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Background & Objective: Glucose Amino Glycans (GAG) are unbranched polysacharides, major components of the basement membrane and play a key role in their molecular organization and function, also have an important role in the pathogenesis of some diseases such as hypertension. Hypertention is probably the most important health problem in several countries. But there is not yet a reliable indicator for early diagnosis of hypertension. The goal of this study was the measurement of serum and 24-h urinary GAG as an exact and early diagnostic marker. Materials & Methods: In this case – control study, 24-h urine and serum samples collected from the 53 patients and 38 persons as matched control normotensive group. Then amount of GAG was measured with spectrophotometery method. Results: Our findings showed that there is a direct relation between 24-h urinary GAG excretion and systolic blood pressure and it increases with increase of systolic blood pressure. Also amount of serum GAG increases in hypertensive patients in comparison with control group. Conclusion: This study showed that the concentration of GAG in sera and 24-h of urine samples increase in systolic hypertention.

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Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus is the most frequent cause of chronic renal failure. Microalbuminuria is the first clinically important sign of renal impairment in diabetes mellitus. The main pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy is not understood. This study was done on 100 patients with type 2 diabetes for determination of the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy with urine albumin assay in Sina Hospital in Tabriz, North-West of Iran. Materials and Methods: In this discriptive study, 100 patients with type 2 diabetes whome consecutively referred to Endocrine and Diabetes Clinic of Sina Medical Center in Tabriz were enrolled. At the first visit clinical and biochemical parameters such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, age, sex, body weight, length, body mass index, FBS, HbA1C, plasma creatinine, urine microalbumin and urinary creatinine were measured. FBS, HbA1C, plasma creatinine, urine microalbumin and urinary creatinine measurements repeated every 2 months up to three times during the study. Patients with confounding factors such as uncontrolled hypertension, urinary tract infection, congestive heart failure and hyperlipidemia were excluded. Results: The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy was 36% in our patients. There were not statistically significant differences in age and sex and diastolic – systolic blood pressure and creatinine between nephropathy and, non-nephropathy groups. There was significant differences in body mass index between two sex groups, females were more obese than males. Mean duration of diabetes in diabetic nephropathy group and in diabetic patients without nephropathy were 12.4±8.1 and 9.1±5.5 respectively (P<0.05). Comparison of HbA1c, FBS and drugs used for diabetes treatment were not significant differences between these groups. Conclusion: This study showed that prevalence of diabetic nephropathy was higher than other studies, although there were not significant differences between FBS, HbA1c and hypertension in patients with and without diabetic nephropathy.

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Background and Objective: Gentamicin can cause cell destruction by generating active oxygen species leading to hepatotoxicity. This study was done to determine the effect of Dianthus carryophyllu extract on the Gentamicin induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats.

Methods: In this experimental study, 49 mature wistar rats, were randomly allocated into 7 groups including, control; Sham (saline interaperitonely); experimental group 1 was treated with 100 mg/kg/bw clove essence; experimental group 2 were received 100 mg/kg/bw of Gentamicin; and experimental groups 3, 4 and 5 were received 100 mg/kg/bw of Gentamicin along with 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/bw of hydro alcoholic extract of Dianthus carryophyllu (clove), respectively for 28 days. Blood samples were taken and serum activities of Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and serum concentration of total protein and albumin were measured.

Results: The serum level of aspartate transaminase and Alanine transaminase significantly increased in experimental group 2 in compared to the sham and control groups (P<0.05). Alkaline Phosphatase concentration significantly reduced in experimental groups 2 and 3 in comparision with sham and control groups (P<0.05). Albumin and total protein concentration significantly reduced in experimental groups 2 and 3 in compare to the sham and control groups (P<0.05). In histological examination, cell necrosis, fat accumdation and mononocular cell accumulation reduced in experimental groups 5 in compare to Gentamicin treated group.

Conclusion: Dianthus carryophyllu hydro alcoholic extract is able to protect against enzyme alterations and hepatotoxicity induced by Gentamicin.