Yafteh

Background: One of the most common knee ligament injuries is anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture which is associated with limited range of motion (ROM). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the one preoperative kinesiotherapy cycle in relieving knee pain, increasing knee strength and range of motion in patients with ACL injury.
Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, 20 male male patients with ACL injury ranging in age from 17 to 29 years were divided into two intervention groups of kinesiotherapy (n = 11) and control (n = 9). The kinesiotherapy group underwent three sessions per week for 8 weeks. Pain variables, isokinetic strength of knee extensor muscles and knee joint ROM were measured by visual Analogue scale (VAS), goniometer and biodex dynamometer before and after the treatment, respectively. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test at the significant level of p <0.05.
Results: After a period of kinesiotherapy, the mean pain index, maximum quadriceps muscle torque and knee joint ROM improved in the kinesiotherapy group (P <0.05).
Conclusion: Using appropriate kinesiotherapy programs to improve the strength and knee joint ROM; can be a quick solution for athletes with ACL rupture before surgery.
Keywords: Kinesiotherapy, Knee strength, ACL injury, Knee range of motion, knee pain.

Background: Neuropathic pain is one of the most important consequences of nerve damage, manifesting itself as various demonstrations, including hyperalgesia and allodynia. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of concomitant use of Epalrestat and Sitagliptin on pain reduction in the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model in rats through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on a total of 50 male rats that were randomly assigned to five groups: sham, CCI, CCI+Epalrestat(100 mg/kg, IP injection, for 14 days), CCI+Sitagliptin(10 mg/kg, IP injection, for 14 days), and CCI+Epalrestat(100 mg/kg)+Sitagliptin(10 mg/kg). Rats underwent behavioral tests on days 4, 7, and 14 after the surgery. After 14 days, the spinal cord was collected to measure anti-inflammatory and antioxidant tissue concentrations.
Results: The results of this study demonstrated that simultaneous injection of these two drugs in group 5 had the most neuroprotective effect, compared to that in groups 3 and 4. The results of dynamic responses to mechanical stimulation on the 14th day illustrated that there was no significant difference in groups 3 and 4 . Nonetheless, in Group 5, a significant difference was detected in all factors. The results pointed out that the combined use of Epalrestat and Sitagliptin decreased the levels of Tumor necrosis factor, Interleukin 6, and MDA, and also increased the level of glutathione peroxidase
Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the concomitant use of Epalrestat and Sitagliptin can be considered effective and safe for the treatment of neuropathic pain with strong inhibition of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress.

Background: Neuropathic pain is one of the most important chronic and pathological problems that can cause disruptions in human life. Some studies indicated that the release of inflammatory cytokines and increased oxidative activity can increase nerve damage. Adalimumab is a human anti-monoclonal drug that can cause therapeutic effects in different diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the analgesic effects of adalimumab in the chronic constriction injury (CCI) experimental pain model in rats.
Materials and Methods: A total of 20 male Wistar rats were utilized in this study and were randomly assigned to four groups: the first group served as the control, the second group underwent CCI, the third group received CCI in conjunction with adalimumab (5 mg/kg), and the fourth group received CCI with adalimumab (10 mg/kg). Behavioral assessments were conducted 4, 7, and 14 days post-CCI induction. The spinal cords were extracted after these assessments, and the supernatants were analyzed for inflammatory and oxidative enzymes. Data analysis was performed using Prism GraphPad statistical software.
Results: The analysis of the obtained data indicated that the injection of adalimumab in the third and fourth groups decreased the activity of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP. In addition, it decreased the activity of MDA and increased the SOD and CAT enzymes. Moreover, adalimumab significantly improved the outcomes of thermal allodynia, mechanical allodynia, and thermal hyperalgesia in the CCI rats treated with this medication.
Conclusion: The administration of adalimumab can be used to treat or reduce neuropathic pain with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, along with neuroprotective effects.
 

Background: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of Valepotriate (from Valeriana officinalis) on pain and inflammation in rats and to determine its possible analgesic and inflammatory mechanisms.
Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted with the objective of investigating the anti-inflammatory effect. To this end, 40 male rats were randomly divided into five groups. In the pain test, 56 male rats were randomly divided into seven groups (n=8 each).
Inflammation test: 1- Normal saline group, 2- Xylene group, 3- Dexamethasone group, 4 and 5- Groups that received the active ingredient Valepotriate at doses of 0.2 and 0.1 mg/kg as a single dose for each animal.
Pain test: 1- Saline group, 2- Formalin, 3- Morphine + Formalin group, 4-5- Valepotriate group (0.2 and 0.1 mg/kg) + Formalin, 6- Naloxone + Extract group (0.2 mg/kg) + Formalin, 7- Naloxone+ Morphine + Formalin group
Results: The results showed a significant decrease in pain response time at 0.2 doses of Valepotriate in acute and chronic pain phases compared to Formalin (P<0.001). Valepotriate active ingredient also exerted its inhibitory effect on xylene-induced inflammation, with the best inhibition percentage observed for 0.2 mg/kg dose and dexamethasone with extract at 0.2 mg/kg (P<0.01).
Conclusion: According to the results, Valepotriate has a relatively strong analgesic effect. It is likely that the mechanism of analgesic action of the extract is at least relatively similar to that of morphine based on opioid receptors. In the inflammation test, the extract was able to inhibit inflammation in a way similar to dexamethasone.