Case of the month

A 40 year old African Amercian male, with a history of diabetes, presented to the emergency department with persistent diarrhea over the past few months. Soon after arrival, the patient developed respiratory failure, requiring mechanical ventilation. Labs at the time of presentation revealed severe hypokalemia (K 1.0), metabolic acidosis (HCO3 10), prerenal azotemia (BUN 150, Cr 11) and marked hypoalbuminemia (Alb 1.0). IV hydration and electrolyte supplementation were initiated, he was soon extubated and he had a relatively uneventful hospital course. A non-contrast CT of the abdomen was normal and a colonic biopsy showed only nonspecific, mild inflammation

Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf - A promising medicinal herb to prevent pulmonary hypertension in broiler chickens reared at high altitude

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf, formerly Apium odoratissima, is a plant locally called ``Karafs'', found in central Zagros region of Iran. Leaves and stems of the plant are traditionally used in the treatment of hypertension and inflammation. Lowering blood pressure effects of Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf (wild celery) was evaluated in preventing pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) in broiler chickens reared at high altitude (2100 m). Materials and methods: A total number of 208 day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four treatments including different levels of Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75%) in a 42-day trial. Results: Body weight gain and feed:gain responses significantly (P < 0.05) improved when Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf was included in broiler diets at 0.75% in the growing stage and throughout the trial. Over-expression of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase in the heart was observed in chickens fed Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf. Birds received Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf at 0.5% and 0.75% had significantly (P <0.05) higher circulatory concentrations of NO though significantly (P < 0.05) lower serum malondialdehyde concentration, hematocrit and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio when compared to the birds fed the control diet. Feeding Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf at 0.5% and 0.75% prevented from right ventricular hypertrophy and led to a significant decline in mortality from PHS. Conclusion: It can be concluded that Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf is a promising medicinal herb to prevent PHS in broiler chickens by improving blood pressure and antioxidant responses. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Anethum graveolens leaves on time response to pain stimuli in mice

Background and aims: Pain is the most common clinical complaints of the patients. Due to multiple and complex mechanisms of causing pain, finding new ways to overcome the pain is one of the biggest concerns of scientists. Because of applications of Anethum graveolens in traditional medicine, the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Anethum graveolens on response time to pain stimuli in mice was studied. Methods: In this experimental study, 84 mice were divided into 3 categories. Each category contained a negative control (saline), a positive control (morphine), and two case groups of 200 ml/kg and 500 ml/kg extract of Anethum graveolens. Delay reaction was evaluated in groups 1, 2, and 3 in 15, 30 and 60 minutes after injection, respectively. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results: This study showed that 15 minutes after injection, between saline group and the group that received the extract, significant difference was observed in duration of analgesia (P<0.05). 30 minutes after injection, just the group that received 500ml/kg extract, showed a significant difference in duration of analgesia compared with saline group (P<0.05). 60 minutes after injection, between saline group and the group that received the extract, no significant difference was observed in duration of analgesia (P>0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that extract of Anethum graveolens has a short analgesic effect. So, more research in this regard is recommended