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Background: There has not been yet reports regarding the protective effect of vitamin C on spermatocytes in epileptic rats. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective role of vitamin C on numbers and structure spermatocytes in rats with pentylentetrazol-induced epilepsy. Methods: Forty male rats were randomly divided into five groups of 8, and were kindled with pentylentetrazol (40 mg/kg). The first group (sham) received normal saline. The second, third, and forth experimental groups treated with 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg of vitamin C, respectively. The negative control group was given only normal saline via intraperitoneal injection. All rats were then deep anesthetized and sacrificed, and their right testis were dissected. Histological sections were prepared, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H/E). The number of spermatocytes in sections were counted, and morphological changes were studied using histology and immunohistochemical methods. Data were analyzes using ANOVA test to determine significant differences between cases and controls. Findings: There was a significant decrease in spermatocytes numbers in epileptic rats compared with intact control group (P < 0.001). The spermatocytes significantly increased in rats, which received 250 mg/kg vitamin C compared to those received 125 mg/kg vitamin C or normal saline (P < 0.010). The morphological changes such as dense nuclei and more acidophilic cytoplasm were observed in epileptic rats compared to control groups. Conclusion: The present study showed that vitamin C supplementation would protect spermatocytes by decreasing the neurotoxin effects of pentylentetrazol in epileptic rats.

Background: There is little information on the effects of exercise in polluted air and vitamin C intake on plasma factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of twelve weeks of aerobic training in polluted air and vitamin C supplementation on serum levels of endothelin-1 and nitric oxide in Wistar rats. Methods: 50 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups of training, training-supplementation, training-pollution, training-pollution-supplementation, and control. Training protocol consisted of aerobic training for 40 minutes with intensity of 65%-80% of maximal speed for 12 weeks and 5 sessions per week. The amount of vitamin C consumed in each rat was 20 mg/kg/day used orally. Plasma levels of endothelin-1 and nitric oxide were measured at the end of the study. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Findings: Endothelin-1 levels significantly increased in polluted air groups; vitamin C was able to decrease endothelin-1 levels (P < 0.05). The level of nitric oxide increased significantly in training in polluted air groups. These results were significantly different from the training-pollution-supplementation group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, vitamin C intake is effective in decreasing plasma levels of endothelin-1 during exposure to air pollution. The effect of exercise and polluted air on nitric oxide was significant, and vitamin C alone reduced nitric oxide in training in polluted air group.

Background: Vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity is a common complication in patients under treatment with this drug, but no single theory has been proposed for prevention of this damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the beneficial effect of vitamin C in the preventing vancomycin-induced renal disease. Methods: In a clinical trial study, 96 patients treated with vancomycin were divided into two equal groups, in the first group 500 mg oral vitamin C was administered twice daily for ten days and in the control group, no intervention was performed. Patients in the two groups were evaluated at baseline, and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days later for serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, and renal toxicity, and the results were compared. Findings: The incidence of vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity was 3 and 6 patients in the intervention and control groups (6.25% vs. 12%), respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.320). However, the relative risk (RR) of vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity in the control group was 4.1 times that of the vitamin C group [RR = 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-15.4; P = 0.034]. Conclusion: Vitamin C intake reduces the risk of vancomycin-induced renal toxicity; it is recommended, as is useful in preventing oxidative stress poisoning.

Background: Vanadium (V) is a candidate to decrease the serum level of glucose in diabetic animal model. However, it affects the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity so could make nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. In this study, the protective role of vitamin C as an antioxidant on nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity induced by vanadyl sulfate was investigated. Methods: This study was designed in 2 protocols. There were 3 groups in protocol 1 that received saline (group 1), saline daily for 7 days plus single dose of vanadyl sulfate (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally) in day 2 (group 2), or vitamin C (250 mg/kg intraperitoneally) daily for 7 days and single dose of vanadyl sulfate (group 3). There were 2 groups in protocol 2 that received saline plus single dose of vanadyl sulfate (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally) in day 2 (group 4) or vitamin C (250 mg/kg intraperitoneally) daily for 2 days plus single dose of vanadyl sulfate (group 5). At the end of experiment, blood samples were collected to measure serum level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and all animals were sacrificed for histopathology investigation and determination of kidney tissue damage score (KTDS). Findings: In protocol 1, BUN/Cr ratio, kidney weight (KW), and KTDS decreased significantly in vanadyl sulfate plus vitamin C group in comparison with vanadyl sulfate plus saline group (P < 0.05). In addition, serum level of AST and ALP significantly decreased in vanadyl sulfate plus vitamin C group. In protocol 2, not only similar results were not observed, but also vitamin C increased the side effects of vanadyl sulfate. Conclusion: Administration of vitamin C as a potent antioxidant could decrease the vanadium-induced toxicity. So, as vanadyl sulfate can be used for diabetic model in laboratory, vitamin C can be useful to decrease the vanadium-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity, too.

مقدمه: آنمی همولیتیک ناشی از فنیل‌هیدرازین، که یک ترکیب همولیتیک است، می‌تواند موجب اختلال در توان باروری و اسپرماتوژنز گردد. این مطالعه، به منظور ارزیابی کارایی ویتامین C و ژل رویال، که آنتی‌اکسیدان‌های کارآمدی می‌باشند، به عنوان ترکیباتی محافظ در برابر آنمی همولیتیک ناشی از فنیل‌هیدرازین صورت پذیرفت. روش‌ها: موش‌های نر بالغ به صورت تصادفی به چهار گروه هشت سری تقسیم شدند. گروه اول از موش‌ها روزانه سرم فیزیولوژی با دز 1/0 میلی‌لیتر به صورت داخل صفاقی دریافت کردند. گروه دوم فنیل‌هیدرازین با دز 60 میلی‌گرم/کیلوگرم به صورت داخل صفاقی هر 48 ساعت دریافت نمودند. گروه سوم به همراه فنیل‌هیدرازین با دز 60 میلی‌گرم/کیلوگرم در هر 48 ساعت، ویتامین C با دز 250 میلی‌گرم/کیلوگرم به صورت داخل صفاقی همراه با ژل رویال با دز 100 میلی‌گرم/کیلوگرم از طریق دهانی به صورت روزانه دریافت کردند. گروه چهارم ویتامین C و ژل رویال را با دزهای مشابه گروه‌های قبل دریافت کردند. پس از 35 روز، نمونه‌های سرمی تهیه شد؛ اسپرم‌ها از اپیدیدیم جمع‌آوری گردید و توان باروری آزمایشگاهی مورد ارزیابی قرار گرفت. یافته‌ها: آنمی همولیتیک ناشی از فنیل‌هیدرازین، کاهش معنی‌داری در غلظت تستوسترون سرمی و در عین حال افزایش معنی‌داری در میزان اسپرم‌های با آسیب DNA و هسته‌ی نابالغ به دنبال داشت. همچنین، فنیل‌هیدرازین به شكل معنی‌داری موجب كاهش تعداد اووسیت‌های لقاح یافته، جنین‌های دو سلولی، چهار سلولی، مورولا، بلاستوسیست‌ها و همچنین، موجب افزایش جنین‌های متوقف شده گردید. حال آن که، تجویز ژل رویال همراه با ویتامین C به طور قابل توجهی موارد پیش‌گفته را بهبود بخشید. نتیجه‌گیری: به نظر می‌رسد، ژل رویال و ویتامین C به عنوان مهار کننده‌های رادیکال آزاد، قادر به کاهش آسیب‌های اکسیداتیو بر اعضای تولید مثل در کم‌خونی همولیتیک ایجاد شده توسط فنیل‌هیدرازین می‌باشند.

Background: A healthy diet has beneficial effects on reducing risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of theoretical educational intervention on blood pressure in patients with rural hypertension. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 138 patients with hypertension (68 in intervention and 70 in control group) were randomly selected from those referred to Ardabil rural health centers, Iran, during 2013. The intervention group received nutritional education based on the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) recommendations for 6 sessions. The pre- and post-test had an interval of 2 and 6 months. Pender’s Health Promotion Model was applied to extend the motivation of the behavior. Descriptive analysis, repeated measures analysis of variances, independent-t and paired-t tests were used to analyze the data. Findings: After intervention, vitamin C and dietary fiber intake increased significantly in the intervention group (P < 0.001); but these changes were not significant in the control group over the time. Conclusion: Educational intervention provided based on Pender’s health promotion model had a beneficial effect on vitamin C and dietary fiber intake.

Background: The need for energy in strenuous exercises necessitates increased oxygen consumption and hence increased production of reactive oxygen species. It seems that vitamins C and E supplementation reduces exercise-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamins C and E supplementation on muscle damage and oxidative stress in female athletes. Methods: This four-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial, recruited 64 trained female athletes from gyms in Isfahan, Iran. The subjects were randomly assigned to groups A-D and received vitamin C (250 mg/day), vitamin E (400 international units), both vitamins C and E, and placebo. Blood samples were obtained before and after the intervention to measure muscle damage indices, i.e. aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde. Findings: Among muscle damage indices, only creatine kinase levels significantly reduced between groups at the end of the study (P = 0.030). Considering within group differences, creatine kinase significantly decreased in group A (P = 0.002). No within or between group differences were observed in aspartate aminotransferase levels. Lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly decreased in group B (P = 0.020). Significant reductions in malondialdehyde levels were also detected in groups A, C and D (P < 0.050). Conclusion: According to our findings, vitamins C and E supplementation can be beneficial in reducing muscle damage indices during aerobic exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is inadequate awareness about the effects anaerobic activity and vitamin supplementation on oxidative stress indices and cell membrane lipid peroxidation. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of supplementation with vitamins C and E on malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) after anaerobic activity in teenage water polo players. Methods: In this semi-experimental, double-blind research, 16 water polo players with at least two years of professional experience were selected (mean age: 15.00 ± 0.06 years, mean height: 162.00 ± 0.08 cm, mean weight: 58.0 ± 7.1 kg). They were randomized to placebo and supplement groups to receive either dextrose (400 IU with 250 ml water) or a combination of vitamin E (200 IU) and vitamin C (400 mg) for 14 days. At baseline and on day 15, blood samples were collected before and immediately and 30 minutes after the participants had performed 100m freestyle swimming with maximum speed. Differences between groups were analyzed using combined analysis of variance in SPSS18. The level of significance was considered as 0.05. Findings: Supplementation significantly decreased level of MDA and activity of GPX, CAT, and SOD. In addition, TAC was increased in the supplement group. Conclusion: Supplementation with vitamins C and E supplementation clearly increases TAC against oxidative stress. It can thus reduce the degenerative effects of oxidants on cell membrane and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among late complications of sulfur mustard gas, respiratory problems, especially chronic bronchitis and pulmonary fibrosis, are the greatest causes of long-term disability. Colchicine has anti-inflammatory effects and also indication of its usage in pulmonary fibrosis. According to these and note to the effect of oxidative stress in pathogenesis of chronic bronchitis and pulmonary fibrosis, the therapeutic effects of Cochicine and the role of oxidative stress in its mechanism was studied. Methods: One group of mice that had inhaled sulfur mustard one month ego was treated by colchicine. After sacrificing and sampling, biochemical indeces of chronic inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis of experimental group was compared with positive and negative control groups. Finding: A significant decrease was seen in alveolar space percentage, serum vitamin C, and catalase and an increase was seen in hydroxylproline concentration, lymphocyte infiltration, and serum H2O2 in positive control group in comparison with negative control. Vitamin C and catalase increase and hydroxylproline concentration, lymphocyte infiltration and serum H2O2 decrease in experimental group in comparison with positive control group were obtained. Conclusion: Colchicine has therapeutic effects on delayed lung complications of sulfur mustard gas injury and diminishing the oxidative stress can be one of mechanisms of this drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]