Introduction: The involvement of secreted frizzled-related protein5 (SFRP5) and adiponectin, two important adipokines produced by adipocytes, in cardiovascular diseases demand further assessment. Therefore, in this study the relation of the adipokines and atherosclerosis was evaluated in Rat.
Materials and methods: For the study, thirty male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups (each group contain 15 rats): Control group, received a normal diet and the high cholesterol diet (HCD) group which received an additional 2% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid for 15 weeks. At the end of treatment, HCD-induced atheroma plaques were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining of aortic tissue sections. Furthermore, serum levels of SFRP5 and adiponectin in the two groups of rats were measured by immunoassay and their relationships with the development of atherosclerotic plaques in the experimental group were analyzed.
Results: The serum level of SFRP5 and adiponectin was significantly decreased in HCD rats compared with the control group (P<0.05).  There was also an inverse relation between the serum level of the two adipokines and atherosclerotic plaque formation (P<0.05). 

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders, can be associated with problems, such as hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation and infertility. Ginger and its active components, have powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is the enzyme in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and operates as an inducible enzyme with a number of inflammatory stimuli like PCOS. In this research, we evaluated the effects of ginger extract on ovarian COX-2 gene expression and reproductive improvement in PCOS rats.
Materials and methods: After induction of PCOS (by Estradiol Valerate injection), the rats divided into, control, PCOS control, PCOS treated with ginger extract (150 and 300 mg/kg) groups. At the end of treatment period, biochemical factors were measured by ELISA kits and histological assessment was done. Then RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis of ovarian tissues was performed. The data were analized by one way ANOVA ,followed by Tucky test and gene expression data were evaluated by using ΔΔCT method. Statistical significance level was set at P<0.05.
Results: Administration of ginger extract to PCOS treated groups, led to improved gonadotropin, sex steroids and ovarian functioning. In addition, treatment of the PCOS group with 300 mg/kg of ginger extract caused to reduce COX-2 gene expression significantly (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Ginger extract can act as a natural anti-inflammatory agent, and can use as a replacement of conventional synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs, in the chronic inflammatory conditions like PCOS.

Introduction: Agonists of the Mu-opioid receptors (MOR), such as morphine are lengthily used for the treatment of moderate to pain, depression and anxiety. But the dose involved achieving adequate pain relief often elicits multiple unwanted side effects, including addiction and tolerance. Opioids produce their actions at a cellular level by activating MOR. These receptors are distributed throughout the central nervous system (CNS). The target of this study was the effect of Smyrnium cordifolium extract (SCE) on the hippocampus Cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1) aria MOR compared to clonidine.
Materials and methods: Extract of the aerial parts S.cordifolium was extracted by Soxhlet method. Addiction was created using the subcutaneous injections of morphine for 7 days. To evaluate the effects of SCE, the mice were divided up 5 groups. The first group (Control) received just morphine. The 2th group received morphine and Clonidine (0.2mg/kg). Groups 3, 4 and 5 were treated morphine and SCE (E1, E2 and E3). In all groups, on the seventh day 30 min after naloxone injection, their brains were perfusion with formaldehyde and removed for immunohistochemical investigation.
Results: The present immunohistochemical of the CA1 hippocampus study showed that group E1, there is a significant difference in MOR optical density compared to the control group at the level (P<0.05) and relative to the CLO group at the level (P<0.001). However, in groups E2, and E3 the MOR optical density increased compared to the control group and had a significant difference in level (P<0.001) and did not have a significant difference compared to the CLO group.
Conclusion: The study showed that with increasing S.cordifolium extract concentration, the optical density of MOR in the hippocampus increased, and this increase was dose-dependent. This increase in the CA1 hippocampus MOR optical density may be due to endocytosis or desensitization of MOR in neurons.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and decrease in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) expression. Nitrochalcone is effective ingredient of chalcones with anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-hyperglycemic properties. This study examined the effect of intraperitoneal (IP) administration of nitrochalcone in a mouse model with non-alcoholic steatosis.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 94 male NMRI mice were assigned to control and experimental groups. The Normal control group (NC) was given normal rodent diet The experimental group was subjected to high fat diet for 4 weeks, which induced NAFLD, then the experimental group was divided in to 5 in vivo subgroups (n=12 in each), High fat (HF) Sham (receiving grapes seed oil), Positive control groups (C⁺: receiving silymarin (80mg/kg) by intra peritoneal injection (IP)) and Experimental Nitrochalcone groups (EN1, EN2, EN3) receiving nitro chalcone (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) by IP during 4 weeks. Protective groups received high-fat diet and Nitrochalcone 20 mg/kg simultaneously for 4 weeks. At the end of the treatments, biochemical parameters, liver enzymes, antioxidant enzymes and expression of PPAR-α were determined.
Results: The serum levels of some biochemical parameters such as cholesterol glucose, liver enzymes, and insulin significantly increased in the HF group in comparison with the control group (P < 0.001). Nitrochalcone (20 mg/ kg) decreased liver enzymes levels as compared with the HF and Sham group (P < 0.001). The highest percentage of increase in PPARα gene expression was observed in EN3 group, as compared with the controls.
Conclusion: HF diet caused steatohepatitis through insulin resistance, impaired lipid profile, increased glucose and liver enzyme levels. Furthermore, the diet decreased antioxidants, adiponectin, leptin and PPARα levels, and made fibrosis in the liver. Nitrochalcone improved this condition in a dose-dependent manner, and resulted in elevated PPARα expression.