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Background: Artemisia are various groups of plants which are used as an herbal medicine in all countries; the present study was designed to evaluate the effects of Artemisia dracunculus (AD) leaves aqueous extract on blood sugar, serum insulin, and triglyceride and liver enzymes in Fructose Drinking water (FDW) male rats.

Background:Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are abused by athletes.Objectives:The present study was designed to evaluate chronic administration of high doses of nandrolone decanoate (ND) on the pituitary-gonadal axis and hematological parameters in normal male rats.Materials and Methods:Thirty Wistar-Albino male rats were divided assigned to control (C), placebo (P) and test (T) groups (n = 10). Group T received 15 mg/kg intramuscular (IM) ND for eight weeks. Group P received the same volume of peanut oil, but group C did not receive any agent during the trial period. At the end, animals were anesthetized, killed and blood samples collected from cervical vessels. Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were determined by sensitive rat gonadotropins kit, using ELISA methods. Serum testosterone and hematological parameters were measured by ordinary laboratory methods. Obtained data was analyzed using SPSS 17 by ANOVA and Tukey statistical tests. Results were expressed as Mean ± SD. Statistical difference considered significantly by P < 0.05.Results:Serum testosterone, LH, FSH, weight gain, food and water intake in group T were significantly decreased compared to other groups (P < 0.05). In addition erythrocyte, leucocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit in group T were significantly increased compared to those of other groups (P < 0.05).Conclusions:Chronic administration of high doses of ND can alter serum FSH, LH and testosterone and hematological parameters in male rats.

Background and Objectives: Capparis decidua is a plant used in herbal medicine. This study was carried out to assess effects of C. decidua hydroalcoholic extract on blood glucose, lipid profile and leptin in male rats with high-cholesterol diets. Materials and Methods: Totally, 40 Wistar-albino male rats with 200-250 g weight were equally divided into one control (C) and three experimental groups of high-cholesterol diet (HCD), high-cholesterol diet and lovastatin (HCDL) and high-cholesterol diet and C. decidua hydroalcoholic extract (HCDCD). At the end of the intervention, animals were sacrificed using deep anesthesia. Blood samples were collected and fasting blood sugar (FBS), high density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and leptin were assessed. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) was calculated using Friedewald formula. Results were expressed as mean ±SE (standard error). The P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Serum TG in HCDCD group significantly decreased, compared to C and HCD groups (71.33±3.55 (mg dl-1) instead of 97.55±7.09 (mg dl-1) and 94 ±7.01(mg dl-1) respectively, P=0.003) and TC in HCDCD group significantly decreased, compared to HCD group (67.66±2.65 (mg dl-1) instead of 83.11±5.25 (mg dl-1), P=0.021). Moreover, TC in HCDL group significantly decreased, compared to HCD group (68.33 ±1.88 (mg dl-1) instead of 83.11 ±5.25 (mg dl-1), P = 0.04). Leptin included the lowest value in HCDL group, compared to other groups (P<0.0001). Other parameters did not include significant differences within the groups. Conclusions: The current findings have demonstrated that hydroalcoholic extracts from C. decidua leaves and thin stems decreased serum TG and TC in HCDCD male rats.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, one of the most common elective surgical procedures, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for patients with gallbladder diseases. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on coagulation tests among patients undergoing the surgery in Ali Ibn Abi Taleb Hospital in Zahedan. Methods: Following a quasi-experimental design, 21 cases scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy for whatever reasons at Ali Ibn Abi Taleb Hospital in Zahedan (Iran) were selected. To study the serum levels of blood factors, blood samples were collected at three stages, i.e., before the surgery (time point 1), 30 minutes after pumping the carbon dioxide gas into the abdomen (time point 2), and 30 minutes after removing the last port from the abdomen (time point 3). Data were analyzed using repeated measures. Results: According to the findings, laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery only had a significant effect on the PT coagulation factor at the 99% confidence level. Also, PT was increased and significantly differed at time points 2 (30 minutes after pumping) and 3 (30 minutes after removing the port) compared to time point 1 (30 minutes before the surgery). Conclusions: Generally, it can be argued that despite observing some variations in the PT coagulation factor during the laparoscopic surgery, the INR level did not change. Hence, it can be considered as a safe surgical intervention for renal and liver functions.