Aims: Diabetic neourophaty is one of the long-term usual outcomes of diabetes. According to anti-tumor, anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant effects of Cannabis sativa, the aim of this research was to investigate the effect of Cannabis sativa alcoholic extract on Alpha motoneurons degeneration after sciatic nerve compression in diabetic rats.

Methods: This experimental laboratorial research was performed in 30 Wistar male rats with the weight of 300 to 350g in 5 “control”, “compression” , “compression+diabetes”, “compression+diabetes+treatment with 25mg/kg alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa seed” and “compression+diabetes+treatment with 50mg/kg alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa seed” groups. After preparing the alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa seed, 18 rats were undergone diabetes induction and 24 rats were taken compression surgery. Spinal cord samples were taken from all 30 rats. Data was analyzed by Minitab 14 software and ANOVA test.

Results : Neuronal density of “compression” group (789 ± 28) was decreased significantly in comparison with “control” group (1766 ± 70). There was a significant difference between neuronal density of “compression” group and “compression+diabetes” (543 ± 14) group. Comparison of neuronal density between “compression+diabetes” group and rats treated with 25 and 50mg/kg doses of ethanolic extracts showed significant differences in both treated groups, the neuronal density was increased compare to “compression” and “compression+diabetic” groups.

Conclusion : Using alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa as a neuroprotective agent can prevent the progression of neural system disorders as a result of hyperglycemia.

Abstract Aims: The goal of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery (CABGs) is to improve the quality of life in patients with coronary artery diseases. Many studies have suggested the implementation of a cardiac rehabilitation program after surgery required to achieve this goal. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on quality of life in post-surgery patients. Materials & Methods: In this quasi-experimental which was conducted in 2012, 70 patients (35 patients in experimental group and 35 patients in control group) undergoing CABGs in Shahid Rajaei Heart Center of Tehran City were selected by achievable sampling method. The experimental group received 12 sessions of cardiac rehabilitation program according to their health condition. The control group was not participating in the rehabilitation program. The qualities of life of patients of both groups were measured by Ferrans & Powers Questionnaire of quality of life before and after the cardiac rehabilitation program. Data were analyzed in SPSS 16 software by Paired T, independent T and linear regression tests. Findings: The experimental and the control group were matched according to age and sex. There was no significant difference between two groups before intervention in the quality of life score. After intervention, the quality of life score were increased in both the experimental (19.99±1.11) and the control groups (18.49±1.48), respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: Participation in cardiac rehabilitation program is effective in promotion of quality of life in CABG patients.

Aims: Following the peripheral nervous system trauma, prescribing anti-inflammatory agents is one of the strategies to control the damage and promoting the recovery process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methylprednisolone on improvement of motor function and tissue changes following sciatic nerve transection and repairing by decellularized scaffolds transplantation in rats.

Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 50 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10; negative control group (receiving no medication with transection of the sciatic nerve), sham group (nerve-mediated surgery with solvent drug), experimental groups 1 and 2 (transection of the sciatic nerve and scaffold transplantation with 1- and 30mg/kg of methylprednisolone intraperitoneally) and experimental group 3 (transection of the sciatic nerve and scaffold transplantation with solvent drug). Behavioral, electrophysiological and tissue tests were performed during the experiment. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software and using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests.

Findings:  the rate of repair and improvement of motor function was increased significantly in the treated groups with methylprednisolone compared to the control group (p<0.05). Musculoskeletal atrophy of gastrocnemius was decreased in methylprednisolone treated groups. In addition, the number of neural fibers, axon diameter and thickness of myelin sheath were significantly higher in the treated groups (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The prescription of methylprednisolone increases the amount of motor improvement and tissue repair after the sciatic nerve transection and the decellularized scaffold transplantation. Recovery of the motor and tissue functions at high dose of methylprednisolone is better than low dose.