis that has been proposed for increase in the production of reactive oxidant species. Antioxidants can improve or prevent disease by affecting the involved factors. This article aims to introduce antioxidants that affect injuries due to hemodialysis to familiarize the readers with the disease and prevent and treat the disease using antioxidants. For this purpose, the important effects of medicinal plants with antioxidant properties on the levels of production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitrogen (NO), peroxynitric acid, protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) production and apoptosis in dialysis were investigated and reported. To conduct this review, relevant articles retrieved from Pubmed, ISI and Scopus databases using search terms antioxidant, reactive oxygen species (ROS), dialysis, and kidney, and indexed from 1991 to 2019 were used. Herbal active ingredients such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidant compounds can contribute to reducing. It also prevents hemodialysis incidence and its adverse effects by preventing increase of free radicals, decrease of membrane lipid peroxidation, and increase of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). Free radicals affect fat, protein, DNA and cell membranes, including membrane carbohydrates, causing membrane damage and cell disintegration. In terms of clinical applications, antioxidant products can be used to treat oxidative stress related to dialysis and are practical drugs. In addition, small proteins such as immunoglobulin G and complements attach to the membrane of the dialysis machine which activate granulocytes and produce free radicals. Antioxidants with prevent of kidney damage and progression of the disease by affecting the factors effective on hemodialysis.

Introduction: Oxidative stress is involved in many diseases, including hypertension, kidney failure, and heart disease. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic Cichorium intybus extract on blood pressure in rats. Antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoid contents of the plant extract were also evaluated. Methods: In this study, 32 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g were divided into four groups of eight each. Animals in the control group were administered with normal saline and in the C. intybus groups with extract at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg for two weeks. Then, the homodynamic parameters were examined by the Power lab. The phenolic and flavonoid contents were also evaluated by a spectrophotometer and the rate of free radical scavenging activity was measured by the diphenyl-1-picyryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical method. Results: The free radical scavenging activity of C. intybus extract was obtained 47.85% of DPPH, and flavonoid and phenolic contents were 8.21 and 27.19 mg/g of dry extract, respectively. Meanwhile, median (MAP), systolic (SAP) and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) significantly decreased in the 50 mg/kg extract-treated group compared to the control and 200 mg/kg extract-treated groups. Conclusion: Ethanol extract of C. intybus plays a protective role against hypertension, which, in part, might be due to antioxidant compounds of the plant against free radicals.

Adhesion molecules like E-selectin have important role in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. C1901T and G98T polymorphisms of E-selectin gene and E-selectin serum level may affect the risk of coronar...

The present study was conducted to identify the effect of vasopressin (AVP) on electrocardiographic changes produced by ischemia-reperfusion. Male rats were divided into seven groups (n=8-13) subjected to 30min ischemia and 120 min reperfusion. In protocol I (control group), saline was administered before ischemia. In protocol II, different doses of AVP (0.015, 0.03, 0.06 and 0.12μg/rat) were infused 10 min before ischemia. In protocol III SR49059 (1 mg/kg), was injected 20 min prior to ischemia with and without the effective dose of AVP (0.03 g/rat). Ischemia-induced arrhythmia and myocardial infarct size (IS) were measured. Different doses of vasopressin decreased IS. There were no significant differences in PR, QRS duration andDGR;T/amp;DGR;ST ratio between control and intervention groups in ischemia. ST elevation was significantly increased in control and AVP 0.015, 0.03, 0.06 groups during ischemia. In AVP 0.12 group there was no significant difference in ST deviation between the baseline and ischemia phase. JT interval was significantly increased in control and antagonist group during ischemia. AVP 0.12μ/rat prevented the increase of JT interval in ischemia compared to the baseline. In summary, AVP mediated preconditioning improved ST resolution, prevented prolongation of JT interval and decreased the likelihood of subsequently ventricular arrhythmia.

Nanofibrous scaffolds have potential to improve coronary stent applications by promoting endothelial recovery on the stent surface and aids regeneration of cardiac tissues. Presently, scaffolds fabricated via electro-spinning are been widely used because of their ability to bio-mimic the precise anatomical structure of the protein fibers. Properties like convenience to spin on several components and functionalization with several bioactive molecules have signify the use of nanofibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering. This review highlights some recent applications of electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds in the treatment and management of cardiac arterial diseases and engineering new cardiac tissues.

Adhesion molecules like E-selectin have important role in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.A total of 145 normal individuals and 154 patients diagnosed with CAD from the Lur population of Iran undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled. Genetic polymorphisms ofT allele inAllele type in

Objectives Cichorium intybus is used in traditional medicine for various diseases including heart disease. This study aimed at evaluating the chemokine receptor type 4 up-regulation and cardioprotective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of C. intybus in a rat model of ischemic reperfusion. Methods Animals in four groups of eight rats each received vehicle or one of three doses of C. intybus (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg/d) for 14 days. Then they were subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 7 days of reperfusion. At the end of the experiment, blood specimens were prepared for serum assays. The level of myocardium chemokine receptor type 4 was also measured using RT-PCR. Key findings Cichorium intybus (CI-50) improved infarct size, episodes of the ventricular ectopic beat, ventricular tachycardia, and duration of ventricular tachycardia, QTc shortening. It also stabilized the ST segment changes and increased heart rate during ischemia. The blood pressure decreased in CI-50 group in comparison to the control and CI-200 group. C. intybus increased serum superoxide dismutase and reduced lactate dehydrogenase activity, Cardiac Troponin I and malondialdehyde levels. C. intybus led to an increase in the expression of chemokine receptor type 4. Conclusions These findings suggest that C. intybus administration before ischemia is able to induce cardioprotective effect against ischemic reperfusion injury, probably through chemokine receptor type 4 over-expression and antioxidant activity.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon) is a plant with potent antioxidant activity and has been used in traditional medicine for improvement of heart function. The effects of cinnamon bark ethanolic extract were investigated against ischemia-induced arrhythmias and heart injury in an in vivo rat model of regional heart ischemia. The extract was also standardized, and its antioxidant activity was evaluated. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 30 min of ischemia by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 5 days of reperfusion. Thirty-two animals were randomized to receive daily oral administration of vehicle or C. zeylanicum bark extract (intragastric, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) 14 days before ischemia. C. zeylanicum was standardized through HPLC analysis. Administration of cinnamon bark extract significantly improved ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial injury as evidenced by reduction of the infarct size. Also, during the ischemic period, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular ectopic beats episodes decreased as compared with that of the control group. The extract stabilized the ST segment changes and QTc shortening, decreased R-wave amplitude, and increased heart rate during ischemia. The extract also caused significant elevations in serum superoxide dismutase and glutation proxidase activities as well as a significant decrease in serum cardiac troponin I, lactate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde levels, 5 days after reperfusion. In HPLC analysis, the amounts of Cinamic acid, Methyl eugenol, and Cinnamaldehyde were 8.99 ± 0.5, 13.02 ± 1.8, and 14.63 ± 1.1 mg/g, respectively. The results show that the ethanolic extract of cinnamon bark is able to protect the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury probably due to its antioxidant properties. Hence, it might be beneficial in these patients and this remedy might be used for preparation of new drugs.

Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) also have been subject of interest to the therapeutic and imaging field because of their unique magnetic properties. Magnetoliposomes (MLs) are made up of a combination of liposomes and magnetic NPs, and they have been proven to be a potential biomaterial to fields like magnetic-targeted drug delivery, MRI, etc. The efficiency of a drug delivery system to the heart determines the treatment strategy for most of the heart diseases. In this review article, we summarize the recent development and updates in the application of MLs as a drug delivery system for heart/cardiac diseases.

Myocardial infarction has been reported to be responsible for about 7.3 million deaths each year globally. Present treatments for myocardial infarction have been more palliative rather than curative. Over the past few years, stem cells have demonstrated its potency in regenerating damaged cardiac tissue, especially after myocardial infarction. However, limited short half-life of the protein and cell therapy and low transplanted cell survival rate as demonstrated via several clinical trials have lead to development of more potent and novel delivery systems like biomaterial delivery system and the use of various growth factors. In this review, we will be enumerating and discussing the recent advances in cardiac regeneration with focus on stem cell, biomaterial and growth factors.

Nanoliposomes are type of nano-sized vesicles made of bi-layered phospholipid membranes with an aqueous interior. They have been demonstrated to deliver several materials like low molecular weight drugs, imaging agents, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids. Nanoliposomes have been demonstrated to slowly release an encapsulated drug, thereby leading to sustained exposure to target region and improved efficacy. This ability of nano-liposomes can be harnessed to deliver therapeutic agents precisely to the infarcted heart. Accordingly, this article will review recent developments in the application of nano liposomes and nanoparticles as drug delivery systems to treat cardiovascular related disorders such as atherosclerosis, restenosis and myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. An association exists between the alterations of liver markers and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). This study was designed to investigate the status of oxidative stress and liver markers in patients with CHD. METHODS: This study included 50 CHD patients and 50 healthy volunteers. Serum activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) concentrations were measured. The Unpaired Student’s t-test was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Serum GSH level and CAT and GPX activities were significantly greater in healthy controls than in CHD patients. Serum MDA, NO, and FBS levels and GGT, ALT, ALP activities were significantly greater in CHD patients than in healthy controls. Serum AST activity was greater in CHD patients than in controls, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that CHD is related to oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, inflammation, and elevated liver enzyme activity. CHD is a deadly disease that requires appropriate medical care. Antioxidant treatment might inhibit disease progression.

Ischemia, referring to reduction and restriction of perfusion to myocardial tissue which involves coronary artery through the formation of misplaced clots and thrombosis, is one of the most important cardiovascular diseases. Plant-based compounds help to improve or prevent disease by affecting the factors involved in the disease. This review was conducted to report the medicinal plants and factors effective in cardiac ischemiareperfusion (I/R) injury to supplement the knowledge about this disease and its prevention and treatment using certain medicinal plants and their active compounds. For this purpose, medicinal plants and their potential antioxidant activities, effects on lipid levels and plaque formation, atherosclerosis and development of cardiovascular diseases and ischemia were reviewed. Methods: To conduct this review, relevant articles published between 1983 and 2018 were retrieved from the Google Scholar, PubMed, Scientific Information Database, Web of Science, and Scopus using search terms antioxidant, ischemia, reperfusion, heart, infarct, inflammation, cholesterol and medicinal plants. Then, the eligible articles were reviewed. Results: The active compounds of plants, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant compounds, can be effective on certain pathogenic factors particularly in decreasing cholesterol and blood pressure, preventing an increase in free radicals and ultimately reducing blood clots and vascular resistance to reduce and prevent ischemic disease and its harmful effects. Conclusion: Medicinal plants discussed in this article seem to be able to prevent cardiac damage and the disease progression via affecting the factors that are involved in ischemia.

The aim of the present study was the evaluation bleeding time (BT) in comparison to Urinary 11-dehydro thromboxane B2 (TXB2) regarding different ASA frequent dosages used in Borujerd city. This is a double blind randomized clinical trial on 370 subjects aged 35 years and older, referred to clinical offices in Borujerd. All ischemic heart disease’s patients were randomly assigned to 4 ASA dose groups (80 mg, 81 mg, 100 mg and 325 mg) and one group-matched control group without any IHD. BT was measured by Ivy method; TXB2 was measured in a urine sample, both at least 5 days after ASA consumption. Probale AR was indicated if TXB2 was normal or higher than normal higher limit values, or BT was normal or lower than normal higher values. (IRCT201202026958N3) Probale AR was present in 37.6% and 64% resistance by BT and TXB2, respectively. All 4 treated groups had higher TXB2 levels than the control group/normal values (p0.05). Also, urinary TXB2 level correlated positively with BT. Given the simplicity and low costs of its performance it might be of some potential use in developing countries. However, due to IVY method limitations it cannot be perceived as a tool to assess such specific aspects of platlat function or aspirin resistance.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon) is a plant with potent antioxidant activity and has been used in traditional medicine for improvement of heart function. The effects of cinnamon bark ethanolic extract were investigated against ischemia-induced arrhythmias and heart injury in an in vivo rat model of regional heart ischemia. The extract was also standardized, and its antioxidant activity was evaluated. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 30 min of ischemia by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 5 days of reperfusion. Thirty-two animals were randomized to receive daily oral administration of vehicle or C. zeylanicum bark extract (intragastric, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) 14 days before ischemia. C. zeylanicum was standardized through HPLC analysis. Administration of cinnamon bark extract significantly improved ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial injury as evidenced by reduction of the infarct size. Also, during the ischemic period, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular ectopic beats episodes decreased as compared with that of the control group. The extract stabilized the ST segment changes and QTc shortening, decreased R-wave amplitude, and increased heart rate during ischemia. The extract also caused significant elevations in serum superoxide dismutase and glutation proxidase activities as well as a significant decrease in serum cardiac troponin I, lactate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde levels, 5 days after reperfusion. In HPLC analysis, the amounts of Cinamic acid, Methyl eugenol, and Cinnamaldehyde were 8.99 ± 0.5, 13.02 ± 1.8, and 14.63 ± 1.1 mg/g, respectively. The results show that the ethanolic extract of cinnamon bark is able to protect the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury probably due to its antioxidant properties. Hence, it might be beneficial in these patients and this remedy might be used for preparation of new drugs.

Dyslipidemia is considered an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). In the present study, we examined lipid profiles and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity and atherogenic indexes status and the relationship of PON1 activity by high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and atherogenic indexes in CHD patients and healthy people.The aim of the study was to compare PON1, lipid profiles, and atherogenic indexes in CHD patients and healthy people as controls. This study enrolled 50 CHD patients and 50 matched healthy controls. Serum activities of PON1 and levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and atherogenic indexes were analyzed. Data were analyzed by unpaired Student's t tests. Coefficients of correlation were calculated using Pearson's correlation analysis.Levels of TG, TC, LDL, VLDL, FBG, and atherogenic indexes, atherogenic coefficients, and cardiac risk ratios were significantly greater in CHD patients than in controls. Paraoxonase 1 activity and HDL-C levels were significantly less in CHD patients than in controls. Also, PON1 activity correlated positively with HDLC and negatively with atherogenic coefficient, and cardiac risk ratios 1 and 2 in CHD patients.This study showed that CHD is associated with high lipid levels and atherogenic indexes, and low PON1 activity and HDL-C concentrations. Coronary heart disease is a pernicious disease requiring prolonged medical management and hypolipidemic drugs.

Cardiac failure occurs when heart is unable to pump sufficiently to maintain blood flow to meet the body’s needs. The aim of this work is to detect highly expressed genes: follistatin-related protein 1 (FSTL1) in heart failure within 30 minutes, using gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles were prepared by citrate reduction of HAuCl4 3H2O; probe sequence was designed based on the FSTL1 gene region. Preparation of gold nanoprobes (AuNPs) proceeded by treating all the containers with DEPC-treated water, followed by reduction and conjugation. Transmission electron microscopy shows that AuNPs were 10–15 nm in size. The concentration of the nanoprobes was 2.1 nM, and they bind to target. Real-time PCR shows an over-expression of FSTL1 and FSTL3 in heart failure (p

Background : The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between main CVD risk factors and healthy life style of housewives and working women. Materials and Methods: The current study was a part of the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP). Data sampling was stratified multistage sampling in the women over 20 years old. Demographic information, nutritional status as Global Dietary Index (GDI), physical activity and smoking status were recorded. Blood pressure, anthropometric indicies, total cholesterol, LDL-c and HDL-c, TG, FBS were detected. Collected data were processed by T -test, chi square and logistic regression. Results: 5591 (92%) out of 6102, were housewives and the rest were working women.The nutritional status in working women was worse than the housewives. In contrast, the physical activity was better in working women. There were no significant differences between two groups regarding smoking. After adjusting for age, BMI, Lipid profile and blood pressure were the same in the both groups. Dyslipidemia, diabetes and obesity were not significantly different between two groups. Conclusion: Regarding the results, a more comprehensive interventional program for healthy lifestyle and risk factors should be carried out.

Background: Osteoporosis is one of the most common problems in the women, especially after menopause and at the old age. Bone densitometry of vertebrae of lumbar region and femoral neck is a non invasive and precise method for evaluation of bone mass density (BMD) and determination of fracture risk. Materials and Method: from different districts of Ahvaz city, more than 300 healthy men and woman were selected. They were referred to the center of bone densitometry after ruling out underlying diseases. BMD evaluation was done with LUNAR apparatus. Results: There was a meaningful difference between BMD of men and women. There was also a meaningful difference among women groups regarding LUNAR standard. But this was not the case in the men. Conclusion: It was concluded that there is a meaningful difference between the mean of BMD in the femoral neck and lumbar region. In addition there was a difference between these two regions in women (not men) and lunar standard.

Background: Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is a main health problem in our country. It is thought that the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) through the endoscopic procedures is a rare event. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of conventional disinfection in the transmission of HCV. Materials and methods: A prospective study, comprising 456 consecutive upper gastrointestinal endoscopies was carried out in our endoscopy centers by using conventional disinfection (exposure of the endoscope to 2% glutaraldehyde for 4 minutes),Without altering the routine procedures. Anti-HCV antibodies were tested for all patients and a questionnaire was fulfilled by the patients to obtain information regarding the risk factors for HCV infection. Six months and one year later anti-HCV antibodies were repeated and positive results were confirmed by the PCR method.Five hundred healthy blood donors were used for the control group. Results: Five patients (1.09%) were anti-HCV-antibody positive. Anti-HCV-antibody-positive patients confirmed in three patients by PCR method . Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 6 healthy blood donors (1.2%) of controls.Transfusion, non-intravenous (i.v.) drug abuse, dental procedures, were found to be independent risk factors of HCV-positive the patients and controls groupsNo significant differences were observed between the patients and controls groups regarding the frequency of anti-HCV antibodies (P = 0.74). Conclusion: HCV does not seem to transmit through the endoscopic procedures. Conventional disinfection of the endoscope and accessories is sufficient for prevention of HCV transmission.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is common all over the world as well as Iran. The incidence of HCC is higher in hepatitis B carriers and it is highly recommended to periodically screen these patients by serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and liver ultrasound (US) every 6 months. We explore the diagnostic accuracy and the performance of (AFP) in cases of hepatitis B carriers as a screening tool by using serum total AFP concentration of 20 ng/ml. Materials and Methods: The study included 2452 HBsAg carriers with no evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma or cirrhosis were followed up in a 6-year prospective surveillance program with testing by ultrasound and alphafetoprotein every 6 months referred to the Ahwaz JundiShapour university hospitals and hepatitis clinic (1999-2004). Men and nonpregnant women with an elevated AFP level were evaluated for the presence of HCC by ultrasound (US) examination. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HBc antibody and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were determined in all cases by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Findings: One or more AFP elevations (higher than 20 ng/ml) were found in 32 cases, but 13 (45%) hepatocellular carcinomas were detected in these patients during follow up (9 men and 4 women). Of the 32 HBsAg carriers with AFP serum levels of more than 20 ng/ml, HCC was not detected in 19 cases (65%). The positive predictive value for AFP to detect HCC was only 31% for our AFP cut-off value, and the sensitivity and specificity was approximately 56 and 88%, respectively.The positive predictive value for ultrasound examinations to detect HCC was 64%, while the sensitivity and specificity was 90 and 92%, respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that AFP alone is not a useful marker for HCC screening because of its poor predictive value and low sensitivity, particularly in patients with underlying viral hepatitis B without cirrhosis and is not recommended except when ultrasonography is either not available or of poor quality. Ultrasonography seems more efficient and accurate as a screening tool.