Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2019 | Volume:30 | Issue:9|Papers Count:8

Background & Aims: Exercise is effective in lowering serum glucose and lipids in diabetic patients. The Matricaria chamomilla L. flower’ s extract (MFE) reduces serum lipids. The aim of this experimental study is to investigate the concomitant effects of aerobic exercise and MFE in reducing serum lipid levels in male diabetic rats. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 24 male Wistar rats (200± 20gr) were divided into 4 groups (n=6) randomly: control (diabetic without treatment and training), MFE (diabetic treated with MFE), aerobic training (diabetic and training), and MFE + aerobic training (diabetic treated with MFE + aerobic training). The aerobic training was scheduled as jogging on a treadmill for 12 weeks (5 days per week, 60 min/ day, 26 meters/min. ). The diabetic rats received streptozotocin (65mg/kg, ip). Results: The serum cholesterol level increased significantly compared with MFE, aerobic training, and MFE + aerobic training groups (P<0. 001). The triglyceride serum level of MFE, aerobic training and concomitant MFE and aerobic training groups decreased significantly compared with the control group (P<0. 01). LDL in MFE, aerobic training, and concomitant MFE + aerobic training groups decreased significantly compared with control group (P<0. 001). HDL serum level in MFE, aerobic training, and concomitant MFE + aerobic training groups increased significantly compared with the control group (P<0. 01). Conclusion: The concomitant use of MFE + aerobic training is more effective in decreasing harmful serum lipids in diabetic male rats.

Background & Aims: Breast and ovarian cancer are the most common types of malignancy and the leading cause of death in females around the world. The incidence of these cancers has been experiencing a significant rise in recent years. Increasing evidence indicated that some miRNAs act as either tumor suppressors or promoters in the development of various cancers. However, the relationship between breast and ovarian cancer and the expression of miR-492 has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we explored the role of miR-492 in breast and ovarian cancer. Materials & Methods: In the present study, 40 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumoral tissues and 40 non-tumoral tissues of breast and ovarian cancers were selected to evaluate gene expression. Then, the informed consent letters were collected and clinical information for all samples were completed. Total RNA was extracted and complementary DNA was synthesized, afterward, the relative gene expression was determined using a quantitative real-time RT PCR method and evaluated by the 2-Δ Δ ct method. Finally, the expression pattern was analyzed by statistical analysis. Results: The results of the changes in the expression of miR-492 showed that in tumoral samples, the expression of miR-492 increased significantly (P=0. 0001). On the other hand, there was no significant relationship between gene expression and tumor grade (p>0. 05). There was also a clear increase in the gene expression in the metastatic tumors. In breast cancer, unlike ovarian cancer, there was no statistically significant difference between the two age groups. In addition, a specific increase was observed in the gene expression in the metastatic state in ovarian tumors. The tumor position did not affect the level of miR-492 expression in ovarian cancer. Conclusion: Taken together, the data indicate that miR-492 is an important regulator in cancer cell biological processes. Furthermore, we showed that miR-492 with diagnostic and prognostic ability can be a promising novel therapeutic target and biomarker for breast and ovarian cancer.

Background & Aims: Increase in intramuscular fat contribute to the development of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Endurance training with an effect on the lipolytic protein hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) can also have a therapeutic aspect. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of endurance training intensity on plasma insulin, fasting blood glucose, and HSL protein expression in Soleus muscle of type 2 diabetic male Wistar rats. Materials & Methods: 40 male Wistar rats aged 9-11 weeks and with an average weight of 230± 24 (gr) were randomly divided into five groups(healthy control, diabetic control, diabetic+low intensity exercise, diabetic+moderate intensity training, diabetic+Extreme Exercise). Diabetes was induced by single-dose injection of 60 mg/kg STZ and 90 mg/kg nicotine amide intraperitoneally. The endurance training program was conducted for 8 weeks (5 sessions per week). The treadmill speed as an indicator of the intensity of training in the groups was 5-8, 14-17and 22-25 m/min. Plasma insulin and glucose levels were measured by ELISA and HSL protein expression by western blotting method. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test were used to determine the significance. Results: Plasma insulin level in the high-intensity training group and fasting blood glucose in the moderate-intensity group decreased significantly compared to the diabetic control group(P<0. 05). Also, HSL protein expression increased in the high-intensity training group compared to the diabetic control group (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, extreme endurance training seem to have a greater effect on plasma insulin levels and also increases the expression of HSL protein in Soleus muscle, but moderate training is better for controlling glucose and body weight in diabetic groups.

Background & Aims: In addition to the high prevalence of autism, this disease has many effects on a child's life. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of training label emotions to autistic children with high-function on their quality of life. Materials & Methods: The study was semi-experimental with the single-subject method. In this study, 5 boys with high-function autism entered the study. In the base and follow up phase, the subjects did not receive an education. In the test phase, emotion recognition in 3 sessions and label emotions in 6 sessions were trained. Data collection tools were demographic characteristics and the quality of life of children (Peds QoL) questionnaires. At each phase, 3 measurements were performed within one-week intervals. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics, Friedman test, effect size, and recovery percentage. Results: In the present research, the mean age of samples was 8. 6 years. The effect size of label emotions training in comparison to base-test (ES = 2/47), test-follow-up (ES = 3/28), and base-follow-up (ES=2/89) had been high and the highest recovery percentage was related to the social domain (RP=163. 121%). Training of the LE has improved quality of life (P=0/007). Conclusion: The results showed that label emotion training for high-functioning autistic children had a significant effect on their physical, social and school dimensions, and the overall quality of life score. Researchers are recommended to use this method in their future research.

Background & Aims: Destruction of insulin-producing beta-cells by T cells causes type-1 diabetes (T1D). Since nicotinamide has cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic effects and has been shown to play a useful role in the prevention of T1D, in this study, the effect of nicotinamide on T1D in C57BL / 6 mice was studied. Materials & Methods: Thirty male C57BL/6 inbred strain mice were randomly divided into three groups and in two groups diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (Diabetic control and therapeutic groups). In the therapeutic group, nicotinide was injected subcutaneously 0. 5 mg/g body Wt/day for 40 days, 20 days before Stz injection up to 20 days after first Stz injection and then, on the 41st day after the first injection of the drug, the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBS), C-peptide, serum insulin, and inflammatory cytokines Il-1β , TNF-α and IFN-γ were studied. Results: The results showed that nicotinamide decreased levels of IL-1β , TNF-α , IFN-γ and increased serum insulin and C-peptide levels, which was statistically significant (p <0. 05). Conclusion: Nicotinamide reduced apoptosis and beta-cell destruction by reducing the number of inflammatory cytokines, and lessened the severity of the disease.

Background & Aims: Carbon quantum dot (CQD) is a new platform of nanomaterials in the range of 1 to 10 nm. This novel material has received extensive attention in the food industry due to its excellent fluorescence properties, high solubility in water, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial properties. In this experimental study, CQD was prepared using black mulberry and its antibacterial activity was evaluated individually and after impregnation in the bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Materials & Methods: CQD was fabricated according to a hydrothermal procedure using black mulberry water extract. The size, UV− vis absorption spectrum, FTIR, and antibacterial activity of CQD were examined according to the agar well diffusion method. BNC was prepared from Komagataeibacter xylinus and CQD was added into BNC by ex-situ method and antibacterial properties were then assessed on both pathogens based on an agar diffusion method. Results: CQDs have narrow size distribution and more than 95% of CQDs were less than 10 nm in size. The diameter zone of inhibition of CQD was 11. 9 and 10. 2 mm in S. aureus and E. coli, respectively., Similar results were also obtained after addition of CQD into BNC. Accordingly, BNC films represented potent antibacterial activity on gram-positive bacterium than gram-negative one. Impregnation of CQD in BNC at 30 º C significantly (p < 0. 05) affected the antibacterial activity compared to impregnation at 4 º C. Conclusion: Owing to the typical antibacterial and UV− vis absorption spectrum, CQD incorporated BNC has an important capacity for the fabrication of antimicrobial films.

Background & Aims: Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that involves persistent challenges in social interactions, speech, nonverbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviors. In this research, we studied the effect of social robots intervention on the executive functions of children with autism disorder. Materials & Methods: This study is an experimental research method with pre-and post-test allocated to an experimental and a control group. The sample of this study consisted of twenty autistic children who were referred to the Centre of Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation of Autism Disorder in Tehran. These samples were selected from the children within the age 6 and 9 years by a sampling procedure. They were randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups (10 subjects in each group). We used Nao social robots for robotic intervention. We utilized executive functions and continuous performance tests to evaluate the improvements of these children in twelve intervention sessions. To analyze the data Multivariate covariance was used. Results: The results demonstrated that social robots have a positive influence on the executive function (attention and inhibition response) of children with autism disorder (p<0/001, η = 0/93). Conclusion: These findings emphasize the role of new technologies, especially robots, in empowering and improving the executive function of autistic children.

Background & Aims: Inappropriate prescribing of drugs such as corticosteroids is known all over the world y especially in developing countries as a major health care system problem. There are few studies about the prescription pattern of corticosteroid across our country and this subject has not been studied in West Azerbaijan province. The aim of this study is to evaluate the pattern of prescribing corticosteroids among outpatients by specialist physicians in West Azerbaijan. Materials & Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study, data were collected from two million prescriptions of ear, nose and throat (ENT), internal medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, , pediatrics cardiology, neurology, infectious disease, orthopedic and urology specialists using prescription-processing software “ NoskhehPardaz” (Rx Analyzer). Microsoft Excel software (2016) was applied to prepare the appropriate graphs. Results: Obstetrics and gynecology specialists, pediatrics and internists had the most percentage of prescriptions (23. 65%, 20. 21% and 15. 67% respectively). The ENT specialists, orthopedists and internists were more likely to prescribed corticosteroids than others. All, physicians with the exception of cardiologists and gynecologists, prescribed injectable corticosteroids more than other forms of this drug. The injectable corticosteroid was the highest and inhaled corticosteroid was the lowest prescribed drug. Conclusion: The prescribing practices in this study are not satisfactory. Our data confirmed that ENT, orthopedic and internal medicine specialists are more likely to prescribe corticosteroids than others. . Injectable corticosteroids were the most commonly prescribed drug.